Community Strengthening: New Safety Initiatives, Fall Festival Fun & Celebrating Hispanic Heritage!
- Support for anti-theft program linking business cameras to police
- Approval of increased fines for blighted property owners
- Support for police fixed-wing aircraft procurement
- Encouragement of community involvement in neighborhood associations
- anti-theft program funded by $100,000 grant
- increase of maximum daily fines from $2,500 to $20,000 for property violations
- procurement of fixed-wing aircraft for San Jose Police Department
- 2040 Envision General Plan four-year review
- Fall Family Festival on October 25 at Lake Cunningham
- General Plan and Land Use Study Session
- Community Coffee meeting at Eastridge Mall
- Fiestas Patrias celebration at City Hall on September 15
Council District 8 Newsletter Hi Neighbor, Recently, our community was shaken by a brazen smash-and-grab robbery on a family-owned business in broad daylight. Rest assured, our San Jose Police Department is doing everything possible to make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice. I want to thank District Attorney Jeff Rosen for taking significant steps towards enhancing the safety of our business districts, including the launch of a new anti-theft program funded by a $100,000 grant. The pilot program will allow small businesses to connect security cameras they already have installed to the SJPD's Real Time Intelligence Center , which will then allow police to respond to incidents more quickly. Tomorrow marks the first day of Autumn! This season brings a slight chill in the air, fallen leaves, and my favorite event: The Fall Family Festival. On Saturday, October 25, from 10am-2pm, join me at Lake Cunningham for a fun-filled, family-friendly celebration featuring a pumpkin patch, a resource fair, trick-or-treating, and much more! Entry and parking will be FREE, with food for purchase from a local food truck. Remember, costumes are highly encouraged! Additionally, September 15 to October 15 marks National Hispanic Heritage Month. The City of San Jose observes this holiday through cultural programming with various organizations, including the San Jose Public Library , Children's Discovery Museum , and San Jose State University . 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 . Upcoming Events Fall Family Festival Lake Cunningham Saturday, October 25 10am-2pm In Our Community Mexican Independence Day During a time of political uncertainty, our community came together to celebrate Fiestas Patrias at City Hall on September 15th. San Jose is home to nearly a million people and cultures from around the world, events like this highlight the diversity of our city. ¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva Zacatecas! ¡Y Viva San José! Community Coffee My office, alongside Supervisor Duong, hosted a community coffee meeting at Eastridge Mall to connect with neighbors, hear their ideas, and learn more about the issues that matter most in District 8 and the greater Santa Clara County. Mulch Spreading at Meadowfair Park Led by the Meadowfair Neighborhood Association, our community came together to beautify their local park! Spreading mulch along barren areas are essential to prevent weeds from sprouting, and to improve the natural aesthetic of the park. Small Business Spotlight Visit Top Shelf Fades HQ for Your Next Haircut! As a family-owned barbershop, Top Shelf Fades HQ represents the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our city forward. They opened their doors in 2024, providing high-quality grooming services and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. The barbers at Top Shelf Fades HQ have volunteered at back-to-school events, offering their haircut services to children in need. Visit their website to book your next haircut or beard trim! District 8 Small Business Spotlight Suggestions Fill out the form here! City Hall Update Last month, in hopes of cleaning up blighted properties, the San Jose City Council unanimously approved increasing the maximum daily fines for property owners from $2,500 to $20,000 for each ongoing violation. Additionally, we raised the maximum amount of fines that property owners can accrue from $100,000 to $500,000. With these increases, our Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department can better tackle the issues that stem from negligent and absentee property owners: overgrown vegetation, vandalism, and illegal dumping. This week, my Council colleagues and I approved the procurement of a fixed-wing aircraft for the San Jose Police Department. The total cost for the procurement is $5,123,953, which will be funded by the State Drug Forfeiture Fund ($2,266,414), Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund ($2,257,254), and Federal Drug Forfeiture Fund ($600,285). Currently, our officers can apprehend criminals, recover stolen vehicles, and even locate missing persons with the help of the AIR3 helicopter. Another aircraft at their disposal will minimize the use of AIR3, saving the City money in maintenance costs. It also allows our Police Department the opportunity to choose which aircraft to deploy based on the situation they’re facing, keeping the public's safety at the forefront of their daily operations. In addition to enhancing safety measures, we’re also looking ahead to the future with ongoing efforts to shape our city's growth. We held the General Plan and Land Use Study Session earlier this week in preparation for the third four-year review of the 2040 Envision General Plan . This review will begin later this year through Summer 2026, providing an opportunity to evaluate the City's progress towards key goals: continued development of the Downtown; preservation and improvement of existing residential neighborhoods; and creating new, vibrant urban villages . Want to stay in the loop and help shape the future of your community? Sign up for project and meeting updates and be part of the conversation! The planning process directly impacts how our neighborhoods grow, connect, and thrive—your voice matters! 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 - 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 ONGOING AND ANTICIPATED CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES • NEW TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CONFIGURATION Northbound Capitol Expressway Two Left Turn Lanes Closed at Ocala Avenue Both left turn lanes will be closed, from northbound Capitol Expressway to westbound Ocala Avenue, until October 31, 2025. Follow detour signs. • TURN RESTRICTION Southbound Capitol Expressway to Eastbound Ocala Avenue One left-turn lane remains open until June 2026. • DRAINAGE SYSTEMS - Day Work Capitol Expressway between Ocala Avenue and Cunningham Avenue - Monday, September 8 through Friday, September 12 - Monday, September 15 through Friday, September 19 - Monday, September 22 through Friday, September 26 - Monday, September 29 through Friday, October 4 • PILE DRIVING - Day Work Median of Capitol Expressway between Ocala Avenue and Cunningham Avenue - Monday, September 22 through Friday, September 26 Expect noise, equipment mobilization, and dust. • RETAINING WALLS, REBAR & CONCRETE POURING Crews are working on retaining walls and pouring concrete at various locations where the light rail descends towards Eastridge Station. Other crews are working near the Eastridge Bus Transit Center area along Capitol Expressway to install conduits and pull boxes for future power connections. 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 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, please fill out the Park Concerns Form , call (408) 793-5510 or email Park.Concerns@sanjoseca.gov to report a concern. The City of San José is spreading the word about the 988 Crisis and Suicide Lifeline. This lifeline gives you free, confidential, and compassionate emotional support when you need help. Contacting 988 connects you to a trained counselor who is here for you, no matter what you are going through. If you are feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, or thoughts of self-harm, reach out to 988. Click here to learn more about the 988 lifeline. To learn more about free legal services through the Elevate Community Center, click here! Small Business Workshops The City's Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs helps small businesses thrive by connecting them to important resources and tools. .. - Smart Social Media Strategies for Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses Tuesday, September 30, 9:00 a.m (Online) https://www.score.org/eastbay/event/smart-social-media-strategies-entrepreneurs-small-businesses Disability Access Improvement Grants for Small Businesses San José Small Business Owners: The City's Disability Access Improvement Grants program will support your responsibility to comply with the federal Americans with Disability Act and the California Building Code. The grant will help you pay for a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) report and to hire professionals to design and remove ADA barriers. More information about qualifying for grant assistance can be found here . Announcements Evergreen Valley High School Dandiya Join us for a night of Dandiya – a traditional Indian dance – along with food, Bollywood songs, multi-cultural booths, and more. Tickets: Single: $22 | Kids (under 5): FREE | Groups 10+: $18 each | At the door: $25 Get your tickets here Park Activation Grant The third annual Neighborhoods Conference will take place on Saturday, October 4, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the City Hall Rotunda. This free event connects neighborhood leaders, City staff, and partner agencies to share resources, build community, and learn how to access City services that keep neighborhoods safe, clean, and engaged. Registration is open to all neighborhood leaders at http://bit.ly/sj-neighborhoods . Visit the Neighborhoods Conference webpage for more information, including descriptions for each workshop! Autumn Litter Harvest On Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., neighborhoods and community groups across the city will come together for a citywide cleanup event. BeautifySJ will provide all the supplies—you just bring your community spirit! Want to host a cleanup site? Contact neighborhoodlitter@sanjoseca.gov to sign up and help keep San J osé beautiful. Project Foodbox for Medi-Cal Members Click here to get more info! District 8 Website Office of Councilmember Domingo Candelas | 200 E. Santa Clara St. | San José, CA 95113 US | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice