Budget Update & Spring Events in Your Neighborhood!
- Prioritize safe streets, clean parks, and youth programming
- Preserve library hours and community center services
- Support homeless prevention services
- Uphold justice for survivors of Cesar Chavez allegations
- Mayor’s March Budget Message 2026-2027
- Preservation of library and community center services
- Homeless prevention services funding
- Renaming public assets to honor farm workers movement
- Neighborhood events on March 28 (trail cleanups, egg hunt, craft day)
- Holi Festival at Discovery Meadow
- Evergreen Little League Opening Day
- Mobile District Office Hours at Evergreen Farmers' Market
Council District 8 Newsletter Hi Neighbor, Spring is officially here! The new season also brings the opportunity to shape the City’s budget, as well as exciting activities across District 8. This week, the City Council deliberated the Mayor’s March budget message, which officially kicks off the City’s budget process. While we face a $56 million deficit due to difficult economic conditions, I believe in focusing on core services vital to our neighborhoods. We need to continue the effort for safe streets, clean parks, and stronger neighborhoods through investments in youth programming, blight reduction, and homeless prevention services. I’ve said it time and again, my job as your Councilmember is to put District 8 residents first. Please see the “City Hall Update” section below for more information and next steps. I want to invite everyone to join us on Saturday, March 28, where neighbors are hosting a variety of events that highlight the unique spirit and priorities of each neighborhood. The Thompson Creek Neighborhood Association and The Villages Hiking Club will be organizing trail cleanups and community walks. These efforts are great examples of neighbors working together to care for shared spaces and maintain the high quality of life we value. We’ll also see more early spring celebrations! The Welch Neighborhood Association is hosting its first-ever spring egg hunt, and the Evergreen Community Center is hosting a craft day, bringing families and neighbors together for a fun and festive afternoon. Moments like these remind us that what makes District 8 special is the pride neighbors take in their communities and the willingness to come together to make them even better. It is my pleasure and privilege to serve as your City Councilmember, Domingo Candelas City of San José District 8 Learn more about our community work and accomplishments in my past newsletters from February 2023 onward , which provide a wealth of information including updates on legislation, community events, and important issues like the City budget, public safety, homelessness and more. Please share this with your neighbors and let them know what's happening in my district. They can sign up by following this link . The City of San Jose Stands with Survivors I am deeply concerned by the serious allegations involving Cesar Chavez. It is critical that our attention remains centered on those who were harmed—I am heartbroken for Dolores Huerta and other survivors who have come forward or who may still be finding the courage to do so. They deserve to be heard, respected, and supported. This is an opportunity not only to seek truth, but to reaffirm our commitment to justice in the present. In recognition of the upcoming holiday on March 31st, I want to acknowledge that while this day honors a single individual, it represents a broader labor movement rooted in the agricultural fields. That movement led to the formation of unions like the United Farm Workers of America (UFW) and helped secure better working conditions across California and the nation. I stand alongside the mayor, my council colleagues, and the community to thoughtfully evaluate how we recognize the farm workers movement in our shared public spaces, including the renaming of public assets. Together, we will ensure that we honor and reflect the full history of the movement and uplift the people whose contributions have advanced dignity, equity, and justice. Upcoming Events In Our Community Holi I joined hundreds of folks at Discovery Meadow to celebrate Holi! From tossing bright colors in the air to dancing, music, and delicious food, the day was filled with joy and connection. It was wonderful to see so many families and friends come together to share this beautiful tradition. A big thank you to the Association of Indo Americans for hosting such a vibrant festival for our community. World Down Syndrome Day I proudly recognized March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day in the City of San José—a day dedicated to raising awareness, celebrating inclusion, and advocating for the rights of individuals with Down syndrome, symbolized by the triplication of the 21st chromosome. In District 8, we are fortunate to uplift this spirit through events like the Bay Area Buddy Walk at Lake Cunningham Park. Thank you to all who continue to champion inclusion and make our community stronger, and a special thank you to Yulissa Arescurnaga and Jacqueline Campos for joining us at City Hall to share a few words. Evergreen Little League Opening Day The Evergreen Little League kicked off their opening day on March 7th! I had the honor of throwing the first pitch alongside our Evergreen School District Trustees to celebrate the start of another great season. Mobile District Office Hours Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Evergreen Farmers' Market as we kicked off our Mobile District Office Hours. As always, I appreciate hearing your concerns and ideas. If you missed our booth, keep an eye out for our next pop-up at the farmers' market! Small Business Spotlight Visit our local farmers' market! There’s no better way to enjoy the season than by visiting