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Dear Neighbors,
Last month I had the opportunity to travel to Paris through a program organized by Reimagining the Civic Commons and the Better Block Foundation. This was not a City expenditure, it was underwritten by four national foundations, including the Knight Foundation which continues to invest directly into our community in a variety of ways. In this month’s newsletter, I’ve included a brief reflection on what I observed and the ideas I’m bringing back to San José.
Last weekend, we hosted a successful Dumpster Day in the Willow Glen neighborhood, helping residents safely dispose of unwanted items. It was a massive hit with hundreds of neighbors served in partnership with the WG Neighborhood Association. We’re continuing that effort on this Saturday, May 2, with another Dumpster Day in the Delmas neighborhood, serving Midtown, Delmas, Buena Vista, and Gardner. We encourage residents to take advantage of this resource and reach out to our office with any questions.
Please note that one of the many Cinco de Mayo celebrations will be taking place that day, which will temporarily impact parts of Barack Obama Boulevard and Santa Clara Street, so attendees should enter the parking lot via San Fernando Street.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to share that on May 9, 2026, from 12:00PM to 10:30PM, Pulse at the Meadow, a music festival, will take place at Discovery Meadow. Come and enjoy our beautiful downtown on what is sure to be a great evening of music and fun. Event organizers have generously offered District 6 residents a 15% discount. Use code MULCAHY15 to redeem.
As always, I invite you to read on for a recap of recent office activities, upcoming events, and additional opportunities to stay engaged and connected with resources available throughout the City.
Best,
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Michael Mulcahy
San José City Councilmember, District 6
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A Short Reflection:
What a Week in Paris Taught Me About Cities, Culture, and Follow‑Through
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I was invited to Paris for the 10th Anniversary Civic Commons Learning Journey, alongside civic leaders and key foundations from across the United States. Michael Lomio, Downtown Manager from the Office of Economic Development, joined me. We went to see how Paris is reshaping itself—through the Olympics, a bold greening agenda, and big moves on mobility and public space.
What stood out most was how simple and intentional many of the interventions in Paris are. In their “greening of the city,” former traffic corridors are lined with trees, plantings, and shade, and many iconic public spaces use modest materials like crushed granite, sand, and grass. Nothing is especially exotic—the difference is consistency and civic pride. Public servants describe their work as part of a shared civic project, not just a set of tasks.
One example that stood out was their City Hall, the Hôtel de Ville, where a large concrete plaza built over a parking structure has been partially “forested.” The result softens, cools, and beautifies the space—an idea worth considering in our own City Hall context.
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A similar philosophy guides mobility investments. Paris has made a significant commitment to biking, redesigning streets, removing car lanes, and expanding bike infrastructure and shared mobility systems. Around schools, entire streets are closed to vehicles to create safe, active spaces for children and families. The tools themselves are not complex; the consistency of implementation is what sets them apart.
We experienced this firsthand, spending hours biking across the city. While imperfect and at times chaotic, the system reflects a clear and durable vision that has now been sustained across political lines.
Underlying all of this is a governance culture that feels notably different from San José’s. In Paris, elected leadership sets a clear direction, and the administrative system is closely aligned to deliver it. Once decisions are made, the focus quickly shifts to execution.
In San José’s council–manager system, we benefit from shared governance and accountability, but it can also diffuse authority and slow implementation. Even when there is agreement on the “what,” the “how” often involves multiple layers of coordination and extended timelines.
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Experiencing Paris makes this contrast especially clear. The takeaway is not to copy their approach project for project, but to reflect on alignment—how vision, governance, and execution reinforce one another to deliver results at scale. It raises an important question: what would it take to close the gap between vision and execution in San José, and better match our ambition with follow-through?
Thank you to Reimagining the Civic Commons and the Better Block Foundation for organizing this visit, and to the Knight Foundation, Kresge Foundation, JPB Foundation, and William Penn Foundation for supporting this important work. Starting May 12, 2026, San José will host over 150 delegates from across the United States for Reimagining Civic Commons Studio #11: Diverse Cultures, Common Ground as we show our city off to visitors looking for inspiration and great ideas for public spaces and partnership.
| | San José Public Library celebrated Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 19-25). Join us in congratulating Dolores M. from the Bascom Branch Library, Arthur Morgan from the Rose Garden Branch Library, and Aneesha Janbandhu from the Willow Glen Branch Library, who have been recognized by the San José Public Library as Volunteers of the Year at their respective library locations. | |
Dolores M. | Bascom Branch Library
If you frequent Bascom Library, or have popped into our Friends' Book sales, you have undoubtedly run into our dedicated and very friendly volunteer, Dolores M., who been with the Bascom Friends group since the library first opened its doors in 2013. In addition to serving as the Friends' treasurer, she manages the steady stream of donations for Bascom Library Friends’ book sales and the Book Nook. She is also the digital voice behind the Bascom Friends’ active Facebook page.
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Arthur Morgan | Rose Garden Branch Library
Arthur Morgan joined the Rose Garden Branch Library as a volunteer in 2023. He is our resident Tech Mentor who always shows up ready and willing to help anyone needing help with technology. Whether it's a smartphone, laptop, or putting together a resume, Arthur always arrives with a great attitude and has helped a good number of patrons over the years gain confidence with their technological skills.
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Aneesha Janbandhu | Willow Glen Branch Library
As the founder of Science Academy, Aneesha has been presenting science based STEM programs for kids at the library since 2023. Her impact has been felt across San Jose. In addition to the Willow Glen Library, Aneesha has also presented at two other library locations, the Bascom Library and the Educational Park Library. Over the years, Aneesha has built up a fan base of regulars - children and parents both - who make a point to attend her programs because they know it will be both educational and fun. And while she is getting ready for new adventures at college in the fall, Aneesha has also ensured that her Science Academy legacy will continue by mentoring other teens as Science Academy Ambassadors.
| | During the event, we walked through the City’s budget process, including how funds are allocated, where revenue is generated, and the key priorities and challenges shaping this year’s budget cycle. It was a valuable opportunity to share information and hear directly from residents. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office. We welcome continued input as the budget process moves forward. | | Demolition Begins at Former Pizza Hut Site | | |
We’re excited to share an important update regarding the former Pizza Hut site at 199 Race Street, located
at the intersection of Race, Tillman, and Park in District 6. This long abandoned and blighted property has been a source of concern for many neighbors due to ongoing graffiti and vandalism.
Starting May 4, demolition work will begin on the property as the first step toward its future transformation into a new neighborhood park. While next steps are still being developed, this marks a meaningful milestone in turning a long-underused space into something that can better serve the community.
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This project has been a frequent question from residents, and we know there has been strong interest in seeing progress. During a recent clean-up effort just at St. Leo the Great School, we heard firsthand how encouraged many neighbors were to see movement toward change.
We’re sharing this update early so surrounding residents are aware of the work beginning on site. This is an exciting first step toward creating a new public space for District 6.
| | W. San Carlos Corridor Update Cont. | In last month's e-letter, we shared an update on construction projects along W. San Carlos Street. We know this is taking longer than expected. Most of our team lives in the district too, and we all drive it regularly to stay in touch with the issues we are working to solve. So, this month, we're sharing that the Public Works project tracker has been set up to auto-update as new information becomes available. If you are impacted by this work, we encourage you to bookmark the page for the most current project status and updates. | | Crossing with the Councilmember | | Councilmember Mulcahy is pictured with the San José Police Department School Safety Team and Trace Elementary School Principal Karina Alvarez. | | Councilmember Mulcahy (left) and Francisco Silva-Tellez (right). | | |
Your District 6 Office was proud to help sponsor and join San José firefighters, community volunteers, and local partners in refreshing the exterior of Fire Station 6. Together, we planted drought-friendly California native landscaping creating a more
sustainable and welcoming entrance for both firefighters and the community.
| | Volunteers pictured at the Fire Station 6 clean-up day on Saturday, April 4. | | This effort came to life through strong collaboration with Republic Urban Properties, Greener Bay Landscaping, the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association, Willow Rose Arts Foundation, and dedicated neighborhood volunteers. I’m grateful to everyone who contributed their time, resources, and care to strengthen community pride at Station 6. A special shout out to De Anna Mirzadegan and Mary Fox for their unwavering commitment. Check out the refresh! | | Neighborhood Quality of Life (NQL) Ride-Along | | The District 6 Council Office joined the San José Police Department’s Neighborhood Quality of Life (NQL) Team for a ride-along. The NQL Team supports division captains by responding to situations that require a higher level of coordination, including work related to large encampments. We are grateful to the team for giving us an inside look at their work and for the opportunity to better understand the conditions and coordination involved in responding to encampments across the City. | | Chief of Staff Lynn Lee (left), Sergeant Aponte (middle), and Councilmember Mulcahy (right). | | Autism Awareness Month Flag Raising | | On April 7, your District 6 team hosted San José’s first-ever Autism Awareness Month flag raising. The flag, designed by Martin Slyngstad (2024 Disability Advocate of the Year and founder of Spire Autism), stands as a meaningful symbol of San José’s commitment to awareness, acceptance, and inclusion for all. We look forward to continuing this important tradition in the years ahead. | Community members gathered outside City Hall for the Autism Awareness Month Flag Raising. | | Councilmember Mulcahy speaks in front of the Autism Awareness Month flag. | | We were joined by Mayor Matt Mahan, Council colleagues, City Manager Jennifer Maguire, SJSU College of Education Dean Redmond-Sanogo, SJSU Lurie College of Education, SJSU Center for Research and Practice, and dedicated community advocates—including Martin Slyngstad (2024 Disability Advocate of the Year), Stella Slyngstad, Jill Escher of Autism Society of San Francisco Bay Area, and Joshua Drake, Executive Director of Morgan Autism Center. | | Rose Garden Neighborhood Association Egg Hunt | Councilmember Mulcahy dropped the Golden Egg at the annual Rose Garden Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 11. | | Local Community Heroes Scholarship Recognition Ceremony | Councilmember Mulcahy delivered a keynote speech for recipients of the Local Community Heroes scholarship. | | Rebuilding Day with Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley | | |
Waxing the City
130 Stockton Avenue, Suite 140
| Councilmember Mulcahy welcomed Waxing the City to San José on April 8, 2026, in the Alameda Business District. Owner Brittony Benham said she chose this location for its vibrant energy and strong sense of community, calling it the ideal place to create a welcoming, professional, and client-focused business. | Congratulations Brittony! | | Friends, family, employees, and supporters gathered outside the storefront to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting. | | |
Commendation: Open Doors to Future Possibilities
Saturday, April 4
| Councilmember Tordillos (left), Executive Director Dr. Simone Lundquist (middle), and Councilmember Mulcahy (right) pictured at the Veteran's Easter Brunch. | | |
Proclamation: Autism Awareness Month
Tuesday, April 7
| Morgan Autism Center Executive Director Joshua Blake, along with students and staff, attended City Hall to accept the Autism Awareness Month proclamation. | | |
Proclamation: Arts, Culture, & Creativity Month
Wednesday, April 8
| Councilmember Mulcahy presented a proclamation proclaiming April as Arts, Culture, & Creativity month in the City of San José. Read the Metro Article below covering the event. | | |
Commendation: Spire Autism
Tuesday, April 21
| Martin Slyngstad and his mother, Stella Slyngstad, accepted commendations on behalf of Spire Autism, joined by family and friends. | | |
Commendation: San Jose Parents Participating Nursery School
Saturday, April 25
| Councilmember Mulcahy is pictured with board members of the San Jose Parents Participating Nursery School and teacher Sharon while presenting a commendation at the annual Touch-A-Truck event. | | |
Commendation: Autism Society
San Francisco Bay Area
Tuesday, April 28
| Board members of the Autism Society San Francisco Bay Area accepted a commendation at City Hall in recognition of their advocacy efforts. | | Upcoming Events & Community Meetings | | |
Delmas Dumpster Day
Saturday, May 2 | 8AM - 11AM
60 Delmas St.
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GRPC PlayHub
Sunday, May 3 | All Day
Arena Green East
Every first Sunday!
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Fight Stroke Walk
Sunday, May 3 | 9AM - 12PM
Municipal Rose Garden (1649 Naglee Ave)
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General Plan Open House
Monday, May 4 | 6PM - 8PM
Vietnamese American Community Center (VACC)
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Affordable Housing Development in San José
Wednesday, May 6 | 6PM
Alum Rock Library
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Rent Stabilization and Prevention in San José
Thursday, May 14 | 4PM - 5PM
Online
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Make Music Day Info Session
Monday, May 4 | 4PM | Zoom
Sign-up for Make Music Day by May 21
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SVCN's Inaugural Nonprofit Convergence
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
9AM - 6PM
San Jose Marriott (301 S. Market St.)
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Financial Health For Youth Symposium & Open House
Thursday, May 7, 2026
5:30PM - 7:30PM
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits
(1400 Parkmoor Ave)
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Neighborhood Association Training Workshop
Tuesday, May 12 | 6PM - 8PM
Hank Lopez Community Center (1694 Adrian Way)
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Willow Glen 5K Walk & Run
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Willow Glen Elementary School
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Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4 - 8
See SJPL Website for Events
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11th Annual Gira de Libro
Saturday, May 16
Calabazas Branch Library (1230 South Blaney Avenue)
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Senator Dave Cortese's 23rd Annual Sacramento Bus Trip for Education
Monday, May 18, 2026
6AM (Departure from San José)
Registration closes May 4, 2026!
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South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition:
Midweek Creek Clean-Up
Wednesday, May 20 | 9AM
1231 Airport Blvd.
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Pathway Recovery Ride
Thursday, May 21 | 5:30PM - 8:30PM
Los Gatos Civic Park
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South Bay Clean Creeks Coalition & D6: Creek Clean-Up
Saturday, May 30 | 9AM - 11AM
1231 Airport Blvd.
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West San Jose Golf Tournament
Thursday, May 28 | 9AM
Coyote Creek Golf Course
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| Community Cycles Requesting Bicycle Donations | |
Do you have a bike collecting dust in your garage? Donate it to Community Cycles of California and turn it into opportunity.
At Community Cycles of California, we believe bikes change lives. Every
donated bike goes through a comprehensive 60-point refurbishment and
safety inspection by our trained staff and workforce development
participants. From there, your bike takes one of two impactful paths:
- It may go directly into our Earn-A-Bike program supporting unhoused and low-income neighbors in gaining reliable transportation. Participants complete six hours of community service and earn a free, refurbished bike of their own.
- Or it may be sold through our nonprofit social enterprise, with 100% of proceeds reinvested into our free bike programs, workforce training, and community repair clinics.
Your unused bike can become reliable transportation, a pathway to
employment, or a source of independence for someone in our community.
We accept:
- Quality bikes of all types and sizes
- Bikes with flat tires or few broken/missing parts
- Gently used parts and accessories
Ready to donate? Come by 35 Wilson Ave Tuesday - Saturday from 10AM - 5PM. All donations are tax deductible.
| | Open Space Authority Survey | | Did you know that one of the most important nature areas in California is located between San Jose and Morgan Hill? This special landscape is called Coyote Valley and you can help shape its future! The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and our partners are planning the future of more than 1,600 acres of protected land in Coyote Valley - and your voice matters! Now is your time to view early design ideas for restoring nature, supporting local farms, and creating new places for people to enjoy nature with family and friends. Please take a few moments to share your feedback by Sunday, May 17, 2026. | |
Please Help Protect Your Homegrown Produce | |
Reporting Issues
San José 311 is the city's one-stop service hub for reporting issues like graffiti, potholes, and illegal dumping. You can also request services such as streetlight repairs and abandoned vehicle removal.
To report an issue, we encourage you to download the 311 app or report online. The 311 App is available at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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