Candidate for
Council member; City of San Jose; District 5

Nora Campos 1209 Adrian Way San Jose, CA 95122

1. Community Involvement

35-year resident of the District
Chief of Staff, San Jose City Council District 5
Member American G.I. Forum 2000-Present
Chair St. Joseph's Cathedral/Dia De Los Muertos Festival 1997-Present
Member Commonwealth Club 2000-Present
Board Member Adelante Mujer Hispana Conference 1997- Present
Past Member Tech Museum of Innovation Community Advisory Board 1997
Board member for Camp Fire Boys and Girls 2000-Present
Board member for Pacific Neighbors, Inc.-Sister Cities 2000-Present
HOPE PAC-Hispanas for political equality 2000-Present
Board member for the East San Jose Youth Foundation 1998- Present
Committee Member for the American Cancer Society Latino Outreach 1997-1998
Puente Mentor Program Committee 1996-1998
Steering Committee for Latino Youth Conference 1996-1997

2. Top three priorities and strategy to implement those priorities

Education

The children of District 5 need access to the best possible educational opportunities to ensure a successful future. I believe that through partnerships with the city, the Alum Rock and East Side Union High School Districts, community based organizations, parent groups and Silicon Valley industry we can improve our local education system and create a model system for the entire nation. We can do this by building a strong Education Collaborative that brings together these groups and utilizes the resources each has to improve local schools.

One of my first priorities will be to increase funding for a homework center in every District 5 school and work with each neighborhood to identify ways to improve after school youth activities and keep kids off the streets and engaged in learning.

Another priority will be to use San Jose's tobacco settlement funds as a permanent funding source to ensure that children are not denied health care. Healthy children do better in school and their parents don't have to take time off work to care for them.

Strong Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods of District 5 require increased attention from City Hall and expanded access to city-funded programs and services. Much has been done to improve our community, but much is still needed.

Some specific ideas I have to build stronger neighborhoods in District 5 include:

Increase the number of neighborhoods clean-ups for the District.

Spend Redevelopment Agency money in the neighborhoods to fund shopping center renovations, repair streets and improve road medians, and assist homeowners with structural improvement and painting.

Ensure the Strong Neighborhood Initiative program brings about programs and projects that really meet the needs of District 5 residents and neighborhoods.

Assist families and residents to purchase homes and find affordable housing.

Slow down cars on neighborhoods streets and near parks, schools, and community centers.

Increase pedestrian safety and make crosswalks more visible to drivers.

Expand Neighborhood Watch Programs.

Create a Neighborhood Service Center in District 5 where police, gang prevention and community revitalization staff can be stationed to answer questions, assist residents and implement youth and community programming.

Ensure that Library and Park Bond funds are used to improve District 5 parks and library services.

Improve bus lines and service.

Economic Development

The residents of our district are strong consumers, with some of the highest per capita spending figures in this county. The problem is that residents are spending their consumer dollars in other areas of the City and County, thus weakening the consumer tax base of our district. I will work with local business leaders and my colleagues on the council to create strong business districts along Alum Rock Avenue, Story, King, McKee and White Roads so that we can keep residents in the District and supporting local businesses.

Ideas I have to improve our business districts and support local businesses include:

Ensure the East Side Light Rail extension is built and designed to attract riders to local business districts.

Work with the Redevelopment Agency to further improve the Alum Rock and Story Road Business Districts and expand the programs to other business districts and attract more business that build community such as coffee shops, book stores, clothing stores and restaurants.

Attract more employers to District 5.

Projects and programs worked on while Chief of Staff for Council District 5

Story Road and Alum Rock Revitalization Plan

1999 Help secure $750,000 for modernization of the Hank Lopes community center.

Help secure money for Portable in Council D-5, which serve as a community center in the following areas:

1. Ryan School
2. Sanders School
3. Dorsa School
4. Goss School
5. Joseph George School

Worked in partnership with Mayor Ron Gonzales staff to provide $945,000 for field improvements at Mt. Pleasant High School.

Secured funding for field improvements for Overfelt H.S. -$400,000

Worked in partnership with the department of Park, Recreation and Neighborhood services to secure funding for field improvements for the Eastridge Little League. Project completed

Adventuring with Leadership-a leadership program for 5th grade boys and girls. This program wad developed through Mannys office and partnered with Camp Fire Boys and Girls- I help secure funding and I continue to work with them in securing funding through the city.

Homework centers-Organized two fundraiser which raised $100,000 open more centers in district 5.

Pala Youth Center- worked on this project with Manny since the beginning of his term and helped secure $500,000 for field improvements.

Thunderbird Task Force-organized and recruited community members to sit on the task force to develop a plan with mix housing, golf course and open space (park).

Project Crackdown-Organized and worked with staff to improve the qualify of life for the residents in Dobern, Nancy Lane, Arbuckle (Pocoway)

Project Blossom-Gramercy

Mayfair Initiative-Worked on the Mayfair Initiative plan.

Neighborhood Groups-Worked with the community to develop strong neighborhood groups throughout District 5.

Mt. Pleasant
1. Additional Lighting in neighborhoods
2. Portable
3. Homework centers
4. Clean up

Park Pleasant
1. Improvements at the neighborhood park
2. Homework center
3. Clean up

Dorborn/Capitol Goss
1. Portable
2. Project Crackdown
3. Homework center
4. Clean up

Cassell/ Hillview
1. Clean ups
2. paving of streets
3. Homework center

Dorsa
1. paving of streets
2. Tree planing
3. Clean ups
4. Homework centers
5. Portable

Eastgate
1. Clean ups
2. I will stop here if you want additional information on what I have done in each neighborhood I will provided it.

Code enforcement-I have worked close with our code department to address the code issues in D-5 which in turn has increased the quality of life for the residents and neighborhoods.