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Dear Friends,
As the City of San Jose faces issues surrounding the budget deficit and new proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, public safety continues to be a very important issue before the City Council. Specifically, there have been many conversations centered around the number of arrests for public intoxication in San Jose. I would like to give you an update on this public safety issue, and tell you about what the City is doing to ensure that San Jose continues to be a safe place to live and thrive.
Recent reports have shown a high number of public intoxication arrests in San Jose for 2007. In November 2008, the City Council directed the City Manager’s office to establish a taskforce to focus on this issue, with a mission to develop recommendations for non-criminal sanctions for intoxication arrests and additional procedures that police officers should follow to collect objective evidence. With this direction, the City Manager put together the Public Intoxication Task Force, a group with 22 members representing various city departments and civic engagement organizations. These individuals have been collaborating since January to concentrate on the issue of public intoxication arrests and how to provide alternatives to these arrests.
Because of the number of arrests for public intoxication, there have been some concerns about how to properly interpret the data on arrests. The city has enlisted the aid of the Consortium for Police Leadership in Equity (CPLE), a grant funded organization with researchers from leading institutions across the country whose aim is to improve issues of equity in policing while promoting police transparency and accountability. These researchers will review and analyze information to help the City better understand the data on arrests. The CPLE has already begun working with the Denver Police Department, Toronto Police Services, Houston Police Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and is now working to see how they can help the San Jose Police Department increase transparency and best practices.
The arrest data for public intoxication has also caused the City Council to direct the City Manager’s office to investigate the possibility of doing a demographic study of the downtown area during peak nightclub hours. The City Manager’s office consulted the University of California, Berkeley Survey Research Center, which has expressed the possibility of doing an observational or interview study of the area. The City Council has reviewed this information along with the proposed budget for the project and will hear from the CPLE on the best approach to conducting such a study.
The issues surrounding the public intoxication arrests are complex and emotionally charged. The City is working hard to balance the interests of the police department and the community it serves. I am certain that with the support of the public, 3rd party expert investigations, and the openness and willingness of San Jose police officers who are committed to protecting the peace, we will be able to build trust within our community.
If you have questions or comments about these public safety issues, or any other matters, please contact my office at (408) 535-4909 or by email at district9@sanjoseca.gov.
Thank you for your interest,
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Community News
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District 9 Community Budget Meeting
Where: Cambrian Branch Library, 1780 Hillsdale Ave.
When: Thursday, May 7, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
With the 2009-10 City budget process underway, and the proposed budget scheduled for release at the beginning of May, Vice Mayor Chirco is planning to hold a community meeting on the budget. City staff will make a presentation on this year's budget proposals and will be available to answer questions.
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Celebrate Cambrian Festival
Where: Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Ave.
When: Saturday, May 16, 11:00 - 3:00pm
Save the Date for the Celebrate Cambrian Festival! This yearly community event includes free live entertainment, free food, an art contest, a free resource fair, a variety of free children's activities, and much more. Don't miss out on the fun!
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Youth Commission Vacancy
Congratulations to Youth Commissioner Katie Hawn who will be graduating from high school this June! With Katie’s graduation, the San Jose Youth Commission is now searching for a new District 9 Youth Commissioner. The Youth Commission makes recommendations to the City Council and to the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department about policy issues affecting youth. If you are interested in learning more about the Youth Commission, please visit their website. Applications are due May 29, 2009. If you would like a copy, please click here. For additional information please view the vacancy notice or call (408) 793-5559.
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Neighborhood Watch
Are you concerned about crime or vandalism in your neighborhood? Neighborhood Watch is an excellent way of deterring crime in your community. Through face-to-face interactions with your neighbors and representatives from the San Jose Police Department, you can develop solutions to the safety issues facing your neighborhood. For more information about bringing Neighborhood Watch to your area, please visit their website or call the Crime Prevention Unit at (408) 277-4133.
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Anti-Graffiti and Litter
If you have been noticing an increase in graffiti in your neighborhood, please contact our Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department’s Anti-Graffiti and Litter Program. Call the 24 hour hotline to report graffiti at (408) 277-2758. Also, if you are interested in volunteering with the Anti-Graffiti program or want to pick up your own Anti-Graffiti Toolkit, please visit their website or call (408) 277-3208.
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San Jose Prepared!
Interested in learning more about how to be prepared for emergencies that may impact your community? San Jose Prepared! offers community emergency response trainings on response skills, fire safety, neighborhood organization and much more. To learn more about their trainings visit their website or call (408) 277-4598
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San Jose Spring Activity Guide
San Jose's Spring Activity Guide, a list of all programs and classes provided at the City's community centers, is now available online. From children's summer camps, to art classes, to yoga, you can find it all right here. Classes fill up, so be sure to and sign up early!
Affordable Housing Week
Affordable Housing Week helps promote awareness of the challenges we face in creating sustainable
and affordable communities that meet the needs of all residents. The City of San José will celebrate Affordable
Housing Week, May 11 through May 22, with a special lecture series on interesting and educational topics
designed to engage and enlighten participants. For a full list of events, including sessions on community design, poverty prevention, and home ownership, take a look at this flyer.
Camden High School All Year Reunion
Where: lawn next to the old Camden gym at the Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Ave.
When: Saturday, July 25 from 11:00 to 4:00
All those with an interest in the old Camden High School are invited to attend . Camden High, located where the Camden Park Shopping Center and Camden Community Center now sit, was open from 1955 to 1980 with over seven thousand students graduating during those years. This reunion brings former students, teachers and area locals together to remember Camden High. A DJ will play music from the fifties, sixties and seventies, memorabilia will be on display and refreshments will be available. Contact The Camden Foundation at trose01@telis.org for more information.
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