The City budget process for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 more or less wrapped up on June 13, when the Council approved the Mayor’s June Budget Message — with a few modifications. While the debate mostly centered around housing issues, there were some big wins for the creative community, as well as a few disappointments. Here’s a quick breakdown for arts advocates.

The Mayor has released his June Budget Message, and the time has come for final City Council deliberations on how the City will spend its money in the year ahead. But first, they want to hear from you. So we're asking you to READ UP, SPEAK UP, and SHOW UP for the creative industry.

With six brand new City Councilmembers and a fresh face in the Mayor’s chair, it’s time for us to come together and refocus our advocacy as they begin to set a path forward. We can’t wait to get started with you!

Learn about SJAA, our advocacy priorities, and how you can be a part of making San José a more creative city!

Recently, San José Arts Advocates hosted our first-ever series of candidate forums with the incumbents and challengers vying for City Council Districts 4 and 6 in the November 2020 elections, which could swing the balance of power on the council. Over two nights in early September, we engaged the four candidates in a wide-ranging conversation...