Community Fellows Blog Posts

Time has only just begun to slow down as I settle into my role at the San José Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement department, but my first impression is still fresh: stepping into PBCE sounded intimidating, yet the environment turned out to be incredibly welcoming. From day one, I was struck by how seamlessly everyone collaborates as a well-oiled, tight-knit system made up of people from different professional and personal backgrounds, all working together toward the same mission. Even in these early weeks, I’ve already found myself breaking down complex ideas in creative ways and appreciating the wide range of expertise that fuels the department’s work.

An unexpected realization I had was just how intricate the permit process truly is. From the outside, it’s easy to think of building permits as straightforward forms and routine approvals. But behind the scenes, there are countless steps, checks, reviews, and coordination efforts that make the process both essential and demanding. Seeing the sheer volume of permits that come in each year, and the level of detail required to see each one through, has given me a new respect for the mechanisms that keep a city running smoothly. Many of these processes go unnoticed by the public, but they are carried forward by dedicated teams where even 1% contributions matter.

So far, most of my interactions have been with internal teams, which has allowed me to observe firsthand how tightly interconnected the work is. The level of collaboration required to keep things aligned is impressive. Everyone seems invested not just in their own tasks, but in supporting the broader goals of the department. It’s a reminder that improving public systems requires patience along with the willingness to adapt.

As a Fellow, I hope to use my analytical mindset to help streamline the permit pipeline, even in a small way. Whether that looks like understanding data patterns more deeply or offering any insights that help teams operate more efficiently, I feel grateful to contribute to a system that ultimately serves San José’s residents. By the end of this year, I hope to walk away with a stronger skill set along with countless learnings and memories that shape both my career and my understanding of what it takes to support a thriving city.

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