Coffee with a Councilmember Returns, with a Twist...
- Support for Viva Callecita open streets festival
- Parking Fund shortfall plan with moderate rate increases
- Expansion of Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Program
- Encouragement of mobile home resident participation in housing survey
- Downtown Parking Fund shortfall and rate adjustments
- Viva Callecita open streets festival funding
- Mobile home resident survey by Housing Department
- Valley Water flood barrier construction at Williams and Olinder Parks
- Viva Callecita festival on November 8th
- District 3 office hours 'Tacos with Tordillos' on October 17th
- City Council meeting on parking plan
- International Walk to School Day event at Grant Elementary
Email from District 3 Learn about the first-ever Viva Callecita in your District 3 newsletter. Dear neighbors, My office is hard at work as we enter the month of October! I recently returned from two study missions where I learned about different approaches cities have used to fund parks, affordable housing, and public transit. I’ll be sharing more of what I learned on these trips in the weeks ahead, and I look forward to translating some of these lessons into policies we can implement here in San José to improve the lives of our residents. Next, I want to share some exciting news: on November 8th, the first-ever Viva Callecita is coming to the streets of Downtown San José! I love our Viva Calle festivals, and I was saddened to see the series face reductions during this year’s budget process. Fortunately, my office was able to secure funding to bring a new open streets festival concept to District 3 that we’re calling Viva Callecita. Its smaller scope will offer a new way for us to bring neighborhoods together to walk, bike, roll, play and explore San José. Please take a look at our flyer down below, and I hope you’ll join me in November! In addition, I’m happy to announce the date and location of our next D3 office hours event! Join us at Metro Balderas Taqueria at 300 Willow Street for “Tacos with Tordillos” on October 17th, starting at 11am. I look forward to seeing you there! Finally, as a reminder City Hall will be closed on Monday the 12th in observance of Indigenous People's Day. We look forward to returning to the office the following day. Yours in community, Downtown Parking Meters At last week’s Council meeting, I presented my plan to close the shortfall in the City’s Parking Fund while lessening the impact of parking rate increases to residents. The Council ultimately voted to move forward with most of my proposal, including: The extension of 90-minute free parking to the Convention Center garage on non-event days, effective September 2026 to June 2027. Increasing the daily parking garage rate by $1 per hour and the special event flat rate by $5, effective October 2026. Expanding eligibility for the Downtown Employee Discounted Permit Program to those earning up to 50% over the minimum wage to better support downtown workers in the restaurant industry. These changes reflect the conversations I have had with members of the public across District 3, and the desire to ensure our downtown remains as affordable and accessible as possible. More work remains to address shortages in our Parking Fund during the next budget cycle, and I hope members of the public and downtown business owners will continue to partner with our office to identify solutions that work for everyone in our community. Tacos con Tordillos! Our next District 3 office hours event is coming to District 3! On October 17th, join us at Metro Balderas Taqueria at 300 Willow Street, starting at 11am. I look forward to seeing you there, and make sure to RSVP here. Introducing: Viva Callecita Viva Calle is a fun, family friendly program that our community looks forward to every year. However, due to the City’s budget deficit the program was at risk of being reduced to just two events per year. I’m proud that my office was able to secure funding in this year’s budget to maintain three open street festivals by introducing a new, smaller format event we’re calling Viva Callecita! We hope you can join us, so please save the date and take a look at the route map so you can plan your fun. Learn more by scanning the QR code, or by clicking here. Mobile Home Survey The City of San José’s Housing Department is surveying residents of mobile home parks in District 3. Questions are available in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese, so please share this with your friends and neighbors. Surveys like these are an excellent opportunity to make your voice heard and influence local policies, which is why if you live in a mobile home park, I want to invite you to weigh in here. Valley Water Flood Barrier Construction Valley Water will begin construction on flood barriers at Williams Street and Olinder Parks in October, and the parks will close to the public during this construction phase. To learn more about Valley Water’s plans, please visit their project updates page here. I participated in International Walk to School Day to meet some of District 3's students and educators. Thank you to Grant Elementary for hosting me at this wonderful event. During our all-hands meeting this week, my team and I reflected on the importance that educators have had in our lives, and shared lessons and encouragement that they imparted to us and which made an impact on our lives. In so many ways, a caring teacher can set a child on a course for a brighter future, and empower them to find greater opportunities. Thank you to all of our San José teachers for your hard work, and thank you students for brightening our days! The Golden State Valkyries have launched an exciting partnership with San José Public Libraries, unveiling a new, limited edition Valkyries library card! I was so happy to stop by and check out the new design, and I encourage you to apply to get yours here. From MLK Library in Downtown to La Biblioteca Latinoamericana in Guadalupe Washington, District 3 is home to some of our highest impact and most well-attended branches. The visibility that this program will bring to our library system will bolster the City's efforts to increase literacy and local pride across the South Bay. I can’t wait to see San José families sporting these as we get the next generation excited to read. Go Valks! For fifty years, La Biblioteca Latinoamericana has been a place where families come together, where language and culture are celebrated, and where neighbors can feel at home. But what makes La Biblioteca truly special is that the community doesn't simply come to the library—the community has helped shape the library. I was honored to recognize the Amigos de la Biblioteca for nearly forty years of outstanding service and dedication to the residents of San José. Last Friday, I was honored to speak at the opening celebration of the Queer American Memorials exhibit at the Institute for Contemporary Art. Queer American Memorials is a nation-wide project dedicated to telling the stories of members of the LGBTQ+ community killed in hate crimes between 1999 and 2009. The first memorial installed by the project will be dedicated to Alina Marie Barragan, a trans woman murdered in San José in 2000. Alina’s memorial will be marked by a commemorative brick featuring a rainbow lambda, one of the oldest symbols of queer liberation, so that future generations who pass the site can also learn about her story. I also had the pleasure of speaking at a brand-new exhibit at the Museum of Quilts and Textiles, Soft Structures, which explores the relationship between female labor, art, and identity. For fifty years, this museum has offered something truly unique and elevated an artform that you can’t find anywhere else. In fact, the Museum of Quilts and Textiles was the first museum anywhere in the U.S. specifically focused on highlighting quilts and textiles as fine art. Thank you to the incredible work of the curation team for producing exhibits that reflect the diversity of our community. You can learn more about the exhibit here. I had the pleasure of welcoming The Plant Sitter to a new location in the heart of our downtown. I've known Natalie and The Plant Sitter family for years, and it's been inspiring to see the way they have grown this business with just as much care as they grow their plants. The Plant Sitter is the rare store that goes beyond just being a business to serve as a real hub for creativity and the community—and I know that the entire downtown community and the City of San José will be here cheering you on. At Horace Mann’s Hispanic Read-In, we recognized and honored the enduring contributions of Hispanic and Latin American authors. I want to give a special thanks to our guest readers, including my Community Relations Director Daniela, for sharing your personal journeys and voices to entertain our students in attendance. Educational opportunities which take place outside the classroom are so impactful to our students, and I’m happy that we were able to celebrate those in our San José community with roots in Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, and Central and South America. One of my Council Assistants Dominic stopped by Bark in the Park, and what an amazing day it was! The Campus Community Association has worked so hard to bring this event to fruition every year, and the sheer number of happy dogs (and their humans) is a testament to the importance of this event to our community. I hope that next year I can bring Mochi, my corgi, to celebrate with everyone! My staff was thrilled to take to the streets and celebrate el Grito with our Mexican-American community. By raising the flag at the City Hall Rotunda alongside the celebrations in Mexico City, we reaffirm our pride to be a city with strong Mexican heritage. At the same time, I am conscious that in light of unjust and illegal actions from federal immigration enforcement authorities, some of our neighbors who wished to celebrate with us this year felt unsafe doing so. I pledge to stand with the community against federal attacks by creating policies that protect our residents, while also supporting events that promote visibility and celebration of Hispanic culture across San José. The Townsend Park Block Party was a success! One of my Council Assistants stopped by to enjoy the delicious food, policy conversations with residents, and a high-energy game of musical chairs! Thank you to Townsend Park for your generosity and welcome. As a former neighborhood association president, I cherish events like these because they are a special opportunity to connect residents to services and build bridges between City Hall and the community. The Levitt Pavilion Friends of Levitt Pavilion San José's capital campaign has inspired major donors from all walks of life to step up and support the pavillion, from developers and tech executives to local residents and small business owners. The 2.6 acre live music campus will feature a concessions stand, beer / wine garden, a new green room for the artists and staff, as well as a turnkey stage with full AV. Once built, the non-profit Friends of Levitt Pavilion San José will produce 50 free, all ages shows annually for the community. In addition, the venue will be available for groups to rent on a sliding scale. For information on this new civic landmark, please learn more here. Apply to join the San José Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee The San José Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is a City of San José advisory board that advises on matters related to bicycling and walking in San José. There are currently two vacancies on the committee. BPAC provides recommendations on projects, policies, and priorities that affect walking and biking; acts as a liaison to the community; and promotes safety and community involvement. Learn more about BPAC and apply to join the committee on the BPAC webpage. Applications will be accepted through October 9th. Upcoming Business Tax Amnesty Program Change On December 31, 2026, the City of San José ends its Business Tax Amnesty Program, which allows businesses and landlords to settle past-due taxes without incurring penalties or interest. Beginning in January 2027, the City will resume its penalty and interest collection activities, which could significantly increase your business tax costs. You may be eligible for the Amnesty Program if your business has: Never registered with the City; Past-due business tax; or Underreported employees, square footage, or number of rental properties. For more information, registration, and remittance forms, visit the Business Tax webpage. Tour the Regional Wastewater Facility This November marks 70 years for the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) in Alviso, one of the largest advanced wastewater treatment plants in the Western United States. As part of the celebration, we will be hosting two days of free public tours of the RWF on Saturday November 7 and 14, 2026. These will be the first opportunities since 2017 for the general public to tour the Facility that serves 1.5 million residents and businesses in eight cities and four sanitation districts. Click here to register. Student Financial Aid Training On behalf of the East Side Union High School District, the California Student Aid Commission, and other community partners, the San José Public Library (SJPL) would like to spread the word about the upcoming Student Financial Aid Awareness event on Saturday, October 10. The event will include important information about financial aid, college affordability, and the financial resources available to help Californians pursue their college and career goals. Stop by 830 N Capitol Ave, October 10th, from 10am to 3pm. Learn more here. Apply for the Westly Prize The Westly Prize recognizes young social entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions to longstanding social challenges. Each year, Westly awards $145,000 in unrestricted funding, including three $40,000 Grand Prizes, to help founders grow their impact. Funding may be used for personal, educational, or professional interests. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to contact@westly.org. Applications close October 16 at 11:59 PM PT. (Note: Applications started by 10/16 will be accepted until October 18 at 9 AM PT.) Do you have an event you'd like to share with our D3 neighbors? Send the details to district3@sanjoseca.gov for consideration in our newsletter! 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