The 2008 Chinese Moon Festival Committee, Institute of Sino-American Studies, and City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services invite you to their Chinese Moon Festival Celebration. On this day, enjoy the pleasure of sharing arts, crafts and creative activities in a Chinese garden setting.

There will be arts, crafts, cultural and musical performances, storytelling, lion dancers, bamboo painting, calligraphy, astronomy, chess, poetry and much more for children and adults.

Sunday, September 28, 2008, 1PM-5PM
Overfelt Gardens in the Chinese Cultural Garden
368 Educational Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95133

Please click here for more information.

On September 19, 2008 from 10:30AM-11:30AM, I will be hosting the Ribbon Cutting event with the City of San José, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services, and Majestic Way Elementary .

The event will include guest speakers, a ribbon cutting ceremony, children's activities and refreshments. If you have little ones at home nearby, I invite you to bring them for this fun event.

Friday, September 19, 2008, 10:30AM-11:30AM
Berryessa Creek Park Playground Ribbon Cutting
Corner of Isadora Drive and Messina Drive, San Jose, CA

Please click here for more details.

National Pollution Prevention Week takes place September 15 -21, 2008.

The City of San Jose, in partnership with the Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant are hosting resource fairs throughout the City to inform residents about simple actions they can take to reduce and prevent pollution.

Thursday, September 18, 2008, 3PM-7PM
Community Resource Fair
Berryessa Community Center
3050 Berryessa Road, San Jose, CA 95132

• Pick up tools and tips for a less toxic home and garden and litter-free creeks!
• Receive a FREE digital thermometer in exchange for your glass mercury thermometer.
• Donate your old wireless phones and pagers to the Happy Hollow Cell Phone Recycling Program in support of orangutan conservation.
• Receive a FREE compact fluorescent light bulb and save energy at home.

For additional information visit www.sanjoseca.gov/esd or call (408)945-3000.

Please click here for more details.

On September 3, 2008 from 6:30PM to 8PM, I will be hosting an event with the Safe School Campus Initiative, a Parent Awareness Training.

The event will include a presentation by the Safe School Campus Initiative that will equip parents with tools to assist their children in saying NO to Gangs. SJPD will also be present to answer questions from parents and provide valuable resources for families.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008, 6:30-8PM
Parent Awareness Training
A Community Response to Gangs
Berryessa Youth Center
1970 Morrill Avenue, San Jose, CA 95132
Please click here for more details.

On August 23, 2008 from 7PM to 10PM, the Community will be celebrating the Grand Opening of Alviso's first Middle School!

The event will include many activities for families and children including food, music, and a Family Movie Night sponsored by my office.

Come celebrate this momentous occasion! Don't forget to bring blankets and lawn chairs for the movie night.

Saturday, August 23, 2008, 7PM-10PM
DCP Alviso Grand Opening
1621 Gold Street, Alviso

Please click here for more details.

On August 20, 2008 from 5PM to 9PM, the Mayor's Gang Taskforce invite you to a Safe Summer Initiative Neighborhood Celebration.

This a free family event to promote a healthy and safe summer for our children. The event will include many activities for families and children including food, door prizes, music, resource tables and activities.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 5PM-9PM
Alviso Family Night
Alviso Youth Center
5050 North 1st Street, Alviso

Please click here for more details.

On August 20, 2008 from 4PM to 8PM, the City of San José Housing Department will be hosting a free Foreclosure Prevention and Resource Fair at Independence High School.

The event will include a wide range of services including legal assistance, foreclosure counseling, and loan modification review by banks and lenders. The City wants to help our residents stay in their home and educate them about their options.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 4PM-8PM
Homeowner Foreclosure Prevention & Resource Fair
Independence High School
1776 Educational Park Drive
Use Parking Lot entrance on Jackson Avenue

Please click here for more details.

Councilmember Kansen Chu invites District 4 residents to support the Independence High School Marching Band & Color Guard by bringing their electronic waste and recyclables to their Free Electronic Waste Recycling & Aluminum and Plastic Donations Event on Saturday, August 16, 2008.

All computer and electronic equipment will be accepted, including:
- Desktops, laptops, & PDAs
- Monitors and televisions
- Printers, copy & fax machines
- - Mice and keyboards
- Stereos, radios & players
- VCRs, DVD players, etc.
- Telephones & cell phones

Acceptable Aluminum and Plastics include:
- Cans
- Water Bottles
- Milk Jugs
- Laundry Detergent Bottles

Saturday, August 16, 2008, 8AM-3PM
Independence High School Swap Meet & Free E-Waste Recycling
Independence High School
Use Parking Lot entrance on Jackson Avenue

For a list of acceptable items, please visit: www.earthcarerecycling.com.

Councilmember Kansen Chu invites District 4 residents to attend the first annual District 4 National Night Out Movie Night at Noble Park.

On Tuesday, August 5, 2008, neighborhoods throughout San José are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the 25th annual National Night Out.  Last year, approximately 60 San José neighborhoods showed their support for National Night Out by enjoying an evening with their neighbors and local police officers by hosting a variety of events.

This year, my office proudly takes part in National Night Out and is hosting an outdoor movie night.  The Outdoor Movie Night will be featuring the film, “The Incredibles.”  By putting together a movie night, families and neighbors can attend and participate in a fun and entertaining evening.  Not only does this event promote community unity, it’s a great way for our office to provide important resources for the neighborhood and to involve the District 4 community in this national celebration.

Enjoy the movie and stop by the resource tables to pick up valuable information.  Celebrate with your neighbors and take back the night.

Don’t forget to bring your blankets and lawn chairs! 

For more information, please click here.

On May 31, community members gathered at the Berryessa Branch Library and witnessed the first District 4 Neighborhood Caucus to select the commissioners who will represent District 4 on the Neighborhood Commission.

The Neighborhood Commission forms an integral part of the community engagement process and provides valuable insights into many of the emerging neighborhood issues. It provides a crucial link to empower the voices of our community... read more

Councilmember Kansen Chu and Assemblymember Jim Beall invite you to a free pancake breakfast on Saturday, June 21, 2008, from 8am to 10:30am, at the Berryessa Community Center. Come enjoy a complimentary pancake breakfast with your neighbors and discuss legislative and community issues.

Please click for more information.

The Neighborhood Commissions caucus is upon us. On May 31 from 9am-noon, neighborhood groups from District 4 will gather at the Berryessa Library,
3355 Noble Ave., to vote for their Neighborhood Commission candidates. The Neighborhoods Commission shall integrate the voice of neighborhoods into the City’s decision-making processes. For more information please contact the Neighborhood Development Center at (408) 723-4114.

Link to the Neighborhoods Commission Website

On April 22, the City Council heard the result of the North San Jose Neighborhoods Planning Taskforce that I formed with Mayor Chuck Reed 8 months ago. I want to thank the taskforce members for 15 meetings of intense planning work focused on making North San Jose an even better place to live, work, and play in the next 20 years. The Council approved over 150 guiding princples which will serve as the basis for the Implementation Strategy to be developed in the next 4 months. The Taskforce will reconvene to provide their input to the strategy document.

04-22-08 North San Jose Powerpoint to City Council (PDF file)

As we begin the planning process for 2008-2009, we invite you to help us understand your priorities by sharing with us your thoughts on how we should create a balanced budget that addresses the fundamental issues of our City, while remaining fiscally responsible. To ensure that your communities are voiced, my office has created a budget survey to receive feedback. 

SEE THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY

I joined Berryessa and Alviso residents to announce the opening of a capital improvement project at Penitencia Creek Road and Viceroy Way. This City of San Jose project cost $232,000 and was a joint effort between the Department of Transportation and Parks Department. The project consisted of a sidewalk, curb and gutter, ADA curb access ramps, traffic signs, pavement striping and markings, and a median island pedestrian refuge. With the installation of flashing beacons to alert drivers that pedestrians are crossing, the crosswalk leading to the Penitencia Creek County Park will be more pedestrian-friendly. see more

Today I joined my colleagues (Campos, Liccardo, Williams) to issue a memo requiring the placement of Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) in hotels, motels, and senior apartment communities. Each year 330,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and the San Jose Fire Department responds to 10 cardiac related calls a day... read more

02-14-08 Memo to Rules Committee
04-18-08 San Jose Business Journal Article

Today Mayor Chuck Reed, Councilmember Nora Campos and I submitted a Memo to the City’s Rules Committee for them to consider regarding banning non-recyclable plastic bags. read more

01-07-08 Memo to Rules: Plastic Bags
01-17-08 Press Release: Plastic Bags

Councilmember Chu, wife, and volunteer pickup litter in the Alviso neighborhood in October 2007.

Today, I received a message from Assistant City Manager Christine Shippey regarding the City's preparation and response to the 3 major storms and I wanted to share it with you:

STORM MANAGEMENT REPORT

According to our Department of Transportation, the extra effort taken by City staff to clean the storm catch basins over the past few days was time well spent.  Neighborhoods are generally in good shape, with additional DOT crews responding to clogged catch basins as reported or discovered.  Alviso is being closely monitored as well, and at this time, is functioning without issue.  DPW staff will be monitoring the smaller creeks with limited capacity.  DOT and DPW will be coordinating their condition assessments and preparations for the remainder of the storm this afternoon.

• There are also localized power outages, to which PG&E is responding

• High wind warnings are in effect through 4:00 p.m. today and a second, milder storm expected tomorrow

Today, I authored a memo to the Rules and Open Government Commitee requesting that we begin to develop a citywide green building ordinance. . . read more

11-07-07 Agenda: Rules and Open Government Committee
10-31-07 Memo to Rules: Green Building Principles
10-01-07 Staff Report: Private Sector Green Building Program
09-28-07 Press Release: LEED in North San Jose

Tuesday evening's earthquake reminds all of us that need to be prepared for the Big One. The San Jose Emergency Operations Center was briefly activated and closed down at 11:15pm. As many of us experienced, cell phone service becomes inundated and hampers our ability to communicate. Take an evening to discuss with your family what you plan to do in the next major catastrohphe. San Jose Emergency Services Director Kimberly Shunk sent me a few links to assist with your planning.

Red Cross
Association of Bay Area Governments
http://www.72hours.or

Councilmember Chu meeting with San Jose Emergency Services Director Kimberly Shunk at the City's Emergency Operations Center in July 2007.