Happy summer! I hope this newsletter finds you and your family well. For those of you with school-aged children, I hope you are enjoying your vacation now that school is officially out for the summer. The month of June has been a busy one here at City Hall. Not only were we working hard to finalize next year's budget, but my office has also been busy hosting the last of the third grade classes visiting City Hall before the end of the school year. For its first year, our District 1 third grade City Hall educational program has been a tremendous success. Click here for a review of what we accomplished in bringing District 1's third graders to San José City Hall for a lesson in politics and their local government.

The month of July marks the start of the City's new fiscal year. As you may or may not know, the City Council recently approved and adopted our new operating budget for the upcoming year. Although I am relieved that we were able to preserve essential public safety services and ultimately pass a budget on time, I feel that the overall process and end result falls far short of what I hoped to achieve. I am dissatisfied and disappointed because I feel like we failed to fix the root causes of the problem. For a look at "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" of San José's budget, please click here.

Even though some public safety measures were rescued from the budgetary chopping block, other areas had to be sacrificed. One such loss is the cancellation of this year's 4th of July San José America Festival and fireworks display. Due to our current economic climate and severe budget constraints, the City of San José, as well as a number of past sponsors, were not able to continue with financial sponsorship this year, and thus event organizers were forced to cancel this year's festivities. Fortunately, there are other fun events honoring the 4th that you can take your family to. Bethel Church is hosting "Celebrate America 2009" at Shoreline Amphitheater on July 3 and the Alameda Business Association is hosting the 2nd annual "Rose, White & Blue Parade" and festival on July 4. To learn more about these events click here.

On a cautionary note, for those planning to host their own 4th of July parties and barbeques, please remember that fireworks are considered dangerous and therefore, illegal in the City of San José. Click here for the latest information on fireworks in the City of San José.

Another opportunity for you to get out with your family is National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4. This annual event, which is in its 26th year, brings people out of their homes to enjoy an evening with their neighbors and local police officers. It is meant to heighten crime and drug awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police partnerships, and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. National Night Out is expected to involve over 10,000 communities from all 50 states, in U.S. Territories, Canadian cities and military bases all around the world - totaling more than 34 million people. Neighborhoods throughout District 1 will be hosting events and have begun planning. For more information about this nationwide event or to register your neighborhood for this year’s event, visit: www.sjpd.org. You may also contact the San José Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit at: (408) 277-4133. We will publish a list of all participating District 1 neighborhoods in our next newsletter, so stay tuned. I plan to drop by as many neighborhoods as I can that night and look forward to seeing you then.

I have long been an advocate of civic engagement. I frequently talk about the importance of getting involved and stepping up to help make a difference in our communities. If you are interested in serving and participating at a higher level, here's your opportunity. The City of San José currently has vacancies on many of its commissions and is looking for interested residents to fill these positions. The following is a list of commissions with vacancies and all are open until filled:

If you have the time and the interest, I encourage you to consider these opportunities. For information about the application visit: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/Vacancy.asp and if you would like to fill-out and print an application you can do so at: http://www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/forms/cmsappl.pdf. The City Clerk's office will be accepting applications until the end of August and interviews will be held on October 5 & 6.

I hope you have a happy 4th of July, and enjoy your summer!

Your Neighbor,

P.S. My community office hours for the month of July will be from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1, at the West Valley Library. Feel free to drop by and visit.

PETE IN THE NEWS

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 José'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 José 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 José 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
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
• Field Trip Wrap Up
• 2009-2010 Adopted Budget
• Celebrating Our Nation's Birthday

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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