San Jose gets ready for Cinco de Mayo celebrations

SAN JOSE — City officials and the San Jose Police Department will implement a series of planned roadway closures to accommodate this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo festivities, but with a pointed spirit of supporting celebrations compared to last year, when freeway access was cut off from key areas and led to harsh criticisms and accusations of racism.

Celebrations downtown and in East San Jose will take place Saturday and Sunday, and motorists and residents will have to be mindful of assorted street closures throughout the weekend. While there are a series of rigid closures tied to specific events, police announced last month that they also have a list of prospective traffic diversions to serve as a contingency to relieve gridlock and keep the swelling crowds moving.

While these closures are generally business as usual for the police department, last year they were the subject of criticism from some local leaders and even state legislators who broadly accused the city of cutting off access to downtown to mitigate unfounded safety concerns about large crowds of Mexican American revelers.

The tone from city and civic leaders in San Jose has seen an about-face since then, and that was reinforced Thursday with a city news release featuring a bevy of optimistic statements.

Downtown council member Omar Torres, one of the leading critics of last year’s street closure approach, said he is “excited to welcome everyone to the heart of Downtown for the Cinco De Mayo Parade and festivities. … Our collaboration with the community, the city’s Office of Economic Development and of Cultural Affairs and SJ Police ensures a safe and fun Cinco De Mayo weekend for all.”