Latest News from around West San Jose

August 28- Councilmember Constant gets interviewed live on 95.3 KRTY at the COMPAQ BBQ.

News Releases	Pete Constant in the News
December 11, 2009 Councilmember Pete Constant Unveils “Mobile City Hall” for Smartphones September 15, 2009 Councilmember Pete Constant Announces a Smart Way to Report Neighborhood Problems June 9, 2009 Councilmember Pete Constant Celebrates Installation of First Solar Powered Bus Shelter in the City of San José April 17, 2009 Councilmember Pete Constant Able to continue Success with 4th Annual West Valley Senior Walk Despite Budget Crisis March 26, 2009 Councilmember Pete Constant Hosted Greek Flag Raising Ceremony with a Special Recognition of Fallen Heroes February 12, 2009 Councilmember Pete Constant Appointed to National Policy Committee October 06, 2008 Councilmember Pete Constant Kicks-off the 1St Annual Disability Awareness Day and CADRE Emergency Preparedness Conference for People with Functional Disabilities June 20, 2008 Councilmember Constant’s Prescription Drop-Off Event Huge Success More News Releases »	SEE ALSO: Pete Constant in the News 2008 Archives » Pete Constant in the News 2007 Archives »
	September 22, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council votes to ban most plastic and paper bags beginning in 2011 The city's legal department also will need to determine whether the city can require retailers to charge a fee for bags and how the fee would be shared by retailers and the city. That bothered City Councilman Pete Constant, who cast the lone vote against the recommendation. September 22, 2009 PublicCEO.com, Councilman Introduces Smart Phone Application “Everyone has a pothole, broken tree limb or abandoned car that they want the City to do something about,” said City Councilmember Pete Constant, who is helping pilot the new application. “This application will make it possible for people to use the smart phone they already have with them to provide all of the information we need to address the problem right away, without having to lookup a phone number or send an email at a later time.” September 20, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose generous with home loans to top city officials The City Council on Tuesday will consider a requirement that it approve all future home loans to senior staff. Currently, the council approves only loans made to top officials it directly appoints; the rest are approved by the city manager or redevelopment director. "My goal is to pause — let's not give any more money away," said Councilman Pete Constant. "I don't think it's fair to the taxpayers." September 15, 2009 PC World, IPhones Take on Potholes With City Reporting Tool San Jose signed up last week and the system should be running there in about two weeks, according to Pete Constant, a member of the San Jose City Council who participated in CitySourced's demonstration. Initially at least, the offices of councilmembers will act as the front end for the system at the city, with staffers looking over reports and alerting the correct department to address the issue, Constant said. The data eventually may go directly to the agencies. September 14, 2009 IT Business Edge, How Should Business Records, Personal Devices Mix? The city of Saratoga, Fla., has implemented a similar policy. But Councilman Constant isn't convinced it's realistic. "Text messages are a way of life for people," he told the Mercury News. September 14, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council to decide on extended moratorium for new bail bonds shops "I'm glad he is amending the proposal — he's addressing an area that was a significant shortfall in the policy," Constant said. But, he added, "I don't believe a moratorium is the right approach. It really isn't getting to the heart of the issue we have now, which is how our zoning code is classified for bail bonds" operators. Constant, a former police officer, also noted that the North First Street area where many bond shops operate is close to the district attorney's office, the main jail and the public defender's office. "It's an area where you would expect to have those types of businesses." September 9, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose officials face practical hurdles in disclosing public texts and e-mails on personal devices Councilman Pete Constant, a prolific text massager and Facebooker, noted for example that after checking with AT&T, he found there is no way for him to export text messages from his personal iPhone to his official city e-mail system, where anyone could retrieve them under a public records request. "We have to be careful how we look at the limits of technology as well as the expansion of technology," said Constant, who represents West San Jose.... "Text messages are a way of life for a lot of people," Constant said. "I know I rely on them." September 6, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council members consider more review of routine spending "When I did the research and refocused on why we did what we did, it was clear the number one reason was to reduce time and administrative cost," Constant said. "When I think about how much time and effort we put into getting things to the council for action, we'd end up costing more money than we'd save." He added, "I couldn't find anything where anybody felt there was a mistake made, where we could have done something cheaper." September 4, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Action Line: Parking at curb can cost you "Can a car park at the corner, blocking the access from the curb? The California Vehicle Code says that you may not park in front of or upon that portion of a curb that has been cut down, lowered or constructed to provide wheelchair accessibility to the sidewalk." I wanted to remind you that parking at any corner is unlawful under CVC 12500(a): Prohibited Stopping, Standing, or Parking. August 30, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: Movie theater reborn as the Retro Dome Friday night's opening performance should be a lot of fun for anyone who's seen it before or just remembers the cartoon shorts from Saturday morning TV in the 1970s. San Jose City Councilman Pete Constant and his staff also will have roles in the opening night production (Constant will appear in the "I'm Just a Bill" number). August 21, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose city officials to consider curb on plastic bags "I really question if the problem of plastic bag litter is as serious as people say it is," Constant said. "I can see litter all around, but it's very rarely plastic