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JANUARY EDITION
   Message from Councilmember Pete Constant

Happy 2010! I hope your holidays were well spent and that you enjoyed your New Years festivities. It seems like yesterday I was being sworn into office, and now I am kicking off the last year of my first term. Wow!

Thank you to the neighbors and interested residents who supported and participated in District 1's first-ever "Download Day" and resident-aided blight assessment on December 12, 2009 at the West Community and Policing Center. A room full of people, representing a broad range of groups from neighborhood leaders to our District 1 Youth Advisory Council, braved the cold, wet and windy weather to download and learn more about "Mobile City Hall," the new blight-busting iPhone application by CitySourced that allows D1 residents to easily report problems such as graffiti, potholes, illegal dumping, illegal signage and abandoned cars.

Thank you also to everybody who came out to support my second shot at acting as I performed in "Santastic" at the Retro Dome over the holiday weekend. I had a blast playing an imposter Santa, and I hope that you enjoyed the show as much as I did (and hopefully you noticed a little bit of improvement from my first attempt).

For those who weren't able to join us, click here for more details from the event and read about what we accomplished. If you have an iPhone, but haven't yet downloaded the Mobile City Hall application, you can find it in the App Store by searching for "San Jose 311." If you don't have an iPhone, don't worry, the application will be available for other smartphones in early 2010.

I would like to update you on a couple of issues that will affect the District in the very near future. First, if you haven't already heard, the Calabazas Branch Library will be closing early this spring to begin construction on a new, upgraded and expanded facility. Click here to learn about what’s in store for the new library. Our new facility will be bigger and better.

In order to help local businesses, a portion of Winchester Boulevard has been designated a Targeted Business Area (TBA). The TBA designation is the first of its kind in San José and was created to support new and existing businesses within the area while the City prepares to make the area a Neighborhood Business District (NBD). To learn more about what is in store for Winchester Boulevard, click here.

Another piece of exciting news is that Bay Area transportation planners have recently approved funding to overhaul and improve one of the biggest traffic headaches in the South Bay Area, which is located right in our backyard - the interstate 280/880/Highway 17 interchange near Westfield Valley Fair. Living near this shopping center and congested area, we know first-hand how bad it can get. I'm happy to report that needed improvements are on the way, and to read about what's in store, click here.

If you are interested in giving back to the community, helping children and have a little bit of extra time to spare, Forest Hill Elementary School is looking for temporary crossing guards. Ten volunteers are needed for 10 weeks to help maintain the safety at the crosswalk at Harriet and McCoy, as the City of Campbell works to find a more permanent solution for the busy intersection. The Campbell Police Department will train volunteers and provide the needed equipment. Click here for more information or if volunteer. Thank you in advance to those of you who are willing and able to lend a hand in this effort to keep our community safe.

Well, here we are, off and running into the New Year. I hope that the worst of the recession is behind us and am looking forward to a more prosperous new year. I am ready for an exciting year of new challenges and opportunities in 2010!

Your Neighbor,

Pete's Signature

P.S. My community office hours for the month of January will be from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 6, at the West Valley Branch Library, and from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m., Thursday, January 21, at the Cypress Senior Center. For a listing of my 2010 office hours in the district, click here.

SAN JOSÉ CALABAZAS
BRANCH LIBRARY UPDATE
WINCHESTER BOULEVARD UPDATE

SHOPPING MADE EASIER

Calabazas Library v2.0



You may have noticed that the site of the San José Calabazas Branch Library has been undergoing some changes. New plants and shrubs have been planted and new fencing has been erected. The community garden has been cleaned up and reconfigured to provide more land for the library. All of these renovations are being made to prepare for a much larger improvement project.

Full Article »

Winchester Boulevard Designated a Targeted Business Area

On December 15, 2009, the City Council approved my proposal to designate a portion of Winchester Boulevard a Targeted Business Area (TBA). Designed to help local businesses, the TBA designation is the first of its kind in San José and takes effect December 31, 2009. This will support new and existing businesses within the area while the City prepares to make the area a Neighborhood Business District (NBD) which takes place only twice yearly during General Plan hearings.

Full Article »

Overhaul Planned for Valley Fair Interchange


Do you love the shopping at Valley Fair and Santana Row, but cringe at the thought of the traffic and hassle just trying to get there? This was a likely scenario for shoppers as the holiday season comes to a close. Well, relief is on the way. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) recently approved $32 million to start the process of overhauling the Interstate 280/880/Highway 17 interchange near Westfield Valley Fair Mall.


