Van on the Issues
Experienced Leadership for San José City Council District 7
San José deserves leadership rooted in experience, service, and accountability. Van Le is a Vietnamese refugee, small business owner, educator, and longtime public servant who has spent more than 40 years serving the East Side community.
As President of the East Side Union High School District Board and a 16-year Trustee, Van has worked to improve educational opportunities, support immigrant families, strengthen neighborhood services, and advocate for working families across District 7.
Priorities for District 7
Van’s campaign is focused on practical solutions that improve daily life for residents, families, seniors, small businesses, and neighborhoods across District 7.
Public Safety & Neighborhood Quality of Life
Every resident deserves to feel safe walking through their neighborhood, visiting local parks, shopping in business corridors, and sending their children to school.
- Improve emergency response times and visible neighborhood policing.
- Strengthen partnerships between neighborhoods, schools, and public safety agencies.
- Improve coordination between 311, BeautifySJ, Parking Compliance, and Code Enforcement.
- Expand cleanup efforts for illegal dumping, blight, and abandoned vehicles.
- Invest in street lighting, traffic calming, and pedestrian safety.
Homelessness & Compassionate Solutions
Homelessness must be addressed with compassion, accountability, prevention, housing, treatment, and measurable outcomes.
- Expand affordable and supportive housing.
- Increase homelessness prevention and rental assistance.
- Improve access to mental health and addiction treatment services.
- Coordinate better between the City, County, nonprofits, and service providers.
- Ensure temporary housing leads toward permanent stability.
Affordable Housing & Cost of Living
Families across District 7 are facing rising housing costs and economic pressure. Van supports balanced growth that protects working families.
- Increase affordable and workforce housing opportunities.
- Support first-time homebuyer assistance programs.
- Reduce unnecessary permitting delays.
- Protect neighborhood character while allowing smart growth.
- Expand housing stability programs for seniors and fixed-income residents.
Economic Opportunity & Small Businesses
As a small business owner for more than 25 years, Van understands the challenges local businesses face.
- Reduce barriers and delays for small businesses.
- Improve City permitting assistance and responsiveness.
- Support immigrant-owned and family-owned businesses.
- Revitalize neighborhood commercial corridors.
- Expand workforce development and career training opportunities.
Education & Youth Investment
Van has spent years expanding opportunities for students, immigrant families, English Language Learners, and vulnerable youth.
- Strengthen partnerships between the City and local school districts.
- Expand after-school and youth enrichment programs.
- Improve youth mental health and wellness services.
- Support career technical education and workforce pathways.
- Invest in safe routes to school.
Vietnamese American Community & Cultural Preservation
District 7 is home to one of the nation’s largest Vietnamese American communities. Van has worked for decades to preserve and elevate that history.
- Continue investment in the Vietnamese Heritage Garden.
- Support the long-term success of the Viet Museum.
- Preserve Little Saigon as a cultural and economic center.
- Ensure meaningful language access for Vietnamese residents.
- Promote refugee and immigrant history education.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Residents deserve safe roads, reliable infrastructure, clean parks, and transportation systems that improve quality of life.
- Repair roads and sidewalks throughout District 7.
- Improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.
- Expand traffic calming near schools and neighborhoods.
- Improve public transit access and reliability.
- Invest in parks, trees, and beautification projects.
Fiscal Responsibility & Government Accountability
Residents deserve a City government that is transparent, responsive, fiscally responsible, and focused on results.
- Promote transparency in City decision-making.
- Improve responsiveness from City departments.
- Reduce waste and improve operational efficiency.
- Use data-driven approaches to measure results.
- Strengthen trust between residents and City Hall.
A Vision for District 7
Van Le is running because District 7 deserves experienced leadership that understands the community and is ready to deliver results on day one.