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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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Message from Pete
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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Questions or Suggestions?
If you have any questions about the District 1 Community Newsletter or would like to suggest topics or announcements for future issues, then please contact Mary Anne Groen at MaryAnne.Groen@sanjoseca.gov or you can call her at (408) 535-4901
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Message from Councilmember Pete Constant
It's finally here; the 3rd Annual West Valley Senior Walk on Friday, April 4, 2008. Registration and the free breakfast start at 8:45 a.m. at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall Center Court (entrance near parking structure A). Almost 100 walkers have already pre-registered, but there is still plenty of room for you to join us for this great event! The West Valley Senior Walk has become a hallmark West San José event and this year promises to be no exception. It's going to be bigger than last year with almost twice as many resources for participants and a lot of opportunities to win great prizes! Come for the free breakfast, free gifts, free raffle, and free health fair. This year's walk promises to be the biggest yet with more of everything that promotes the health and well-being of our older residents. There will be ample opportunities for socializing with friends, neighbors, and other older adults. We also have a record number of local elected representatives participating this year. I am sure that you will not be disappointed.
The 2nd Annual District 1 Neighborhood Summit takes place on April 7th from 7 - 9 p.m. at Archbishop Mitty High School. I attend dozens of community meetings every month and I regularly get questions about San José's budget situation. So this year it made sense to focus the neighborhood summit on the City Budget; an explanation of the budget process and how we can work together to prioritize core city services.
With a projected General Fund Shortfall of $25 million for the fiscal year 2008-09, and over $700 million in unmet/deferred infrastructure maintenance needs, the city is forced to look for ways to trim expenses while still addressing the core services it provides to a constantly growing population. According to a recent Department of Transportation report, San José has the worst roads in Santa Clara County. District 1 has the worst streets in the City. Some of our streets are so bad that they can't be repaired, they have to be completely rebuilt. We need to address this situation now and I am fighting to make sure we do. Many of District 1's worst streets are scheduled for sealing and resurfacing in 2008, but I would like your help in identifying additional maintenance priorities. Unfortunately, previous city councils did not prioritize road maintenance in times of plenty and now we are paying the price.
For too long the city has been spending money on projects that are not part of the necessary core city services. We need to concentrate our limited resources on services that provide for the health and safety of our residents and save the pet projects for when we have a budget surplus. Services such as public safety (fire and police), street maintenance, garbage collection and sewer services need to be our top priorities. I want to work with you to find solutions and take care of what has long been ignored.
Cutting costs and prioritizing spending is only part of the solution. We also need to increase our revenue. I am convinced that this is possible if we work to ensure that our local economy is strong. City Hall needs to work with local businesses to ensure that we are doing what we can to help them grow. Sometimes all that means is making a permit process a little easier or allowing a reasonably sized sign in a business district. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them. Please come and discuss this important topic which affects the future health of our City.
Your Neighbor,
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMISSION |
TRAFFIC CALMING UPDATE |
GRAFFITI PROBLEMS INCREASE |
Be a District 1 Representative to the Neighborhoods Commission District 1 residents have the opportunity to participate in a new commission that will advise the City Council on city-wide issues. As leaders in innovative thinking and at the forefront of hallmark programs such as the vehicle spotters programs, which has gone on to be developed as successful city-wide program, District 1 residents will be a valuable asset to the newly forming Neighborhoods Commission.
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Hathaway Park Neighborhood Wins Appeal!
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Constant Battle with Graffiti
San José's crime rate is up and one of the most visible examples of it can be seen in the rise in graffiti or tagging. Even though San José can boast having one of the most innovative and successful anti-graffiti programs in the nation, the number of tags is on the rise once more. The City surveys the number of different tags city-wide during a week chosen at random to assess tagging activity in the City. The baseline for tagging began in 1999 with 71,541 tags. In 2006 there were only 129 tags noted but in 2007 there were 2,594 tags documented and as of the third week of January 2008, a city-wide survey identified over 13,900 tags. By comparing the results the Police department is able to identify trends in tagging. This dramatic increase from 2006 to 2008 is cause for concern. |
| WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 1? |
3rd Annual West Valley Senior Walk |
2nd Annual Neighborhood Summit |
Great American Litter Pick Up |
| Community Office Hours Thursday, April 17, 2008 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Cypress Senior Center - 403 S. Cypress Avenue, San José Join the Councilmember to share your thoughts or ask questions--no appointment required! For further information, please call the District 1 Office at (408) 535-4901. |
Workshop on Caregiving Challenge |
Health Mobile for Children |
San José Idol! |
Earth Day Resource Fair at Cypress |
| Health and Safety Fair Saturday, April 26, 2008 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pueblo de Dios Church – 2752 Payne Ave. (on the corner of Payne and Eden Ave.), San José Winchester NAC and the ACUDIR Neighborhood Association invite you to a Health and Safety Fair featuring free finger printing for children, games, snacks and refreshments, face painting, and a chance to win a free helmet. For more information call the District 1 Office at (408) 535-4901. |
First Annual Poster Art Contest |
PETE IN THE NEWS
March 25, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: Flying Colors
Normally, flag-raising ceremonies are held during the week, but San Jose City Councilman Pete Constant - whose father immigrated to the United States from Greece - wanted it to take place last Saturday so more families could attend. "My father came here with nothing and built a better life for his family through hard work and determination," Constant said. "He also taught us to be proud of our Greek heritage, through our church and, of course, Greek food."
March 20, 20008
San Jose Mercury News, Petition about 'Little Saigon' called bogus, but not illegal
"These individuals are not under oath," Councilman Pete Constant said. "They didn't sign anything saying they were testifying under penalty of perjury."
March 5, 2008
NBC11, SJ 'Little Saigon' Name Debate In New Hands
"I'm very confident that what I saw was a significant number of people that were on the side of Little Saigon," Constant said. "There is a consensus or an overwhelming majority."
March 5, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council again shoots down 'Little Saigon' name
Constant agreed, saying business owners who came forward only in recent weeks to voice their opposition to the name had missed their chance. "You can't show up late to the prom and then complain that you missed the first dance, and that is exactly what is happening here," Constant said.