Welcome to Your D6 October Newsletter 2026
- Support maintaining Ewert Road access
- Support homelessness outreach and shelter expansion
- Encourage voter registration and informed voting
- Welcome NorCal Rumble women’s volleyball team
- Closure and management of encampments including Columbus Park
- Ewert Road trail access and airport coordination
- The Alameda resurfacing project
- San José homelessness shelter bed expansion
- Movin’ with Mulcahy park beautification event on October 3
- Little Italy San José Festival on October 4
- NorCal Rumble Day proclamation on September 22
- Upcoming November 3, 2026 election
Email from City of San Jose You don't want to miss this! October Newsletter 2026 Thursday, October 1 Dear Neighbors, October officially marks the start of spooky season – leaves are turning, pumpkin patches are coming to life, and Halloween costume planning is underway. And, of course, October signifies the return of our beloved San Jose Sharks. The excitement starts October 1st as Captain Mack leads the team in their home opener. Be sure to pre-game this season at a new district nearby, Creekside Socials, with Hapa’s Brewing Company and Spark Creekside as two great options. Or start over on The Alameda at Floodcraft Brewing above Whole Foods Market, then stroll through the cleaned-up Caltrain underpass, thanks to a District 6 investment to improve pedestrian access. And above all TURN IT TEAL all season long. Then on Saturday, October 3 at 9:00 AM, join me for Movin’ with Mulcahy at Willow Street/Bramhall Park. We’re partnering with the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association to beautify our park. This is a great opportunity to give back, connect with neighbors, and chat with me about the issues that matter most to you – RSVP today. For our bike commuters and cycling enthusiasts out there, Ewert Road, an important trail connector around the north end of SJC, will remain open. With the potential for a big rain year, we were successful in working with the airport team to pause the closure of Ewert Road while we work on a sustainable, long-term plan to keep access available. Many thanks to Director of Aviation, Mookie Patel, for making this happen with my office. No doubt Fall will be busy, so I encourage you to check out the upcoming events section down below to discover festive events for all to enjoy like the Little Italy San José Festival, Rhythms Along the River, and Salmon Festival on the Guadalupe. As always, thank you for staying connected, engaged, and Stepping Up for D6. I look forward to seeing you out in the community this month. Best, Michael Mulcahy San José City Councilmember, District 6 Public Announcements: Don't Miss the "Little Italy San José Festival" This Sunday The 10th Anniversary of the Little Italy San José Italian Festival is coming up this Sunday, October 4, 11 AM – 7 PM. This is one of my favorites, featuring authentic Italian foods and drinks, live entertainment, arts and crafts, and one of the largest Italian car shows in the country – the Supercars of Italy. This year, the festival will honor the late Chris Bertucelli, of Bertucelli’s La Villa, for his contributions to our community and the legacy he built through his family’s legendary Willow Glen deli. My team and I will be there so join us at Little Italy Way and Sharks Way in the heart of Little Italy. We are grateful to the Little Italy San José Foundation for their tireless commitment to organizing this festival year after year. We hope to see you there in recognition of San José’s rich Italian tradition and heritage. An Update on San José's Unhoused Efforts San José is making measurable progress in helping people leave encampments and move indoors. According to the City’s latest announcement, nearly 1,800 people have come off the streets over the past 18 months, and the city has closed its large encampments, including Columbus Park in District 6. Each person indoors has a safer place to begin rebuilding their life, while surrounding neighborhoods benefit from cleaner, more accessible public spaces. This progress reflects a more practical approach to a difficult crisis. San José has added more than 1,000 interim shelter beds, improved its outreach efforts, and continued to enforce laws that protect public spaces. The City reports that 39% of the people who came indoors have since moved into permanent housing. There is still much more to do, particularly for people whose mental health or substance use needs require care beyond a shelter bed. San José will need Santa Clara County and the State as partners in expanding treatment options and helping people access that care, while the City continues its work on outreach, shelter, and neighborhood conditions. The City also plans to measure homelessness at least quarterly so it can see what is working and adjust its approach. In District 6, we have experienced recent challenges with encampments resulting in multiple fires and extreme illegal dumping, including Coe and Lincoln Ave., Lonus Street at Three Creeks Trail, and several other hot spots. Our office has been working with multiple city departments, including San Jose Police and Beautify SJ, and expect to see marked improvement in the coming weeks. Register to Vote! It’s that time of year again and we wanted to remind you that Election Day is only a month away on November 3, 2026. If you are registered to vote, you should receive your ballot in the coming days. Ballots can be returned by mail, at a ballot drop box, or in person at a polling center. Six Santa Clara County students who won the "I Voted" sticker contest. Their drawings will be distributed to voters this upcoming election. The last day to register to vote or update your registration before the election is October 19. Visit this website to register or update your registration online. If you miss the deadline, you can still register and vote conditionally in person, subject to verification. Alongside elections for statewide and local officials, your ballot will include a long list of statewide and regional propositions. CalMatters provides a helpful tool to better understand these propositions, and I encourage you to set aside some time to research before filling out your ballot. For more information about where to vote, vote by mail, and other local election resources, please visit sccvote.org. San José Welcomes NorCal Rumble On September 22, I was thrilled to lead the City Council to proclaim NorCal Rumble Day in San José and officially welcome the newest member of women’s Major League Volleyball to our city. NorCal Rumble will take the court at Tech CU Arena in 2027, becoming San José’s third professional women’s team. The Rumble’s new name, logo, and colors celebrate Northern California’s historic landscape, with Evergreen representing our vibrant foothills, Monarch Orange inspired by the monarch butterfly, and the iconic California wildflower serving as the central symbol of the Rumble’s identity. I’m especially excited for the young athletes who will get to watch these incredible women compete at the highest level and dream about what’s possible for them too. A big thank you to the entire NorCal Rumble team, Archbishop Mitty High school alumna and volleyball GOAT, Kerri Walsh Jennings, President Heather Vaughan, and GM E. Ashley Dean for helping make San José the perfect home. We can’t wait to Feel the Rumble! District Project Updates Completion of The Alameda's Resurfacing Resurfacing work on The Alameda is now complete, and the final striping touches are underway. Thank you to neighbors, local businesses, and everyone who has traveled the corridor for your patience during construction. We’re excited to see the clean, consistent roadway. Stay tuned for a rainbow crosswalk painting project in partnership with the Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center to bring pride, color, and vibrancy back to The Alameda. Rotary PlayGarden Closure in October: ResilienceTurf Resurfacing The Rotary PlayGarden will be closed for the month of October due to the installation of a new resilient turf to replace the current damaged turf in the PlayGarden. This was a long-term project for the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, and it is an exciting moment for the community that GRPC have raised enough revenue to support the installation. Our office will continue to update the community with a timeline on this project as it develops. Arena Hotel Update On October 6, the City Council will consider next steps in transitioning The Alameda’s Arena Hotel from Emergency Interim Housing to permanent housing under a new development agreement. The proposed transition follows the City’s commitment five years ago to pursue permanent housing at the site. We encourage you to attend the City Council meeting on October 6 to share your thoughts. If you are unable to attend, you can email the City Clerk at city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov and ask that your comments be included with the Arena Hotel item scheduled for October 6. City Council Meeting for Tuesday, October 6 The Alameda's New Coffee Shop: Kasama Cá Phê Coffee lovers officially have a new spot. Kasama Cá Phê celebrated its grand opening on Saturday, September 19, bringing bold Southeast Asian flavors, culture, and community to The Alameda business district. Owned by childhood friends and South Bay natives, Erik Quiocho and Kevin Nguyen, Kasama Cá Phê is already making its mark just three months in. Even the name reflects their cultural roots: “Kasama” means “togetherness” in Tagalog, while “Cá Phê” means “coffee” in Vietnamese. Together, the name captures Erik and Kevin’s vision of creating a welcoming gathering place that celebrates the AAPI community and highlights specialty coffee and teas from Southeast Asia. It was a pleasure to support Kasama Cá Phê alongside County Supervisor Betty Duong, The Alameda Business Association, local vendors, and community members. Congratulations to Erik, Kevin, and the entire Kasama Cá Phê team – and welcome to The Alameda. In The District: Celebrating Coastal Cleanup Day There’s truly nothing better than spending Saturday mornings volunteering in District 6, and last month’s 42nd Annual Coastal Cleanup Day was exactly that kind of experience. Coastal Cleanup Day is California’s largest recurring volunteer event, encouraging residents to remove trash from beaches and inland waterways, protecting wildlife from plastic pollution, and spending time giving back to the places we call home. This year I attended several cleanups throughout D6, including the Municipal Rose Garden, Arena Green at the Guadalupe River Park, San José Mineta International Airport, and along Bascom Avenue by Los Gatos Creek. It was rewarding to help pick up litter from our local creeks and parks while meeting new neighbors. Although Coastal Cleanup Day is an annual event, keeping our community clean is something we work on all year long. Look for opportunities where you can Step Up for D6 and contribute year-round. Korean American Community Service's Chuseok Festival Celebrating Korean culture, traditions, and community was in full swing at the Korean American Community Services’ Chuseok Festival at Bascom Community Center in D6 last month. County Supervisors Margaret Abe-Koga and President Otto Lee and Santa Clara’s Mayor Lisa Gillmor joined me for an incredible afternoon of traditional dance, music, and pansori. The spirit of cultural expression, preservation, and pride was truly palpable, and the community center was filled with neighbors coming together to honor a shared history and heritage. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Korean American Community Services and Executive Director Eunice Chun for organizing such a meaningful event, connecting attendees to important community resources, and, of course, serving up delicious Korean food that made for a perfect lunch. Annual Assyrian Church of the East Food Festival It was a vibrant afternoon celebrating Assyrian heritage at the 32nd Annual Assyrian Church of the East Food Festival in District 6. Hosted by the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East and Mar Yosip Parish on Minnesota Avenue, the festival showcased Assyrian culture through live music and dancing, traditional teas and pastries, and cultural exhibits. Mayor Mahan and I were treated to a behind the scenes tour of the cooking stations, got to taste some of the yummy pastries, and finished with a strong cup of Turkish coffee. I was especially moved to see so many young people involved in this event, most of whom have grown up with this festival. Thank you to Rev. Dr. John Badal Piro, festival organizers and volunteers, and performers for making this annual gathering possible. San José is proud to be home to a thriving Assyrian community, and events like this provide an opportunity to celebrate, educate, and preserve the Assyrian culture across our city. More Events Attended: SlamJose! Councilmember Mulcahy joined SlamJose! in Downtown San José to celebrate basketball, community, and the development of local athletes. With players of all ages and levels taking the court, this event makes basketball more accessible while inspiring the next generation of athletes to dream big and pursue their goals. Thank you to District 6 resident Steve Wymer for making this event happen, working alongside John Poch and the San José Sports Authority. Our goal next year is to be sure we have more San José high school basketball players involved. Village Fest 2026 I joined Councilmember Pamela Campos in District 2 for Village Fest 2026 on September 19. This inaugural event brought together local vendors, businesses, live music, and more, creating a vibrant celebration of community and civic pride. GlenFest 2026 Your District 6 team joined the fun at GlenFest 2026, as the 3rd annual celebration brought neighbors together for local food, live music, family-friendly activities, and a day of fun in Downtown Willow Glen. The Avenue was hoppin’ and it was great to see so much energy throughout the business district. Thank you to the Willow Glen Business Association for your hard work organizing this community event. Ceremonials: Ivan the Angelfish: Commendation Evan Johnson, a junior at Bellarmine College Preparatory (Go Bells!) and the founder of Ivan the Angelfish, was recognized at San José City Hall on September 15 for his commitment to bringing the benefits of aquariums and aquatic ecosystems to our seniors and the community in general. Through Ivan the Angelfish, Evan provides free, custom aquariums and workshops to clinics, schools, senior centers, and other community organizations. Since its inception in 2025, this student-led nonprofit has grown to 40 chapters across 24 countries. The idea for Ivan the Angelfish began with inspiration from Evan’s grandfather, Ivan. Evan built an aquarium for his grandfather to keep beside his bed and saw firsthand how having the aquarium nearby brought a sense of calm, connection, and comfort to his daily life. The experience inspired Evan to explore how aquariums could help others feel less isolated while making science and nature more accessible and engaging. Today, one of Ivan the Angelfish’s local chapters, led by Ariel Gomez, serves our local downtown college of San José State University. The organization provides therapeutic ecosystem programs designed to help participants reduce stress while creating opportunities to connect, learn, and engage with science. Thank you, Evan, for turning a personal experience with your grandfather into an innovative effort that is now reaching people all around the world. San José is proud to have young leaders like Evan finding creative ways to make a difference in the lives of others. NorCal Rumble: Proclamation Councilmember Mulcahy is pictured besides President of NorCal Rumble, Heather Vaughan, speaking at the proclamation of NorCal Rumble Day. Also present in this photo is Mayor Mahan, team investor Brad Hisabeck, and new star player, Izzi Strand. Billy DeFrank: Commendation Pictured together is Mayor Mahan, Gabrielle Antolovich from Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center, Vice Mayor Foley, and Councilmember Mulcahy. National Gymnastics & Dance Day: Commendation Councilmember Mulcahy celebrating National Gymnastics & Dance Day at the California Sports Center. St. Christopher Catholic Church's 75th Anniversary: Commendation Councilmember Mulcahy pictured with Father Chris Bennet, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of St. Christopher Catholic Church. Continued Ceremonials: Urban Body San Jose's Grand Opening in Willow Glen Councilmember Mulcahy, co-owners Maria Yu and Shannon Bynum Adams, and Urban Body San Jose staff members pose at their ribbon cutting of their new space at the Garden Theater in Willow Glen. Valkyries Flag Raising Pictured in front of the Valkyries flag is Milan Balinton, Councilmember Doan, Councilmember Kamei, Yoyo Murphy, Mayor Mahan, and Councilmember Mulcahy. Our Community Partnership Advocate: To finish off a busy but rewarding month of September, Councilmember Mulcahy was humbled to receive the Community Partnership Award 2026 from our beloved San Jose Conservation Corps on Friday, September 25. Councilmember Mulcahy was recognized for his partnership and leadership in revitalizing Guadalupe River Park, strengthening community collaboration, and creating opportunities for local young adults to create transformational change. The Councilmember's work in the Guadalupe River Park varies from restoring the trails, removing litter, and performing park improvements, and he has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on District 6's central gathering spot. Spooktacular Upcoming Events: Guadalupe River Park Conservancy Playhub Every First Sunday of the Month | 9AM–12 PM | Arena Green East More Information Free Compost and Mulch Hub Every First Saturday of the Month | 8AM–12PM | Emma Prusch Farm More Details San Jose Sharks: Home Opener Thursday, October 1 | 7PM SAP Center Sharks Schedule and More Italian Festival Kickoff Dinner Friday, October 2 | 5:30–9:30PM Museum Piazza & Italian Cellar Speakeasy Event Details 4th Annual Neighborhood Conference Saturday, October 3 | 9AM–2PM San José City Hall's Rotunda RSVP Here The Alameda Median Community Planting with Our City Forest Saturday, October 3 | 9AM–12 PM 1655 The Alameda Event Details Rock 'n' Roll San José's Running Series Weekend of October 3-4 | Throughout the morning | Centered in Downtown San José Race Details Movin' with Mulcahy: Mulch Spreading at Bramhall Park Saturday, October 3 | 9–11AM 1320 Willow Street Partnering with the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association RSVP Here 10th Annual Little Italy San José Festival Sunday, October 4 | 11AM–7PM Little Italy Way and Sharks Way Event Information Found SJ's Watercolor Workshop Sunday, October 4 | 10AM–1PM 57 Barack Obama Blvd. Event Details Valley of Heart's Delight: Annual Fundraiser Thursday, October 8 | 5:30–9:30PM 635 Phelan Avenue Event Details 3rd Annual Signature Author Event ft. Robert Dugoni Thursday, October 8 | 7–8:15PM Montgomery Theater More Information Pumpkins in the Park Saturday, October 10 | 10AM–4PM Discovery Meadow Event Details Coming Out: LGBTQ+ Festival Sunday, October 11 | 12–6PM Arena Green West Event Details Naturalist Training: Banding Together to Support Birds of the Pacific Flyway Wednesday, October 14 | 6:30–8PM Online Webinar Are you curious about what is being done to protect birds and how researchers learn about them? Join BioBlitz Club, Keep Coyote Creek Beautiful, and San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory for our Naturalist Training webinar to find out and learn about ways you can get involved. RSVP Here Volunteer to Read to Children at the Willow Glen Library Wednesday, October 14 | 3–4PM 1157 Minnesota Avenue Sign Up Now Habbas Law and Vitalant's Community Blood Drive Wednesday, October 14 | 10AM–2PM | 1501 The Alameda There will be two Vitalant bloodmobiles and medical staff at the Habbas Law San José office on The Alameda. Book Your Donation Now! San José D6 CERT Event: ICS & Command Post Exercise Saturday, October 17 | 9AM–12PM Bramhall Park Contact sjcert@sanjosecert.org for more information! Repair Café Sunday, October 18 | 11AM–3PM Bill DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center Sign Up Now The Scooby Boo Bash Friday, October 23 | 7:30PM Bascom Community Center Event Details Rhythms Along the River Sunday, October 25 | 12–3PM Enjoy musicians along the Guadalupe River and hospitality stations! The event will start at “The Beach” at the W. Santa Clara Street bridge, and move along the river down to River Park Towers at Park Avenue. More Information Soon! D6 CERT Monthly Meeting Thursday, October 29| 7–8:30PM San José Fire Museum Contact sjcert@sanjosecert.org for more information! Halloween on The Alameda Saturday, October 31 | 2–5PM Businesses on The Alameda and Race Street, with balloons out front, will be participating! More Information Salmon Festival Saturday, November 14 | 8AM–2PM RFRD Academy at 56 Creekside This family-friendly community event celebrates the peak resilience of our local ecosystems during the Chinook