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District 9 Leadership Group
October 2026 Newsletter
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In this edition:
- D9LG General Meeting Wed Oct 14
- SJUSD Facilities Master Plan Meetings Oct 8 & 13
- D9 Data Center Community Listening Session Thu Oct 29
- SJPD Southern Division Burglary Trends
- D9 November 3rd General Election Resources
- Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative
- Kirk Park Native Plant Pollinator Garden
- Santa Clara County Park Events (incl. Martial Cottle Park Special Event)
- San Jose Public Library Events
- Help Needed
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D9LG General Meeting & Networking Social
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
7:00 - 8:45 pm
** In-Person only **
Avella at Almaden
(formerly called The Watermark)
4610 Almaden Expy, San Jose CA 95118
First Floor Auditorium
Our meeting begins with a Networking Social with a free light dinner, desserts and slideshow tribute to
Vice Mayor Pam Foley
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Featured topics and speakers:
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Vice Mayor Pam Foley will present her last D9LG city news update (as she terms out this December)
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SJPD Southern Division Commander, Capt. Steven Payne, Jr. will provide a District 9 crime and safety update
- District 9 Parks Commissioner Viviana Garcia-Barnwell and San Jose PRNS Capital Projects team member Joe Devito will provide an update on San Jose city parks and an exciting presentation on an All-Inclusive Playground coming to Camden Park, adjacent to Camden Community Center
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District 9 city council runoff candidates Genny Altwer and Gordon Chester will be on hand to mingle during our networking social and meeting.
Please allow several minutes for parking and accessing the venue. Avella at Almaden (formerly called The Watermark at Almaden) is the four-story senior living facility on Almaden Expressway just south of Branham Lane. There is limited parking available in their underground parking garage, which is accessed from northbound Almaden Expressway.
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Help shape the future of SJUSD schools and campuses!
*** Important meetings on Oct 8 & 13 ***
San José Unified School District is developing its Facilities Master Plan, a long-range roadmap guiding how Measure R bond revenues and district resources will be invested to repair aging infrastructure, improve campus safety, and modernize school facilities across our district.
Your perspective as a neighbor, taxpayer, and community leader is essential. We invite you to join an upcoming community engagement workshop. You will have the opportunity to review proposed campus vision plans for local host and feeder schools, share your priorities, and help ensure facility investments serve both students and the broader community effectively. The sessions are open to students, families, staff, and community members and Spanish interpretation will be available.
The sessions will be held at each of our comprehensive high schools with each elementary, middle, and alternative school assigned to each session. You can review the calendar for the full list of dates, times, and which schools are included and find more information on our website. Please email measurer@sjusd.org with any questions and we look forward to having you join us!
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Thursday October 8, 6-8pm at Pioneer High School Performing Arts Center: For Broadway High, Pioneer High, Castillero Middle, Almaden Elementary, Los Alamitos Elementary, Reed Elementary and Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet
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Tuesday October 13, 6-8pm at Gunderson High School Common/Forum: For Gunderson High, John Muir Middle, Allen at Steinbeck Elementary, Rachel Carson Elementary and Liberty Alternative
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D9 Community Listening Session on Data Centers
The City of San José has been actively recruiting data center developers to build new AI data centers in our city. Several have already been approved and there are many more in the application pipeline that will impact all residents and businesses in the city.
Join Mothers Out Front Silicon Valley, Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter on Thursday, October 29, from 6:30-8:00pm for a District 9 Community Listening Session on Data Centers and Standards. They’ll be joined by D9 Councilmember and Vice Mayor Pam Foley, and the two candidates for her open D9 Council Seat, Genny Altwer and Gordon Chester. Click here for the location and latest event details.
This is a great opportunity to learn more about data centers and the kinds of guardrails needed to mitigate their potential impacts on public health, air and water quality, water consumption, noise, artificial light, energy use, energy rates, open space, and wildlife. Come ask questions and share your concerns with our elected representatives. The City Council will be voting in early December on draft uniform standards that would apply to new data centers, so come make your voice heard about the protections you want to see!
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SJPD Southern Division Burglary Trends
Southern Division Commander Capt. Steven Payne, Jr. is leveraging 90-day heat maps to combat auto and commercial burglaries, which have increased starting around May of this year. In addition to sharing these maps with his patrol teams, he is sharing them with us as community members to take our own precautions to avoid being victimized.