the Evergreen Farmers' Market ! It’s a chance to support local growers, discover fresh, in-season produce, and connect with neighbors. From crisp fruits and vegetables to handmade goods and delicious prepared foods, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Shopping local not only strengthens our community, but it also helps sustain the hardworking vendors who bring fresh, healthy food to our table. The farmers' market is hosted at the Evergreen Village Square every Sunday and Wednesday from 9am-1pm. City Hall Update 2026-2027 Budget Update The Mayor’s March Budget Message kicks off our overall budget conversations, as it sets the priorities for the City Manager to focus on while balancing the budget for the next Fiscal Year. For 2026-2027, we face a $56 million budget shortfall. In this year’s message, there were plenty of areas where the Council agreed with the priorities that were laid out. However, I was concerned that the budget message did not accurately reflect the priorities that I heard matter most from our neighbors. We needed stronger direction to the City Manager to protect youth, families, and older adults. Yes, we are in a tough budget year. Yes, we have an affordability crisis. Yes, we are dealing with a crisis of homelessness, amongst many other issues. But what gets lost is the fact that our families, children, and older adults are left to deal with these very same issues in our society without the backbone of programs and services. I called for the preservation of library hours and services at our community centers because putting our dollars towards our youth is the best investment we can make. Even with the budget challenges ahead of us, it was more than reasonable to hold the line for our children. In years past, we’ve seen what cuts to our library system and afterschool programs do for families. They put the burden of education and care on working families who are struggling to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. I will continue pushing my Council colleagues to think bigger and find meaningful ways to protect our youth, older adults, and families. What’s the Timeline for the Budget Process? March 17, 2026: Mayor's March Budget Message is reviewed by City Council May 6-14, 2026: Council Study Sessions: 2026-27 Proposed Budgets and 2026-27 Proposed Fees and Charges Report June 1st, 2026: Mayor’s June Budget Message is released June 9, 2026: Mayor’s June Budget Message is reviewed by City Council June 16, 2026: 2026-27 Capital/Operating Budgets and 2026-27 Fees & Charges Report are adopted by City Council Activating Our Neighborhoods Building strong neighborhoods starts with you! Joining a neighborhood association not only builds community block by block, but it also brings critical information to the forefront as I draft policy and fight for dollars in the budget. As a councilmember, I rely on the eyes and ears of each resident, and your collective voices take shape in the form of neighborhood groups. Here is a list of active neighborhood associations in District 8: - Welch Park - Between Ocala Ave, King Rd & Tully Rd - Norwood - Between Tully Rd, Ruby Ave, Norwood Ave & S White Rd - Meadowfair - Between East Capitol, Aborn Rd, S King Rd & Rigoletto Dr - Creekside - Between San Felipe Rd & Cadwallader Ave - Brahms/Edgeview - Between Rigoletto Dr, S King Rd, Tully Rd & Quimby Rd - Silver Oak Estates - Silver Oak St, Rachaella Lane & Carmella Ct - Evergreen Leadership - Neighborhoods of Groesbeck, Hidden Glens, Pleasant Hills & Quimby - Thompson Creek - E Capitol Expwy, Aborn Rd, White Rd & Quimby Rd - Brigadoon - E Capitol Expwy, Aborn Rd, Nieman Blvd, Wendover Lane, Baronet Ct, Yerba Buena Road & Silver Creek Rd - District 8 Community Roundtable - District-wide If you would like to get involved in your neighborhood association, or you do not see your neighborhood listed and would like to activate your neighborhood, please reach out to sachin.radhakrishnan@sanjoseca.gov VTA Eastridge to BART Regional Connector Update Relief for East Side Small Businesses Impacted by VTA Construction Thanks to a collaborative effort between City leaders and the Valley Transportation Authority, the Business Microgrant Program is live! This program will reimburse businesses for loss of revenue that may be attributed to construction activities of the Eastridge to BART Regional Connector project. Applications to receive funds will be accepted until March 2027 and are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Further details about qualifications and how to apply are available on VTA's website . ONGOING AND ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES 1. SOUTHBOUND CAPITOL EXPRESSWAY. STORY ROAD - OCALA AVENUE Southbound (SB) Capitol Expressway roadway will be closed each night from Story Road to Ocala Avenue from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. starting the night of March 22, 2026, and ending the morning of March 28, 2026. (Seven consecutive nights) WHY: Underground Trenching across Capitol Expressway near Story Road (by Autozone). Other night activities will continue in the area. EXPECT: Noise, construction equipment, back-up alarms, and more. OTHER: - The AutoZone/McDonald's entrance/exit will be closed from 10:00 p.m. through 4:00 a.m. - Foxdale Loop will be closed from 10:00 p.m. through 4:00 a.m. - Foxdale Drive will be open at all times. Residents coming from Foxdale Drive during the closures will be able to make a right onto Capitol Expressway. 2. TURN RESTRICTION: Southbound Capitol Expressway to Eastbound Ocala Avenue One left-turn lane remains open until June 2026. 3. EXCALIBUR DRIVE - Night Work Crews will grind and pave asphalt at the Excalibur Drive intersection. Overnight lanes closures are from 10:00 pm to 5:30 am on weekdays, and 10:00 pm to 9:00 am on weekends. Follow detours. 4. FALSEWORK INSTALLATION: Night Work, Lane Closure & Intersection Closure Through March, two lanes will be closed, and one lane will remain open on northbound (NB) Capitol Expressway from Tully Road to Story Road most nights. Intermittently, road closures from Tully Road to Story Road will be utilized to construct the falsework. Similarly, two lanes will be closed, and one lane will remain open on southbound (SB) Capitol Expressway from Excalibur Road to Cunningham Avenue. Intermittently, road closures from Ocala Avenue to Tully Road will be utilized to remove the falsework. Overnight lane closures are from 10:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. weekdays, and 10:00 pm through 9:00 am on weekends. Follow detours. ... Any questions, comments, and concerns can be directed to the VTA Community Outreach Office at community.outreach@vta.org or (408) 321-7575 . Please make sure to provide your name, address, a summary of your concern, and your phone number. SAFETY REMINDERS - Pay close attention to detour signs and lane closures - Reduce speed through construction zones - Avoid distractions such as mobile devices - Use alternate routes when possible DAY AND NIGHT WORK SCHEDULES • Day crews work Monday through Friday, from 7:00 am through 5:00 pm • Night crews work from Sunday night through Friday morning, from 10:00 pm through 7:00 am. • Weekend day and night crews work as needed. • Crew schedules and construction activities can change at any time. * Construction activities can change at any time City Services · Simple Steps for Starting Your Business: Funding Sources : Tuesday, March 24, 7:00 p.m. · AI, Canva, & You: Building a Consistent Brand in a Changing World : Thursday, March 26, 10:00 a.m. · Your 6-Month Financial Runway : Tuesday, March 31, 11:30 a.m. To combat the rise of vehicles with expired registration, the City of San Jose has created a new team under the Department of Transportation that deals solely with citing and towing vehicles with expired registration for at least 1 year. Please be aware that they are currently completing their sweep of the city, citing and towing any vehicles that fit this criterion. To report vehicles with expired registration, please use the 311 app. If you are reporting a general vehicle concern, you can also use the 311 app. For DOT to cite or tow the vehicle, it must be one of these options highlighted and fit the requirements under each of the categories in the image below. DOT will conduct its investigation to determine if it meets the threshold to be cited or towed once you have filed a report. SJPD Non-Emergency 🚔 Report non-emergency police situations, such as noise disturbances, parking complaints, lost and found property and crimes NOT in progress by calling 408-277-8900 . The San José Police Department encourages residents to use their own judgment when determining the nature of their situation. When in doubt, however, SJPD recommends that residents call 9-1-1. TRUST Field Response Hotline ☎️ Support for individuals in Santa Clara County who are emotionally distressed by helping to stabilize them in the community. Call 988 for support with mental health-related distress, substance use situations, or thoughts of suicide. Once you’re in touch with TRUST, their call center can send a field response team to your location as needed. Park Concerns Form 🌳 Help keep our parks beautiful, healthy and safe. If you see any maintenance issues or other problems that are occurring in a San José park, call (408) 793-5510 or email Park.Concerns@sanjoseca.gov to report a concern. San Jose 311 🚦 Download the app and make an account to report issues such as abandoned vehicles, potholes, streetlight outages, graffiti, and illegal fireworks. Reported, but haven't heard back? Reach out to my office via email with the report number and we'll follow up! SJPD Traffic Enforcement Unit 🚨 Do you feel that there is a chronic traffic problem in your neighborhood or school area? Fill out the form to request enforcement during a specific time or day of the week. Keep in mind the City of San Jose only has 13 traffic officers to patrol a city of almost 1 million people! Code Enforcement Division 🏠 The Code Enforcement division works with residents and businesses in addressing issues like unpermitted construction, blight, and overgrown vegetation on private property, including businesses. Submit a service request here . Report an Encampment ⛺️ Once a report is made, the City's outreach teams are dispatched to encampment sites after concerns have been reported or before an abatement. The goal is to provide assistance to homeless individuals who are looking for support services FREE Junk Pickup 🗑 Have junk to get rid of? Don't wait for a Dumpster Day, schedule a curbside pickup appointment! Make sure to review the list of accepted household items before making your appointment. Construction & demolition material is not accepted Announcements Coyote Valley Discovery Days Join the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority for Coyote Valley Discovery Days ! Coming up March through May, you are invited to a season of fun, family‑friendly events that celebrate wildlife, sustainable agriculture, and the future of more than 1,600 acres of protected open space. Some programs take you right into the heart of Coyote Valley, while others pop up at community centers and neighborhood events across San José and Morgan Hill, making it easy for everyone to join in. Each event is designed to spark curiosity, share the stories of this unique landscape, and invite community members to help shape the future of Coyote Valley. District 8 Website Office of Councilmember Domingo Candelas | 200 E. Santa Clara St. | San José, CA 95113 US | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice