The city of San Jose held a lowrider car event in front of the City Hall on Friday Sept. 1, the anniversary of when the city lifted its “no cruising zone” law which in certain parts of streets of San José are not allowed to cruise.
The city made it illegal to have lowrider cars cruising out in the streets of San José in 1986. The law was in effect for more than 35 years until the year 2022.
Last year on Sept. 1, former Councilmember Raul Peralez reversed the law and made it legal to cruise once again.
“It was thanks to the organizing of these clubs, the incredible advocacy of former Councilmember Raul Peralez,” Torres said.
“I am thrilled to continue the annual celebration of San Jose Lowrider Day right here in our beautiful downtown San Jose where my law writer community I only hear this side having expression so anyways, so after 35 years,” Torres said.
Many car clubs, like Aztec Creations, Dueñas and Timeless, joined the event and had the opportunity to show their cars to the public to demonstrate love for their culture.
Santa Clara Street was closed to the public between Fourth and Seventh Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There were more than 300 lowrider drivers with many different car models on display. There was music, food, and a few lowrider cars jumping up and down.
Jeannie Copes is a hospitality owner who bought WhyHotel by Placemakr in what she is going to call “Rollati Ristorante" at the corner of Fourth and Santa Clara Street.
Copes said she has respect for the lowrider community and loves seeing the different models of cars.
“Look at all these people who have this amazing hobby,” Copes said. “Which is, you know, constructing and maintaining these cool vintage cars.…This feels like a really positive, safe, cool environment.”
Copes said she was a little upset because if she would have known about the event earlier, she would have been given the opportunity to invite the lowriders club members.
“I wish we were open,” Copes said. “We would be selling cocktails, we would be selling food.We will be there at the beginning of the party, which is so fun that we will be open next year.”
President of the United Lowrider Council of San Jose David Polanco said he expresses love for the lowrider community and his love for cruising.
"As a lowrider community, there's been strides as far as getting the ban repealed and being that was (a) unanimous vote last year to repeal (the) no cruising ban,” Polanco said. “It kind of showed the commitment city and now has more agricultural wasn't there before.”
Polanco said it was very symbolic to have lowrider cars displayed around the outside of City Hall.
“You know, (it) shows the partnership there (getting) started,” Polanco said. “You know where we didn't have a seat at the table or voice. Now we do."
He said lowriding is like a family, where the community brings out their cars to show their love and respect to everyone.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and Councilmembers Omar Torres and Peter Ortiz spoke to the public about their expression about lowriding and how one person was able to remove the no cruising law.
“I want to start by recognizing and thanking my former colleague, former downtown councilmember, Raul Peralez, who brought us together as a city to remove the cruising ban to celebrate the incredible tradition and culture of lowriding and cruising in San Jose,” Mahan said.
Councilmember Torres said he has always been very passionate about lowriding because he used to go cruising with his father when he was a child in the 1980s.
“He would take us from the West side, all the way to the East side,” Torres said. “Right and right beneath him, we were amazed by what we saw coming from the west to the east.”
Councilmember Peter Ortiz told the public that showing pride and creativity is what makes it unique in the Mexican-American community.
“We know that the lowrider culture is a product of the creativity, ingenuity and pride of the Chicano community in the state of California, and San Jose has been central to this iconic subculture,” Ortiz said.
