January 2026 Newsletter

Thursday, January 15

Dear Neighbors,

Welcome to 2026. We hope you enjoyed a restful and joyful holiday season. Your District 6 Team is off and running and we hope you’re ready to get going too. 

2026 promises to be a big year for San José, and District 6 will play a key role in all of it. We will be sure to get you connected to all that is happening around the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup Soccer, and so much more. Make sure you check out the different events happening throughout the city the week before the big game—you can find that in the 'SJ26 Big Game Events' section of this newsletter.

This newsletter features our Community Spotlight recognizing a local small business, updates on the Red Light Camera Pilot Project, information on San José’s Free Junk Pickup Service, and a summary of new state and local laws taking effect. 

Community engagement and beautification projects remain a high priority for our office, and we're kicking off the new year with a clean-up in the St. Leo the Great School neighborhood. We’re proud to partner with Mayor Matt Mahan and The Trash Punx to keep our community clean and vibrant. Join us at 1051 W. San Fernando St. Saturday, January 31 at 9AM. We hope to see you there. 

Dig deeper into this edition for upcoming events, grant opportunities, and additional resources available to residents and community organizations.  

Thank you for your support and engagement during my first year in office and I look forward to working together in the year ahead. 



Best,



Michael Mulcahy

San José City Councilmember, District 6

Community Spotlight – Epicure Club 

As the region’s first modern European fusion restaurant with a family-focused concept, Epicure Club welcomes guests of all ages to dine and connect. The menu truly offers something for everyone, and if trying out new restaurants and supporting local businesses is on your 2026 In/Out list, this is the perfect place to start. Stop by for great food and livable luxury—right here in District 6.

P.S. Beginning February 13, Epicure Club will host monthly fresh coffee roasting classes, open to the community.

Tiramisu Latte (left) and Matcha Blueberry Latte (right) are a must try.

Other Popular Dishes:

Thai Alla Vodka Coconut Cod

Peruvian Roasted Chicken

Viet-French Côtes Courtes Braisée Au Vin

District and Project Updates 

Coe & Lincoln Bridge Repainting 

As part of the 2025–2026 city budget cycle, your District 6 office secured funding to repaint the Coe & Lincoln bridge arches in partnership with Glenside Riviera and Willow Glen Neighborhood Associations. The project has just been completed, unveiling a fresh, vibrant green that adds energy to the area. You will also notice the overpass pillars under Hwy 280 along Lincoln Avenue have been refreshed as well.  

Not even 24 hours after the paint went up, the bridge was tagged with graffiti. Thankfully, the crew returned to paint over the vandalism. Then on Monday, we checked out the newly painted columns on Lincoln Avenue under Hwy 280, only to find those had been tagged as well. 

We deserve to have nice things in San Jose. And these bad actors working against our efforts is incredibly frustrating. We’ll eventually find them and hold them to account. But know that a great deal of effort and public resource has gone into cleaning up this area. It is disappointing to see it immediately defaced.

That said, we are committed and persistent. If graffiti goes up, we will be there to remove it. That consistency matters. It reinforces that vandalism is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods. We will continue to report this behavior, and we are asking the community to help as well. If you see graffiti or vandalism, please report it using the San José 311 service and let our office know District6@SanJoseca.gov. 

There is no question we have additional repairs and clean-up to do in the immediate area, and more property owners to hold account for the poor condition of their properties along Lincoln (Coe to 280), but these are big improvements. Please go check ‘em out. 

La Rosca Meat Market Opens in D6 

I made my first visit to the newly opened La Rosca Meat Market on Sunday morning. It was packed. And those butchers were attentive, informative, and definitely know their stuff. I purchased two prime NY Steaks and they were fantastic for Sunday night dinner.

This shop took a very long time to open. We spent our entire first year in office working to assist their opening and they were worth the wait. Wishing this new small business big success.

La Rosca Meat Market (1087 Meridian Ave) last Sunday morning.

Annual Winter Municipal Rose Garden Pruning

Each year, the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department, alongside Terrence Reilly of the Friends of the Rose Garden, master volunteers, and an incredible team of dedicated volunteers, comes together for the annual Winter pruning event. This year, more than 300 volunteers rolled up their sleeves and pruned over 3,500 rose bushes in a single morning. The passion and care these volunteers bring to the Rose Garden is nothing short of inspiring.

Many of these volunteers have been tending the garden for decades, helping maintain its well-earned “Best in America” status. In fact, Terrence introduced me to a woman named Maureen Christopher, a remarkable volunteer who has devoted more than 1,000 hours to caring for these roses. It’s this kind of persistence and community effort that makes our Rose Garden truly one of the finest in the country. Keep an eye out for the Spring event—we’ll be sure to share details as they become available.

Speaking of roses, there’s another exciting opportunity coming up on January 31—the Guadalupe Gardens Heritage Rose Garden pruning. Did you know the Heritage Rose Garden is home to more than 2,800 varieties of heritage, modern, and miniature roses? These were planted by over 750 volunteers in March of 1995. This beloved space is yet another District 6 gem worth celebrating.

Red Light Camera Pilot Project 

The Red Light Camera Pilot Project has completed the 60-day warning period and officially began issuing citations January 9, 2026. Running a red light at one of the four enforced locations will earn the vehicles' owner a fine and fees up to $486.  

For more information on the pilot program, and a refresher on the camera locations, please find the Department of Transportation’s Red Light Camera Pilot Project webpage. 

Junk Pickup Service 

Have extra clutter from the holidays? San José’s Junk Pickup program is available at no cost for single-family homes and multi-family complexes. Both property owners and renters can use the service. For more information on how to schedule a junk pickup, please visit the Environmental Services Department Junk Pickup webpage. 

If you choose to use the service, you will likely get a date scheduled a week or two out. We are pleading with you to put your items out the day of, at earliest the night before, and NOT days or a week before your pickup appointment.

New Year, New Legislation

Several new state and local laws will take effect in 2026. Below is a summary of changes that may be most relevant to District 6 residents. This is not an exhaustive list.

SJ26 Big Game Events

Upcoming Community Events

PRNS Grant Programs Accepting Applications

Bringing Everyone's Strengths Together (BEST) Grant Programs

The Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together (BEST) Grant Program is accepting applications for the 2026 – 2029 funding cycle. This grant program funds services that build on San José youth strengths and reduce their risk of involvement in violence. The application deadline is Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 4PM.

Safe Summer Initiative Grant (SSIG) Program

The Safe Summer Initiative Grant (SSIG) Program is accepting applications for Summer 2026. Agencies that provide or enhance summer recreational or educational opportunities for youth are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is Friday, January 16, 2026, at 4PM.

Women of the Year AD 28 Nomination Form 

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-28) hosts an annual Women of the Year event in March, where strong, resilient, and revered women of District 28’s Community are recognized. Know a woman to nominate for their achievements? If so, please fill out the nomination form.  

Camp CMT Summer 2026

Registration for Camp CMT Summer 2026 is officially open. Sessions will be held June 8 – July 31 at multiple locations throughout the area. For detailed information on session dates, locations, and registration, please visit the Camp CMT webpage.