City of San Jose & District 7 Updates
March 4, 2016 - In This Issue:
From the Office of Councilmember Tam Nguyen

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Next Tuesday, City Council will consider  a potential sales tax. This comes after the City Manager released a five year budget outlook, which projected a shortfall of $30 million over the next five years. A 0.25 percent sales would be  expected to raise $40 million a year that could potentially keep our budget positive and lead to further service restorations. Feel free to reach out to my office with any comments and concerns by Tuesday.  

This Saturday, Mayor Sam Liccardo will deliver the 2016 
State of the City Address at  Overfelt  High School, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, starting at 10:00 am. The Mayor will be reflecting on this past year and outlining  key initiatives and budget priorities   for this upcoming fiscal year's budget. Together with the Mayor we will also be honoring  the Seven Trees Neighborhood Association for their accomplishments this past year. Their efforts have created a safer and vibrant community. Since the beginning of their neighborhood association in February, they have organized numerous events including monthly clean-ups,  neighborhood safety events, community gatherings, and much more in the Seven Trees area.

This week, I celebrated Read Across America by reading Dr. Seus books to children at Santee Elementary School and at the Tully Branch Library.   Read Across America is the nation's largest reading event, occurring each year on or near Dr. Seuss' birthday.   I want to thank Santee Elementary School and the Tully Branch Library for inviting me to read to our children. It is always an incredible time reading and talking to them.  Early literacy is so important because it can  mean  the difference between success and difficulty later in life. 

Finally, on Saturday, February 27th, it was my honor to participate at the Black History Month Celebration with the Iola Williams Senior Advisory Board at the Seven Trees Community Center.  Residents throughout the Seven Trees community attended to pay tribute to the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans  throughout history.  It was my deep honor to be part of this important event as continue to struggle for equality. I want to thank the Iola Williams Senior Advisory Board for hosting a truly amazing and unforgettable event. 

I f you have any questions, concerns or suggestions on how we can improve our community, feel free to contact me at  (408) 535-4907  or email me at  district7@sanjose.gov .

Sincerely,  
  
Tam Nguyen 
Councilmember, District 7

DISTRICT 7 HIGHLIGHTS
READ ACROSS AMERICA AT SANTEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    
    
As promised last year, I returned to Santee Elementary Elementary to  celebrate Read Across Ame rica to students.This time I read "Diary of Wimpy Kid Old School" to students. It was great to see so many San Jose community leaders participating in the nation largest reading event. I had  fun with the children and  look forward to visiting next year. 
GRAND OPENING OF SAN JOSE MOTHERS' MILK BANK 

                          
    
This morning, I celebrated the grand opening of the San Jose Mothers' Milk Bank with a ribbon cutting ceremony in our beautiful district.  For 42 years, the San Jose Mothers' Milk Bank has provided safe, life-saving breast milk for infants to survive and we are thrilled they will begin their next chapter right here in our district. I want to thank CEO Pauline Sakamoto for the invitation and her work she will now do in District 7. Mother's interested in becoming a donor at mothers' milk bank can call (877) 375-6645 or visit the center at 1887 Monterey Road, or by visiting their website at  www.mothersmilk.org.
READ-A-THON AT TULLY BRANCH LIBRARY 

    
    
DrSeuss's birthday, what better way to celebrate than to read. On Wednesday,  I celebrated  Dr. Seuss Birthday by reading  "UP"  to children at the Tully Branch Library.  I had a wonderful time talking to students and answering the funniest questions. The event was followed with a book  giveaway and a birthday cake. I want thank Michelle Amores and the entire staff the Tully Library for partnering up with me to host this wonderful event that teaches students not only the importance of reading but also teaches them to imagine d eeper, create worlds from words, and believe in  themselves. 
BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION WITH THE IOLA WILLIAMS ADVISORY BOARD 
    
 

On Saturday, I participated the Iola Williams Senior Advisory Board Black History Month Celebration at the Seven Trees Community Center.  Black History Month is a time reflect on the accomplishments of African-American throughout history. It offers a chance for an open dialogue between many cultures that often leads to a better understanding and appreciation of experiences each of us go through. I want to thank everyone for attending such an important event and thank the Iola Williams Senior Advisory Board for a wonderful event. 
CITY NEWS UPDATE
EDDIE GARCIA APPOINTED SAN JOSE CHIEF 
 
    
 
 
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Edgardo "Eddie" Garcia was appointed today as San José Police Chief by City Manager Norberto Dueñas. The appointment was ratified by the San José City Council this morning.

"Chief Garcia has demonstrated the skill and judgment that we need to rebuild the department's strength and to earn and keep the trust of both our residents and our police officers," said the city manager. "His long experience with this department and dedication to our community will be invaluable for leading our police force during a challenging period for both San José and the law enforcement profession." 