Full Article »
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 1?
 

Senior Adults Legal Assistance (SALA)
Tuesday, January 5, 2009
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. by appointment only.
Cypress Senior Center - 403 S. Cypress Avenue, San José
SALA will assist with problems in the area of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, Medi-Cal, In- Home Supportive Services, Elder Abuse, Housing, Easy Wills, and Long-term Care. To schedule an appointment call Cypress Senior Center at (408) 244-1353.

 
Office Hours
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
West Valley Branch Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José
Join the Councilmember to share your thoughts or ask questions - no appointment necessary! For further information, please call the District 1 Office at (408) 535-4901.
 

Cycle 28 Beautification Grants Application Workshop
Thursday, January 7, 2010
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Kirk Community Center, 1601 Foxworthy Ave. San José
Presented by: Devony Taylor - Community Coordinator, Neighborhood Development Center. The workshop is designed to review the application packet. Attendance at one of these workshops is highly recommended. Questions will be answered and training on how to fill out the application will be provided.
Please call (408)723-1574 to register. Workshops are subject to cancellation if there are not enough advance registrations. Spanish and Vietnamese translation will be provided by request, with a minimum notice of two days prior to the workshop.

 

Guinness World Record for Largest Fitness Workout
Saturday, January 9, 2010
8:00 a.m.
Westgate Church (1735 Saratoga Avenue, San José
Becky Williamson, San Jose fitness expert and owner of lifeSport Fitness, has been selected as a local host for the first ever "Workout Worldwide" event. Workout Worldwide will be the world’s first and largest international charity fitness “boot camp” workout carried out simultaneously around the world on Saturday, January 9th. There will be over 50 remote locations worldwide performing the workout simultaneously. Community members interested in participating in the event can log on to http://www.workoutworldwide.org/locations and click on "California-San Jose" to sign up. A complete list of entry fees and prizes can be seen at http://www.workoutworldwide.org/admission-and-prizes. All net proceeds from U.S. host sites will go to the American Heart Association. For more information, contact Becky Williamson at (408) 265-1540 or becky@lifesportfitness.net.

 


CAP Cycle 24 Application Workshops
Saturday, January 9, 2010
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Kirk Community Center, Room 4 - 1601 Foxworthy Avenue, San José
Presented by: Ernest Guzman - Community Service Supervisor, Neighborhood
Development Center. The workshop is designed to review the application packet. Attendance at one of these workshops is highly recommended. Questions will be answered and training on how to fill out the application will be provided. Spanish and Vietnamese translation will be provided by request, with a minimum notice of two days prior to the workshop. Space is limited, so please call (408) 723-4114 to register for these FREE classes.

 

Cycle 28 Beautification Grants Application Workshop
Saturday, January 9, 2010
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Kirk Community Center, 1601 Foxworthy Ave. San José
Presented by: Devony Taylor - Community Coordinator, Neighborhood Development Center. The workshop is designed to review the application packet. Attendance at one of these workshops is highly recommended. Questions will be answered and training on how to fill out the application will be provided.
Please call (408)723-1574 to register. Workshops are subject to cancellation if there are not enough advance registrations. Spanish and Vietnamese translation will be provided by request, with a minimum notice of two days prior to the workshop.
 

Newcomers Social
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
10:30a.m.
Cypress Senior Center - 403 S. Cypress Avenue, San José
Carolyn Escoto of the Cypress Senior Advisory Council and Cypress Senior Center long time seniors, will give you an orientation of our programs and a tour of the center, followed by a complimentary lunch at our Nutrition Program. Call today and sign up for the Newcomers Social at (408) 244-1353.

 

"A Commitment to Living the Dream for Humanity" - MLK Birthday Celebration 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
12:30 p.m.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library - 150 E. San Fernando Street, San José
Opening remarks will be followed by sharing of personal experiences in the struggle for civil rights. Light refreshment will be served. Class attendance is encouraged, but the library requests advance notification. Additional activities schedules over the course of the month and into the next include story times and craft, a Freedom March and Civil Rights Resource Faire and more. For updates on related activities, visit www.sjlibrary.org/kingceleb.htm or call (408) 808-2183.

 
Austism Spectrum Disorders: Educational Series for Parents
Thursday, January 14, 2010
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Stanford Autism Center at Packard Children's Hospital - 401 Quarry Road, Stanford
The Stanford Autism Center at Packard Children's Hospital is offering a 10-part educational series for parents of children and adolescents with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder. The series is designed to provide parents with information about ASD diagnoses, treatments and services. Many sessions are for parents of all children and adolescents; others are for certain age groups or language abilities. Series will be repeated in fall, winter and spring and registration is for individual sessions. Cost: $5 per person per session To register, please go to http://childpsychiatry.stanford.edu or call Maura Chatwell at (650) 721-6327 for questions. Click here to view the event flyer.
 

CAP Cycle 24 Application Workshops
Thursday, January 14, 2010
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Kirk Community Center, Room 4 - 1601 Foxworthy Avenue, San José
Presented by: Ernest Guzman - Community Service Supervisor, Neighborhood
Development Center. The workshop is designed to review the application packet. Attendance at one of these workshops is highly recommended. Questions will be answered and training on how to fill out the application will be provided. Spanish and Vietnamese translation will be provided by request, with a minimum notice of two days prior to the workshop. Space is limited, so please call (408) 723-4114 to register for these FREE classes.

 

VTA Talk with Seniors
Friday, January 15, 2010
12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Cypress Senior Center, Room 3 - 403 S. Cypress Avenue, San José
A VTA representative will be explaining how VTA is responding the challenges presented by the current economic downtown, including the recent service changes and fare increases. This is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend. For more information, please call the office at (408) 244-1353.
 
Community Meeting on CP09-041
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
West Valley Branch Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José
There will be a community meeting to discuss a land use project in District 1. CP09-041 - Conditional Use Permit to convert an existing duplex residential structure to church office use on a 0.18 gross acre site in the R-2 residential zoning district, located on the northeast corner of Williams Road and Zarick Drive. The applicant and Planning staff will be present to answer your questions or concerns. For more information, please call the District 1 Office at (408) 535-4901.
 
January Birthday Celebration at Cypress Senior Center
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
11:45 a.m.
Cypress Senior Center - 403 S. Cypress Avenue, San José
Come and celebrate with the Cypress Senior Center and receive a gift! Sign-ups are in the Nutrition Office. For more information, please call 241- 5377 to reserve your lunch.
 
Office Hours
Thursday, January 21, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cypress Senior Center - 803 Cypress Avenue, San José
Join the Councilmember to share your thoughts or ask questions - no appointment necessary! For further information, please call the District 1 Office at (408) 535-4901.
 

Cypress Senior Center Black & White Ball
Friday, January 22, 2010
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Cypress Senior Center, Room 3 - 803 Cypress Avenue, San José
Come celebrate the new year with the seniors at Cypress Senior Center. Cost is $4.00 for members and $7.00 for Non-members. To sign-up please visit the office or call (408) 244-1353.

 

2010 Crime and Gang Prevention Summit
Saturday, January 23, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Community Center - 901 E. Santa Clara Street, San José
Mayor Reed cordially invites you to attend at the second annual Crime and Gang Prevention Summit. Sponsored by the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force, the event will bring together representatives from the City of San José, non-profit organizations, and local neighborhoods to build and expand partnerships that will help make San José a safer place to live. For more information, please call the Mayor's office at (408) 535-4800 or e-mail mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov.

 
FOCUS Forum South Bay Event: Putting Schools on the Map
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
The Silicon Valley Community Foundation - 2440 West El Camino Real, Suite 300, Mountain View
Please join ABAG and the Center for Cities & Schools (CC&S) to share an initial framework highlighting the interconnections between planning and education. In addition to providing proven policies and practices, we hope to uncover top priorities, questions, and demonstrated successes in the SouthBay re: complete communities, education, and city-school collaboration. An overview of topics will include: questions of new housing's impacts on schools, transportation connections, new school development, community schools, joint use of school facilities, and opportunities for student learning through civic engagement. RSVP to MarisaC@abag.ca.gov.
 
CAP Cycle 23 Reports Class
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Kirk Community Center, Room 4 - 1601 Foxworthy Avenue, San José
Presented by: Ken Podgorsek - Executive Director, United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County. The in’s and out’s of administering and reporting your Grant efficiently. Now that there is money in your neighborhood association bank account, you need to learn “best practices” of making sure your organization remains financially sound, what the financial and reporting responsibilities are of a Grantee. This includes tracking, reporting and administering your grant. This class goes over all CAP Cycle 23 reports and paperwork. This class is essential for the new grant manager and those that have had challenges with their reports in the past. (CAP Cycle 23 Eligible training).
 
Charter School Summit 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Santa Clara County Office of Education - 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San José
The Summit’s facilitated breakout sessions will allow participants to focus on identifying strategies to help charter schools and school districts work together on projects of mutual benefit - the academic achievement for all students - in an "expanded choice and performance-based" policy environment. Keynote address is from Ruslynn H. Ali, Assistant Secretary of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education. For more information please contact us at: Charter Schools Department or (408) 453-3601. Click here to view the flyer.
 
 
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Keep San Jose Beautiful
Applications for the Spring 2010 - Cycle 28 Beautification Grant
are currently being accepted! Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, January 29, 2010. Matching grants are available to nonprofit organizations, neighborhood associations, schools and other community organizations who wish to help foster community pride in
San Jose through beautification or landscaping. Grants generally range from $500-$3,500 and funding is to be matched by volunteer efforts, matching funds and/or donations. Projects must be within the city limits of San Jose, and in a highly visible public area. Grant applications are available by calling the office of Keep San JoseBeautiful at (408)723-1574 or online at http://www.sjbeautiful.org/beautification_grants.html.

 
2nd Annual Operation Prom Dress
January 1 - 31, 2010
West Valley Branch Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José
Councilmember Nguyen and the City of San José is preparing for its 2nd Annual Operation Prom Dress. This is an effort to secure donations of new or gently used prom dresses that will be distributed to San Jose high school students so that they may participate in upcoming proms and balls at their respective schools. The target prom dress distribution date is on March 27, 2010. For more information please call (408) 535-4907 or click here to view the flyer. .
 
Winter 2010 Our City Forest Tree Amigo Class
Participants will learn planting techniques, species identification, basic tree care, pruning, and how to help organize a community planting. There will be a tree nursery tour, a walking tree tour, and a tree planting project during the 20-hour class. Tree Amigo Class starts January 13, 2010. For more information, please call Lauren at (408) 998-7337 ext.123 or e-mail at volunteer@ourcityforest.org.
 
Free Electronic Waste Recycling
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Murdock-Portal School Parking Lot - 1188 Wunderlich Dr., San José
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Benefits Murdock Neighborhood Association. Don't throw out those obsolete TV's or computers. We take all computers, electronic equipment, plus VCRs, stereos, radios, phones and cell phones. For more information, please contact Doris Livezey, (408) 255-0605, dorislive@sbcglobal.net. Click here to view the flyer.
 
2010 Community Breakfast featuring Mayor’s State of the City
Thursday, February 18, 2010
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
San Jose McEnery Convention Center - 150 West San Carlos St, San José
Mayor Chuck Reed and the San Jose City Council cordially invite you to a very special event: The 2010 Community Breakfast Featuring the State of the City Address and Recognition of Outstanding Citizens. Seating is limited. Tickets must be purchased by February 5th. Order online at:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/92342. For more information, visit http://www.sanjoseca.gov/mayor/news/upcoming/upcomingevents.asp#SOTC or call (408) 535-4800.
 
work2future Green Cadre Program
The Green Cadre will take 50 low-income, Workforce Investment Act-eligible young men and women and create a leadership team whose members individually and collectively advance the Clean and Green Vision, advocate green workforce development, green their jobs and workplaces, and through civic engagement help diverse communities learn about evolving green or greened jobs. Click here to view the flyer for more information.
 
Cash for College Workshop
Get help to apply for a Cal Grant at a Cash for College Workshop and you could cash in on an extra $1,000 scholarship. For more information go to www.calgrants.org or call the San José Cal-SOAP Consortium at (408) 223-6774. Click here to view the flyer.
 

Calabazas Library Closure
The Calabazas Library will be closed for approximately two years starting Sunday, August 16, 2009. During this time, a new, larger library will be constructed on the same site. During construction, other San José Public Library branches that may be convenient to use are:

West Valley Branch Library
1243 San Tomas Aquino Road 
San José, CA  95117
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
150 E. San Fernando St.
San José, CA  95112  

To ensure that you receive the items you have requested, the pickup location for your pending holds must be changed. All pending requests with a pickup location of the Calabazas Branch will be cancelled when the library closes. For more information, call the Calabazas Branch at (408) 996-1536.
 


PETE IN THE NEWS

December 17, 2009
Government Technology, San Jose Pilots an iPhone App for Reporting 311 Services
"When you see a problem, you can take a photo of it, and by virtue of taking a photo of it, we've captured your GPS coordinates," said David Kralik, director of marketing for CitySourced, the company that designed the application. CitySourced has partnered with the 1st District's Councilman Pete Constant to spearhead the project, which utilizes Microsoft and Bing's mapping system.

