On Wednesday night, 2,000+ San Joseans convened at the Center for Performing Arts in downtown to celebrate the inauguration of our city’s 66th mayor — Mayor Matt Mahan.
Following the official swearing-in, Mayor Mahan took to the podium to emphasize his main goals during his limited two-year term, and how he will work to achieve them.
Goal: Beautify our streets ✨
Action: Utilize neighborhood outreach teams, work with Beautify SJ + San Jose Conservation Corps, expand programs like San Jose Bridge and Cash for Trash, and upgrade San Jose’s 311 service to allow residents to submit blight reports.
Goal: Improve quality of life for unhoused residents 🏘️
Action: Scale up basic shelter capacity and transition facilities, identify more interim housing sites, and support Governor Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court system to improve access to mental health + addiction treatments.
Goal: Reduce crime 🚔
Action: Add 30 officers per year to the San Jose Police Department, allocate additional funding to recruitment methods + officer bonuses, and invest in youth with after-school programs and tutoring job opportunities.
“These are clear goals with clear metrics of success,” the mayor said.
And like his original vision of leading with a business mindset, he plans to create a public dashboard of results showing what progress has been made on blight, homelessness, and crime.
Feeling inspired? Mayor Mahan shared his “Inaugur-ACTION Series” form so residents can stay updated on upcoming clean-up events.