Join Mayor Mahan for Today's Tackle San Jose Clean-Up

San Jose residents have a chance today to roll up their sleeves and contribute to a brighter future for our city. The Tackle San Jose clean-up event focuses on the Julian area in Downtown San Jose, bringing together neighbors, city leaders, and partners like the San Jose Sharks and the San Jose Conservation Corps. This initiative prepares our streets for Super Bowl 60, ensuring visitors see the best of what San Jose offers while fostering community pride among locals.

Participating means picking up litter, beautifying public spaces, and connecting with fellow volunteers who share a passion for a cleaner environment. Events like this highlight how collective action strengthens neighborhoods and showcases San Jose's commitment to safety and vitality. There are multiple dates in the series, including upcoming ones in areas like San Fernando and Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

Head out this morning to make a tangible difference. RSVP through the Downtown San Jose Association to get specific details on meeting points and what to bring.

For more information and to RSVP: https://sjdowntown.com/event/tackle-san-jose-clean-up-with-the-mayor/2026-01-24/

San Jose Sees Brighter Days Ahead with Community-Focused Progress

Recent surveys from the Bay Area News Group and Joint Venture Silicon Valley show a notable change in resident outlook, with more people feeling the region heads in the right direction than not for the first time in five years. In San Jose, this shift stems from targeted efforts since 2023, including building nearly 2,000 shelter units that reduced unsheltered homelessness by over 20 percent. The city has also stepped up enforcement of quality-of-life crimes, bolstered police recruitment, and integrated technology to streamline services, all while encouraging thousands of residents to join cleanup and beautification projects.

On the safety front, San Jose Police Department recently arrested eight suspects involved in a smash-and-grab at Kim Hung Jewelry, part of a broader wave of similar incidents across California since March. This action underscores the city's commitment to accountability, maintaining its status as the safest big city in the nation. Mayor Matt Mahan continues to push for state-level reforms like Proposition 36 to address addiction-driven crime more effectively, ensuring offenders face appropriate consequences rather than quick releases.

Innovation plays a key role in these advancements, with artificial intelligence accelerating everything from bus operations to grant applications and housing permits. An upcoming webinar on October 22 at 6:30 p.m. will educate residents on AI's role in city services, privacy safeguards, and personal use tips. Relaunched public safety dashboards provide transparent data access, with similar tools for homelessness, housing, economic growth, and neighborhood cleanliness set to follow soon.

These steps reflect San Jose's dedication to five core priorities: enhancing safety, tackling homelessness, maintaining clean spaces, expanding housing, and boosting the economy. While challenges remain, such as persistent street encampments and high living costs, the progress builds momentum toward a city where quality of life and opportunities thrive. Residents can see tangible results that foster pride and involvement.

Source: Matt Mahan's Oct 10th Message

BeatifySJ Grants

Last month, the city launched a new program called BeatifySJ that will provide micro-grants to 71 different community organizations. The goal is to make San Jose a better place by enabling grassroots and community organizations. Grants will be $5,000 or less, which is enough to fund hundreds of projects from tree plantings to cleaning up graffiti. To see the full list of projects, head over here.

From Blight to Bright - A Cycle Centered Community Cleanup morning in Willow Glen

by Carlos from One Square Mile

Willow Glen Neighborhood Association to launch “from Blight to Bright”; a series of community led beautification projects

Community Cleanup to encourage local residents to walk to “The Avenue”

Photo:BikePortland.org

The Willow Glen Neighborhood Association is hosting the first in a series of community cleanup days this summer on June 9, at 9:30 am until 12:30 pm. This event seeks to highlight the importance of the growing residential communities to the north, along with the increased need for safe and clean areas to walk and bike. From Blight to Bright will include residents from the Elements Apartment Community along with participants in San Jose’s monthly Bike Party rides; helping to move tools and debris by bike.

“With budget cuts severely limiting city services, we felt the Willow Glen community should help out” said Richard Zappelli, Vice President of the Willow Glen Neighborhood Association and tireless community advocate. “We have received tremendous support from our members, the Elements Apartment Community, and our District 6 City Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio.

The bicycling community has also responded by offering some of their ‘work” bikes to help move food, tools, and debris. As many residents and visitors of Willow Glen are aware, “The Avenue” is clean and well landscaped due to the efforts of the Willow Glen Business Association and financial support from the Willow Glen Community Benefit Improvement District.

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When: Saturday, June 9th, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: A 1,900 foot section of Lincoln Ave. from Coe Ave. north to Parkmoor Ave. (see map)
Meet at: The Elements, 1201 Parkmoor Avenue, San Jose, CA, for breakfast, tools and assignments. (see map)
Transit available: Light Rail line 902 at Race Street Station, VTA Bus 65 on Parkmoor. With a 12 minute walk from Stevens Creek Blvd. to the north, routes 81 and 23, and with a 24 minute
walk from Coe Ave. to the south via VTA route 64 (see map)
Tools: We will have some tools but feel free to bring your own brooms, hoes, and gloves. See registration via link below. Also if you have a bike trailer that would be great.
To register (to get a count for food and tools): Click here

For the full press release, click here.

St. Patrick's Day Litter & Illegal Sign Clean Up

To balance out today's debaucheries, why not participate in a good cause--the Great American Litter & Illegal Sign Clean Up. For all of the info, just continue reading below.

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It's St. Patty’s Day – Be Green with Me and Clean

Don't forget this Saturday, March 17th, is the Great American Litter & Illegal Sign Clean Up at John Mise Park. Come celebrate your St. Patrick’s Day with me and other members of the community. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. followed by a brief orientation from City Staff.

We will be picking up litter in and around parks, schools, sidewalks and neighborhoods in District 1 as well as removing illegal signs posted on utility poles, street signs and park strips. We will then meet back up to have a FREE pizza lunch prepared by The Pasta Market and enjoy music from our DJ Rich McCoy.  

Please spread the word to all of your friends and family members. This event will be held rain or shine, so don't let a little rain stop you from coming out to help clean up the District 1 community!

You can sign up at the event or by registering at: http://2012greatamericanlitterpickup.eventbrite.com. Contact my office at (408) 535-4901 if you have any further questions. See you all out there!  

Neither snow, nor rain, nor thunderstorms, nor hail, will prevent the Great American Litter Pick up from happening!

Your Neighbor,

Pete Constant
San Jose City Councilmember, District 1
San Jose City Hall | 200 E. Santa Clara St., 18th Floor | San Jose, CA 95113
408-535-4901 | pete.constant@sanjoseca.gov | www.sjdistrict1.com

Great Idea!

I saw this posted on Facebook by Sam Liccardo a couple days ago:

"Sam Liccardo
We DID IT!!! We've just secured the EPA grant to begin our "homeless creek cleanup" pilot project on July 1st-- we'll employ 50 homeless individuals living in Coyote Creek to engage in environmental cleanup while earning stable housing and board. Special thanks to our partners at Destination:Home, Downtown Streets Team, EPA, the Water District, EBay, ESD, and Friends of Coyote Creek for making this happen!!"

This is a phenomenal idea that benefits everyone. Those in dire need get a roof over their head and Coyote Creek will become cleaner and safer. I hope this is a sign that we will be seeing similar programs in the future.