Message from Councilmember Pete Constant
Welcome to the District 1 Web site. I am honored to serve as your representative and I’m committed to making sure that your voice and interests will be heard by the San José City Council. In my role as Councilmember, I will do my best to serve our community by increasing efforts to organize our neighborhoods, making our City open and customer friendly, and building our employment base. I am confident that if we work together, we can achieve these goals and ensure that San José will be a healthy place to raise a family for years to come. Please take some time to explore the District 1 Web site to learn more about what is happening in your community and how you can get involved.
NEWS UPDATE:
Councilmember Pete Constant moves forward with plans for the Winchester Boulevard Master Plan
Councilmember Constant and the Redevelopment Agency begin plans to implement a Winchester Boulevard Master Plan which will bring potential future improvements to the Winchester Boulevard business corridor. Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in the developing process. For more information, click the link below to visit the Winchester Boulevard Master Plan homepage. Please visit the Winchester Boulevard Master Plan Page to see the dates for the next series of workshops.
Councilmember Pete Constant Continues to Bring City Hall to You Councilmember Pete Constant will continue bringing City Hall to you in 2009. Come share your concerns, offer your insights, or ask questions. Remember, no appointment necessary! Drop by one of the two locations in the District and welcome Pete to YOUR neighborhood! Please click the link below or the flyer to the left to view the full-page flyer and dates for the 2009 District 1 Office Hours.
CAR SHOW AND BBQ
District 1 E-Newsletter - July Edition Available Online!
Find out what Councilmember Constant is working on this month and get updates on what is going on in your community. The District 1 E-Newsletter features Councilmember Constant's monthly message to District 1 residents and articles that pertain to your needs. In addition, a calendar of events is featured with fun events in your community. Click the link below to view this month's issue. If you have any questions, call Rhovy Cansino at 535-4901.
2009 Car Show and BBQ Hosted by Cypress Senior Center and the R.O.M.E.O.S.
Councilmember Constant congratulates Cypress Senior Center and the R.O.M.E.O.S for hosting a successful event! The 4th Annual Cypress Car Show and BBQ was another success. Around 350 neighbors came out to shop at the Flea Market, eat BBQ, and admired classic vintage automobiles. The District 1 interns helped cool everyone off by serving rootbeer floats! Check out the pictures from the event by clicking the link below.
Stanford Teen Health Van Back at Starbird this Summer
Due to the sucess of the Teen Health Van last summer, Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is coming back to bring free health care to adolescents at Starbird Youth Center. The Teen Health Van will be at Starbird Teen Center on June 16, 30 and July 14, 28. Free services include acute illness and injury care,
complete physical exams, family planning services, immunizations, nutrition counseling, and more. For more information, please click the link below or call the District 1 Office at (408) 535-4901.
Latest News from around West San José
June 30, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Political fun at San Jose Stage Company fundraiser
San Jose Councilman Pete Constant good-naturedly lampooned his anti-porn stance for a second straight year. No ball-gag this time, but he did get a few lashes from a dominatrix's whip.... Courage wasn't lacking from Team San Jose CEO Dan Fenton and Jim Cogan, Constant's chief of staff. The pair gyrated in skintight leotards in an unforgettable dance skit.
June 23, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council moves toward overhaul of troubled pension boards
"The current governance models of the city of San Jose retirement systems have numerous weaknesses," the Cortex report said. "They lack sufficient safeguards to assure the City that its interests will be adequately protected." ... The City Council Tuesday approved a recommendation from Mayor Chuck Reed and the four council members he has appointed to sit as trustees on the pension boards — Sam Liccardo, Rose Herrera, Pete Constant and Ash Kalra — to review the Cortex recommendations over the next 90 days.
June 18, 2009
Protect San Jose, San Jose’s Budget: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
As the council voted to pass the budget, I pleaded with my colleagues to change the process. I urged that we categorize spending into four simple categories: things we must do, things we should do, things we would like to do, and, of course, things we should not do.
June 17, 2009
NBC 11 Bay Area, Rubber Stamp for SJ Mayor's Budget Plan
Among concerns raised by the public at Tuesday's hearing were a lack of communication between city leaders and employees and the imposition of unfair concessions on employees.... "We have obligations to the businesses and residents of this city and this is the only way we can meet them," Councilman Pete Constant said.June 16, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council approves mayor's budget; imposes wage freeze and health care cost-sharing on union
Councilman Pete Constant said the city must make plans as well to tackle a maintenance backlog of $458 million for parks, roads and other infrastructure; the city spends $39 million a year from the general fund just to keep that backlog from growing.
