San Jose Reports a Sharp Drop in Homelessness

City Hall released a new estimate this week that the unsheltered population fell about 32 percent in 18 months, from 5,477 people in February 2025 to 3,702 in August 2026. Mayor Matt Mahan tied the change to encampment cleanups, no-re-encampment zones, and a fast buildout of interim rooms: motels, tiny homes, and other emergency beds. ABC7 heard from some residents near Arena Green and the SAP Center who said they now see fewer people living outdoors, even as they added that the crisis has not left the city.

The numbers come from UrbanLogiq, a third-party model that folds in 15 data streams rather than waiting for the federal Point-in-Time count every two years. Those streams include outreach logs, police and fire calls, transportation counts of lived-in vehicles, and Homeless Management Information System records. Officials say the same model counted about 1,500 more unsheltered people than the January 2025 PIT figure of 3,959, which is why they treat the older snapshot as an undercount. The plan is to refresh the estimate every quarter so programs can shift instead of guessing for two years at a stretch.

Housing staff also pointed to capacity that did not exist a short while ago. Reports this week put newly created interim units around 1,000, while a September 15 council briefing described a wider portfolio of roughly 1,820 units and more than 2,200 beds across 22 sites. Lived-in vehicles tracked by the city fell from 960 in fall 2024 to 385 by spring 2026. Resident surveys moved in the same direction: the share of people who named homelessness as the single biggest thing San Jose should change dropped from a peak of 40 percent to 20 percent.

Skeptics asked whether the street feels that different. Advocate Shaunn Cartwright told ABC7 the 32 percent cut does not match what she sees day to day and noted that unhoused deaths last year hit 160, with 2026 on a similar pace. The Mercury News reported that Santa Clara County has not independently reviewed the UrbanLogiq model. The next official PIT count is not due until early 2027, so federal funders may still lean on the older method. City leaders themselves said the people still outside are often the hardest to reach, with addiction and mental health needs that interim beds alone will not settle.

A smaller outdoor population would matter for parks, storefronts, and the everyday walk through Downtown San Jose. It would also matter for the thousands who moved inside if those rooms stay funded and lead somewhere more permanent. The next quarterly run of the model will show whether the line keeps falling or levels off.

Source: ABC News

Fairgrounds Expo Hall Needs Hands on 9/11, Not Speeches

September 11, 2026, lands on a Friday and marks 25 years since the attacks. 9/11 Day, the nonprofit started by family members after that morning, is treating the date as a national workday. Fifty-plus cities will pack shelf-stable meals in one coordinated push, aiming for more than 17 million servings and tens of thousands of volunteers. San Jose’s piece happens inside Expo Hall at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road. The boxes leave for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which already feeds people through hundreds of partner sites in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Last year’s hall packed on the order of 200,000 meals with several hundred volunteers. Corporate teams often fill the assembly lines; many of those seats are reserved and sponsored at $250 a person to cover food costs. What the organizers say they still need, urgently, is the Event Support Team: people who do not stand at a packing table the whole shift but keep the machine from stalling. Table captains teach and pace each line. Heavy lifters and runners restock ingredients and haul finished cases, work that can mean 50-pound boxes. Guest services check people in. Set-up and break-down crews open and close the room.

Those support roles require volunteers 18 and older, a one-hour Zoom training about a week beforehand, and roughly four hours on site. Prior years ran a morning block around 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a shorter cleanup window after noon. Confirm the 2026 shift on the signup form before blocking the calendar. Parking sits behind Expo Hall.

Second Harvest’s latest client survey found nearly everyone it serves cutting grocery spending to cover rent and medical bills. A Friday morning in a fairgrounds hall will not fix that math but it will put sealed meals onto local trucks instead of leaving the anniversary of 9/11 as a minute of silence and a flag at half staff.

Sign up for Event Support in San Jose (18+): https://volunteer.911day.org/projects/62266f60-e37b-4c5a-a1cf-74b90128cb96

Second Harvest food locator and hotline: https://www.shfb.org/get-food/

Plaza de San José Leads Community Survey for Downtown Park Name

A ranked-choice survey of more than 10,000 participants has put Plaza de San José well ahead of four other finalists for the downtown park at Market Street. Parks spokesman Ed Bautista called the margin about two to one over the next-highest choice.

The list of names grew out of more than 600 public suggestions. After Plaza de San José came Farmworkers Plaza, Plaza del Pueblo, Plaza Park, and Plaza de Quetzalcoatl. Before 1993 the square was known simply as Plaza Park.

Staff will take the results to the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 2. The commission will then send a recommendation to the City Council, which makes the final decision later this fall. Council members may accept the survey winner or pick another name.

The 2.3-acre plaza is Northern California’s oldest public square and already hosts Christmas in the Park, Music in the Park, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, Fountain Blues and Brews, and Silicon Valley Pride. A name that points straight back to the city itself would match the role the space has played for generations.

Downtown San Jose residents and visitors who already treat the park as a shared living room now have a clear sense of where the public conversation landed.

Source: San Jose Inside

MLV NorCal Chooses Tech CU Arena as Home Court for 2027

San Jose will serve as the official home city for MLV NorCal when the professional women’s volleyball team begins play in 2027. The announcement came Monday at a community event at San Pedro Square Market, where Mayor Matt Mahan joined founding owner Kerri Walsh Jennings and team president Heather Vaughan.

Tech CU Arena on South 10th Street will host the matches. The venue already serves as home ice for the San Jose Barracuda and offers an intimate setting well suited to volleyball. Walsh Jennings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and San Jose native, described the city as home and expressed excitement about building a team the community can claim as its own.

The franchise belongs to a women-founded and women-led league that will expand to additional markets in 2027. Mayor Mahan noted that San Jose has recently added professional women’s soccer and hockey and now volleyball, calling the city a growing capital for women’s sports.

Fans can secure a Founding Season Ticket Holder deposit of $31, a figure that honors California’s place as the 31st state. The official team name, branding, and inaugural campaign will be revealed next month.

This addition gives Northern California its first professional indoor volleyball franchise and adds another live-sports option in the heart of the city.

Source: MLV

MLV NorCal Fan Fest Lands at San Pedro Square Market Today

San Pedro Square Market will host a free family-friendly celebration this afternoon as MLV NorCal introduces itself to the community. The Fan Fest runs from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, August 24, with interactive volleyball activities, giveaways, free soft serve, and a Create & Clip station.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings is scheduled to appear alongside San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and members of the MLV NorCal roster. Organizers plan to share a milestone update about the team’s future and its planned 2027 inaugural season.

The first 200 fans to arrive will receive a free MLV NorCal hat. Parking is available at the nearby garage on North Market Street. The event is organized in partnership with the San Jose Sports Authority, the City of San Jose, Visit San Jose, and the Chamber of Commerce.

This gathering marks an early chance for local residents to meet the new professional volleyball franchise and learn more about its plans for the region.

Source: MLV

Glen Fest Returns to Willow Glen on September 26

Glen Fest takes over a stretch of Lincoln Avenue in Downtown Willow Glen on Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free community festival centers on the Bank of America lot at 1245 Lincoln Avenue and spills into the surrounding independent shops and restaurants.

Live bands play throughout the day while more than a dozen food trucks and vendors offer everything from BBQ and lobster rolls to Mexican street food, Asian-inspired dishes, and local honey. Beer and wine are available for adults. A dedicated kids court features bouncy houses, face painting, a photo booth, and visits from local sports teams, all without any extra ticket.

The event remains fully walkable and dog-friendly for those who keep pets on leashes. Shops along the avenue stay open during their regular hours, giving visitors a chance to browse boutiques, the children’s bookstore, and other neighborhood spots between sets and meals.

Now in its third year, Glen Fest has grown into the largest single-day gathering on the Downtown Willow Glen calendar. Families and neighbors who arrive earlier in the day often find lighter crowds and easier access to the kids activities.

Check the Downtown Willow Glen Business Association channels closer to the date for the final band and vendor lineup.

