Dear Neighbor,

Studies show that 88% of people abandon their New Year’s Resolutions within the first two weeks of the year. But if you’re reading this, you’re part of the other 12%. 

Two years ago, we resolved to get back to basics and create a safer, cleaner San Jose. Together, we vowed to focus our limited resources on the quality of life issues that affect each of us every day. And we’ve stuck to it. 

The progress we’re making is thanks to you – your trust, advocacy and engagement. Before we forge ahead, I wanted to share a snapshot of a few of our accomplishments in 2024 of which we should all be proud:

While we accomplished much together in 2024, as your mayor, I’m painfully aware of how far we still have to go. Whether it’s seeing an RV or tent encampment along your street, pollution in our waterways, graffiti on a freeway sign, or the latest crime on the news, I’m entering this year with the same burning desire for change that motivated me to run for office in the first place. We deserve better–you and your family deserve better–and we will keep fighting in 2025 to make San Jose the safest, cleanest, most economically vibrant city in the country. 

That work starts with our goal of moving over 1,000 additional people off of our streets and out of our creeks in 2025 as we open a number of new interim shelters and decommission dozens of tent and RV encampments around the city. It starts with using Prop 36 to get people into treatment or otherwise hold them accountable for breaking our local laws. It starts in places like our Downtown, where everyone should feel welcome, day or night, and we need to be ready to host Super Bowl and World Cup games in 2026. 

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about plans for 2025 and how we make meaningful, measurable progress toward our goals on homelessness, crime, blight and economic opportunity despite a challenging budget. I believe in our collective power to create a city we can all be proud of. Happy new year, and now let’s get to work!

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

Crime doesn’t stop during the holidays. In fact, as our officers know better than anyone, it often worsens. Which is why our police department works 24/7, 365 days per year to keep you and your family safe. 

On Christmas Day and the first day of Hannakuh, my family and I visited the officers sacrificing a day with their own families to protect San Jose. We thanked them for their service, shared some cookies, and hoped for a peaceful day and year ahead.

During our most recent budget cycle, we shared that we have new obligations to meet under the Clean Water Act, as administered by our Regional Water Quality Control Board. Namely, we need to move hundreds of people out of our waterways to address the pollution entering our creeks and rivers. As a city, we should welcome this accountability for preserving our natural environment. While it won’t be easy, it is critically important that government at every level is held accountable for addressing the crisis on our streets and its many disparate impacts. 

Last month, I joined staff from our housing department and outreach workers as they conducted a manual count and survey of homeless individuals living on 12 miles of our most impacted waterways–these areas will be our focal point for waterway clearing and restoration in 2025. As we clear them, I am committed to moving these individuals into shelter–and I hope you will join me in calling on our County to dramatically increase in-patient treatment placements–so they do not simply end up moving a few miles up the river.

Each year, elected officials, nonprofit workers and homeless residents gather to remember and memorialize the people who died on our streets. I look forward to the day this event is rendered unnecessary by our collective effort. 

In 2024, 197 homeless neighbors died while living on the streets of Santa Clara County – a figure slightly lower than the year prior, but tragic nonetheless. For over one third of these deaths, methamphetamine was either the cause of death or a significant factor. 

We know it doesn’t have to be this way. And we know the longer we let our neighbors languish on the streets, the harder it is to get them back toward a path of self sufficiency. This memorial reminds us that this crisis simply can’t wait. We’re making progress with our innovative, all-of-the-above approach with both interim and permanent housing solutions to get our most vulnerable neighbors off the streets, but clearly, there’s still so much work to be done. 

We know the formula for ending homelessness — we just have to find the political will to use it. Our residents have given us new tools like Prop 1 and Prop 36 to build more in-patient treatment beds and compel those who need that treatment to use it. It’s up to us as leaders to make sure these tools are used to end the era of encampments here in Silicon Valley for good.

Polar Play Days with The Tech Interactive

Sunday, January 5th at 10:00 AM

The Tech Interactive, 201 S. Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

TODAY is the last day to enjoy Polar Play Days at the Tech Interactive! Bring the whole family to explore both the magic and the science of winter with hands-on experiments and other creative activities. Learn more here. 

San Jose Sharks vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Tuesday, January 7th at 7:30 PM

SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113

Cheer on the San Jose Sharks as they take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the Shark Tank! You can purchase tickets here. 

Habitat Restoration at Lake Cunningham

Saturday, January 18th at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Lake Cunningham Marina Parking Lot, 2305 S White Rd, San Jose, CA 95148

Start the new year with service! Join Team Mahan and Adopt-a-Park to remove invasive curly dock at Lake Cunningham and beautify the surrounding area. Learn more and RSVP here.

Beautification Day at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park

Saturday, January 25th at 10:00 AM

5982 Thorntree Drive, San Jose, CA 95120

Help restore a pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat with Team Mahan and friends of Guadalupe Oak Grove Park! We'll be planting milkweed (the host plant used by monarch butterfly caterpillars) and other young shrubs to create a nectar-rich habitat for the adult butterflies and native bees. Learn more and RSVP here.

Lunar New Year Community Day with San Jose Museum of Art

Saturday, January 25th at 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

San Jose Museum of Art, 110 S. Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

Ring in the Year of the Snake with the San Jose Museum of Art! Celebrate Lunar New Year traditions from around the globe with live performances, cultural demonstrations, and more. Learn more here.

Over the past year, we’ve worked every day to build a safer, cleaner San Jose. But the work isn’t done yet — here’s to an even better 2025!

It was an honor to spend the evening singing carols and sharing a delicious meal with our neighbors and partners at PATH last month. No one deserves to be on the streets, especially during the holidays. Thank you to PATH and the Paus for being an example of what we can achieve when we embrace innovative solutions to homelessness.

December was the season of giving in San Jose! Grateful to partner with SanJoseFoos for their fourth annual San Jose Toy Drive. Thanks to the SanJoseFoos team, Toys for Tots, Sacred Heart Community Service, the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, and all of the volunteers for making this year’s event possible and supporting our community!