Expanding small businesses, eliminating vacant storefronts and cultural beautification are on the menu for the recently launched East San Jose revitalization campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz stood among local leaders\u2014including Mexican Heritage Plaza co-director Jessica Paz-Cedillos and Alum Rock Santa Clara Street Business Association president Connie Alvarez\u2014to announce a new five-pillar strategy that includes pleas to an influential San Jose city committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the Aug. 15 event, Ortiz highlighted East San Jose\u2019s immigrant community and said the recent financial grants, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, need to be put to strategic use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a movement, a call to action, to transform East San Jose into a place where families want to put down roots, a place where small businesses thrive, and where our art and culture are celebrated,\u201d he said. \u201cMost importantly, we are saying no to the over-concentration of liquor stores and smoke shops in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ortiz, along with councilmembers Domingo Candelas, Pamela Campos, George Casey and David Cohen, led a charge earlier this year to suspend the development of such establishments. The city attorney is set to return to the San Jose City Council before October with a new proposed policy addressing the councilmembers\u2019 concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
East San Jose leaders touted more than $2 million in total recent investment to the area as all the more reason to support a revitalization plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The five-pillar plan includes economic empowerment, neighborhood renewal and beautification, infrastructure investment, public safety, and accountability for property owners and unhoused service providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent grants include a $100,000 investment toward building a gateway structure for the city\u2019s first cultural district: \u201cLa Avenida\u201d at Mexican Heritage Plaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the plaza recently celebrated its 25-year anniversary, Paz-Cedillos said they still need funding to fully establish La Avenida. Part of the East San Jose revitalization plan aims to bring renewed attention to the aspiring cultural district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEach year, we work with thousands of artists, families and small businesses to strengthen the heartbeat of East San Jose and through La Avenida cultural district,\u201d she said. \u201cWe’re proving that art and culture can grow small businesses, activate public spaces and bring people together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An Aug. 14 memo drafted by Ortiz urges the San Jose city manager to develop an amended business and tax regulation policy waiving fees for small businesses with specific first-year permits. He said he wants to help shops that hope to open in the city\u2019s urban villages and growth areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The request is set to be heard by the City Rules & Open Government Committee at a later date for potential approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNew and expanding small businesses often face substantial startup costs, particularly in permit, license and registration fees,\u201d Ortiz said. \u201cThese costs can be a significant barrier, especially in areas targeted for growth, where the city seeks to stimulate investment and accelerate economic activity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allan Madoc, who oversees San Jose\u2019s branch of multibillion-dollar philanthropic organization Knight Foundation, said there is a plan to make an announcement relevant to East San Jose soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will have more concrete details to share in a few weeks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Expanding small businesses and eliminating vacant storefronts are on the menu for the new East San Jose revitalization campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14789,"featured_media":20183628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_expiration-date-status":"","_expiration-date":0,"_expiration-date-type":"","_expiration-date-categories":[],"_expiration-date-options":[]},"categories":[1490],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n