Well, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, so that means our long winter will last another six weeks!

I can't believe that we're already into the second month of the year. The month of February is typically when we start preparing for the new budget cycle and planning for the next fiscal year. The economy seems to be the predominant theme for 2009 - both for the nation and the state. This will also be true for our city. For a current look at where we stand heading into the next fiscal year, please click here.

Given our current economic climate and the severe challenges that we face, it will be crucial for us to find new ways to do more with less. We all will need to step up and be willing to get involved; to pitch-in in any way we can. Recently, District 1 leaders from various neighborhood associations did just that. Click here to read about how 12 leaders from 10 different District 1 neighborhood associations volunteered their time to provide valuable feedback on city priorities for the upcoming budget cycle.

During times of crisis and struggle, citizens look to their leaders for inspiration and innovation. I feel that it is important to lead by example. Because education is such an important issue to me, I strive to find new ways to support educational efforts. In trying to step up to find creative ways to enhance our children's educational experience, I have set a goal of bringing every District 1 third grader to City Hall to get a real-life lesson in government. I have committed some limited grant funds - that are restricted to specific uses such as education - to sponsor this innovative learning experience for our students. Click here to read more about this opportunity.

If you are looking for ways to get more involved or to make a difference, I encourage you to consider participating in the Envision San José 2040 Task Force and Community Workshop or becoming a member of a San José board or commission. Interested residents will have the opportunity to have their voices and opinions be heard by participating in a planning exercise along with Envision San José General Plan Update Task Force members, including Charles Lauer, Winchester NAC president, to identify strategies to plan for San José's growth. Click here for details. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2009 spring recruitment cycle for City of San José boards and commissions. To see a full list of available boards and commissions and to learn more about them, click here.

On a side note, Lynhaven Neighborhood Association is hosting a free E-Waste (electronic waste) recycling event on Saturday, March 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the International Christian Center located at 3275 Williams Rd. If you have old electronics that you have been wanting to get rid or don't know what to do with, click here to learn how you can take advantage of this free opportunity.

I look forward to continuing to work with you on building the District 1 community and strengthening the City of San José.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. My community office hours this month will be from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., this Wednesday, February 4 at the West Valley Branch Library, and from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, February 19 at the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church (3675 Payne Ave.). See you there!

PETE IN THE NEWS

January 30, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council members urge funding shift to save crossing guards
Constant, however, said the reason to take the matter up now is that under current practices, the tobacco money is already effectively committed before the city completes its budget in June for the next fiscal year. "We'd be far to late to do anything about it," Constant said.

January 29, 2009
KLIV, San Jose and Police Union reach agreement
City councilman and former police officer Pete Constant points to the key to success in negotiations. He says the main ingredient is the funding for the retiree medical healthcare. He expressed happiness that the agreement came without having to go into arbitration. Those possible costs would have been too much for the city given the financial outlook for the next few years.

January 27, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose City Council to consider stronger outsourcing restrictions
Mayor Chuck Reed and council members Pete Constant, Pierluigi Oliverio and Sam Liccardo were opposed. Challenging proponents to cite specific recent examples of contracts that have gone awry, they questioned the need to burden the city manager with further review. They argued changes adopted years ago already provide transparency and oversight.

January 26, 2009
Seeking Alpha, California's Tipping Point
Take this SJ Mercury news article, for example. The writers chastise Councilmember Pete Constant for trying to rein in profligate spending and public sector union demands. However, in promoting more government benefits, the writers reveal just how stunningly fat government employees have become.

January 25, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Opinion: Don't scapegoat city retirees after one sour year of market returns
In these dire economic times, it's easy for many critics to point fingers and try to find someone to blame for the worst local government financial crisis ever experienced. The Mercury News and Councilman Pete Constant appear to be not just pointing all their fingers at retired San Jose police officers and firefighters, but their thumbs as well.