Garcia was appointed as interim police chief following the retirement of Chief Larry Esquivel in January this year. He began working in the San José Police Department in 1992, and became Assistant Chief in January 2013. He became Deputy Chief in 2011 and led both the Bureau of Investigations and Bureau of Administration. 

"I'm pleased that we have a dynamic leader like Chief Garcia to step up to lead our department," said San José Mayor Sam Liccardo. "I'm looking forward to working with him, his leadership team, and all of our officers as we continue to rebuild our department and ensure that San José remains one of the safest big cities in the country." 

Under the San Jose City Charter, the police chief is appointed by and reports to the City Manager, and the appointment requires ratification by the City Council.

"I am both honored by the confidence in me from the City Manager and the City Council, and humbled by the big responsibility to lead the men and women of our department as we strive to become one of the best police departments in the nation," said Garcia. "I will continue to do my best to achieve this goal in partnership with our community, the San José Police Officers Association, and all our officers." 

During his career, Garcia has worked in the Patrol Division, Narcotics Enforcement, and Special Operations/MERGE. As sergeant he worked as a night detective and homicide investigator; as lieutenant he commanded the Community Services Division and the Vice and Criminal Intelligence Units in Special Investigations; and as captain he served as commander of the Bureau of Field Operations/Central Division and Bureau of Investigations. 

Garcia was born in Puerto Rico and at a young age moved with his family to San José where he grew up. He has a bachelor's of science degree in Criminal Justice Management from Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Full news release click here

COMMUNITY FORUM ON WELCOMING SAN JOSE IMMIGRANT INTEGRATION PLAN 
 
     
 
 

Discussion on making San José a more welcoming place where immigrants can prosper.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The City of San José's new Office of Immigrant Affairs along with local nonprofits, Sacred Heart Community Service and S.I.R.E.N., invite the Spanish-speaking community to a community forum on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 to share their thoughts and ideas on what the City of San José can do to be a more welcoming place and support immigrant integration efforts. 

The topics to be discussed at the forum include equitable access and civic engagement, economic opportunity, education, safety and health. 

Who: City of San José Office of Immigrant Affairs Sacred Heart Community Service Services, 
          Immigrant Rights and Education Network (S.I.R.E.N.)

What: Welcoming San José Immigrant Integration Plan 

When: Wednesday, March 2, 2016 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

Where: Roosevelt Community Center 901 E. Santa Clara St., San José, 95116 

Background: The City of San José's Office of Immigrant Affairs was recently established to help improve the city's immigrant integration and create policies that make it easier for immigrants to fully participate in civic, cultural and economic life. Visit the Office of Immigrant Affairs website, http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?nid=4615.

Full news release click here
SAN JOSE REJECTS TRIBUTARY AGENCIES' CLAIMS REGARDING REGIONAL WASTEWATER FACILITY  
 
    
 
 
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The City of San José today formally rejected claims made by wastewater tributary agencies regarding the planning, implementation, and costs for the long-term Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility that serves 1.4 million people in Silicon Valley and protects the waters and environment of southern San Francisco Bay.

The tributary agencies represent about 20 percent of the population served by the facility located at the northernmost end of San José. The agencies recently filed claim against San José and Santa Clara, owners of the facility, that the City of San José says is inaccurate and misconstrues events.
Under their master agreements with San José and Santa Clara, and as required by state law, the tributary agencies must pay their proportionate share of operating and capital improvement costs, which are clearly defined. The tributaries, however, allege that San José is not allocating costs correctly.

San José rejects this allegation entirely, noting that cost allocations are done in accordance with the master agreements and consistent with State guidelines.  

The tributary agencies claim that they do not have adequate information about the CIP which is completely contradicted by the many years of public discussions and participation by tributary agencies in the development of the capital improvement program.

"The tributary agencies' elected representatives and their staffs have been directly engaged in improvement program discussions for the last eight years, and with the financing discussions for the last four years," said Ashwini Kantak, Assistant Director for the San José Environmental Services Department that is responsible for the Regional Wastewater Facility.

"All the tributary agencies explicitly agreed to the funding strategy in June 2015, but now they want to back out of their commitments to replace and modernize essential infrastructure that protects our environment and economy of Silicon Valley as well as the public health of residents of all our communities."

The CIP is a ten-year, $1.4 billion program that is already rebuilding the sixty-year-old wastewater facility.

The tributary agencies include the City of Milpitas, West Valley Sanitation District, Cupertino Sanitary District, County Sanitation District No. 2-3 of Santa Clara County, and Burbank Sanitation District.

All of the CIP project reports, documents, and audits about the CIP are all posted on the City's CIP web page.