June 16, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: San Jose Councilman Pete Constant does a little political grilling
His secret? "Being a crazy, dedicated fanatic," he said. Constant started two days in advance, brining the ribs and putting on a dry rub before smoking them for about nine hours — moisturizing and glazing every hour. "For this event I went and set up at 10 p.m. the night before and slept in my car so I could start the smoking at 3 a.m.," Constant said. "Then I went back to sleep in my car and set my alarm for every hour."
June 14, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: 'Recent immigrant' and Councilman Kansen Chu admits he's not so poor after all
Last month, fellow council members Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo suggested the council reduce their $90,000 salaries 3.75 percent and shave $3,000 off the $7,200 they collect each year as a car allowance. Constant and Liccardo called it a gesture to the city workers who the council is asking to forgo raises in light of a $73 million deficit. ... Constant said he would abide by his original proposal and take both the 3.75 percent pay cut and just $350 of the monthly car allowance.
June 9, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose City Council imposes 3.75 percent pay cut on itself, but declines to give up car allowance
Constant on Tuesday noted that city management's car allowance is $350. And he pointed out that council members last year received the second half of a 20 percent salary increase they approved for themselves in 2007. "This is rolling back only part of that," Constant said.
June 9, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Victims' families, law enforcement plan San Jose vigil
Speakers are expected to include Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores Carr, City Councilman and former police officer Pete Constant, and representatives of the San Jose Police Officers Association and the local firefighters' union.
June 8, 2009
CBS5 Local News, SJ City Councilmembers Consider Cutting Salaries
"It's the right thing to do," explained councilman Pete Constant, who brought forth the pay cut proposal, which he said would set an example for city employee unions being asked to forgo raises in light of the budget crisis. "In time of need, we're asking everybody, not only within our organization but throughout the city of San Jose to make sacrifices, whether it be in services or pay. It would be hypocritical if we don't share the pain as well."
June 7, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: San Jose cop's YouTube video is all the rage in Cannes. Or not.
The first release was helmed by union director Bobby Lopez. Like Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," Lopez's controversial subject sparked instant protests. Community activist Raj Jayadev was cast as Pontius Pilate; Councilman and former SJPD cop Pete Constant was the faithful disciple. You can guess who plays the savior.
June 4, 2009
Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, Silicon Valley leaders line up for 49ers' move
The Santa Clara City Council voted in the wee hours of Wednesday morning to approve financing plans for a $937 million stadium for the 49ers, setting the stage for a citywide ballot question in March.... Others who joined the statement of support include State Senator Elaine Alquist, State Assemblyman Joe Coto, San Jose City Councilors Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino and San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau CEO Dan Fenton.
June 2, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council balks at pay cut, postpones vote for a week
Councilmen Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo urged the pay cut in a joint proposal two weeks ago, noting it would match the salary reduction the city manager, clerk, attorney and auditor already volunteered as a goodwill gesture to city workers who are being asked to forgo raises to avoid the need for layoffs and service cuts. "I do think it's important that the leadership of San Jose take a pay reduction to lead by example," Constant said.June 2, 2009
CBS5 Local News, San Jose Council Responds To Officers' Video
Councilmember Pete Constant, a former police officer, pointed out that the video offers the public an additional viewpoint about issues in the community. "All too often when you see activism, it's the local voice of a small minority of people, and I think that's what the POA is really trying to show," Constant said.
June 2, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose pension trustees itching to travel despite critical audit
Councilman Pete Constant, also a retired officer and a trustee for the pension plan that serves the city's civilian workers, cited Bacigalupi's $99,495 in travel reimbursements during his previous trustee stint as reason to oppose his appointment. Those expenses included a $8,500 trip to Ireland in 1996, two Hawaii trips in 2000 totaling $7,600 and a 2001 trip to New York and London for $3,280.
Councilmember Pete Constant | 200 East Santa Clara Street, 18th Floor, San Jose, CA 95113 | 408-535-4901 | district1@sanjoseca.gov
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