A Day of Remembrance and Reflection
- Support for community input on DOT parking rate increases
- Prioritizing housing affordability and public transit improvements
- Encouraging participation in SJUSD Facilities Master Plan workshops
- Promoting cultural and community engagement events
- DOT parking meter rate increase proposal
- SJUSD Facilities Master Plan
- Downtown Diridon transit transformation
- Creative Ambassador program
- City Council meeting on September 29
- Downtown Diridon Community Working Group Meeting on September 15
- Bark in the Park 2026 on September 19
- Horace Mann Hispanic Read-In on September 18
Email from District 3 Learn about community events happening across District 3 in your Council Office newsletter. Dear neighbors, I want to take a brief moment to acknowledge today’s solemn significance for so many across our country. On the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we remember the lives that were lost, taken too soon from their families and friends, and reflect on their memories with love. This September, my office team is prepared to support you and answer all your questions. I will be traveling for the next week on an official study trip to learn about some of the approaches that other cities have taken to support housing affordability, build vibrant parks and public spaces, and promote high quality public transit. I look forward to bringing some of these ideas back to San José and sharing them with you all upon my return. My team is also finalizing details for our next Coffee with a Councilmember—please stay tuned! I enjoy every opportunity I have to listen to and meet with you in-person, so I hope you’ll be able to join us in the month of October. Yours in community, An Update on DOT's Parking Plan The Department of Transportation has released an updated plan to phase in parking meter rate increases in response to community feedback. After meeting with constituents and local organizations, DOT is now proposing to increase garage rates by $1 per hour and increase special event rates in garages by $3 per hour this year, with additional changes to roll out over the next 4 years. Thank you to everyone who came out in force at our Council Meeting to share their thoughts on this policy change. It’s important that everyone has the opportunity to weigh in on changes that impact our residents, and I encourage you all to continue to provide feedback on the latest DOT proposal and to join us when this item comes to the City Council on September 29th. SJ Unified School District's Facilities Master Plan San José Unified School District is developing a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan (FMP) — a strategic, long-term blueprint that will guide how we invest in and improve our school facilities, campuses, and support sites. The FMP assesses the educational adequacy of every school campus, evaluates structural and building conditions, identifies critical infrastructure and safety needs, and incorporates input from students, staff, families, and community members to create a plan that aligns facility investments with our educational goals and community priorities. Join SJUSD in shaping the future of our schools! Come to SJUSD host sites to review plans for both host and feeder schools and share your valuable input. The workshops are open to students, staff, families, and community members and Spanish interpretation will be provided. SJUSD will be conducting a community survey at each campus workshop as part of our planning process. We encourage your participation and welcome the opportunity to hear from you. If you are unable to attend in person or would like to pre-register for the survey, please visit: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/dN3gJT3nBh. Bark in the Park 2026 Silicon Valley's biggest celebration of dogs is back! Bark in the Park returns Saturday, September 19th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at William Street Park in San José. Meet adoptable dogs in Animal Rescue Row, enjoy contests, entertainment like flyball and agility courses, food, vendors, kid's activities, and free pet vaccines while supplies last. New this year, reserve your spot in the exclusive Clubhouse experience for unforgettable photos, treats, and keepsakes with your pup. A $10 suggested donation benefits local animal charities. Learn more and reserve your Clubhouse tickets today at barksanjose.org! Downtown Diridon Summit The transformation of Silicon Valley transit is underway, and the Downtown Diridon Community Working Group wants your voice in the room. Join the Working Group Meeting to talk directly with the project team and get the latest updates about: BSVII Program Downtown BART Station Facade (Including Marquee Designs) Planning for Construction And more! 🗓️ Tuesday, September 15, 2026 ⏰ 4:00 – 6:00 PM ✨ Networking from 4:00 – 4:10 PM. Come mingle & enjoy local baked goods before the presentation! 📍 In Person: San Jose Chamber of Commerce - 101 W Santa Clara St, San José, CA, 95113 💻 Zoom Webinar Link: https://zoom.us/j/99570151569 Apply to be a Creative Ambassador Up to three Creative Ambassadors will be selected for the 2027 term. Each Ambassador will receive a stipend of $12,000 to develop and implement an approved creative expression project within the Ambassador’s term. The role of the Creative Ambassador is to champion the power of creative expression and engage members of the public in finding their own creative voice. The Creative Ambassador’s efforts will seek to recognize, celebrate, and promote diverse creative experiences citywide. Ambassadors serve a one-year term from January 1st through December 31st, during which they produce a creative project that invites active participation from residents and celebrates the diversity of San Jose's cultural communities. Click here to learn more and apply! Horace Mann Hispanic Read-In Please join us at Horace Mann’s Hispanic Read-In event, which will recognize and honor the enduring contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans, celebrating the diverse heritages and cultures of those with roots in Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, and Central and South America. Visit Horace Mann School on Friday, September 18 at 8:00 AM to participate as a listener—light refreshments and a selection of books by or about Hispanic and Latinx Americans will be present. If you have a favorite book relating to our theme, and would like to read it to children at this event, please RSVP. Guest Readers are encouraged to share their educational, professional, and personal journeys, as well as their ties to the community and culture. Bibilioteca Latinoamericana 50-year anniversary La Biblioteca Latinoamericana celebrates 50 years of community this month! Join me, San José City Librarian Jill Bourne, and my staff for an afternoon of celebration and activities to commemorate this historic and beloved community space. Learn more here. Office of the Secretary of State Pop-Up The California Office of the Secretary of State is hosting a pop-up shop. Stop by to explore apostille services available to you. Learn more here. Thank you District 3 for showing up at Silicon Valley Pride! I’m happy to report that our District 3 Pride Parade contingent was the largest of any council office at the festival. I know how meaningful it is for queer residents across our city to see solidarity celebrated all the way through Downtown, and that begins with support from neighbors like you. The day included beautiful performances, vendors connecting attendees to services and fun, and an energy of hope and joy. It’s days like these that make me proud to live in our Downtown. It was my honor for the District 3 Office to co-sponsor Lowrider Day! My team connected with hundreds of visitors to honor the history of Mexican-Americans whose lowrider culture was once restricted by city policies. This celebration highlighted local traditions while bringing activity, fun, and commerce to families in East San José. I want to thank Councilmember Ortiz and his team for leading on this amazing event, as well as former Councilmember Raul Peralez, who helped to call out and end the discriminatory ordinances that barred lowriders from driving through San José when he served District 3. I stopped by to celebrate Palestra Combat Club and Fresh Coast Cold Pressed Juicery at a Ribbon Cutting. Palestra Combat Club will help to broaden the offerings available in our downtown by providing martial arts and fitness training for folks of all ages and skill levels. That means our downtown dwellers won’t need to hop in a car and drive to the other side of town to get a workout in, they can do it right on the block where they live. And Fresh Coast Inc.’s organic juices and smoothies will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood, helping folks recover from a grueling workout. Our SJSU Flag-Raising ceremony was a celebration of student excellence. I walk through campus to get to work every day, and I see first hand what a critical role the university plays in increasing the vibrancy of our city with thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of economic impact. One doesn’t have to look far to see examples where the City of San José has benefited from the creativity and partnership at SJSU. We celebrated Ma’Kayla Akin, President of the Associated Students of SJSU and the university’s first-ever Black Student Body President, for her achievements and for her passion for strengthening the SJSU community. To all of our returning students this semester, welcome back—to all of our new students who may be stepping on Campus for the first time, District 3 welcomes you! I had the pleasure of welcoming West Coast Community Bank this week, which represents yet another major employer coming to Downtown. This division will offer tailored banking solutions that will help our neighbors start new business ventures of their own here in downtown and support the continued growth of our local economy for years to come. Part of what makes our downtown so special is that it is a tight-knit community, and I know that West Coast Community Bank’s community-focused approach to banking will be a boon to everyone seeking to do businesses here. My team and I presented a commendation to War Fitness, a business bringing exercise and community to Downtown San José. I’m grateful each time I meet with small business owners like Zay who spend so much time making District 3 a place filled with new activities and experiences. Thank you War Fitness for choosing District 3! I was inspired by and proud of the graduates of San Jose's Career Online High School this week. I was the first person in my family to go to college, so I know how many amazing opportunities can open up for families when we provide educational resources to all. Our District 3 graduates come from all walks of life, and showed us all the power of taking the next step in our employment and educational journeys. Do you have an event you'd like to share with our D3 neighbors? Send the details to district3@sanjoseca.gov for consideration in our newsletter! District 3 | 200 E SANTA CLARA ST | SAN JOSE, CA 95113 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice