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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
- Budget Proposals
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
A taste of summer came in the form of a heat wave a few weeks ago so I hope you are all prepared to keep yourselves cool during the summer months. When the temperatures rise above 90º the elderly and the very young are susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Symptoms can include nausea, dizziness, flushed or pale skin, heavy sweating and headaches. Fortunately, our local community centers, including our own West San José Community and Policing center on the corner of Williams and Boynton, have been designated as "Cooling Centers" offering cold water, light snacks, and an air conditioned building to wait out the heat when a heat advisory is issued. For more information on ways to avoid heat-related illnesses click here.
While many councilmembers will on vacation in July, I will be enjoying a "staycation" -- staying in town this summer -- while working as Chairperson of the 3-Year General Fund Structural Deficit Elimination Plan Stakeholder's Group. All of the meetings of this Stakeholder’s Group are open to the public and I encourage you to attend one or more meetings to learn about the efforts of the group to tackle the budget deficit. For a full calendar listing of meetings click here. Another opportunity for input and public comment on the 2008-09 Proposed City Capitol/Operating Budgets will come during the Final Public Hearing on June 16, 2008 from 7 – 9 p.m. in the San José City Hall Council Chambers.
Recently, the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital made me an offer I couldn't refuse. They offered to provide FREE Summer Teen Health Care in their specially-equipped Health Van. I jumped at the chance to bring this free service to our community. The Health Van will be open to homeless and/or uninsured youth between the ages of 12-25 on June 19th, July, 10th, July 24th, and August 14th in the parking lot of the Starbird Teen Center located at 1050 Boynton Avenue. On each day the drop-in hours will be from 2-7 p.m. To view a flyer with additional information click here.
If you are like me, you probably have a lot of expired prescriptions that you need to discard. These medications can be hazardous to our children and grandchildren if left in our homes, but if you throw them away or flush them down the drain they can pollute our water supply or bay area wet lands. To address this serious health issue I will be hosting a free prescription drop-off and thermometer exchange on Friday, June 20, 2008 at the Cypress Senior Center at 403 South Cypress Avenue from 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. To view a detailed flyer of the event click here.
I will also be hosting a community meeting to discuss the current Calabazas projects on Thursday, June 26, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Calabazas Branch Library at 1230 Blaney Avenue. We will be discussing the proposed renovation of play equipment and structures at the Calabazas Park play lot, the proposed reconstruction of the Calabazas Community Garden, a chance to meet artists Po Shu Wang and Louise Bertelsen who will be designing the Calabazas Library Public Art, and finally an architectural update on the new Calabazas Branch Library. This is such an exciting time for West San José as they celebrate the construction of a new library and I encourage you to come out to this meeting and be a part of this wonderful opportunity.
The best part of summer is the opportunity to BBQ and there will be plenty of events this summer that highlight the grill starting with your invitation to the 3rd Annual Community Car Show and BBQ on Saturday, June 28th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Cypress Senior Center located at 403 South Cypress Avenue. Click here to view the flyer. I will be attending many neighborhood celebrations this July as residents get together and light up the BBQ. I would love to hear about your event and have the opportunity to break bread with you and your neighbors.
Raking local politicians over the grill in a lampoon-fest of political proportions, I will be this year's host of San José Stage Company's 15th Annual Fundraising Event "Monday Night Live" on Monday, June 30, 2008 at 8 p.m. at 490 South First Street, San José. I personally invite you to attend this hilarious and worthwhile event. For ticket information visit: www.sjstage.com/specialevents.
