Dear Neighbor,

All across America, cities are required to comply with the Clean Water Act. But San Jose's plan to come into compliance has been rejected by our Regional Water Quality Control Board – not just once, but three times. 

And for good reason. We’ve let our waterways degrade until they have become what you see today. We’ve allowed over 1,000 people to live in unmanaged conditions along these waterways, creating waste that flows directly from our creeks to our oceans. No longer.

We have a mandate from the Water Board that requires us to do what is right – and that’s move people out of our waterways. And we have to do this in a way that doesn’t simply send people directly into our neighborhoods. 

We don’t have time to waste. If we don’t have a serious plan to address the issue by June 2025, the Water Board can fine the City up to $60,000 per day per pollutant found in our waters. 

To address this, we'll need millions of dollars amidst a fiscal moment in which we already are predicting deficits. I am going to be honest with you — this is going to be hard. This is an unprecedented moment in our city’s history. But we will get through it together and be a better city for it. 

I hope that this is what our city, county and state needed to get serious about addressing homelessness at scale. We are not the only city affected by this mandate, but we will be the first to say thank you. Thank you for making clear that we can longer afford to allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. During this year’s budget process, we will prioritize strategies that address this crisis in a way that scales, and doesn’t simply move people out of our creeks and onto our streets. 

To do that, we will have to explore the creation of safe sleeping sites and an expansion of congregate shelter. We will have to look at establishing no encampment zones along about 25 miles of discharge areas mandated by the Water Board. And along the way, we will need to begin the massive project of cleaning up formerly unmanaged encampments that have been polluting our waterways. I hope you will join my virtual townhall tomorrow at 7pm to hear more and learn how you can help. 

We won’t be able to do this alone. We need our County to add in-patient treatment beds for mental health and addiction. We need the state and federal government to increase their investment in solutions that scale. And we will need our community to say yes to the solutions to homelessness because it is far better to get people indoors and into treatment than to leave them in our streets and creeks. 

Amid crisis comes opportunity. It creates community. I am excited to continue working toward a solution with you, neighbors across San Jose, and my colleagues on the council. 

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

California stopped building homeless shelters. We closed down our mental hospitals. We prioritized an approach that would never scale to meet the crisis. In San Jose, we’re trying something different — and it’s starting to show results. Thanks to Senator Josh Becker for making it easier for other cities to replicate our approach so that we can finally end the era of street encampments across our state. If you want to learn more about our approach on homelessness and how we are iterating to meet the need, join our virtual town hall tomorrow by RSVP’ing right here. 

This Women’s History Month, the City of San José and SJPD are taking the 30x30 pledge — which aims to increase representation of women in law enforcement. As we focus on increasing our ranks through recruitment and retention, we have a huge opportunity to make a career in law enforcement more accessible and desirable for female recruits while making San Jose safer along the way.

Councilmember Cohen and I recently challenged City Hall to cut costs in half at the Berryessa Safe Parking site. And city staff succeeded — proposing a plan that cuts costs by simplifying site design while maintaining the same level of services. As we work to address the mandate required by the Water Board, this is the type of common sense approach we will need to apply in order to meet the crisis head on. We will need to stand up shelter faster and cheaper than we ever have before. And city staff has proven it is possible. 

Hamann Park Tree Planting with San Jose Youth Commission 

Saturday, March 16th at 8:45AM to 12:00PM

2747 Westfield Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128

We’re spending every Saturday creating a safer, cleaner, greener city! Join Team Mahan, the San Jose Youth Commission, and neighbors from across the city to plant trees and beautify Hamann Park. Be part of positive change of San Jose and RSVP here.

Tree Planting with Lone Bluff Neighborhood

Saturday, March 23rd at 8:45AM to 12:00PM

Lone Bluff Way & Pinto Drive

We’re working towards a better and more beautiful city — but we need your help to do it! On March 23rd, volunteers will be planting trees across the Lone Bluff neighborhood. Join us and be part of the movement in bettering San Jose. RSVP here. 

San Jose Shamrock Run

Saturday, March 16th at 8:00 AM

San Pedro Square, 87 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110

Kick off St. Patrick’s Day at the San Jose Shamrock Run! Whether you’re joining the 5K, 10K, or the Leprechaun Chase Kids Run, bring your best green gear and race around Downtown San Jose. After the race, continue the fun at the O’Flaherty’s Irish Pub & Five Points Post Race Party! Learn more and buy tickets here. 

Cinequest Film Festival 

Thursday, March 7th to Sunday, March 17th

California Theatre (345 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113) and Hammer Theatre Center (101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113)

The Cinequest Film & Creative Festival returns to California Theatre and Hammer Theatre! The event features 217 films from 37 countries — full of comedies, documentaries, dramas, and more, all under the theme of “Uplift.” Learn more about this year’s line-up and buy tickets here.

Bay Area Panthers vs. Arizona Rattlers

Sunday, March 31st at 3:05PM

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

Cheer on the Bay Area Panthers, the reigning Indoor Football League champions, in their first game of the season! Buy tickets here.

Despite the weather, we made it out last weekend with over 25 volunteers from the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood and Team San Jose for a joint dumpster day and community clean up! Join us next Saturday for our biggest clean-up yet: bit.ly/cleansj

When we lived in San Francisco, Urban Putt was Silvia’s and my go-to spot for date night — and now, the tradition can continue! Thanks Steve Fox and the team at Urban Catalyst for creating this unique experience highlighting so many things that are special about San Jose to our Downtown. Come check it out! qrco.de/UrbanPuttSJ

One of my favorite things to do is spend time outdoors — and there’s no better outdoor activity than cleaning up our city. Volunteers from Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Association, and the Boy Scouts removed trash and overgrown weeds from our public spaces. Thanks to their hard work, Three Creeks Trail and Mt. Pleasant Park are more beautiful! Join us at the next community clean-up: bit.ly/cleansj 

The World Report has found what most of us know already — San Jose is the place to be and we’re working each and every day to make it better!