Hi Neighbors,

We're off and running in 2024! Last week, we had our District 8 Budget Breakfast Town Hall. Community events like this help me understand our communities' priorities. Together, we can continue building stronger neighborhoods and empowering our community, especially through the City budget process.

From fostering community safety to addressing homelessness and mental health, the message is clear and I will continue hosting opportunities to ensure I hear your priorities. Below are some of the top items we heard from attendees:

• Community Safety
• Clean Neighborhoods
• Affordable Housing and Homelessness
• Animal Services Improvements
• Youth Empowerment, Digital Literacy, and Gang Prevention

If you missed the meeting and would like to see the presentation click here. As always, you can contact my office to provide feedback on the budget or any other City-related issue.

I encourage everyone to stay connected and check out the rest of my newsletter to see what I have planned for the next few weeks!

Domingo Candelas

Councilmember, San José District 8

Learn more about our community work and accomplishments in my past monthly 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

Dumpster Day on Arcade Ave off Quimby Rd

Saturday, February 17th

8:30AM to 11AM

RSVP

Join Councilmember Candelas for a Dumpster Day on Arcade Ave

Bins start loading by 8:30 AM; last drop off at 10:50 AM. Please refer to the list of allowed and NOT allowed items. Staff will be on-site to help answer any questions.

RSVP is not required. Let us know if you have any questions!

What's Allowed

Old Furniture, Desks, Drawers, Mattresses, Box Springs, Hardware, Toilets, Glass, some Lumber, Lawn Mowers (fluids drained), Plastic Toys, Rims, Clean Concrete, and More

What's NOT Allowed

Automotive and Cleaning Products, Fertilizer and Pesticides, Fluorescent Light Bulbs, Gas Cylinders and Tanks, Paints, Solvents, Medications, Needles, and More

Tet Celebration at City Hall

Monday, February 12

Vietnamese Freedom Flag Raising

12PM to 1PM

Performances and Light Refreshments

1PM to 2PM

Pleasant Hills Golf Course Community Meeting

Upcoming In-person meeting: Thursday, February 15th

6PM to 8PM

RSVP

Virtual workshop: Wednesday, February 21st

6PM to 8PM

Visit the Pleasant Hills Vision webpage for more information

on the City-led process.

You can also visit my District 8 webpage tab for Pleasant Hills

to see a summary of the process thus far including the

community meeting held in October 2023.

Councilmember Candelas at the Farmer's Market

@ Evergreen Village Square

Stop by and share your thoughts and questions with me at the Farmer's Market. No appointments needed.

Every 3rd Wednesday and 3rd Sunday of the Month from 9AM - 10AM

In the Community

Budget Breakfast Town Hall

Thank you to all who attended our Budget Town Hall last week. Together, we engaged in important conversations on City services and your top priorities. This work is essential for building stronger neighborhoods. Special thanks to City Budget Director Jim Shannon for providing the latest updates.

In the breakout groups, residents emphasized community safety as a top priority. Neighborhood safety, officer patrols, camera programs, emergency preparedness, cultural group inclusion, safe streets with speed mitigations, and traffic unit patrols were cited as part of keeping a safe community.

Keeping neighborhoods and parks free of blight demonstrates the community is active and safe. Park investments were also reported as a priority for quality of life. Several residents also expressed concerns regarding our Animal Services Center.

Finally, affordable housing was another top priority. This included keeping teachers, firefighters, and police officers housed in our community. Collaboration with local organizations was also mentioned to help families in overcrowded housing.

Senior Scam Stopper

My office held a Senior Scam Stopper workshop at the Evergreen Community Center, in partnership with the Contractors State Licensing Board and the Office of the District Attorney. I am committed to ensuring our vulnerable communities are aware of how to protect themselves against scams. 

Pancake Social at the Villages

Thank you to all the Villages residents who came together to meet

our local firefighters and police officers. A big thank you as well to the Villages Clubhouse workers for a great breakfast and service.

And a special thank you to Firefighters Local 230,

Fire Station 11, and our Foothill Division police officers

for stopping by and keeping our neighborhoods safe.

FAFSA

The California Student Aid Commission and the East Side Union High School District held a press conference to reach students and their families to let them know of the various financial opportunities available to pay for college. Financial need should never be a barrier to accessing higher education.

You can visit the San Jose Cal-SOAP webpage for more information including filing deadlines and Cash for College workshops. 

Beautification at Dove Hill

Thank you to all the dedicated neighbors who joined me bright and early at Dove Hill Park for a park cleanup! Together, we can continue making a difference in our neighborhoods keeping our City clean and safe.

MLK AACSA Luncheon

Every third Monday in January, leaders across the nation gather to honor the life and mission of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you to the African American Community Service Agency for hosting their 44th Annual MLK Luncheon.

Norm Mineta Airport Statue

This week, I attended the unveiling of Norman "Norm" Yoshio Mineta's statue at our very own San José International Airport. You can view some local coverage from the Mercury News here.

City Hall Adjournment in Memory of "Mr. Roadshow"

At the first Council meeting of the new year, I led an adjournment in memory of the late Gary Richards, known by most as Mr. Roadshow.

As we bid farewell to Gary, let us remember the positive changes he brought to our lives making our roads safer and our commutes smoother. Gary is survived by his long-time wife, Jan who stood by his side through thick and thin. His daughter, Anne, and son, Matt, and his grandson, Oliver.

Your Tax Dollars at Work

Aborn Road Bridge Wood Décor

We have all seen the weathered wood décor on the Aborn Road bridge. I got to work on this overdue repair and happy to report the replacement work has been completed.

Intersection Improvements at Norwood and Ruby

Finally, the intersection at Norwood and Ruby is getting improvements that will promote safety for both drivers and pedestrians.

We have installed 4 new stop sign ahead signs at all approaches, upgraded the existing crosswalks to high visibility paint, retro-reflective tape will be installed around the stop sign poles, and a red curb at the Southwest corner.

City Hall Update

Mobile Homes Rezoning

In recent years, the City Council has been working to increase protections for mobile home park residents. As the District 8 Councilmember, I understand the housing stability mobile home parks provide to residents.

This past December, I voted to approve General Plan land use designation changes for:

• 12 mobile home parks - changed from the Residential Neighborhood General Plan Land Use designation to the Mobile Home Park General Plan Land Use designation, and,
• 1 mobile home park - changed from the Neighborhood Community/Commercial General Plan Land Use designation to the Mobile Home Park General Plan Land Use designation.

Responsible Construction Ordinance

This past Council meeting, we passed an ordinance for protecting workers' rights and ensuring they are shielded from dishonest contractors. While more work remains to be done in combating wage theft, I remain committed to working with our local and state officials for solutions. I also want to continue removing red tape and streamlining permits where possible to allow the developer community to build faster.

Protecting Lake Cunningham dollars

In early December, the state’s Legislative Analyst Office projected a $68 billion dollar deficit in California for the upcoming Fiscal Year. During Council this past week, I approved direction to Staff to ensure they work diligently to secure the $1.5 million dollars that has been allocated to Lake Cunningham in 2023 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra.

I want to make sure this money isn’t clawed back because of the state’s budget shortfall. Our community is relying on us to secure this funding and get to work. I will continue my advocacy on this jewel of a park in East San José.

Richmond Ranch Land Preservation in Evergreen

One of the last remaining unprotected ranches near Coyote Valley will soon add 3,653 acres to our region's availability of public open space, thereby protecting it!

I am proud to serve on the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency on behalf of the residents of San Jose. The collaboration between Santa Clara County, the Habitat Agency, and the Conservation Fund shows the strength that partnerships bring to preserving open spaces and the environment. Together, we are protecting and ensuring the conservation of our natural landscapes.

This concerted effort not only safeguards our environment but also paves the way for an interconnected trail system, providing a legacy of recreational opportunities for generations to come. It is through these partnerships that we truly cultivate a sustainable and thriving future for Santa Clara County.

You can read more about it in the Mercury News: New deal preserves huge San Jose ranch as parkland, nature habitat (2024)

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