San Jose City Council Renames Historic Downtown Square to Plaza de San José and Opens $19.1M Police Aviation Hangar

Unanimous Council Vote Renames Downtown Landmark to Plaza de San José

SAN JOSE, California — Marking a historic milestone in civic identity on October 27–28, 2026, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously to rename downtown’s premier public gathering space to Plaza de San José. Previously known as Plaza de Cesar Chavez, the central park underwent a thorough months-long public engagement process and ranked-choice community survey where the historical name 'Plaza de San José' secured overwhelming public support. Councilmembers noted the restoration reflects the city’s deep founding roots as California’s first civilian municipal settlement in 1777 while maintaining commemorative cultural monuments celebrating Cesar Chavez within the park.

Community historians and downtown business leaders hailed the transition, stating the unified name strengthens cultural tourism and provides a recognizable focal point for city celebrations and holiday festivals.

Mayor Matt Mahan and SJPD Inaugurate $19.1 Million Mineta Airport Aviation Hangar

Simultaneously bolstering emergency response infrastructure, Mayor Matt Mahan, Vice Mayor Pam Foley, and Police Chief Anthony Mata hosted a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the San Jose Police Department’s new $19.1 million, 11,000-square-foot police aviation hangar on Coleman Avenue at San José Mineta International Airport (SJC). Financed through voter-approved 2018 Measure T public safety bonds, the state-of-the-art facility replaces decaying 65-year-old Quonset huts with seismic-rated hangars, EV ground-fleet chargers, and dedicated maintenance bays for SJPD’s new fixed-wing surveillance aircraft and patrol helicopters.

Mayor Mahan affirmed that modern aviation infrastructure dramatically reduces patrol response times to emergency calls across Santa Clara County while enhancing regional search-and-rescue capabilities.

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Completes State-of-the-Art Behavioral Health Pavilion

In healthcare advancements, Santa Clara County and San Jose leaders celebrated the completion of the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare Behavioral Health Pavilion. The modern medical facility provides 77 dedicated acute psychiatric beds—including much-needed specialized youth and adolescent crisis stabilization units—relieving chronic strain on emergency rooms across the Silicon Valley healthcare system.