The Santa Clara County Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) is offering parents who are delinquent in their child support payments an opportunity to buy back their drivers' licenses in time for the holidays.

The offer, effective until Jan. 17, allows parents to pay one month's child support, one month's arrears installment payment and $15 to reaquire their license. Parents must also agree to wage withholding or a specific payment plan.

"What we are hoping to do with this offer is help parents reenter the lives of their children in a meaningful and supportive way, especially during the holidays," said Pete Dever, DCSS director. "The buyback is a goodwill gesture to allow parents who owe child support to get on board with a payment plan before we're forced to take more serious enforcement action."

Reinstatement usually entails paying three months' worth of child support, three months in arrears installment payments and $15, in addition to setting up an income withholding or payment plan.

For more information, call 408.503.5204 for a prerecorded message and an opportunity to leave a voice mail request for an appointment. The department is located at 2851 Junction Ave. in San Jose.

Walk-ins at the office are welcome.


Caltrans held in-house community training

Caltrans held an in-house training Nov. 13­14 for staff working in its Office of Community Planning. Caltrans director Jeff Morales discussed various topics, including the creation of "a better grid" to help build communities.

He discussed the importance of accommodating walkers and cyclists, looking at the right project to help improve communities, and having Caltrans become more involved with residents and with area agencies.

Caltrans needs to be more than a regional contractor, he said. The transportation agency needs to be part of the community and become an agency people are willing to work with.


FBI rates San Jose as safest large U.S. city

San Jose is still the safest city in America out of 30 cities with populations greater than 500,000, according to findings based on FBI crime statistics recently released by Morgan Quitno Press.

"Community safety is one of our highest priorities, and I am very proud that San Jose remains at the top of the list of the nation's safest big cities," said Mayor Ron Gonzales.

The ninth annual Morgan Quitno Safest City Award is based on a city's rate for six basic crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.

All cities with populations of 75,000 or greater that reported crime data to the FBI for the six crime categories were included in the rankings. Each of the six crimes was given equal weight. The final 2001 statistics, released by the FBI on Oct. 28, were used to determine the rankings.

After San Jose, the top 10 safest cities with populations of 500,000 or greater are Honolulu, Hawaii; El Paso, Texas; Austin, Texas; San Diego, Calif.; New York, N.Y.; San Antonio, Texas; Portland, Ore.; Denver, Colo.; and Las Vegas, Nev.

For additional information regarding the rankings for each of the 342 cities and 271 metropolitan areas considered for the awards, visit www.morganquitno.com or call 758.841.3534.