bags." Constant opposes a ban or fee and argues that plastic bags are reused for everything from lining trash cans to picking up dog waste. August 17, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Many records still secret despite San Jose's promises of openness Councilman Pete Constant gave the Mercury News copies of his June and July cell phone bills. The text logs show Constant actually does most of his texting during council meetings, but overwhelmingly to his wife and his chief of staff. August 12, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Divided San Jose council votes to keep 'soft money' ban in place City Attorney Rick Doyle said he supports contribution limits in principle but that with the city still fighting to defend them in court and judges giving mixed signals, attempting to enforce them now would likely only lead to more lawsuits and legal bills. Mayor Chuck Reed, Vice Mayor Judy Chirco and council members Sam Liccardo, Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio agreed. August 7, 2009 Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, Winning library construction bid in San Jose may lead to lawsuit Mayor Reed, who also voted to support Swenson’s bid — along with council members Judy Chirco, Rose Herrera, Sam Liccardo, Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio — said there’s no basis to the objections from other contractors and the Building and Trades Council. August 5, 2009 Milpitas Post, Solar Panels Lighting VTA Bus Shelters Constant was instrumental in working with San Jose city departments to move this stop along. ... Now that the lit shelter is up and running, Constant speaks highly about the experience. He encourages all residents to lead the way for positive changes throughout their community. "I would just like to encourage everyone out there to start looking for projects like this," he said. "No project is too large or too small ... if we can make a large impact." August 5, 2009 The Metro Fly, Council Reconsiders Stalling Library Mayor Chuck Reed and councilmembers Sam Liccardo, Pierluigi Oliverio and Pete Constant voted against the motion to scuttle the bids. Supporting the June 23 vote were councilmembers Nancy Pyle, Madison Nguyen, Kansen Chu, Rose Herrera, and Ash Kalra. August 4, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose approves bailout of underwater loans to former police auditor Constant said the city must evaluate the need for such loans, noting that Attard had also kept a house in San Francisco. Seven other city officials have loans under the program. August 4, 2009 KLIV, San Jose budget woes cause cancellation of annual festival Councilmember Pete Constant says that while the festival has grown into a cornerstone event for the community, the city's financial troubles have left him little choice but to cancel the annual gathering. August 2, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, State budget deal may force San Jose to cut $100 million "It's going to be very difficult," Councilman Pete Constant said. "The City Council is really going to have to come together and talk about where and how we should be spending our money. And I don't think we've been having that kind of real, honest, genuine discussion." June 30, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Political fun at San Jose Stage Company fundraiser San Jose Councilman Pete Constant good-naturedly lampooned his anti-porn stance for a second straight year. No ball-gag this time, but he did get a few lashes from a dominatrix's whip.... Courage wasn't lacking from Team San Jose CEO Dan Fenton and Jim Cogan, Constant's chief of staff. The pair gyrated in skintight leotards in an unforgettable dance skit. June 28, 2009 South Winchester News, Green Cup Yogurt hold Grand Opening San Jose mayor Chuck Reed was on hand as well as Councilmember Pete Constant for the ribbon cutting ceremony. 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 Jose’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 Jose 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 Jose 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. May 27, 2009 The Metro Fly, Pete Constant: Mayor, Sheriff Or ... What? Makes sense, he says, considering his dual background as a cop and elected politician. Constant obviously isn't prepared to commit, but he did say last week that a run for sheriff was indeed on his mind. "It's a possibility," he said. "However, I wouldn't run against Laurie Smith." Why not? "I wouldn't beat her," he confesses.... That probably means Constant has some time to make up his mind about whether he will run for mayor—or maybe state Assembly? "Anything is possible at this point," Constant says. "I have about two years before I have to make a decision, and all my energy is focused on my re-election." May 27, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose moves to impose wage freeze on hundreds of workers The council on Tuesday will consider a proposal by Councilmen Pete Constant and Sam Liccardo to cut their own salaries 3.75 percent, matching a cut the city manager and other top officials already agreed to. Constant also proposed imposing the same cut on nonunion management and professional employees earning more than $90,000 a year. But the council's agenda-setting committee declined Wednesday to schedule a vote on that, citing concerns that the city should first try to reach an agreement with the workers rather than imposing concessions.           May 26, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council wrestles with its own salary amid deficits, layoffs and service cuts Constant also recommended that nonunion executive managers and professionals earning more than $90,000 a year take the same 3.75-percent pay cut as the city manager; lose their car allowance; and pay more of their health care premiums. He said the pay cut would free up $1.8 million, and the reduced health coverage would save an additional $2 million. "This is more than a token gesture," Constant said, noting the savings could pay for 25 more cops or preserve the mounted police unit. May 24, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: How to avoid getting McEneryed Saggau and DeRollo — representing Bad Boys Bail Bonds and arguing against a proposed city crackdown on bonds offices — had listed some 30 contacts with City Council members and their top staffers over a few weeks in March. Included were the offices of the three council members — Pete Constant, Nora Campos and Ash Kalra — who drafted a counterproposal to actually loosen the rules for bail bond establishments. May 18, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Bail