|
Hi Neighbors,
Spring is almost here! Take advantage of the sunny and warm weather and do some spring cleaning. During the next few months, there will be multiple opportunities to get involved with my office and help beautify our neighborhoods.
Join me and my team on Saturday, April 19, as we roll up our sleeves and celebrate Earth Day with the Great American Litter Pick-Up! Community members of all ages are encouraged to come together to remove litter and enhance Lake Cunningham's natural beauty.
If you can't make it, don't worry! The San Jose Parks and Rec team has a series of cleanups in various parks throughout District 8. Bring your family and friends to any of the 3 volunteering opportunities available, and make a lasting difference in your community.
Together, we can build brighter and stronger neighborhoods!
It is my pleasure and privilege to serve as your City Councilmember,
| |
|
Domingo Candelas
City of San José District 8
| |
|
Learn more about our community work and accomplishments in my past 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.
| |
|
Tennis Court Renovation
March 31-April 4, 2025
The tennis court windscreens will be removed and replaced between the hours of 7am to 3:30pm. During this time, the courts will be closed to the public.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
| |
|
Great American Litter Pick Up
Saturday, April 19, 2025
9:00am-11:30am
The Great American Litter Pickup is a city-wide event dedicated to keeping our neighborhoods clean and beautiful. Our office will be hosting a clean-up at Lake Cunningham this year, so come on out and celebrate Earth Day with us!
RSVP here!
| |
|
Community Park Cleanups!
Looking to make a difference in your community? Volunteer your time and attend the SJ Parks and Rec Saturday Series cleanups!
| |
|
American Red Cross Blood Drive at the Evergreen Village Square
The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive at the Village Square Branch Library on Friday, April 18!
Donations are accepted by scheduled appointment only
Make an appointment today by clicking the link here!
| |
|
Councilmember Candelas at the Farmers' Market
Evergreen Village Square
10am-12pm
Stop by and share your thoughts and questions with me at the Farmer's Market. Part of empowering our families and creating stronger neighborhoods is addressing your concerns and connecting you with the available resources!
No appointments are needed.
Mar. 16, June 15, July 20, Sept. 21, Oct. 19 & Dec. 21
| |
|
San Jose State vs UNLV
When I'm not in City Council meetings or attending community events, I'm on the court playing basketball. It was an absolute privilege to receive a jersey from the San Jose State men's basketball team! Can't wait to display this jersey from my alma mater in my office!
| |
|
Read Across America
Read Across America is an event I hold near and dear to my heart, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my birthday than with the students at James F. Smith Elementary!
I also had the pleasure of reading to the wonderful kiddos at the Evergreen Community Center last week!
| |
|
District 8 Youth Council Committee
The District 8 Youth Council Committee held their first meeting of 2025! It's amazing to see our high school youth come together and discuss potential issues that matter to them.
| |
|
Meet the Newest San Jose Leaders!
This month, I had the opportunity to visit the San Jose State campus for a panel discussion featuring my council colleagues–Councilmembers Campos, Mulcahey, Salas and Casey–and County Supervisor Betty Doung. As a first-generation college student and proud product of SJSU, I love connecting with our students aka the future leaders of San Jose!
| |
|
City Hall Update
I am excited to announce that the City Council approved an agreement to keep the San Jose Giants at Excite Ballpark until 2050! This agreement is a strategic investment in our community's future–driving economic growth and enhancing our quality of life. I remember attending games with my family when I was growing up, and I'm thrilled that future generations of kids and families will have the same opportunity.
Beyond the benefits for families, renewing this lease brings significant economic advantage to our City. Every game draws fans who shop and dine locally. The presence of the team keeps jobs here in San Jose—ticket sellers, event staff, groundskeepers, and players—contributing to a thriving, sustainable local economy that benefits everyone.
| |
|
Disability Access Improvement Grants for Small Businesses
San José Small Business Owners: The City's Disability Access Improvement Grants program will support your responsibility to comply with the federal Americans with Disability Act and the California Building Code. The grant will help you pay for a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report and to hire professionals to design and remove ADA barriers.
More information about qualifying for grant assistance can be found here.
| |
|
Art Classes at the Evergreen Village Square
Interested in channeling your inner artist?
Visit the VE Art Studio or click here to learn more about their class offerings!
| |
|
The Art of Living is hosting a series of 75 minute workshops to get the chance to pause, take a breath and clear your mind with the help of a calming breathing technique and a guided meditation.
More info available here!
| |
|
In-person Yoga Breath Meditation Workshop
The Art of Living is also hosting in-person meditation workshops at Valley Oak Montessori School every Saturday and Sunday at 9:15am!
Click here for more info!
| |
|
The City of San José is spreading the word about the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline. This lifeline gives you free, confidential, and compassionate emotional support when you need help. Contacting 988 connects you to a trained counselor who is here for you, no matter what you are going through. If you are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, reach out to 988.
Click here to learn more about the 988 lifeline.
..
| |
|
Apply to the City of San Jose Boards and Commissions
Are you interested in serving on a Board or Commission for the City of San Jose?
Click here for more details and submit your application!
| |
|
Youth Resource Fair
This FREE event is designed to connect local youth with essential resources, including housing assistance, food support, healthcare, mental wellness services, financial guidance, career/training services, and more.
More information is available here!
| |
|
Happy Hollow Park & Zoo Access for All Scholarship
The Happy Hollow Park & Zoo offers discounted rates for families receiving government assistance, such as Medical, food stamps, WIC, etc. Access for All provides four discounted tickets at $4 each. Guests can receive this discounted rate every time they visit HHPZ!
