NOVEMBER 2008
VOLUME1I/ ISSUE 11
| DISTRICT 3 | NOVEMBER 2008 |
VOLUME1I/ ISSUE 11 |
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Sam takes some time for discussions with Batman or more commonly known local artist, Paul Gonzales, who will be painting a mural on First & San Fernando Streets for the Downtown Business Association. |
Giving Thanks The rash of foreclosures, layoffs, and budget cuts has hit many of our downtown neighborhoods particularly hard. Our families face several more months of grappling with a recession, the depths of which this nation hasn’t experienced in several generations. Giving thanks during this holiday may seem challenging for many of us. Nonetheless, all around us, we can find ample reminders of our community’s extraordinary resilience and capacity for renewal. The November 4th election inspired millions of Americans to the possibilities of change in our country, and our own local elections also offered a glimpse of the promise of our own community. By supporting Measures A and B, our recession-weary but determined residents demonstrated their resolve to rebuild our Valley Medical Center, invest in a $50 million medical facility in our downtown, and to bring BART to the Valley and transform the downtown into the regional hub of a truly interconnected transit system. Signs of hope abound in less noticed, but equally important ways:
Despite gloomy news on television and in the papers, we can all find good reason to be thankful for the irrepressible spirit of our community to gather, to celebrate, to help, to beautify, to give, and above all, to collectively rise above these difficult times. Sincerely, Sam Liccardo |
Contact Us D3 Staff |
Neighborhood Beautification Opportunties Similarly, the Parks Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department has a volunteer program to assist with maintenance and beautification of neighborhood parks. The Department recruits volunteers looking to contribute service hours and matches them with neighborhood park clean-up and/or beautification projects. If you’re interested in volunteering or have a project for volunteers in your neighborhood park, contact Fernando Cazares, Community Coordinator for Volunteer Management at (408) 793-5595 or Fernando.cazares@sanjoseca.gov. Housing Literacy Program Launched Downtown |
Input Sought for Distinctive Neighborhood Program The City has added two more community meetings for resident input: For questions or comments please contact Hadasa Lev, Distinctive Neighborhood Program Planner at 408-535-7838 or hadasa.lev@sanjoseca.gov . For more information on the Distinctive Neighborhood Program click here. Thanksgiving Library Closures Destination Downtown |
There's Still Time to Trot
You can still register in person at the Runners Factory in Los Gatos, between 8 a.m. and 5p.m. on Wednesday, November 26 or at the race site the morning of the event. All race participants will be offered a 20% shopping discount at the Runner’s Factory on November 26.
Enriching Public Space Through Art Volunteers Needed for Christmas in the Park MACLA Offers Free Dance Classes
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Eagerly Awaited Openings! Roosevelt Community Center and Skate Park Selma Olinder Dog Park |
Christmas in the Park Tree Lighting Join this annual tradition kicking off the start of the holiday season. For more information, contact Adriene Mertens at 793-5508. Heritage Holiday Hosted by History San Jose, this holiday event features children’s crafts, trolley rides, docent-led tours of History Park, entertainment and much more. For more information click here. Cat Adoption Fair Councilmembers Liccardo and Chirco along with the City’s Environmental Services Department invite you to a cat adoption fair in partnership with Town Cats a local nonprofit dedicated to rescuing cats. For more information click here. San Jose Holiday Parade The International Award-Winning San Jose Holiday Parade, considered one of the "Top 25 Parades in America ” by the International Festivals and Events Association, is nearly here to kick off the holiday season. It’s the largest parade of its kind in Northern California, and one of the largest in the state, and includes giant helium balloons, over two dozen marching bands, creative floats, dozens of specialty units, clowns and Santa Claus. |
A community without blight is important for the City of San Jose and District 3, however, the City’s deficit and looming budget cuts mean maintenance of things like islands and medians could suffer. The Adopt-a-Street Program allows members of the community, including neighborhood groups and business, to beautify and improve their community. Through the program volunteers can select a portion of a street to adopt and maintain by picking up liter, removing graffiti, ranking leaves, removing weeds, sweeping walkways, and other activities that keep the street looking good. Adoptions can vary between one to three years, depending on the interest of the volunteers. To Adopt-a-Street or for more information, contact the Adopt-a-Street Program at (408) 975-3728 all the necessary supplies, tools, training, and support are provided by Adopt-a-Street staff. For more information, send an email to 
CommUniverCity, a Strong Neighborhoods Initiative (SNI) partner, was recently awarded a $20,000 grant from Wells Fargo Bank to launch a Housing Literacy Program in the Five Wounds Brookwood Terrace neighborhood in District 3. The Housing Literacy Program is designed to introduce the community to opportunities available to low-income residents, including foreclosure prevention counseling and homeownership assistance. San Jose State University (SJSU) graduate students, under the direction of Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley, will teach the curriculum in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese. The collaboraton builds upon the priorities and goals for the residents, which include improving quality of life, building community and engaging all participants in civic life. For more information, contact Laura Lam at (408) 535-8505.
The City is developing a Distinctive Neighborhoods Program to add further protection and enhancement to unique residential neighborhoods, such as historic neighborhoods. The goals for the program include defining the characteristics of distinct neighborhoods based on input from community groups, neighborhood associations, the development community, and other interested parties and reviewing existing protections while also proposing potential revised and/or new protection options including identifying potential Municipal Code or other policy changes.
As in the years past the Library Department will be closing the Dr. Martin Luther Kind, Jr. Library and branches at 6:00 p.m., on Wednesday, November 26, 2008. Normally the Kind Library is open until 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and branch hours are until 8:00 p.m. However, library usage on the evening before Thanksgiving is historically extremely low. The Joyce Ellington and Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branches will close at 6 p.m. on November 26th and will also be closed for the entire day on November 27th and 28th. For more information on branch closures 
This popular annual Thanksgiving Day event was founded in 2005 by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Last year, with the record turnout, race organizers were able to donate $225,000 to three local charity beneficiaries: Second Harvest Food Bank, the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation’s Children’s Health Initiative. 
Later that afternoon, join Sam for the grand opening of Selma Olinder Dog Park on December 13, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Downtown’s four legged, furry friends will soon enjoy the new ¾ acre park on Williams St. and Brookwood Drive. The park is divided for large dogs and small dogs with a combination of wood chips and decompressed granite. The dog park also includes new garage cans, plastic bags, ten parking spaces and drinking fountains for dogs and people. The park also has security lighting; however it will close one hour after sunset. Join District 3 in the grand opening and don’t forget to bring your pet to the party.