Dear Neighbor,

When I took office, I promised we would take bold action on homelessness. I promised not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good. And I promised that together we would deliver results. 

Soon after, we launched our weekly Saturday clean-ups. One of the first clean-ups we organized was at Watson Park. Some of you reading this were there, and may remember, as I do, how horrific the conditions were.

Along the edge of the park near the creek–a greenspace that should be open and clean–was filled with debris, rotting former belongings and human excrement, and dozens of stolen shopping carts. Even after two clean-ups, the park and surrounding environment are still impacted by camping and neighbors have told me they don’t feel safe using the park. This is unacceptable. We can’t make lasting progress if we have people living in unmanaged, unsafe conditions without security, sanitation and basic rules. 

This week, we took action to change that. We took another step toward fulfilling the promises I made to treat homelessness like the crisis it is and finally restore this park to what it should be – a clean, safe, welcoming place for everyone to enjoy. 

This neighborhood will be the first to see the benefits of a new solution we are going to test — one that will preserve our park and protect it from re-encampment – our first Safe Sleeping Site.

My team and Councilmember Torres’ office recently went door-to-door, letting neighbors know that they'll be the first to see the effects of this new approach. We’ll be working with the neighborhood every step of the way to ensure this solution benefits everyone.

Likely to open in early 2025, these sites will serve those currently living in encampments in the immediate vicinity first. We will then create no encampment zones within a minimum two-block radius of the site to prevent the unmanaged, unsafe sites from returning to the neighborhood. This is a new approach that we believe will reduce the impacts of encampments and help get people stabilized and on a path toward self-sufficiency as we invest in more treatment beds, shelter beds and affordable housing. All of these solutions are valuable, but we can’t wait for the most permanent solutions in order to take action on the crisis in front of us today. 

We’re still working through the details of operation, including how many people will be served at this site, but we know that services will include sanitation, trash pick-up, security and case management. There will be a code of conduct strictly enforced with bans on weapons and drug use on site, and support in accessing the resources our homeless neighbors need to get on a better path. You can see the site and hear more about the plan below.

This site will be the first of a few to move forward this year, as we step up our efforts to end the era of unmanaged, unsafe encampments and all of the issues that come with them. Last year, we reduced unsheltered homelessness in San Jose by nearly 11%, but far too many neighborhoods are still severely impacted by unmanaged encampments and can’t wait years until enough affordable housing is built. While we take an “all of the above” approach that includes building new treatment beds via our County government, tiny homes, safe parking sites, and affordable housing (as well as investments in upstream homelessness prevention), we will also move more decisively to manage the situation on our streets for everyone’s sake. That’s what safe sleeping sites are all about. 

We can’t allow our public spaces to fall into squalor any more than we can allow our homeless neighbors to live in it – that’s why we’re moving with urgency to create a better quality of life for all of us. We’ll keep you updated in the coming weeks and months as we continue to make progress and work with the immediate neighbors to establish a Safe Sleeping Site that works for everyone.

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

When our officers arrest the same people over and over again, including this man who was taken into custody 3 times in recent months for public possession of hard drugs, it erodes public trust, it undermines our system of justice, and if left unchecked, it could lead to death by overdose for him or others. Our small businesses are suffering, our residents are scared, and our officers’ time is being wasted.

Prop 36 gives judges new tools to mandate that repeat drug offenders engage in treatment programs, increases punishment for repeat and organized retail theft, classifies fentanyl as a hard drug, and requires that those convicted of selling fentanyl are told that continuing dealing can lead to a murder charge. You can read a nonpartisan analysis here.

With the recent passage of Proposition 1— which promises to build 10,000 new treatment beds statewide —Santa Clara County can now apply for funding to build treatment centers and permanent housing for people with serious illnesses, substance disorders, and housing needs. This funding will help build the infrastructure needed to implement CARE Court, SB 43, and, if voters choose to pass it this November, Prop 36 – all of which are different tools the judicial system can use to compel people struggling with mental health and severe addiction to get the help they need.

In July, the state announced the release of the first round of Prop 1 bond dollars ($3.3 billion). Our County recently laid out their plans for how they plan to apply for and use these dollars – including the purchase and restoration of several treatment facilities. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in the recent County meeting and convey that we hope to see the County A) apply for funding to build/rehab the maximum number of new treatment beds possible, and B) ensure that they are fairly distributed across the county, not just built in San Jose. 

We’ll continue to provide updates and advocacy opportunities for those interested in addressing our mental health crisis and moving with urgency to get those struggling connected to support.

Last week, we celebrated and mourned a life of service that was cut short – Community Service Officer Long Pham, who died in the line of duty because of the reckless actions of a drunk driver. There are no words that can adequately express the deep gratitude and sorrow we collectively feel when a member of our City Team – a member who quite literally put himself in harm's way for the benefit of others – is lost in the line of duty. CSO Long Pham’s life was a life of service and honor. His sacrifice will be forever remembered by our Police Department and the entire city. My thoughts are with his family during this unimaginably difficult time.

San Jose Giants vs. Modesto Nuts

Tuesday, September 10th at 6:30PM

Excite Ballpark, 588 E Alma Avenue, San Jose, CA 95112

Cheer on the San Jose Giants in their fourth consecutive playoff appearance — and get a free t-shirt! Bring your friends and family, grab a churro or some garlic fries, and enjoy a fun night of baseball. Learn more here.

SoFA Market 10th Anniversary Celebration

Friday, September 13th at 5:30PM to 7:00PM

387 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113

Join us to celebrate 10 years of the SoFA market in one of Downtown’s more vibrant neighborhoods. We’ll enjoy delicious food and drinks, local vendors, music, and more! Learn more here.

Cars in the Park

Saturday, September 14th at 11:00AM to 4:00PM

History Park at Kelley Park  

Join us for the largest annual antique auto show in the West! Enjoy a day of exploration and nostalgic experiences at "Cars in the Park" on Sat, Sept 14th, 11 AM to 4 PM. This family-friendly event showcases the elegance of pre-1949 vehicles and invites you to experience history firsthand with a variety of exciting, interactive activities for all ages. This year the event highlights the iconic Dodge Brothers collection. Come marvel at the craftsmanship and innovation that defined an era!

Little Italy Block Party

Thursday, September 19th at 5:00PM to 9:00PM

North Almaden Boulevard, San Jose, CA 95110

Don’t miss the party of the summer! Over 7,000 residents have already attended Urban Vibrancy Institute’s block parties — but the fun isn’t over yet! Stop by Little Italy for an evening filled with delicious food, live music, and activities for the whole family. I’ll see you there! Learn more here.

Lone Bluff Park Community Day

Saturday, September 21st at 8:45AM to 12:00PM

Lone Bluff Way & Pinto Drive, San Jose, CA 95111

We’re cleaning up San Jose, one neighborhood at a time! Join us to pick up litter, pull weeds, and beautify Lone Bluff Park. Together, we can create the safer, cleaner city we all deserve to live in. Learn more and RSVP here.

We organized our last weekly clean-up alongside Congressman Panetta and Councilmember Candelas, celebrating the $850,000 the Congressman secured to help revitalize Lake Cunningham. We got a lesson on the local ecosystem and manually removed stinkwort — an invasive species that California Native Plant Society has been fighting to get rid of for the past 5 years! Join us next time here.

I was honored to join the coin flip with President Teniente-Matson and SJSU Athletics for City of San José Night! You can check out the season schedule here to cheer on SJSU at their next home game. Go Spartans!

Did you know that the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center is the largest purification center in Northern California? They purify treated wastewater through microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light disinfection, creating a safe, sustainable water supply that is as clean and pure as it gets. And it’s tasty too! In a state often challenged by droughts, Valley Water’s water purification facility reflects the problem-solving spirit that defines Silicon Valley — and last week, we toasted to their 10-year anniversary!