Santana Row
and
Moorpark Residential Fire
Update – Thursday, August 22
San Jose Housing Department in conjunction with the Silicon Valley Chapter
of the American Red Cross has already provided direct assistance to at
least 38 fire victims and is reaching out to find others who may still
need help.
- People needing help should call Vivian Frelix-Hart at the San
Jose Housing Department at (408) 277-2244.
- The Red Cross is offering assistance at the Sherman Oaks Community
Center at 1800A Fruitdale Ave, between Leigh Avenue and Southwest Expressway.
People also can call the Red Cross directly at (408) 577-1000.
- The San Jose Housing Department has identified more than 40 vacant
apartments available for fire victims with the help of the Tri-County
Apartment Association. The Red Cross has offered to pay first month’s
rent, while the City has offered up to two additional months’ rent.
- Cash (not in-kind) contributions to help fire victims can be made
through the Red Cross. Call (408) 577-2114 to make a donation, or email:
volkmand@usa.redcross.org.
- The Salvation Army is prepared to assist residents wanting to
donate items specifically for the fire victims. Donations of supplies
can be brought directly to the Salvation Army in San Jose at:
Salvation Army
359 & 405 N. Fourth Street
(at the intersection of Julian and Hensley, near railroad tracks, Washington
dead ends into the facility)
To donate (24 hours/day, 7 days/week) – 405 N. Fourth Street. Specify
that items are for Santana Row Fire Victims
To receive (M-F, 8am-4:30pm) – Next door to shelter at 359 N. Fourth
Street.
Fire victims should ask for Wayne Lasuer. If anyone has questions, his
number is 408-282-1165, ext. 201.
- The Housing Industry Foundation has provided $10,000 to assist
with moving costs.
On Tuesday, August 20, the San Jose City Council approved declarations
of emergency. This action will help fire victims including small businesses
and city agencies qualify for potential emergency relief from state or
federal government sources.
The City of San Jose can assist impacted businesses to recover and rebuild.
A number of low-cost, flexible-term financing options are available through
the San Jose Office of Economic Development.
Staff is available to work with businesses to do an individual needs
assessment and to coordinate the appropriate assistance based on those
needs. Contact the Office of Economic Development at (408) 277-5880.
San Jose Fire Department has offered a $5,000 reward for information
that will help determine the cause and nature of the fire.
Anyone with information should call the San Jose Fire Department at (408)
277-5124.
Federal Realty Investment Trust, the developers of the Santana Row complex,
has clearly and strongly reconfirmed its commitment to complete the project.
Federal also has pledged to open the remainder of the complex that fortunately
was undamaged as soon as feasible. No date for the opening has been set
at this time, pending the evaluation of the fire’s impact on the
remainder of the complex.
More information from Federal can be found at its website: www.federalrealty.com
- At the peak of the fires on Monday there were 207 firefighters from
San Jose and neighboring fire departments working to contain the blaze.
To put this number in perspective, during a normal shift there are 194
firefighters on duty throughout the entire city.
- The fires at Santana Row and in the nearby neighborhoods required 11
alarms to fight. Each alarm is a call for additional support as more firefighters
are moved in to help.
- There were a total of 70 pieces of firefighting apparatus in action
at all sites on Monday.
- Mutual aid response came from fire departments throughout Santa Clara
County, as well as support from cities in San Mateo County.
At this time there is no estimate of the value of the damage caused by
the fire pending the completion of the fire investigation and the evaluation
of the extent of the damage to Santana Row and neighborhood homes.
Delays in the opening of the Santana Row complex would not affect sales
tax revenue projections for the current fiscal year, according to the
Office of the City Manager.
The City had made tentative projections for $1.5 million of sales tax
revenue in each of the next two fiscal years, which compares to a total
revenue stream of $144 million from sales taxes annually.
The City’s annual General Fund, which is partially supported by
sales tax revenues, amounts to approximately $800 million a year. The
General Fund supports basic city services.
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