SJDA elects new officers

December 15, 2006

SAN JOSE – Art Bernstein, executive director of Hopkins & Carley, A Law Corporation, will open his administration as president of the San Jose Downtown Association by offering incoming Mayor Chuck Reed and the San Jose City Council some guidance for the start of the new term.

Bernstein is leading efforts to put together a “First 500 Days” action plan for the city center. SJDA and numerous partner groups including neighborhood associations, churches, business organizations and non-profits are working together to provide consensus direction on several critical issues affecting downtown from January 2007 through June 2008. Bernstein expects to hand over the plan very soon after Reed is sworn into office the first week of January.

Bernstein, who joined Hopkins & Carley in 1996, presides over SJDA’s Board of Directors. He is a member of the Judicial Nominee Evaluation Commission of the State Bar of California. He is also scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 33 in Los Altos and will lead his scouts to the World Jamboree in London next summer. Bernstein holds master’s degrees in public administration from the University of Virginia and in international studies from the University of Southampton in England.

Henry Cord, president of Cord Associates real estate firm, preceded Bernstein as president. Cord served the maximum two consecutive years as president, as allowed by SJDA bylaws.

Joining Bernstein as executive officers of SJDA for 2007 are:
Vice President of Operations Eric Sahn, real estate developer with DJM Capital Partners
Vice President of Marketing Greg Casella, owner of Catered Too Catering and Café Too
Treasurer Rich Sutton, partner in Peggy Sue’s Restaurant on Park Avenue
Secretary Jim Salata, owner of Garden City Construction

The officers are part of a 33-member Board of Directors that represents more than 1,700 members of the city’s central business improvement district. SJDA's officers and directors advocate for the downtown San Jose community and work on projects that impact the downtown core, including parking and transportation issues, safety and cleanliness, construction mitigation, and special events.

The association’s officers are elected by the Board of Directors, which in turn are elected by the business district’s members. For more information, visit www.sjdowntown.com.

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