A picture of City Hall from the ground perspective.

Imagine yourself running the city alongside other dedicated residents. | Photo via @danieldentone_

Picture this, you see that our city made the decision to allocate money towards a program or installation that you honestly feel could’ve been allocated somewhere else. But, what can you really do about something that’s out of your control?

Well, you can make your voice heard by serving as a volunteer member of one of San Jose’s 27 boards and commissions.

As a board member, you can weigh in on topics like downtown parking issues, advise on public art projects and grants, or contribute to historic development and preservation of landmarks.

Interested residents can apply year-round and are appointed by the City Council. To be considered, you must submit an application to the board or commission of your choosing.

🗳️ Who can apply?

Applicants should live within city limits of San Jose, but cannot be city employees. Pro tip: depending on the position, some commissions have additional requirements that may require an interview by the Council Appointment Advisory Commission.

📃 What are the term limits?

Most of the City’s boards observe a two to four-year term. If an incumbent resigns mid-term, an appointment is made for the remainder of the unexpired term. To make sure the time commitment fits with your personal schedule, you can view meeting times on each individual board or commission landing page.

🪑 Which boards currently have vacancies?

All vacancies are posted and updated on a monthly basis on the city’s boards + commissions portal. Here are a few that are currently open:

Airport Commission | 4 vacancies | Study, investigate, and review matters relating to the airport and how it can serve the public interest.
Arts Commission | 3 vacancies | Review art programs + acquisitions, and recommend funding for them to City Council.
Neighborhoods Commission | 16 vacancies | Review issues, policies, and programs to improve neighborhood quality of life.

EVENTS

Click here to have your event featured.

Monday, Feb. 6

Podcasting at the TTC | Monday, Feb. 6 | 4:30-7 p.m. | MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, 510 S. First St., San Jose | Free | This free workshop gives youth an opportunity to learn the basics of podcasting.
Trivia Night | Monday, Feb. 6 | 6:30 p.m. | Park Station Hashery, 1701 Park Ave., San Jose | Free | Grab a team of up to six at this weekly multimedia trivia event hosted by local comedians.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Succulent Heart Shaped Cork Planter Workshop | Tuesday, Feb. 7 | Times vary | Tessora’s Barra di Vino, 234 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell | $58 | Enjoy some wine and delicious appetizers for an evening of crafty fun with friends.
The Piano Guys | Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 7:30 p.m. | San Jose Civic, 135 W. San Carlos St., San Jose | $45+ | This quartet delivers bold compositions that transcend boundaries of style and genre.
JJ Lin | Tuesday, Feb. 7 | 8 p.m. | SAP Center, 525 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose | $188+ | Don’t miss out on the Singaporean singer-songwriter, composer, and actor on his “Timeline” tour.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Satchmo at the Waldorf | Wednesday, Feb. 8-Saturday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | The Stage, 490 S. First St., San Jose | $38+ | Catch this one-man, three-character play in which the same actor portrays Louis Armstrong, Armstrong’s manager, and Miles Davis.
Open Mic at the San Jose Improv | Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 8 p.m. | San Jose Improv, 62 S. Second St., San Jose | $5 | The stage is yours.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

MORE FEBRUARY FUN

FINANCE

This billion-dollar startup wants to help you retire

Portrait of businesswoman standing against a wooden wall in office.

SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. | Photo by Dean Mitchell

This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161 million to help people plan for retirement. 👀

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors serving our local area.

In just a few minutes, you can get matched with up to three financial advisors, each legally bound to work in your best interest. Now that’s service.*

TAKE THE FREE QUIZ

NEWS NOTES

Weather

60º | Sunny | 11% chance of rain

Development

KCR Development has proposed a seven-story, 206-unit residential apartment complex at 1050 St. Elizabeth Dr., which would include 13,090 sqft of outdoor space. The project would demolish a senior housing facility and parking lot. The public review period will be open until Thursday, Feb. 23. 🏗️
An affiliate of the same real estate executive responsible for building the Vietnamese indoor market at Eastridge Center has bought The Mt. Pleasant Shopping Center in East San Jose. The affiliate paid ~$21.3 million and plans to review the site for redevelopment. (East Bay Times/The Mercury News).

Closed

Last Friday, Britannia Arms Cupertino announced that it has closed down indefinitely. This abrupt news came as the pub + live music venue celebrated its 42nd anniversary. But not to worry, Britannia Arms Almaden isn’t going anywhere.

Drink

In celebration of six years in business, Hapa’s Brewing Company will throw an anniversary party on Saturday, Feb. 11. Enjoy live music, new brews, and a release of its triple IPA — Truth & Beauty. 🍻

Feel Good

Daniel and Rachel Martinez, the couple who founded the nonprofit Adopt My Block, were recently featured on NBC Bay Area for their efforts to help dogs in need. Along with donating food + supplies to dog owners, they also provide transportation and payment for pet medical procedures. 🐾 (NBC Bay Area)

Shop

From chocolates to candles and cards, we’ve got you covered with all things loveable in our online shop, Six & Main. Explore our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide to start shopping for sweet presents such as this bonbon gift box by Marble & Steel Craft Chocolates. 🍫

Travel

Dreaming of a tropical summer vacation? Us too. We’re eyeing this romantic villa with pristine views in Costa Rica and this charming beachfront cottage in St. Kitts. Or maybe we’ll splurge on a trip to Tahiti and stay in this beach house with a private pool. 🏝️ *

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REAL ESTATE

Make some cash off your crib 💰

A collage of three different apartment interiors.

Learn more about how you can list your rental on Airbnb. | Photos via Airbnb

Numbers don’t lie — San Jose simply isn’t among the most affordable places to live in the US. But for some apartment dwellers, there’s a new way to offset the high cost of living.

Airbnb recently launched a new program called Airbnb-friendly apartments, allowing certain renters in San Jose (and ~30 other cities) the ability to become part-time hosts. This is available to those living in participating apartment buildings: Exhibit at J Town Apartments, Avana San Jose, and Almaden Lake Village.

Some notes to keep in mind:

90 nights/year is the average amount a building will allow you to Airbnb your place.
You set your own pricing, but it varies from building to building if the owners choose to deduct a share of your earnings.
You can get an estimate of what you’ll make in a month by customizing your stay on Airbnb’s website.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Alyson.

Editor’s pick: Valentine’s Day is probably my second favorite holiday, because I think of it like Halloween — but with hearts + bows instead of ghosts + spiders. You feel me? Anyways, I’ve already seen some San Jose spots spread the V-day energy. Are you celebrating it locally? If so, what’s your plans? 💘

Missed the last newsletter? Did you know that San Jose was once California’s capital?

Connect with us.

Editorial: Alyson Chuyang, Britt Thorson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Julie Brown | Advertise with us.

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