APRIL 2009
VOLUME1II/ ISSUE 4
| DISTRICT 3 | APRIL 2009 |
VOLUME1II/ ISSUE 4 |
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Help for Homeowners We’re continuing to work to find ways to help. Under the leadership of our Housing Director, Leslye Krutko, we’ve set up a foreclosure “one-stop” center to provide homeowners facing the risk of foreclosure with a full range of services and information needed to weather this storm. With the aid of $4.1 million in federal stimulus funds, we’ll also be providing financial assistance and services to help stabilize the housing situations of families facing homelessness. If you or anyone you know needs help, please have them call our hotline at 408-794-1242, or email us at help@foreclosurehelpscc.org. You can also visit the City’s website at www.foreclosurehelpscc.org. We’re doing this with the help of several important community partners. Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley (NHSSV), for example, offers counseling and classes to English- and Spanish-speaking homeowners, and also offers subsidized 30-year fixed rate mortgage products that can help qualifying residents purchase their first home, without the gimmicks and “teaser rates” that characterized the sub-prime loans of the past. NHSSV can be reached at 279-2600, or www.nhssv.org. To prevent many of these problems from re-occurring, Don’t Borrow Trouble, a consortium of non-profit, legal, and business groups, works with the City to provide education, outreach and referral services to combat predatory lending. Although recent federal legislation, the Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan, takes a step in the right direction, this federal legislation will only assist homeowners still current on their obligations, rather than those already facing foreclosure. My efforts have focused on those families falling through the cracks, so I’ve engaged lenders in meetings to explore ways in which the City could create incentives for banks to engage in loan “work-outs.” Specifically, I’m looking to leverage the City’s own position as a consumer of banking services with those institutions, in exchange for the banks’ commitments to refinance or work-out the loans of a specified number of San José homeowners. Through discussions with lenders and City officials, it has become apparent that some obstacles stand in the way of this approach, and a change in the City’s investment policy will be required. We’ll continue to work on this effort in the coming weeks, and apprise you of the outcome. Meanwhile, we’ll continue to work with the Housing Department to help those affected by the turbulent economy. Starting May 1st, discount prescription medicine cards will become available nearby community centers, libraries, City Hall and at the offices of local nonprofits. In partnership with CVS Caremark, the City of San José offers these free cards to allow uninsured or underinsured residents a means to obtain discounts of up to 20% on their prescription drugs. During this difficult time, we know that we can get through this by working together. Park and Community Center Fees Sincerely, Sam Liccardo |
Contact Us D3 Staff |
Addressing the Budget Additionally, Councilmember Liccardo will host a district-wide community budget meeting at the May 20th Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG). Deputy City Manager, Norberto Dueñas, will lead the discussion on the City budget, with a specific focus on downtown and District 3. The meeting is at San Jose City Hall, in Wing rooms 118 – 120, from 6:30- 8p.m.. For more information on the budget before the NAG meeting, please visit the City's Budget Office website. Key budget dates: Study Sessions (all study sessions occur at City Hall, Council Chambers) Public Hearings Preparing for Cinco Downtown If you see traffic problems or have safety concerns in your neighborhood, please call 311 to alert SJPD. You may also contact the Command Post with questions or concerns at (408) 219-6710 /6711 / 6712. For questions or concerns after the event please contact Lt. Dave Honda, Traffic Enforcement Unit, at (408) 277-4341. FREEWAY OFF-RAMP CLOSINGS
VEHICLE DIVERSIONS
PEDESTRIAN DIVERSIONS
PARKING RESTRICTIONS “Tow Away – No Stopping Anytime” GARAGE CLOSURES 1. Market and St. John Taxi Service Tuesday, May 5th: VEHICLE DIVERSIONS
Creekside Clean-ups Remove 14 Tons of Trash Watson Park Update Construction on Watson Park will start this month to clean up the soil and build several elements of the park master plan. The contamination of Watson Park prompted its closure before Councilmember Liccardo came into office, but Sam's charge was simple: to get the park open and running. In June 2007, he pushed for the allocation of $13.4 million in General Fund money allocated to construction and reopening. The size of this allocation was extraordinary and unprecedented, particularly in a year that marked the (then) sixth consecutive year of budget cuts. No park in the City has ever obtained as much allocation from the General Fund.
This is the good news. The bad news is this fortuity of low construction costs comes at a huge price of another sort: an economic crisis that leaves the City woefully unable to provide basic services in the upcoming fiscal year. Furthermore, additional needs remain unmet relating to the former City dump site. In fact, the City must set aside a substantial portion of money for issues related to additional cleanps. While budgetary limitations may have forced the City to move in phases, Sam remains committed to ensuring the complete and full build out of Watson Park as money become available. In accordance with Sam's committment, he has met with City staff and the community in an effort to go out to bid again by the end of this year to add elements to the park. Further communtiy meetings will be held in order to determine which elements to add in 2010. There is strong indication already from the communtiy for a second soccer field. A community meeting to discuss additional elements is set for July 8th. The time and location are to be determined. |
Neighborhood Artists Unveiled |
Tuesday Market Comes to City Hall Work2future Employing Our Youth |
Left Coast Live The “Sounds of Things to Come” discussion series will cover topics pertaining to developing a musical culture in San Jose, the musical history and future of San Jose, jazz and it’s relevance to musical culture, and how to use new technologies and the internet to further music. The discussion series is free of charge and will be hosted at different venues throughout the week. The preview concerts are also free of charge and will showcase bands that are scheduled to play at the finale festival on May 15th. The preview concerts will be held at Gordon Biersch on Tuesday, May 12th and The Blank Club on Wednesday, May 13th. Outdoor cinema, featuring “Before the Music Dies” will be shown in the Circle of Palms, next to the San Jose Museum of Art on Market and San Fernando on Thursday, May 14th at 7pm. This event is also free. The finale music festival will begin Friday, May 15th at 5pm, with stages in the South of First area, and at San Salvador, across from Agenda Lounge. Tickets for the music festival are available for purchase at the event website. For more information on tickets to the events, or questions about event locations and scheduling, please visit http://www.leftcoastlive.com/event/ for more information. Whistle Stop Housing Tour At every stop, the tour will be met by an expert in the different types of housing development. The developments included in this tour are, Cahill Park, Avalon on the Alemeda, Villa Fonatnas, Fruitdale Station apartments, Orchard Grove, Ainsley Square, and Part Town Place. The tour begins at the Water Tower Plaza (300 Orchard City Drive) and will return to the Downtown Campbell station. The Winchester light-rail line will be utilized and the planned stops are Downtown Campbell, Fruitdale, and Diridon. The cost is $10. For more information or to register for the event, please contact Bena Chang at bchange@svlg.net or 408-501-7870. You can also visit http://whistlestop2009.eventbrite.com. |
San Jose Museum of Art – Community Day Affordable Housing Week Lecture Series Community By Design One Paycheck Away Foreclosure Help Why It's A Good Time To Buy District 3 Community Budget Meeting Join Councilmember Liccardo and your fellow neighborhood presidents along with City staff as they discuss the 2009-10 City Budget. The City is facing a $78 million deficit and cuts to City services are expected. Please come hear what the City is proposing and voice your opinion on what’s important. |
Nearly everyone is pinching pennies during these extraordinarily tough economic times, including the City of San Jose. The City’s projected budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1st is $78 million. The months of May and June will be a time for City staff, Councilmembers and residents to work together to close the gap. The City Manager, Debra Figone, will release a projected 2009-10 City Operating Budget on May 1st. The Council then begins a series of public review and discussion of the proposed budget during “study sessions.” These study sessions, each focusing on a different budget area, are open to the public and a good opportunity for community participation. There is also a public hearing in May and again in June for public feedback to Council on the budget. 
Below are the Police Department's Vehicle and Pedestrian diversions planned for the Cinco de Mayo weekend May 1st - 3rd and May 5th. Police officers will be instructed to allow residents into downtown neighborhoods. Residents will need to show a driver’s license or ID showing their current address. If they are a passenger or pedestrian, any proof of residence should suffice such the PG&E bill however, that person may need to show ID to verify they are the person on the bill. Please note that an officer has the discretion not to allow vehicle entry if s/he feels that it will greatly impact the flow of traffic. Please note that although freeway ramp closings are scheduled for 8:00 PM for Friday and Saturday, Councilmember Liccardo has asked our police department to push the timing back to 9:00 p.m. and is awaiting confirmation. 
Last June, Councilmember Liccardo successfully pushed for funds for additional City sponsored creekside clean-ups. On April 18th, removal of trash and debris from five creekside illegal encampments took place along Coyote Creek and Guadalupe River. To date, these additional clean-ups have removed 48.67 tons of trash and debris from creeks. These clean-ups are a coordinated effort with the Police, Transportation, Environmental Services, Parks and Recreations and Santa Clara Valley Water District. For more information on clean-ups, contact Melody Tovar at (408) 277-3892. 
On April 28th the bid will be awarded for the construction of Phase One of Watson Park. Prior to going to bid, Sam worked hard with City staff to include additional elements to the community's agreed upon Phase One of the project. The bids went out, and given the current economic crisis, bids came in at lower than anticipated levels. As a result, the City learned it could pay to complete the cleanup in Watson Park, the entire Phase One of improvements and all of the additional elements. Specifically, Phase One includes a soccer field, two basketball courts, a dog park, walking paths, an open turf area and parking lots. The added elements include a restroom, soccer field amenities, dog park amenities, a tot and youth play lot and a paved walking circuit. To view a description of the entire Phase One project, please 
If you are an artist, love art, or just want to see what a neighborhood is doing to celebrate artists and creativity then visit the Campus Community Association neighborhood on June 7th from 11am – 5pm for their first Naglee Park Open Studios event. The event will showcase the work of neighborhood artists, displayed at various homes throughout the neighborhood. So far approximately 20 neighbors have pledged their support to this effort by volunteering the common areas of their home to showcase artwork. Restrooms will be available in the different homes, and refreshments will be served. If you are interested in participating please contact Frances Schwab at 
If Monday got you down, and Tuesday isn’t looking so bright, you should visit San Jose’s newest farmers market outside City Hall on 5th and San Fernando. The Tuesday series farmer’s market will happen every week from 3:30 -7p.m.. San Jose State University is partnering with the City to showcase fresh produce and products for sustainable living. The event is a “zero-waste” event which means that all garbage will be recycled or reused. The Market features locally grown produce, unique collectible arts and crafts, and resource booths on how to live a “greener” lifestyle by becoming energy efficient, reducing waste, conserving water and preventing pollution. Please consider walking, riding your bike, or taking VTA to the event out of respect for the environment, as well as bringing your own reusable shopping bag. If you are interested in participating as a vendor, please contact Lisa Mitchell at 
If you’ve ever thought that San Jose didn’t have much to offer you in the way of live music or entertainment, an inaugural event called Left Coast Live, promises to change your opinion. The live music and entertainment event will showcase 60 bands and 30 venues over a 5 day span in downtown San Jose from May 11-15th! The week-long series of events includes a discussion series, preview concerts, outdoor cinema and a finale music festival on the 15th.