Although it may not seem like it because of our continued unsettled weather, I would like to wish you a "Happy Spring!" I hope you enjoyed the Easter holiday with your family and loved ones.
Spring marks the period each year when the Mayor, City Councilmembers and City Manager roll up their sleeves to do some serious number crunching and dive into the dirty work of developing the City of San José's operating budget for the next fiscal year. You have no doubt already heard about the staggering deficit that we, as a city, face heading into the 2010-2011 budget cycle -- $116 Million! Because of the magnitude of our budget shortfall and the drastic implications that it has on city services and our workforce, City Manager Debra Figone has released early preliminary budget proposals so that city employees and residents can begin to prepare themselves for what lies ahead. No matter which way you look at it or try to slice the pie, the City of San José will face huge cuts in its workforce and residents will experience dramatic cuts in services. If this doesn't constitute a Fiscal Emergency, then I don't know what does! Click here to read the latest on where we stand with the budget.
The severity of the proposed cuts and reductions is unprecedented. Libraries may be reduced down to being open only three days a week. Our Police patrol detail may be cut by 20 percent! These are just a couple of the proposals that the city administration has on the table. I don't know about you - but these types of cuts are UNACCEPTABLE to me! I am hosting a Community Budget Meeting to keep District 1 residents informed about the budget process and the latest proposals, and to gather as much input as possible. Our Community Budget Meeting will be on Wednesday, April 28th, from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., at the West Valley Branch Library. To view the meeting flyer, click here. Please mark this important date on your calendar so that you can be sure to get the latest information on our City's budget crisis and make your voice heard about what our priorities should be.
As we anticipate drastic cuts in city services for the foreseeable future, residents will be called on to do more to help bridge the gap. A San José tradition that is a wonderful model of the effective partnership between the City and local neighborhoods is the annual Great American Litter Pick-Up. Thank you to the more than 180 District 1 volunteers, including adults, teens and children, who came out early to John Mise Park on March 20th and spent half of their Saturday picking up litter within the district. It was wonderful to see our volunteers (wearing bright green vests) out in force cleaning up our streets and neighborhoods. Each of us doing our little part made a big difference on the entire district!
Another recent event that I was proud to host was the 3rd Annual Greek Flag Raising ceremony on March 25th here at San José City Hall. I started this tradition when I assumed office in 2007 to observe Greek Independence Day and honor my Greek heritage. This year's event was the largest to date, with more than 175 people, both Greek and non-Greek alike, in attendance. It was a privilege to have the Consul General of Greece, Ambassador Ioannis Andreades, participate in the ceremony. Attendees were also treated to Greek entertainment performed by a children's Greek dance troop, which included my two older daughters and the daughter of Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Harry Mavrogenes. Thank you again to those of you who came to City Hall to pay your respects to the country of Greece and its culture.
On Friday, April 9, 2010, I will be co-hosting the 5th Annual West Valley Senior Walk along with my colleague, District 6 Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio. This popular event, which features a mall walk and resource fair, will be held from 8:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at Westfield Valley Fair Mall. Click here for more information about this fun and energizing event. For the event flyer, click here. I hope you will put on your walking shoes and join me this Friday morning for some healthy exercise.
Congratulations to David Liu a senior from District 1's very own Lynbrook High School, for his fantastic finish at the Intel 2010 Science Talent Search. We first mentioned David earlier this year when he was named a finalist in the Science Talent Search, and now I'm happy to report the latest update - he earned second place nationwide! For more details on David's amazing accomplishment, click here. Congratulations again, David! We are so proud of you.
Calling all photographers ... whether you're an amateur, professional or hobbyist, the Historical Landmark Commission of San José is inviting you to participate in its first-ever "Historical San José Photography Contest." May is Historic Preservation month, and what better way to celebrate it than by highlighting "through the lens of each photographer, historically significant properties that contribute to the character of San José." This photo contest is open to anyone and everyone, and there is no fee to enter. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded to winning entries, which will be displayed electronically on Civic Center Television and on monitors at City Hall. Participants may submit via e-mail up to three color or black and white photos per person in jpeg format. Submissions will be judged based on category, which includes residential, non-residential, or landscape/streetscapes, and level for adults and students (up to age 19). The deadline for photo entries is May 1, 2010. For more information on the Historical San José Photography Contest, please visit their website at: http://www.historicalsjcontest2010.smugmug.com. Click here for the contest flyer. You may also contact them at: SJHistoricalPhotoContest@gmail.com.
As a professional photographer and former owner of a photography studio in District 1, I am passionate about photography. I hope this opportunity will inspire you to pull out your camera, get creative and start snapping. Who knows, maybe you'll be the next Ansel Adams or Pete Constant. Good luck!
Your Neighbor,
P.S. If you would like to drop by my community office hours this month, I will be at the West Valley Branch Library this Wednesday, April 7, from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., and at the Cypress Senior Center from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2010.
$116.2 MILLION DEFICIT |
5th ANNULAL WEST VALLEY SENIOR WALK |
UPDATE: 2010 INTEL SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH |
Reasonable Concessions or Drastic Cuts The City Manager recently released her preliminary budget reduction proposals. This is the 9th straight year that the City will have to close a projected budget deficit. The strategies for closing the budget deficits of the past have included cuts in service, the reduction of vacant positions and a few layoffs. Unfortunately, this year's record deficit is so great that we are going to have to take bold action. The choice before the City Council is one of requiring reasonable concessions from employee unions or huge layoffs and dramatic cuts in city services. |
Come Walk with Us April 9th Please join me at the 5th Annual West Valley Senior Walk on Friday, April 9, 2010. Senior health and wellness is something that I consider very important, which is why this event is one of my favorites. This is a great opportunity for seniors to socialize with friends and neighbors in the community! In year's past, we have had more than 500 senior participants and 80 resource tables. The resource tables feature a multitude of organizations which provide information about various health-related services, activities and products that cater to senior needs and interests. For a list of participating organizations, please click here. |
Lynbrook Senior Earns "Semantic image retrieval and interactive exploration of large image collections." Do you know what that means? I sure don't. To space researchers, astronauts and scientists, it can potentially mean that unmanned aerial vehicles can better process camera feeds for navigation. To doctors and medical researchers, it means that medical images such as MRI scans could potentially be quickly correlated with known disorders. To the lay person or any individual who browses the Internet, this research could enable powerful Web image search engines, so that people can surf the Web more quickly, efficiently and effectively. |
| WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 1? | ||
Office Hours |
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Cultural Vision Plan Community Study Session |
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Community Meeting on LED Streetlights |
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Free Community Health Fair |
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5th Annual West Valley Senior Walk |
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Master Gardener's Annual Spring Garden Market |
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Project Pay Later: Video Resumes for the Unemployed |
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Calabazas Branch Library Groundbreaking Celebration |
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Westside Property & Homeowners Association Garage Sale Day |
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Special Evening Meeting - Public Safety, Finance & Strategic Support |
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Office Hours |
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United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County 2010 Conference |
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3rd Annual Youth Conference "Youth Can Make the Difference" |
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Environmental Awareness Expo |
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District 1 Leadership Group Candidate Forum |
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22nd Annual San José Children's Faire |
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Spring in Guadalupe Gardens |
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Community Budget Meeting |
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Dining Out for Life - Benefit for The Health Trust |
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4th Annual Bay Area School Environmental Conference |
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Shape Our Shoreline Community Workshops |
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National River Clean-Up Day |
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Affordable Housing Tour |
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Health Insurance Sign Up Day |
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Shape Our Shoreline Community Workshops |
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| SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS | ||
Cypress Senior Center Volunteer Recruitment |
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Graphic Novel Essay Contest |
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Spring and Summer Day Camps |
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Calabazas Library Closure
To ensure that you receive the items you have requested, the pickup location for your pending holds must be changed. All pending requests with a pickup location of the Calabazas Branch will be cancelled when the library closes. For more information, call the Calabazas Branch at (408) 996-1536. |
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PETE IN THE NEWS
March 24, 2010
San José Mercury News, San José council weighs worker pay cuts
"Councilman Pete Constant argued for sticking with the mayor's original language for an ongoing 10 percent compensation cut, saying the suggestion to include temporary savings would just "kick the can down the road."
March 12, 201
San José Mercury News, Tough times lead to change of tune for card club critics in San José
"But the only council member who served on the police force, Pete Constant, recommended putting it on the ballot and questioned the alleged linkage of card rooms and crime
March 9, 2010
San José Mercury News, San José airport study session ends in frustration
"We've just spent hours talking about policies that no one is willing to budge on," Constant said. "We have a problem at our airport. Do we want to change a policy that may affect somebody's paycheck or eliminate an employee's paycheck altogethers."
March 8, 2010
San José Mercury News, Herhold: How the wheels go round
"While Mayor Reed refuses a car allowance, most council members take the $600-per-month payment. Councilman Pete Constant takes $350 per month, while Councilman Kansen Chu holds his to $450."
March 5, 2010
Silicon Valley/San José Business Journal, Coalition helps San José with bag study
"In September, the San José City Council voted 9-1, with Councilmember Pete Constant dissenting, to instruct city staff to draw up an ordinance while also pursuing an environmental review."
March 2, 2010
San José Mercury News, With deficit shooting past $116 million, San José council narrowly moves toward possible gambling expansion
"To underscore the depths of San Jose's budget woes, the council also voted 8-3, with Liccardo and councilwomen Rose Herrera and Nancy Pyle opposed, to close the city's family camp in the Sierra Nevada for the season due to dining hall deterioration, and to consider discontinuing the program. Councilman Pete Constant said the city can no longer afford to subsidize a camp that can't pay its own way."
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Councilmember Pete Constant
District 1, City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street,
18th Floor
San José, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 535-4901
Fax: (408) 292-6448
Pete.Constant@sanjoseca.gov
www.sjdistrict1.com
Inside this Issue:
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Pete's Message
- $116.2 Million Deficit
Helpful Links for D1 Residents:
Service Providers for D1 Residents:
277-4528 |
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535-3850 |
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535-3570 |
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Cypress Senior Center |
244-1353 |
Moreland West Community Center |
871-3821 |
Starbird Teen Center |
984-1954 |
West San José Community & Policing Center |
249-6580 |
277-8900 |
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| 808-2000 | |
Calabazas Branch Library |
996-1536 |
West Valley Branch Library |
244-4766 |
554-6391 |
Connecting to your government:
Important Phone Numbers:
City Hall Call Center |
535-3500 |
277-5305 |
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277-3208 |
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578-7297 |
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277-2762 |
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535-3555 |
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Bulky Item Pickup |
535-5300 |
Cable TV Complaints |
535-3500 |
277-4528 |
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Crime Prevention— Neighborhood Watch |
277-4133 |
Dead Animal Collection |
578-7297 |
535-3850 |
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277-3700 |
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Emergency Services |
277-4595 |
535-3515 |
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Green Team |
283-8500 |
299-7300 |
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998-5200 |
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723-4114 |
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99-TREES |
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Parks Concerns |
793-5510 |
Police Information |
277-2211 |
975-4480 |
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277-4444 |
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279-7900 |
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Senior Programs |
277-4561 |
277-3158 |
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296-8290 |
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Street Light Repair |
277-5517 |
277-4373 |
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535-5300 |
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277-4341 |
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792-5010 |
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535-3500 |
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Youth Services |
535-3570 |
The Neighborhood Limelight
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