Dear Neighbor,

This week, we set a new precedent in the city of San Jose: when we invest in new, dignified alternatives to homelessness, we will hold people accountable for using them and thereby end unsheltered homelessness in the vicinity of that solution. As I’ve said before, the neighborhoods that take on solutions to homelessness should be made better, not worse off for doing so. 

Last Tuesday, we voted on a construction agreement for the Via Del Oro interim housing community in South San Jose. This community represents two innovations on the model we’ve pioneered over the last few years, which led to a 10% decrease in street homelessness last year while the state saw a 10% increase overall. 



The first innovation is that we are building on private land. Each of our 5 previous quick build communities have been built on public land. Thanks to the vision and generosity of John and Sue Sobrato – who are giving the City a $1/year lease for ten years – we will be able to leverage underutilized private land for the first time.

While the City continues to seek public lands for these solutions, there are many more parcels of vacant and underutilized land owned by private entities in San Jose. As we prove that this model works, we will seek to replicate it with other private landowners. Because the lease is time-limited, we are designing the Via Del Oro community to be simple, low-cost, and relocatable. If the owners want to build on the land in ten years, we will be able to put the units on semi-trucks and move them to another location at minimal cost. 

The second innovation Via Del Oro represents is greater accountability for using the housing taxpayers are providing. I collaborated with four colleagues (Councilmembers Batra, Jimenez, Foley, and Cohen) on a memo that works to create no encampment zones within a two-block radius of the new Via del Oro interim housing community. 

It also reaffirms our commitment to local preference – which allows us to conduct outreach efforts first to the homeless neighbors already living in the neighborhood. After offering housing to everyone in the area multiple times, we will abate any remaining encampments within a mile and a half of Via Del Oro to ensure we make and preserve concrete progress in this part of town. 

I’m working to add this policy to every other interim housing site – existing and new – as well as all of the faster, cheaper solutions we are exploring in the year ahead, including safe sleeping, safe parking and congregate shelter. Because it’s just common sense – if you welcome a solution to homelessness in your neighborhood, you should directly experience the positive impact of bringing people indoors.

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

Cinco De Mayo is just around the corner! There are so many incredible celebrations across our city to choose from — I hope you have a chance to join one! Whether you’re part of the festivities or not, make sure you know the routes and streets that may be closed or impacted by the weekend’s events. Click here to learn more!  

This week, we hosted the State’s Chief Service Officer, Josh Fryday, to announce that we and neighboring cities are hiring for 2,000 paid positions that are part of the California Service Corps! Corps members are young people in our community who are often getting their paid job in a service role, including tutoring, wildfire management, trail maintenance, tree planting and many other tasks that improve and protect our community. Their experience in the Service Corps will prepare them not just for a future career, but for whatever they encounter. Whether in crisis or not, becoming a corps member will make our young people good neighbors, great community members and bold leaders.

If you or someone you know wants to apply, click here!

Our State of the City is just around the corner! Join us on June 1st at 9am to hear important updates about San Jose, and help lend a hand in the fight for a safer, cleaner city. More details to come!

I’m pleased to announce that the City Council has approved my selection of Eddie Aubrey as our new Independent Police Auditor! With nearly 40 years of experience across both prosecution and civilian oversight, Eddie Aubrey has demonstrated a deep understanding of the legal system and the standards it must adhere to. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a new Independent Police Auditor with extensive experience both working within and overseeing the conduct of law enforcement agencies. Eddie will help maintain trust between our residents and the people tasked with protecting them. Finally, a huge thank you to Karyn Sinunu-Towery for stepping in and serving so capably as our Acting IPA over the past year!

From tackling homelessness to ensuring community safety, this year we’ve created a budget that focuses our city on the basics so we can create a San Jose that works for everyone. It’s not too late to join the conversation — we have some tough tradeoffs to make this year and we need to hear from you. Join us at a budget town hall near you!

Tree Planting at Plata Arroyo Park

Saturday, April 27th at 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Plata Arroyo Park, North King Road San Jose, CA 95116

We’re working every day towards a safer, cleaner, greener city — but we need your help to do it! Join Team Mahan, Plata Arroyo neighbors, and volunteers from across San Jose to plant trees and beautify Plata Arroyo Park. Sign up and become part of the solution here. 

Bay Area Panthers vs. Vegas Knight Hawks

Saturday, May 4th at 6:05 PM

SAP Center, 525 W Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113 

Cheer on the Panthers as they defend their Indoor Football League National Championship! Buy your tickets here.

Cinco De Mayo Salsa Fest

Saturday, May 4th at 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 1 Paseo de San Antonio, San Jose, CA 95113

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with live music, dancing, great food and drinks, arts and crafts, and more! The proceeds will support Opening Doors’ mobile meal service, which provides hot, nutritious lunches to low-income seniors, families, and people experiencing homelessness in San Jose. Learn more and buy your tickets here. 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration with United Lowrider Council of San Jose

Sunday, May 5th at 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Multiple Locations

Enjoy Cinco de Mayo in the lowrider capital of Northern California! The lowrider parade begins at 10:00 AM on Alum Rock Avenue & King Road and ends at 12:00 PM at the 680 overpass. The celebrations continue at Emma Prusch Park (647 S King Rd, San Jose, CA 95116), where festival attendees can enjoy food, local business vendors, and a vibrant cultural celebration. Learn more here. 

Painting Asphalt Mural at San Pedro Square

Monday, May 21st to May 31st at 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

San Pedro Square, N. San Pedro Street, San Jose

Interested in helping us add a huge pop of color to San Pedro Square? Grab a brush and join Local Color, the San Jose Downtown Association, and artist Jimmy Paints to help us install an asphalt mural along San Pedro Street. Volunteers will be able to participate in 2 hour blocks of painting (paint-by-numbers style) between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM. All ParkSJ garages offer 90 minutes of free parking, including the Market & San Pedro Square garage. Learn more and sign up here.

We’re continuing our April community clean-ups with another double header! Team Mahan joined both Partridge Drive and Tatra neighborhoods for dumpster days. Despite the weather we had dozens of active neighbors and volunteers show up to help make their corner of San Jose cleaner! Join us at the next one: http://bit.ly/cleansj.

I had the privilege of joining the Red Cross and an incredible team of volunteers to install smoke alarms for underserved residents at Mountain Springs Mobile Park. This event was just one of ten happening across Northern California as Red Cross works to install 50,000 free smoke alarms nationwide. Help them reach that goal by volunteering, donating or signing up for a home fire safety visit right here: http://redcross.org/sound-the-alarm.

Let’s play ball! I had a great time throwing out the first pitch at the San Jose Giants’ home opener. Wishing them good luck as they head into the 2024 season! Purchase tickets and pack the ballpark for their next game here: http://qrco.de/SJGiantsTickets.

Our movement to create a safer, cleaner San Jose is spreading across the city! Earlier this month, residents in several different neighborhoods came together to beautify their corner of San Jose. We stopped by the Basking Ridge neighborhood to help dozens of neighbors dump their unwanted junk. Afterwards, we headed to Melody Park to plant 4 new oak trees and throw away more garbage with the Melody Serenade Neighborhood Association. Together, we’re building a better city! Sign up here to join us at our next community clean-up: http://bit.ly/cleansj.