Community ProjectsCommunity ProjectsThe William Street Bridge across Coyote Creek is a landmark in our neighborhood which reflects the ornamental style of the early 1900's. Unfortunately, many years of neglect and vandalism have turned this one time structural show piece into an eyesore which has divided two communities. Plans to restore the bridge have brought neighbors together from both sides of Coyote Creek. With the help of San Jose Beautiful, we will knock down a social barrier and bridge our two communities together.
Funding has been secured from the following:
The project is expected to be completed before the end of the year!
Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? Regardless of how long each of us has lived in Downtown San Jose, there is a sense of uneasiness. Our insecurity is not rooted in a distrust of each other; rather, it is the result of the crime that migrates through our neighborhood. Drug trafficking, graffiti, auto theft and gangs are just a few of criminal activities that make their presence known in communities that are apathetic, fearful and unwilling to do anything about it. Unfortunately, it is a problem common to many urban residential areas.
Brookwood Terrace is a safe place to live. In 1994, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the City of San Jose with an "Operation Weed and Seed" grant to clean-up and restore beleaguered neighborhoods. Weed and Seed is designed to rid target areas of violent criminals; provide prevention, intervention, and treatment services for substance abuse and other social problems; and revitalize the community through housing and economic development.
Four elements make up Weed and Seed:
Despite the $600,000 federal grant and increased police protection, there is one critical element which will determine the ultimate success or failure of Weed and Seed in our area: community involvement. Community policing is the "bridge" that links the four Weed and Seed elements. Every one of us must get involved if we are to reclaim our community. Together, we can replace fear and apathy with anger and resolve.
Watch, Listen and Call!Each of us, as residents and property owners, are empowered to assist in crime prevention. The most effective way to reduce crime is with a neighborhood watch program. When you pass through your neighborhood, look for suspicious activity. Be aware of strangers, unusual behavior or unfamiliar vehicles. Our most effective weapons against crime are our eyes and the telephone. If you witness, experience or even suspect a crime is about to happen, call the police. Have the police non-emergency number (277-4222) posted next to your telephone. 911 should be reserved for emergencies only. When you call the police, they will ask you to stay on the line and provide additional information if a crime is in progress. Your identity will be protected. You will not be asked to identify yourself in front of the criminal.
Weed and Seed is working. Criminals are getting the word that we are both organized and committed to removing them from our community. To learn more about this program and the progress being made, please attend our regular monthly meetings.
A CAP grant of $750 plus four donated redwood trees from Vivian and Dominick Valletta will provide us with the necessary resources to host another neighborhood curbside tree planting this Fall. If you are interested in volunteering, or would like a tree planted in front of your home, please call our BTNA hotline at 277-6630.
Trees are selected from the approved list of the City Arborist. Two species which are likely to be offered this year are Chinese Pistache and Crape Myrtle:
Natural History A small to medium-sized deciduous tree native to midwestern China. It is generally found in moist, loamy soils in semi-tropical to termperate regions. In its native environment, it receives 20 to 60 inches of rainfall per year. The leaves are 8-12 inches long and are divided into 10-16 point leaflets that are reddish-bronze when young. Female trees produce showy clusters of small red berries that later turn dark blue. Urban Environments This tree will grow to 40-50 feet with a trunk diameter of 14 inches. It is average-lived, moderate growing and tolerant to drought, oak root fungus, poor soils, heat, wind and alkaline soils. Chinese Pistaches are half-hardy to frost. They received little or no damage from the 1990 freeze in San Jose. There is a moderate potential for sidewalk damage by roots. Care Chinese Pistaches need well-drained soil. Susceptibility to verticillium wilt is its main problem in San Jose. After the rainy season, young trees should receive 5 gallons of water weekly. Using the watering tubes will encourage root growth deep below the sidewalk level, thus preventing damage.
Natural History A shrub or small tree native to China and Southeast Asia. The leaves are oval and deep, glossy green and to 1-2 inches long. The flowers range in color from white to pink to lavender, and grow in showy panicles 4-9 inches long blooming in the summer. Smooth gray or light brown bark flakes off to reveal smooth pinkish inner bark. Urban Environments This tree will grow to 15-25 feet with a trunk diameter of 4-6 inches. It is average-lived, slow to moderate growing and tolerant to drought, heat, and alkaline soils. Crape Myrtles are frost hardy. There is a low potential for sidewalk damage by roots and the City of San Jose recommends them for planting under utility lines. It produces a tremendous flower show with full sun and summer heat. Care Crape Myrtles are very susceptible to powdery mildew infestation, especially in foggy coastal areas. After the rainy season, young trees should receive 5 gallons of water weekly. Using the watering tubes will encourage root growth deep below the sidewalk level, thus preventing damage.
For more detailed information, contact the City Arborist or consult a nearby nursery. Healthy specimens of both trees can be found all over San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley.
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