UNDER ATTACK & SPEAKING OUT - Palo Alto - | Palo Alto Online
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Palo Vol. XLII, Number 25 Q March 26, 2021
Alto County enters
orange tier
Page 5
w w w. P a l o A l t o O n l i n e.c o m
UNDER ATTACK
& SPEAKING OUT
ASIAN AMERICANS, SUPPORTERS RALLY AGAINST RECENT VIOLENCE
PAGE 5
Read up-to-the-minute news on PaloAltoOnline.com
QUpfront Fire Department fails to recruit women Page 5
QA&E New doc sheds light on admissions scandal Page 22
QEating Out Pastry pop-ups open in Palo Alto Page 27
exceptional
health care in
the new normal
Stanford Health Care is ready to care for you, now and always.
We continue to adapt and adhere to the most up-to-date safety guidelines,
so you can feel confident getting the care you need.
To ensure your safety, we are:
• Screening both staff and patients for COVID-19
U.S. News & World Report recognizes
Stanford Health Care among the top • Requiring and providing masks for all
hospitals in the nation, based on
quality and patient safety.
• Staggering visits to allow for physical distancing in common areas
• Ensuring separate screening areas for symptomatic patients
• Sanitizing exam rooms after every patient
Don’t delay your care. Appointments are available at our locations across
the Bay Area and remotely by video visit.
stanfordhealthcare.org/resumingcare
Page 2 • March 26, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
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www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • March 26, 2021 • Page 3
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Page 4 • March 26, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront Local news, information and analysis
Asian Americans demand change amid racist attacks
‘This is not acceptable to have violence against against the Asian American and “We can no longer suffer in si- she began spreading the word on
Pacific Islander community. For lence,” he said. “This is not accept- various social media apps. Wong’s
any race. A lot of people are very angry.’ Ng and more than 100 people who able to have violence against any family history in Palo Alto goes
by Sue Dremann took part in a demonstration at race. We need to build together to back to the early 1900s. Three
the corner of El Camino Real and solve these problems. A lot of peo- generations of her family gradu-
T
he first time he encountered Caucasian student came up to me Embarcadero Road in Palo Alto ple are very angry with this. This is ated from Palo Alto High School.
racial violence, Nelson Ng and slapped me on both sides of on Sunday, the recent attacks on the problem with this society. They But recently, she was targeted as a
was 13 years old. He had my face and ran away. I didn’t Asian elders in the Bay Area and pick on the weakest. We are in this “foreigner” in her own town while
recently come to the U.S. from even speak English. I didn’t know the mass shooting at spas near At- together. We cannot let people be putting up flyers downtown for
Hong Kong, and it was his first what to think,” Ng said. lanta, Georgia, are the last straw mistreated across any race.” an art exhibit in late January for
day in ninth grade at Encinal Ng, now 58 and a computer in a long list of injustices they Kimberley Wong, Ng’s wife, three Asian artists at the Pacific
High School in Alameda. software scientist, is standing up have largely borne silently. But no said as soon as she saw a post
“The first time in the hall, a against racial hatred, particularly more, Ng and others said. about Sunday’s demonstration, (continued on page 9)
PUBLIC HEALTH
Orange is
the new tier
Also, county arranges to
continue to get vaccine
doses directly from state
by Sue Dremann
and Eli Walsh
S
anta Clara County moved
into the state’s orange tier
of COVID-19 restrictions
Tuesday, allowing the county
to expand indoor capacities for
Embarcadero Media file photo by Veronica Weber some businesses and reopen bars
outdoors starting Wednesday.
It joins San Mateo County,
which moved into the orange tier
last week.
Santa Clara County Health Of-
ficer Dr. Sara Cody said the tier
change reflects the county’s per-
sistence in reducing its cases and
hospitalizations.
The tier change from red to
orange will allow each county
to increase indoor capacity from
Jennifer Krusing, right, helps clear debris after a house fire on Channing Avenue in Palo Alto in June 2013. Krusing, who retired in 25% to 50% for sectors such as
2019, is one of several high-ranked female firefighters who have left the city in recent years. places of worship, movie theaters
and restaurants. Gyms and fitness
male firefighters and just five fe- centers will be allowed to raise ca-
PUBLIC SAFETY male firefighters in 2019. After pacity from 10% to 25%.
the retirement of a female cap- Orange is the most restrictive
Fire Department confronts recruiting tain last December and staffing
reductions due to budget cuts,
tier in which bars can operate un-
der any circumstance. (A move to
challenge as female firefighters opt out the city now has 81 firefight-
ers, four of whom are women,
the looser yellow tier would allow
a county to resume indoor opera-
Fire Chief Geo Blackshire told tions at bars at 25% capacity or
City Council vows to spend more money, the City Council on March 15 100 people, whichever is fewer,
ramp up effort to increase diversity in agency during a discussion of the report. according to the California De-
The grand jury surveyed partment of Public Health.)
by Gennady Sheyner
four fire agencies in the county Under the orange tier, business
W
hen Catherine Capriles department in the state, going to decisions toward recruiting mi- — the Palo Alto Fire Depart- sectors like family entertainment
was hired by the Palo as high as 13 women at its apex. norities and women.” ment, the Mountain View Fire centers, cardrooms, offices and
Alto Fire Department The chief who hired her, Ruben Today, the Palo Alto Fire De- Department, the San Jose Fire wineries will be allowed to re-
in 1994, she was part of a group Grijalva, prioritized recruit- partment is one of many across Department and Santa Clara sume indoor operations after be-
of 10 incoming firefighters: five ment of women and minorities, the nation that is struggling — County Central Fire Protection ing limited to opening outdoors or
men and five women. she said. The class before hers, and failing — to recruit female District — and issued a set of being closed altogether in the red
Capriles, who retired as she noted, had seven women and firefighters. According to a re- recommendations to remove or and purple tiers.
deputy chief in 2018, said that three men. cent Santa Clara County civil reduce existing barriers for fe- On April 1, counties in the or-
during the earlier part of her “He made it a priority,” grand jury report — titled “Why male firefighters, including the ange tier can allow 33% capacity
tenure, Palo Alto had a higher Capriles told the Weekly. “He aren’t there more female fire- crowds at outdoor professional
proportion of women than any fought for and made specific fighters?” — Palo Alto had 90 (continued on page 30)
(continued on page 10)
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • March 26, 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)
Associate Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511)
Sports Editor Rick Eymer (223-6516) We are not going to win this battle if
Assistant Sports Editor Glenn Reeves (223-6521)
Arts & Entertainment Editor Karla Kane (223-6517) we do not stop scapegoating each other.