Source: Downtown Willow Glen

Affordable Townhomes Arrive in East San Jose to Expand Homeownership Options

A new collection of 18 townhomes is taking shape at 125 Kirk Avenue in East San Jose, directly across from Linda Vista Elementary School. Developer AlphaX RE Capital, led by Stephanie Yi, is delivering the project known as The Kirk with a focus on creating ownership opportunities for working families.

Two three-bedroom units will be offered at roughly $300,000 below market rates, while the remaining homes—mostly four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath floor plans ranging from 1,481 to 1,909 square feet—are priced between $1.18 million and $1.3 million. Select buyers can also access a $50,000 credit and interest rates starting as low as 3.99 percent.

The project opened to the public on August 14, with some units expected to become available as early as October and full construction completion targeted for February 2027. Local leaders have welcomed the development as a practical step toward keeping more families rooted in the neighborhood and building long-term equity.

East San Jose has long needed additional pathways to ownership that match the incomes of teachers, nurses, small-business owners, and other working residents. This modest-scale effort shows how targeted new construction can open doors without waiting for larger citywide solutions.

For details on availability and qualification, contact the developer directly through their sales channels.

Source: San Jose Spotlight

San Jose Lands in the Top 10 Happiest Cities in America

San Jose ranked 10th among the 182 largest U.S. cities in WalletHub’s 2026 Happiest Cities in America report, earning an overall score of 67.79. The ranking evaluated 29 indicators across emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, and community and environment.

The city performed especially well in emotional and physical well-being, placing 7th in that category. It also recorded one of the nation’s lowest separation and divorce rates. Income and employment ranked 45th while community and environment came in at 42nd.

Fremont took the top national spot for the seventh consecutive year, followed by Bismarck, North Dakota, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Other California cities in the top tier included Irvine at 8th. San Francisco placed 17th.

These results highlight measurable strengths in health, life satisfaction, and social stability that contribute to daily quality of life for residents. The data provides one more data point in the ongoing conversation about what makes a city a good place to call home.

Source: WalletHub

Evergreen Valley College Hosts Back-to-School Community Gathering at Eastridge

Evergreen Valley College will bring a free Back-to-School event to Eastridge Mall this Saturday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. near the Starbucks. The gathering features about 30 community groups and vendors offering resources, activities and connections for students, parents and residents.

Organizers designed the afternoon around practical support for the new school year. Visitors can explore college and career information, collect free raffle prizes and take part in activities suitable for all ages. Multiple campus clubs and support programs from the college will be on hand alongside partner organizations serving East San Jose families.

The location inside a familiar local mall makes attendance straightforward for people already planning weekend errands. Staff from Evergreen Valley College and its affiliated groups aim to lower barriers for those considering community college pathways or seeking additional support services.

Source: Instagram

Bellarmine Launches Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Bellarmine College Preparatory has established the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to give students a structured path from idea to real-world impact. The program centers on identifying meaningful problems and developing solutions that serve others, consistent with the school’s Jesuit mission.

Students move through three phases: Ideate, where they reflect on real challenges; Create, where they prototype and refine solutions with access to the Maker Lab, seed funding, and campus resources; and Impact, where they present work through pitches, showcases, or further development. Mentors drawn from Silicon Valley technology and entrepreneurship backgrounds provide guidance throughout.

Early student projects already illustrate the range of work underway. One focuses on accessibility technology that adds subtitles for facial expressions, while another explores biologically enhanced concrete for more sustainable infrastructure. These efforts sit alongside expanded classes, workshops, competitions, and speaker opportunities that help students gain experience usually reserved for college.

The Institute acts as a central hub connecting existing campus tools and new support systems so ideas do not stall in isolation. For a San Jose school long known for academic rigor and service, the program adds a practical outlet for entrepreneurial thinking rooted in city synonymous with innovation.

Source: Bellarmine College Preparatory

Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground Near Downtown San Jose

Eden Housing has broken ground on a new four-story affordable housing development at 700 East Saint John Street. The project will deliver 68 units, including 48 homes for households earning up to 60 percent of the area median income and 20 permanent supportive housing units for seniors exiting homelessness.