salmon migration season while educating the public on watershed health and urban wildlife protection. Since the South Bay Clean Creek Coalition’s inception in 2013, they are currently on target to cross the monumental milestone of 2 million pounds of trash removed by 2027. This massive community effort is directly paving the way to reach future sustainable runs of Chinook salmon in our urban streams. More Information Trick or Treat Along Lincoln Avenue Friday, October 30 | 11 AM–4:30PM Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen More Information Community Resources: Financial Aid Awareness Month Kick-Off Need assistance with your financial aid application? Join a free workshop for personalized support to ensure timely submission of your application. Whether you’re applying for the first time or need help renewing, the FAFSA team is here to guide you. Learn more about FAFSA and the CA Dream Act, start, review, or complete your financial aid application with a financial aid expert, participate in a college and community fair, and more! Food will be available throughout the event, and attendees will have a chance to win prizes. This workshop will take place at East Side Union High School District on Saturday, October 10, from 10 AM – 3 PM. For more information, contact Jose Jimenez at financialaid@10000degrees.org. Move-for-MAC: Fall Fundraiser From September 28 to October 23, you will have the opportunity to get active and move in support of Morgan Autism Center’s fall fundraiser, Move-for-MAC! This past summer, Morgan Autism Center celebrated an exciting milestone in its Dream Campus 2.0 capital campaign by acquiring the McKinley Campus, creating new opportunities to expand and enhance programs for the children and adults they serve. This year, MAC is raising $100,000 for McKinley Campus renovations, including modernized spaces and state-of-the-art movement and PE equipment that will help build independence, confidence, and joy for students. If you would like to learn more about the ways you can participate or donate, you can visit the Move-for-MAC website. Coyote and Other Wildlife Incident Toolkit According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website: “Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) can occur when humans encounter or interact with wild animals in an unwanted or unsafe way. In California, habitat loss and a changing climate have increased the frequency and type of HWC reported to CDFW. It has become more common for people to be "living with wildlife" as communities grow along the urban-wildlands interface and wildlife look for limited resources such as food, water, and habitat. As the State's trustee agency for fish and wildlife, CDFW has developed a robust HWC Toolkit to help reduce or prevent wildlife damage and conflict with wildlife.” You can access their Wildlife Incident Reporting system and more at the Human-Wildlife Conflicts Toolkit website. BART Silicon Valley Phase II Update Construction continues to move forward on VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension. In September, crews reached a major milestone by completing 100% of the excavation for the West Portal Launch Structure, where the tunnel boring machine will begin its work. Crews are now preparing the launch structure for the tunnel boring machine, which is expected to arrive next year. The project also recently reached 3 million safe work hours without a worker missing time due to injury. Work will continue throughout October at several locations along the project. Near the future Diridon BART Station, crews will continue soil testing and AT&T utility work, including some temporary lane and sidewalk closures. Demolition work will also continue at the future 28th Street/Little Portugal Station. Crews near the East Portal continue restoring the surrounding property with new parking lots, drainage, utilities, lighting, landscaping, sidewalks, and pavement improvement. District 6 CERT Training The City of San José’s Office of Emergency Management has been collaborating with District 6 CERT Leadership and your District 6 council office to deliver CERT Basic Training. At this training, you will learn essential skills to effectively respond to emergencies and assist your community in times of need. Experienced instructors will guide you through various scenarios, teaching you first aid, search and rescue techniques, fire safety, and more. By becoming a CERT member, you will gain the knowledge and confidence to make a difference during emergencies. Whether you're a concerned citizen or a community leader, this training is open to all individuals who want to contribute to their community's safety. These trainings will occur in January 2027 – sign up now to claim your spot! Reporting Issues San José 311 is the city's one-stop service hub for reporting issues like graffiti, potholes, and illegal dumping. You can also request services such as streetlight repairs and abandoned vehicle removal. To report an issue, we encourage you to download the 311 app or report online. The 311 App is available at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Visit the 311 Website Additional Reporting Information City of San Jose | 200 East Santa Clara St | San Jose, CA 95113 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice