Hi Neighbors,

The Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration at Lake Cunningham is only days away!

This year, we will implement a few changes for the safety of all event attendees. The only pedestrian entrance will be on White Rd, and to increase pedestrian safety, roads along the outer perimeter of the park will be closed to vehicular traffic: 



• Cunningham Avenue from Capitol Expressway to White Road from 9am-11pm 
• South White Road from Cunningham Avenue to Tully Road will be closed from 9am-11pm 
• Tully Road from Capitol Expressway to White Road will be closed from 6pm-11pm 

The parking lots inside Lake Cunningham Park will not be available to the public unless you have coordinated accessibility accommodations with my staff. We highly recommend utilizing our shuttle service from Eastridge Mall's JCPenney Lot to Lake Cunningham, from 3pm-11pm. To get on the shuttle, folks will have to go through a security screening and follow the bag/item guidelines. See below for more information!

If you or a loved one needs accessibility accommodations, reach out to my office at (408) 768-2039 or sachin.radhakrishnan@sanjoseca.gov

Lastly, we are still accepting volunteers! Various shifts are available throughout the day and the next day. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt and food. More info is available here!

It is my pleasure and privilege to serve as your City Councilmember,

Domingo Candelas

City of San José District 8

Learn more about our community work and accomplishments in my past newsletters from February 2023 onward, which provide a wealth of information including updates on legislation, community events, and important issues like the City budget, public safety, homelessness and more.

Please share this with your neighbors and let them know what's happening in my district. They can sign up by following this link.

Upcoming Events

Music in the Square

Every Friday @ Evergreen Village Square

June 6-August 29, 2025

6-8pm

Music in the Square is back for the summer!

Join us at the Evergreen Village Square for some live entertainment and fun every Friday, except for July 4th.

Park Activations in District 8

There will be multiple opportunities to participate in family-friendly activities this summer at our local parks!

The link to register for the Welch Park Paint Night opens on July 4th!

In Your Community

Closing Ceremony for Saturday Night Lights

Saturday Night Lights came to an end this month! We came together with participants and their families to celebrate the success of the pilot program. It is evident that when we invest in our youth, we change their lives for the better.

International Yoga Day

I celebrated International Day of Yoga with the Art of Living at the Evergreen Village Square, bringing the community together in peace, mindfulness, and movement. It was a beautiful moment of wellness through the power of yoga.

Viva Parks

District 8 has been buzzing with energy thanks to a series of park activation events that brought neighbors together for fun, creativity, and community!

From three lively Viva Parks events, to a colorful Paint Night, and a cozy Movie Night under the stars, our parks have become vibrant spaces for connection and joy.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in making our public spaces come alive!

Groesbeck and Welch Park Dumpster Day

Two neighborhoods, one impactful day of community cleanup! On June 14, neighbors came together at Groesbeck Park with the Evergreen Leadership NA and at Welch Park with the Welch Park NA to help keep our communities clean and thriving. Huge thanks to everyone who showed up and made a difference! 

Philippines Independence Day

We commemorated 127 years since the declaration of the Philippines' independence with a proud flag-raising ceremony at City Hall, in collaboration with the Bayanihan Fil-Am Foundation, Supervisor Duong, Councilmember Ortiz, and Councilmember Cohen.

We also had the honor to proclaim June 12 as Philippines Independence Day during our City Council meeting, recognizing the strength, history, and heritage of the Filipino community

Activating Our Neighborhoods

Reach out to my office if you're interested in planning a National Night Out event in your neighborhood! We'd love to support you!

Building strong neighborhoods starts with you! Joining a neighborhood association not only builds community block by block, but it also brings critical information to the forefront as I draft policy and fight for dollars in the budget. As a councilmember, I rely on the eyes and ears of each resident, and your collective voices take shape in the form of neighborhood groups.

Here is a list of active neighborhood associations in District 8:



• Welch Park - Between Ocala Ave., King Rd & Tully Rd.
• Norwood - Between Tully Rd, Ruby Ave, Norwood Ave & S. White Rd
• Meadowfair - Between East Capitol, Aborn Rd, S King Rd & Rigoletto Dr
• Creekside - Between San Felipe Rd & Cadwallader Ave
• Brahms/Edgeview - Between Rigoletto Dr, S King Rd, Tully Rd & Quimby Rd
• Silver Oak Estates - Silver Oak St, Rachaella Lane & Carmella Ct.
• Evergreen Leadership - Neighborhoods of Groesbeck, Hidden Glens, Pleasant Hills & Quimby
• District 8 Community Roundtable - District-wide

If you would like to get involved in your neighborhood association or you do not see your neighborhood listed and would like to activate your neighborhood, please reach out to sachin.radhakrishnan@sanjoseca.gov

VTA Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Update

Ongoing and Future Closures*

ONGOING AND ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES

• TEMPORARY SOUNDWALL | Capitol Avenue and Highwood Drive

Crews will install a temporary sound wall near the cul-de-sac on S. Capitol Avenue and Highwood Drive, in the northern part of the project, from Monday, June 30 through Thursday, July 3.