Home & Real Estate Editor
Heather Zimmerman (223-6515) —Lydia Kou, Palo Alto City Council member,
Express & Digital Editor Jamey Padojino on denouncing xenophobia and anti-Asian
(223-6524) discrimination. See story on page 9.
Staff Writers Sue Dremann (223-6518), Elena
Kadvany (223-6519), Gennady Sheyner (223-6513)
Around Town
Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier (223-6530)
Editorial Assistant/Intern Coordinator
Lloyd Lee (223-6526)
Contributors Chrissi Angeles, Mike Berry,
Carol Blitzer, Peter Canavese, Edward Gerard Fike,
Yoshi Kato, Chris Kenrick, Jack McKinnon, ALL HANDS ON DECK ... The during the interview that she
Sheryl Nonnenberg, John Orr, Monica Schreiber,
need for community service has became immersed in housing
OUR T EAM IS IN MOT ION FOR YOU Jay Thorwaldson
ADVERTISING
been unprecedented during the and transportation issues as a
COVID-19 pandemic. But laboring result of frustrations that she had
Vice President Sales & Marketing
behind the scenes, the Boys & experienced while driving her
D E L E O N R E A LT Y, I N C . Tom Zahiralis (223-6570)
Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and children to school, which included
Multimedia Advertising Sales
Michael Repka | CEO & Managing Broker | DRE #01854880 Elaine Clark (223-6572), Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571) its roughly 1,800 volunteers have seeing kids almost get run over on
650.900.7000 | Info@deleonrealty.com Real Estate Advertising Sales worked over the past 12 months Charleston Road. A former lecturer
Neal Fine (223-6583) to serve more than 435,000 meals at Stanford, Chang said it’s critical
www.deleonrealty.com | DRE #01903224
Digital Marketing Representative to locals in need. The Boys & Girls for the city to make sure that local
Rosemary Lewkowitz (223-6585)
Clubs has served hot meals each schools can accommodate its
Legal Advertising Alicia Santillan (223-6578)
night and delivered groceries growth plans. “We’ve got to think
ADVERTISING SERVICES every week since March 2020, about schools,” Chang said. “That
Advertising Services Manager the organization highlighted in a type of housing is going to bring
Kevin Legarda (223-6597)
video published on March 18. The families in and how are these
Sales & Production Coordinator
Diane Martin (223-6584) effort began as a nightly pop-up kids going to get to where they’re
that provided 200 meals and has supposed to go?” Mayor Tom
DESIGN
evolved into 2,000 meals. Along DuBois, Vice Mayor Pat Burt and
Design & Production Manager
Kristin Brown (223-6562) the way, the organization found council members Lydia Kou and
Senior Designers Linda Atilano, Paul Llewellyn support through local families who Greer Stone voted for Chang on
Designers Kevin Legnon, Amy Levine, sponsored community meals, 367 Monday. Council members Eric
Douglas Young individual donors and assistance Filseth and Greg Tanaka voted
BUSINESS from foundations, according to for volunteer Kathy Jordan, while
Assistant Business Manager James Harris, senior director of council member Alison Cormack
Gwen Fischer (223-6575) operations. “What does this mean supported architect Jessica
Business Associates to our community? When you look Resmini. Chang is filling a seat that
Nico Navarrete (223-6582), Suzanne Ogawa
at the city of East Palo Alto we’re has been vacant since January
(223-6543)
just thankful for the work that the when William Riggs resigned from
ADMINISTRATION
Boys & Girls Club has done,” East the commission.
Courier Ruben Espinoza
Palo Alto City Council member
EMBARCADERO MEDIA Lisa Gauthier said in the video. RETURN TO THE FARM ...
President William S. Johnson (223-6505) “We have been able to put this Stanford University students
Learn from home with Vice President Michael I. Naar (223-6540)
Vice President & CFO Peter Beller (223-6545)
out every day on social media to
make sure that individuals who are
coming back to campus for the
spring quarter starting March 29
Vice President Sales & Marketing in need of meals are able to show missed their chance to run into
Senior Planet at Avenidas Tom Zahiralis (223-6570)
Director, Information Technology & Webmaster
up and it is making a difference in
their lives everyday.” The nonprofit
actress Issa Rae, who returned
to her alma mater last weekend to
Frank A. Bravo (223-6551)
organization is showing no signs film an episode of her HBO show
Make friends, discover new skills, Director of Marketing and Audience
Development Emily Freeman (223-6560) of stopping as the pandemic “Insecure,” according to The
UVC[ƂVCPFJCXGHWP Major Accounts Sales Manager
Connie Jo Cotton (223-6571)
continues. Stanford Daily. Rae, one of the
main stars of the series, plays Issa
Circulation Assistant Alicia Santillan NEW TO THE CREW ... Bryna Dee, “who struggles to navigate
"Meet Me Mondays" Computer System Associates Chris Planessi, Chang, a longtime school the tricky professional and
Mike Schmidt
Connect with others online The Palo Alto Weekly (ISSN 0199-1159) is published every
volunteer whose resume includes personal terrain of Los Angeles
Friday by Embarcadero Media, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo running the MBA program at along with her best friend Molly,”
6GEJKG6WGUFC[U Alto, CA 94306, (650) 326-8210. Periodicals postage paid at Stanford University Graduate according to HBO. The show
Palo Alto, CA and additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a
School of Business, was took the duo back to their alma
Learn digital & internet basics newspaper of general circulation for Santa Clara County.