The L-shaped building incorporates ground-level podium parking and forms part of the broader East Santa Clara Master Plan. Design work by Architects FORA includes a façade that shifts from cement panels on the lower levels to darker brown and tan tones higher up, along with painted mural elements. Amenities planned for residents include a community room with kitchen, food pantry, laundry facilities, and recreation spaces on each floor.

The site sits close to Downtown San Jose, San Jose State University, and neighborhood services. It also involves adaptive reuse of the neighboring Building 800, a historic structure that once housed IBM’s first West Coast offices.

Officials including U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma attended the groundbreaking ceremony on August 6. The project adds much-needed homes for seniors and lower-income residents in a central location while contributing to the ongoing transformation of the former hospital area.

Source: SF YIMBY

AES Drops Plans for Large Battery Storage Project in Coyote Valley

AES Corporation announced this week that it has canceled its proposed Jewelflower Battery Energy Storage System on a 128-acre site of prime farmland in North Coyote Valley near Morgan Hill. The 350-megawatt project would have placed hundreds of containerized lithium-ion battery units across roughly 40 acres of actively farmed land on San Jose’s southern edge.

The company cited a review of project economics, infrastructure needs, market conditions, community input, and long-term priorities. No permit application had been filed. Local opposition had grown steadily, with the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority voting unanimously in May against the plan. Authority leaders pointed to more than $160 million already invested by voters and agencies to protect wildlife corridors, groundwater recharge, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture in the Coyote Valley Conservation Program area.

Parents at the nearby Charter School of Morgan Hill, state legislators including Senator Dave Cortese and Assemblymembers Ash Kalra and Gail Pellerin, and a petition that collected more than 2,200 signatures had also raised concerns about placing industrial-scale batteries so close to a school and inside a conserved landscape. A previous battery project known as Hummingbird had already been successfully moved to an industrial site behind the Open Space Authority’s San Jose headquarters, showing that better locations exist.

The cancellation keeps Coyote Valley’s open fields and hills available for the wildlife movement, farming, and public access that make the area a vital buffer and natural asset for San Jose and the South Bay. AES continues to pursue battery storage elsewhere in California, while this decision reinforces that energy infrastructure and protected landscapes can both advance when projects are sited with care.

Source: San Jose Inside

New Bill Kee Park Takes Shape Near Almaden Expressway

A modest 1.4-acre parcel at the end of Rinconada Drive will soon become Bill Kee Park, a neighborhood gathering spot complete with a playground, walking loop, pollinator garden, public art, and a bioretention system that captures and filters stormwater. The site sits adjacent to the Almaden Expressway and Curtner Avenue off-ramp in south San Jose.

City Council approved the name earlier this year after community surveys ranked Bill Kee highest among the options. Kee, a Chinese American business leader who died in 1989, helped preserve San Jose’s historic Chinatown and broke barriers by becoming one of the first Chinese Americans admitted to several local civic organizations.

Design work is scheduled to wrap up this spring, with construction expected to begin in the fall and the park opening for public use by summer 2027. The project grows out of land dedicated during the Latitude 37 apartment development and forms part of broader efforts to improve water quality while adding recreation space to nearby residential pockets.

Families and neighbors in the area will gain a quiet place to walk, play, and learn once the improvements arrive. The combination of everyday amenities and environmental features turns an underused corner into a practical addition that supports both daily life and the city’s long-term sustainability goals.

Source: City of San Jose Capital Projects

Help Choose the Next Name for Downtown San Jose’s Historic Central Plaza

The heart of Downtown San Jose has long served as the city’s original gathering ground, dating back nearly 250 years to the founding of the Pueblo de San José. For decades this 2.3-acre space hosted celebrations, civic events, and everyday moments under successive names before carrying the title Plaza de César Chávez. Now residents have a direct hand in deciding what it will be called next.