• STRIPING | Southbound Capitol Expressway

On Tuesday night, July 1 through Wednesday morning, July 2, crews will stripe the, crews will stripe the roadway on southbound Capitol Expressway, from 300 ft north of Ocala Avenue to 500 ft south of Ocala Avenue.

The new, temporary traffic configuration will provide one left turn lane from southbound Capitol Expressway to eastbound Ocala Avenue. U-turns will still be possible. Overnight work is from 10:00 PM and 5:30 AM.

Crews will return on August 1 to stripe the roadway on northbound Capitol Expressway at the Ocala Avenue intersection. The new, temporary traffic configuration will close both left turn lanes from northbound Capitol Expressway to westbound Ocala Avenue. Overnight work is from 10:00 PM and 5:30 AM.

•FALSEWORK REMOVAL | Northbound Capitol Expressway

Falsework removal is currently underway on northbound Capitol Expressway between Ocala Avenue and Story Road, with crews working as follows:

•   Sunday night, July 6 through Friday morning, July 11

Expect overnight road closures from Ocala Avenue to Story Road (northbound) with detours between 10:00 PM and 5:30 AM and from 10:00 PM to 9:00 AM on weekends. Please follow detour signs. 

• FALSEWORK AND REBAR INSTALLATION | Southbound Capitol Expressway

Falsework and rebar installation on southbound Capitol Expressway between Cunningham Avenue and Tully Road, as follows:

•   Sunday night, June 8 through Saturday morning, June 14

•   Sunday night, June 15 through Saturday morning, June 21

•   Sunday night, June 22 through Saturday morning, June 28

•   Sunday night, June 29 through Friday morning, July 4

Expect overnight lane closures with detours between 10:00 PM and 5:30 AM during weekdays and from 10:00 PM to 9:00 AM on weekends. Please follow detour signs. 

• DRAINAGE 

LANE CLOSURE | Northbound S. Capitol Avenue/Highwood Drive/Crossroads Shopping Center

Drainage work is currently underway daytime at S. Capitol Avenue near Highwood Drive, close to the Crossroads Shopping Center, as follows:

•   Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 13

•   Monday, June 16 through Friday, June 20

•   Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27

•   Monday, June 30 through Thursday, July 3

•   Monday, July 7 through Friday, July 11

•   Monday, July 14

DAY AND NIGHT WORK SCHEDULES

• Day crews work Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am through 5:00 pm

• Night crews work from Sunday night through Friday morning, from 10:00 pm through 7:00 am.

• Weekend day and night crews work as needed.

• Crew schedules and construction activities can change at any time.

*Construction activities can change at any time

City Services

Help keep our parks beautiful, healthy and safe. If you see any maintenance issues or other problems that are occurring in a San José park, please fill out the Park Concerns Form, call (408) 793-5510 or email Park.Concerns@sanjoseca.gov to report a concern.

The City of San José is spreading the word about the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline. This lifeline gives you free, confidential, and compassionate emotional support when you need help. Contacting 988 connects you to a trained counselor who is here for you, no matter what you are going through. If you are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, reach out to 988.

Click here to learn more about the 988 lifeline.

To learn more about free legal services through the Elevate Community Center, click here!

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo Access for All Scholarship

The Happy Hollow Park & Zoo offers discounted rates for families receiving government assistance, such as Medical, food stamps, WIC, etc. Access for All provides four discounted tickets at $4 each. Guests can receive this discounted rate every time they visit HHPZ!

Learn more about the program here!

Local Businesses

Disability Access Improvement Grants for Small Businesses

 San José Small Business Owners: The City's Disability Access Improvement Grants program will support your responsibility to comply with the federal Americans with Disability Act and the California Building Code. The grant will help you pay for a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report and to hire professionals to design and remove ADA barriers. 

More information about qualifying for grant assistance can be found here.

Announcements

Join the San Jose Police Department

SJPD is dedicated to providing public safety through community partnerships and 21st Century Policing practices.

Visit the San Jose Police Recruitment website by clicking here

Resilience Corps is now hiring for the 2025-26 academic year! The program provides hands-on experience, monthly professional development, a competitive wage, and structured support to help eligible participants explore careers in education, technology, and public service.  

Applications are open now until July 3, 2025.  

Get Ready for the Santa Clara County Fair! 

Join us for five fun-filled days at the Fairgrounds, starting July 30th. Experience thrilling rides, delicious food, and fantastic entertainment for all ages. Enjoy a variety of free live music across multiple genres and eras, along with local community performances. Watch children’s magic shows, see a live blacksmith at work, and be amazed by motorcycle stunt performances and an exhilarating water acrobat show. For those seeking an adrenaline rush, we will have wrestlers in action, and camel rides have been added to our pony ride experience!

Tickets are now available for purchase online and at the Main Entrance. For more information, please visit thefair.org.

Project Foodbox for Medi-Cal Members

Click here to get more info!

Open Space Authority Grant Program

The Open Space Authority Urban Grant Program is BACK! Funded by Measure T, this competitive grant program funds projects that bring nature to urban communities. Eligible applicants include local public agencies, schools and school districts, and nonprofits within the Open Space Authority's jurisdiction.

Full applications are due by 5pm PDT Tuesday, October 14, 2025. For more information, including Urban Grant Program guidelines and resources, please visit here!