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.

Question Title

* 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

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.

Question Title

* How important are the following to you?

	Very Important	Moderately Important	Not Important
Public safety / crime	Public safety / crime Very Important	Public safety / crime Moderately Important	Public safety / crime Not Important
Regional transit (BART, VTA, High-speed rail)	Regional transit (BART, VTA, High-speed rail) Very Important	Regional transit (BART, VTA, High-speed rail) Moderately Important	Regional transit (BART, VTA, High-speed rail) Not Important
Economic climate	Economic climate Very Important	Economic climate Moderately Important	Economic climate Not Important
Homelessness	Homelessness Very Important	Homelessness Moderately Important	Homelessness Not Important
High-rise housing	High-rise housing Very Important	High-rise housing Moderately Important	High-rise housing Not Important
Parking availability	Parking availability Very Important	Parking availability Moderately Important	Parking availability Not Important
Urban design / architecture	Urban design / architecture Very Important	Urban design / architecture Moderately Important	Urban design / architecture Not Important
Office development	Office development Very Important	Office development Moderately Important	Office development Not Important
Continued post-pandemic business recovery	Continued post-pandemic business recovery Very Important	Continued post-pandemic business recovery Moderately Important	Continued post-pandemic business recovery Not Important
Clean services (ie. litter pick up & sidewalk pressure washing)	Clean services (ie. litter pick up & sidewalk pressure washing) Very Important	Clean services (ie. litter pick up & sidewalk pressure washing) Moderately Important	Clean services (ie. litter pick up & sidewalk pressure washing) Not Important
Year-round marketing and promotions	Year-round marketing and promotions Very Important	Year-round marketing and promotions Moderately Important	Year-round marketing and promotions Not Important
Public art	Public art Very Important	Public art Moderately Important	Public art Not Important
Wayfinding/directional signage	Wayfinding/directional signage Very Important	Wayfinding/directional signage Moderately Important	Wayfinding/directional signage Not Important

Question Title

* Please rate the following downtown services.

	Very Good	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
Employee parking	Employee parking Very Good	Employee parking Good	Employee parking Fair	Employee parking Poor	Employee parking Very Poor
Customer parking	Customer parking Very Good	Customer parking Good	Customer parking Fair	Customer parking Poor	Customer parking Very Poor
Graffiti removal	Graffiti removal Very Good	Graffiti removal Good	Graffiti removal Fair	Graffiti removal Poor	Graffiti removal Very Poor
Community policing	Community policing Very Good	Community policing Good	Community policing Fair	Community policing Poor	Community policing Very Poor
Streetscape beautification and landscaping	Streetscape beautification and landscaping Very Good	Streetscape beautification and landscaping Good	Streetscape beautification and landscaping Fair	Streetscape beautification and landscaping Poor	Streetscape beautification and landscaping Very Poor
Tree trimming	Tree trimming Very Good	Tree trimming Good	Tree trimming Fair	Tree trimming Poor	Tree trimming Very Poor
Dog parks	Dog parks Very Good	Dog parks Good	Dog parks Fair	Dog parks Poor	Dog parks Very Poor
Special events	Special events Very Good	Special events Good	Special events Fair	Special events Poor	Special events Very Poor
Permit process with city	Permit process with city Very Good	Permit process with city Good	Permit process with city Fair	Permit process with city Poor	Permit process with city Very Poor
Providing access to business recovery grants	Providing access to business recovery grants Very Good	Providing access to business recovery grants Good	Providing access to business recovery grants Fair	Providing access to business recovery grants Poor	Providing access to business recovery grants Very Poor
Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.)	Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.) Very Good	Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.) Good	Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.) Fair	Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.) Poor	Online communications (website, newsletters, etc.) Very Poor
Overall customer service to businesses	Overall customer service to businesses Very Good	Overall customer service to businesses Good	Overall customer service to businesses Fair	Overall customer service to businesses Poor	Overall customer service to businesses Very Poor
Groundwerx Ambassadors	Groundwerx Ambassadors Very Good	Groundwerx Ambassadors Good	Groundwerx Ambassadors Fair	Groundwerx Ambassadors Poor	Groundwerx Ambassadors Very Poor
Social Impact Team (SIT Team)	Social Impact Team (SIT Team) Very Good	Social Impact Team (SIT Team) Good	Social Impact Team (SIT Team) Fair	Social Impact Team (SIT Team) Poor	Social Impact Team (SIT Team) Very Poor

Question Title

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

	More emphasis	About the same	Less emphasis
Downtown safety ambassadors	Downtown safety ambassadors More emphasis	Downtown safety ambassadors About the same	Downtown safety ambassadors Less emphasis
Uniformed police officers / Sheriff deputies	Uniformed police officers / Sheriff deputies More emphasis	Uniformed police officers / Sheriff deputies About the same	Uniformed police officers / Sheriff deputies Less emphasis
Hospitality Ambassadors welcoming visitors	Hospitality Ambassadors welcoming visitors More emphasis	Hospitality Ambassadors welcoming visitors About the same	Hospitality Ambassadors welcoming visitors Less emphasis
Festivals and special events	Festivals and special events More emphasis	Festivals and special events About the same	Festivals and special events Less emphasis
Landscaping and beautification	Landscaping and beautification More emphasis	Landscaping and beautification About the same	Landscaping and beautification Less emphasis
Public art	Public art More emphasis	Public art About the same	Public art Less emphasis
Retail recruitment	Retail recruitment More emphasis	Retail recruitment About the same	Retail recruitment Less emphasis
Permit expediting	Permit expediting More emphasis	Permit expediting About the same	Permit expediting Less emphasis
Business retention	Business retention More emphasis	Business retention About the same	Business retention Less emphasis
Bringing office workers back to downtown	Bringing office workers back to downtown More emphasis	Bringing office workers back to downtown About the same	Bringing office workers back to downtown Less emphasis

Question Title

* 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)	Transportation (bus, light rail, BART) Most helpful	Transportation (bus, light rail, BART) Somewhat helpful	Transportation (bus, light rail, BART) Moderately helpful	Transportation (bus, light rail, BART) Not very helpful	Transportation (bus, light rail, BART) Least helpful
City budget priorities	City budget priorities Most helpful	City budget priorities Somewhat helpful	City budget priorities Moderately helpful	City budget priorities Not very helpful	City budget priorities Least helpful
Parking supply, cost and convenience	Parking supply, cost and convenience Most helpful	Parking supply, cost and convenience Somewhat helpful	Parking supply, cost and convenience Moderately helpful	Parking supply, cost and convenience Not very helpful	Parking supply, cost and convenience Least helpful
Public safety	Public safety Most helpful	Public safety Somewhat helpful	Public safety Moderately helpful	Public safety Not very helpful	Public safety Least helpful
Cut red tape / expense to get permits	Cut red tape / expense to get permits Most helpful	Cut red tape / expense to get permits Somewhat helpful	Cut red tape / expense to get permits Moderately helpful	Cut red tape / expense to get permits Not very helpful	Cut red tape / expense to get permits Least helpful
St. James Park activation	St. James Park activation Most helpful	St. James Park activation Somewhat helpful	St. James Park activation Moderately helpful	St. James Park activation Not very helpful	St. James Park activation Least helpful
Office retention / recruitment	Office retention / recruitment Most helpful	Office retention / recruitment Somewhat helpful	Office retention / recruitment Moderately helpful	Office retention / recruitment Not very helpful	Office retention / recruitment Least helpful
Public & private construction impacts	Public & private construction impacts Most helpful	Public & private construction impacts Somewhat helpful	Public & private construction impacts Moderately helpful	Public & private construction impacts Not very helpful	Public & private construction impacts Least helpful
Street Life Plan	Street Life Plan Most helpful	Street Life Plan Somewhat helpful	Street Life Plan Moderately helpful	Street Life Plan Not very helpful	Street Life Plan Least helpful
Urban design / architecture	Urban design / architecture Most helpful	Urban design / architecture Somewhat helpful	Urban design / architecture Moderately helpful	Urban design / architecture Not very helpful	Urban design / architecture Least helpful
Unhoused services & outreach	Unhoused services & outreach Most helpful	Unhoused services & outreach Somewhat helpful	Unhoused services & outreach Moderately helpful	Unhoused services & outreach Not very helpful	Unhoused services & outreach Least helpful

Question Title

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

	Very important	Moderately important	Not important	No opinion
Dine Downtown Restaurant Week	Dine Downtown Restaurant Week Very important	Dine Downtown Restaurant Week Moderately important	Dine Downtown Restaurant Week Not important	Dine Downtown Restaurant Week No opinion
Pobladores Night Market	Pobladores Night Market Very important	Pobladores Night Market Moderately important	Pobladores Night Market Not important	Pobladores Night Market No opinion
Downtown Ice	Downtown Ice Very important	Downtown Ice Moderately important	Downtown Ice Not important	Downtown Ice No opinion
Music in the Park	Music in the Park Very important	Music in the Park Moderately important	Music in the Park Not important	Music in the Park No opinion
Starlight Cinema	Starlight Cinema Very important	Starlight Cinema Moderately important	Starlight Cinema Not important	Starlight Cinema No opinion
SoFA (South First Area) Street Fair	SoFA (South First Area) Street Fair Very important	SoFA (South First Area) Street Fair Moderately important	SoFA (South First Area) Street Fair Not important	SoFA (South First Area) Street Fair No opinion
CityDance	CityDance Very important	CityDance Moderately important	CityDance Not important	CityDance No opinion
Dia San Jose	Dia San Jose Very important	Dia San Jose Moderately important	Dia San Jose Not important	Dia San Jose No opinion
Lucky the Leprechaun	Lucky the Leprechaun Very important	Lucky the Leprechaun Moderately important	Lucky the Leprechaun Not important	Lucky the Leprechaun No opinion
Sonic Runway	Sonic Runway Very important	Sonic Runway Moderately important	Sonic Runway Not important	Sonic Runway No opinion

Question Title

* 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

Question Title

* Which category best describes you?

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)

Question Title

* How many employees do you have?

1-10

11-25

26-50

51-100

more than 100

Question Title

* 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

Question Title

* Please provide the following information to verify your ballot and for prize eligibility:

Name of Business

Business Owner/Contact Person

Business Mailing Address

City/State/Zip

Phone

Website

Question Title

* Contact person, if different than above:

Name

Phone

Thank you for taking the time to complete our survey.