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On February 10th I went with Vice Mayor Chirco and Councilmembers Constant and Kalra, Harry Mavrogenes the SJRDA Executive Director, and City staff to Sacramento to meet with State Legislators representing San Jose. We met with Senators Alquist, Maldonado and Simitian, and Assemblymembers Beall, Caballero, Coto, Fong and Ruskin, and staff for Monning and Torrico.
The primary goal of the trip was to present information regarding: The impact of the State budget on the City and Redevelopment Agency budgets Our concerns regarding jobs lost in the region and the City’s latest unemployment rate of 12.5% The impact of the State budget on our ability to stimulate job growth and to attract businesses to San Jose Our public safety, transportation and infrastructure priorities and funding needs
We also presented information regarding the positive impact of the City’s contributions to the local and State economies including:
Our clean technology initiatives such as solar development Our lead role in biotech incubators and start-up companies Software investments through our business clusters
We stressed the importance of the State’s Enterprise Zone program and its contributions to increasing jobs and support of small businesses in the City. Overall, the State Legislators appreciated the information we provided regarding the City and the Agency’s budgetary condition. They also shared information about the budget challenges facing the State and the requirement for a 2/3 vote to raise revenues and pass the budget.
Our advocacy raised awareness on the budgetary issues that are critical to the City of San Jose. We thanked our State Legislators for their past support and for taking the opportunity to meet with us. Assemblymember Joe Coto has already contacted my office to assure our group that he is determined to help San Jose. We will continue to strengthen our relationships with our representatives in Sacramento and to advocate for our great city.
All the Best,
Nancy Pyle, Councilmember | | 
March 1st 2010
Newsletter
print version is
available here
San Jose Irish Week Bag Piper
WOWW 2010 Photos:
Kaiser Permanente Leads
2010 WOWW Senior Participants in Warm Up.
Councilmember Nancy Pyle & fellow seniors walk through
the Oakridge mall.
Los Alamitos Creek Trail
Prom dress drive
 Captain Sully Sullenberger
Additional WOWW pictures:
Senior participants Venus Phillips and Marlene Duffin
at the 2010 WOWW.
Councilmember Pyle and Almaden Relay for Life Organizers Patti Gahagan & Karen Zimmerman at the
2010 WOWW.
Alex Fraser, Councilmember Pyle and Former Los Gatos Mayor Mike Wasserman
at the 2010 WOWW.
The 2010 Census will be taking place in March—watch for the materials that are being mailed to your home.
Click here for the Citywide Phone Directory
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| | | | | | | City of San Jose Welcomes Irish Delegation ---
The City of San Jose will welcome San Jose’s Sister City delegation, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland, Councilor Emer Contello and a delegation of City officials and business representatives this week. Each March, the Lord Mayor of Dublin visits San Jose with a civic delegation to celebrate the important 24-year civic bond that San Jose and Dublin share through a formal sister city relationship. Several events are being held to honor the San Jose—Dublin relationship including a San Jose Premiere of the Irish Film The Secret of Kells.
When: Wednesday, March 3rd
6:30pm- Reception with Light Refreshments included with ticket
7:00pm- Movie Introductory Remarks
7:15pm-8:45pm- Movie Showing
Where: Camera 12 Cinema, 201 South Second Street, San Jose
Come see this academy award nominee for Best Animated Feature on Wednesday, March 3rd and support the San Jose-Dublin Sister City Program. Tickets can be purchased at www.sanjosedublin.org or at the theater box office on the day of the show and funds raised will benefit the Sister City Cultural Exchange Program. Additional information on the film can be found at the official site: www.thesecretofkells.com.
Third Annual WOWW a success ---
Thank you to all who attended my Third Annual Westfield Oakridge Winter Walk and Resource Fair for Seniors. It was wonderful to see all the available information and so many active seniors out on Friday, February 19th. This event gets better each year and my office is already brainstorming ideas for next year. Expect to see us next February for the Fourth Annual WOWW!
H1N1 Update ---
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department is urging the public to get vaccinated against the H1N1 influenza virus to protect against pandemic H1N1 and prevent another outbreak of the disease. Children under 10 need two doses to get the best protection against the H1N1 virus. Contact your health provider or find a retail pharmacy that carries the vaccine near you by visiting www.sccphd.org/h1n1vaccine.
The Public Health Department is offering free H1N1 flu vaccinations for people who do not have health insurance or for those whose medical providers do not have the vaccine. The clinic is located at 976 Lenzen Ave., Suite 1500, San Jose, 95126. The clinic is open Monday – Friday, 8:15 am – 11:30 am & 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Vaccinations are available on a walk-in basis only and appointments are no longer necessary. For more information please call 408-885-3980.
Getting vaccinated for both H1N1 and seasonal flu is an important way to protect yourself and to prevent the spread of disease. Eighteen people have passed away in Santa Clara County from H1N1 already. Young children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the H1N1 virus.
The H1N1 flu strain has dominated the seasonal flu strain and reduced the spread of seasonal flu this year. Unfortunately, it is possible that the seasonal flu will strike this spring. The seasonal flu is a serious illness that kills over 36,000 people every year nationwide. For more information about the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine, visit the Santa Clara County Public Health Department website.
Santa Clara Family Health Plan launches an affordable, quality health insurance plan for small businesses ---
On March 1st, 2010 Santa Clara County will launch Healthy Workers, a new health coverage program for small businesses and their workers. Healthy Workers targets businesses with 2-50 employees that don’t currently offer health coverage. Eligible employees must live in the county and earn $17/hour or less.
Healthy Workers offers comprehensive benefits with low co-pays and no deductibles. The provider network includes Valley Medical Center and the County and community clinics. Healthy Workers will be administered by Santa Clara Family Health Plan
Costs for the program are intended to be affordable for all parties. Employers pay a monthly premium of $150/employee, employees pay $75/month and the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System provides services at a discounted rate.
For more information, please call Ann Gray at the Santa Clara Family Health Plan at 408 410-0811 or email at
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.
Los Alamitos Creek Trail Update ---
Last fall, District 10 resident Mrs. Beverly Head passed away due to an accident on the Los Alamitos Creek Trail. Mrs. Head’s family and hundreds of people in the community expressed concern about the accident and requested that the City of San Jose consider new trail rules and/or a public education campaign to improve safety on the trail. In response, Councilmember Pyle hosted a community meeting to gather input and recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission consider this issue.
The City of San Jose Parks and Recreation Commission discussed public safety on the City’s trails in response to the tragic passing of Mrs. Head. Minutes from the meeting and information about the next steps the City will take can be found here.
Prom Dress Drive ---
This City of San Jose in partnership with Councilmember Madison Nguyen presents Operation Prom Dress! In this tough economy many girls are discouraged from attending their high school prom due to the high cost. Please help our San Jose students have a memorable prom by donating a new or gently used dress today! Donation boxes are at community centers throughout San Jose, including the Almaden Community Center until March 27th. For more information please contact Lan Thao Nguyen at 408-535-4959 or at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Captain “Sully” Sullenberger visits San Jose International Airport ---
The Airport is reaching out to the Silicon Valley business community to engage active corporate support for bringing more flights and air service to San Jose, as well as to enlist private-sector participation in the grand opening celebrations for the New Airport scheduled in June. As part of this effort, Mayor Chuck Reed and the Airport, in cooperation with its modernization project contractor Hensel Phelps Construction Co. invited Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger to join a group of business executives to discuss the lessons of leadership and preparation at the construction site of the new Terminal B. Capt. Sullenberger was the US Airways pilot who averted tragedy a year ago when he safely brought his plane down into the Hudson River in New York City after a bird strike damaged the aircraft engines.
| | | | | | | | Upcoming Events: | | | | Help San Jose select new street lights for the City – March 3rd and 4th
Do you walk, bike, drive, or jog in San Jose after dark? Are you frustrated by the inability to discern colors under San Jose’s current yellow streetlights? Would you like to see the stars at night when you step out your back door? Are you eager to see the City realize its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Then please attend a streetlight demonstration and provide your input on the new types of streetlights the City is considering. This City-sponsored event will be held on Wednesday, March 3 and Thursday, March 4 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
With the adoption of its Green Vision in 2008, the City of San Jose made a commitment to convert all of its 62,000 streetlights to zero emission lights—streetlights powered entirely by renewable energy—by 2022. The Green Vision is a ten-point plan the City Council adopted in 2008 that seeks to cut the City’s carbon footprint by more than half.
We need to hear what residents think about the quality and quantity of light these new lights cast. In addition to answering a short survey, residents will also have the opportunity to participate in a target detection test that will help us understand how well people see under different lighting conditions.
Participation in the study is on a “first come, first served” basis. We urge you to RSVP to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 408/975-3850 to reserve your spot. Please use “Public Streetlight Demo” in the subject line. Be sure to note which day you would like to attend. Participants will meet downtown and will be shuttled to and from the demonstration site. You must be a San Jose resident to participate in the study. To ensure the survey is unbiased, those who work for a lighting or component company or design or install lights will be unable to participate.
Weigh in on the selection of the City’s New Fire Chief – Tuesday, March 9th
The City of San Jose is recruiting for a new Fire Chief and is interested in receiving community input regarding the ideal qualities that the City Council should consider in evaluating candidates for this position. San Jose’s Fire Chief oversees the operations of 700 firefighters and 34 fire stations providing paramedic, hazmat, and fire fighting services for our community of more than 1 million residents. The City has contracted with Teri Black & Company, a public sector executive recruitment firm, to conduct the search.
Please attend the District 10 community meeting:
Tuesday, March 9th
Vineland Library Community Room
6:30-8:00pm
Great American Litter Pickup – Saturday March 20th
Meet up at Pioneer High School (1290 Blossom Hill Road)
Free Breakfast and Lunch provided!
Community service credit available for High School Students
Happy Hollow Grand Re-Opening: Saturday, March 20th
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been closed for renovation since July 9th, 2008. Since then a $72 million green renovation has been underway that has included renovation of the 12 acres of existing ride areas and the Zoo. This will add four additional acres to the facility which includes several new animal exhibits, Veterinary and commissary buildings, an Education Center, Guest Services and a Gift Shop, a Restaurant, a new parking lot and pedestrian bridge, and updates the facility to meet all ADA requirements.
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been important to San Jose families since it first opened its’ gates in 1961. The new Happy Hollow has combined innovative green architecture with whimsical fun and will open it’s new gates on March 20th, 2010. For more information check www.happyhollowparkandzoo.org/.
Save the Date: Grand Re–Opening March 20th, 2010
1300 Senter Road, San Jose
9:00am–Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
10:00am–Gates Open to the New Happy Hollow
Census 2010 Notice
A successful census is in your hands.
In March 2010, every household in the county will receive a Census questionnaire. We need you or someone in your household to fill it out and mail it back by April 1, 2010, in order to ensure an accurate people-count in San Jose and Santa Clara County.
It’s Important – The federal government uses census numbers to allocate more than $435 billion annually for community programs and services, such as education, housing, public health, senior services, transportation, neighborhood improvements and more. The information you provide makes sure that San Jose and Santa Clara County get their fair share of these funds.
It’s Easy – Every residence will receive a short form with 10 questions that are simple and fast to complete. Forms are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and Russian. Phone language assistance is available in over 50 languages by calling (866) 872-6868. Lines will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week from February 25, 2010 through July 30, 2010.
It’s Confidential – By law, the Census Bureau cannot share an individual’s answers with anyone, including welfare and immigration agencies. Every Census worker has taken an oath for life to protect confidentiality of census responses. Violation would result in a jail term of up to 5 years and/or a fine up to $250,000.For more information about 2010 Census, visit www.sanjoseca.gov/Census2010.asp.
| | | | | | | | Constituent Concern Chart February 2010: | | | | | | | | | | | | Community Calendar | | | | City Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 2nd: 1:30pm
San Jose City Hall, 200 East Santa Clara Street
www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/agenda.asp
Almaden Senior Association Meeting
Wednesday, March 3rd: 9:45am
Almaden Library and Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue
District 10 Youth Advisory Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 3rd: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Almaden Library and Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue
Almaden Valley Community Association (AVCA)
Monday, March 8th: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Almaden Library and Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 9th: 1:30pm
San Jose City Hall, 200 East Santa Clara Street
www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/agenda.asp
City of San Jose Fire Chief Selection Community Outreach Meeting
Tuesday, March 9th: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Vineland Library Community Room, 1450 Blossom Hill Road
City Council Meeting
Tuesday, March 16th: 1:30pm
San Jose City Hall, 200 East Santa Clara Street
www.sanjoseca.gov/clerk/agenda.asp
St. Patrick’s Day
Wednesday, March 17th 2010
District 10 Youth Advisory Council Meeting
Wednesday, March 17th: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Almaden Library and Community Center, 6445 Camden Avenue
Playa Del Rey Neighborhood Association Meeting
Wednesday, March 17th: 7:00pm Pearl Library, 4270 Pearl Avenue
Hoffman Via Monte Neighborhood Association Meeting
Wednesday, March 17th: 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Hoffman Via Monte Neighborhood Center, 1180 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 2
Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association Meeting
Thursday, March 18th: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: TBD
www.stfna.org
Great American Litter Pickup
Saturday, March 20th: 8:30 am – 11:00 am
Pioneer High School, 1290 Blossom Hill Road
Happy Hollow Grand Re-Opening
Saturday, March 20th: 9:00 am
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, 1300 Senter Road
VEP Community Association
Community Home Fair
Tuesday, March 30th: 7:00pm
Gunderson High School, 622 Gaundabert Lane
www.vepca.net/
| | | | | | | | Quote | | | | “Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” | | | | -William Faulkner | | | |
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