January 20, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Divided San Jose council votes to install controversial pension-fund trustees
The close vote after an unusually long, two-hour interview session was a blow to the mayor, Constant and other council members who have clamored for more accountability and oversight of the pension system. They noted the city's deficit-plagued general fund guarantees

January 19, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Herhold: Councilman's accident made him more skeptical of retirement system
Does it bother him to be criticized by longtime colleagues? "I'd be lying if I said it didn't," he told me. "But I can't do what's not right."... The councilman faces a tough battle. But no matter the outcome, he has come out for an important principle. He says the funds are public, not private, vehicles for the retired. For that alone, the guy whose name implies a promise deserves our thanks.

January 16, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Candidates for San Jose's pension boards racked up steep travel bills
"That's a lot of money," said Councilman Pete Constant, a pension trustee and retired cop who requested the travel expense figures from the city manager. "I have to ask if that's the type of person I want as a fiduciary of the funds. To me, the answer is no."

January 14, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose Mayor Reed warns of city layoffs, offers hope for recovery
Councilmen Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio, who have been the mayor's allies on controlling spending, praised his speech for its candor about the city's financial problems. "It's good to be upfront with the community about this serious issue," Constant said. "We have a lot of problems. But as the mayor said, we have a lot of opportunities."

January 13, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose pension costs soar with added benefits
Councilman Pete Constant, who retired from the city police department in 2000 and is now a trustee on the pension fund for civilian workers, said the city's officers are hardworking and deserve to be well-compensated. But citing the deficit, he added: "We cannot as a council lose sight of the overall fiscal health of the city."

January 8, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Multimillion-dollar error found in San Jose pension system
City officials have discovered a multimillion-dollar miscalculation that apparently caused thousands of retirees to be overpaid bonuses for several years. "Multiple millions may have been distributed in error," said City Councilman Pete Constant, a pension fund trustee since 2007.

January 7, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council members slug it out over McEnery probe
Campos' was one of a handful of council offices, along with those of Pete Constant, Pierluigi Oliverio and Kansen Chu, to confirm Wednesday they have been in contact with attorneys from Hanson Bridgett, the law firm investigating the alleged lobbying violations on behalf of the Elections Commission. ... Constant, due to meet with the attorneys today, said the letter asking for the interview also requests a list of every instance he met or spoke with McEnery's partners.

December 30, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, Editorial: San Jose needs expertise on its pension boards
Credit Councilman Pete Constant, a retired police officer and pension trustee for the civilian fund, for reaching the same conclusions as Reed.

December 29, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, Report: SJ pension fund losses worse than peers
City Councilman Pete Constant, a trustee, says he would give up his seat to improve fund performance. Constant says the city may have to contribute millions of dollars to make up for the losses.

December 29, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, San Jose's retirement chief warns pension funds are lagging
Constant said he would gladly relinquish his own seat to improve fund performance. "Let's find the brightest minds we can find in the valley," Constant said, "and appoint them as our surrogates on the board."

December 28, 2008
San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: The political year that was
May: San Jose council pals Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo suffer a bitter falling out after Constant slams the council for making developers jump through too many hoops. September: San Jose Councilman Constant goes public with another spat, this one with Silicon Valley Leadership Group poobah Carl Guardino, who's pushing for a BART tax Constant opposes.

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:

• Pete's Message
• 2009 State of the City
• Neighborhood Priority Setting Session
• Third Graders Field Trip

Helpful Links for D1 Residents:

• Pete's Calendar
• Council Agenda
• Live and Archived Council Meetings
• District 1 Map
• Photos of District 1 Events
• District 1 Neighborhood Groups
• Pete and District 1 in the News
• Parks in District 1
• District 1 Staff
• Review permits in San José

Service Providers for D1 Residents:

Connecting to your government:

• Mayor and Council
• San José Charter
• San José Municipal Code
• San José Boards and Commissions
• Santa Clara County
• Registrar of Voters
• Guide to Government
• State of California
• U.S. Government

Important Phone Numbers:

Questions?
If you have any questions about the District 1 E- Newsletter, please contact our office at District1@sanjoseca.gov or call (408) 535-4901

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