"We can now help first-time homeowners get into new homes and help current homeowners complete essential improvements that will benefit quality of life in our neighborhoods and strengthen our community," said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.

The Exterior Grants program will offer up to $25,000 for improvements to a residence's exterior, including the roof, porch, stairs, fencing, gutters, paint and landscaping.

The Second Mortgage Assistance Program will assist first-time homebuyers in qualifying for loans to buy a condominium or townhouse in any San Jose redevelopment project location. It will also encourage developers to build housing targeted toward ownership rather than rental. The program will offer second mortgages up to $40,000 with payments deferred for five years, thereby acting as part of the buyer's down payment.

With the recognition of the extra cost associated with upgrading buildings to historic standards and quality, the Hensley District Historic Rehab Program will offer additional grants up to $25,000 for exterior work, including window repair and replacement. But the grants will be available only in the Hensley Historic District in downtown San Jose.

In addition to these programs, the city of San Jose has added another $2 million to its budget for Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley, which has already spent $4 million over the past two years.

Altogether, the programs total $20 million for assistance to San Jose homeowners.


Event encourages teens to go to library

Events will be held Sept. 21 in two San Jose libraries to encourage teens to use libraries.

The event is part of the 18-month California Campaign for Libraries, which seeks to raise public awareness of libraries in the community and to encourage residents to reacquaint themselves with library services.

In support of the campaign, the California Music Channel will give away free posters, T-shirts, movie passes and CDs to entice teens to visit the library.

Those who flash their library card or pick up an application will be entered in a drawing to win free admission to age-appropriate concerts for a year, with limousine service to and from the shows.

The events will be held at Hillview Branch Library, 2255 Ocala Ave., 11 a.m.­1 p.m., and at the Joyce Ellington Branch Library, 491 E. Empire St., 2 p.m.­4 p.m. For more information, call 408.277.4851.


SJ gang prevention task force awarded

San Jose's gang prevention task force has received the Frederick Milton Thrasher Award for its long-term success in reducing gang-related crimes in San Jose.

"By focusing on collaborative crime prevention and providing positive alternatives for youth, we have created a national model that has been extremely successful keeping our young people on the right track and the residents of San Jose safe," said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales.

Since 1995, the city's gang-related arrests have declined by 47 percent, contributing to San Jose's status in FBI statistics as "the nation's safest big city." In the prior decade, from 1984 to 1994, violent juvenile crime in Santa Clara County had increased by 321 percent, four times the national rate at the time.

"We have built on former Mayor Susan Hammer's original leadership and vision with our continuing commitment and the sustained involvement from our community partners, and we have significantly reduced gang violence," Gonzales said.