Tuesday, January 6th, 2009
District 4 2008 Highlights
Happy New Year District 4! It’s been wonderful serving the residents of District 4 and I look forward to working collaboratively with you in the coming year. As we embark on this new year, I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the 2008 District 4 successes and achievements:
Great American Litter Pick Up
The 2008 Great American Litter Pick Up event held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 was a success! Out of nearly 1000 volunteers, District 4 had the largest turn out of almost 400 volunteers and a total of 107 bags of litter picked up! Keeping District 4 clean takes a community-wide effort and I want to commend the community members who participated in this event for their efforts and hard work. This year, the 2009 Great American Litter Pick Up will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Please contact my office if you are interested in participating in this event.
Penitencia Creek/Viceroy Sidewalk Improvement
On March 15, 2008, I joined District 4 residents at the opening of a capital improvement project at Penitencia Creek Road and Viceroy Way. The project consisted of a sidewalk, curb and gutter, ADA curb access ramps, traffic signs, pavement striping and markings, and a median island pedestrian refuge. With the installation of flashing beacons to alert drivers that pedestrians are crossing, the crosswalk leading to the Penitencia Creek County Park will be more pedestrian friendly.
Completion of the North San José Task Force
The task force, which completed its work in March 2008, has had the responsibility of assessing what their neighborhood need for schools, parks, trails, transportation, fire, police, retail amenities, and residential development in relation to economic development in North San José. Our community’s active involvement in the redevelopment of North San José has provided enormous beneficial changes to what will make the City an even better place to live. On April 22, the City Council heard the result of the North San José Neighborhood Planning Task Force and approved over 150 guiding principles which will serve as the basis for the Implementation Strategy to be developed.
AED/CPR Classes
In March and April 2008, my office collaborated with the San José Fire Department to bring AED/CPR training to District 4. I was able to assist in having over 40 District 4 residents certified by the American Heart Association for AED, First Aid, and CPR for the next two years. The North Valley Community Association will be taking the lead in coordinating CPR classes in District 4 for 2009. Our office will be sending notices of future dates as they become available.
Berryessa Farmers’ Market
The Berryessa Farmers Market opened in District 4 on Saturday, May 3, 2008. The first season was scheduled to run through October 25, 2008. However, due to District 4’s enthusiastic support of the Berryessa Farmers’ Market, it will now remain open year-round.
District 4 Newsletter
This Spring, my office launched our first issue of our bimonthly newsletter, “Door-to-Door in District 4.” The newsletter serves as a way to keep District 4 residents informed about what has been happening by providing updates, news, and notices about future events. We welcome any input, feedback, and suggestions.
Neighborhood Commission
On May 31, 2008, Christopher Zhou, David Biagini, and Rafael Sabic were selected as the three commissioners, with Linda Locke chosen as the alternate, to represent District 4 on the Neighborhood Commission. The Neighborhood Commission forms an integral part of the community engagement process and provides a crucial link to empower the voices in our community.
Alviso Swimming Pool
The Alviso Pool was renovated and reopened on June 23, 2008. I would like to thank the countless Alviso community leaders who participated in the renovation projects and who volunteered their time to make the grand opening a success. I would like to thank the Santa Visits Alviso Foundation for providing financial assistance for the children in Alviso for swim lessons and recreational swimming.
Renaming of Lundy Post Office
This summer, I presented a resolution to the City Council as an effort to collaborate with Congressmember Mike Honda’s proposal in the US Congress to rename the Main Post Office on Lundy Avenue to the Gordon Chan Post Office. As one of the most prominent Chinese American leaders in Santa Clara County, Gordon Chan was an agricultural pioneer and community activist. He had strong ties in the Berryessa area; his family’s ‘Chan Nursery’ was a prominent business in District 4 for many years. Gordon Chan was also involved in many organizations that strived to improve Santa Clara County in many aspects. Renaming the Main Post Office on Lundy Avenue to the Gordon N. Chan Post Office will serve as a remembrance and acknowledgement of his community activism.
Berryessa Creek Park
On Friday, September 19, 2008, I hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony event for San José’s newly installed playground at Berryessa Creek Park. Completed in August 2008, the playground boasts the esteemed distinction as one of the first in the City of San José to go beyond standard accessibility requirements to a ‘boundless playground.’ The youth play structure is wheelchair accessible throughout so that children in wheelchairs can play and interact with fully-abled children.
Green Building Policy Adopted
In 2007 during my first months in office, I submitted a proposal to require all new construction in the City of San José to achieve green building certification status. Green Building has many benefits to our environment and daily lives by using sustainable construction materials and products that improve indoor air quality, which significantly increases health and productivity. Green buildings also conserve natural resources by utilizing rapidly renewable materials or materials made from recycled content, reducing consumption and diverting waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. In October 2008, the City Council approved to accept a future policy. The City will begin outreach in this summer to gather input and a policy is anticipated to come forward for Council consideration in 2010.
Plastic Bags
On January 2008, Mayor Reed, Councilmember Campos, and I submitted a Memo to the City for consideration of banning the use of non-recyclable and non compostable plastic bags in San José. By significantly reducing the use of plastic bags, we can make a positive environmental contribution in reducing the amount of waste that ends up in our oceans and landfills. City Staff has been diligently researching the feasibility of banning plastic bags in the City of San José and in December 2008, The Recycling Waste and Reduction Committee approved a model ordinance that will be evaluated by the City and consider as we move towards full Council consideration.
Kansen
