On February 7th last Saturday, Mayor Matt Mahan of San Jose delivered the 2026 State of the City Address at St. Pedro Square in the city center. The city government combined volunteer service, community hero recognition, and a sports celebration to kick off the Super Bowl weekend, while also conveying the city’s development momentum and future vision.
In the morning, hundreds of residents took the lead in participating in downtown volunteer service projects, engaging in activities such as street cleaning and community beautification. Following this, a short but grand ceremony was held on St. Pedro Street by the city government. The ceremony was hosted by former U.S. women’s soccer star and Olympic champion Brandi Chastain, with city council members taking the stage in succession to publicly recognize community heroes from various districts in the city for their outstanding contributions in public safety, environmental protection, community service, and youth development.
In his State of the City Address, Mahan stated that 2026 will be a “historic year” for San Jose. In addition to the events of the Super Bowl weekend, the city will also host the NCAA men’s basketball “March Madness” tournament and multiple FIFA World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium in June. He pointed out that these international sporting events not only boost the economy and tourism, but also help San Jose accumulate practical experience in hosting large-scale events.
“Our goal during the Super Bowl weekend is not just to hold successful events, but most importantly to learn and optimize for the upcoming March Madness and World Cup events,” Mahan expressed. He further explained that just one World Cup match could create a higher demand for downtown accommodation than the Super Bowl, demonstrating San Jose’s gradual establishment on the global sports stage.
Regarding key government focuses, Mahan reviewed the progress made in recent years in addressing homelessness. He mentioned that through significantly increasing temporary housing and shelter beds, promoting safe parking, and enhancing outreach services, the number of homeless individuals living on the streets has decreased noticeably, moving steadily towards the goal of “more people living indoors”. In the next phase, the city government will focus on improving system efficiency and further optimizing the effectiveness of existing resources.
In the public safety sector, Mahan stated that San Jose continues to promote community policing and actively introduce technological applications, leading to a downward trend in overall crime rates and maintaining a high clearance rate for homicide cases, showcasing the crucial value of trust between the police and the community. He also emphasized that the city must balance human rights protection and community trust in law enforcement and public safety.
Addressing housing and cost of living issues, the mayor mentioned that the city council has adjusted various regulations and norms, such as reducing construction costs and streamlining approval processes, to stimulate the commencement of several long-stalled residential development projects and increase housing supply.
In terms of energy policy, the city government has demanded that public utility companies increase infrastructure investment efforts to enhance power supply stability and prevent the addition of large-scale electricity facilities from raising residents’ electricity burden.
In the field of technology and innovation, Mahan stated that San Jose is actively embracing artificial intelligence technology through training city employees and collaborating with universities and technology companies to use new technologies to enhance public service efficiency, aiming to create the “most AI-enabled city”.
As the event drew to a close, the formal ceremony transitioned into the open-to-the-public “San Pedro Superfest” neighborhood party, featuring leisure activities on the lawn, interactive experiences for families, technology displays, and live performances, all open to the public free of charge.
The city government expressed its hope that through sports and community activities, local residents and visitors can share the city’s vitality in the same space, showcasing San Jose’s cohesion and confidence as a core city in the Bay Area.