NOVEMBER 2007
VOLUME1/ ISSUE 9
| DISTRICT 3 | NOVEMBER 2007 |
VOLUME1/ ISSUE 9 |
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At a recent City Council meeting, Sam consults with the San Jose Giants mascott. |
Why More Affordable Housing? I recently introduced a measure, and joined by several colleagues, to explore the implementation an “inclusionary” housing policy. Such policies typically require developers to construct a percentage of new affordable homes —typically 10% to 20%-- at below-market-rates or prices (or developers can pay a fee or contribute land instead). On December 11th, Council will consider a process to communicate with developers, businesses, and neighborhoods as we shape this proposal. I’ve introduced this measure for several reasons. Beyond the most obvious—i.e., we need more affordable housing--here are a few more: Your tax dollars shouldn’t be the primary source for funding affordable housing. In recent years, San Jose has produced affordable homes largely by relying on dollars from the Redevelopment Agency (RDA), a funding source with an uncertain future because of a ceiling on RDA bonded indebtedness. Use of these funds beyond the state-required contribution for affordable housing comes at the expense of other priorities, such as “Strong Neighborhoods” projects and economic development. We should encourage housing affordability throughout San Jose– not simply in our neighborhoods. San Jose’s current policy mandates affordability for 20% of new units only in RDA project neighborhoods, concentrated largely in the downtown and east side. Only with mixed-income housing citywide can we avoid the economically segregated neighborhoods that we often see in other large cities. “Affordable” isn’t “substandard.” Too often, affordable housing conjures images of large, crime-ridden projects in Chicago. In San Jose, we have the benefit of several high-quality, mixed-income developments indistinguishable in appearance from market-rate housing. For proof, look at the “Art Ark” development at South 6th near Keyes, or at the Delmas apartments on Bird and San Carlos, both created by local developer The Core Companies. By leveraging multiple funding sources, Core and others have proven that “affordable” doesn’t mean “cheap.” Inclusionary housing policies don’t drive up prices of market-rate housing. Contrary to the claims of opponents, the overwhelming evidence from studies and real-world experience of inclusionary programs shows little or no impact on market-rate unit costs. Economists cite high price elasticities of housing demand, meaning that consumer demand--not developer costs--drives rents and prices. With a flexible, sensible policy, we can do this without hampering good development. Inclusionary mandates can offer developers substantial flexibility and incentives, including subsidies, density bonuses, in-lieu fees, and breaks on high-rise development downtown. Our recent experience in North San Jose and Edenvale has proven that developers will continue to eagerly seek permits to build thousands of affordable homes in areas despite inclusionary mandates in those areas, so we’re not deterring development by extending these policies city-wide. Sincerely, Sam Liccardo
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Contact Us D3 Staff |
Preparing for Emergencies The City of San Jose has been working hard to help residents prepare. Our San Jose Prepared program provides a Home & Family Disaster Preparedness course that teaches how to create a family disaster plan, what to include in disaster supply kits and ways to reduce risk. For classes and other useful information visit http://www.sanjoseca.gov/emergencyServices/SanJosePrepared/ or call (408) 277-4598. Martin Park Update As a precautionary interim measure, weekly monitoring of adjacent residences has been occurring with no detectable concentrations of methane observed to date. Long term, to mitigate the hazard and protect the adjacent residences, the City is planning to install an interceptor trench and vapor barrier around the perimeter of the site to safely contain and passively vent any migrating landfill gas.The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and the Local Enforcement Agency has approved the City’s proposal. On October 16, the Council approved the 2006-2007 Annual Report which included the allocation of $1.5M for the Martin Park landfill gas project. The project timeline for the trench and barrier is a summer 2008 completion. Meanwhile the City continues to routinely monitor the adjacent residential properties to ensure safety. Furthermore, City staff remains committed to building out the future park site and will work through the upcoming