June is a big month. For families with school-aged children, this month means that the school year comes to an end and summer vacation begins. For the San José City Council, June is the time when we amend, approve and adopt our new budget for the next fiscal year.

Creating a balanced budget, that tackles an $85 million shortfall against a backdrop of an economic crisis that we haven't experienced since the Great Depression, is a challenge to say the least. During this time of economic turmoil and uncertainty, it is imperative that we are fiscally conservative and focus on maintaining essential city services and public safety. We need to separate our needs from our wants. I recently sent an e-mail to all individuals on our District 1 mailing list that outlined the budget proposals that I have submitted to the City Council for consideration. For the latest on my budget proposals and where we are in the budget process, please click here. The Mayor will release the June Budget Message, which will include all of his recommended changes this Friday, June 5. While you can provide input on the proposed budget to the City Council during an evening final public hearing on Monday, June 15, I suggest that you don't wait until that late in the game. Call, write, e-mail or fax the Mayor and City Councilmembers to let them know what you think. Click here for each councilmember's contact information. The Council will vote to amend or approve the Mayor's June Budget message on Tuesday, June 16, and this vote will finalize the City's operating budget for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

Although most folks at City Hall seem intent on balancing the budget by cutting services, I am working with our business community to create new opportunities for businesses to expand and prosper. As a former small business owner myself, I know that businesses need cities to provide the tools they need to be successful. Last month, I wrote to you about the Sign Code changes I proposed for Stevens Creek Blvd. I am happy to report that the City Council approved my recommendations and now signs that are appropriate for Stevens Creek Blvd. will be allowed. I am also working to improve the business climate along another of District 1's important retail areas -- Winchester Blvd. To read more about this effort, click here.

In addition to being fiscally conservative, San José residents are also being asked to conserve on water usage. The State of California is facing a third year of drought and now the Santa Clara Valley Water District is asking for all households to reduce their water use by 15 percent. Click here to learn more about our city's water conservation efforts and what you can do to help.

As many of you know, the loss of so many jobs this year has resulted in more children not having access to adequate healthcare, if any, due to the loss of insurance coverage. District 1 residents were first introduced to the Lucille Packard Teen Health Van last summer, and I am happy to say that the Teen Health Van is coming back to the Starbird Youth Center this summer! Medical services are provided free of charge for homeless and uninsured youth ages 12 - 24. I would like to thank Dr. Seth Ammerman, Director of the Teen Health Van, for his very generous support of the teens of West San José. This incredible resource is being provided by the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. More information on specific free medical services available and a list of dates when the van will be visiting the Starbird Youth Center can be found by clicking here.

Another free resource that is available to all San José residents is the 2009 CommUnity Resource Fair. This free event, which will be held this Sunday, June 7, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., at History Park (1650 Senter Rd.), includes resource booths from city, county and community-based service providers, as well as activities for all ages and multi-cultural entertainment. To view the event flyer, click here.

The City of San José is proving that it’s got talent with its very own singing competition. The San José Downtown Association is looking for the best amateur voices in the city to compete in "San José's Got Talent." The competition will kick-off Scion Music in the Park concerts at Plaza de Cesar Chavez throughout July and August. Local celebrity judges will take into consideration audience response to each performance as they select the winner each week. Contest application, procedures, rules and prizes, as well as the Music in the Park concert schedule, can be found at: www.sjdowntown.com/music_in_the_park.html. You can also call (408) 279-1775 ext. 330 or e-mail talent@sjdowntown.com for more information. Entries are due June 19 so don't delay, I know that we've got great talent in West San José.

Speaking of talent in West San José, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and recognize some special achievements by local youth in District 1. One notable 13-year-old has been making headlines just recently as she spelled her way to the final rounds of the 2009 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Ramya Auroprem, an eighth grader from Joaquin Miller Middle School in the Rainbow Park area, correctly spelled words like: axolotl, geusioleptic and iliopsoas, but got tripped up on amarevile. Not only do I not know what these words mean, they're not even recognized in Microsoft's dictionary! You can read more about Ramya's incredible accomplishment by clicking here.

Out of 141 outstanding high school seniors that were recently named 2009 Presidential Scholars, five hail from the State of California, two out of those five attend San José high schools, and one of those students is from Harker School in District 1 -- Daniel J. Kim. Students achieve the prestigious distinction of Presidential Scholar based on their academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship and community service. Daniel will be honored for his accomplishment in Washington D.C., later this month. Click here to read the article.

Another Harker School student, eighth-grader Sierra Lincoln, won three awards at the VEX Robotics Championship of the Americas held in Omaha, NE, in April. Sierra was named champion for programming skills and robot skills, both of which are based on the number of points scored by a robot. Click here for the full story.

A 16-year-old teen that is making a difference in District 1 is Tanuja Undevalli. Tanuja has volunteered many hours at the West Valley Library with their Summer Reading Celebration, but even more impressive is the initiative that she took to create her own program, "Get Crafty." This program utilizes teen volunteers to do craft projects with children. It is completely managed by the teens -- from developing the craft projects and ordering supplies to leading the program every two weeks. For her outstanding efforts, Tanuja was recently named West Valley Library's Volunteer of the Year.

A heartfelt congratulations and job well done to Ramya, Daniel, Sierra and Tanuja! We are so proud of your wonderful achievements.

Your Neighbor,

P.S. I will be at the West Valley Library this Wednesday, June 3, from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. and the Immanuel Presbyterian Church on Thursday, June 18, from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. for my monthly community office hours.

PETE IN THE NEWS

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 regulation: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.

Councilmember Pete Constant
District 1, City of San José
200 East Santa Clara Street,
18th Floor
San José, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 535-4901
Fax: (408) 292-6448
Pete.Constant@sanjoseca.gov
www.sjdistrict1.com

Inside this Issue:

• Pete's Message
• 2009-2010 Budget
• Winchester Boulevard
• Water Conservation

Helpful Links for D1 Residents:

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

Service Providers for D1 Residents:

Connecting to your government:

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

Important Phone Numbers:

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