Full news release click here
NOTICE OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY FOR THE SAFE SUMMER INITIATIVE GRANT 2016 (SSIG 2016)
 
   
 
 
Safe Summer Initiative Grant 2016 Application & Workshop
 
The City of San José Safe Summer Initiative Grant (SSIG) 2016 Program is now accepting applications for its next annual funding opportunity, which runs from June 1, 2016 through August 31, 2016.
 
The intent of the SSIG 2016 Program funding opportunity is to provide or enhance recreational and/or educational opportunities not normally available to the City of San José 's Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF) target population during the summer months, thereby providing youth a safe environment while keeping them active and engaged in pro-social activities. 
 
Services must be provided to youth residents of San José, ages 6-24, who are part of the MGPTF target population, which include:
 
  • Youth exhibiting at-risk or high-risk behaviors
  • Youth exhibiting high-risk behaviors related to gang lifestyles
  • Youth committing intentional acts of violence
  • Youth identified as gang members and/or arrested for gang-related incidents or acts of gang violence, in addition to families (including parents and children) and friends of youth involved with the gang lifestyle or incarcerated for gang-related crimes

 
Applicants must be a nonprofit with a 501(c)(3) status; a government agency; or a legally-recognized faith-based organization. For Summer 2016, SSIG awards range from $1,000 - $10,000. Each applicant may submit up to two (2) applications.
 
City staff will host a workshop to review the grant application content and the WebGrants system for application submission. The application workshops will be held on Thursday, February 18, 2016 from 10:00a.m. - 11:00a.m. at the Bascom Community Center, located on 1000 S. Bascom Ave, San José, CA, 95128. Applicants are strongly encouraged, but are not required, to attend this workshop.
 
TO APPLY: The grant application is available today on WebGrants, the City's online Grants Management System.  All proposers must register to access the website.  Registration in WebGrants is free.  To register and access the application, please go to  http://grants.sanjoseca.gov/index.jsp .  Completed applications can only be submitted on-line via WebGrants. Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2016. 

PRNS ACCEPTING 2016 CITYWIDE SCHOLARSHIPS APPLICATIONS 
                           
 
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is currently accepting 2016 Citywide Scholarship applications for the upcoming season. PRNS offers hundreds of classes and programs, like dance, music, health and fitness, gymnastics, theater and many more. Scholarship applications and submission directions can be picked up at any PRNS community center or can be found online. The scholarship applications are available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. 

For more information, please contact the PRNS customer service helpline at 408-793-5565 or click here
GOT JUNK?? IT'S EASY & FREE TO RECYCLE YOUR JUNK  
  

It's easy & FREE to recycle your junk..

Residents in single-family homes can have large items (such as mattresses, sofas, refrigerators, tires, and more) collected curbside by their recycling collection company.  Schedule a pickup before June 30, 2016.  The first collection of up to three large items will be at  no extra charge . Additional large item collections are available for $27 (up to three items). This pilot program will end on June 30, 2016.

Visit  www.sjenvironment.org/largeitems  for more information about eligible items. Apartment and condominium residents can contact their property managers directly to arrange for large item collections, also at no additional cost. Help keep your neighborhood clean. To schedule a pick-up or to report illegal dumping call (408) 535-3500.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
2016 STATE OF THE CITY CELEBRATION  
 
 
 

Mayor Sam Liccardo and the San Jose City Council cordially invite you to the 2016 State of the City Celebration. The event will held on Saturday, March 5th, at Overfelt High School, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, starting at 9:30 am.  Resource Fair will begin promptly after the State of the event. 

Mayor Liccardo will outline key initiatives, budget priorities, and opportunities for residents to get engaged to make San José a safer, smarter city. In addition to the Mayor's speech, the event will honor outstanding citizens from each Council District and exemplary city employees. Register  here .

To arrange for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to participate in this public event, please call (408) 535-4800 (Voice) or (408) 294-9337 (TTY) at least three business days before the event.  For more information contact the Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo at  (408) 535-4800


 
SAN JOSE JAZZ FESTIVAL 2016 

   
 
 
Kaiser Permanente San Jose Jazz Winter Festival 2016 is now running until March 8th. The festival presented by Metro showcases a diverse array of leading edge artists and jazz giants, featuring John Scofield & Joe Lovano, Regina Carter, Nicholas Payton, and many more. This two-week celebration in Downtown San José features concerts, dance parties and more.  For more information and ticket prices call  (408)  288-7557 or visit  http://sanjosejazz.org.  
5TH SUMMIT ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION 

  
 
On Friday May 6th the Office of Economic Development's work2future and BusinessOwnerSpace programs will host its 5th Annual Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation. 
 
The focus of this year's summit will be on supporting and acknowledging the important role that immigrant entrepreneurs feature in our local community. 
 
