San Jose residents comment on quality of life in the city

San Jose’s economic dominance continued to shine in the latest quality of life rankings released by U.S. News and World Report, and while some residents were happy with the city’s prosperity, others said they were not not very happy to pay the costs associated with this wealth explosion.

The media organization measures quality of life based on how satisfied residents are with their daily lives in the city, according to its rankings released earlier this week. Factors affecting the city’s score include crime, quality and availability of health care, quality of education, and average commute time.

San Jose is ranked No. 4, with Ann Arbor, Michigan in first place in the rankings, and Boulder, Colorado and Madison, Wisconsin, in second and third place, respectively.

Some San Jose residents said in interviews with the Bay Area News Group this week that they were happy with the quality of life, citing safety, weather and a wealth of restaurants and activities as reasons for their satisfaction. However, many also share grievances about high housing prices, economic insecurity and homelessness.

Lina Sugimoto, a registered nurse, described her quality of life as “comfortable.” She said she likes the weather and safety of her neighborhood and doesn’t mind the city’s “fair” traffic. She praised the city’s variety of food and activities as well as its proximity to other destination cities, like Las Vegas.

In the informal capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose has a low violent crime rate compared to the national average. US News reported that approximately 316 violent crimes occur per 100,000 residents. However, the incidence of property crimes is much higher, with approximately 2,223 crimes committed per 100,000 residents, according to US News.

Mayor Matt Mahan attributed low violent crime rates to the quality of schools, the availability of jobs and the ability of police to investigate crimes, which has created a satisfactory environment for people with ample opportunity . In the future, Mahan said he hopes to improve recruitment and retention in law enforcement and create dignified basic shelters for the homeless to live.

“It doesn’t surprise me that our quality of life is high,” Mahan said, praising the city’s vibrant local economy, diverse population and opportunities for upward mobility.

Isela Gonzalez, a case manager and longtime San Jose resident, earlier this week saw one of her children playing with the water jets in the Plaza de Cesar Chavez while she was tending to her older child. young child in a stroller. She said she didn’t like living in the city when she was younger, but added that since having her children, the city feels like home and she feels like she’s exploring it. with a new look.

Gonzalez, who lives in affordable housing, said she is grateful for the resources the city provides, but the cost of living “still stresses her out on a daily basis.”

“I just try to work with it and do my best to get an education and move forward in life,” Gonzalez said. “It’s difficult, but you just have to try to work around it.”

For some residents, the influx of tech companies — which has brought jobs and wealth, but also a host of problems, including a dramatic rise in real estate prices — has been a downside. Among the top five cities in U.S. News’ rankings, San Jose is the least affordable city to live in, according to the survey, receiving a rating of 4.6 out of 10 for value.

Ramon Ramirez, a 35-year-old San Jose native, said he has seen much of the city change thanks to gentrification — and rising prices for basic necessities like food, electricity and gasoline. He lamented these expenses and noted that while his local friends were important to him, the cost of living could eventually drive him away.