June 2, 2005

San Jose Councilwoman Nancy Pyle gives budget update for District 10

Chief of staff Ana Maria Rosato resigns, policy aide Lee Wilcox replaces her

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

Almaden Valley should consider itself more fortunate than other communities during this year’s budget cut proposals considered by the San Jose City Council and Mayor Ron Gonzales.

With the looming city budget deficit of approximately $60 million, District 10 San Jose City Councilwoman Nancy Pyle and the rest of her peers on the council are considering the reduction recommendations and trying to find money to save projects and programs valuable to their communities or looking for ways to retain them without the funds.

After reviewing the San Jose City Manager Del Borgsdorf’s proposed $745 million operating budget for the next fiscal year, Pyle and her colleagues have spent many hours reviewing the complicated document and studying each item on the chopping block.

The deadline for council members to submit their budget memos was May 27. A second revision of the budget has now occurred and the document is now in the mayor’s office with the council members’ requests.

Gonzales is expected to announce his budget changes June 8 and a public hearing on the proposed document is scheduled June 13. The council will vote on the budget June 14 and the final document will be adopted June 21.

According to Pyle, many programs and projects in Almaden Valley funded with municipal dollars aren’t as threatened as those in other districts as the community is not as reliant on the Community Development Block Grant program administered by HUD’s Community Planning and Development Office to improve low-and-moderate income communities with decent housing, suitable living environments and expanding economic opportunities.

Public safety programs
Pyle, like the rest of her peers, is worried about reductions of approximately $1 million-plus in police crime prevention programs, which will make it difficult for the district to retain staffing for the Neighborhood Watch and Neighborhood Action programs to continue to provide crime statistics and educate neighborhoods on identifying and reporting problems.

“Where am I going to find that kind of money?” Pyle asked. “It didn’t take me long to realize we’re going to have to copy the programs rather than keeping them because there’s no way I can locate that money.”

Pyle explained the city is considering scrapping the programs to prevent cutting uniformed police officers. She said she’s considering San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis’ advice to emulate the programs with community volunteers and the assistance of police officers.

“We could put it on the district’s Web site and the city’s Web site to convene all the neighborhood groups to study the written copy of the template and guide them through this so that they can go back to their associations and keep the programs going,” Pyle said.

“That kind of thinking is what we’re going to have to do to offset some of the crimes,” Pyle said. “When the economy goes down crime tends to go up so it’s extremely important for us to be more vigilant in our neighborhoods.”

Challenges and choices
Another program on the elimination list is the Challenges and Choices program, which helps third-, fifth- and seventh-graders develop decision-making skills during a 10-week period at school sites. The program is conducted by non-sworn police officers that teach young people how to avoid gangs, drugs and other illegal activities.

Pyle explained if the non-sworn police officers’ jobs are eliminated, the uniformed police officers can keep the program going by helping volunteers. “We can’t afford to decrease our sworn force,” Pyle said.

Seniors
The senior program run out of the community center is also being considered for a reduction, losing a resource specialist. The program’s main gerontologist will continue to run the program, but the Meals on Wheels program is also being reduced from $40,000 to $32,000. With two retirement communities in District 10, the Atrium and Le Mirador, it’s anticipated some seniors will be impacted.

“It’s sad that we have to cut programs that feed seniors,” she said. “Everyone is feeling the pain here.”

Branch library hours
The city is also considering eliminating four hours of service per week to all branch libraries. Pyle and many of her peers are, however, recommending a revised alternative schedule, whereby libraries will be closed on Sundays and opened for five hours on Mondays.

“I’m fighting to keep the library open on Mondays and not Sundays,” Pyle said.

Under the proposed budget from the city manager, libraries would be closed on Mondays and opened for five hours on Sunday. Pyle’s office has received around 100 telephone calls from people complaining about the proposed change and wanting the library open on Mondays.

She said as most of the homework assignments are given on Mondays and many of the homework centers are housed at the libraries, it makes more sense to close the library on Sundays. “Even if it’s just a half day it could bring the greatest amount of good,” she said.

Roads and fee increases
Pyle also said her office is looking for ways to preserve transportation dollars to ensure roads in Almaden Valley are in decent condition. She claims to be working hard to repair potholes and will be meeting with the Department of Transportation to get as much done as possible.

Pyle said District 10 constituents are also concerned about increases in sewer, garbage, recycling and water rates.

District 10 office changes
Pyle also announced that Ana Maria Rosato, her chief of staff, resigned effective May 30, and would be replaced by her policy aide Lee Wilcox. 

“Ana Maria was a valuable member of my campaign team and I am grateful to her for the time and energy she gave toward the organization of my office,” stated Pyle. “I wish her all the best in her new endeavors.

“I am also excited that Lee has agreed to be my chief of staff,” Pyle continued. “He has a strong public policy background and I know the community will enjoy interacting with him.” 

For her part, Rosato said, “I had always been planning on weighing my options once Nancy’s office was established and a good staff was in place. I’m a warrior who likes political campaigns.”

Wilcox is a lifelong San Josean. A graduate of Leigh High School, Wilcox was a member of the varsity soccer team while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in arts at Sonoma State University.

After receiving his degree, Wilcox worked for three years in the state capital in Sacramento where his emphasis was legislation for local government. Wilcox was a volunteer staff member on Nancy Pyle’s November 2004 election to City Council. The office is interviewing candidates to take Wilcox’s place as policy aide.

For more information on the budget, log onto www.sanjoseca.gov/budget.