The Palo Alto Weekly is delivered to homes in Palo Alto, appointed this week to serve mater, Stanford, for a reunion,
Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Alto, to
on Palo Alto’s Planning and according to the Daily article
"Wellness Wednesdays" faculty and staff households on the Stanford campus and
to portions of Los Altos Hills. POSTMASTER: Send address Transportation Commission. published on March 21. The
Stay healthy with tech tools changes to Palo Alto Weekly, 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo
Chang’s candidacy received an student publication shared photos
Alto, CA 94306. ©2021 by Embarcadero Media. All rights
reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly unexpected boost March 10, when of the decorated campus that
6JQWIJVHWN6JWTUFC[U prohibited. The Palo Alto Weekly is available on the Internet Arthur Keller, a former planning had “welcome alumni” signs and
via Palo Alto Online at: www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Expand your creative pursuits Our email addresses are: editor@paweekly.com,
commissioner, abruptly withdrew a post with arrows pointing to the
letters@paweekly.com, digitalads@paweekly.com, his candidacy from consideration Main Quad and Memorial Church.
ads@paweekly.com for the open seat and threw his “The project is fully compliant
Missed delivery or start/stop your paper?
support to Chang. “I originally with state, county and Stanford
Since March 2020, older adults have participated Email circulation@paweekly.com. You may also subscribe
online at PaloAltoOnline.com. Subscriptions are $120/yr. applied to be on the Planning guidelines and is rigorously
in Senior Planet from AARP virtual programming at and Transportation Commission following strict COVID-19
the Avenidas location over 5,000 times! because I thought you needed safety protocols,” university
a candidate who had a diverse spokesperson E.J. Miranda said
point of view,” Keller said during in a statement to the Daily. Rae,
,QKPWUCVYYYUGPKQTRNCPGVQTICXGPKFCU the council’s interview. “But I think who graduated in 2007 with a
Become a Bryna Chang has a diverse point bachelor’s degree in African and
Paid Subscriber for as low of view, so I am withdrawing my African American Studies, also
as $5 per month name today so she can ... get serves as an executive producer
Sign up online at your nod.” Chang told the council and writer for the show. Q
www.PaloAltoOnline.com/join
Page 6 • March 26, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront
useless, he said. Nobody he has The mix of high demand and short
PUBLIC HEALTH ever signed up through My Turn turnaround time means avail-
has received a notification. able appointments are published
Can’t get a vaccination? Bay Area Underscoring the desperation,
Aggarwal said people who do
online and quickly snatched up,
creating the dynamic that Aggar-
vaccine hunters are here to help score an appointment are willing
to travel anywhere in the greater
Bay Area and beyond to get the
wal said is driving people to find
workarounds.
Aggarwal, who works for Intuit
Local tech worker is among those leading the grassroots effort shot. in Mountain View, said his pro-
by Kevin Forestieri “There are so many people who gram is a work in progress and
are ready to go at a moment’s no- must constantly be updated as
F
aced with endless frustra- appointment or not,” Aggarwal tice to get the vaccine and are vaccine providers change their
tion and fruitless searches said. “All of that work is com- willing to drive to Sacramento to websites — some even putting up
for COVID-19 vaccine ap- pletely wasted if there isn’t.” get it,” he said. “A lot of people barriers to keep it from working.
pointments, Bay Area residents Aggarwal joined the Bay Area have lost their loved ones, and It takes a lot of work, but he said
have launched a grassroots effort vaccine hunters and has since they know that this is serious, it’s worth it to hear people are fi-
to help one another sign up to get developed his own workaround: especially for folks who are high nally able to get an appointment,
immunized — all without having a program that automatically risk.” protecting themselves and others.
to camp out in front of a computer checks more than 100 vaccine Since vaccinations began in The app is free to use, but he
all day. sites across the Bay Area, scrap- December, roughly 500,000 peo- said anyone who gets an appoint-
The Facebook group “Bay Area ing data once per hour to ping ple in Santa Clara County have ment through his program is en-
vaccine hunters” has been a hub people when appointments are received at least one dose of the couraged to pay it forward and
Courtesy Mukesh Aggarwal
for residents in search of the CO- available. It’s done through an COVID-19 vaccine, including help others — particularly those
VID-19 vaccine, who trade tips, app called Telegram and searches over half of all those age 65 and who may not be tech savvy or
workarounds and other tools to everything from private pharma- older. About 10,000 of those im- have access to a computer.
get an appointment when they cies like Rite-Aid and Walgreens munized have received the John- “If you are able to get help from
become available. Leaders of the to public vaccination sites like the son & Johnson vaccine, which the app, reach out to underprivi-
Facebook group say vaccine pro- Moscone Center in San Francisco. requires only one dose. leged people and help them get
viders have made it difficult to Mukesh Aggarwal is part of a As of Monday, there were 3,000 Vaccination rates are higher in the vaccine too,” he said.
get the shot and that it falls to the team helping people find vaccines. people using the program and 200 San Mateo County, which has vac- Anyone interested in signing
community to help one another. more joining each day. cinated 235,000 people — more up for the notifications can
One member of the group is periodically throughout the day It’s unreasonable to expect than one-third of all residents age download the Telegram app
Mukesh Aggarwal, who said his for available appointments, and people to sit hunched in front of 16 and older — and administered for Android or iPhone. Users
story is all too common. His fa- some are designed to make people a computer all day constantly re- over 355,000 shots. can then either search for
ther is older and has conditions sign up only to later reveal no vac- freshing web pages in search of Despite the progress, state and BayAreaVaccineNotification in
that put him at high risk of get- cines are available. the vaccine, Aggarwal said, but county health leaders say there the app or click the link https://t.
ting severely ill and dying from “Most of them are set up in a people are desperate to protect remains a severe vaccine supply me/bayareavaccinenotification. Q
COVID-19, but finding him an way where you have to enter all themselves and loved ones from shortage and that the unpredict- Mountain View Voice Staff
appointment was an exhausting your personal information over the virus. Yet the alternative — able allocations from week to Writer Kevin Forestieri can
chore. Each provider has its own two or three pages, and after that using California’s “My Turn” week make it difficult for provid- be emailed at kforestieri@mv-
website that must be checked they tell you whether there is an sign-up system — is practically ers to plan ahead for appointments. voice.com.
identified about $2.7 million in million in contracts for the proj-
CITY BUDGET cuts from this year’s capital plan, ect, which includes new median
which includes savings in catego- islands, bulb outs, bike lanes, traf-
Federal funds brighten ries such as sidewalk repairs, City
Hall renovations, maintenance of
fic signal improvements and street
trees.