bonds offices draw neighbors' ire in San Jose ... council members Pete Constant, Nora Campos and Ash Kalra, fearing the impact new rules would have on the county jail, are proposing that the city actually loosen its current regulations: The offices, they say, should be allowed to operate around-the-clock and with no new limits on where they can operate. "Is this a perceived problem or an actual problem?" said Constant, the proposal's author and a frequent sparring partner of Liccardo's. May 4, 2009 West San José Resident, S.T.A.N.D. course gives students new resources to stay out of gangs District 1 Councilman Pete Constant says, "What really makes this program unique is that it really gets the kids before there is a problem. It gives them the education and tools they need to make the right decisions.” . . ."If we are going to make a difference, now is the time we need to get in there and stop the gang trend from going up," Constant said. May 2, 2009 San José Mercury News, Nonprofits plead for funding from San Jose in thin year for budget,... San Jose Councilmen Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio have suggested that much of the money the city pays to nonprofits be suspended. Constant defended his view that some Healthy Neighborhoods money should pay for city services like crossing guards rather than nonprofit programs. The city council will decide in late May how much money, the city's Healthy Neighborhood Venture Fund, will go to the nonprofits. April 28 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Mayor Reed: San Jose council should be involved in picking police auditor Councilman Pete Constant, along with Councilmember Campos, agreed on the top four to be interviewed by a council and community panel, as well as the top two that would be interviewed by the full council. Amid developments of Mayor Reed’s assignment of Independent Police Auditor, Constant and Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio back the mayor's account and say he clearly disclosed the potential conflict of Chris Constantin's brother being on the force. April 21 2009 San José Mercury News, San Jose council votes down porn filters at public library computers Constant, who suggested porn filters in October 2007 after news surfaced that men were viewing sexually explicit images on city library computers, proposed along with Reed that the city adopt a policy similar to Santa Clara County libraries. A year and a half of debate came to a head late Tuesday when the City Council rejected spending money on the technology. April 21 2009 San José Mercury News, San Jose civilian police watchdog announces he is resigning Councilman Pete Constant, along with Mayor Reed, steadfastly stayed in Chris Constantin's corner, saying they saw nothing wrong about the relationship before they voted unanimously to approve the appointment. Amid mounting criticism inside and outside City Hall, San Jose's civilian police watchdog resigned Monday evening, less than a week after his appointment. April 17, 2009 San José Mercury News, New police watchdog's brother is a San Jose cop Councilman Pete Constant, a former police officer, along with Mayor Chuck Reed gave statements seeing nothing wrong with the new independent police auditor having a brother on the department. Independent Police Auditor Chris Constantin revealed publicly Friday during an interview with the Mercury News that his older brother, George Constantin, is an officer. April 12, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Herhold: A new development in San Jose's cultural wars Constant now wants filters on any computers used by kids in branch libraries; a clear policy that says library customers are not to look at filth in the view of kids; and an on-off switch that would allow adults to choose whether they wanted filters.... "I think they (Liccardo, Kalra and Chirco) agree there is a problem that needs to be addressed," he told me. April 11, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose City Council to reconsider porn filters at libraries "There have been multiple complaints of lewd acts and public indecency," Constant said in a memorandum to the council, that "are not discouraged or even addressed by the city's current computer use policy." ... Constant and Mayor Chuck Reed urge a stronger stance that would essentially mirror the policy in Santa Clara County libraries. It would start with making computer users when they log in acknowledge city policy to be mindful that children may be present and to behave accordingly. April 9, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose's workers' comp costs exceed comparable cities Constant added that the large number of workers' compensation claims by officers and firefighters before retiring on disability should be expected; if someone retired on disability without having filed injury claims on the job, he said, "we should be questioning that disability retirement." ... Constant said that while the audit raises valid concerns, he would oppose offsetting disability pensions with workers' compensation benefits for officers and firefighters — as is already done for the city's civilian workers — or reducing their disability leave pay. April 6, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Reed, San Jose community leaders concerned over misdemeanor arrests of Latinos Councilman Pete Constant, a former San Jose police officer, said the appearance of racial profiling and an overaggressive, unchecked police force was false. "I don't think there is any conspiracy where the police say 'Let's go out and hunt this group,' " Constant said. "What you hear from people is that they want us to crack down on people who are drunk and obnoxious and urinating in the street. The general public expects us to set a standard of conduct and enforce these nuisance crimes." March 22, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Herhold: San Jose City Council members going away when the going gets tough Last week, three council members — Kansen Chu, Pete Constant and Ash Kalra — left on a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., for a League of Cities conference.... Constant, who's been a killjoy in criticizing the travel expenses of retirement-board members, has seen sense: He's serving on the League of Cities' Public Safety and Crime Prevention police and advocacy committee. (PSCP, for those of you scoring at home.) March 17, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Editorial: Constant irks cops but represents the public But for residents and taxpayers, Constant has been spot-on when it comes to public safety. He understands its importance, but he also understands the city's limited resources and the need for responsible oversight on pension boards. ... It's healthy for every incumbent to face a challenger, and Constant's calls on some issues are definitely worth debating. But this public safety snit says more about the police union than it does about him. March 16, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: Constant Superstition Constant was set to leave for Washington, D.C., to attend a National League of Cities conference Friday — Friday the 13th. His flight was leaving from Gate A13 during the 13th hour of the day (1:40 p.m.). After the plane was fully boarded, everyone had to get off because of a mechanical failure. ... "Could it be because I was the honorary bell ringer at the Winchester Mystery House last month to commemorate Friday the 13th?" Constant wondered. March 15, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: Is there a return policy on this politician? "I find it offensive they think they can buy me," the District 1 councilman told IA when asked about it, calling the accusation that he has ignored his brothers in blue "totally baseless."... "If they think they have somebody who can do better, bring it on," Constant said. "I have a great relationship with my constituents, and I plan to earn my votes in my next election." March 8, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: San Jose City Council hails 'Square Root Day': 3/3/09 The council's Geek Squad — made up of Pete Constant, Kansen Chu, Pierluigi Oliverio and Ash Kalra — held up cards that formed the equation 3 x 3 = 9. In his less-than-brief remarks commemorating the occasion, Constant described it as a "Silicon Valley's geek holiday." Judging by the man-giggling going on in the chamber, he had found Square Root Day's core constituency. March 3, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose neighbors hit the streets in search of illegal signs Constant believes those using the public right-of-way to advertise their businesses are the main offenders. Most of the businesses advertised are located outside of the neighborhood, he added. "They are trying to get an unfair advantage by using these cheap, cheesy signs all over the city," he said. "We want to make sure our businesses become part of our community and not a blight on our community," Constant said, adding that he is not "anti-sign." March 1, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Editorial: The great crossing guard panic of San Jose Councilmen Pierluigi Oliverio and Pete Constant decided that they needed to protect this essential public safety service, so they proposed that the $2 million per year cost should come out of the Healthy Neighborhoods Venture Fund... (Mayor Reed) carved out the one legitimate point in the venture fund controversy, which was to change the grant schedule so that the council could include the program as part of its overall budget discussion. This seemed to be Constant's main concern ... February 27, 2009 Field of Schemes, San Jose launches A's talks, Facebook group San Jose is definitely trying to be the front-runner in the where-will-the-Oakland-A's-end-up derby, at least in terms of public image... More seriously, San Jose councilmember Pete Constant has called for public money towards an A's stadium to remain on the table if it's part of "a deal that makes financial sense for the city." February 22, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Urban market expected to get San Jose council's OK Adding to Campos' concerns were meetings three other council members had with McEnery on downtown issues last fall. Two of the council members, Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio, both said Sunday the urban market wasn't discussed. The third, Dave Cortese, now serves on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. February 19, 2009 SJSU News, Porn filters: The battle of protection vs. free speech in local, national libraries While age was not a question in the polling, yes-responding participants generally were older and parents, which is a key point for Constant in his proposals to the City Council. In the interview with Constant he said, “My biggest group of supporters are parents,” also adding that, “The city should not be paying for people to view porn.” Constant is not alone in his beliefs and has the support of not just parents, but SJSU students as well. February 15, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose officials debate spirit of tobacco settlement as they feud over use of the funds Councilmen Pierluigi Oliverio and Pete Constant have proposed taking about half of the money now awarded to the community programs and using it to cover the $1.9 million annual cost of the police department's school crossing guard unit for the next three years.... Oliverio and Constant also want grants from the tobacco fund, which now are committed in March so programs can begin receiving it by July 1, to wait until May and June when the city finalizes its budget. February 13, 2009 KLIV, Constant named to national policy commitee Pete Constant will represent the city in maters of public safety and crime prevention ... Constant said he hopes to not only share what San Jose has been doing right during his one-year term on the committee, but to learn from other cities what they've been doing to cut down on crime and improve public safety. February 11, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose councilmen renew push to tap tobacco money for crossing guards Parents and school officials joined Councilmen Pierluigi Oliverio and Pete Constant in urging that proceeds from a multistate settlement with tobacco companies be used to provide stable funding for the city's nearly 200 police-supervised crossing guards.... Constant, who also sits on the committee, suggested the city hold off awarding the tobacco money to nonprofits until it deals with the rest of its budget. February 10, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: San Jose Councilman Pete Constant will be ringing in Friday the 13th Constant says he was honored to be asked to perform the duty at the Winchester House, which is in his council district. Knowing that the house's superstitious originator, Sarah Winchester, was obsessed with spider-web patterns, he'll be wearing a tie emblazoned with one. February 4, 2009 San Jose Mercury News, Two San Jose pension trustees resign Reed, Constant and Liccardo in particular have cited concerns about pension fund oversight and have called for greater expertise on the boards, including replacing council members with financial experts. Constant and Liccardo are trustees themselves. 