As some of you already know, I underwent spinal surgery in mid-August and have since been recuperating. It looks like the surgery was very successful and will significantly improve my well being. I appreciate all of the support and warm well-wishes that you, my friends and neighbors, have shown me. Although I've been trying not to rush the healing process, I am ready to get back to work and see to the needs of District 1 and its residents.
As we begin to fall back into our school-year routines, I think it is important for us to be mindful of the safety of our children as we walk, bike or drive them to and from school. Traffic around school zones can be chaotic and stressful, which sometimes ends with tragic results. The San Jose Police Department will be conducting "Operation Safe Passage" the week of September 14 - 18, 2009 to remind us all about the importance of traffic safety around school zones. To learn more about this enforcement effort, please click here.
On September 22nd the San José City Council is going to consider leaving taxpayers holding the bag, literally. A proposal to ban plastic grocery bags was heard last week by the Community and Economic Development Committee. The committee recommended moving forward with the process that may ban plastic bags altogether and tax paper grocery bags. There are a couple of different proposals likely to come to Council, but they all seem to have three things in common: illegal taxes, wasteful government spending and added costs to consumers. Please click here to read more about it.
September looks like it's going to be a busy month. There are many things happening around the district and the city that I would like to share with you. Please make sure that you take the time to look at our expanded event listing below.
District 1 has been a leader in providing opportunities for its residents to safely dispose of unused medications. My office has hosted three successful prescription drop-off events to date, and a fourth one will be held on Wednesday, September 23, from 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., at the Century 21 movie theater on Winchester Blvd. This prescription drop-off will be held in conjunction with a National Pollution Prevention Week mini resource fair, hosted by the Environmental Services Department. For more details on the prescription drop-off, resource fair or National Pollution Prevention Week, refer to the calendar section of our newsletter. I encourage you to come out and take advantage of these free services.
As co-chair of the City's Family/Domestic Violence Advisory Board and chair of the Office of Therapeutic Services Advisory Board, I would like to alert you to a couple of big events that I am personally involved with. The Family/Domestic Violence Advisory Board is organizing "Save Lives Speak Up," a domestic violence walk on October 2nd here City Hall. This free event is open to the public and will feature speaker Robyn Givens (ex-wife of former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson), followed by a walk procession, resource fair and community luncheon. Please click here to view the event flyer.
I have partnered with The Office of Therapeutic Services Advisory Board and the Valley Medical Center Foundation to host the City's upcoming 2nd Annual Disability Awareness Day on October 8th. Last year's inaugural event was very successful and we're really excited about what's in store this year. Click here to read about all the great things that are being planned for this special event. For a copy of the flyer, click here.
If you're staying in town for the Labor Day weekend and free this Friday night, I invite you to come watch me and my staff perform in a production of "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" at the Retro Dome, formerly known as the Century 25 Theater. September 4th marks the grand opening of the Retro Dome and I am excited and honored to be a guest performer for this special event. Feel free to bring the family, as this production is appropriate for school-aged children. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.TheRetroDome.com. I hope to see you Friday night!
Before I close, I would like to make a couple of acknowledgements. First, I would like to congratulate Harker Academy on its recent accomplishment of earning the distinction of being the first school in Santa Clara County to achieve a gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for its new science and technology center, Nichols Hall. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded this ranking to Nichols Hall, which opened in 2008, based on meeting certain levels of criteria including: the sustainability of the building site, how efficiently the building manages water, how it uses energy, its indoor air quality and its proximity to pre-existing infrastructure and public transit. To read more about Harker's accomplishment, please click here. Harker's achievement is a wonderful example of a District 1 school leading the way.
Congratulations are also in order for the Stevens Creek Neighborhood Association (SCNA) for hosting its first community event which was a huge success. The SCNA is District 1's newest and youngest neighborhood association, having only formed less than a year ago. The association partnered with the Salvation Army and Stanford Blood Center to hold a combination E-Waste disposal event and blood drive. The event even got a mention in Sal Pizarro's weekly column! Click here to read it. I think it is wonderful that this young neighborhood association is already making a big impact in the community.
Thanks again for all of the well-wishes that I have received. I am happy to be back at work. I hope you have a restful and relaxing Labor Day weekend!
Your Neighbor,
P.S. I will be holding office hours in the district from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, September 2, at the West Valley Branch Library and on Thursday, September 17, from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., at the newly renovated Cypress Senior Center.
OPERATION SAFE PASSAGE |
2nd ANNUAL DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY |
PLASTIC BAG BAG PROPOSAL |
Keeping Our Children Safe
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Celebrating Diversity, Awareness & Empowerment for Persons with Differing Abilities As Chair of the City of San José's Office of Therapeutic Services Advisory Board, I am pleased to co-sponsor (along with the Valley Medical Center Foundation) the 2nd Annual Disability Awareness Day on Thursday, October 8, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., here at City Hall. This free event is open to the public. Disability Awareness Day is intended to promote awareness and appreciation of people with differing abilities and to educate the general public on the many challenges people with disabilities face everyday. |
Plastic Bag Ban or Tax:
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| WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT 1? | ||
Teens Reach Meeting |
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| English as a Second Language (ESL) Conversation Group Tuesday, September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2009 6:30 p.m. West Valley Branch Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José Come on Tuesday evenings to practice speaking English in a small group with other adults. Ability to understand basic English is required. For more information, please call the library at (408) 244-4766. |
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Computer and Internet Tutoring |
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Office Hours |
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Master Gardeners: In the Fall Garden |
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Schoolhouse Rock Live |
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Anime & Manga Club for Teens |
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Labor Day Run |
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| National Eat-In for Lunch Monday, September 7, 2009 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. San Jose State University - El Paseo de San Carlos at 4th Street, San José Slow Food USA's South Bay Chapter invites you to a public picnic to draw attention to the need for Congress to pass a better Child Nutrition Act to bring real food to schools. The Eat-In on Labor Day is part of a National Day of Action when thousands of people at more than 250 events across the country will share a meal to demonstrate our commitment to getting real food in school lunches. Click here for more information. |
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West Valley Book Club |
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Regional Visioning Workshop |
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| Vietnamese American Community Center Vision Event Saturday, September 12, 2009 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Yerba Buena High School Gymnasium - 1855 Lucretia Avenue, San José This first Vision event is intended to provide a forum to solicit ideas and input about the needs, programs and services, for a multicultural community center. For more information, please call Jennifer Luc at (408) 535-8507 or e-mail at jennifer.luc@sanjoseca.gov. |
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| Kids Fun Day and Health Insurance Sign-Up Day Saturday, September 12, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Campbell Middle School - 295. W. Cherry Lane, Campbell Apply for foree or low-cost health insurance for children ages 0-19. This program is in partnership with Healthy Families, Healthy Kids, Medi-Cal, and Kaiser Permanente Child Health Plan. For more information call (408) 874-1828 or click here for the flyer. |
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| Grandparents Day at Cypress Senior Center Monday, September 14, 2009 11:45 a.m. Cypress Senior Center, Nutrition - 403 S. Cypress Avenue, San José Celebrate with your grandparents at this special event hosted by the Cypress Senior Center. Sign-ups are available at the Nutrition Office. For more information, please call (408) 241-5377. |
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Office Hours |
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The 1201 |
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| Coastal Cleanup Day Saturday, September 19, 2009 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Saratoga Creek from Prospect Road to Bollinger Road San Tomas Aquino Creek from Williams Road to Hamilton Avenue This eventi s an opportunity for community volunteers to spend a half-day cleaning a local creek of its litter, which benefits not only their neighborhood but the environment as well. There will be two cleanup sites in District 1. The Blackford NAC will be responsible for San Tomas Aquino Creek. Volunteers are still needed to clean Saratoga Creek. Interested residents can sign up to help by contacting Chris Peck at: cpeck@rei.com. For more information on how to get involved for future cleanup events or to see creek sites in Santa Clara County, visit www.cleanacreek.org. |
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| National Pollution Prevention (P2) Week - Mini Resource Fair Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Century 21 Theatre - Winchester Boulevard, San José National Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, September 21 - 27, is intended to increase public awareness and highlight simple actions that individuals can take to prevent pollution and protect the environment. Education and outreach activities are being planned at various locations throughout the city. The Environmental Services Department will host a mini resource fair in District 1 where residents can learn about pollution prevention tips for Earth friendly gardens, less-toxic homes, litter-free and healthy creeks, and safe disposal of household hazardous waste. Please click here for more information. |
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| Prescription Drop-Off, Mercury Thermometer Exchange, Cell Phone Recycle Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Century 21 Theatre - Winchester Boulevard, San José Residents will have the opportunity to exchange old-fashioned mercury thermometers for a new free digital thermometer, recycle old and unwanted cell phones, and receive a free reusable bag. This event is in coordination with Environmental Services Department to celebrate National Pollution Prevenrion Week. Please click here for more information. |
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| Reading to Rover Thursday, September 24, 2009 3:30 p.m. West Valley Branch Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José That’s right…read to a dog in the library! These gentle, well-trained dogs will be here in the afternoon for children who would like to practice reading to a furry friend. For more information, please call the library at (408) 244-4766. |
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| Inclusionary Housing Ordiance Community Outreach Meeting Thursday, September 24, 2009 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. West Valley Branch Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José In December 2008, the San José City Council directed Housing Department staff to return to the Council with a draft citywide inclusionary housing ordinance that incorporated various policy recommendations. At this meeting, the Housing Department will present the draft Citywide Inclusionary Ordinance. It is anticipated that the Department will present the final inclusionary housing ordinance as well as feedback and comments from these meetings to the City Council in late October. Please click here for more information. |
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Game On! Teen Gaming Party & Tournament |
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| 12th Annual Walk to End Domestic Violence Friday, October 2, 2009 11:00 a.m. (registration begins at 10:30 a.m.) San José City Hall Rotunda and Plaza - 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San José The Family/Domestic Violence Advisory Board is organizing "Save Lives Speak Up," a domestic violence walk on October 2nd here City Hall. This free event is open to the public and will feature speaker Robyn Givens (ex-wife of former heavyweight boxing champion, Mike Tyson), followed by a walk procession, resource fair and community luncheon. For more information, please call Eve Castellanos at (408) 535-8101. Please click here to view the event flyer. |
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| 2nd Annual Disability Awareness Day Thursday, October 8, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.(workshops start at 8:00 a.m.) San José City Hall Rotunda and Plaza - 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San José The 2nd Annual Disability Awareness Day (DAD) is a celebration of diversity, awareness, and empowerment for persons with differing abilities. DAD allows the opportunity for the entire community to learn the many challenges people with disabilities encounter on a daily basis. The event provides persons with differing abilities and their families the necessary information and resources to overcome those barriers. Through this event, we hope to build an integrated community in which all people are equally valued. Click here for more information and to view the flyer. |
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| Envisioning Public Art in District 1 Thursday, Octover 8, 2009 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. West Valley Branch :Library - 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San José Join your neighbors in a community meeting to discuss City of San José's Public Art Master Plan, look at public art projects, already underway in District 1, public art opportunities in District 1, and how the public art process works. The meeting will be hosted by Councilmember Constant and City of San José's Public Art Program. For more information, please click here for the flyer. |
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| IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS | ||
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| 2009 Fall Citywide Activity Guide West San José Community Center - 3707 Williams Road, San José Activity Guide is available now! Come by and pick up the free 2009 Fall Activity Guide. PRNS offers variety of classes such as music, dance, arts and crafts, exercise and sports and many more. For more information, please call Marissa Roberts at (408) 249-6580 or e-mail at marissa.roberts@sanjoseca.gov. |
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| FREE 2-Hour Home and Family Disaster Preparedness Training Tuesday, November 17, 2009 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. West San José Community Center - 3707 Williams Road, San José Imagine, In Two Hours You Can Learn: Ways to reduce the risks of loss and injury before disaster strikes, How to create a family disaster plan, What you should include in your personal and family disaster supplies , About opportunities to become even more involved and disaster prepared. Click here to view the flyer for more information. |
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Calabazas Library Closure
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. |
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PETE IN THE NEWS
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"
August 21, 2009
San Jose Mercury News, San José 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 José'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 José 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 José 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.
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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:
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Pete's Message
Helpful Links for D1 Residents:
Service Providers for D1 Residents:
277-4528 |
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535-3850 |
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535-3570 |
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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 |
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| 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 |
277-5305 |
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277-3208 |
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578-7297 |
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277-2762 |
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535-3555 |
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Bulky Item Pickup |
535-5300 |
Cable TV Complaints |
535-3500 |
277-4528 |
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Crime Prevention— Neighborhood Watch |
277-4133 |
Dead Animal Collection |
578-7297 |
535-3850 |
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277-3700 |
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Emergency Services |
277-4595 |
535-3515 |
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Green Team |
283-8500 |
299-7300 |
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998-5200 |
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723-4114 |
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99-TREES |
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Parks Concerns |
793-5510 |
Police Information |
277-2211 |
975-4480 |
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277-4444 |
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279-7900 |
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Senior Programs |
277-4561 |
277-3158 |
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296-8290 |
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Street Light Repair |
277-5517 |
277-4373 |
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535-5300 |
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277-4341 |
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792-5010 |
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535-3500 |
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Youth Services |
535-3570 |
The Neighborhood Limelight
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