Palo Alto’s bleak budget outlook parking lots and enhancements to
downtown garages. On Monday
This third phase of the project
is focusing on major intersections
night, the council directed staff at El Camino Real, Middlefield
City is eligible for $12.5M in grants from American Rescue Plan to trim an additional $2.5 million, Road, Louis Road and Fabian
by Gennady Sheyner though it did not specify which Way, according to staff.
projects should be scaled back, Numerous residents, includ-
A
fter a year of budget cuts, which considers factors such as requirements for timing. deferred or scrapped entirely. ing bike advocates and students,
service reductions and population, poverty and housing “We will continue to monitor “I think we’re all sick of cutting urged the council on Monday
staff layoffs, Palo Alto needs. For smaller municipali- and will be reporting that infor- services, which means we’ve re- to move ahead with the project,
is preparing to get $12 million ties, the allocations are based on mation to the council,” Shikada ally got to dig hard on the capital which they said would bring criti-
from the federal government — population. said. plan now,” Council member Eric cal safety improvements to a busy
money that the city is banking on Under the approved plan, Palo Shikada said the city is also Filseth said at the Monday meet- corridor that serves 11 schools, in-
to smooth its path to economic Alto stands to receive $12.5 mil- looking for any opportunities that ing, noting that some projects cluding Gunn High and Fletcher
recovery. lion in federal aid, while Moun- local nonprofits and businesses would likely need to be postponed Middle. Robert Neff, a longtime
The money, which will be re- tain View would get $14.8 million may have to take advantage of by many years. bike advocate said these portions
leased through grants over the and Menlo Park would be eligible the programs that are part of the Council member Greg Tanaka of corridor are “long, long, long
next two years, can be used to pay for $6.5 million. Atherton and stimulus bill, which also included called the recent announcement overdue for improvements.
employee salaries, restore ser- Woodside are eligible for $1.3 direct payments of $1,400 to indi- of federal funding great news, “The goal of our bicycle net-
vices that were slashed because million and $1 million, respec- viduals earning up to $75,000 and though he also acknowledged that work is to make it easy to get to
of plummeting revenues over the tively, while Portola Valley could couples earning up to $150,000, the stimulus aid is not enough to destinations safely and comfort-
past year and invest in critical receive up to $860,000. extension of unemployment ben- overcome the city’s ongoing fi- ably on fairly direct routes,” Neff
infrastructure. The allocation is For Palo Alto, federal funds are efits and child tax credits, $128 nancial challenges. said. “These two sections will fi-
part of the $42.6 billion that the expected to provide a measure of billion in grants to education “Sure, we’re going to get money nally make important connections
state of California and the various relief after a year during which its agencies and $350 billion in aid from the federal government, but safer and more comfortable for all
counties and cities in the state are hotel- and sales-tax revenues have to state and local governments. our revenue is still down a lot, and cyclists.”
set to receive through the Ameri- plummeted precipitously, prompt- While the stimulus bill is ex- there are a lot of needs that we The list of projects that could
can Rescue Plan, a $1.9-trillion ing the council to make $40 mil- pected to help the city balance have,” Tanaka said. “I think we see less funding include improve-
stimulus bill that federal lawmak- lion in budget cuts last spring and its budget in the fiscal year 2022, need to start looking at this and ments to the newly rebuild Junior
ers approved earlier this month. to eliminate about 80 full-time the City Council is still looking try to do some value engineer- Museum and Zoo, resurfacing of
This total includes $8.3 billion positions. The council has been at ways to cut costs in the current ing, try to really prioritize what is the synthetic turf at the Magical
for cities and smaller munici- planning for another $6 million year, particularly from its capital truly needed.” Bridge playground at Mitchell
palities, as well as $7.6 billion for in budget cuts in fiscal year 2022, improvement plan. The current One near-term project that the Park, the replacement of Fire Sta-
counties. Santa Clara County is which begins on July 1. budget includes $174.4 million council has shown no inclination tion 4 at Mitchell Park and roof
slated to receive $373.9 million in City Manager Ed Shikada for infrastructure spending, which to postpone is the completion of replacement at the Municipal
relief, while San Mateo County said at the March 15 meeting of includes $102.8 million for a new the Charleston-Arastradero street Services Center on East Bayshore
would get $148.7 million. the City Council that he is still public-safety building, a project improvement project, which is Road. Q
Allocations to individual cities waiting for additional informa- that the council approved last about to enter its third and final Staff Writer Gennady Sheyner
are based on the Community De- tion about restrictions for the use month after decades of planning. phase. The council is preparing can be emailed at gsheyner@
velopment Block Grant formula, of the federal funds, as well as In recent weeks, staff had to approve later this spring $6.6 paweekly.com.
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • March 26, 2021 • Page 7
Upfront
News Digest
YOUTH
Longtime East Palo Alto youth
State expands vaccine eligibility to ages 50+
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that all Californians
50 and older will be eligible to be vaccinated on April 1, while
nonprofit scrambles to avoid eviction
everyone 16 and older will qualify two weeks later. YUCA must secure $1.2M in loans or donations
The governor also said that starting Thursday, the state will
loosen requirements for doctors and other health care providers to to purchase its house on Clarke Avenue
use their discretion to vaccinate anyone they think should get one, by Elena Kadvany
regardless of age or medical condition.
