Dear Neighbor,

Like all Americans, I am shocked and horrified by the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania yesterday. 

I’m thankful former President Trump was not seriously injured, or worse, and sickened to hear that a bystander was killed in front of his family and two others were seriously harmed. 

There’s no room for political violence in our nation. Irrespective of our political parties and beliefs, as Americans we must commit ourselves to settling our disagreements using the tools of democracy–rational debate, the popular vote, the judicial system–and never through violence. 

Our family is praying for those killed and injured yesterday, and for their families; for the law enforcement agents whose action prevented further tragedy; and for a world in which all of us do better in showing our respect and love for one another. The fate of our nation, and our form of government, depends upon it.

Sincerely,

Mayor Matt

As we shared last week, SJPD identified and arrested a number of individuals involved in the most recent sideshow in our city, including a driver whose vehicle struck a bystander and all six individuals who blocked and then vandalized an SJPD patrol car responding to a related call for service. 

This week, our department took its efforts a step further, convening nearly twenty law enforcement agencies from around the region in a working group to discuss recent sideshow activity, share information and best practices, and deepen the cross-agency working relationships we need to combat a form of crime that knows no boundaries. 

The fact that six of the seven recently arrested suspects are not residents of San Jose highlights just how important it is that we work together across cities and counties to put an end to this illegal and dangerous activity. I’m proud of the excellent police work our department is doing to make San Jose safer and strongly support this greater level of collaboration.

Yesterday, we delivered on a decades-long promise to our Vietnamese community when we unveiled the “Thank You America” Monument, honoring the friendship and sacrifice of American and South Vietnamese soldiers who fought – and in far too many cases, died – side-by-side for the cause of freedom. 

The monument is the new centerpiece of San Jose’s Vietnamese Heritage Garden (1499 Roberts Ave.), a place that honors the journey that thousands of families took to find a better life here in America and their important contributions to our city ever since. We will continue working to ensure the garden blossoms into a vibrant public space for all to gather, learn, and connect with San Jose’s Vietnamese community and our shared history.

We’re using AI to increase productivity in local government. From pothole and graffiti detection to bus route optimization, the new tools we create in Silicon Valley have tremendous potential to make our government smarter and more efficient with your tax dollars.

San Jose Obon Festival

Sunday, July 14th at 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM

5th Street between Taylor and Jackson Streets

Japantown’s largest festival is this weekend! Immerse yourself in Japanese-American culture and enjoy authentic food, traditional performances, fun games, and more. Learn more here. 

Dine Downtown San Jose

Sunday, July 14th to Sunday, July 21st

Multiple Restaurant Locations

Dine Downtown San Jose is back! Indulge in delicious dishes from some of Downtown San Jose’s top restaurants. Local restaurants will be showcasing both innovative meals and beloved classics until July 21st. Find the full list of participating restaurants here.

San Pedro Square Block Party

Thursday, July 18th at 5:00 PM

San Pedro Square, 87 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110

Stop by the next Downtown Block Party in San Pedro Square! Bring your family and friends for a night filled with live music, food and drinks, over 40 local vendors, and more Downtown San Jose fun. Learn more here.

CityDance San Jose: Bollywood

Thursday, July 18th at 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Circle of Palms, 127 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113

Dance the night away at CityDance San Jose! Enjoy an evening of socializing, music, and open-air dancing at the Circle of Palms, located in the heart of Downtown San Jose. With live bands and a professional dance instructor, you can learn something new or finetune your Bollywood dancing skills! Learn more here.

Pobladores Night Market

Thursday, July 25th at 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Parque de los Pobladores, 510 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113

The Pobladores Night Market is lighting up Downtown San Jose every Thursday this summer! Enjoy delicious food trucks, shop local craft vendors, stop by the beer garden, listen to live music, and more. Learn more here.

The ribbon-cuttings in Downtown keep coming! This week we welcomed three new businesses to downtown San Jose: Angkor Chef at 86 S 1st Street, Velvet House at 50 Post Street, and the Boys and Girls Club of Silicon Valley at 15 W San Fernando Street. I’m already a regular at Angkor Chef — First Street is becoming quite the foodie destination!

I recently joined dozens of volunteers and our PRNS staff to beautify one of San Jose’s most beloved public spaces — the Municipal Rose Garden. Want to make a difference? Join us for a clean-up here.

I hope you and your family had a fun and safe 4th of July! We enjoyed the parades and fireworks, and most of all, the joy of seeing families spend quality time together as our city celebrated the birth of our nation and the freedoms that make our country special.