In life, many events occur simply to maintain the balance of nature. No matter what disturbances may influence nature, nature always seeks to return to equilibrium. In physics, balance is possible only when a body is stable, that is, with equal forces influencing it from opposing sides. In economics, financial markets work best when they have achieved equilibrium.
In comparison, consider the state of our current San José City Council. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that our local governing body in San José is woefully out of balance.
In fact, this serious imbalance poses a very real threat to many integral groups, which, sadly, are not held in high regard by the special interests and labor unions that are driving our local government. Their view these days on what is important in San José is one that is cynical and myopic and increasingly detrimental to our neighborhoods and homeowners, our children, our schools, our business owners, and our non-profit organizations. This imbalance has reached a point where the influence of special interests and labor have grown so disproportionately strong that they can demand, and deliver, a huge majority on any vote they choose, regardless of the impact it has on the entire city.
Without any sense of balance, as we have seen all too frequently at City Hall, fiscal irresponsibility, corruption and dishonesty run amok. Backroom deals and favor-banking help few, while harming many. If there had been balance in the city council, for example, would we have had a “Sunshine” ordinance long ago that would have prevented the recent scandals at City Hall?
With so many critical issues facing our city, like the proposed Coyote Valley development, ongoing investment in downtown and North San José, and the struggle to regain our economic footing, just to name a few, can we really afford to allow this imbalance to continue? Can we afford to elect leaders who have spent years advancing only the causes of labor and development at all cost?
In politics, the people are best served when our governing bodies are in balance.
I believe we need to be sure that San José’s long-term growth is based upon the needs and reasonable aspirations of our city, in a measured and smart manner. We must not rush development simply to create short-term construction jobs that help line the pockets of the labor unions, lobbyists, and developers, without a plan that will create long-term jobs and opportunities for our residents and have a positive fiscal impact on the city.
There’s been a lot of talk about balancing the budget and it’s certainly of vital importance. How much more can we cut city services and staff and still maintain core city services? How will we balance a budget when we are continually being ordered by the courts to pay civil damages for poor decisions made by our current city council? Again we have to ask, would we be in this position had there been balance?
Balance may not be easy to achieve and maintain—and it will not come in one election cycle—but only with balance in our local government will the City of San José be able to right the course and forge a new path of hope, opportunity, and prosperity, not only for our children, but for their children, as well. We must maintain the big picture and ensure we balance progress with sustainability, new development with preservation, fiscal investment with future returns, and benefit with burden.
Pete Constant is a retired San José police officer and small business owner who is running for San José City Council,
District 1.
Thanks Pete. It’s clear that we have a governing machine that embraces development for the sake of development without any sensibility. The corrupt majority on the council have effectively turned the clock back about 50 years, bent on reviving the uncontrolled suburban sprawl that got this town its current reputation as the world’s largest bedroom community.
Every incumbent running for re-election or election to higher office needs to be defeated.
You write “How will we balance a budget when we are continually being ordered by the courts to pay civil damages for poor decisions made by our current city council?” The problem is that there are no negative consequences for those council members who made these bad decisions that cost the city money.
Well Pete it sounds like you’d make an excellent replacement for the incumbent. Good luck on your campaign. By the way, what are some of your visions for those areas you brought up such as Coyote Valley and North San Jose even though these areas aren’t necessarily in District 1?
You can still email your potential San Jose Mayor candidate questions to be asked of all the candidates to
[email protected]
We will be taking questions until at least 9:30am on May 13th by email and at the forum
Please attend the United Neighborhood’s San Jose Mayor candidate forum and Meet the District Attorney candidates and hear brief presentations this Saturday, May 13th – 8:30 – 11 am at San Jose City Council Chambers. Free parking is available at 4th Street garage with entrances on 4th or San Fernando
We are sorting dozens of already submitted Mayor questions and the best questions that focus on city wide or neighborhood public policy, budget, spending decisions and important issues not previously or widely discussed will be asked. You can ask your individual questions to each candidate before or after the forum.
You can individually meet the District Attorney candidates from 8:30 to 9:00 AM and they will make brief comments starting at 8:45 am
San Jose Mayoral Candidates Forum will start at 9:00 AM followed by a brief – Meet the Mayor Candidates
Our co-sponsors are League of Women Voters, San Jose Mercury News, NBC Channel 11, and Silicon Valley Community Newspapers.
United Neighborhoods http://www.unscc.org
UNSCC News and Information Links for hundreds of information links about neighborhood and public policy issues
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/unscc-news/links
If you have neighborhood, city or Santa Clara County wide issue or discussion information – Please email your information links that you believe will contribute to a greater understand of issues to
[email protected]
with your (a) name/s, (b) association / organization, (c) email address, and (d) day & evening phone numbers which are REQUIRED, so we can contact you about appropriate content or issue questions.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UNSCC-NEWS/
You mention “Free parking is available at 4th Street garage with entrances on 4th or San Fernando.” How about pointing out that our overpriced City Hall is just a couple of blocks away from our wonderful underutilized light rail system.
#4 – Ed
Will a transcript of the debate be posted so that individuals unable to attend the debate will be able to read the questions, and the answers from each candidate? It does not do any good to submit questions if one is unable to find the answer.
I submitted a question to channel 11 for the mayoral debate held at city hall last Monday, and I am sure others also submitted questions. Yet, the Mercury News only mentioned two submitted questions, and one was, “Why aren’t there any trees planted outside the new city hall?”, but did not bother to provide each candidate’s answer.
Of course, if this question is typical of the selection of the public submitted questions then maybe San Jose does deserve its current government.
“The problem is that there are no negative consequences for those council members who made these bad decisions that cost the city money.”
Hugh,
It is true that there is very little accountability built into the system. But there is the ballot box, as Rich has pointed out in several recent postings. We have to exercise our right to vote and vote to bring balance back to the process.
Dan,
Coyote Valley is a concern for me. It is the classic chicken and egg dilemma. Which comes first, the housing or the jobs?
If we build the housing before the jobs are created we will face serious issues. Traffic congestion will be severe. There will be a tremendous strain on core city services – services that we are having difficulty delivering to the neighborhoods we already have.
I feel we should remain committed to building the revenue producing businesses that provide jobs before we build large scale housing and look for innovative ways to bring the needed infrastructure to the are so we can be ready for the businesses.
I believe we should continue our efforts in downtown. Downtown is the heart of the city, and a strong heart will promote and ensure the health of the rest of the city.
The North San José plan promotes economic activity, livability, and long term vitality. A majority of the project area lies along a transit corridor. The policy includes the limited conversion of industrial land to residential use in an effort to provide housing close to jobs and to reduce the impact of traffic conditions. It’s too bad the project started forward without the buy-in of our neighbors. That’s why we need a more collaborative city council.
-pete
Hugh,
So you and many of your friends and neighbors will be coming by VTA Light rail and enjoying the brisk walk to City Hall ?
I have mostly given up giving local public transist instructions to San Jose events since most people do not use it but will try some more for you
VTA Service – Bus and Light Rail
For more information and schedules, call (408) 321-2300 or visit http://www.vta.org
* Light rail: service is available to Santa Clara and First/Second Streets
* Bus: Lines 22, 63, 64, 65, 72, 73, 81, 522, Highway 17, and the DASH shuttle
You can also use the Bike Lanes on San Fernando Street connecting Diridon Transit Station with City Hall and Light Rail. Visitor bike racks have been installed at San José‘s new City Hall. Eight racks were installed at five public entrances .
As a decades long Transit advocate who rode transit every day for years, I am very disappointed that VTA dominated by local politicians designed a very dysfunctional Light Rail transit system where 85% of the operating costs are paid by taxpayers which is one of the worst tax subsided systems in the US and nationally known for a poorly operated system by transist advocates and transporttion professionals.
Light rail does not go to or takes multiple transfers or 2-3 the time to get to many desired destinations compared to driving which discourages most people but I am glad you and your friends still use it and I try as off as I can when I am have the extra time ( usually 2 x) to get to my destination by taking transit and my bicycle to get to my destination
Many residents of central and south San Jose have tried to go to their jobs in North San Jose or downtown and have discovered that it takes 2-3 times the normal time even in rush hour traffic so do not use Light Rail
San Jose and county residents deserve a compehensive well operated transit system not our mostly dysfunctional poorly operated VTA Light Rail system
I was at the Mayoral forum at Willow Glen last night but did not take any notes (regretfully). When will notes from this forum and the one on Saturday be made publically available for those who could not attend this or any other forum?
Given this and performance at other forums I’ve been to, and her performance so far as VTA Board Chair and SJ Vice Mayor, Cindy would not have gotten my vote if I were residing in San Jose.
I also agree w/ Hugh’s post. Like too many other events in downtown San Jose, the free weekend parking is heavily promoted as a means to access the area instead of public transit. Promotion of abundant “free parking” for major events is one of the many reasons why VTA Light Rail and many of its buses are underutilized. Not good when one pays over $3/gallon for gasoline nowadays.
I’m amazed there has been almost no response here…. Are Pete and I the only one’s concerned about the labor dominance at city hall?
Pete: a lot of nice platitudes. “Balance” HHmm, I think I’ll re-name you “Grasshopper”
What? Are we going to ask Campos to get a divorce?
Willow Glen NA Mayor Candidate Forum was recorded by a numer of people
Joe Carpenter had a audit recording made and it takes him a day or two to review it and post it as a MP3 audio file to
http://www.citizensanjose.com/blog/
where he has many Mayor Forums and other political races – MP3 audio recordings
We are working on getting as audit recording and possible video archive recording. It is too much volunteer effort to do a transcript.
The Willow Glen Resident and Willow Glen Times had reporters who should have stories soon
Will let you know tomorrow about audito and video recordings but to be sure to hear it come on May 13th to City Hall betwen 9-11 am
NBC11 will have a webcast of the United Neigbhorhood etc – San Jose Mayor Candidate Forum but so far NBC11 has not archived their candidate forums for later replay so will be lost if you are not watching it live like their previous Mayor’s forum at California Theater Forum which was audio recored and available at CitizenSanJose.com
Absolutely we should be concerned about how organized labor sets the agenda for the elected officials of San Jose (as well as our neighboring cities).
Elected officials commit political suicide if they try to take on the labor machine. Tammany Hall was nothing in comparison.
By the way, I am not anti-labor. However, I’m opposed to the hard ball tactics taken by the South Bay Labor Council. I’m also opposed to organizations that stifle true debate and that have forced our elected officials to march in lock-step to the detriment of our communities.
Cindy is a pawn of labor and she follows their agenda. I’m hoping that she does not get the endorsement of the Mercury News, and am actually optimistic that they will endorse one of the other candidates.
David Pandori has integrity and independence. He has my vote.
I am not anti-lablor either. Labor unions are important and have a place in our community. And as many of you may know, I was a labor union director for the San josé Police Officer’s Association n the early 90’s and have been a labor union member for a large part of my working life. For our economy to grow so that San José can prosper business and labor must work hand-in-hand. But the interests of business, especially small businesses who are the backbone of our economy, must also be adequately represented.
I honestly feel that it is critically important for all of the residents of San José to have a voice of independence on the city council. It is important to have someone who has the experience and perspective from both business and labor, as well as the non-profit sector and the arts, to draw upon when making decisions. This will truly best serve the city of San José and its residents.
-pete
#15 – You’re right on about SBLC, but Cindy is not their pawn, she’s family. Don’t forget her former occupation, a Director at SBLC. Prior to that she was an aide to then County Supervisor Ron Gonzales.
Also of interest, browse the financial reports of Manny Diaz and Jay James on the City Clerk website, and you’ll discover each has retained Darren Seaton, known to help other inferior (e.g. Gregory and Pyle) SBLC candidates slide into office on a dishonest “trail of slime”.
I really wish I could vote for Pete, and for Sam.
Congratulations Pete on the endorsement of the Mercury news. We need more independent voices on the council and not just silent machine politicans. I wish I lived in your district.
I haven’t been too interested in local politics… until now.
The mayoral race is getting exciting! I’m hooked.
This particular blog is about Mr. Constant though…
Firstly, I want to say that city council seats are supposed to be non-partisan…right… that’s a laugh.
I happened to watch Pete (Rep) and Jay James (Dem) field questions at Lynbrook HS. I was very impressed with Pete’s concise and intelligent answers to virtually every question thrown his way. I was VERY impressed with his non evasive answers and WILL be voting for him… and I am a democrat!
Jay was another story – He didn’t seem to have answers to many of the questions thrown his way and when he did, the seemed convoluted. My impression of him is that he did not seem real genuine and I had a suspicion he might be running out of self-interest/special interest. The Mercury confirmed my gut instinct today – Jay seems to have been put up on the Union’s shoulders and has many friends (wink, wink) in the building trades. The fact that Mercury stated that Jay’s view on the Coyote Valley project were “incoherent at best” gave me a belly laugh. I saw the same incoherence for myself – at least someone else confirmed that.
If Pete doesn’t pull off a victory in June I, I will be stunned. If anyone in District 1 votes for Jay without seeing them side-by-side fielding questions, or better yet, debating… will have to be blind, deaf and dumb. District 1 can’t afford puppets like Jay James and neither can San Jose. Pete doesn’t seem to be supported by any strings. Well, I hope not. It will be interesting what the Unions (Jay’s Oz) will do to thwart off Pete’s momentum.
The Mercury article prompted me to read both candidates websites.
I thought this was interesting:
Pete has more Dems than Reps on his endorsement list. Jay has only Dems.
Everyone on Jay James list of endorsors should be ashamed of themselves – they MUST just doing favors or following party lines… I am so tired of that s**t.
Artismo
I haven’t been too interested in local politics… until now.
The mayoral race is getting exciting! I’m hooked.
This particular blog is about Mr. Constant though…
Firstly, I want to say that city council seats are supposed to be non-partisan…right… that’s a laugh.
I happened to watch Pete (Rep) and Jay James (Dem) field questions at Lynbrook HS. I was very impressed with Pete’s concise and intelligent answers to virtually every question thrown his way. I was VERY impressed with a local candidate… and I am a democrat!
Jay was another story – He didn’t seem to have answers to many of the questions thrown his way and when he did, the seemed convoluted. My impression of him is that he did not seem real genuine and I had a suspicion he might be running out of self-interest/special interest. The Mercury confirmed my gut instinct today – Jay seems to have been put up on the Union’s shoulders and has many friends (wink, wink) in the building trades. The fact that Mercury stated that Jay’s view on the Coyote Valley project were “incoherent at best” gave me a belly laugh. I saw the same incoherence for myself – at least someone else confirmed that.
If Pete doesn’t pull off a victory in June I, I will be stunned. If anyone in District 1 votes for Jay without seeing them side-by-side fielding questions, or better yet, debating… will have to be blind, deaf and dumb. District 1 can’t afford puppets like Jay James and neither can San Jose. Pete doesn’t seem to be supported by any strings. Well, I hope not. It will be interesting what the Unions (Jay’s Oz) will do to thwart off Pete’s momentum.
The Mercury article prompted me to read both candidates websites.
I thought this was interesting:
Pete has more Dems than Reps on his endorsement list. Jay has only Dems.
Everyone on Jay James list of endorsors should be ashamed of themselves – they MUST just doing favors or following party lines… I am so tired of that s**t.
Artismo
Artismo – you are spot on.
After 5 minutes of listening to Jay and Pete on the issues and after another 5 minutes of glancing at the list of contributors to each campaign, you’ll know, without a doubt, that Pete Constant is the best candidate for San Jose (unless you’re a labor shill).
It’s amazing to me that labor unions from across the country are kicking money to Jay James’ campaign for D1 council.
If I’m a union worker in Indiana and my local is sending part of my union dues to Jay James for his D1 race in San Jose – that seems a little sketchy to me.
Shouldn’t there be like a law or something that let’s union members decide whether or not their dues are used for political campaigns or not?
Wait a minute – come to think of it – didn’t we have a chance to vote on such a prop just last year? Hard to believe that Cali failed yet another moron test.
But why should Cali’s progressive and enlightened electorate want to mess with a formula that has given us the best paid prison guards and an annual battle royale with Mississipi for the worst state education in the country?
We sure showd Arnold how smart we is.
Balance equals Pandori as mayor, Chuck & Dave remain with the addition of Pete. Maybe now swing council districts may be 2, 3, 6, 7. Council votes could now be at least 4 to 7.
Pete-
Good luck.
I agree that there needs to be “balance” on the council.
Lately the only balance we’ve had is four councilwomen who seldom speak countered by one councilman who babbles on and on without ever really saying anything.
That’s not the Yin and Yang we’re looking for.
More about the influence of labor and the coded language used to pander to labor-friendly elected officials.
See this quote from the Mercury News. ATT argues that they should be allowed to move forward without any protections for cities, but look how they will provide jobs!
“We just want an opportunity to invest in San Jose,’’ said Leon Beauchman, director of regional external affairs for AT&T. “Not only would it provide the kind of savings that your citizens want, but we are also going to provide jobs in the deployment of our network.’‘
What do you want to bet that San Jose gives them the green light.
We have seen the results with attorneys on the council have brought us. Over 30 milion in law suit judgements. I want a business leader and thats why Mulcahy will restore balance to an ineffective government. The big issue at hand is not Coyote Valley. It is getting rid of the deficit and growing the economy of this city.
Pete I agree with a lot of your philosophy but I do disagree somewhat on your Coyote Valley thoughts. Maybe if you have time and can read David Pandori’s thoughts on Coyote Valley then you’d read one of the reasons why I support him for mayor. Keep up the campaign your fresh voice from the outside is very needed in City Hall.
Well then it does not appear that either Mulcahy or Pandori are advocating for development anytime soon. So if they could parlay their support they could climb into a great position to unseat the ineffective insiders. City Manager or City attorney would be a nice consolation for one of two honest, sincere and hardworking candidates.
Jerry,
Have you been to Pete’s website, I have and it’s pretty in-depth…
It seems as though the deficit and the economy are his top priorities and he seems to have the business experience to help lead San Jose down a path that you seem to ultimately desire.
He seems like the real deal… I had a chance to talk with him after the Murdock Neighborhood forum at Lynbrook High…
I asked him how he would, if elected, restore basic city services to those who don’t have them, i.e. full police and fire staffing, street maintenance, pot holes etc…
he launched into a dissertation about economic development and plans to reduce the deficit… I don’t remember all the details, but several of us were very impressed.
I plan on making it out to the International Christian Church on Tuesday at 7pm for his last candidate forum. I was so taken with him by his performance at Lynbrook and at the Moorland West Community Center Forum that I will, for the first time, offer my time to help to a local candidate. I am a very busy guy, have little time, but will make some to help Pete defeat the “incoherent at best” Union shill otherwise known as Jay James.
-Artismo
Jerry of course the big issue isn’t Coyote Valley but it happens to be of interest to me. For my own interests, I place it high on my list.