Kicking off 2026 in District 3 🏙️ 🙌
- Support for ICE-free zones policy
- Support for H.R. 630 Neighbors Not Enemies Act
- Advocacy for downtown revitalization and affordable housing
- Support for Red Light Camera enforcement
- City Council Policy 7-15 (ICE-free zones)
- H.R. 630 Neighbors Not Enemies Act
- Red Light Camera Pilot Project
- BEST Grant Program 2026–2029 funding cycle
- Big Game Opening Night Drone Show (Feb 2)
- Family Reading Night at Ohlone Middle School
- City Council meetings on budget and policy
- Community events for Big Game celebrations
San José is getting ready for The Big Game! 🏈 Dear neighbors, Happy new year! We’ve been busy here at City Hall as we start 2026. We have so much to look forward to in the year ahead as the world comes to San José. We’re celebrating right in the heart of District 3, so keep scrolling for information on how you can join the party! Here in your District 3 office, we’re preparing for the upcoming budget season and working hard to keep you connected with your government and your community. Let's start the year off strong! Yours in community, We're celebrating the Big Game in San José, right here in District 3! Click here for information on all the events we're throwing to celebrate, including block parties, concerts, drone shows, and more! The festivities start soon, so mark your calendars early. Many of these events are free to attend, like the Big Game Opening Night Drone Show in the SoFA District. It's at 9pm on February 2 and easily accessible via light rail, so avoid the parking headaches! Need to drive downtown during the festivities? Check out our list of upcoming road closures to make sure you don't get stuck in traffic. Intergovernmental Relations This week we got an update from the Intergovernmental Relations team on their work advocating for San José. at the state and federal level. I was especially pleased to see that downtown revitalization and equitable investment was put forward as a legislative priority for the City, and I'm excited by potential sponsored legislation on building housing that's safe and affordable for our residents. We also directed staff to take a support position on H.R. 630, the Neighbors Not Enemies Act . Thank you to the members of our community, including the Nikkei Resisters, for bringing this bill to the Council's attention. ICE-free zones policy On Tuesday we adopted a City Council Policy 7-15, restricting the use of City-owned or City-controlled parking lots, garages, and open spaces as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases for civil immigration enforcement. I was proud to vote for this policy, spearheaded by Councilmembers Ortiz, Kamei, and Candelas, which will strengthen the trust between our immigrant communities and local government. Everyone deserves to feel safe in San José, no matter where they came from. Red Light Camera Pilot Project The 60-day warning period is over, and live citations started on January 9 for San José’s Red Light Camera Pilot Project. Running a red light at four enforced locations will now result in a fine of up to $486 for the vehicle’s owner. Please help keep our streets safe and stop on red. Learn more about the program: bit.ly/sj-rl-cameras . BEST Grant Program The Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Together (BEST) Grant Program is now accepting applications for the 2026–2029 funding cycle! This grant supports programs that build on youth strengths and help reduce their risk of involvement in violence through impactful services and partnerships. Application deadline: February 19, 2026, at 4 p.m. Learn more about this funding opportunity at sanjoseca.gov/sjyea First Responder Fee Program On March 25, 2025, City Council approved the implementation of a First Responder Fee Program, which took effect on January 1, 2026. This program will help recover rising costs associated with providing critical pre-hospital care—while ensuring our first responders remain fully equipped and trained when we need them most. Click here for answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about this program. Last week, I joined the Rapid Response Network and community allies in solidarity with Minneapolis. What happened was not law enforcement or self-defense – it was unchecked violence, backed and defended by the federal government. Renee Nicole Good should be alive today. She should have been able to go home to her wife and children. Silence is complicity and it falls upon all of us, especially those of us in power, to call this out for what it was and take action to defend our communities. I’m proud that San José has passed policies to keep all our neighbors safe from ICE, regardless of where they’re from. Thank you to the Rapid Response Network for all that you do to defend our community. Sharks know just how important healthy teeth are to growing up strong, especially S.J. Sharkie! San José’s favorite fish and the Sharks Community joined us at Lowell Elementary for a dental screening with Healthier Kids Foundation — along with a $40,000 grant for their Dental First program. The donation will allow HKF to increase their number of 2025-26 school year screening visits, enhance their case management services, provide necessary screening materials, and improve outreach efforts. On Wednesday, I had pleasure of joining Ohlone Middle School for their Family Reading Night . When families read together, we’re not just sharing stories. We’re teaching children curiosity, transporting them to places and experiences beyond their daily lives, and building memories and literacy skills that last a lifetime. Thank you to Ohlone Middle’s paralibrarian, Mark Dooley, Principal Dean, Assistant Principal Arroyo, for your work on putting this event together and your commitment to learning, literacy, and building strong families. 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! District 3 | 200 E SANTA CLARA ST | SAN JOSE, CA 95113 US | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice