☆ SJ mayor and councilmembers reflect on 2023 media that lit up their imaginations (5/5)
Vincent van Gogh: Starry Night Over the Rhône, 1888. Image by Wikimedia Commons.
San Jose's Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Dev Davis, Bien Doan, Domingo Candelas, and Arjun Batra cover the intellectual waterfront with their perspectives on the movies, podcasts, and games from 2023 that inspired them to better serve and unite our local community. An Opp Now exclusive.
Matt Mahan, San Jose mayor:
This year was all about collective action. Again and again, I saw neighbors come together, demand better and begin to create the safer, cleaner city we all deserve. Whether it was at our weekly clean-ups or to push our elected officials to take urgent action to end street homelessness, what I witnessed was inspiring—not only did their collective action result in a changed city, it resulted in a more connected city.
And when I read “Together” by Vivek Murphy, I finally realized what I was witnessing: the creation of community. Far too often, we get stuck in our own world. We don’t know our neighbors’ names, we can’t understand each other's point of view, and sometimes, we don’t even try to.
And as we see immense suffering abroad, I am again reminded of one important lesson from that book—we are stronger when we stand together. The solutions to many of our problems are right next door. We just have to remember to listen to them.
Dev Davis, San Jose D6 councilmember:
The movie that influenced me most this year was a Netflix documentary, "Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones." Blue Zones are places where people live healthy, happy lives to age 100 and beyond. The secrets to a long life go beyond eating well and exercising. I was inspired to raise funds to do a Blue Zones assessment here in San Jose, and I'm excited that we'll kick off that work with the community in 2024. The assessment will tell us what our strengths are and how we can make small changes together to improve health and health equity in San Jose.
Bien Doan, San Jose D7 councilmember:
I’m going to take a little different perspective on this question. The work of a Councilmember is 24/7, so in what little time I have to myself, I like to workout, cook, and enjoy something that's completely different from policy work! “The Last of Us” was a good video game and is a great series to watch!
Domingo Candelas, San Jose D8 councilmember:
The NYT’s podcast "The Daily" and NPR's "All Things Considered" have significantly influenced my perspective. I appreciate the deep dive into current events on “The Daily,” providing in-depth analysis and crucial context for informed decision-making. Simultaneously, the diverse range of stories on "All Things Considered" ensures a comprehensive understanding of local and global issues. The ability to tune in during brief intervals between meetings and district activities has made these podcasts invaluable. "The Daily" and "All Things Considered" have enhanced my ability to stay connected and informed to District 8’s evolving needs.
Arjun Batra, San Jose D10 councilmember:
I watched “Oppenheimer,” and I was blown away by the visuals and the magnitude of the story. I thought it was also a brilliant portrayal of how one person can influence the course of history, through their own brilliance and the way they lead others. And I appreciated the film’s reminder that we each have a deep moral duty to each other and to humanity that transcends our day-to-day tasks and goals.
The real Oppenheimer once said that people won’t contribute solutions until they are aware of their ability to take part in the solution, and I think about that often in my work.
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