OCTOBER 2009
VOLUME1II/ ISSUE 10
| DISTRICT 3 | OCTOBER 2009 |
VOLUME1II/ ISSUE 10 |
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Policing and Downtown's Emerging Nighttime Culture
Much of the news in recent days has been dominated by the issues surrounding the San Jose Police Department. Last week, several colleagues and I sought greater transparency and disclosure of police reports, but by a 5-6 margin, we narrowly failed to persuade our colleagues to adopt the ordinance proposed by the “Sunshine” Task Force. On Sunday, the Mercury News released a video documenting the use of force by SJPD officers in the arrest of San Jose State University student Phoung Ho. Ash Kalra, Madison Nguyen, and I immediately called for a full investigation and--if any criminal charges of the officers are sought--a grand jury process open to public view.
Amid this rancor, one can understandably overlook many of the recent improvements to our downtown policing. We shouldn’t. While headlines compete for attention, for example, on the disproportionate arrests of Latinos on “drunk in public” charges, far less attention is paid to the resulting reforms, such as new arrest policies that have required verification by alcohol-detection devices and supervisor approval.
More subtle have been the gradual changes in downtown nighttime culture. As I took office in early 2007, the nighttime environment reached a nadir. Dominated by fly-by-night promoters and pack-the-house DJ’s, downtown San Jose’s night clubs drew big crowds with inadequate security to manage them. Tensions escalated between overworked officers and thousands of club-goers in varying states of sobriety, particularly around closing time.
In March of 2007 and again in February of 2008, I drafted a series of initiatives calling for reforms focused on increasing the accountability of the clubs while softening the interaction of police with club patrons. These measures emphasized such changes as:
Since that time, the Council passed almost all of these measures, with only the new club size restrictions pending Council deliberation. We’ve also employed other important initiatives– easing restrictions on “sidewalk cafes” to encourage more “eyes on the street,” and imposing fees for late-night parking to pay for safety, lighting, and cleaning improvements in the garages. The result: in three of the city’s key downtown garages—Market St., Third St., and Second/San Carlos—monthly incidents reported by SJPD dropped by half between 2008 and 2009.
City Manager Deb Figone has tasked city staff member, Lee Wilcox the downtown coordinator, to ably coordinate these various initiatives, and to facilitate communication between clubs and the police. Dozens of bartenders and bouncers have attended SJPD-conducted safety trainings, for example. Gradually, a new tone has emerged.
In July, City Manager Deb Figone and Police Chief Rob Davis initiated a new police deployment model. Under the direction of Lt. Larry McGrady and Capt. Phan Ngo, they enabled a more collaborative approach with the clubs, an approach harkening to the days when San José pioneered “community policing” a quarter century ago. Lt. McGrady encouraged officers to leave their patrol cars and walk the beat, engage proactively with club owners, soften the sidewalk-clearing at closing time, and undergo specialized training for policing clubs. Along with a more collaborative approach comes added responsibility, however; the SJPD recently pulled the entertainment permit of Club WET because of its failure to police itself.
Replacing a failing nighttime culture required that we affirmatively push for alternatives that would draw a crowd with a greater diversity of ages and interests. So, we’ve engaged with arts venues along South First Street to enhance and expand “First Friday” events that bring thousands downtown every month to enjoy the best of our cultural scene. The San Jose Downtown Association led a successful effort to revive struggling restaurants with a “Dine Downtown” week of prix fixe menus at dozens of eateries.
Through a community engagement process, a consensus emerged that live music would serve as a key tool for broadening the downtown’s appeal. Several private and non-profit entrepreneurs emerged with great concepts. Chris Esparza--with the help of the Redevelopment Agency, 1st Act, and co-producers Michael Brilliot and Sheila Bernus Dowd--launched “Left Coast Live,” a successful effort to fill over forty downtown venues—restaurants, hotels, outdoor stages, and even bank lobbies--with live music of all types and tastes. Andrew Bales and Symphony San Jose returned with a larger and wildly popular summer Pops festival, filling the expansive lawns of San Jose State University with thousands of residents. The anchor events of the downtown music scene—the Jazz Fest, Music in the Park, Blues Week, and Mariachi Festival—drew strong crowds by featuring acts like Santana, Joan Baez, and Third Eye Blind. Finally, we’ve invested millions in Redevelopment Agency funding to restore long-dormant luster to the historic Civic Auditorium. Once a host to such legends as the Rolling Stones and The Who, the Civic has opened its doors once again to crowd pleasers like Crosby Stills Nash & Young and Steely Dan, and helping to restore business for struggling downtown restaurants.
To be sure, a dreadful economy has taken its toll on our pace of progress, and much work remains. Yet we shouldn’t overlook that progress: the Wall Street Journal, for instance, recently recognized San Jose as America’s 6th best city for attracting young people and top post-college talent, while the Responsible Hospitality Institute nominated San Jose for a national award for its efforts to remake its downtown night scene. As a slowly recovering economy brings new opportunities—for a downtown ballpark, for instance—we look to continue this momentum to bring positive changes to our nighttime culture.
Sincerely, Sam Liccardo |
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Contact Us D3 Staff |
Take the District 3 Budget Survey
http://www.kwiksurveys.com/online-survey.php?surveyID=OLKJO_5d7946af
To request a hard copy of the survey or a Spanish version, please contact Ragan Henninger at (408) 535-4929 or ragan.henninger@sanjoseca.gov. The survey results will be discussed at the November 18th Neighborhood Advisory Group meeting at City Hall, Wing Room 118-119 at 6:30p.m.
Environmental Innovation Center Hosts Community Meeting
The meeting will take place from 6 – 7p.m. at the Anne Darling Elementary School cafeteria located at 333 N. 3rd Street, San José. For more information, please contact Walter Lin from San José City Environmental Services at 408.975.2513.
Construction Updates for 13th Street and Japantown
Managed by the Departments of Public Works and Transportation, and funded by the City of San José, the San José Redevelopment Agency, the Valley Transportation Authority; Pacific, Gas & Electric, and federal and state governments. These projects were developed to help traffic calming, implement higher safety standards, and beautification of downtown areas.
Completed project
Projects In Progress
Jackson Street and Japantown Pedestrian Corridor: new pavement, intersection bulb-outs, enhanced crosswalk, curb ramps, in-fill street trees, traffic-signal modifications, drainage improvements, pavement slurry seal, pedestrian-scaled lighting, and signage and stripping. Estimated completion: December 2009.
Future Projects Pavement Resurfacing: resurface Julian St. from Market St. to 21st St. Estimated commencement: April 2010.
Japantown Sewer System Infrastructure: New sewer cleanouts and sanitary lateral. Estimated commencement: fall 2010.
If you have any questions, please contact the San José Redevelopment Agency at 408.535.8549 or e-mail: redevelopmentworks@sanjoseca.gov.
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Volunteer at the Washington Community Haunted House & Festival
The event will be held at the Washington United Youth Center, 921 S. First Street, just south of downtown San José. There will be food, music, games, arts & crafts, a costume contest, haunted maze and much, much more. They are also looking for volunteers and groups to help sponsor a scare booth inside the haunted maze. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to be creative and get into the Halloween spirit by creating scary scenes inside the maze. This is also a good opportunity for youth needing to complete some community service hours. Please contact Mark Lopez at (408) 224-0133 or e-mail mark@gwna-sj.org for more information.
New Neighborhoods Commission Chooses Chair On September 9, Beth Shafran-Mukai — a District 3 resident and former Campus Community Association president for Naglee Park — was elected as the Neighborhood Commission’s first Chair! Beth was also a former member of the Strong Neighborhoods Initiative Project Area Committee and a member of the Ad Hoc Committee, which is responsible for the creation of the Neighborhoods Commission.
Congratulations, Beth, for your hard work and involvement in your community. The District 3 team knows you’ll do well in your new post. The Neighborhoods Commission meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall and residents are encouraged to attend.
Homework Centers Now Open
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 150 E. San Fernando St (408) 808-2183
East San Jose Carnegie Branch Library, 1102 E. Santa Clara Street (408) 808-3036
Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library, 921 South First Street (408) 294-1237
Joyce Ellington Branch Library, 491 E. Empire Street (408) 808-3043
Additionally the Library continues to offer, Live Homework Help, the free, online service connecting students with one-to-one assistance from carefully screened and certified tutors who provide expert assistance with English, Math, Science and Social Science. The service, offered to students in grades K-12 or the first two years of college, is available from 2p.m – Midnight in English and Spanish and from 4p.m. – 7p.m. in Vietnamese. For additional information, visit the San Jose Public Library website.
Roosevelt Community Center Recognized for Public Art
The award is based on the Center’s unique approach to managing rainwater runoff utilizing public art that filters water from the roof. In addition to artwork that improves water quality , the Center also uses permeable concrete and specially designed landscaping to reduce and treat runoff. Congratulations to Roosevelt Community Center. Be sure to check out the art work during the next rain! Thanks to Campus Community Association resident, Richard Volle, for the photo.
Tree Planting A Success
Habitat for Humanity Builds “Green” Project Downtown
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Help Children Learn to Look at Art
Last year the program reached over 25,000 students, many of whom had no previous exposure to the visual arts, and the program is free to the schools. Become a docent and help introduce children to the world of art and the joy of visual discovery. Hours are flexible but must be able to volunteer during school hours. The group’s annual training class begins in January.
For more information, please e-mail vol4LLAA@sjmusart.org.
You’re Invited – Housing Tour Santa Clara County
The Alameda in San Jose: Walkability, human scale development, the beginning of an urban atmosphere, and the potential for thoughtfully designed compact redevelopment.
Santana Row in San Jose: Redevelopment of an old shopping center, creative design, pedestrian oriented and inviting public spaces.
Palo Alto: Mixed use near a suburban business district and transitions from compact housing developments to mature single family neighborhoods.
You've likely been to many of these neighborhoods. However, this tour will provide information about the development story as well as allow the opportunity to go inside some of the homes, including at Santana Row. At each site, tour goers will be greeted by experts who will tell how the project got built and what some of the challenges were. David Packard once said, "Our job as community leaders is not to sit on the sidelines and either cheer or jeer. Our job is to get into the game and move the ball forward." Participants will leave the tour with a better understanding of how to "get in the game" to constructively guide future growth and development in their communities.Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes! For more information call 408.501.7873 or email nrajkovich@svlg.net. To register, click here.
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Silicon Valley Turkey Trot - Sign Up Today
The event, produced and founded by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, has brand-new courses that go through downtown San José for walkers, joggers, élite runners, and the special kids’ run.
Local charities benefitting from the event — the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, and the Housing Trust of Santa Clara County — anticipate $1 million in fundraising.
For more information, please visit the web site at www.svturkeytrot.com. |
Día De Los Muertos
Celebrate the Day of the Dead — free — with family activities including art-making, storytelling, dance performance, face painting, and music. For more information, please visit sanjosemuseumofart.org.
San Jose Woman's Club Holiday Bazaar
Shop for your holiday gifts this weekend at the Historic San Jose Woman's Club. The bazaar will feature 30 vendors with handmade or vintage collectibles. Antiques expert and Mercury News writer, Steve Yvaska, will appraise items for $5 each on SUNDAY only, from 12 - 2 p.m. For more infomration, contact info@sjwomansclub.org.
Unison In Industries
Unison in Industries brings together employers, job seekers, service providers and vendors to expand employment opportunities for individuals with barriers to employment. For program details, go to http://www.unisoninindustries.org.
Neighborhood Advisory Group
Please join Sam and fellow downtown residents at the monthly Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) meeting. The November meeting topics inlcude the City budget and police shift rotations. For more information, please contact Ragan Henninger at (408) 535-4929 or ragan.henninger@sanjoseca.gov .
Fall Networking and Resource Mixer
The United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County invites you to a free networking and resource mixer. Participants will enjoy a complimentary breakfast, networking with fellow neighborhood leaders and informational resource tables. Additionally, the mixer will feature guest speaker Dolores Carr, Santa Clara County District Attorney. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Ginny Yandow at (408) 363-9886. |
To ensure that the needs of neighborhoods are voiced, Councilmember Liccardo’s Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) has created a budget survey to help guide the development of District Three budget priorities. This survey asks participants to make very tough choices regarding real decisions that City officials will need to make. This year, the City of San Jose will be challenged by many issues, including the uncertain impact of the turbulent national economy, revenue takes from the State, other likely revenue shortfalls, and increased service demands.
The Guadalupe-Washington Community will be hosting its 16th annual Washington Community Haunted House & Festival on Halloween night, Saturday, October 31st, 2009 from 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm. 
Homework centers opened this month at 14 San Jose Public Library locations. Most will offer two hours of after school homework support, Monday through Thursday, to students in grades K-8. In addition to library resource materials, students will be able to take advantage of personal assistance from on-site tutors. The downtown locations include:
The Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program presented the Roosevelt Community Center with the “Best Site Design in a Public Project Award” in recognition of its innovative storm water treatment system. 
Thanks to Our City Forest, downtown is closer to expanding its urban forest. In an incredible show of support, more than 100 volunteers came out over two days, helping plant 48 trees on a steep embankment that borders the two downtown neighborhoods of South University and Spartan Keyes. Thanks to Our City Forest staff, Tree Amigo Paul Robinson and volunteers from Kennedy Middle School, SJSU's Day of Service, Grant Thornton, LLP and SJSU's Res Life for their hard work and commitment to service! For more information about Our City Forest and how to get involved, please 
Habitat for Humanity Silicon Valley, in partnership with GRID Alternatives and Sam Liccardo’s office is building affordable housing for low-income families downtown, but with a “green” twist. In downtown’s Washington Area Community Coalition (WACC), they recently built two homes with solar panel installations. The two home project, featuring solar panels by GRID Alternatives, was sponsored by Applied Materials who supplied the volunteer work crew on the homes. Sam's office provided a small financial contribution and some manpower - in the photo to the left Sam is helping get a solar panel on the roof. Additionally, the group is partnering to install two more solar systems on October 30 and 31st for Habitat homeowners in the 13th St. NAC neighborhood. Last weekend in the WACC neighborhood, they "flipped the switch" on the homeowners' systems to watch the meter run backwards as the sun's energy ran through the panels providing electricity to the house.
Santa Clara County's population is expected to grow by 127,000 people by 2020. How do we effectively provide housing for this population growth in ways that enhance existing neighborhoods and promote healthy communities? Attend the 2009 Housing Transitions Tour to learn how you, as a community leader, can constructively guide and shape future development in your neighborhood. Join policy makers, developers, architects, planners and neighborhood leaders in a bus and walking tour of compact infill homes in San Jose and Palo Alto. See, firsthand, examples of housing and retail that have been designed to politely interface with and compliment existing neighborhoods as well as transition formerly blighted areas.
Before the much-anticipated Thanksgiving dinner, take the family to the Applied Materials Silicon Valley Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26th. Enjoy a 5K or 10K course while raising monies for charities that provide families with basic necessities.