Rishi Kumar, a councilmember from Saratoga, shares a newsletter with community updates and events. He encourages residents to sign a petition for a municipal water utility, providing details on how it could work. The newsletter also provides information on upcoming local events, recognition of community members, a new ordinance on leaf blower noise, and an arrest related to a robbery.

1.
Thanksgiving 2017 Newsletter
On Mobile/Tablet, View in Landscape Mode
Newsletter Writer: Intern Priscilla Widjaja
Contents
A Note From Rishi:
Consider signing the water Petition www.tinyurl.com/NoMoreSJWC
City Happenings, Info, & News
● Count your Blessings
● Appointed and Ready to Serve
● Quieter Saratoga in 2019
● Arrests in Saratoga
Upcoming Events
● Celebration of Light
● State Route 85 Transit Guideway Study
● Brookside club study session
● Silicon Valley Shark Tank on December 17th
● “Unity in Community” Speech Competition on January 14th

2.
● Audition for Silicon Valley’s got Bollywood
Q&A with Councilmember Rishi Kumar
Visit www.RishiKumar.com/faq for the complete list
● I have a question on parking issues near my home
● I will be on vacation in December. What should I be doing to better
protect my home while I am away?
A Note From Rishi
Consider Signing the Water Petition
Dear neighbors,
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving week.
Water is going to be our biggest challenge over the next few decades ­ based on the challenges
that were imposed upon us during the recent California drought and super high water bills. It is
time we took control of it...now! We do NOT want to be at the mercy of an investor­owned
utility company for our water. How about a NEW DIRECTION! Or should we launch these
reactive protests in an endless loop?
I am in support of a new municipal water utility company servicing the cities that are currently
covered by San Jose Water Company. Please consider signing the Water Oversight Group
petition towards this that over 1,300 have signed www.tinyurl.com/NoMoreSJWC
Here is what it will take for this directional shift:
● Forging a broad coalition of cities that get served by SJWC will be a good start. See A1
below
● In the United States, 58 cities have taken control of their water system; let us follow their
execution strategy See A2 below
● Condemn San Jose Water Company by exercising eminent domain. See a recent
California use case success of doing exactly that A3 below
● Silicon Valley Clean Energy is the result of 12 communities coming together. Today, the
cities of Palo Alto and Santa Clara have their own municipal water company. Let us
explore similar options to forge a new entity that will NOT be motivated by profit ­ see
A4 below

3.
● A sound financial model. See A5 below
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_DETAILS BELOW ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
#A1 We are building a broad coalition engaging councilmembers from cities to converge behind
this push back against rampant rate increases and more. Currently a council member each from
Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Cupertino, Milpitas and Sunnyvale have joined as Board members of
the Water Oversight Group, a group founded by Councilmember Rishi Kumar and pushing
forward with this objective.
#A2 Worldwide, 235 cities in 37 countries— including Paris, Budapest and Buenos Aires —
have taken stronger or total control of their water systems in the last five years. In the U.S., 58
cities have taken or retaken control of private systems in the period, with the pace accelerating.
Read this LA Times article
http://www.latimes.com/business/la­fi­public­private­properties­20151015­story.html
#A3 California municipalities have been particularly active in reclaiming water systems. Click
on this article below that describes how eminent domain action led to California based Casitas
Municipal Water District (“Casitas”) taking over operating assets of Golden State Water
Company’s Ojai water system by eminent domain for approximately $34.5 million. Yes it can be
done!
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170413006178/en/American­States­Water­Compan
y­Announces­Agreement­Resolve
#A4 Santa Clara and Palo Alto already have city owned and operated municipal utility company
which is working very well for their residents i.e reasonable water rates, and NEVER surcharges.
Twelve communities in Santa Clara County formed Silicon Valley Clean Energy, creating a
community­owned agency https://www.svcleanenergy.org/about­us that has created an
alternative to PG&E. Why not a Silicon Valley Municipal Water ­ community owned water ? All
options should be considered ­ perhaps expand the existing San Jose Municipal Utility or
Cupertino Municipal Utility?
#A5 With 229,000* metered connections, we anticipate a price tag of $700M. An investment of
$3,000 to $5,000 / family would be needed ­ financed upfront, spreading the payment over 10
years. Given that SJWC profited $222M in 7 years, we would have saved at least $350M in the
next 10 years that could accelerate payments or credited back to the customers, or rates lowered
to ensure a break­even operation (remember ­ the new municipal utility is NOT driven by
profits)
See coverage of my press coverage of my November 6th speech at the CPUC hearing here or
http://www.indiapost.com/rishi­calls­for­money­back­from­san­jose­water­company/
The video of my pitch to CPUC is here http://tinyurl.com/RishiCPUCspeech asking CPUC to
give us money back and reduce our water rates.
Excited about this idea? Subscribe to the Water Oversight Group
groups.google.com/group/wateroversight
Please consider signing the petition here that 1300+ have signed already
www.tinyurl.com/NoMoreSJWC
Thanks
Rishi

4.
I loved this posting seen on Linkedin
City Happenings, Info, & News
Count Your Blessings

5.
Unveiling of the Willys and Betty Peck Count Your Blessing founding members of
Saratoga in 1956. Willys is no more and missed every day. Betty Peck, 92 years old
joined us via video conference. What a fabulous day, a momentous day in
Saratoga. The community rallied behind this bronze "Count your Blessings" bench
which will invite every Saratoga and Silicon Valley resident to thank everything we
have in our lives.
Appointed and Ready to Serve!
Councilmember Rishi Kumar, from the city of Saratoga has been appointed by the
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors to serve on the Comprehensive County
Expressway Planning Study Policy Advisory Board for a term expiring on June 30,
2019.
Quieter Saratoga in 2019
In response to the increased use of leaf blowers, the Saratoga City Council recently
passed an ordinance that will help decrease noise pollution in the city. The new
ordinance will go into effect on October 1, 2019.
It will require that all leaf blowers used in Saratoga are certified by the
manufacturer to produce no more than 65 A­weighted decibels (dBA) or less at a
distance of 50 feet. There are a number of commercially available leaf blowers
with relatively low noise levels. Leaf blowers that meet this criteria are labeled
with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B175.2 sticker. This
manufacturer’s label will be used to verify compliance.
Keep an eye out for continued outreach and reminders over the next two years
before the change is implemented in October 2019. For more information, contact
City of Saratoga Code Compliance at 408­868­1214 or
enforcement@saratoga.ca.us
Arrest in Saratoga
West Valley Detectives arrested Isiah Caravez (19), Luis Meza (19), and Kunj

6.
Pathak (20) for the 11/9/17 Robbery of the Exxon Mobil Gas Station at 12600
Saratoga Avenue in Saratoga, CA. Isiah Caravez (see photo), 19, of Saratoga
brandished a firearm and demanded money from the gas station clerk. He is
currently being held without bail at our Elmwood Facility.
Upcoming Events

7.
Celebration of Light ­ December 16
Join the City of Saratoga and the Ministerial for the Celebration of Light on
Saturday, December 16 at 5:30 p.m. in the Blaney Plaza. The event is intended to
build community and celebrate the diversity of Saratoga through the symbolism of
light, which represents hope, joy, and faith across culture
Brookside Club study session
Brookside Club (19127 Cox Avenue) On December 12, 2017, the Planning
Commission will hold a Study Session to review proposed changes to the
Brookside Club conditional use permit. The Brookside Club is a private, member­
owned swim and tennis club. Membership is limited to 250 families. Brookside’s
existing use permit includes operating hours for weekdays and weekends, with
closing hours based on the time of the sunset. The Club is proposing new operating
hours for both tennis and swim activities which includes standardized closing
hours.
State Route (SR) 85 Transit Guideway Study
­ Take the Online Survey
The State Route (SR) 85 Transit Guideway Study evaluates transportation
alternatives of the 23.7­mile corridor that connects the cities of Mountain View and
San Jose, from the SR 85/US 101 interchange in Mountain View to the SR 85/US
101 interchange in South San Jose. Study alternatives will include Bus Rapid
Transit service and infrastructure, Light Rail Transit, and possible future
transportation technologies or other options.
The SR 85 Transit Guideway Study will be conducted by VTA staff under the
direction of the SR 85 Policy Advisory Board (PAB). The advisory board will be
instrumental in identifying the alternatives that will be analyzed and ultimately
making a recommendation to VTA’s Board of Directors about how to proceed with
a transit improvement plan along the SR 85 corridor.
VTA values input from the community and we believe that more voices help us
produce better outcomes. Please take a short survey about how you currently travel

8.
and would be willing to travel on State Route 85 . Help set the criteria used to guide
the study for transit improvements and alternatives.
contact VTA Community Outreach at (408) 321­7575 TTY (408) 231­2330
For More Information and to take the survey!:
http://www.vta.org/projects­and­programs/planning/sr­85­guideway­study
Silicon Valley Shark Tank on December 17th
Silicon Valley Coders Shark Tank on December 17th
WHEN: Sunday December 17th 2pm ­4pm
WHERE: Joan Pisani Community Center,
● Silicon Valley Coders Shark Tank is set for December 17th ­ Top 2 teams from each location
will be invited to pitch their business plans
○ Silicon Valley Young Coders Club is actively seeking Startup Advisors for these
startup teams, please contact shivaum1@gmail.com
Unity in Community Speech Competition on
January 14th
­­­An opportunity for students to debate at “3rd annual Unity in Community Day on January 14th
2018 Mark your calendar. Prepare your Unity speeches RSVP at

9.
tinyurl.com/s iliconvalleySTEAM
Audition for Silicon Valley’s got Bollywood
Calling performers to audition and win big at Silicon Valley’s got Bollywood 2018 on March 24th
2018
Not just Bollywood ­ performances can be absolutely anything ­ songs, dances, comedy, magic,
just show case your amazing talent.
Submit your audition videos at http://tinyurl.com/SiliconValleyBollywood or
http://www.siliconvalleybollywood.com/
Q&A with Councilman Kumar
Visit www.RishiKumar.com/faq for the complete list.
Ques on: I need your advice on how to proceed or what is the correct procedure
on an ongoing annoyance.

10.
We have a religious place of worship very near to my house (almost next door). I find someone
or other par ally blocks our driveway. I do not want to call the police every me I see a car
blocking our driveway. Can you please advise on any alterna ves? Where do I raise my concern
so that some ac on is taken for a be er solu on?
ANSWER: City staff will contact the religious place of worship to present the predicament and
request help
Ques on: I am going to be on vaca on in December. What deterrents should I
place around my home?.
Are you planning a summer vacation? You will find some interesting tips and measures to take
before you leave here Please take steps to place deterrents in and around your home. You can
review safety tips at www.RishiKumar.com/tips . Please take action now, adopt some protective
measures to protect your home
Here are the the crime stats from 2016. Also, here is the deck that was presented by Captain Urena
at a recent Neighborhood Safety Watch certification meeting
Glimpses - A Pictorial View
(November 2017)

11.
Thanksgiving week ...family time
Rose Bowl Stadium ­ UCLA vs CAL

12.
At the CPUC hearing on November 6th, San Jose City Hall

13.
Assemblymember Evan Low meets with Saratoga City Council

14.
Chatting about water with Milpitas Mayor Rich Tran

15.
With Jonathan Reichental, the CIO of the city of Palo Alto discussing Block Chain
and Crypto Currency. Cupertino School Board Member Liang­Fang Chao was
attending this seminar too

16.
At a political event, Westin San Francisco airport

17.
With Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Assemblymember Ash Kalra

18.
With Congressman Ro Khanna and Mayor Lily Mei (Fremont)

19.
With Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthy
and Saratoga residents Talat and Kamil Hassan

20.
Saratoga Diwali 2017 was quite a party
● Saratoga Diwali pictures and videos are at www.facebook.com/SaratogaDiwali or here