budget process to identify potential City funding and/or grant funds to complete this project. Concerned About Liquor Store Violations? All liquor stores and bars must obtain a license from California’s Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control (ABC). ABC’s regulations can be found on their website at http://www.abc.ca.gov. If you believe a local store has violated any of these regulations you may file a complaint to ABC one of two ways: 1) Visit the ABC website and fill out the “Complaint Against Licensee” form. In addition, there is a form to log disruptive activity that could be helpful in making your case. Both forms can be found at: http://www.abc.ca.gov/FORMS/ABC099E.pdf, http://www.abc.ca.gov/FORMS/ABC099L.pdf 2) Contact the ABC office in San Jose located at 100 Paseo de San Antonio, Room 119. The primary office contact is Karyn Nielsen at 408 277-1200 or email SNJ.Direct@abc.ca.gov. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you’re concerned about a posting for a new application, visit http://www.abc.ca.gov/FORMS/ABC510.pdf for instructions on how to protest an application. Please remember to be specific when filing the complaint or protest, including the location and address of the store and the specific regulation violated. Complaints can remain anonymous. |
New Garden In Naglee Park East San José Carnegie Branch Library Closed To change the pick-up location of your requests, log in to your library account at http://www.sjlibrary.org/ and view your holds, or call (408) 808-2000 for staff assistance. Any outstanding hold requests with a pick-up location of East Branch were cancelled after November 17. Returning items? East Branch's book drop will be available only until November 26. Thereafter, materials must be returned to any other San José Public Library location. Other branch locations which may be convenient for you are Biblioteca Latinoamericana, Hillview, Tully Community or King Library. For more information visit www.sjlibrary.org. Local Businesses Help Families In Need The Association serves as the main east-west gateway between downtown San Jose and the vibrant neighborhoods of east San Jose. The Business District is home to City Hall and is a short distance from both San Jose State University and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, one of the largest libraries win the country. Please be sure to visit any of the local businesses to say thanks for their generous community spirit. Downtown Holiday Tradition Returns to the Circle of Palms Make sure that Downtown Ice is part of your plans downtown this holiday season. Make memories skating, enjoying Christmas in the Park directly across the way, taking in any one of numerous holiday stage productions, shopping the new international marketplace set up in downtown’s paseos and dining at any of the numerous restaurants that fit every taste and budget. For Downtown Ice’s hours of operation and more information, please call (408) 279-1775 or visit http://www.sjdowntown.com/eve_eve_ice.html. Japantown Retail Update Many efforts are under way to rebuild, expand and enhance Japantown retail. Here are just a few highlights. San Jose Tofu – Jackson between 4th and 5th Street recently reopened after a fire triggered an effort to renovate the building and update its permits. San Jose Tofu is the only remaining hand-made tofu shop in the United States. To learn more visit http://www.sjtofu.com/. Roy’s Station – 197 Jackson Street Shabu-Shabu House – 171 Jackson Street Rehoboth – 655 N 6th Street, between Jackson and Taylor With up to 30,000 squared feet of retail planned for the Corporation Yard Development, we hope Japantown continues on its path to becoming a vibrant commercial and cultural neighborhood destination. New Bistro and Wine Bar Open Downtown |
Resources for Teachers The goal of the grant program is to empower teachers with the opportunity to enhance their instruction by bringing new and innovative learning experiences to their students. Often the only thing standing in the way of a teacher trying something new is the few hundred dollars needed to convert their great idea into reality. SJEF Teacher Innovation Grants can provide those necessary dollars. More information and the online grant applications for each type of project can be found on the SJEF website at www.SJEFoundation.org. Grant application deadlines are: December 14, 2007, February 29, 2008, April 30, 2008. Olinder School Named Shining Star Whether or not your child attends Olinder these children are your neighbors and Olinder is one of your neighborhood schools, so congratulations to staff, parents and youth at Olinder. We’re fortunate to have you as neighbors.
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Turkey Trot A Holiday Tradition |
Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) Meeting Join Councilmember Liccardo and your downtown neighbors at this monthly meeting. For more information about the meeting contact Khanh Bui at (408) 535-4932 or khanh.bui@sanjoseca.gov. Heritage Holiday Event History San Jose and Happy Hollow Park & Zoo present a fun-filled festival for families and shoppers of all ages and interests. Come and enjoy artisan vendors, international food booths, live music, trolley rides and much more. Holiday Clay and Glass Exhibit This juried member exhibit features the work of many of the Bay Area’s most respected names in the mediums of clay and glass and is timed to coincide with the holiday gift giving season. Expect to see a wide variety of styles and imagery from the functional to the sculptural. Energy Efficiency in Your Household The City of San Jose’s Environmental Services Department offers this free session with helpful tips on how to increase efficiency in your home. Putting technology to work and changing habits can help our community, our wallets and the environment, without giving up modern comforts. Nature’s Gifts With the giving season just around the corner why not create an artistic masterpiece for someone special using materials supplied by nature? Join Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens for an afternoon of creativity as we personalize a special gift for your mom, dad, grandmother or grandfather, brother or sister, or maybe just a special friend. Make a natural card and learn how to gift wrap your creation using recycled materials. All programs will take place at the Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center, located at 438 Coleman Avenue in San Jose. To register call 408-298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to learn more. Pre-registration is required and parents need not be present for the workshop. Annual Holiday Wreath Workshop Make your holidays festive by creating a wreath to decorate your home with Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens. Wreaths symbolize the strength of life, immortality and health. When made with natural materials they can provide a beautiful and aromatic decoration. Join Master Gardener Milli Wright as we use greenery to create a personal gift for your home. No experience necessary and all materials will be provided to assemble your wreath. If you have lights, ornaments, or other specialty objects you would like to incorporate, please feel free to bring them along. All programs will take place at Friends of Guadalupe River Park & Gardens Visitor & Education Center, located at 438 Coleman Avenue in San Jose. For more information or to reserve your spot call 408-298-7657 or visit www.grpg.org to learn more. Pre-registration is required. |
The recent earthquake was an important reminder that we all need to be prepared. Both residents and businesses need to plan ahead for a disaster. When disaster strikes, our first responders will be responding to the biggest emergencies, and you may need to be self-sufficient for a few days. Keep a 72-hour supply of food, water and medications on hand. Create a family emergency plan.
The East Branch closed at the end of the day on November 17th for expansion under the branch development bond measure approved by San José voters in November 2000. The new East Branch is scheduled to open in 2009. 
Downtown welcomes another great new restaurant, San Pedro Square Bistro and Wine Bar (20 N Almaden Ave). This bistro brings a little bit of class to your meal for next to nothing. The lunch menu averages $7 a dish and you can get happy hour dishes for less then $3. With dishes like Cornish Hen and cubed filet minion, you can’t go wrong. The wine menu is extensive, with a good selection of wine from both the old and new world in a variety of price ranges. Of note, there over a page and a half of wines listed for under $29 (or about $7 a glass). Please welcome this great new addition to our downtown. For information and hours call (408) 298-9463.
The San Jose Education Foundation is offering Teacher Innovation Grants to teachers in District 3. These grants are for up to $500 for individual teacher projects and field trips and $1000 for groups of teachers working collaboratively.
named a “Shining Star School” by the State of California for significant gains in academics, attendance and parent involvement. This award is given only to schools that submit an “Exemplary Comprehensive Student Support Year-end Report” which accounts for success in attendance, attitude/behavior and academics. All of which in turn foster student learning, resiliency and academic achievement. In addition, Olinder provided specific data demonstrating their interventions and programs were effective in helping students learn and become personally and academically well prepared. Only 25 schools received this highest honor from the State.
The Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot – Run or Walk for Health, Hope and a Home – is a 5K run or walk and 10K run held on Thanksgiving morning in downtown, and is a benefit for the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation’s Children’s Health Initiative (health), Second Harvest Food Bank (hope), and the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County (home). The Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot is a fun family event appropriate for all ages, and organizers hope to attract as many as 4,000 participants this year.