A ranked-choice survey opened July 24 and remains available through midnight on August 3, 2026. Participants will order five finalist options drawn from community listening sessions and an earlier public suggestion period: Farmworkers Plaza, Plaza de Quetzalcoatl, Plaza de San Jose, Plaza del Pueblo, and Plaza Park. The process aims to surface the name that best reflects shared values of connection, history, inclusion, and a welcoming identity for everyone who uses the space.

Before ranking, take a moment with the short SurveyMonkey demo video that walks through the ranking feature. Then open the survey, arrange the options according to personal preference, and submit. Staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 2. The commission’s input moves next to the City Council for a final decision later this year.

This plaza sits at the center of Downtown San Jose’s civic life, steps from City Hall, the Tech Interactive, and major transit routes. Giving it a name chosen by the people who walk its paths, attend its concerts, and claim its lawns strengthens the sense that public spaces truly belong to the community. Share the survey link with neighbors, coworkers, and local groups so the final ranking captures as many voices as possible.

Questions can go to Parkplanning@sanjoseca.gov. Additional project details, timeline, and FAQs live at the city’s capital projects page: https://bit.ly/prns-capitalprojects. The survey itself is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923.

Summer Bill Relief Arrives for PG&E Customers in San Jose

I bet you weren't expecting a 2nd PG&E story in the same day. This is one you'll want to read if they are your utility provider.

Residential PG&E customers across San Jose and the wider service area will see two California Climate Credits appear on their upcoming electric bills. Each credit totals $36.18, applied automatically to the August and September statements for a combined $72.36 in relief during the highest-usage months of the year.

The timing change came after the California Legislature and Public Utilities Commission moved the electric credits to summer, when cooling demand typically drives higher bills. Eligible small-business accounts already received their first credit in April and will see the second in October. Since the program began in 2014, PG&E households have collected nearly $1,200 in cumulative Climate Credits.

These funds come from the state’s Cap-and-Invest Program and represent the public’s share of proceeds from efforts to reduce carbon emissions. For many local households the extra credit arrives just as air-conditioning use climbs, helping offset seasonal spikes without any action required on the customer’s part.

PG&E has also lowered residential electric rates five times since early 2024. Combined with the summer credits, typical monthly bills now sit roughly $25 lower than two years earlier for standard customers and about $30 lower for those on the CARE discount. Additional tools such as rate-plan comparisons, home energy checkups, and efficiency financing remain available for anyone looking to stretch the savings further.

Vacant Building Near Downtown Gains New Life as Artist Studios

A long-empty structure at 255 West Julian Street is set to become a working home for local artists. Local Color, the San Jose arts nonprofit, is converting the Davidson Building’s ground floor into the Big Arts Building, with roughly a dozen below-market-rate studios, office space, a gallery focused on muralism, and areas for public programming.

Artists are expected to start moving in as early as August 1. The nonprofit selected participants after contacting hundreds of creators and hosting preview tours; more than 40 expressed interest following a recent walkthrough. The space includes natural light, air conditioning, secure storage for materials, and a Creative Outlet that redistributes unused art supplies to artists, educators, and youth programs.

A dedicated mural gallery marks a first for the city. The setup will give some artists their initial chance to work at mural scale while offering the public a place to experience that work up close. Local Color already has a track record with large collaborative projects, including the 100 Block mural effort downtown, and this new location expands that capacity closer to the core of Downtown San Jose.

The project grew out of a partnership with developer Westbank and arrives at a moment when affordable creative space remains hard to find. For muralists and studio artists who have worked in less comfortable conditions, the building’s practical features matter as much as the walls themselves.

Source: San Jose Spotlight

Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival Returns to San Jose on July 4

The Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival will mark its 19th year in San Jose on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Organizers have shaped the event as a community gathering that reframes traditional Independence Day celebrations around themes of equality, justice, and inclusion for the city’s multicultural population.

Through anti-racist education programs, partnerships, and public displays, the parade and festival will highlight efforts to address systemic racism and promote humane treatment across communities. The day will blend festivity with meaningful dialogue, allowing participants and spectators to engage with ideas of patriotism that center advocacy and opportunity for everyone.