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. December 10, 2008 Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, San Jose council OKs $6M for San Pedro Square, expanded affordable housing An expansion of minimum affordable housing requirements to cover all new construction in the city passed on a 9-2 vote, with Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio opposed. Until now the policy only applied to redevelopment zones in the city. December 2, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Latest effort to fill San Jose City Hall retail space moves forward The 9-2 vote on the retail space, with Pete Constant and Pierluigi Oliverio opposed, came after Constant's motion to drop a "labor peace" provision was defeated. That provision, which would require any tenant of the space to "assure that no labor dispute or unrest will occur,'' has been blamed over the years for stalling previous deals for the 6,200-square-foot space along South Fourth Street. December 1, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Third try for San Jose City Hall retail space Councilman Pete Constant on Monday said he wasn't convinced the new proposal will do enough to bring in bidders — You can't keep doing the same thing over and over again and getting the same result," he said. "What is the cost of inaction? That's the question we need to be asking ourselves." November 19, 2008 The Metro Fly, SJDA Prez Wants Police Board The council's pro-labor union majority supports issues dear to police union members who do not want citizens reviewing their activities. And three members of the non–union aligned council bloc include former SJPD officer Pete Constant, ex-prosecutor Sam Liccardo and a former military man, Mayor Chuck Reed. November 11, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Retirement board controversy flares anew in San Jose "Anybody who read that retirement travel audit would have to ask how a culture like that could be created in a government entity," Councilman Pete Constant, a retired policeman and trustee of the pension plan for the city's civilian workforce, said in response to Overton's nomination. November 10, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council debates affordable housing plan "There was a quantity of outreach. I don't believe there was a quality of outreach," said Constant, the council's lone Republican, who often aligns himself with business interests. He and Oliverio cast the dissenting votes Monday. November 5, 2008 The Metro Fly, U-Turn of Phrase Councilmember Pete Constant, a Waite supporter who happens to be adamantly opposed to the recall, says he believes Waite's version of events. "I'm taking him at his word," Constant says, sounding more generous than credulous. "As a person who frequently has to speak in public, I know that sometimes what comes out of my mouth is not what I meant." November 2, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: Flip-flops on San Jose council? Perish the thought Lest you think him a mere mercenary, Constant added that he came to peace with Measure J after "long talks with the mayor" and city administrators, who assured him that they had no plans to pull a future switcheroo and re-route the 911 fee into areas besides public safety. He also made known his concerns about the council "setting a precedent of, 'Let's put this fee out there, and if somebody complains or we get sued, we'll have the voters legitimize it." October 29, 2008 The Metro Fly, Cop Vs. Cop "They're not happy with me these days," Constant observed, though he thinks that in these economic times, the union should take the 5.5 percent raise the city offered and run to the bank. October 28, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council gives nod to proposal for Willow Glen business district "I don't think it should take an act of the council every time to make minor adjustments," Councilman Pete Constant said. October 20, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council members looking for answers on high rate of drunk arrests Councilman Pete Constant said the numbers show only the city's lack of tolerance for drunken behavior. "Just because other cities have decriminalized this kind of behavior or said it's not that important, doesn't mean we should," said Constant, a former San Jose police officer. "If you are out drinking and can't control yourself, then San Jose is not for you. You should go to one of those other places. We really care about our quality of life and the safety." October 14, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Police 'sunshine' proposal worries San Jose mayor, council members The other council members on the rules committee - Judy Chirco and Pete Constant, a retired police officer - agreed. The committee suggested that the city attorney and administration report back in two weeks on suggestions for a more limited disclosure requirement. October 10, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: Public Service Lots of public servants and other notables will be serving up food at the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits' inaugural "Be Our Guest" luncheon Oct. 30 at the Rotary Summit Center in San Jose. San Jose City Councilman Kansen Chu will be the maitre'd, and celebrity servers will include his council colleagues Pete Constant and Forrest Williams... October 8, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Herrera, Waite battle it out in San Jose's District 8 "What San Jose needs right now are more people who are true fiscal conservatives, who really understand the impact and intricacies of budgeting," Constant said. "Pat really knows how to read a balance sheet." October 8, 2008 The Metro, ... and BART Counterpoint Staffers said that Reed just doesn't get upset when people disagree over policy matters. "He's not happy that I'm opposing it, but he's not mad at me personally," Constant said. September 30, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council gets refresher course on ethics rules "What we are looking at is broadening those boards with more individuals with expertise in handling the large sums we have invested, just to ensure our retirement funds remain sound," Constant said. September 29, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose seeks voter approval to maintain taxes Even some council members — Vice Mayor Dave Cortese and Councilman Pete Constant -—voted against putting Measure J on the ballot, arguing the current 911 fee, approved in 2004 and set to expire June 30, was never intended to be permanent. September 25, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: Heavy Campaign San Jose City Councilman Pete Constant, meanwhile, is putting his weight behind a fundraising effort for hunger programs. Constant, whose initial weigh-in was 271.6 pounds, says he's already gotten sponsorship commitments from San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and City Manager Debra Figone. September 24, 2008 The Metro, Evite Wars Constant believes he is being targeted by the POA because someone is leaking statements he made regarding the union contract in closed council session, which are private meetings among councilmembers. "I have had people on POA board give me exact quotes of things I said in closed session," Constant said. "One of the 11 people [councilmembers] in that room is giving them information." September 23, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Cost of San Jose convention center expansion soars to $300 million "It is one of the most critical items in San Jose in terms of economic development," Councilman Pete Constant said. "We don't have a facility large enough, or quite frankly, nice enough, to fill our needs." September 22, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose police auditor to advise Africans on police oversight "We don't have department heads travel to the other side of the world very often," Councilman Pete Constant said. "I have a hard time seeing the public purpose or benefit to the residents of San Jose." September 20, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: If this is how Carl treats his friends... Among other things, Constant says in the letter that Guardino told him angrily "you come to our events, then you treat us like this." Constant took the comment to mean that Guardino considers Constant to be in SVLG's debt."If, in fact, the SVLG expects that there is a quid pro quo for participating in events, please take my name off your list," Constant snapped in the letter. September 20, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: Political soundtrack, Take 1 If Constant is hoping to bridge the gulf between them, he might consider a hip-hop classic as accompaniment, MC Lyte's "I Cram to Understand You (Sam)." September 19, 2008 West San Jose Resident, Ex-Doobie Brothers member to perform at San Jose neighborhood festival "We are going to have people who live, work and play in District 1," says Constant, who adds that everyone who lives in and around the district is invited to attend. "It is just a community event to get out and socialize and get to know your neighbors." September 15, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose's future mayoral contenders already tangled in turmoil "I'm not the mayor of District 1 and Sam's not the mayor of District 3," Constant told the Mercury News later. "I feel it's my job to look out for the city as a whole." September 3, 2008 The Metro, Not So Fast The proposal failed at the council rules committee Aug. 20—the same day Campos went into labor—with Mayor Chuck Reed and Councilman Pete Constant hammering the idea of restricting fast food restaurants. Both councilmembers acknowledged childhood obesity as a problem, but suggested it was better to address it in a more proactive way. August 22, 2008 West San Jose Resident, Fatal hit-and-run prompts city to look at traffic calming near senior center Constant said he is not sure what is feasible, but he wants to explore the possibility of lowering the speed limit in front of the center to create a senior zone similar to those found near school campuses. He suggested lowering the speed limit from 25 miles per hour to 20 or 15 miles per hour. August 22, 2008 West San Jose Resident, Health van rolls into to Starbird Youth Center, offering free health services "The [program] was looking for under-served communities to provide services to, and we fit the bill. So it was just a matter of good timing," said District 1 Councilman Pete Constant, whose office was responsible for coordinating the Starbird stop this summer. August 18, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose rivals gearing up for fight over fast food ban Constant also wondered whether the proposal contradicts the city's goal to bring more jobs to San Jose - not fewer - to spark economic development. "I think we have a lot of serious issues facing San Jose right now," Constant said. "This is something that is going to take away from the real work that needs to be done." August 14, 2008 West San Jose Resident, City hopes to bring in more money with bigger signs There is a striking difference, in terms of marketing and signage viewable from the street, that could cause consumers to spend their dollars in Santa Clara instead of San Jose, Constant said. "We want to give every opportunity we can to dealerships when consumers are choosing between San Jose and Santa Clara," said Constant, adding that the ordinance can also affect where dealerships choose to locate. August 13, 2008 The Metro, Greens Strike Back Constant says he's not about to back down from his positions. "They are mad we are not interpreting things their way," Constant said. "To be blunt, their position on the issue doesn't sway me." August 13, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Seniors decry speeders after hit-run deaths "We want to make sure this area is safe for you," said Constant, whose district includes the senior center. "And we want to make sure you get as expeditiously across the street as you can." August 10, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs - Most passionate' award goes to . . . Williams Constant then tried to convince IA that he does, in fact, know a thing or two about passion. "I have five kids," he pointed out with a smile. August 6, 2008 The Metro, Grand jury schools the city on its mishandling of money for History San Jose, but that may not be its only nonprofit problem "I honestly feel whenever we have nonprofits and we provide them with grants it should be a incubation process to get them on their feet and be self-sufficient," Constant said. "Fundraising has got to be a priority for all our nonprofits in the city and we need to make sure their board is actively fundraising. I don't know if they are." August 6, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Higher taxes: too much all at once? Constant and Vice Mayor Dave Cortese voted against the 911 fee, which Constant called "an illegal tax." August 5, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Council weighs changes to help taxicab owners "It is reasonable for us to have a minimum fare," said Councilman Pete Constant, who has joined forces with councilwomen Nora Campos and Nancy Pyle. "These are small, independent operators." July 13, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs "It was pretty crappy for them to do that," he grumbled. "I was outraged. It is ludicrous to contrive something like that to make me look bad." Besides, all the contract negotiations have been held in closed session, so how Ricketts or anyone else at the union would know Constant's position on the matter is a bit unclear. July 11, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose's Easterbrook group set to hold first community meeting District 1 Councilman Pete Constant is scheduled to speak, and representatives from the San Jose Police Department will give an update on the district. July 9, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Battle over noise, expansion brews between San Jose mall, neighbors Working with City Councilman Pete Constant's office, residents hope they can get all parties to agree on addressing the complaints before moving forward with the build-out. June 25, 2008 The Metro, Snippy Cups He brought a range of props that would have made Carrot Top proud—water bottles, tin cans and sippy cups—in an attempt to show that even after banning bottled water, the city has to deal with soda and other liquids in cans and glass bottles. "I don't see how we are getting to the recycling problem," Constant said. He also argued that it poses a potential health threat to ask employees to rely on reusable cups and tap water. June 22, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: Funny Politics No surprise, then, that Constant will be the guest host June 30 at this year's skit show, which mocks South Bay politics and political figures. June 18, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Budget deal to add 25 cops "We can save money without impacting services," said Councilman Pete Constant, a retired cop and current pension fund trustee. "This is by all accounts a great idea." June 16, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose mayor, councilwoman verbally tussle over hiring more cops Constant put it more bluntly. "We have to balance the budget without playing political games and grandstanding," said Constant, in a jab at Campos, who has raised her profile in recent months by sharply criticizing the mayor. June 11, 2008 The Metro, Certified Crazy Constant summed up the surprise result like this: "Look how much the Vietnamese love me, and I'm not Vietnamese." Indeed, Constant became something of a hero in the Viet community when he supported the popular Little Saigon name for the business district. "I think people are looking for more conservatism in the fiscal areas," says Constant. "You can't deny we are in a financial crunch." 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 said. 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 May 7, 2008 San Jose Biz Journal, San Jose City Council won't allow rezoning of 7 acres near Santana Row Pete Constant, Forrest Williams, Nora Campos and David Cortese and Nancy Pyle voted in favor of the proposal. May 2, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Nguyen recall effort is just plain wrong Nguyen's service to San Jose should be judged not by this one issue, but by everything she has done since taking office. Attempting to recall her will splinter the community, pit leaders against each other and reopen wounds that will take years to heal. May 1, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Cities worry about 911 fee San Jose Councilman Pete Constant called 911 "one of the most essential core city services that we offer, and I don't think you should be taxed for it. That's what we pay our basic property and other taxes for." April 30, 2008 The Metro, I Love a Staff In Uniform The whole point is to make his staff stand out at these events so that constituents and other folks know them, Constant said, and he claims that at a recent event, the uniform was a hit. "It looks professional for all of us to wear matching shirts and jackets," Constant said. "It really looked like we knew what we were doing." April 30, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Later hours for downtown S.J. nightlife Councilman Pete Constant, a retired police officer, backed the chief. "I really am concerned about some of the public safety issues," he said, "and the strain we continue to put on the department as we give them more and more to do with less resources." April 25, 2008 San Jose Biz Journal, Small signs, big problem "This doesn't make sense for an auto row when right across the street is the city of Santa Clara, which makes it much easier to do business," says San Jose Councilman Pete Constant, who called the code "almost incomprehensible," requiring business owners to hire consultants to decipher it. "As a city we should be giving them the tools to succeed," Constant says. "There was a time in San Jose when signs were equal to bad. We still have that mentality." April 17, 2008 San Jose Resident, West San Jose neighborhood gets stop sign after years of trying Wardall did not give up. He succeeded in obtaining another traffic study a year later with the help of District 1 Councilman Pete Constant. "He was very committed, and it is good to see people whose actions speak louder than words," Constant said. April 11, 2008 West San Jose Resident, Valley Fair mall hosts walking event for seniors "The purpose of this walk is to motivate seniors," said San Jose City Councilman Pete Constant, who hosted the event. "This is the biggest year yet," Constant said of the event that drew more than double the participants than previous years. April 8, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Leaders talk budget with public Constant compared the city's money woes to that of a family that overspends. "We have done a great job charging," he said, "but we haven't done a great job paying off those balances." April 7, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose leaders look to loosen downtown restrictions for street vendor Councilmembers Nancy Pyle, Pete Constant, Nora Campos and Sam Liccardo showed early support for the idea, but Liccardo questioned whether more street vendors would sap money from street fairs. Attendance has dropped at some events, and organizers of the San Jose Jazz Festival and Christmas in the Park indicated that sponsors do not like outside competition. Constant said it seemed unfair to make vendors leave when big crowds visit downtown. 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. February 28, 2008 The Almaden Times Weekly, Breaking ground for new SJPD home “We have to stop putting things off to pay for later,” said Councilmember Pete Constant at the Dec. 18 council meeting prior to the vote approving construction. “We can’t ignore the fact that we not only have a $175 million deficit, we also have $700 million in deferred maintenance. We really need to struggle with those issues. I can’t see making sacrifices in infrastructure and public safety…” he said. February 21, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose budget process secretive, critics say Constant said: "I don't see anything improper with those types of informative meetings. . . . Now, if we'd agendized to accept those recommendations and put them into the budget, then I wouldn't have been comfortable." February 21, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose city auditor's right to examine travel costs questioned The council's Rules and Open Government Committee voted 2-1 to revisit the matter in two weeks so lawyers for the city and the trustees could discuss their differences. That suggestion was made by Councilman Pete Constant, who is a beneficiary of one pension fund and a trustee of the other. February 20, 2008 The Metro, Mr. Saigon It was at that meeting that many Vietnamese-Americans stepped up to the microphone to endorse Chu's proposal—which was co-authored by Councilman Pete Constant. It gave Constant a funny feeling inside. "I got the feeling he went out and drummed up people to come forth," Constant said. "You might speculate ... not only is Daisy running, but he is running. February 16, 2008 The New York Times, In San Jose, Disputes and Anger After Vote on Street Name “You simply can’t impose a community name on a community,” said Councilman Pete Constant, one of three members to support the Little Saigon name. “It was clear to me there was almost unanimous support for Little Saigon,” Mr. Constant said. “I felt it was my job to help the community get ownership of the name.” February 14, 2008 FogCityJournal.com, San Jose City Council schedules vote for naming of Vietnamese business district "We owe it to the community to have certainty, to have some consistency to what we do,'' Councilman Pete Constant said at Wednesday's committee meeting. "In this case we've kind of made a mess.'' February 10, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Dispute colors Tet celebration Little Saigon politics have split the city council, leading to unprecedented no-shows at an event that celebrates the heritage of 10 percent of San Jose residents. But councilmen Kansen Chu, Dave Cortese, Pierluigi Oliverio, Pete Constant and Forrest Williams enthusiastically participated in the parade. February 10, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, A night of dueling galas in Silicon Valley Golden Circle is a dizzying affair to say the least. I ran into far too many people to mention, though I’ll give it a shot: ...Pete and Julie Constant... February 9, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Reed recasts 911 fee opinion San Jose Councilman Pete Constant, also a critic of the 911 fee, appreciates Reed's dilemma. He hasn't decided whether the council should seek a vote on the fee, noting that "we haven't been very successful" asking voters to approve taxes. February 8, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Internal Affairs: Guess Who's Coming to the Tet Parade So for members of the public who are actually capable of recognizing a city council member, look for Forrest Williams, Pete Constant, Pierluigi Oliverio, Dave Cortese and Kansen Chu riding up Market Street in classic Thunderbird convertibles. February 8, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, 'Little Saigon' vote in question Councilman Pete Constant - one of three council members who voted against the Nov. 20 motion, citing concerns the community was being steamrolled - said the matter should be investigated."If you know that people are going to be with you and follow you whatever the name is going to be, I think that is a violation," Constant said. "I think the Brown Act is pretty clear." February 1, 2008 The Vanguard, Featured Article: Councilmember Pete Constant "My goal is to get District 1 organized into neighborhood organizations to bring back that sense of community-people who know each other, socialize with each other, help each other-I've been very successful in starting neighborhood organizations and getting the leadership started and getting different parts of the district to work together so that they are not reinventing the wheel. On the City-wide level, my number one priority is the budget." Constant said. February 1, 2008 West San Jose Resident, 'City paves way for new public access TV studio' At a Jan. 17 meeting of the city's public safety, finance and strategic support committee, city staff members described the changes to Councilmembers Pete Constant, Pierluigi Oliverio, Madison Nguyen and Forrest Williams, and they indicated their early support. January 30, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Peace sought in 'Saigon' dispute Councilman Pete Constant - who voted against Saigon Business District out of concern the council was ignoring popular sentiment - was surprised by Cortese's sudden turn. "It's kind of late to start on these efforts," Constant said. "The listening should have started before the council's vote." January 28, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, San Jose council calendars out of date "I'm disappointed," said Councilman Pete Constant, who began posting his calendar online with weekly updates in March - months before the council made it a requirement. "It's disheartening to me to see council members not taking this as seriously as they should. I feel it's important that the public knows what we're doing." January 27, 2008 San Jose Mercury News, Pizarro: 'Body Worlds' is a Tech Museum blockbuster, attracting 285,000 But while the financial picture was good, Friess was even happier about the visibility gained by the Tech. Saturday morning, he said, San Jose City Councilman Pete Constant visited the exhibit. January 11, 2008 West San Jose Resident, Constant backs new memorial for SJ's public safety officials "I think it's important that there's a memorial that reminds the general public of the ultimate sacrifice by city employees to keep people safe," Constant said. January 3, 2008 West San Jose Resident, 'Cheap Hauling' trucks face scrutiny from some neighbors "I'm very concerned that the company is doing business without regard to the image and appearance of our community." Constant said. Top of Page

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