Our main partner for this event will the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the keynote will be provided by the SBA National Administrator Maria-Contrearas-Sweet, herself a successful entrepreneur from Mexico. 
The Summit will feature  a series of technical assistance workshops, seminars and speed mentoring opportunities. We will have translation services available in Spanish and Vietnamese.  
 
The Summit will be held in the City Hall Rotunda and will start at approximately 8:30 am and continue until noon. As we move closer to May 6th, we will share with you the agenda and collateral materials in English, Spanish and Vietnamese as well.  
 
As you have all so generously done in the past, we would appreciate your support in marketing this signature small business event and the services to your constituents. 

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AT HISTORY PARK- SUN, 3/06

  
 
 
The Chinese Historical Cultural Project (CHCP) and History Park invites you to the Lunar New Year Celebration on Sunday, March 6th from 12-3pm. This is a FREE event, open to the entire family. The event will be held at History Park, located at 635 Phelan Ave. Join the lively celebration with traditional lion dancing kicking off the event, exciting cultural performances, hands-on children;s activities, and be in a parade around the park plaza. Y ou don't want to miss this wonderful family event.  Park for free on local streets or use the San Jose city parking lot on Phelan Avenue ($6 fee if attendant is present). For more information click here
CALIFORNIA'S GREAT AMERICA JOB RECRUITMENT- WED, 3/09
 

 
 
Are you or anyone looking for a job? Work2Future invites you to an open recruitment opportunity at California's Great America. The event will be held on Wednesday, March 9th at Work2Future, located at 2072 Lucretia Avenue, from 2-4pm. They will be hiring for the following positions: entertainment, rides, aquatics, security, park services, admission, safety EMT, food beverages, sales associates, and games/merchants. For more information click here or apply now
FREE SPANISH DRIVER'S LICENSE CLASS

  

 
Get ready to attend a FREE Spanish driver's license class. Register to attend a class by texting (408) 800-4458. The next class will be on Wednesday, March 8th and Thursday, March 10th at the Consulado General de Mexico en San Jose, located at 2125 Zanker Road, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. For more information visit Licencias.us
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Prepárate para asistir a una clase de licencia de conducir GRATIS. Regístrese para asistir por mensajes de texto al 408-800-4458. La próxima clase será el miercoles, 8 de marzo y el jueves, 10 de marzo en le Consulado General de Mexico en San Jose, ubicada en 2125 Zanker Road, de 5:30 pm a 8:30 pm. Para obtener más información, visite Licencias.us.
COYOTE CREEK WATERSHED TOUR- SAT, 3/12
 

The Coyote Creek Spring Watershed tour will focus on the tidal zone of Coyote Creek, in particular the salt ponds at the Bay, encroachment of urban development on the creek, and impacts of industry along the waterways. We will also visit the water treatment plant to learn about water treatment processing and recycling, and discharge to Coyote Creek.
 
Please wear comfortable clothes and footwear for a long walk along the trail and levees. As a waste-free event, please bring your own water bottle and any personal snacks. Lunch will be provided.
Starting location provided to registered attendees just prior to event.
 
Date: Saturday, March 12, 2016
Time: 8:30 am - 1 pm
Location: Revealed just prior to the event
 
Co-sponsors: Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, City of San Jose, Santa Clara Valley Water District
 
For more information, contact Deb Kramer at deb@keepcoyotecreekbeautiful.org or at
DISTRICT 7 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS SCHEDULE 

Become  a member of your neighborhood association. Want to register a new Neighborhood Association with the City of San José?  Anyone interested in organizing or reviving their neighborhood association or updating their groups' information can contact Johanna Rodriguez at (408) 535-4907  or via email at  Johanna.Rodriguez@sanjoseca.gov .
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DISTRITO 7: HORARIO DE LAS ASOCIACIONES DE VECINOS
Conviértase en un miembro de su asociación de vecinos. Quiere registrarse a una nueva Asociación de Vecinos? Cualquier persona interesada en organizar o la reactivación de su asociación de vecinos o actualización de la información de sus grupos pueden ponerse en contacto con Johanna Rodríguez al (408) 535-4907 o por correo electrónico a Johanna.Rodriguez@sanjoseca.gov.
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LỊCH TRÌNH HỌP CÁC HỘI CƯ DÂN KHU VỰC 7
Muốn thành hội viên hội cư dân hàng xóm. Muốn ghi danh hội cư dân hàng xóm mới với thành phố San Jose? Quí vị thích thú muốn tổ chức hoặc làm sống lại hội cư dân hoặc bổ túc thêm thông tin cho hội của mình có thể liên lạc Johanna Rodriguez tại 
(408) 535-4907 hoặc email

Johanna.Rodr iguez@sanjoseca.gov.
District 7
408.535.4907
district7@sanjoseca.gov
 
Have questions, concerns, or suggestions? Please contact us and let us know.

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