F
The state expects a surge in supply next month: approximately or 11 years, Youth United
2.5 million first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccinations per for Community Action
week in the first half of April, and more than 3 million in the (YUCA) has trained young
second half of the month. leaders of color out of a cozy,
That is a substantial increase from the 1.8 million doses the state humble yellow-brick house on
receives per week. Health officials have long said supply was the Clarke Avenue in East Palo Alto.
biggest constraint and that the state has capacity to administer That house is now up for sale,
about 3 million vaccines per week and should be able to adminis- and the community nonprofit is
ter up to 4 million by the end of April. scrambling to preserve its roots
As of Wednesday, California had administered 15.5 million in East Palo Alto by raising
doses. About 5.4 million people have been fully vaccinated. enough funds to purchase the
Even with this expansion in eligibility and supply, it will take 2135 Clarke Ave. building. But
Courtesy Youth United for Community Action
several months to vaccinate everyone who wants a vaccine, health with an ambitious goal of secur-
officials warn. Q ing $1.2 million by the end of
— Ana B. Ibarra/CalMatters this month, and $500,000 in aid
pledged by two local funders, the
Elementary schools to reopen 5 days a week group’s GoFundMe campaign
For the first time in a year, Palo Alto Unified elementary school has raised only $43,000 to date.
students will be able to return to school five days a week in person Since 1994, YUCA has worked
starting in April, Superintendent Don Austin announced on Tues- to empower young people of color
day evening. in East Palo Alto, many of whom
His announcement followed several critical changes driving have gone on to serve on local
school reopenings. Santa Clara County moved into the state’s or- boards, commissions and other Ingrid Yasmine Ruiz Alvarado, left, a student at East Palo Alto
ange tier of public health restrictions on Tuesday. The Califor- decision-making bodies. The Academy and YUCA member, works with another teenager at the
nia Department of Public Health adopted over the weekend new nonprofit is a social justice hub East Palo Alto nonprofit.
guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that’s advocated for restorative
that halved the recommended spacing between masked students in justice in schools, immigration YUCA is continuing to talk with Julisa Carriel-Lopez, a junior
classrooms from 6 to 3 feet, allowing schools to increase capacity. policy and tenant rights. YUCA other funders, Najar said, and at East Palo Alto Academy, said
And in the district, 90% of employees are either fully vaccinated staff visit middle schools and lead is hopeful there will be further she and her friends don’t call the
or have received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot, Austin said. tours of the city to educate young- contributions. The GoFundMe Clarke Avenue house the YUCA
Third through fifth graders will return first on April 19 and kin- er generations on East Palo Alto campaign will cover the remain- office.
dergarten through second graders on April 26. This only applies to history — and hopefully plant a ing amount. Anything beyond the “We say, ‘the YUCA home,’”
students who are already attending school for hybrid learning. Stu- seed that will inspire them to be- fundraising goal would go toward she said.
dents in full distance learning will continue taking classes remotely come community activists. “badly needed” repairs for central Carriel-Lopez has been in-
for the rest of the school year. A handful of elementary classrooms The nonprofit’s leadership heating and the house’s roof. volved with YUCA since 2018.
have since February been piloting a five-days-a-week model. says its location, embedded in “We’ve been essential in ad- She was drawn in by the nonprof-
Currently, about 600 students each are at Palo Alto and Gunn the community it serves, is es- vocating for what’s right in our it’s focus on restorative justice, or
high schools each week, Austin said. He anticipates more students sential to its success and impact. community for 27 years,” Najar working to examine the traumas
will be interested in coming back to school after spring break and The building also serves as a sec- said. “There’s a lot of revolution- underlying students’ misconduct
in light of the county moving into the less-restrictive orange tier. ond home for teenagers, many of ary history that comes from East rather than penalizing them with
The principals of Palo Alto and Gunn high schools also an- whom live in the neighborhood Palo Alto that we follow and that discipline. She also saw herself in
nounced Tuesday that, with Santa Clara County in the orange tier, and can easily walk there to par- we live by. To not have a YUCA education advocacy projects for
there will again be open campuses starting this Wednesday, March ticipate in activities or do home- or to not have a revolutionary elementary school students not
24. This means students will be allowed to leave campus during work. Staff members deliver free space just doesn’t seem possible receiving adequate support for
prep periods and lunch. Q produce from a backyard garden for East Palo Alto.” special needs.
— Elena Kadvany to people who live nearby. YUCA youth are currently “I got to understand more
“We walk out of our office to working on two primary cam- about my background, the harm
Police investigate spray-painted hate message serve the community that’s liter- paigns: promoting environmental that was caused to me that either
Police are investigating a spray-painted racial ephithet discovered ally next door. That’s why it’s es- health, justice and anti-displace- affected me in a negative way or
in Heritage Park on March 21 as a hate crime. Officers found the sential that we stay in a place like ment principles in land use poli- affected my social upbringing,”
blue spray paint in several areas of the downtown Palo Alto park, this that’s very homey and very cies; and increasing high school Carriel-Lopez said. “It grew this
including the bark of a tree. connected to the community,” graduation rates and preparing confidence (in me). It pushed me
“Of most concern was a short sentence that included a racial YUCA Program Director Kenia students for college or careers. to grow from my past and not let
epithet written in about 5-inch-tall letters on a concrete curb set in Najar said. “We’re a part of it. Through the campaigns, which my insecurities take over.”
the ground that separates grass from dirt,” police said in a state- We’re in the middle of it. We’re involve running meetings and She feels empowered by YUCA
ment on Tuesday. a resource.” speaking at public hearings, the staff, also all young people of col-
The racial slur was directed at African Americans. On a nearby Najar said the building owner nonprofit aims to help young or, who treat her as an equal, not
wall with decorative tiles, police found images of male genitalia. notified YUCA in January that he people improve their writing and as a child. She relished being able
Two first names were also painted — one on the tile, one on the wanted to sell the house. YUCA public speaking skills and in- to correct an uncle who assumed
ground. Police also found 15 to 20 empty cans of alcohol that had quickly started conversations crease their self-confidence. she was a babysitter, telling him
been spray painted. They collected the discarded cap of a blue with EPA Can Do and the Pahali Ingrid Yasmine Ruiz Alvarado, that she’s working as a commu-
spray-paint can as evidence. A Public Works crew removed the Community Land Trust, which an East Palo Alto Academy stu- nity organizer.
paint, police said. both work to maintain and cre- dent, first joined YUCA to com- “I’m helping my community
The crime likely occurred overnight from Saturday into Sunday, ate affordable housing in East plete community service hours. because I care about it. This is
police said. Investigators don’t have any suspects at this time. The Palo Alto. The two organizations But eventually, it became a sec- something that motivates me to
department said the city will not tolerate hate crimes in the city agreed to partner with YUCA to ond home. She now spends a lot get out of my house every day,”
toward any group. acquire the house and make it a of time at the yellow house, both Carriel-Lopez said.
“In the wake of recent national events and increased attention community land trust. There’s for YUCA activities and to do Ruiz Alvarado added: “YUCA
on hate crimes, the personnel of the Palo Alto Police Department also an accessory dwelling unit schoolwork, particularly during has inspired us to be more power-
continue to show their commitment to thoroughly investigating any on the site that could be used for the pandemic. ful and to be out there. Youth don’t
reported hate crimes in Palo Alto,” the department stated. affordable housing. “It’s a quiet, safe space for me. get that recognition. Youth have
The city of Palo Alto strongly is encouraging members of the EPA Can Do has pledged a I can concentrate. At home I don’t power. This should be known.” Q
community to promptly report incidents like these by calling the 24- $250,000 loan toward the pur- have that space,” she said. “The Staff Writer Elena Kadvany
hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413, or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency. Q chase and another private funder youth and staff empower me. can be emailed at ekadvany@
—Sue Dremann has also pledged $250,000. That’s something I need daily.” paweekly.com.
Page 8 • March 26, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com
Upfront
Asian recognize the ongoing racism and
xenophobia that Asian Americans
(continued from page 5) face, she said.
“In seventh grade when we
Art League. were learning about civil rights,
She said a man approached her one of the units was about Japa-
and asked, “Why are you showing nese-American internment. The
art here? Why don’t you go back teacher said ‘Asian Americans no
where you came from?” longer face racism and prejudice
The remark, she said, surprised today,’” Ling said.
her: both that anyone would make “We are seen as a model minor-
the assumption she is an immi- ity — almost white,” she said.
grant and that they would be so Many students are missing Pa-
hateful. cific Islander and Asian Ameri-
Other native-born residents can role models at school. “We
have had similar experiences. need to have more representa-
Adrienne Lee said that shortly tion,” she said.
after the COVID-19 pandemic Ling is hopeful that events over
began last spring, her husband this past year are helping people
and daughter were taking a walk. to recognize the racist and implic-
Courtesy photo
When they passed a church that it biases experienced by Asians in
helps homeless people, a man America, she said.
standing nearby hollered, “You “We are not your model minor-
get away from me,” and spat at ity. We are not your virus. We are
them, she said. not your fetish. We are not your Three girls hold a sign in support of a protest against discrimination toward the Asian community held
There’s been enough of a histo- wedge. We are not your sidekick. at Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real on March 21.
ry of racism against Asian Amer- We are not your scapegoat,” Ling
icans and enough bad rhetoric said.
since the pandemic began to sow People speaking out gives her RACE
seeds of fear and doubt, she said. hope. “I do believe if we start be-
Lee said she has been qui-
etly donating to groups that help
ing together in fighting hate, we’ll
be able to create a better world
City leaders denounce xenophobia, vow
families who are victims of racial
hatred against Asian Americans
where Asian Americans will also
be seen as Americans,” she said. to combat anti-Asian discrimination
and Pacific Islanders. Coming out Kalee Whitehouse, a Juana
to demonstrate is a departure for Briones Elementary School PTA Council members adopt resolution calling
her, but perhaps it’s the next step, member, has struggled with the for more partnerships to curb hate acts
she said. rise in violence.
“I’m trying to get away from the “It’s all very, very fresh. It’s hard by Gennady Sheyner
T
doom scrolling,” she said of be- to process. I think for me, growing he Palo Alto City Coun- community, even in a liberal city grocery stores,” despite the fact
ing absorbed by news stories and up mixed race in the U.S., I was cil added its voice on like Palo Alto. Tanaka, whose that they make up about 33% of
social media posts about hate and saddened to see the hatred expand. Monday to a growing grandfather died of tuberculosis the local population. The recent
violence. “It’s sad and we need to Our grandmothers and grand- chorus of cities and public in a Japanese internment camp, shootings in Atlanta have made
elevate our voices to be heard.” fathers are being killed on the agencies denouncing xenopho- said he was well aware of the it “difficult for me to feel safe in
Black and white people also streets. It is beyond imaginable. bia, racism and discrimination history of racism in California. a community that I’ve grown up
came in support of the Asian and “Having a New England, old, against members of the Asian His father was 10 when he left in my entire life.”
Pacific Islander communities. As white family, I was insulated by a American and Pacific Islander the internment camp and was “Just like Black and brown
drivers in passing cars honked lot. My parents could buy a house. communities. subject to discrimination that communities can be discrimi-
their horns in solidarity, a video The reality is when you are a per- Responding to a national up- was so bad that he dropped out nated against, so can Asians,”
of the demonstration captured son of color — and I’m a Daugh- tick in violence against Asian of high school, Tanaka said. Yang said.
the failure of some Americans to ter of the American Revolution residents since the start of the On Sunday, Tanaka attended Gunn High student Aadi
grasp the seriousness of racism — you’re not seen as American,” COVID-19 pandemic — includ- a rally denouncing anti-Asian Mehndiratta agreed and said
against Asian Americans. she said. ing the March 16 deadly shoot- hate. He said he was struck by southeast Asian residents of-
A Caucasian man in a mask “It’s time to put our feet down ings in Atlanta, where six of the stories he heard from those ten experience prejudice in all
heckled a group of young wom- and say: ‘That’s enough. It just the eight people who died were around him. Just about everyone spheres, from school to their
en, demanding to know how can’t be acceptable.’” Asian women — the council had a story about being discrim- workspace. This often stems
they were personally harmed by Last June, Whitehouse orga- unanimously passed a resolution inated against. from preconceived notions
racism. nized a Black Lives Matter march vowing to combat racism and af- “In Palo Alto, we’re probably about their faith, he said.
“Give me an example,” the man for elementary school children firming the city’s “commitment one of the most liberal cities “I’ve heard many stories of
could be heard saying. called “The Littlest March.” She’s to the safety and well-being of in the country, the most open- families and local friends be-
“What?” a woman asked. now working to organize a similar citizens, noncitizens and visi- minded city,” Tanaka said. “But ing harassed for their clothes
The man again demanded an march for Saturday, March 27, on tors with ancestry from the Asia as I was walking with my fellow or complexion, including my
example of harm that had been Ramona Street to University Av- pacific region.” The resolution protesters there, I was surprised mom,” Mehndiratta said. “So
done to the women. enue that would end with a rally cites the recent increase in anti- to hear many firsthand accounts Palo Alto isn’t as immune as
“You just believe what CNN at City Hall. The time has not yet Asian harassment, including the of racism, of discrimination to- we’d like to believe.”
tells you to believe,” he said be- been approved by the police de- use of anti-Asian terminology ward Asian Americans. ... The Council member Lydia Kou
fore walking away. partment, she said. when discussing COVID-19, amount of racism that people recalled on Monday the his-
Moments later, a young woman City Council members Greg rhetoric that perpetuates anti- have felt was quite alarming.” tory of racism against the Asian
responded: “What you’re doing Tanaka and Lydia Kou also at- Asian stigma. According to the In most cases, these incidents community by citing the various
right now.” tended Sunday’s rally. Last March Stop AAPI Hate Project, there go unreported, Tanaka said. laws that the U.S. had enacted
Sydney Ling, a ninth grader as the pandemic took hold, Tanaka had been about 3,795 anti-Asian When he asked the Police De- in the 19th century to curb im-
at Harker School, said she’s felt was riding his bicycle on Middle- bias incidents in the United partment about hate incidents migration from Asian nations,
lucky to live in the Bay Area, field Road when he stopped for a States between March 2020 and against the Asian community, including the Chinese Exclusion
which has a large Asian popula- light. A car with four young white last month. he was told that not a single one Act of 1882 and the Page Act of
tion. Although she hasn’t experi- males pulled up beside him and The council approved the had been reported. Many people 1875.
enced violence and hatred, she has they jeered, “Hey — did you bring resolution after hearing from simply ignore the discrimination Kou, who was born in Hong
experienced bias. the virus here?” he recalled. numerous residents and two until things escalate. Kong and who had co-signed the
“I feel like it’s an almost clas- “I hadn’t felt threatened like that council members, who made it “If someone throws a cup of memo with Tanaka and Mayor
sic experience to have your food in some time,” said Tanaka, who clear that anti-Asian discrimina- water on you, is that a crime? Tom DuBois, called for unity
made fun of,” she said. grew up in Los Angeles and said tion isn’t just a national problem Should you report it or ignore and education to combat racism.
In fifth grade, a classmate said he faced a rough time because he but a local one as well. it?” Tanaka said. “A lot of the “We are not going to win this
her moon cakes, a pastry filled is of Asian descent. He knew from Council member Greg Tanaka, times, a lot of Asians just ignore battle if we do not stop scape-
with sweet bean, lychee or other past experience not to respond one of the authors of the memo it. We don’t make it a big deal.” goating each other and raging
flavors, “tasted disgusting.” An- when he was outnumbered. calling for the resolution, said Alan Yang, a Gunn High against each other,” Kou said. Q
other student one year made “I couldn’t wait for that light to Monday that he was somewhat alumnus, said Asian Americans Staff Writer Gennady
disparaging remarks about her change,” he said. surprised by the prevalence of in Palo Alto have been “verbally Sheyner can be emailed at
noodle lunch. discrimination against the Asian harassed on the streets and in gsheyner@paweekly.com.
Some educators also fail to (continued on page 10)
www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • March 26, 2021 • Page 9
Upfront
Asian
(continued from page 9)
For Tanaka, the current vio-
lence is just an escalation of a long
history of abuses leveled at Asian
Americans. As a youth in Los An-
geles, he used to complain to his
father about how bad the racism
was at school, but he was met with
the response, “You haven’t seen
Courtesy Sydney Ling
anything yet,” he said.
Sue Dremann
Tanaka’s paternal grandfather
died of tuberculosis in a World
War II Japanese internment camp.
After the war, there was “incred-
ible Japanese discrimination. If A woman holds a sign protesting racism at a demonstration in Palo Members of the Whitehouse-Graves and Atkinson families protest racism
you were Japanese living in Cali- Alto on March 21. and hate crimes against Asian Americans in Palo Alto on March 21.
fornia, it was bad news. Everyone it, he said. getting into a really good school consequences, he said. different or un-American.
knew someone who died in the Steven Lee, a former Palo Alto and getting a really good job. Now Lee said that Asians haven’t felt “The Asian American/Pacific
Pacific,” he said. human relations commissioner, that I’m older, it’s all about my ca- the continual deadly consequences Islander community is struggling
His father dropped out of high said by phone that there hasn’t al- reer and starting a family. And of other racial and ethnic groups right now with this violence and
school due to the strong anti- ways been consensus in the Asian- part of that cultural focus also in- until now because they are largely phobia, and I’ve been so encour-
Asian sentiment, he said. American community about what cludes sort of just a reticence to be not seen as a threat by police the aged by all of the allies who have
Racism against the Asian com- is racism, racist rhetoric or racist just generally engaged. ... It’s one way Blacks and Latinos have been. stood up ... and I hope that we con-
munity has also contributed to actions. of the reasons why we don’t see But he and Kou said, that while tinue to refine and implement our
the reticence to speak out among “And usually you see that more enough Asian Americans elected Asians Americans as a demo- solutions to address these issues.
many Asians, he said. among minority groups or minor- to office or in different leadership graphic group enjoy a greater mea- “There’s like two competing
Tanaka’s role as a public figure ity individuals who have a bit more positions. There’s just a reticence sure of economic privilege than forces right now,” he said. “There’s
in politics was met with disap- privilege and who don’t encounter to put oneself out there, especially other racial minorities, they must people who say ‘Enough is enough’
proval when he told his father he it (racism) or encounter it in a way when it’s something that’s not also guard against complacency. and ‘We don’t want to do this any-
was running for Palo Alto City that is not as overt or as pervasive focused or beneficial. ... There’s “My biggest message is don’t let more. We don’t want to see this
Council. as other minority groups,” Lee a reticence to focus on anything the racist oppressors divide us,” done anymore.’ And then there’s
“I don’t think so. We’re kind of said. “It’s interesting to see sort that might come at a cost — at a Kou said. “This is an opportunity the other side, (with) this hardcore
like guests in this country,” he re- of how, you know, with the pan- personal cost,” he said. to speak up to power.” idea of what an American is, and
called his father said. demic ... it really bubble(d) up in Lee used an employer-employee Lee agreed. they won’t accept anything else.”
That perspective was eye-open- this very overt and very violent analogy to explain the dynamic “I think it helps the Asian/Pa- Kou said there is no excuse for
ing and baffling. way. Whereas, I would say, prior from a racial perspective. cific Islander community to stand attacking people, particularly the
“Gee. How can we be guests? to COVID-19 it was probably more “There’s a huge power asymme- up and call out these things when elderly. “These people are cow-
My grandparents had been in this subtle and not as pervasive and not try, and so, as an employee, even we have allies who are willing to ards,” she said, referring to the
country since 1880,” Tanaka said. as serious, if that makes sense. if you know that your employer is do the same. And we’re willing to attackers. Q
But he understands where it comes Just the kinds of discrimination or doing something wrong or illegal, do so first, to both say something, Staff Writer Sue Dremann
from and how that perspective has stereotypes you face, it wasn’t as even if the facts are on your side, but also do things about it,” he said. can be emailed at sdremann@
led some people to think it’s ac- bad as what other minority groups the employer has just so much The United States is “defined paweekly.com.
ceptable to attack Asians. might face, especially on a day-to- more power than the employee,” by our differences and by our di-
“I think Asians have been kind day basis,” he said. he said. “People are not willing versity. And so, everyone in this About the cover: Community
of the quiet minority — almost Lee said there are interesting to speak up due to economic pres- community, everyone in this coun- members in Palo Alto on
like a punching bag. We kind of cultural challenges that have in- sure. They want to keep their job try, we are all equally Americans, March 21 hold up cardboard
keep our heads down, and keep fluenced the Asian community’s and support their family.” regardless of whether we’re an signs during a demonstration
our mouths shut,” he said. reluctance to speak out. The same thing happens with immigrant or whether we were protesting violent attacks
Despite being subjected to bias, “Certainly, you know, when I race, when one race is dominant born here,” he said. “We need to against Asians. Photo courtesy
implicit or overt, many Asians was growing up, my parents really and another fears that speaking start seeing that and each other as Sydney Ling; cover design by
“just don’t make a ruckus” about wanted me to focus on academics, out could lead to negative, caustic opposed to seeing folks as being Douglas Young.
Orange tier we can subgrant the vaccines to
community clinics that are part of
The county recently had to trans-
fer back to Kaiser 22,000 appoint-
When factoring in the entire
population of residents ages 16 and
either fully or partially vaccinated.
Fenstersheib said. Q
(continued from page 5) our network,” county Board of Su- ments initially made at county older, overall, 28.2% have received Staff Writer Sue Dremann
pervisors President Cindy Chavez sites, so that patients would re- at least one dose. Broken down by can be emailed at sdremann@
sporting events and 25% capacity said Wednesday. ceive their shots at Kaiser. race, 22.8% of African Americans, paweekly.com. Eli Walsh is
or 500 people, whichever is fewer, The county also won’t be re- Meanwhile, county health lead- 28.4% of Asians, 15.9% of Latinos a reporter for Bay City News
at amusement parks. quired to use the state’s system ers said they are seeing a flatten- and 30.4% of whites have been Service.
Guests at outdoor arenas must for residents to sign up for their ing of the trajectory of COVID-19
be state residents while amuse- vaccine appointments until it be- cases rather than a continued
CityView
ment park guests must live in the comes more functional, she said. decline.
same county as the venue. The trend in overall vaccinations Cody told county supervisors on
Details on which businesses can by the county health system and Tuesday she is hopeful that, if there
operate in the orange tier and at first and second doses decreased is another surge, it might not be as
what capacity can be found at co- this week due to continued issues severe because more people have
vid19.ca.gov/safer-economy. with allocations by the state, coun- been vaccinated, but she cautioned A round-up of Palo Alto government action this week
ty leaders told the Board of Super- that there are many unknown vari-
Vaccination slowdown visors Tuesday. The seven-day av- ables, including the rise of variants City Council (March 22)
Also this week, Santa Clara erage for county-administered first of the deadly virus that are known Town & Country: The council discussed a proposal from Town & Country to
County entered into a “settlement doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and to make people more sick. allow medical offices on the ground floor and directed staff to bring to the
Planning and Transportation Commission a proposed ordinance establishing a
in good faith” with the state that Moderna vaccines has plummeted Cody said that the region is “not category for retail medical services. Yes: Burt, Cormack, Stone, Tanaka
will allow the county to work to 911 compared to more than out of the woods” yet and should No: DuBois, Filseth, Kou
directly with the state to get its 5,000 doses two weeks ago. The continue to take precautions that Resolution: The council approved a resolution denouncing racism, xenophobia
supply of the vaccines, without number of second doses remains public health leaders have recom- and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Yes: Unanimous
signing an agreement with third- relatively flat. The seven-day av- mended throughout the pandemic.
party administrator Blue Shield. erage total for all doses, including The county has now vaccinated City Council (March 23)
Rail: The council held a study session on the Expanded Community Advisory
A memorandum with Blue Shield the single-dose Johnson & John- 69.1% of residents ages 75 and Panel final report, which recommends closure of Churchill Avenue and
would have prohibited the county son vaccine, has dropped from a older with at least one dose and evaluates the pros and cons of various grade separation alternatives at the East
from transferring vaccine doses high of about 8,000 two weeks ago 66.2% of residents ages 65 and Meadow Drive and Charleston Road rail crossings. Action: None
to its health partners, hampering to 5,118, according to county data. older with at least one dose, coun-
efforts to focus on communities While the county’s allocations ty COVID-19 testing and vaccine Board of Education (March 23)
most impacted by the virus. have slid, doses allocated to Kai- officer Dr. Marty Fenstersheib Virtual learning: The board discussed virtual learning program options for the
2021-22 school year. Action: None
“The most important thing is ser Permanente have finally risen. said at the board meeting.
Page 10 • March 26, 2021 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.comYou can also read
