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Palo Vol. XLII, Number 49 Q September 10, 2021
Alto Panel lobbies for more
parks in Ventura
Page 5
INSIDE: Info Palo Alto 2021 Read up-to-the-minute news on PaloAltoOnline.com
QUpfront Week-long party celebrates city’s resilience Page 5
QUpfront City mulls ways to address economic slump Page 7
QA&E Theater company delivers performance, by mail Page 47
The Pandemic Puzzle:
Lessons from COVID-19
A FREE VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM SERIES
Join leaders and experts from health care, business, and
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Vaccines, Treatments, and Cures
SPE A K ERS INCLUDE
Andy Slavitt Janet Woodcock, MD
Former Senior Adviser, Biden Acting Commissioner, FDA
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Swaminathan, MD Robert Redfield, MD
Former Director, CDC
Chief Scientist, WHO
▶ Register to watch live and access session
recordings, speaker Q&As, and more at
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Page 2 • September 10, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01079009. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and
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and square footage are approximate. compass.com
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 10, 2021 • Page 3
1280 Pine Street, Palo Alto OPEN HOUSE
5#6570 ɓ 2/
DELIGHTFUL HOME IN NORTH PALO ALTO
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Upfront Local news, information and analysis
Ventura growth plan prompts calls for more parks
Commission supports effort to increase parkland in Ventura Coordinated Area Plan. recently purchased a parcel of all three alternatives in the North
But there is one area in which land next to Boulware Park, with Ventura plan for having inad-
dynamic but underserved community the neighborhood that lies be- the intent of expanding one of equate park space and that urges
By Gennady Sheyner tween El Camino Real and the Ventura’s few outdoor recreation the city council to look for oppor-
train tracks isn’t changing quick- spaces, neighborhood leaders tunities to create additional park
he Ventura neighborhood U.S. Census data. And over the ly enough, according to the city’s and parks commissioners believe area.
T is, in many ways, Palo Al-
to’s fastest changing area.
It has seen more new homes
past two years, it has been both
a magnet for development appli-
cations and the focus of the city’s
Parks and Recreation Commis-
sion and neighborhood leaders.
Ventura, they argue, is dreadfully
much more needs to be done. To
underscore the point, the parks
commission took the rare step
Keith Reckdahl, a Parks and
Recreation commissioner who
serves on the North Ventura
go up in the past decade than any most ambitious planning effort, short on parks. in late August of unanimously
other neighborhood, according to which is known as the North Even though the city has endorsing a letter that criticizes
(continued on page 16)
COMMUNITY
Local events
set to honor
Sept. 11
Nonprofits host day
of service and prayers
By Sue Dremann
wo Palo Alto organiza-
T tions will remember the
20th anniversary of the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Sat-
urday, hosting events to bring
people of different backgrounds
together to enjoy a meal and also
to perform service projects in
honor of those who died.
The Multifaith Peace Picnic
will include a free meal and an
interfaith prayer service; the
2021 Mid-Peninsula National
Day of Service and Remem-
brance will host volunteer proj-
ects at multiple sites in Palo Alto
Magali Gauthier
and East Palo Alto.
The Peace Picnic, sponsored
by American Muslim Voice
Gone fishing and Multifaith Voices for Peace
A great egret hangs on to a little fish it has just caught at the Palo Alto Baylands on Sept. 8. & Justice, honors all who were
killed in the 2001 attacks. It
also honors the 9/11 Families for
Peaceful Tomorrows — families
COMMUNITY whose loved ones died in the
attack but who have dedicated
themselves to creating a more
Palo Alto hosts week-long party to celebrate resilience peaceful world.
“We wanted to honor the vic-
More than 20 events, featuring arts, sports and music, to unfold in the city Sept. 10-18 tims, families and first respond-
By Gennady Sheyner ers that have lost loved ones,”
organizer Samina Sundas said.
o celebrate the commu- screens “Zootopia” at 7:30 p.m. University and San Jose State Those who are interested in The Multifaith Peace Picnic
T nity’s resilience over the
course of the pandemic,
Palo Alto is hosting a week of
at the Mitchell Park athletic field,
a screening that will be preceded
by a special tribute to Palo Alto’s
University and the Sunday,
Sept. 12 women’s soccer match
between Stanford and Loyola
partaking in athletic competi-
tion — or who enjoy a stroll
under the full moon in the
has been an annual event since
the first anniversary of Sept. 11.
Sundas, founder of American
more than 20 events, starting first responders. The series will Marymount. Palo Alto residents Baylands — are invited to sign Muslim Voice, started the picnic
Sept. 10 — including sports, arts, conclude on Saturday, Sept. 18, will be able to purchase tickets to up for Moonlight Run, the an- after someone blamed her for the
musical performances and a run when Palo Alto Players perform either game online for $5 in ad- nual run that is cosponsored by terrorist event because she is a
through the Baylands under the their latest production, “Work- vance of game day using the code the Palo Alto Weekly and that Muslim.
full moon. ing,” at the Lucie Stern Commu- PALOALTOREOPEN. The same raises money for local nonprof- “Some days, it seems like we
Known as Together Again nity Theatre. deal will apply to the women’s its. After switching to virtual are making progress, then all
Palo Alto, the week of activi- Sports fans are invited to at- volleyball clash between Stan- mode last year because of the of a sudden something happens
ties is kicking off with a movie tend the Saturday, Sept. 11 men’s ford and University of Nebraska
night on Sept. 10, when the city soccer match between Stanford on Tuesday, Sept. 14. (continued on page 56) (continued on page 13)
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 10, 2021 • Page 5
Upfront
450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 326-8210
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
PUBLISHER
William S. Johnson (223-6505)
EDITORIAL
Editor Jocelyn Dong (223-6514)
We just crave parity with other
Associate Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511)
Sports Editor Rick Eymer (223-6516)
neighborhoods.
Assistant Sports Editor Glenn Reeves (223-6521)
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Heather Zimmerman (223-6515)
Express & Digital Editor Jamey Padojino —Becky Sanders, moderator of the Ventura
(223-6524)
Neighborhood Association, on push for more
Staff Writers Sue Dremann (223-6518), Zoe
Morgan (223-6519), Gennady Sheyner (223-6513)
neighborhood parks. See story on page 5.
Embarcadero Media Staff Writers Kate Bradshaw
Around Town
(223-6536), Kevin Forestieri (223-6535), Angela
Swartz (223-6529)
Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier (223-6530)
Editorial Assistant/Intern Coordinator
Lloyd Lee (223-6526)
Contributors Mike Berry, Carol Blitzer, Karla Kane, DIALED IN ... When the City influenced by the district’s history
Yoshi Kato, Chris Kenrick, Sheryl Nonnenberg, Council retired in June for a for her mural, “Stepping Out to
OUR T EAM IS IN MOT ION FOR YOU John Orr
summer break, it fully expected the Beat of California Avenue.”
ADVERTISING that by the time September rolled Her mosaic-like work captures
around, its meetings would revert abstract characters who “walk,
D E L E O N R E A LT Y, I N C .
Vice President Sales & Marketing
Tom Zahiralis (223-6570)
in some part to their pre-pandemic run, dance, prance, float and
Michael Repka | CEO & Managing Broker | DRE #01854880 Multimedia Advertising Sales
form. In late May, with the end of somersault through colorful and
Elaine Ogden (223-6572),
650.900.7000 | Info@deleonrealty.com Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571) the health crisis seemingly in sight, animated spaces,” she wrote in
www.deleonrealty.com | DRE #01903224 Real Estate Advertising Sales members endorsed a “hybrid” a description. Liv Losee-Unger
Neal Fine (223-6583) approach in which most council brought nature to the site with
Legal Advertising Alicia Santillan (223-6578) members would go to City Hall for “Night and Day,” a mural filled
ADVERTISING SERVICES the meetings but would still give with animals, plants and a radiant
Advertising Services Manager the public a chance to participate sun in the middle. Abi Mustapha
Kevin Legarda (223-6597) remotely. Now, with the prevalence turned the emotions from over
Sales & Production Coordinator of the delta variant, the council is the past year of pandemic life
Diane Martin (223-6584) still holding meetings via Zoom and to create “New Garden,” which
DESIGN the future of its meetings remains features people alongside bountiful
Design & Production Manager hazy. A new staff report notes flowers and a night sky. “As things
Kristin Brown (223-6562) that despite the city’s plans for change and open up again, we’re
Senior Designers Linda Atilano, Paul Llewellyn hybrid meetings, “safety concerns seeing that we’ve changed, shifted,
Designers Kevin Legnon, Amy Levine, prompted the decision to continue pivoted and in many ways grown,”
Douglas Young
the virtual-only meeting format for states Mustapha’s description
BUSINESS City Council and City board and of the piece. “We are adaptable
Assistant Business Manager commissions, at least through the and like our gardens we are ready
Gwen Fischer (223-6575)
month of September.” The city, like to bloom again.” The murals are
Business Associates
many others, is legally allowed to expected to stay at the site for the
Nico Navarrete (223-6582), Suzanne Ogawa
(223-6543) conduct remote meetings through next year.
Sept. 30 under a June executive
ADMINISTRATION
order by Gov. Gavin Newsom. SIFTING THROUGH THE SMOKE
Courier Ruben Espinoza
Several state bills are trying to ... The impact of recent northern
EMBARCADERO MEDIA
extend that authority beyond California wildfires on the local
+
President William S. Johnson (223-6505)
September, chief among them air quality have been hard to
Vice President Michael I. Naar (223-6540)
AB 361, which was authored by ignore in the Bay Area, where a
Vice President & CFO Peter Beller (223-6545)
Assembly member Robert Rivas, haze has permeated the skies in
Vice President Sales & Marketing
D-Salinas, and which would allow recent weeks. There have been
Tom Zahiralis (223-6570)
local governments to hold remote numerous air-quality advisories
Director, Information Technology & Webmaster
Frank A. Bravo (223-6551) meetings when they declare a state and Spare the Air alerts, which
Director of Marketing and Audience of emergency. The bill has passed have called on the public to stay
Development Emily Freeman (223-6560) the Assembly and is winding indoors if they smell smoke and
Major Accounts Sales Manager through the Senate’s committee cut back on driving to reduce
Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571) process (the Judiciary Committee smog. Stanford researchers
Circulation Assistant Alicia Santillan was scheduled to discuss it on plan to examine the effects of
Computer System Associates Chris Planessi, Sept. 9). wildfire smoke through a study
that recently received nearly
Mike Schmidt
The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every A SPLASH OF COLOR ... The $1 million in federal funds. The
Friday by Embarcadero Media, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo
Alto, CA 94306, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at
California Avenue business district Environmental Protection
Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a has become more vibrant with Agency awarded the university
newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County.
four new temporary murals at 250 $999,846 in an effort to help
The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered to homes in Palo Alto,
Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to Sherman Ave. that were installed researchers “address behavioral,
faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and last month, according to the Palo technical, and practical aspects of
to portions of Los Altos Hills. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to Palo Alto Weekly, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto Public Art Program. They interventions and communication
Alto, CA 94306. ©2021 by Embarcadero Media. All rights surround the city’s future public strategies to reduce exposures
reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly
prohibited. The Palo Alto Weekly is available on the Internet safety building, which broke ground and health risks of wildland fire
via Palo Alto Online at: www.PaloAltoOnline.com in June and is set for completion in smoke,” according to an Aug. 23
Our email addresses are: editor@paweekly.com, July 2023. Jessica Eastburn drew press release. Focused on San
letters@paweekly.com, digitalads@paweekly.com,
ads@paweekly.com on the district’s past and present Mateo and Santa Clara counties,
Missed delivery or start/stop your paper? for her mural, “Busy Business,” the university’s research will
Email circulation@paweekly.com. You may also subscribe which depicts whimsical animals, explore “affordable technology
online at PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $120/yr.
inhabitants of so-called Cauliflower and native language messaging-
Ave, rushing to and from small based interventions” in low-
businesses and restaurants, income communities. Gabrielle
according to a description by Wong-Parodi, an assistant
Eastburn on the city’s website. “A professor in the Department of
Become a rabbit entering a saloon is a nod Earth System Science and center
Paid Subscriber for as low to the former raucous, booze- fellow at the Wood Institute for
as $5 per month loving town of Mayfield,” she the Environment, is the principal
Sign up online at wrote. Debra Koppman also was investigator for the study. Q
www.PaloAltoOnline.com/join
Page 6 • September 10, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront
ECONOMY
City looks for help in
fighting economic slump
With sales-tax receipts depressed, City Council to
consider hiring an economic development manager
By Gennady Sheyner
ith tax revenues plung- challenges. Also scoring high in
W ing and businesses
struggling to stay afloat,
Palo Alto’s elected leaders agree
the rankings of challenges were
the high cost of supplies (40%);
a lack of resources for marketing
that they will need plenty of help and promotions (38.5%); and the
to reverse the trend and restore need to pay deferred or increased
prosperity. rent (30.8%).
There is little consensus, how- When business owners were
ever, on what exactly should be asked to name the top three re-
Lloyd Lee
done. Some people, including Palo sources that would be most helpful,
Alto City Council members Lydia 53.8% respondents chose “finding Businesses in Palo Alto’s downtown commercial area have been particularly hard hit by the impact
Kou and Greer Stone, argued dur- employees,” while 38.4% said “ac- of the pandemic. Most business owners cited retaining or hiring employees as one of their top three
ing a June 1 discussion that the city cess to capital.” The next two most challenges, according to a recent survey conducted by the city.
needs to hire a dedicated economic popular answers were “assistance
coordinator to steer its recovery. with marketing and promotions” leaving a glaring vacancy at 340 businesses, track trends and help address the pandemic, bolster lo-
The council majority, including (24.65%) and “assistance with city, Portage Ave. CineArts, a popular facilitate “place making” in com- cal hotels and bolster revenues.
council members Alison Cormack county, state and federal regula- movie theater in Palo Alto Square, mercial areas. Kou, who made the motion to
and Eric Filseth, supported a more tions (21.5%), according to a new narrowly averted closure five “We have here a history of hear- hire an economic manager, said
cautious approach: hiring a con- report from the Administrative years ago, only to leave Palo Alto ing that some business or other is the city should not “leave it to
sultant to develop an economic Services Department. Square during the pandemic. And leaving — often hearing too late chance and to market forces to
strategy — a document that would The council will review these the owners of Town & Country to do anything about it, even if the dictate what we’re going to have
inform the city’s decision on hiring survey results on Monday as part Village, whose vacancy rate climb skills existed in the city’s toolbox,” here as an economic plan for Palo
an economic manager. of a broader discussion of next above 20% during the pandemic, Holman said. “Often reasons are Alto.” Stone argued that even if the
Council member Greg Tanaka, steps. Council members will also argued that broad retail trends hearsay, not an analysis of market city moves ahead with a consul-
for his part, suggested at the time consider a staff recommendation — namely, a shift toward online changes, personal decision or rent tant study, it will still need to have
that the city reconsider some of to hire an economic coordinator, shopping — have as much to do issues and the like.” someone at City Hall to enact the
its existing restrictions, including a position that will cost between with the recent downturn as the But while Burt, Kou and Stone study’s recommendations.
a citywide prohibition on big-box $245,000 and $290,000, according pandemic health restrictions. all supported hiring someone “No matter how good these strat-
stores like Costco and Walmart. to the department. At the same time, the shift to re- to take charge of the city’s eco- egies may be ... if we then don’t
The debate has only grown in To date, the council has been mote working has had a profound- nomic strategy, they fell one vote have city staff with the expertise
urgency since June, with a new tentative about making the new ly negative effect on businesses in shy of advancing the proposal. to be able to implement them, then
analysis showing sales-tax re- hire. During the June 1 meeting, Palo Alto, a city known for its high The council then voted 6-1, with what’s the point?” Stone asked. Q
ceipts falling more precipitously Filseth suggested that the council number of jobs. During the June Stone dissenting, to commis- Em a i l St a f f Wr i t e r
in Palo Alto than in other area needs to be “very careful and me- 1 discussion of economic develop- sion an analysis of Palo Alto’s Gennady Sheyner at gsheyner@
jurisdictions. The report from thodical about who we bring into ment, Charlie Weidanz, CEO of business shifts and strategies to paweekly.com.
Avenu Insights & Analytics indi- the organization” and declined to the Palo Alto Chamber of Com-
cated that Palo Alto sales-tax rev- support a motion from Kou and merce, urged the council to explore
enues dropped by 27.3% between Stone to move ahead with recruit- as part of its effort what the “next
the fourth quarter of 2019 and the
fourth quarter of 2020, far exceed-
ment for the new position (the mo- phase of hybrid workforce” will Public Agenda
tion died by a 3-4 vote, with Vice look like.
ing the decrease of 7.2% statewide. Mayor Pat Burt joining Kou and “We may not see the 85,000- A preview of Palo Alto government meetings next week
The pain was particularly acute in Stone). Cormack also advocated plus workers that come in, so how CITY COUNCIL ... The council plans to hold a study session with the city’s
the hard-hit commercial areas of for a more cautious approach. do retail, hospitality, restaurants independent police auditor; hold a TEFRA hearing for financing the Silicon
downtown, El Camino Real and “It’s not that I don’t think we and hotels succeed with a pos- Valley International School project at 151 Laura Lane; consider a zoning
Midtown, where sales tax receipts should have someone on staff,” Cor- sible reduced daytime population? code interpretation pertaining to nonconforming uses at 340 Portage
dropped by more than 40% over mack said. “It’s that we don’t have What are the issues around zoning Ave.; consider strategies for adding resources to promote economic
this period. the ongoing money today and that and permitting that are restrictive development; and consider possible extentions to closures of University
A recent survey conducted by I’m not sure what level to hire at.” to some of the businesses to be and California avenues to vehicles. The virtual meeting will begin at 5 p.m.
the city underscores the variety of Some of Palo Alto’s economic successful?” Weidanz said. on Monday, Sept. 13. Those wishing to participate by Zoom can do so by
challenges facing local businesses. problems preceded the pandemic If hired, the city’s new economic dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 362 027 238.
Of the 65 businesses that respond- and are expected to stretch well development coordinator would be
COUNCIL POLICY AND SERVICE COMMITTEE ... The committee plans
ed to the survey, 67.7% cited the into the future. Fry’s Electronics, charged with assisting businesses
to hear an update on state and federal legislation; hear a presentation from
difficulty of retaining or hiring once one of Palo Alto’s top revenue with matters such as permits, grant
the office of city auditor on the IT Risk Management Audit Activity Report;
employees as one of their top three generators, left in December 2019, applications and compliance with
and get an update on recent work pertaining to race and equity. The
health orders. The staff member
virtual meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Those wishing to
would also be charged with track-
participate by Zoom can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting
ing vacancies in commercial dis-
ID: 946 1874 4621.
tricts and with maintaining busi-
ness contact information. Other BOARD OF EDUCATION ... The board is scheduled to hold a public hearing
functions could include facilitat- on the sufficiency of instructional materials; receive a report on the PAUSD
ing stakeholder meetings with the Promise priority areas; and hear information about the district’s masking
business community and provid- requirements on campuses. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
ing “conflict resolution” between Sept. 14. The public can attend the meeting in person at the district’s board
businesses and the city’s Building room, 25 Churchill Ave., but is required to provide proof of vaccination.
and Fire departments. Those wishing to participate online can get the Zoom link at go.boarddocs.
Some current and former coun- com/ca/pausd/Board.nsf/Public.
cil members believe the hiring of CITY/SCHOOL LIAISON COMMITTEE ... The committee plans to meet
an economic development coor- at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. The agenda was not available by
dinator is long overdue. Former
Magali Gauthier
publication deadline.
Mayor Karen Holman, a longtime
proponent of adding the posi- PUBLIC ART COMMISSION ... The commission plans to discuss the
tion, urged the council in June to Code:ART festival; temporary murals at the new public safety building site;
The shift to remote working has had a negative impact on restaurants move ahead with the hire. Most and the status of the King Artist Residency program. The virtual meeting will
and businesses in Palo Alto’s commercial districts, known for their neighboring cities, she said, have begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. Those wishing to participate by Zoom
high number of jobs. The city is considering hiring an economic dedicated staff that help recruit can do so by dialing 669-900-6833 and using Meeting ID: 947 9297 0053.
development coordinator to help business remain in Palo Alto.
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 10, 2021 • Page 7
Upfront
News Digest
Council considers extending street dining
The fate of Palo Alto’s popular street closure program on Uni-
versity and California avenues will once again be up for debate at
a city council meeting on Monday.
The menu of options that council members will consider in-
cludes staying on the current path, which directs staff to conclude
the program on Sept. 30 but which also gives City Manager Ed
Shikada discretion to keep either — or both — of the streets closed
until Oct. 31.
A new report from the Department of Planning and Develop-
ment Services outlines several other alternatives that the council
could pursue, should it choose to keep streets closed to cars in
the near term. The council can keep the streets car-free until No-
vember and then reopen them to vehicles in time for the holiday
season. It can wait until the end of January before letting cars
back onto the streets. It can limit the downtown street closures to
65 Bay Area locations. weekends or it could direct staff to temporarily reopen the streets
to cars during the holiday shopping season and then potentially
revert them to car-free mode until the end of January.
66 if we count your couch. According to the report, the lattermost option would “allow time
to observe what happens this winter and decide early next year if
the program continues to be needed.” Q
In-person or virtual visits at — Gennady Sheyner
Decertification bill moves to governor’s desk
Peninsula Pediatric Medical Group A bill that creates a process for decertifying police officers who
have committed serious misconduct is on its way to the governor’s
desk after the state Senate voted on Wednesday to give the legisla-
tion its final approval.
The Senate’s 26-9 vote came five days days after the state As-
sembly voted 46-14 to support Senate Bill 2. While the Senate had
given the bill its initial endorsement on May 26, numerous sena-
tors who voted to support it in May expressed concerns about the
legislation and suggested that they may vote against the bill when
genpeds.stanfordchildrens.org it returns for final approval.
Recent amendments to the bill from Sen. Steven Bradford, D-
Gardena, appear to have mollified some of the critics, who had
previously maintained that the legislation is biased against police
officers. Opponents of the bill specifically objected to the pro-
posed makeup of the new Peace Officers Standards Accountability
Advisory Board, a panel that will be charged with making recom-
mendations on decertification.
The prior version of SB 2 allocated two of the board’s nine seats
to individuals who have been subject to excessive use of force by
police or to family members of individuals who had been killed
by the wrongful use of deadly force by police. The amended ver-
sion of the bill removes this requirement and only specifies that
these two members will not be former peace officers and that the
governor gives “strong consideration” to individuals who have
been affected by police misconduct.
Another amendment in SB 2 raises the threshold of votes re-
quired to decertify an officer. The Commission for Peace Officer
Standards and Training, which is currently charged with estab-
lishing standards for training and recruitment of officers, would
review the recommendations of the new panel and make decisions
on whether an officer should be decertified. Doing so, under the
new amendment, would require a two-thirds vote of the commis-
sion’s present members and only after the commission establishes
that “serious misconduct has been established by clear and con-
vincing evidence.” The commission will also have the option of
suspending but not revoking an officer’s certification. Q
— Gennady Sheyner
Man allegedly shoots air rifle at student
A 62-year-old man who lives behind a Palo Alto elementary
school has been arrested for allegedly shooting a BB gun and
striking a child, Palo Alto police said in a statement Sept. 3.
Police said the neighbor’s action was not accidental.
Around 12:28 p.m. on Sept. 3, a student playing on an athletic
field at the Stratford School campus, located at 870 N. California
Ave., was struck in the back with a BB that was allegedly shot from
an air rifle by the neighbor.
The child suffered minor injuries and didn’t require medical
attention. The BB did not penetrate the child’s clothing, according
to a police press release.
Officers contacted the neighbor and placed him under arrest
without incident at about 1:56 p.m. They recovered the air rifle
from his home. His motive is under investigation.
The man was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for two
felonies: assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse, and one
misdemeanor, creating a disruption on a school campus. Q
— Sue Dremann
Page 8 • September 10, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 10, 2021 • Page 9
Upfront
PUBLIC HEALTH
Palo Alto adopts COVID vaccine
mandate for city workers
New policy includes exemptions, testing requirements
By Gennady Sheyner
he city of Palo Alto last do so, while Santa Clara County to implement its vaccine and
T week joined other mu-
nicipalities in requiring
COVID-19 vaccination of its
followed suit in late July.
The Palo Alto City Council,
which was on its summer break
testing mandates this week, ac-
cording to Horrigan-Taylor. All
sworn officers will be required
employees, according to a Sept. for part of June and all of July, to get tests on the first and third
2 announcement from City Man- began pursuing a vaccine man- days of their shifts.
ager Ed Shikada’s office. date shortly after reconvening in The Fire Department, which
In a shift that comes after di- early August. On Aug. 9, coun- has a 96% vaccination rate, will
rections from the City Council cil members discussed the topic require testing every six days,
and negotiations with the city’s with staff in a closed session. with tests occurring before the
labor unions, Palo Alto is fol- Council members had commu- start of a firefighter’s shift.
lowing other public agencies nicated at that time their de- “This policy was adopted af-
that have already instituted a sire to work with the employee ter careful consideration of the
vaccine mandate for employees. unions to “implement required recommendations from public
The city and county of San Fran- vaccinations and a mandatory health organizations such as the
cisco instituted a vaccine man- COVID-19 testing program for Centers for Disease Control and
date in June, becoming one of the workforce for the safety of Prevention, the State of Califor-
the nation’s first large cities to our community and employees,” nia Public Health, and the Santa
according to Meghan Horrigan- Clara County Public Health De-
Taylor, the city’s chief commu- partment,” the city’s announce-
nications officer. ment of the new policy stated.
K ON TH Much like Santa Clara Coun- “The city will continue to moni-
AC ty’s mandate, Palo Alto’s policy tor conditions and consider the
includes medical and religious next steps to address the ongoing
E
B
exemptions. Palo Alto will re- pandemic.”
RO
2021 quire all employees who are
unvaccinated to get tested for
So far, about 82% of the city’s
workforce is vaccinated, accord-
AD
COVID-19 twice per week. ing to Horrigan-Taylor. In the
The new policy also creates Police Department, however, the
a testing regimen for each em- rate is currently 74%. While this
ployee group, with the frequen- is an improvement from June,
cy of tests varying by group. when only 60% of the Police
Firefighters and police officers Department’s employees report-
would undergo regular testing, ed being vaccinated, it remains
regardless of vaccination status. below the city’s overall rate.
Vaccinated employees in other The new vaccine mandate
departments are encouraged, seeks to change that. According
though not required, to undergo to Horrigan-Taylor, the city an-
weekly COVID-19 tests. ticipates full workforce imple-
The Palo Alto Police Depart- mentation by Sept. 15 and, at the
ment, which over the summer latest, by Sept. 30. Q
had a lower reported rate of Email Staff Writer Gennady
vaccinations than other neigh- Sheyner at gsheyner@
PRESENTED BY boring jurisdictions, is starting paweekly.com.
35
43
63 CityView
MILE
RIDES
Register today: T our d e m enlo.com
Saturday
Sept 18 A round-up
City Council
of Palo Alto government action this week
The council did not meet this week.
Council Finance Committee (Sept. 7)
Carbon: The committee approved the Verified Emission Reduction Agreement
with the Integrative Organization of Oaxaca Indigenous and Agricultural
Communities to buy 24,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent at $9.50 per ton
for a total purchase price of $228,000. Yes: Unanimous
Planning and Transportation Commission
(Sept. 8)
Parking: The commission held a study session to discuss potential
amendments to the municipal code to enable virtual parking permits and paid
parking. Action: None
LET’S DISCUSS: Read the latest local news headlines and talk
about the issues at Town Square at PaloAltoOnline.com/square
Pete Nelson Theo Keet
Doug Adams
Christin Thorburn
Pamela Weiss
Richard & Susan Levy
Carla Anisman
Lisa Cesario
Tom Gibboney
Wil Patterson Like us on
Eric Hartwig
Rojas Glen Charles Schmuck
Yusra Hussain
www.facebook.com/paloaltoonline
Page 10 • September 10, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com120 Pope Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
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Ś ŚÛĺ/ WyWbUŚęÛĺ ds
On a tree-lined street in The Willows bordering
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charming appeal inside and out. Originally built in
1920, the home has been thoughtfully updated while
maintaining the best of its original heritage. A stone
pathway leads to the inviting front porch. Maple
zddMddoppzOOlsVodtUVsVOaBWb_WyWbUBoOBp
with graceful arches, recessed lighting, crown
moldings, chair railings, and custom built-ins.
#lObBbMzO_KdaWbUÛsVO_WyWbUoddazWsVoOl_BKO
BbM_WJoBo|B_KdyOdzpsdsVOMWbWbUoddaà2VO
adjoining sky-lit kitchen has been updated with
quartz counters, stainless steel appliances and a
ldoKO_BWbsW_Oddoà2VOJOModdaptWsOTOBstoOpBb
updated bath with a dual-sink vanity, large shower
and spa tub. The private back yard with a deck
provides access to the oversized, detached 2-car
garage; *possible conversion to an ADU; buyer
sdKdboazWsVKWs|à
650.218.4337
John@JohnForsythJames.com
JohnForsythJames.com
DRE 011400
Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01527235. All material presented herein is intended
TdoWbTdoaBsWdbB_ltoldpOpdb_|BbMWpKdalW_OMTodapdtoKOpMOOaOMoO_WBJ_OJtsVBpbdsJOObyOoWOMà VBbUOpWbloWKOÛKdbMWsWdbÛpB_OdozWsVMoBzB_aB|JOaBMOzWsVdtsbdsWKOà
No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate.
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 10, 2021 • Page 11Upfront
be to maintain remote access for- over Zoom. Although in-person
EDUCATION ever,” Dharap said. “I think that meetings will need to resume if
would be a great upgrade to the the executive order expires, board
way public meetings have been President Devon Conley said that
As school boards resume in-person run historically.”
The Mountain View Los Altos
the district is still working on the
logistics of public comment.
Union High School District board At a meeting last month, some
meetings, will the public still get to of trustees, however, has ended board members expressed con-
remote commenting, already re- cerns about having face-to-face
comment from home? suming fully face-to-face meet-
ings and requiring members of
meetings with the public while
COVID-19 transmission rates re-
Pandemic ‘silver lining’: Residents’ interactions with some boards increased as the public to attend in-person to main substantial. Conley brought
meetings went virtual address the board. up the prospect of anti-mask pro-
Some advocates for govern- tests at meetings, as has happened
By Zoe Morgan ment transparency believe boards in other areas of the country.
tudents aren’t the only ones Alto Unified among them, have meetings went virtual. should strive to retain the option In an interview, Conley said
S headed back in-person this
fall. Local school boards
are also facing the prospect of re-
signaled that they plan to retain
the remote access. The Moun-
tain View Los Altos Union High
Holding online meetings was
made possible by a series of ex-
ecutive orders from Gov. Gavin
for the public to participate re-
motely. Remote commenting was
a silver lining of the pandemic,
that although she didn’t want to
state a position on the issue be-
fore the board formally decides,
turning, as a state executive order School District, on the other Newsom that waived certain pro- in many cases expanding public she hasn’t heard any trustees
that facilitates remote meetings is hand, is already requiring people visions in the state’s open meet- access to local government meet- object to letting the public keep
set to expire. to show up face-to-face if they ings laws. The most recent order ings, said David Snyder, executive taking part online. She added that
But hanging in the balance as want to participate in real time. is set to expire Sept. 30, at which director of the First Amendment the board may discuss the issue
boards resume in-person meet- California’s open meetings point school boards will largely Coalition, a California-based again at a future meeting.
ings is the issue of whether the laws require that local legislative have to return to in-person meet- nonprofit that advocates for “Virtual meetings meant that
public can continue to speak to bodies, such as school boards, ings that are open to the public, public access and government we had way more participation
the board from home, via inter- hear public comment but don’t though they can continue to give accountability. than we ever had before,” Conley
net or phone, which many found mandate the allowance of remote the public the option to partici- Synder said he wants to see said. “It just made it much easier
more convenient than showing up comments. During the pandemic, pate remotely. boards return to in-person meet- for many members of the public
at the boardroom. many boards started letting the A bill currently working its ings, while also retaining the to engage with the board.”
Three local school boards, Palo public comment from home when way through the state legislature option for remote engagement The Los Altos School District
would require city councils and in real time, so long as they can hasn’t made a formal decision on
county boards of supervisors in make it work technologically. whether to retain remote com-
jurisdictions with at least 250,000 “That would be great,” Snyder menting, although members have
people to allow the public to par- said. “We’d have the best of both expressed interest in the idea.
ticipate over the phone or inter- worlds if that happens.” Superintendent Jeff Baier said
JOIN US FOR A net until the end of 2023, though he expects the trustees will dis-
VIRTUAL CELEBRATION! the law wouldn’t apply to school
boards. Welcoming back the
cuss the issue at their next board
meeting.
Despite the lack of a legal re- public Board President Vaishali Sirkay
2021 Avenidas quirement, the Palo Alto Uni- Starting at its Sept. 14 meeting, said she personally doesn’t think
fied, Los Altos and Mountain Palo Alto’s board intends to al- people should be precluded from
View Whisman boards have all low the public to attend on-site, as participating in meetings because
Lifetimes of Achievement expressed interest in keeping well as over Zoom. Since March, of concerns about COVID-19 ex-
remote commenting when they only the board and administrators posure, adding that attendance
move back to in-person meetings. had been face-to-face, while the and commenting increased dur-
Sunday, September 26, 2021 Some districts may take a vote public was fully remote. ing the pandemic.
3:00-4:30pm on Zoom on retaining online participation,
while others have indicated they
Attendees will have to show
proof of vaccination, Superinten-
“I am very happy and im-
pressed with the level of atten-
may continue allowing it without dent Don Austin said, adding that dance that we’re getting,” Sirkay
Celebrate with music, good friends, taking formal action. this mirrors the district’s require- said. “I’ve also been that parent
Currently, the Palo Alto Uni- ment for volunteers and visitors. who’s at home at seven o’clock on
outstanding honorees and even food and wine fied and Los Altos boards have Anyone who isn’t vaccinated can a Monday night taking care of my
all from the comfort of your own home!* been meeting in person, with the take part online. family and not being able to at-
public participating over Zoom. Once the executive order ex- tend the board meeting.”
Tickets: $75 The Mountain View Whisman pires though, Austin said the The board is currently back in-
board is still fully remote. district will need to consult with person with district staff, while
Palo Alto Board of Education its legal council to determine the public is still fully online.
*Delicious treat boxes and President Shounak Dharap said whether the vaccine requirement Baier said the public would need
wine delivered locally. that he can see his district con- is allowable. to be allowed back once the ex-
tinuing hybrid commenting for “This is all uncharted for ev- ecutive order expires.
the “foreseeable future,” adding erybody,” Austin said. Without the executive order,
that the district hasn’t set any end The Mountain View Whis- a number of regulations will be
date. man School District’s board is
“My personal preference would still holding its meetings fully (continued on page 13)
2021 Honorees
Fran Codispoti
Betsy Gifford
Gay & Bill Krause
Eliane & Armand Neukermans
Alma & Jim Phillips
Steve Player
To reserve your Zoom link for this festive
online party, please visit www.avenidas.org.
For questions, please call (650) 289-5445. Your
response prior to September 17th is appreciated.
Screenshot via Youtube
As school boards prepare to return to in-person meetings, the Palo Alto school district has signaled that
it plans to give the public the option to participate remotely.
Page 12 • September 10, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.comUpfront
groups throughout the country. takes place 5:45 to 8:15 p.m. at clean-ups and more. This year’s people of all ages and from every
Sept. 11 This year, the event is limited King Plaza, 250 Hamilton Ave., theme is Reconnect, Remember community. Masks are required
(continued from page 5) to 150 people and those who are Palo Alto, To register, visit ti- and Renew. and participants are encouraged
interested are encouraged to pre- nyurl.com/e3swbyvr. “The struggles of this past to bring their own water bottles.
and the Muslim community register. Food will also be boxed The Youth Community Ser- year have shown us the impor- For details and to register, visit
feels like it could be a backlash for people who don’t want to eat vice Day of Service will bring tance of community connections youthcommunityservice.org/
again,” she said recently, not- on site due to COVID-19 con- together volunteers to perform and supporting one another,” the national-day-of-service or call
ing the return to power by the cerns. Participants are required projects including food drives, nonprofit organization stated on 650-858-8019. Q
Taliban in Afghanistan and the to wear a mask at all times and card making, mural painting, its website. Read the remembrances of a
current of hatred among some to socially distance. The event fence painting, gardening and The projects are open to 9/11 volunteer who aided first
responders at Ground Zero in
this week’s Spectrum section on
page 22.
Photos courtesy Jack Owicki/ProBonoPhoto.org
Email Staff Writer Sue
Drem ann at sdrem ann@
paweekly.com.
READ MORE ONLINE
PaloAltoOnline.com
The reflections of youth on 9/11,
including those not yet born in 2001,
are captured in an article by Staff
Writer Zoe Morgan. To read it, go to
Top and above, attendees participate in the Multifaith Peace Picnic in Palo Alto’s King Plaza in 2019 to commemorate 9/11. PaloAltoOnline.com.
Meetings participate from home in real the board has received on a given said, adding that she believes the some mechanism will be devel-
time, the Mountain View Los Al- topic. district should continue to allow oped to solve this problem in the
tos Union High School District “We’re not trying to reduce remote participation, so long as relatively few instances of its oc-
(continued from page 12)
last month began requiring all community engagement. That is it’s technologically possible. currence,” Faillace said.
back in effect. Among them, commenters to show up on site. not the goal. The goal was to get One of MVLA’s trustees has Faillace said he intends to re-
any board member who wants to Remote commenting had been us back to normal,” Walter said. continued to participate in meet- sume attending in-person meet-
keep participating remotely has permitted last school year, even School boards saw big in- ings from home, while the rest of ings next month when the execu-
to publicly post their address and after the board resumed in-person creases in the number of par- the board is back on the dais. Phil tive order expires, at which point
allow members of the public to meetings in March. The change ticipants during the pandemic. Faillace said in an email that he he expects that he and his wife
take part in the meeting from that this fall was intentional, board In the past, meetings often drew has been taking part over Zoom will have received booster shots
location. President Fiona Walter said. only a handful of people. During both because of the risk of a se- of the vaccine.
Dharap said he hopes the “We’re going back to normal,” the pandemic, remote meetings vere breakthrough COVID-19 Without the executive order, a
California legislature considers Walter said. “We would rather see would sometimes see hundreds case, made more likely due to board member participating re-
amending the state’s public meet- people in person.” of attendees. his age, and because hearing motely must publicly post their
ings law to let board members According to Walter, she and That was likely in part be- loss makes it difficult for him address and allow members of
participate remotely more easily. Superintendent Nellie Meyer cause of the controversial topics to understand what is being said the public to attend the meeting
To broaden the types of candi- made the decision to return to a on the agenda, namely how and through masks. at that location.
dates who run for public boards, “pre-COVID” meeting model, when to reopen schools. However, Asked whether he believes the Faillace said that these re-
Dharap said, it is important to be with the addition of a YouTube the format of the meetings may public should be allowed to com- quirements “seem to me to have
mindful of working families and livestream to increase access. have made it easier for people to ment remotely, given that he has outlived most of whatever use or
realize that attending an in-per- Before the pandemic, the district attend. been participating online, he said worth they had when they were
son meeting can sometimes be an only posted audio recordings af- Laura Teksler, who ran unsuc- “yes” but added that he thinks legislated, well before the wide-
“insurmountable” obstacle. ter the fact. cessfully for the MVLA board allowing the public to email the spread availability of very high
“Increased access is really only Walter acknowledged that the last year, said she believes many board is sufficient in most cases. quality video conferencing.” He
going to be facilitated with legis- district could in theory continue more parents were able to partici- The exception, Faillace said, said he hopes to work with the
lative change,” Dharap said. to allow online commenting but pate in meetings during the pan- would be when someone wants to district’s technology staff to find
said that it is logistically cum- demic because they didn’t have respond to something said during ways to use available assistance
bersome, although she didn’t to dedicate a whole evening to a meeting about an item the board devices to improve his under-
MVLA bars remote detail what the barriers would showing up in-person. is about to vote on. standing of meetings while masks
commenting be. She also said that people “One of the few good things “The board and administration are worn. Q
While other districts have sig- can always share feedback over that came out of the remote are still working out the kinks Em ail Staff Wr i t e r
naled an openness to continu- email. At board meetings, Walter world was that ability for more in the current method of live- Zoe Morgan at zmorgan@
ing to let members of the public announces the number of emails of the public to engage,” Teksler streaming, and I’m confident paweekly.com.
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • September 10, 2021 • Page 13Answers to this week’s puzzles, which can be found on page 59. Upfront
CRIME
At trial, brother of teen murdered in 1963
testifies against accused serial killer
A decade later, John Getreu lived minutes away from where
victim Janet Ann Taylor was found
By Sue Dremann
Editor’s note: Descriptions of told him that Detective Gordon Currie testified
crime in this article may be dis- Getreu had Tuesday that he obtained 10 vol-
turbing to some readers. been arrested umes of court documents related
lleged serial killer John for the crime. to Getreu’s 1964 conviction in
A Arthur Getreu was con-
victed of killing and rap-
ing a 15-year-old girl in Germa-
Getreu, 76,
of Hayward,
is now being
Margaret Williams’ murder. Dep-
uty District Attorney Josh Stauffer
read excerpts from the more than
ny in 1964, a decade before the tried in San 1,000 pages of court documents.
strangled bodies of two young Mateo County Getreu, who was 18 years old at
women he is now accused of kill- Superior Court the time of the killing, was sen-
John Getreu
ing were found on Stanford Uni- for allegedly tenced to 10 years in prison for
versity land, the brother of the killing Janet rape with fatal consequences. He
murdered teenager testified on Ann Taylor, 21, whose beaten face served a partial sentence of five
Tuesday. and strangled body was found in years and nine months. German
Evan David Williams, a pas- a ditch near the intersection of officials believed he was likely
tor, said that Getreu killed his Sand Hill Road and Manzanita to lead a “righteous life” after he
sister on June 9, 1963, when his Way in 1974. Taylor was the sec- was sent to live with his parents
family and Getreu’s parents were ond woman found on Stanford in the U.S., where he returned in
stationed at the U.S. Army base land with similar injuries. Leslie 1969 under probation supervision,
in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. His Marie Perlov, 21, was discovered according to the German court
sister, Margaret Williams, was near what is now the Stanford documents.
found in a field. She had been Dish hiking area in a remote lo- Getreu, in his own statement
beaten about the face, strangled cation in 1973. Getreu is facing a to German investigators, said he
and raped. first-degree murder charge in her and Williams met at a dance. He
Williams said his father, who death in Santa Clara County.
was an army chaplain at the time, San Mateo County Sheriff (continued on page 16)
HOUSING
As bidding wars cool, is a Peninsula
housing crash on the way?
Region sees most competitive market in a decade
By Xin Jiang
s we roll through summer, action, quite larger lots (over 10,000 square
A many local families are
finally getting away for
their first vacation since March
noticeably at
those prime,
rarely available
feet) that are listed slightly below
$3 million to receive bids that are
nearly $1 million higher than ask-
2020. With fewer active buyers, locations. ing price.
the bidding war has cooled down Pent-up de- The pandemic triggered a pref-
quite a bit compared to the crazy mand coupled erence for bigger living spaces
spring, and the market seems to with the strong and larger lots, which are more
be back to its normal seasonality. tech economy difficult to find in Palo Alto.
The first half of 2021 was the contributed to The market also has gone back
most active six months in the past a big and ac- Xin Jiang to its normal quick turnover with-
decade for the local real estate tive buyer pool. in seven to 10 days.
market with 431 new listings on More than 74% of new listings in As sellers experience quick
the multiple listing system — a Palo Alto during the first half sales and higher-than-expected
45% increase from the first half of this year were sold. This con- prices, and buyers are frustrated
of 2020 and 30% more than the sumption ratio was even higher in by severe competition or bidding
most recent 10-year average. Los Altos at 83% and in Menlo wars, no wonder some of the most
Unlike the supply shortage re- Park at 78%. In Palo Alto, 312 Google-searched questions by
ported in the news for most parts homes officially exchanged hands consumers are: “Are we in a real
of the nation, Palo Alto had an — that’s 64% more than the first estate bubble?” and “When will
ample supply of houses for sale. half of 2020 and the highest level the market crash?”
Neighboring Menlo Park and since 2012. If we dig into the fundamentals,
Los Altos also experienced their Median home prices also saw the run-up of home prices is not
largest inventory since 2011. The sharp increases in cities along the fueled by an increase in demand
increased supply was driven in Midpeninsula. The median price or speculation in the face of lim-
part by pent-up demand due to of single-family homes sold in ited supply. The high price is a
the pandemic and by the very Palo Alto rose to a record-high of result of very healthy transaction
strong pricing environment at the $3.53 million — a 16% increase volume. In the near term, supply
beginning of the year after more from the first half of 2020 and may keep increasing because of
than two years of price correc- an 18% jump compared to all of the high home price. Aging fami-
tion. There were 10 active listings 2020. lies may also choose to move out
in the heart of Old Palo Alto in In Los Altos, the median home because of the high cost-of-living
mid-May, ranging from $6 mil- price jumped to $3.9 million, or and tax rates.
lion to just north of $30 million. 22% year over year. It’s become Demand, however, will remain
Higher home prices pushed sell- common for older, smaller homes
ers previously on the fence to take (less than 2,000 square feet) on
(continued on page 56)
Page 14 • September 10, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.comYou can also read
