Dear Neighbor,

In Silicon Valley, dashboards, metrics, daily standups, and other performance management tools are as common as bureaucracy is in government. It’s my goal to change that. Without setting clear goals, tracking progress and reacting to real-time performance data at City Hall, we can’t move the needle on the issues that matter most. 

As you know, I ran for office to hold City Hall accountable for delivering better outcomes. To set clear and achievable goals with a reasonable timeframe. To measure results. To focus on the basic priorities that matter most to all of our residents. And last week, we took a step in the right direction. 

City Council voted unanimously to embrace a new tool of transparency and performance management. We will soon see scorecards and dashboards become accessible online so that anyone can track our progress. They will focus on the basic responsibilities of government: providing community safety, cleaning up our neighborhoods, ensuring everyone has at least basic shelter, and attracting and facilitating investment in jobs and housing. 

In addition to regularly surveying the community to ensure our residents’ priorities and experiences are at the center of our work, these tools of transparency will track data like crime rates, the number of people exiting and entering homelessness, blight response times, permit timelines and other key success metrics to show whether what we are doing is moving the needle. 

And the truth is, we have a long way to go. Not just in solving our biggest issues, but in understanding the best way to track and share our work with all of you and build a more iterative and performance- and outcome-driven culture in government. This is the first iteration of what I know will be a long process. But as we get it right, City Hall will deliver results better, faster and more efficiently than ever. 

I welcome your thoughts and feedback on these new tools. They will be available online starting in December for everyone to view and track our progress on the basics and, in the meantime, you can find the draft scorecards and dashboards here. 

Thank you for staying engaged and pushing for better outcomes, 

Mayor Matt

Last week, I got the chance to help install an Automatic Licence Plate Reader (ALPR)! Since launching this program, these cameras have been used to solve a multitude of crimes, including robberies, hit and runs, home invasions, stolen vehicles, kidnappings and more. These cameras are effective, run on solar panels and take privacy seriously – only images of license plates are captured, and data is deleted regularly. By investing in proven technology like ALPRs, we can create the safer city we all want to live in!

This week, I stopped by the Chase Center in San Francisco to represent the South Bay in an exciting announcement – San Francisco Bay Area has been selected to host NBA All-Star Game 2025! 

This announcement comes on the heels of BayFC choosing to call San Jose’s PayPal Park home, the NFL's decision to bring Super Bowl LX to Levi’s Stadium and FIFA's selection of the South Bay as a venue for the 2026 World Cup. Regardless of what sport you follow, be it one or all three, there’s never been a better time to be a fan in San Jose. As these events get closer, we will be announcing fan experiences in San Jose that allow us to come together as a city and celebrate these exceptional global events.

Earlier this week, I raced my fellow councilmembers around City Hall to announce the expansion of electric bikes in San Jose! Thanks to an investment from Lyft and MTC, we will have increased access to alternative modes of transportation in our growing downtown to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions. While the network will expand across the city, much of the growth is focused on better connecting East Side San Jose and ensuring that formerly homeless residents at our Quick Build Communities can use e-bikes to access jobs and services. 

I hope you hop on one of our 750 brand new e-bikes soon – not only are they fun, but they’ll get you where you need to go, fast! Happy riding!

Exploring Entrepreneurship

Thursday, November 16th at 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

San Jose City Hall, 200 E Santa Clara St. San Jose, CA 95113

Take part in National Entrepreneurship Month this November by attending this free event that will provide the resources to start your business here in San José. Hear inspiring stories from local business owners on their entrepreneurial journey and visit stations each with experts on the 10 steps to start your business. Connect with fellow entrepreneurs and celebrate the recipients of the City’s Business of the Year awards. RSVP here!

Grand Re-Opening of Downtown Ice 

Friday, November 17, 2023 - January 15, 2024

120 S. Market Street in the Circle of Palms Plaza

Downtown Ice has been a local tradition since 1994. And this year, it’s coming back thanks to a partnership between the City and the San Jose Downtown Association. I’ll be there with my family on November 20th to kick off the holiday season in skates! You can buy tickets right here.

West San Jose Dumpster Day

Saturday, November 18th at 9:00 AM

English Drive & Lyle Drive, San Jose, CA 95129

Next weekend, we’ll be headed to West San Jose for a Dumpster Day in the English Estates Neighborhood. We’re urging the community to show up and bring unwanted junk or illegally dumped items so we can fill up as many dumpsters as possible. 

Christmas Tree Lighting 

Friday, November 24th at 6:00 PM

Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113

We’re kicking off celebrations for the iconic “Christmas in the Park” with a tree lighting on November 24th. There is no better place to celebrate the holidays in style, as evidenced by the 700,000 visitors the event brings to our city each year. I hope you and your family can join me and mine for this beloved San Jose tradition.

Hut hut hike! Had a great time kicking off the inaugural Mayors’ Challenge Football Clinic with the Panthers Indoor Football League, San Jose Sports Authority, and Mayor Mark Turner! Our rising football stars practiced passing, kicking, punting and more under the lights at CEFCU stadium (home of SJSU Football!). I’m excited to see these young leaders continue to excel on and off the field. Sign up today to join the Priority Seating list for Season Tickets to the 2024 IFL Season to support our national champions: https://qrco.de/BayAreaPanthers 

When neighborhoods are better connected, they’re better protected. I’m impressed by the work the Cadillac-Winchester Neighborhood Association is doing to organize residents, build community, and demand an end to the violence that has impacted their neighborhood. Last week, Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, SJPD Chief Mata, Pastor Frank of Bethel Church, and many others walked for peace with Cadillac Winchester neighbors in their 7th annual Peace Walk. Keep organizing and fighting for the change we need!

In San Jose, Saturdays are synonymous with service! Great to partner with Coyote Creek, Ridge trail, and the SJSU College Corps last week to beautify East San Jose. We were joined by over 100 volunteers from across the city to pull debris out of Coyote Creek and pick up litter along the trails. If you missed today’s community clean-up, Team Mahan is out every weekend making our city cleaner and safer! Join us at the next one: http://bit.ly/cleansj

San Jose is fortunate to have such an exceptional global company and community partner headquartered in our downtown. As we cut the ribbon on their gorgeous new pedestrian bridge that connects to the new Founder’s Tower (first all-electric office tower in Silicon Valley, by the way), Adobe announced an additional $2M worth of investments in local arts and culture nonprofits. Thank you Adobe, for calling San Jose home, and working beside us to create a better city for all!