A Message from Mayor Matt
- Increase penalties for adults recruiting minors
- Allow officers to Mirandize juveniles with guardian present
- Modernize juvenile sentencing for serious offenders
- Expand youth afterschool and sports programs
- juvenile law loopholes on Miranda rights and sentencing caps
- Saturday Night Lights pilot program
- Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI)
- Cherry Ave interim housing community
- visit with California gubernatorial candidates at Cherry Ave housing
- Saturday Night Lights soccer coaching program
- afterschool programs supported by SJ Sharks and BAWSI
Over the last several years, we’ve watched something deeply troubling unfold in our city: kids—some as young as twelve, thirteen years old—are being pulled into violent crimes by adults who know exact Long Story Short... Here’s what you need to know this week — in 30 seconds or less: - Gangs are exploiting our kids — and our laws make it easier. - The leading gubernatorial candidates came to San José — here’s what we showed them. - The first World Cup game in the South Bay is six months away — here’s who’ll be on the field. Keep scrolling for all the data and details. Dear Neighbor, Over the last several years, we’ve watched something deeply troubling unfold in our city: kids—some as young as twelve, thirteen years old—are being pulled into violent crimes by adults who know exactly how to exploit our system. Nearly 1/3rd of all gang-related crimes are committed by youth here in San José. And the truth is: our current juvenile laws make it easier for gangs to use children as weapons. Right now in California, a juvenile under 18 cannot even waive their Miranda rights or speak with law enforcement unless an attorney signs off first. And predictably, attorneys always advise them to stay silent. So when a 15- or 16-year-old is being manipulated by an older gang member, we can’t ask them to identify the adult, we can’t stop the recruitment, and we can’t stop the cycle. It’s a loophole that gangs understand better than most lawmakers. At the same time, our sentencing structure for juveniles is vague, inconsistent, and capped in ways that don’t match the seriousness of the crimes we’re seeing. Because today, even the most serious offenders often stay in county juvenile hall—and here is the kicker: they have to be released by 25. So for example, if a person commits a horrific murder the day before their 18th birthday, and they are tried in juvenile court, the longest they could be sentenced is seven years. No matter if they show remorse, no matter the nature of the crime, and no matter how much rehabilitation they demonstrate, their punishment is capped. Transfer to adult court requires proving a young person is beyond rehabilitation, which is an almost impossible standard to meet—even in homicide cases. If they’re 13, and committed a serious crime, they may not enter a secure facility at all. We saw that when a 13-year-old stabbed and killed a 15-year-old at Santana Row over Valentine’s Day weekend this year. I hope we don’t see that again for the 17 year-old who shot three people and terrorized thousands last weekend on Black Friday at Valley Fair. All of this adds up to one outcome: adult gang members exploit kids because the system treats those kids as low-risk, low-consequence tools. But it doesn’t have to be this way. We can protect our kids by pursuing targeted, common-sense reforms: - Increase penalties for adults who recruit minors to commit crimes. - Allow officers to Mirandize juveniles—with an adult guardian present—so we can actually identify who is manipulating them. - Modernize juvenile sentencing so the most serious, violent offenders can be held longer and get real rehabilitation—not a revolving door. We need to address the loopholes in our criminal justice system. And we need to protect our kids by making sure they have role models, afterschool programming and something productive to do on weekends and summers. But we can’t do it alone. The San José Youth Empowerment Alliance focuses on community-based programming and City-based intervention and neighborhood services. You can take a look at their programming here . This year, the City also partnered with the SJ Quakes to put on a pilot program called Saturday Night Lights (SNL), which provided soccer coaching to kids at two East Side schools. And we saw real results—100% of 8th grade Futsal participants were promoted to high school, including 4 students who were at-risk of being held back, and school attendance went up 30% for program participants. (Thanks to Councilmember Candelas for helping us get this program funded this time around!) I’m going to do my best to make sure SNL is expanded in the coming year along with another after school program we currently support, the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI), which harnesses the power of sports to reach young women and students with disabilities, and empower them to develop their leadership and life skills. Our SJ Sharks also make major investments in the community they call home. They put on numerous programs including Reading is Cool, Stick to Fitness, and a multitude of afterschool hockey clinics and training sessions. We need more partners like the Sharks and Earthquakes to join us in expanding programming for our young people so there are always safe alternatives to the streets where kids can belong and thrive. Because our young people deserve better than being thrown into a justice system that isn’t built to protect them—and far better than being used as pawns by people who see them as disposable. We need to do better for them and for the future of our city, our state and our country. Sincerely, Mayor Matt This week, I walked Katie Porter, Tom Steyer, Ian Calderon, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond through our Cherry Ave interim housing community. It almost sounds like the start of a bad joke. But they took the visit seriously. We showed some of the leading candidates for California governor through a site that will help hundreds of people turn their lives around and find self-sufficiency. We shared our shift in approach—from focusing solely on a solution that basic math tells us won’t ever end the crisis to investing in a solution that has already reduced unsheltered homelessness in San José by nearly 1/3rd. We talked about how 1/3rd of the funding that made this reduction possible came from the state’s HHAP funds. And I told them that this year, the state decided to zero out this funding stream because homeless people and impacted neighbors don’t have lobbyists up in Sacramento. We talked about accountability. We talked about enforcement. We talked about drug addiction and mental health care. We talked about making sure the neighborhoods who host these solutions are made better off because of it. I told them that we’re failing our most vulnerable residents: those who are refusing to come indoors due to a mental health or serious addiction issue, and for whom county services are simply a revolving door. This was an important conversation. And I hope whoever becomes our next governor takes it seriously and takes it beyond the campaign. I hope every single candidate who came by Cherry Avenue—and all of the other leading candidates, who we’ve invited to visit—understands the progress we’ve made and vows to bring the state to the table so we can accomplish more. Because for too long, Sacramento has had its head in the sand. I’m encouraged that those who hope to be our next leaders seem to be coming up for air. In less than a year, we’ll welcome some of the best soccer players in the entire world to our city. Once again, San José will be the place where history is made. We’re already in the middle of an incredible run. In September, we hosted the Valkyries at SAP for their very first playoff game in their very first season. Two weeks ago, the National Women’s Soccer League Championship teams went head to head at PayPal Park. Two months from now, we’ll welcome the world once again for Super Bowl 60 just down the road at Levi’s Stadium. A month later March Madness games will come to SAP. And San José, we’re ready. We’re pulling out all the stops. If you’ve been downtown recently, you may have noticed the 2026 banners flying. If you’ve been on social media, you may have heard we just announced Kehlani will be headlining at City Hall. We’re making sure that everyone, whether you get your hands on a ticket or not, can experience the excitement. That’s only possible because of our partners and our many sponsors who are leaning in and giving back so the City and Sports Authority can go big. We’ll be hosting concerts, watch parties, drone shows, and block parties so people can come together, build civic pride, and help welcome tens of thousands of visitors —some of whom will be experiencing the Bay for the very first time. I can’t wait to welcome some of the best teams in the world to San José—the city with the best fans in the world. See the full schedule of World Cup games coming to Levi’s in 2026 below! June 13, 12:00 p.m. Qatar vs. Switzerland - Group B June 16, 9:00 p.m. Austria vs. Jordan - Group J June 19, 9:00 p.m. Playoff winner of (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo) vs. Paraguay - Group D June 22, 8:00 p.m. Jordan vs. Algeria - Group J June 25, 7:00 p.m. Paraguay vs. Australia - Group D July 1, 5:00 p.m. Round of 32 match: Group D winner and 3rd place team from group B, E, F, I or J. This week, I stopped by the Circle of Palms to check-out our annual Ice Rink! It’s been a couple of years, so if you saw me using a blue trainer for a second—no you didn’t. 😉 Grab your Downtown Ice Tickets Here! Come on down, bring the family, and make a day of it! Christmas in the Park is all set up, we have our shop local campaign set-up to help you find unique gifts, and many of our restaurants have fun holiday specials. Location: 120 S. Market Street in the Circle of Palms Plaza Hours: Subject to change depending on the date, check out the website for additional information P.S. Hot cocoa is a must. Boozy hot cocoa is available, too, at the brand new Poppy & Claro right next door (don’t tell anyone, but it’s quickly becoming my favorite lunch spot)! Calling all high school and college students with a passion for civic engagement! Our office is looking for capable young people to join our dynamic team. As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to do exciting, hands-on work with our Neighborhood Outreach, Communications, and Data teams. Apply for our Winter 2026 cohort by TONIGHT, December 7, 2025 at sjmayormatt.com/internships . Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland December 11th at 6:30 PM San Jose Civic, 135 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113 Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal music. With some of the best cirque performers from around the world, audiences can expect a night of inspiring holiday entertainment accompanied by breathtaking acrobatic feats of strength and skill. Grab your tickets here. Candlelight Concert: Queen vs. ABBA Friday December 12th at 8:45 PM Hammer Theatre Center, 101 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113 Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in San Jose. Discover the music of Queen vs. ABBA at Hammer Theatre Center under the gentle glow of candlelight. Grab your tickets here. The San Jose Nutcracker December 13th and December 14th California Theatre, 345 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 The San Jose Nutcracker is a classical holiday ballet presented in partnership with History San Jose. It tells the well-loved story of Clara and the Nutcracker, while featuring historical references to the heritage that has made Santa Clara Valley the center of innovation it is today. Get your tickets here. Santa Run Silicon Valley Sunday, December 14th at 3:00 PM Start Line at W Santa Clara St and Almaden Ave, San Jose, CA 95113 The 14th annual Santa Run Silicon Valley is just around the corner on Sunday, December 14th. You'll be "Dashing through San Jo" – all participants get a medal, which doubles as a holiday ornament! Don't wait: Invite your family, friends, and coworkers to the Jolliest Race of the Year. Sign up here. Jumped into the weekend on the East Side with two dumpster days and a community art project! Thank you to all the neighbors who joined us, the San José Conservation Corps, BeautifySJ, and the Capitol Park and the Plata Arroyo neighborhood associations to highlight the beauty of East San José. These projects wouldn't be made possible without grant support provided by California Volunteers through our TogetherSJ program. Join us next time, and sign up here: bit.ly/cleansj Rockin and reppin SJ26 around the Christmas tree! Our team has been working hard to make sure San José residents get a piece of the 2026 excitement even without a ticket to the big games—almost as hard as they worked on our tree this year 😉 P.S. Did you catch our goal-den tree topper? Check out Christmas in the Park here ! After dropping by our SJPD headquarters bright and early this morning to thank our officers for keeping us all safe, my family and 25,000 of our neighbors headed to the Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot for a beautiful run in Downtown San José! Hope you all had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving day. Visit our Website! Copyright © 2025 Office Of San José Mayor Matt Mahan, All rights reserved. | 200 E Santa Clara St # 18 | San José, CA 95113-1903 US | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice