Biography for Manny Diaz

By Manny Diaz

A full Biography and List of Accomplishments for San Jose City Councilmember Manny Diaz.

Manny Diaz

San Jose Councilman Manny Diaz was first elected in November 1994 and re-elected in June 1998 to the City Council by an overwhelming voter majority. He has a can do attitude and works hard to resolve complex community issues. Manny was elected to the City Council because residents respected his dedication to the community # a commitment of over 2 decades of community involvement in San Jose. As the Past President of the Hispanic Employees Association of PG&E he lead scholarship fundraising drives to provide scholarship programs for needy youth. As a recruiter for PG&E he spent hours at San Jose State reaching out to young women and minorities encouraging their interest in Math and Science and helping them pursue degrees in Engineering. Manny was involved in master planning efforts for the City of San Jose serving as a member of the San Jose General Plan 2020 Update Task Force and chairing the city taskforce for Jackson Taylor Revitalization Strategy. As a public servant, Manny's goals remained focused on community building - creating opportunities for families, youth, neighborhoods, and small businesses. He has played an important role in developing public/private partnerships that are cost effective and increase services to our San Jose community. Manny has championed issues and programs that support the diversity of San Jose, combat gang activity, strengthen partnerships with local school districts to create more after school services and recreational opportunities, develop job training and placement opportunities for many local residents, develop partnerships with the business community and revitalize commercial business and residential neighborhoods. Manny has helped organize and empower many neighborhood associations to better serve the San Jose community.

VISION

"To Build a Brighter Future for All People of Silicon Valley and California"
-Working Together Dreams Do Come True-

Goals

 Improve public education so that all youth can achieve academically and be better prepared for the future workforce skill and educational requirements.

 Address the challenges of the New Economy so that more working families can benefit and raise their standard of living.

 Work with local/state/federal leaders in the development of transportation improvements to reduce traffic congestion; includes BART to San Jose.

 Work with local/state leaders in creating more affordable housing opportunities.

 Work with local/state/federal leaders to increase affordable health care service and access for seniors and low/moderate income families.

 Be a strong representative for our local business community so that our economy can stay strong and continue to flourish.

City Council Accomplishments

 He served as a board member of the Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority from 1995 to 1998 and currently chairs a task force looking into mass transit opportunities to link East San Jose with downtown San Jose.

 He serves on the San Jose Redevelopment Agency Board and has successfully championed revitalization efforts for several Eastside neighborhoods. Through his efforts, funding for a new youth center in the Alum Rock neighborhood was approved and revitalization efforts have increased for the commercial retail centers on Story Road and King Road.

 Manny championed the development of the Mexican Heritage Plaza; a $35 million public facility largely subsidized by redevelopment funds and located in East San Jose which opened in September 1999.

 Manny supported redevelopment efforts in San Jose's downtown areas and industrial zones of North San Jose and the Edenvale area # including expansion of the San Jose convention center, development of the retail revitalization strategy, construction of more affordable housing for our residents, and development of major art/cultural facilities and the joint city /SJSU library.

 He is the chair of the San Jose City Council Economic and Community Development Committee and a member of the San Jose City Council Youth, Seniors, Neighborhood Services Committee.

 Manny also represents the City of San Jose as a board member of the Association of Bay Area Governments and a commissioner on the Santa Clara County Solid Waste Development Commission.

Key Accomplishments

Economic Development  As chair of San Jose Economic and Community Development Committee, provided leadership in development of local governmental policies that has enhanced business opportunities.  Led major efforts in East San Jose with private and public sectors that has resulted in over 300 million dollars of additional investment in business districts, neighborhoods and schools.  Created city business outreach program for women-owned and minority-owned firms.  Supported efforts for high tech start ups utilizing city assistance.  Initiated First Source Hiring Program between City of San Jose and business community that has resulted in significant local job placement opportunities.  Supported redevelopment efforts for downtown San Jose that has resulted in a major rejuvenation of the core of the city.

Education and Community Building

Provided effective leadership in building a partnership between 19 school districts and the City of San Jose that resulted in significant increases in educational and recreational services to all the youth in San Jose. Manny chairs the Executive Policy Board of this collaborative.

Advocated for an increase of city core services for at risk youth and more job training and employment opportunities for our youth in our San Jose community.

Successfully advocated for more police officers for our neighborhoods to enhance community policing efforts.

Successfully worked with local labor/mgmt. leaders in resolving labor disputes.

Worked effectively with county and state leaders and local community leaders in the development of a child lead poisoning prevention outreach program which will help thousands of children in health care and their development.

Has successfully increased homework centers in the district he serves by 300% through aggressive city funding advocacy and private sector support.

Assisted local campaign efforts for school bond measure to fix up our schools.

Aggressively pursued the expansion of our branch libraries and additional youth centers and other major community facilities to better serve the San Jose community.

Neighborhood Revitalization  Successfully expanded redevelopment into neighborhoods that resulted in home improvements, more street lights, sidewalk repairs, commercial/business revitalization in older neighborhoods, improved community centers, and park improvements.  Successfully developed city policies that have raised the quality of living of many neighborhoods in San Jose.  Helped organized many neighborhoods to get better city services.  Successfully advocated to expand community clean-ups and community building.

Working Families and Affordable Housing  Successfully led efforts for City of San Jose to adopt living wage policy that created economic opportunities for hundreds of hard working families.  Successfully advocated for an additional $25 million for affordable housing using San Jose Redevelopment funds in 1999.  Provided strong leadership in the development of public policies to significantly increase affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income families.  Participate actively with major industry organizations and affordable housing advocates in creating more affordable housing opportunities throughout silicon valley.

Background

BS Engineering, Calif. State Univ. of San Francisco, 1978
Worked private sector over 17 years- power engineer, service planning supervisor, housing development manager, energy conservation representative, power utility area manager, construction worker, marketing/sales consultant
San Jose Planning Commissioner, 1986 to 1993
President, Coalition of Latinos in Engineering and Science, 1983
Co-Chair, SJ Library Master Plan Advisory Task Force, 1995 to 1997
Founder, East San Jose Youth Foundation, 1996
Founder, Adventuring with Leadership Program for Youth
Married to Sandra Avila Diaz, 3 children- Marcos, Raquel, Lito