This longstanding event continues to provide residents with a distinctive way to observe July 4th, one that emphasizes community strength and shared commitment to dismantling prejudice while enjoying the spirit of togetherness.

The parade starts at 9:45am and is followed by a festival from 11am-2pm. The Rose, White & Blue Parade and Festival is free and appropriate for all ages. For more information, visit the Rose, White & Blue website.

San Jose Advances Plans for 272 Affordable Homes Along West San Carlos Street

Site development permits filed recently have propelled forward an addition of 272 fully affordable apartments at 860 West San Carlos Street. Swenson partnered with Republic Urban Properties to create this seven-story building that will stand 79 feet tall across a 2.2-acre site between Sunol Street and Swenson Drive, completing the final phase alongside the established Silver at Ohlone and Patina@Midtown communities.

A thoughtful mix of residences will cater to diverse needs with 107 one-bedroom units, 96 two-bedroom homes, and 69 three-bedroom options. Shared amenities centered on third-floor podium courtyards will include a fitness center, computer room, multipurpose space, and storage for 76 bicycles. The 242-space garage will support practical living while encouraging use of nearby transit.

Those who settle here will appreciate the short stroll or bike ride to Diridon Station, providing easy access to Caltrain, Light Rail, BRT and eventually BART and California High Speed Rail (maybe). While it's not a high-rise, it is dense for the area.

Source: SF YIMBY

Groundbreaking Ceremony for HOPE Community Expansion

San Jose continues to build on its foundation of compassion through initiatives that address community needs. The Salvation Army Silicon Valley is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for the HOPE Community expansion today from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at 359 North 4th Street. This project transforms a grass lot into a safe and sober overnight and transitional housing program, adding over 70 beds for unhoused men and women seeking stability.

Key figures including Mayor Matt Mahan, Supervisor Betty Duong, John A. Sobrato, Elizabeth Funk from Dignity Moves, and Major Daniel Freeman from the Salvation Army Silicon Valley will participate. The main ceremony is from noon to 12:30 pm with post-event discussions until 1:30 pm. Community members and media can attend to witness this step toward enhanced support services.

The Salvation Army Silicon Valley has served the area for over 140 years, offering programs like food distribution, shelter, case management, senior meals, youth activities, and workforce development. With 92 percent of donations directed to programs, the organization meets needs without discrimination. This expansion aligns with efforts to foster hope and rebuild lives in the region.

Developments like HOPE Community demonstrate San Jose's dedication to inclusive growth and assistance for vulnerable residents. They create pathways to better futures, strengthening the fabric of the city. Anyone interested in supporting or learning more can join the ceremony to see the progress firsthand.

For more information: https://siliconvalley.salvationarmy.org/

Trick-or-Treat Along Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen

San Jose offers a range of neighborhood events that strengthen community ties and create joyful experiences. The Trick-or-Treat Along Lincoln Avenue in Downtown Willow Glen stands out as a cherished Halloween tradition organized by the Willow Glen Business Association. Scheduled for tomorrow, October 30, this gathering invites families to explore the area's charming streets while collecting treats from local businesses.

The event features two sessions tailored to different age groups for a comfortable pace. Toddlers can participate from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by school-aged children from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Along Lincoln Avenue between Minnesota Avenue and Willow Street, participants follow a clockwise route for smooth navigation. Local shops hand out candy and goodies, turning the stroll into a delightful adventure.

A unique aspect involves the partnership with Books for Treats, where children receive one free book of their choice. During the morning session, books for kindergarten-aged and younger are available in front of Bertucelli's La Villa Gourmet Italian Deli at 1319 Lincoln Avenue. The afternoon session offers selections for first through sixth graders at the Garden Theater at 1165 Lincoln Avenue. This addition blends literacy with holiday fun.

Volunteers help ensure safety as crossing guards and sidewalk monitors, and opportunities remain open for those interested. Such community involvement reflects the welcoming spirit of Willow Glen within San Jose.

For more information: https://www.willowglen.org/trick-or-treat-along-lincoln-avenue