Anthony Tordillos newsletter archive

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos invites District 3 residents to a Budget Town Hall to review the current budget and participatory budgeting projects. He honors the legacy of Rod Diridon, Sr., highlighting his principled stand on anti-discrimination ordinances. The Councilmember supports permanently reestablishing the Al Fresco outdoor dining program to aid local businesses with streamlined permitting. The City Council approved a loan for the VTA Capitol Station Housing project, providing 203 affordable homes near transit. Additionally, the Council authorized an innovative compressed air energy storage system to enhance energy reliability and reduce emissions. Upcoming community engagement includes a digital kiosk meeting, educator nominations, and a citywide litter pickup event.

District 3 is celebrating the holiday season with local shopping guides and events like Skate Under the Palms and Christmas in the Park. The office encourages supporting small businesses and highlights a $50 gift card incentive for spending $150 downtown. A recent study session focused on reducing housing costs, particularly by enabling smaller-scale housing developments with single staircases to boost infill projects. Efforts continue to improve homelessness prevention through enhanced data collection to better allocate resources. Upcoming community engagement includes a Mobilehome Rent Ordinance meeting and a youth priorities survey. The newsletter also promotes alternative transit options during the Santa Run and highlights recent community safety and environmental initiatives, including a gun buyback event and urban tree planting.

Since taking office in August 2025, Councilmember Anthony Tordillos has prioritized neighborhood revitalization by addressing blight, enhancing public safety through banning nitrous oxide and removing assault rifles from the streets, and advancing affordable housing projects with more planned for 2026. The newsletter highlights upcoming community meetings on the Guadalupe River Trail Bike Connections Plan and the Mobilehome Rent Ordinance, inviting public input. It also celebrates Japantown's designation as a California Cultural District, which aims to prevent displacement of local artists and cultural organizations. Additionally, the councilmember acknowledges cultural events like Las Posadas and Native American Heritage Month, emphasizing community engagement and cultural preservation.

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos highlights key achievements in his first month, including coauthoring legislation to increase penalties for negligent property owners to combat blight. He supported the unanimous City Council decision to keep the Sharks in San José for 26 more years, emphasizing the SAP Center's $4 million annual local tax revenue. To improve street safety, the Council passed a resolution reducing speed limits on 23 street segments after a high number of traffic fatalities. District 3 also opened San José’s first Safe Sleeping Site to aid homelessness, with ongoing community engagement to address neighborhood concerns. The newsletter calls for community involvement through boards, commissions, and creative ambassador applications, while also addressing small business support and historic preservation.

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with community events like the Mexican flag raising and Latinx Read-In at Horace Mann Elementary. He condemns recent ICE actions in San José, emphasizing the need to protect residents from fear and urging readiness to oppose federal overreach. His team is actively managing homelessness through coordinated Kellogg encampment abatements, ensuring safe parking alternatives and pursuing long-term solutions with county and transit partners. Upcoming community engagement includes the first District 3 Town Hall on November 8 and opportunities to apply for local boards, commissions, and park activation grants. Additionally, surveys on Coyote Valley trail planning and Downtown Light Rail realignment invite public input.

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos celebrates key milestones in his first two months, including passing his office's first policy memo supporting affordable housing with the Gateway Tower project, which will reserve 10 units for local artists in the SoFA District. He highlights collaboration on the Vision Zero Program to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety in District 3 and announces the launch of a red-light camera pilot to enhance traffic law enforcement. The newsletter also promotes community engagement opportunities such as the upcoming D3 Town Hall, BeautifySJ grants for neighborhood projects, and various volunteer events. Cultural recognition includes a proclamation for Filipino American Heritage Month and support for local arts and Japantown initiatives.

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos emphasizes community safety and civic engagement in District 3. He strongly opposes federal agents operating locally, urging residents to report ICE activity via the Rapid Response Network. The Council voted to support Proposition 50 to protect fair elections and Measure A to safeguard local hospitals from federal funding cuts. Tordillos also facilitated a compromise on FUZE nightclub’s permit to balance business growth with neighborhood concerns. Additionally, he promotes the BeautifySJ grant program, updates on expired vehicle registration enforcement, and alerts residents about invasive Aedes mosquitoes. Community events and cultural initiatives, including the new Silicon Valley Asian Art Center and local neighborhood cleanups, are highlighted to foster neighborhood pride and safety.

In his first 100 days, Councilmember Anthony Tordillos has prioritized housing affordability, public safety, and community engagement in District 3. He secured a commitment to explore single stairway reform to reduce construction costs and increase affordable housing. He co-authored a memo to improve oversight and training for homelessness service providers, ensuring dignity for unhoused residents. The City passed an urgency ordinance banning nitrous oxide sales in smoke shops and imposed a moratorium on new smoke shops to enhance downtown safety. Additionally, the City entered an agreement to clean up Caltrans properties and will implement five major street safety projects downtown to improve traffic and pedestrian conditions.

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos highlights key community initiatives and upcoming events in District 3. His office is leading reforms to historic preservation ordinances to better support Japantown residents and businesses. The Reimagining Santa Clara Street project invites public input at a December 10 meeting to discuss design concepts. Community engagement continues with a Bestor Art Park holiday cleanup on November 29 and ongoing volunteer opportunities. The newsletter also reflects on successful fundraising for the Trigg family and celebrates local seniors at Villas on 4th. City Hall will be closed for Thanksgiving on November 27-28.

San José’s District 3 is gearing up for a vibrant 2026 with major events centered around The Big Game, including free community celebrations like drone shows and concerts. The City Council adopted Policy 7-15 to restrict ICE operations on city property, reinforcing immigrant community safety. The Red Light Camera Pilot Project has begun issuing fines to improve street safety. The BEST Grant Program is now accepting applications to support youth violence prevention initiatives. Additionally, the First Responder Fee Program started in January to fund critical emergency services. Councilmember Tordillos also highlighted ongoing advocacy for downtown revitalization and affordable housing legislation.

This newsletter highlights key housing initiatives passed during Housing Day at San José City Hall, including legislation to implement SB 79 for transit-oriented development, support for commercial-to-residential conversions downtown, and expansion of the Multifamily Housing Incentive Program citywide. The council also refined the inclusionary housing ordinance to balance affordability with construction feasibility and deferred changes to mobile home regulations pending further community engagement. Additionally, the newsletter promotes upcoming community events tied to The Big Game, local scholarships, grant programs, volunteer opportunities, and recent neighborhood safety efforts following a holiday homicide.

San José recently celebrated the SJ26 events and the Big Game with vibrant community participation, but late-night violence downtown has prompted a focus on improving safety for residents and visitors alike. Preparations are underway for the upcoming Music Mania festival starting March 27, offering diverse musical genres. The newsletter highlights the ongoing Schools of Tomorrow process addressing declining enrollment, with potential elementary school closures and boundary changes impacting District 3 families; key meetings are scheduled for February 24 and March 3. The City Council approved placing a transient occupancy tax increase on the June ballot to raise up to $10 million, prioritizing reinvestment in hotel-heavy communities and arts support. Additional updates include new speed humps in Japantown, Backesto Park improvements, and community engagement opportunities such as the Cli…

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos announces the expansion of the District 3 team with two new Council Assistants to enhance constituent services. He highlights the participatory budgeting process, urging residents to submit project ideas by March 27 for safety and quality of life improvements. The newsletter details the City Council's authorization of the LIVE program to master-lease 197 affordable housing units at The Faye, prioritizing public employees. It also covers ongoing concerns about the Schools of Tomorrow process affecting local families, with upcoming STIC meetings to finalize school closure options. Additionally, community meetings on traffic signal upgrades and various city programs supporting small businesses, summer jobs, and climate initiatives are promoted.

San José is advancing key budget priorities including improving historic review processes to protect heritage while easing burdens on homeowners and businesses, exploring Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts (EIFDs) to boost housing and economic growth downtown, and strengthening enforcement against blighted properties. The City Council approved strict privacy safeguards for license plate reader cameras to support public safety without compromising resident privacy. The SJUSD Board of Trustees will vote on March 26 regarding school closures impacting District 3 families, with community concerns especially for Black and Brown students. Upcoming community events include a traffic signal improvement meeting on March 25 and a Resilience Personal Emergency Preparedness workshop on March 26.

Councilmember Anthony Tordillos highlights key community engagement opportunities including Coffee with a Councilmember and upcoming District 3 Budget Town Halls on April 11 and 20. He supports the establishment of an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District downtown to boost revitalization without raising taxes, and advocates for faster, cost-effective housing development, including the Gateway Tower project with local artist preferences. He backs divestment from ICE-related companies, urging actionable city investment policies reflecting immigrant community values. The newsletter also addresses recent SJUSD school closures affecting District 3 families and promotes community input on new downtown digital kiosks.