Grants awarded in aim to beautify city

San Jose will give a total of $ 300,000 to neighborhood groups and organizations to fund projects aimed at making the city more beautiful.

Budget cuts in recent years haven’t done anything to help the “aesthetics” of the city, Mayor Sam Liccardo acknowledged to the Mercury News during a phone interview Thursday morning. But the mayor said he hopes modest grants — $ 5,000 or less — will prompt more people to become involved in their communities.

“We’re planting seeds for the f lowering of social capital,” he said, adding that a number of neighborhood groups have formed as a result of the program.

Awards will go to 71 groups and fund cleanup events, landscaping projects, art and tree planting.

Created in 2017, the #BeautifySJ campaign is part of a broader effort that also includes free junk pickups and a rapid response team to respond to illegal dumping.

For one project in Alum Rock, students from James Lick High School designed a mural that was recently completed near the intersection of Alum Rock Avenue and South White Road across from the Dr. Roberto Cruz branch library. In the Primrose neighborhood, the neighborhood association has planned to plant trees on major streets.

“That might be a gateway drug for greater engagement,” Liccardo said. “We’re real ly excited about this.”