Click here to view the vehicle and commercial burglary heat maps and analysis for the 90-day period of 5/13/26 to 8/11/26.
SJPD's Crime Prevention Unit has created a very informative presentation specifically addressing auto burglary prevention. If you'd like to bring this presentation to your community group or businesses, contact the Crime Prevention Unit at (408) 277-4133.
| | D9 November 3rd General Election Resources | | |
San Jose City Council District 9:
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Genny Altwer - www.gennyaltwer.com
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Gordon Chester - www.gordonford9.com
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AACAS Meet the Candidates Event, Tuesday October 13, 6:30-8:30pm, 304 N 6th St., San Jose, CA 95112
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San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce Candidates Forum, Thursday October 15, 4:45-6:00pm, 101 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113 - RSVP here
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SVYCA Candidate Forum, Sunday October 18, 6:00-7:30pm, Cambrian Branch Library, 1780 Hillsdale Ave, San Jose CA, 95124
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Willow Glen Neighborhood Association Candidates Forum, Monday October 19, 6:30-8:00pm, 945 Willow St, San Jose 95125 - RSVP here
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Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association, April 15th primary election candidate forum recording here
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San Jose Spotlight article summarizing the San Jose Spotlight and League of Women Voters March 9th primary election candidate forum here
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San Jose Unifed School District Trustee Area 4:
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Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative
The Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative (RLEI) is back and serving the San José community in partnership with Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County! The RLEI helps community members, tenants, and landlords resolve property-related concerns affecting neighborhood quality of life. They provide confidential support and serve as a neutral third-party mediator, helping parties achieve practical solutions for issues such as heath and safety, chronic blight or continuous code enforcement violations.
They are also available to do presentations to your neighborhood about their program. For more info, visit https://www.ccscc.org/rlei
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Kirk Park Native Plant Pollinator Garden
Did you know we have a world class native pollinator garden with a very active group of volunteers right here in District 9? There is likely always something in bloom at Kirk Park, located on Brianwood Drive just north of Foxworthy Ave. If you'd like to meet and join the volunteers, stop by on any Wednesday or Saturday from 9-11am, weather permitting. To learn more and be added to their monthly newsletter mailing list, contact KirkParkGardens@gmail.com.
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Santa Clara County Park Events
Santa Clara County Parks publishes an excellent monthly email newsletter. You can subscribe to it here. Here are a couple of the great events listed in their October newsletter:
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Day on the Bay -- Saturday October 17, 10am-2pm at Alviso Marina County Park -- Celebrate community and environmental wellness by spending the day in one of Santa Clara County’s most famous wetlands. Visit resource tables, food trucks, and enjoy music and free activities for the family including free kayak rentals and more! Click here for event details. Click here to pre-register for no-cost vaccines at the event.
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Cottle and Lester Historic Ranch and Perimeter Trail Dedication Event -- Saturday November 7, 10am-2pm at Martial Cottle Park -- Come celebrate the completion of the Phase 1 Historic Ranch Construction Project and the Perimeter Trail. Explore the accessible pathways, view the exterior of the historic buildings, enjoy the activity stations, and learn about what life used to be like here. Click here for event details.
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If you haven't visited our libraries lately, you may not know they have all sorts of great programs, events and groups. Fun fact, the Cambrian Library has a Pokemon club. Check out what's happening at our nearest branch libraries:
Pearl Ave: www.sjpl.org/pearl
Cambrian: www.sjpl.org/cambrian
Vineland: www.sjpl.org/vineland
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Help Needed
The District 9 Leadership group is seeking additional help with meeting and event coordination and member communications in order to increase our community impact. If there is a D9 or city topic you're passionate about, this is a great opportunity to get involved and make a difference on that as well. If you may be able to help, please see us at our October 14th general meeting or contact us at d9leadershipgroup@gmail.com to learn more.
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D9LG's Next General Meeting
Wednesday January 13, 2027 -- 7:00-8:45pm
(Details To Be Announced, date subject to change)
Stay tuned for details on future meetings and check our website for updates including agendas, minutes and videos of current and prior general meetings.
| | Please share this message with your neighbors in District 9 and encourage them to attend our meetings and events, and to join our mailing list. | | |
Publication of this newsletter and other D9LG activities are funded
in part by a BeautifySJ grant from the City of San José PRNS
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