September 15, 2005

Community associations make Almaden Valley one of
the safest and most organized places to live

More than 30 groups represent different neighborhoods and homeowners’ associations

Editor’s note: The following is the first of an ongoing series looking at different neighborhood and homeowners’ associations in the valley. Next: Pierce Ranch Neighborhood Association.

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

Whether it is to fight crime, increase pride or address a certain issue in the community such as blight, neighborhood associations help Almaden Valley residents boast one of the lowest crime rates in the city.

They have also earned the area the reputation of being one of the most attractive, cleanest and best-organized sections of the city.

That’s why The Almaden Times Weekly will be reporting on the work, challenges and goals some of these community groups face in the valley, focusing on the people who volunteer their time to run them and why they’re successful and passionate about their activism.

A list of neighborhood groups from Councilwoman Nancy Pyle’s office indicates there are more than 30 associations in Almaden and Blossom valleys, most being represented by volunteers as nonprofit entities.

“Community groups connect me directly to neighborhoods. I am the District 10 representative; therefore I share the dreams, goals and concerns of residents,” said Pyle when asked why the groups are so important. Pyle previously served on the board of the Almaden Valley Community Association before becoming a councilmember.

“Through communication with these groups, I learn what residents consider most important and what changes they would like to see take place. In receiving this information, I can better help them resolve any issues they may have and better represent District 10 residents.”

She added: “I’m excited to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones with such groups. They have already brought many neighborhood issues to my attention. With this information, they have helped me better our neighborhoods. Continuing to work with community groups and their leadership remains a high priority to my office.”

Neighborhood academy
Shirley Mata, community coordinator for the city-sponsored Neighborhood Development Center, says, “Neighborhood groups help us get to know each other.”

Created in 1994 to assist existing and emerging neighborhood associations, the center is considered the initial point of contact for residents who want to mobilize and organize their neighborhoods. Multilingual services provided by the center are designed to build residents’ leadership abilities and assist them in achieving their desired neighborhood quality of life.

The center works with neighborhood associations to provide training through the Neighborhood Academy, which educates residents on how to become neighborhood leaders, become knowledgeable about neighborhood development and safety and how to access city services.

The academy’s curriculum compliments the Strong Neighbor-hood Initiative program focusing resources to improve neighborhood conditions; enhance community safety, expand community ser-vices and strengthen neighborhood associations. Classes are offered in English and Spanish.

The center also offers leadership development and neighborhood organizing trainings, which include various topics such as organizing communities, creating newsletters, fund-raising and other training as requested.

“Groups get started because people are just tired of whatever is happening or not happening in their neighborhoods,” Mata says.

The reason Almaden Valley enjoys such a large neighborhood involvement is because residents care about their community, Mata says.

“People have groups for different reasons. Sometimes it’s issue-driven, sometimes it’s because the community has been around for a long time and people know each other more,” Mata adds.

Community benefits
The benefits are seen right away in the neighborhoods, such as strong relationships with neighbors, better organization of community events, and a reduction in crime and other problems affecting the areas that receive representation, she says.

Former Vice Mayor Pat Dando, who represented District 10 for more than a decade, was instrumental in getting many Almaden Valley neighborhood associations off the ground.

Dando believes the groups are critically important not only to the quality, health and vitality of the neighborhoods they represent but to city hall.

“You’re always so much stronger in presenting your point of view if you can join with others who have the same interests,” Dando says. “That’s one of the greatest assets of a neighborhood or a homeowners association because several people come together with equal concerns and have a greater impact on the policy-making process. They’ll be heard much sooner than one person.”

Pyle has been doing what Dando thought was crucial after leaving office—continuing to work with weak and strong groups to help meet their needs and address their concerns.

Dando believes many neighborhood associations in Almaden Valley don’t belong to United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County because most are well organized and strong enough that they don’t need the remedial help and coaching offered by the coalition.

“It’s not a negative. If one group can become organized and strong on its own, it frees up time and funds for the coalition to spent its energy elsewhere in the community where they might need it more,” she said.

United Neighborhoods
Ed Rast, chairman of the nonprofit United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County, represents a coalition of about 80 neighborhood and homeowners’ associations throughout the county who have come together for the purposes of education, communication and common action. He’s also president of the politically powerful Willow Glen Neighborhood Association.

Rast says neighborhood associations are made up of democratically elected representatives. “If they’re well organized and properly run they do a good job of advising the city council person and the city government of the wishes and desires of the residents,” Rast says.

Most neighborhood groups are interested in planning and land-use issues such as in-fill development, Rast says. Other subjects of interest include traffic, transportation and parks.

Rast also believes the groups are instrumental when neighborhoods want to sponsor area-wide garage sales, flea markets, Fourth of July and Halloween events, which are also called community building events that allow neighbors the opportunity to meet other neighbors.

“Everyone who lives or works in the neighborhood should be a member of a neighborhood association. If you look at the great cities of the world, why are they great cities? The common factor of great cities is great neighborhoods that have unique people, unique business districts, and other attractions such as school districts and how people in those areas work together.”

As an example of one popular and successful event organized by the Naglee Park neighborhood’s Campus Community Association, Rast cites the annual “Bark in the Park” event Sept. 17 at William Street Park, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last year the event attracted approximately 10,000 people and 3,000 dogs.

Similarly, Willow Glen has a tree-lighting event that puts trees on front lawns decorated with multicolored lights for everyone to appreciate at Christmas time.

Other neighborhoods participate in National Night Out, a crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, where involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups and businesses heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

“It brings that small town feeling in a large city,” Rast says.

On Nov. 12, the coalition will be hosting its 12th annual conference, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the new San Jose City Hall, 200 East. Santa Clara St. The conference will feature workshops on how to organize neighborhood associations.

Rast says the coalition has begun organizing multiple neighborhood associations such as the District 6 Neighborhood Leaders and the District 7 Neighborhood Leaders.

“By everyone working together you can define the issues and work with the city council staff and come up with reasonable solutions for everyone,” Rast says.

For more information on United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County, please log onto www.unscc.org. For more information on the city’s Neighborhood Development Center, please log onto www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/ndc.