Learn more about the program here!
| |
|
For three decades, the Growing Up in America - GUA Contest has been a celebration of creativity, self-expression, and cultural identity in the Bay Area. Hosted by AACI in partnership with NBC Bay Area, this annual art, essay, and video contest provides a platform for K-12 students from nine counties to share their unique stories, voices, and perspectives. Since its origination, the contest has evolved to include students from all cultural backgrounds, reflecting AACI's expanded mission over the years to serve people of all ethnic backgrounds.
This year’s theme is FACING MY FEARS, and it encourages participants to reflect on and share their understanding of fear, explore the differences between healthy and unhealthy fears, and learn ways to manage their own fears.
Submission forms will be open on March 1, 2025. All entries are due by March 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM PST. Submissions must be made online through the website: www.aaci.org.
..
Durante tres décadas, el Concurso Growing Up in America - GUA ha sido una celebración de la creatividad, la autoexpresión y la identidad cultural en el Área de la Bahía. Organizado por AACI en asociación con NBC Bay Área, este concurso anual de arte, ensayo y video proporciona una plataforma para que los estudiantes de K-12 de nueve condados compartan sus historias, voces y perspectivas únicas.
El tema de este año es ENFRENTAR A MIS MIEDOS, y anima a los participantes a reflexionar y compartir su comprensión del miedo, explorar las diferencias entre miedos saludables y no saludables, y aprender maneras de manejar sus propios miedos.
El concurso estará abierto el 1 de marzo de 2025. Todas las inscripciones deben presentarse antes del 15 de marzo de 2025, a las 11:59 PM PST. Las presentaciones deben hacerse en línea a través del sitio web: www.aaci.org.
| |
|
Student Fair in District 8
ACI Youth Programs is hosting their 5th annual SLAM (Sports, Leadership, Arts, and Media) Student Fair which will be held on Saturday, March 22nd from
1 PM – 4 PM at the East Valley Family YMCA.
This event is recommended for students between the ages 12-18, but families are welcome to join if they have a teen within that age range. The SLAM Student Fair will give youth an opportunity to connect with other peers, community leaders, and community organizations with interactive activities, speaker presentations, and raffle prizes.
Register for this FREE event here!
| |
|
Cash for College Workshops
Financial aid applications are now required for seniors to graduate in California, making it more important than ever to provide accessible resources for completing the FAFSA and California Dream Act Application (CADAA). To support this effort, we’re hosting Cash for College workshops across San Jose.
These workshops are designed to provide hands-on assistance to seniors and their families with financial aid applications and college planning.
Register here
Key Dates to Know:
- Priority Deadline for State Aid: March 3, 2025
- California Community College Students Deadline: September 2, 2025
| |
|
Join the City of San José as a Recreation Leader or Lifeguard
Looking for a fun and rewarding summer job? The City of San José is hiring! Earn up to $29.45/hour while making a difference in your community—whether you're running engaging programs for kids or keeping swimmers safe.
Why Join Us?
✔ Competitive pay & flexible hours
✔ Training and certification provided for lifeguards
✔ Build leadership, teamwork & communication skills
✔ Stay active & work outdoors
✔ Gain valuable experience in public service
Don’t miss out—apply today and make the most of your summer!
| |
|
Project Foodbox for Medi-Cal Members
Click here to get more info!
| |
|
Starting in March, San José Clean Energy (SJCE) customers are saving even more money! Not sure if you are a SJCE customer? Check the first page of your PG&E bill. You can also call SJCE at 833-432-2454 or visit SanJoseCleanEnergy.org/return-to-sjce
San José Clean Energy (SJCE) is working hard to keep your energy costs as low as possible and help our neighbors hardest hit. Please contact SJCE on ways you can save: SanJoseCleanEnergy.org.
| |
|
Computer & Digital Skills Classes and 1:1 Support
Build your digital skills by attending in-person or virtual classes in multiple languages offered by the San Jose Public Library!
For in-person class times, Click here!
Interested in virtual classes? Click here!
| |
|
Valley Water's Essential Tips to Get Flood Ready
1. Develop an emergency plan: An essential step toward being flood ready is preparing for an emergency. Discuss with members of your household what to do during a disaster. Identify emergency contacts in and out of town and a caretaker for individuals with special needs and pets. Please visit ready.gov/plan for more details.
2.Put your 3-day emergency kit together: Create an emergency kit with tools, supplies, non-perishable food, and water (3 gallons per person). For a detailed list of recommended supplies, please visit ready.gov/kit.
3. Download disaster and emergency apps: Sign up for Santa Clara County’s official emergency alert and warning system, AlertSCC. Use the information provided by AlertSCC to get the most up-to-date information on emergencies and disasters happening in your area.
4. Know your flood risk: To find out if you live in a high-risk flood zone, visit valleywater.org/floodzone. To check whether your house or business is in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and learn how to interpret FEMA flood maps, please visit the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
| |  |
|
5. Get flood insurance ahead of time: Most homeowner's and renter’s insurance policies don’t cover damage from natural disasters such as floods. Visit floodsmart.gov to learn about flood insurance policies.
6. Protect your home from flood threats: Valley Water offers free, filled sandbags for residents of Santa Clara County. Sandbag distribution sites can be found here.
7. Keep debris and trash out of our streams: Healthy, flowing creeks reduce flood risks by carrying stormwaters away from properties and roads. Report blockages like wood or debris and dumping in creeks to the Valley Water Watersheds Operations & Maintenance hotline at 408-630-2378 or through Access Valley Water.
8. Avoid floodwaters - Turn around, don’t drown: Understand shallow flooding risks - never walk or drive through flooded areas, no matter how shallow.
9.Build responsibly in floodplains:
Construction within Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) zones require special permits. Learn more at valleywater.org/floodready.
| |
To learn more about free legal services through the Elevate Community Center, click here! | | | | |