Your Neighbor,
LIBRARY FILTERS |
BUDGET PROPOSALS |
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT |
Councilmember Constant Demonstrates Internet Filtering Technology On May 30th, Councilmember Pete Constant hosted a public demonstration of internet filtering technology. The goal of this demonstration was to offer the public an opportunity to see how the technology worked in practical real-life situations. The presentation succeeded in showing that the technology can be configured to distinguish between inappropriate websites and legitimate research, such as health-related searches. Attendees were encouraged to submit suggestions that the Councilmember then attempted to view. |
Councilmember Constant Working Diligently on Budget Proposals During the month of May, the Mayor and City Council review the proposed city operating and capital budgets for the coming fiscal year. Following two weeks of budget study sessions the City Council submits budget proposals to the Mayor’s office. The Mayor reviews these proposals and drafts his recommendations that are approved by the City Council in mid-June. Councilmember Pete Constant submitted three proposals geared toward crime prevention, operating efficiencies and truth in budgeting |
Tuesday, August 5th is National Night Out
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| WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 1? |
Summer Reading Celebration Begins |
Free Electronic Recycling Event |
The Grasshopper and the Ant - Puppet Show |
The Amazing Bubble Man, Louis Pearl |
What is Inclusionary Housing? And What Does it Mean For You? |
Community Office Hours |
Free Prescription Drop-Off & Thermometer Exchange |
Insect Discovery Lab |
Charles the Clown |
Calabazas Projects Community Meeting |
3rd Annual Community Car Show and BBQ |
Community Resource Fair |
Monday Night Live |
San José Fire Museum Free Admission |
Christmas in July |
NOTICE OF COMMISSION VACANCIES |
The City Council Salary Setting Commission is accepting applications for appointments to the commission. Currently there is one unexpired term ending December 31, 2010. If you would like additional information regarding the City Council Salary Setting Commission, please contact Commission Secretary Michelle Radcliffe at (408) 535-1265. For a full description of the position go to the City Clerk's Web site by clicking here http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/CommissionBoard/Salary/2008/Recruitment08.pdf. |
PETE IN THE NEWS
June 6, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, S.J. mayor wants to hire 25 new cops despite deficit, but police union not satisfied
"I think it's a step in the right direction," said Councilman Pete Constant, a retired policeman. "In a perfect world, we'd all like to do more. It's such a delicate balancing act to provide all the services throughout the city."
May 31. 2008
San Jose Mercury News, Anti-porn test not too revealing
Constant said afterward the demo went "as I expected." While the demonstration may not have swayed any critics, Constant noted that several council member aides were in the room quietly observing. "Those are the ones that count," he said.
May 30, 2008
KGO TV, Councilman pushes for computer filters
"I think we need to make sure that our libraries are safe friendly environments for families and children, number one. And number two, I don't think it's our responsibility as a city to pay for and provide pornography to people," said Constant.
May 29, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, Councilman plans demo of porn filter
San Jose City Councilman Pete Constant on Friday will host a public demonstration of technology he says can effectively filter Internet pornography without impeding legitimate research.
May 22, 2008
West San Jose Resident, Groups take sides in debate over blocking porn on library computers
Despite opposition from San Jose's Library Commission, Youth Commission and the city's library director, Councilman Pete Constant is not backing down in his bid to filter pornography on library computers. "My intent is to make libraries clean, safe and attractive places. Kids shouldn't be exposed to porn," Constant
May 15, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council to reconsider policy on porn filters at libraries
Councilman Pete Constant in October asked the council to reconsider its current policy, adopted in 1997, which allows unfiltered Web access at all city libraries. He said the policy has made libraries a magnet for men viewing porn and exposing themselves in public, resulting in more than a dozen arrests at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. main library.
May 14, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, S.J. council to keep legal memo about developers secret
Councilman Pete Constant, a property rights advocate, had pushed for the release of the controversial memo. "Unfortunately, this practice has expanded," Constant wrote in requesting the information be released.
May 10, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose retirement officials' pricey travel paid at pensions' expense
"When you're traveling on the public's money, you need to be cautious about how much money you're spending," said Councilman Pete Constant. He is a trustee of the pension fund for the city's civilian workers and, as a retired policeman, a beneficiary of San Jose's other pension