December 15, 2009
CivSource, San José taps citizens to improve neighborhoods, save city money
Despite inclement weather, Kralik said the "download day" was a success. "The Councilmember [Pete Constant] was pleased, and one of his colleagues in a neighboring district showed interest as well." ... According to a statement prior to "download day," Councilmember Constant said his motivation behind the project stemmed from his experience in law enforcement. "Crime and urban blight go hand in hand," Constant said. "As a former police officer, I know how important it is to respond quickly to problems in our community. Mobile City Hall will provide my residents with an easy way to report neighborhood blight."

December 13, 2009
ABC7, iPhone app helps fight blight in San Jose
"The other important thing is we gather the GPS information so we know exactly where it's at," explained Constant. "If you report something on Winchester Boulevard, that's a long street, but we'll know within 10 feet of where you are reporting and that's really important." The app is the first of its kind in the Bay Area according to the company that developed it. It could be implemented in other cities if it takes off.

December 13, 2009
Stark Silver Creek, San Jose councilman turns to iPhone to fight crime, holds ‘download day’
According to Bay City News Service, "Pete Constant has announced a new iPhone application that allows users to snap pictures of these offending conditions using the phone’s built-in camera, then register their complaint with Constant’s office." Over 350 people downloaded the free application the first weekend it was available.

December 11, 2009
KTVU.com, SJ City Council Launches iPhone App For Logging Complaints
City Councilman Pete Constant has announced a new iPhone application that allows users to snap pictures of these offending conditions using the phone's built-in camera, then register their complaint with Constant's office. His staff in turn directs the maintenance requests to the proper city department.

December 11, 2009
KCBS, San Jose Uses iPhone To Fight Blight
Cleaning up your neighborhood could soon be as easy as making a few taps on your iPhone, thanks to a new app that makes it easier to report pot holes, blight and other problems to City Hall. Councilman Pete Constant said the Fight Blight App would be available for download at a special event Saturday morning at the West Side Community Policing Center.

December 10, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, Editorial: San Jose councilman has an app for blight
The latest entrepreneurial venture is by Councilman Pete Constant, who's running a pilot project with an iPhone application that allows people to instantly report blight or other problems — complete with a photo. No longer will somebody at City Hall be able to say: "Oh, that pothole people are talking about can't really be that deep...."Constant is trying out the application by CitySourced in his district, kicking off with a blight-fighting event Saturday morning where people can download the application. It'll be available on other platforms soon. Constant believes the photo and GPS features will save the city time and money.

December 4, 2009
Public CEO, iPhone App 'Mobile City Hall' Ready For Residents To Use
I am happy to report that the iPhone application is now ready for District 1 residents to use. The application will be available on other platforms in the near future. To celebrate the official launch of Mobile City Hall, we are hosting a "Download Day" on Saturday, December 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the West Community Policing Center (3707 Williams Rd.). ... Mobile City Hall is just one of many examples of the how popular Web 2.0/social media technologies can help us work more efficiently and cost effectively. Click here to learn how I'm using various social media tools to better serve you."

Councilmember Pete Constant | 200 East Santa Clara Street, 18th Floor, San José, CA 95113 | 408-535-4901 | district1@sanjoseca.gov

 
Pete Constant and Family

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:

Helpful Links for D1 Residents:

Service Providers for D1 Residents:

277-4528
535-3850
535-3570
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
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

Abandoned Vehicles

277-5305

Anti-Graffiti / Litter

277-3208

Animal Care Services

578-7297

Arborist/ Street Tree Permits

277-2762
535-3555

Bulky Item Pickup

535-5300
Cable TV Complaints
535-3500

Code Enforcement—
Blight Reporting

277-4528

Crime Prevention— Neighborhood Watch

277-4133
Dead Animal Collection
578-7297

Department of Transportation

535-3850
277-3700

Emergency Services

277-4595

Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste

535-3515

Green Team

283-8500
299-7300
998-5200

Neighborhood Development Center

723-4114
99-TREES
Parks Concerns
793-5510

Police Information

277-2211

Rental Rights & Referrals

975-4480
277-4444
279-7900
Senior Programs
277-4561

Sidewalk Repair

277-3158
296-8290

Street Light Repair

277-5517

Street & Signal Repairs- potholes

277-4373

Street Sweeping

535-5300
277-4341
792-5010
535-3500
Youth Services
535-3570

The Neighborhood Limelight
Do you know a neighbor, local business or organization that deserves to be recognized?  Let us know! Please click here to request a commendation.

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