2024 Election of SJDA Board Members and SJDA Member Survey

ELECTION OF BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERS

All ballots received by Oct. 10 will be eligible for a drawing for one of three $50 downtown dining gift certificates and a DTSJ tote bag; and a grand-prize drawing of a one-night stay at one of our downtown San Jose hotels.

*The following 12 directors have been nominated and are eligible to be elected at the Annual Meeting for three-year terms. Directors are permitted to serve two consecutive three-year terms. Approximately one-third of the Board of Directors seats are up for election at each Annual Meeting. Incumbent members denoted by *.

Ballot for Jan. 1, 2025 – Dec. 31, 2027 term

BOARD OF DIRECTOR NOMINEES(Required.)

All as nominated below

Cache Bouren* (Director since 2022)
Proprietor of Haberdasher and Cash Only and the soon-to-open BitterBuck. Bouren has spent a life in hospitality, is passionate about world class bar and beverage programs and is always searching for ways to inspire his peers to be contributors of culture and style to the community. As a resident of San Jose, Bouren looks forward to coordinating with local government agencies to provide bar and restaurant owners the resources needed to thrive.

Indu Chakravarthy* (Director since 2022)
Associate at RMW Architecture and Interiors with a background in architecture, sustainability, and historic preservation, with a deep interest in urban issues and placemaking. Chakravarthy values and works to strengthen downtown San Jose’s urban character, economic dynamism, and inclusiveness, having lived and worked downtown for the past decade. She is a member of the SJDA Executive Committee and has supported strategic planning and street life initiatives. Chakravarthy has worked on several projects in the downtown San Jose commercial district, most notably, the Bank of Italy, partnering with Westbank and Urban Community.

Gabriela Chavez-Lopez
Chavez-Lopez is a longstanding, community catalyst and cross-sector leader. She is the inaugural Executive Director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley (LCSV). Based in Downtown San Jose, LCSV has transformed from an all-volunteer organization to now a staff of 12 who are committed to developing and advancing the fastest growing workforce in the nation - Latinas. Chavez-Lopez has lived, worked, and played downtown for the last 20+ years and is committed to its continued cultural vibrancy and economic growth.

Elizabeth Chien-Hale* (Director since 2022)
Partner of the Silicon Valley Office of Appleton Luff specializing in patent and other forms of intellectual property protection. Chien-Hale is an active participant in the legal community with extensive volunteer and leadership experiences with the American Bar Association and CNIPA-US Bar Liaison Council. She also teaches as an adjunct faculty at the law schools of the Santa Clara University and the University of Hawaii. A resident of downtown San Jose, she has served on the City's Appeals Hearing Board and Sister Cities programs. Chien-Hale is the immediate past President of the San Jose Downtown Residents Association, and a Commissioner of the Santa Clara County/Hsinchu County, Taiwan, Republic of China Sister-County Commission.

Joshua DeVincenzi Melander* (Director since 2022)
An accomplished sales professional and community leader, Melander is currently a Business Development Manager with Provident Credit Union and manages a major partnership with San Jose State. Melander worked as a Levi’s Stadium Sales Consultant for the 49ers and was Director of Membership for the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. Melander was born and raised in San Jose and is the Founder and President of Little Italy San Jose.

Dan Georgatos
Georgatos is a proud San Jose resident and graduate of UC Law San Francisco. As Chief Legal Officer for Purple Lotus in San Jose for over a decade, Georgatos has gained extensive experience in business law, land use and development, and civil litigation. Purple Lotus’ newly opened Downtown retail location has already added much foot traffic and enthusiasm to Downtown’s atmosphere.

Maia Harris (Director since 2023)
Harris is Director, Special Projects & Community Relations at Jay Paul Company, a commercial real estate development firm known for building the workspaces of the future. She works closely with the executive team on entitlements, community outreach, communications, government affairs, and philanthropic giving. Harris has a background in policy and local government and a master’s degree in real estate from Georgetown University.

Chris Neale
As President of The Core Companies, holding company to Core Homes, Core Affordable, Core Residential, and Core Builders, Neale is responsible for the full spectrum of Core’s development activities including acquisition, entitlement, financing and construction. With 16 years of past SJDA service, Neale has served on the Executive and Finance committees, and as SJDA Board President 2014-15.

Jill Perez
Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Pinnacle Peak Advisors LLC, a San Jose based accounting firm. Perez is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm including the technology, regulatory and accounting roles, designing the firm’s entire technology and accounting infrastructure and establishing Pinnacle Peak’s position as one of the first entirely cloud based accounting firms on the West Coast. In her spare time, Perez enjoys traveling, reading and volunteering in her children’s numerous school and sporting activities.

Christina Ramos
Ramos was born and raised in San Jose. Building her career here in San Jose, Ramos was the former Chief of Staff to former District 3 Councilmember Raul Peralez working on policies in public safety, housing, economic development, land use and racial equity. Ramos continues to work, live and thrive in San Jose, serving as the Sr. Local Government Affairs Representative for PG&E and serving on local boards such as San Jose Jazz, GRPC and the San Jose Chamber.

Chris Shay (Director since 2024)
Shay is a Sr. Vice President Sharks Sports & Entertainment for Government Affairs. Shay works closely with the City of San Jose on the longest running and largest public-private partnership in downtown. He has been part of, or led, the construction of over 1M square feet of new or acquired buildings at Stanford, Santa Clara University and SJSU before joining the Sharks. He believes deeply in downtown as a haven for sports, arts and community to come together.

Shawn Whalen (Director since 2024)
Chief of Staff and Senior Associate Vice President at San José State University since June 2024. With more than 25 years working in higher education in California as a faculty member, Academic Senate Chair, Chief of Staff, and funder, Whalen serves as a driving force in elevating SJSU’s mission, vision and values. He has served as a Program Director and Senior Program Officer for the College Futures Foundation and in several different capacities, including Chief of Staff, at San Francisco State University. Whalen currently serves as Commissioner of the WASC Senior College and University Commission, as the Co-Chair of the Commission’s Equity and Inclusion Council, and Vice Chair of the Governance Committee.

Write-in Candidate

MEMBER SURVEY
The San Jose Downtown Association thanks you in advance for your feedback to help us focus our strategic priorities and programs. Your responses are critical to serving our members more fully.

How important are the following to you?

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Public safety / crime

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Regional transit (BART, VTA, High-speed rail)

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Economic climate

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Homelessness

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

High-rise housing

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Parking availability

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Urban design / architecture

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Office development

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Continued post-pandemic business recovery

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Clean services (ie. litter pick up & sidewalk pressure washing)

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Year-round marketing and promotions

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Public art

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Wayfinding/directional signage

Very Important

Moderately Important

Not Important

Please rate the following downtown services.

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Employee parking

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Customer parking

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Graffiti removal

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Community policing

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Streetscape beautification and landscaping

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Tree trimming

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Dog parks

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Special events

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Permit process with city

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Providing access to business recovery grants

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.)

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Overall customer service to businesses

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Groundwerx Ambassadors

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Social Impact Team (SIT Team)

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very Poor

Of the following, how much emphasis should be given to each area?

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Downtown safety ambassadors

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Uniformed police officers / Sheriff deputies

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Hospitality Ambassadors welcoming visitors

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Festivals and special events

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Landscaping and beautification

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Public art

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Retail recruitment

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Permit expediting

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Business retention

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

Bringing office workers back to downtown

More emphasis

About the same

Less emphasis

In the past year, SJDA has advocated on a number of issues. Please rate the following in importance.

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Transportation (bus, light rail, BART)

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

City budget priorities

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Parking supply, cost and convenience

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Public safety

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Cut red tape / expense to get permits

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

St. James Park activation

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Office retention / recruitment

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Public & private construction impacts

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Street Life Plan

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Urban design / architecture

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Unhoused services & outreach

Most helpful

Somewhat helpful

Moderately helpful

Not very helpful

Least helpful

Please rate the following SJDA affiliated events and/or promotions in importance.

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Dine Downtown Restaurant Week

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Pobladores Night Market

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Downtown Ice

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Music in the Park

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Starlight Cinema

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

SoFA (South First Area) Street Fair

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

CityDance

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Dia San Jose

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Lucky the Leprechaun

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Sonic Runway

Very important

Moderately important

Not important

No opinion

Which SJDA committees would you participate in?

Board of Directors

Finance

Advocacy

Historic District

Marketing Committee

San Pedro Square

Downtown Parking Board

Downtown Design

San Jose Downtown Foundation

Commercial Property Owners

PBID / Groundwerx Board of Directors

SoFA (South First Area) Committee

*Which category best describes you?(Required.)

Resident

Property owner

Restaurant / Cafe

Bar / Nightclub

Retail store

Museum / Gallery / Performing Arts

Technology

Banking / Financial

Office

Health / Beauty / Personal Services

Hotel / Hospitality

Construction

Parking

Real Estate / Development

Government

Legal

Personnel Services

Church / non-profit

Other (please specify)

How many employees do you have?

1-10

11-25

26-50

51-100

more than 100

What SJDA communications vehicles do you find most helpful? (Please check all that apply)

sjdowntown.com

Traditional mail from SJDA

Downtowner Online, bi-weekly e-newsletter

SJDA bi-monthly membership meetings

1-on-1 visits

Social media channels

District meetings

ParkSJ.org (parking website)

SJDA emails

Meeting minutes

Committee meetings

*Please provide the following information to verify your ballot and for prize eligibility:(Required.)

Name of Business

Business Owner/Contact Person

Business Mailing Address

City/State/Zip

Phone

Website

Contact person, if different than above:

Name

Phone

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey.