San Jose 2023 crime stats fare well among Bay Area piers

San Jose has been a relatively safe city for many decades, and at certain points was the safest big city in the United States. The final crime stats for 2023 are out and they bode well for San Jose.

In terms of homicides, San Jose came in at 36 for 2023 (this compares to 35 in 2022 and 31 in 20221). This is much less than San Francisco with 53 despite having 15% fewer people. If you look at Oakland, the stat disparity is even wider. Oakland came in at 126 homicides last year, 3.5 times more than San Jose despite having half the population.

Part of the reason why the rate is so low is that San Jose's homicide unit solves nearly 100% of all cases, something that is very rare in cities of a million people.

Source: NBC Bay Area

New laws in 2024 impacting San Jose

Another year, another round of revised legislation. San Jose Spotlight has put together a list of new changes for 2024. Included are updated worker protections for recreational cannabis users, increased fast-food minimum wages to $20/hr, and decreased water consumption for new buildings.

One significant change is Senate Bill 43, which expands the people eligible for conservatorship to include those that are unable to provide for their personal safety, medical care, food, clothing, or shelter due to serious mental illness or substance abuse. I'm speculating that would apply to a significant percentage of the homeless population in San Jose, giving leaders more flexibility in getting people the care they need.

For the full list, click the source link below.

Source: San Jose Spotlight

Welcome to 2024!

The last time I did a New Year's post was in 2020. San Jose growth has been sort of on pause since then--but this is the year I think we'll start to see some real change. I'll say the same message I said back then. Hopefully we will see our city grow in every way possible this year! 

If you think 2024 sounds like the future, you're not the only one. I asked Dalle-3 to generate an image for "welcome to 2024 San Jose" and this is what I got 😅

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan's 2023 holiday message

Our mayor's end-of-year newsletter featured several highlights in 2023. You can read the full thing in the source link below, but the items that really stood out for me as big wins were:

• Lower homelessness by 10% and we have 788 additional interim housing units in the pipeline
• Lower crime by 5%, Automatic License Plate Readers have helped solve hundreds of crimes in San Jose
• 300% increase in volunteerism, 500,000 lbs. of trash removed from streets and creeks
• San Jose residents and companies were granted the most AI patents in the country, San Jose also hosted an innovation summit to help the city leverage AI solutions
• Improved San Jose permitting times on both big and small projects

Overall, it seemed like 2023 was a very positive year for San Jose. I hope everyone has an amazing New Year's Eve and hopefully we'll have an even better 2024! 🎊🥳

Source: San Jose Inside

Breeze of Innovation Updates

Urban Confluence has been collaborating with Plaza de Cesar Chavez stakeholders on building a world-class landmark for the city in the heart of Downtown San Jose. The goal is still to place the winning concept, Breeze of Innovation, somewhere in Plaza de Cesar Chavez. In 2024, the organization will share an updated version of their vision--which was teased in the email below from Steve Borkenhagen. He's the Executive Director for the project (side note that he is also one of the key people responsible for the San Pedro Square Market's success and has owned several restaurants Downtown).

Some of the updates to the project will include elements that will dramatically honor Cesar Chavez and elevate San Jose events of all kind. The email specifically mentions Christmas in the Park and the San Jose Jazz Festival. I'm really excited to learn more about the possibilities of how Breeze of Innovation can further activate the park and add a new defining element to the Downtown San Jose skyline.

If you want to contribute to the project, the link is in the message below.

Dear Friend, 

Creating a dynamic city center involves lots of blood, sweat, and tears. In 2023, we’ve worked hard to collaborate with our fellow Plaza de Cesar Chavez stakeholders on plans to dramatically improve the most historic piece of property in San Jose. In 2024, we want to take the next step.

Great parks are the secret sauce for successful downtowns around the world.  For more than two centuries, Plaza de Cesar Chavez has been waiting for us. This is our chance to finally take Downtown San Jose to the next level by working together with our city's diverse and amazing citizens for the greater good. 

Along with many others who are deeply committed to Plaza de Cesar Chavez, we will reveal our shared vision for the park in the next six months. This vision will include Breeze of Innovation, elements to dramatically honor Cesar Chavez, and vastly improved park infrastructure that will amp up and elevate events of all kinds -- including Christmas in the Park and the San Jose Jazz Festival.

The mission for 2024 is tightly focused; we plan to join with the family of Cesar Chavez, concerned citizens, park event producers, and neighbors to begin to dynamically improve Plaza de Cesar Chavez and maximize the joy experienced by all park visitors.

Downtown leader Gary Dillabough says: “Sometimes to create an exceptional place, you need a catalytic event or a catalytic project. Our belief is that the Breeze of Innovation is that project.”

Will you please continue to support our game-changing project for downtown San Jose? 

Your donations will help us create this inspirational vision for Plaza de Cesar Chavez. Please donate HERE or by mailing a check to Urban Confluence Silicon Valley, P.O. Box 720813, San Jose, CA 95172.

Your financial support is deeply appreciated.

Please call Steve Borkenhagen any time with questions and comments.

Happy New Year!

Urban Confluence Silicon Valley

Executive Director Steve Borkenhagen
Steve@UrbanConfluenceSiliconValley.org

Please take a moment to watch this video of Mayor Matt Mahan as he discusses Breeze of Innovation. 

Last chance to see the holiday projections at St. Joseph's Basilica this season

Right next to Christmas in the Park is a really cool projection-based light show at St. Joseph's Basilica. You can get a gist of it from the video below, but I was watching it for a solid 10 minutes. Lots of families taking photos in front of it. If you haven't seen it yet, there are still a few days before it's taken down until the 2024 holidays.

I'm hoping to see more art projects like this throughout San Jose. It really adds to the holiday atmosphere Downtown, which is already at an 11 out of 10.

New Years Eve options in Downtown San Jose

There is a New Years event for everyone in Downtown San Jose this year. If you have kids, there are "Noon Year's Eve" events at the Children's Discovery Museum and 3Below Theatre & Cafe. If you like fine dining, Rollati and The Fountain have you covered. 

If you want to party there are at least a dozen night clubs doing events Downtown in just about every genre you can think of from house music to Cumbia to Bollywood. Then if you're not hung over you can do the San Jose Bike Party New Year's Day bike ride at noon on the 1st.

The SJDA has put together a handy list of all the events going on over here. Have fun and stay safe!

2024 Silicon Valley Map is now available

Silicon Maps, Inc. has released their 2024 Silicon Maps series. These are high-quality calendar posters highlighting various high tech and biotech companies in our area. They tend to sell out pretty quickly, so if you're interested you can order one right over here.