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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210517plCC701-32 DOCUMENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE: LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZENS ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES Prepared for: 05/17/2021 Document dates: 04/28/2021 – 05/05/2021 Set 1 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Bob Wenzlau <bob@wenzlau.net> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 5:52 PM To:Council, City Subject:Bobel Way - Honoring Phil Bobel's Service to Palo Alto CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    Honoring Phil Bobel’s Service to Palo Alto  Request to Rename Embarcadero Way to Bobel Way  Honorable Councilmembers,    On May 3rd, I join with you in celebrating Phil Bobel’s tenure of service to Palo Alto and our planet. Phil’s great strengths have been finding the middle ground, and executing the steps to move Palo Alto forward in environmental sustainability. He has and continues to be a wizard of implementation in water, wastewater, storm water, zero waste, and climate management.     In my personal engagement, he has always found the practical and tactical that moves the program down the field. We have collaborated on Zero Waste, Repair Cafe, plastic waste going southeast asia, storm water and groundwater management. Palo Alto is gifted with many sources of ideas, but the rare gift is Phil's where he assembles the ideas into programs that are supported, built and executed.    When a street has a name, we have a learning opportunity. To that end, memorializing Phil’s approach and effectiveness through renaming Embarcadero Way, the road that serves our environmental service facilities, honors not only Phil but also his leadership tactic.         I hope you will consider this, find that there is broad community sentiment toward this end, and get the wheels turning toward our being able to ride our bikes navigating to Bobel Way!    Sincerely and Thank You,    Bob  3 Baumb, Nelly From:Alex Von Feldt <alex@grassrootsecology.org> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 10:46 AM To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:jtnia@comcast.net; Bob Wenzlau Subject:Letter of Support for Bobel Way - May 3 Council Mtg Attachments:Grassroots Ecology letter of support of renaming Embarcadero Way as Bobel Way.docx.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello,     Attached please find our letter of support in renaming Embarcadero Way to Bobel Way. This is being submitted for  Agenda Item #2 for the May 3rd City Council meeting.    Thank you for your consideration,  Alex     ‐‐   Alexandra Von Feldt, Executive Director To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.logo.png 3921 East Bayshore Road Palo Alto, CA 94303-4303 Phone: 650-419-9880 grassrootsecology.org Facebook | Instagram   GI April 30, 2021 City Council City of Palo Alto Re: Honoring Phil Bobel’s Service to Palo Alto Request to Rename Embarcadero Way to Bobel Way Agenda Item #2 for the May 3rd City Council meeting Honorable Councilmembers, We join you in celebrating Phil Bobel’s tenure of service to the City of Palo Alto and our planet. Phil’s great strengths have been finding the middle ground in the midst of diverse points of view and executing the steps to move Palo Alto forward proactively in environmental sustainability. When a street has a name, we have a learning opportunity. To that end, memorializing Phil’s approach and effectiveness through naming the road that serves our environmental service facilities honors not only Phil but also his leadership practice. Out of deep respect for Phil’s enormous contributions to our community and our planet, we would like to add our voice to the request to rename Embarcadero Way as Bobel Way. We hope that the City Council will initiate a process to evaluate this request, and ideally celebrate this renaming later in 2021. Sincerely, Alexandra Von Feldt Executive Director Grassroots Ecology 3921 East Bayshore Road I Palo Alto, CA 94303-4303 I 650.419.9880 I info@grassrootsecology.org I grassrootsecology.org 4 Baumb, Nelly From:Lauren Weston <lauren.weston@acterra.org> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 3:08 PM To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:jtnia@comcast.net; bob@wenzlau.net Subject:Support letter for Phil Bobel Attachments:Letter support of renaming Embarcadero Way as Bobel Way_Acterra.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello, thank you so much for considering renaming this street in honor of Phil Bobel!  Lauren     Lauren Weston  Executive Director  Acterra  530.219.2813  4/30/2021 City Council City of Palo Alto Re: Honoring Phil Bobel’s Service to Palo Alto Request to Rename Embarcadero Way to Bobel Way Honorable Councilmembers, We join you in celebrating Phil Bobel’s tenure of service to the City of Palo Alto and our planet. Phil’s great strengths have been finding the middle ground in the midst of diverse points of view and executing the steps to move Palo Alto forward proactively in environmental sustainability. Memorializing Phil’s approach and effectiveness through naming the road that serves our environmental service facilities honors not only Phil but also his leadership practice. Out of deep respect for Phil’s enormous contributions to our community and our planet, we would hereby like to add our voice to the request to rename Embarcadero Way as Bobel Way. We hope that the City Council will initiate a process to evaluate this request, and ideally celebrate this renaming later in 2021. Sincerely, Lauren Weston Executive Director Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet @ ACTION FOR A Acterra HEALTHY PLANET 5 Baumb, Nelly From:jtnia@comcast.net Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 8:13 PM To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:North, Karin; bob@wenzlau.net; unclehalpaloalto@gmail.com; Drekmeier, Peter Subject:Letter to City Council for 5/3/2021 Agenda Item #2 Attachments:Letter to Council - 5-3-2021 - Agenda Item #2.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Honorable City Council,    Please accept this letter congratulating Phil Bobel on his retirement and requesting that the City Council consider  renaming Embarcadero Way in Phil’s honor.    Respectfully,    Joe Teresi    Former City of Palo Alto employee    & devoted admirer of Phil Bobel      5/3/2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING  AGENDA ITEM #2  May 1, 2021 City Council City of Palo Alto Re: Honoring Phil Bobe I's Service to Palo Alto Request to Rename Embarcadero Way to Babel Way Honorable Councilmembers, I would like to join you in congratulating Phil Babel on his retirement from the City of Palo Alto and thanking him for his decades of tireless service to the community. I worked with Phil in the Public Works Department for over 25 years and saw firsthand his boundless energy, positive can-do attitude, and his creative solutions to complex problems facing the environment. Phil is a peerless leader and motivator who inspires his fellow employees as well as residents, business owners, and decision makers. The body of his work on environmental protection leaves a lasting legacy of change and progress both locally and regionally. I feel strongly that Phil deserves a level of recognition commensurate with his contributions to the community both as a City employee and a volunteer. I enthusiastically support the proposal to rename Embarcadero Way in honor of Phil. It is fitting and relevant that this street leading to the water quality control plant and the household hazardous waste collection facility bear his name. I ask that the City Council initiate a process to evaluate this request and am hopeful that we can celebrate this renaming later in 2021. Thank you for this opportunity to honor and thank a wonderful colleague and friend. Respectfully, ~~- Joe Teresi Retired City of Palo Alto employee & devoted admirer of Phil Sobel 5/3/2021 COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM #2 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Megan Fluke <megan@greenfoothills.org> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 3:13 PM To:Council, City; Clerk, City Cc:jtnia@comcast.net; bob@wenzlau.net Subject:Letter of support for Bobel Way Attachments:Bobel Way _ Green Foothills letter of support.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Please find the attached. Apologies this letter of support did not arrive sooner. Warmly, Megan To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the Inphoto Megan Fluke (She/Her) Executive Director Green Foothills | (650) 968-7243 x360 | greenfoothills.org See some of the great things we accomplished together last year in our 2020 Annual Report. Schedule a 30-minute meeting with me using Calendly   May 3, 2021 City CouncilCity of Palo Alto Re: Honoring Phil Bobel’s Service to Palo AltoRequest to Rename Embarcadero Way to Bobel Way Honorable Councilmembers, On behalf of our board and staff, we join you in celebrating Phil Bobel’s tenure of service to the City of Palo Alto and our planet. Phil’s great strengths have been finding the middleground in the midst of many different points of view and executing the steps to move PaloAlto forward proactively in environmental sustainability. When a street has a name, we have a learning opportunity. To that end, memorializingPhil’s approach and effectiveness through naming the road that serves our environmentalservice facilities honors not only Phil but also his leadership practice. Out of deep respectfor Phil’s enormous contributions to our community and our planet, we would hereby like to add our voice to the request to rename Embarcadero Way as Bobel Way We hope that the City Council will initiate a process to evaluate this request, and ideallycelebrate this renaming later in 2021. Sincerely, Megan Fluke Executive Director 1 r.:l green W foothills Local. Vocal. Effective. (650) 968-7243 • info@greenfoothills.org • greenfoothills.org • 3921 E Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Elizabeth Goldstein Alexis <ealexis@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 1:56 PM To:Council, City Subject:Charleston/ Arastrado funding - Agenda Item 8 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am writing to ask that the city council please pull this item from the consent calendar and strongly consider fully  funding the project now, rather than subject it to more delays and potential further cost increases.     1) Please pull this item from consent.     The city council should consider giving alternative direction to staff for the reasons I discuss below. I  also have a concern  that the title of the item " Review and Approve Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Project Budget Reductions of $2.5 Million and  Approve a Budget Amendment in the Capital Improvement Fund" did not convey the main subject of the item which is a  proposal to delay construction of the Charleston/ Arastradero project and defer part of it for an unknown time period.  The public may not know this is being considered on a consent calendar given the description in the agenda.    2) Get the project done now. Re‐bidding will delay implementation of Phase 3 and there is no guarantee Phase 4 will  ever get finished.    Despite the important safety issues involved, this project has dragged on now for decades. It is time to get this done ‐  speeds are still too high on the road and the intersections near busy roads like El Camino, Alma, Charleston Road, Fabian  Way and San Antonio Road continue to pose real hazards to people walking and biking.  The proposed "phase 4"  includes parts of Charleston that will be used by many to access the new Adobe Bike Bridge as well as Montrose/Louis ‐  which is the bike route to and from Cubberley Community Center.    My daughter was hit by a car at the poorly designed El Camino intersection while biking home from Gunn. This is a  project that is critical to making a street that people bike on and across safer NOW.        2       3) Attempts to save money may end up costing the city much more money. While the project came in over estimates, it  was only 7%. The proposal is to re‐bid the smaller project this summer ‐ when there are no guarantees that prices will be  better. In fact, it is possible that price increases could eat up the savings from deferring part of the project.    Thank you for your consideration.    Regards,  Elizabeth Alexis        ~usSian Orthodox Church myreportsC., "'°" ~1',."' Intuit Built Maxarq Ciardella's Garden Supply 9 Ramos Park ftPalo Alto Little T League Clubhouse ell Paik !cal Bridgeft 'layground T wer~ 1qo1Y' ,,.,_() 9Mitchell Park Library Challenger School • Middlefield 9 '\. Pet Food ~Express f Piazza's Fine Foods 9 #<t OKehillah Jewish Y High School ' ft Taube Koret Campus T for Jewish Life •/i Oshman FamllyJcCQ Mol~w Residences f Rick's Ice Cream ~{'JP~ 9 CMK Automotive I Ace ardware of I!\ Mountain View Y Cohatsuten f leghorn St Hengehold Truck I!\ Sales+ Rentals Y Peninsula St, % 0~ i Children'sO Pre-School Center T 9 SummerWinds Nursery I!\ Cubberley Y Community Center _ ft Crossroads T Specialty Foods Go 3 Baumb, Nelly From:philippe@nodiamonds.com Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 2:49 PM To:Council, City Subject:Charleston/ Arastrado funding - Agenda Item 8 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am writing to ask that the city council please pull this item from the consent calendar and strongly consider fully  funding the project now, rather than subject it to more delays and potential further cost increases.     1) Please pull this item from consent.     The city council should consider giving alternative direction to staff for the reasons I discuss below. I  also have a concern  that the title of the item " Review and Approve Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Project Budget Reductions of $2.5 Million and  Approve a Budget Amendment in the Capital Improvement Fund" did not convey the main subject of the item which is a  proposal to delay construction of the Charleston/ Arastradero project and defer part of it for an unknown time period.  The public may not know this is being considered on a consent calendar given the description in the agenda.    2) Get the project done now. Re‐bidding will delay implementation of Phase 3 and there is no guarantee Phase 4 will  ever get finished.    Despite the important safety issues involved, this project has dragged on now for decades. It is time to get this done ‐  speeds are still too high on the road and the intersections near busy roads like El Camino, Alma, Charleston Road, Fabian  Way and San Antonio Road continue to pose real hazards to people walking and biking.  The proposed "phase 4"  includes parts of Charleston that will be used by many to access the new Adobe Bike Bridge as well as Montrose/Louis ‐  which is the bike route to and from Cubberley Community Center.    My daughter was hit by a car at the poorly designed El Camino intersection while biking home from Gunn. This is a  project that is critical to making a street that people bike on and across safer NOW.        4       3) Attempts to save money may end up costing the city much more money. While the project came in over estimates, it  was only 7%. The proposal is to re‐bid the smaller project this summer ‐ when there are no guarantees that prices will be  better. In fact, it is possible that price increases could eat up the savings from deferring part of the project.    Thank you for your consideration.    Regards,  Philippe Alexis  ~usSian Orthodox Church myreportsC., "'°" ~1',."' Intuit Built Maxarq Ciardella's Garden Supply 9 Ramos Park ftPalo Alto Little T League Clubhouse ell Paik !cal Bridgeft 'layground T wer~ 1qo1Y' ,,.,_() 9Mitchell Park Library Challenger School • Middlefield 9 '\. Pet Food ~Express f Piazza's Fine Foods 9 #<t OKehillah Jewish Y High School ' ft Taube Koret Campus T for Jewish Life •/i Oshman FamllyJcCQ Mol~w Residences f Rick's Ice Cream ~{'JP~ 9 CMK Automotive I Ace ardware of I!\ Mountain View Y Cohatsuten f leghorn St Hengehold Truck I!\ Sales+ Rentals Y Peninsula St, % 0~ i Children'sO Pre-School Center T 9 SummerWinds Nursery I!\ Cubberley Y Community Center _ ft Crossroads T Specialty Foods Go 5 Baumb, Nelly From:Claire Kirner <kirnerclaire@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 11:28 AM To:Council, City Subject:Please Continue Full Funding of the Charleston-Arastradero Project CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Honorable Members of the Palo Alto City Council, I have been informed that city staff has proposed to split Charleston/Arastradero Phase 3 in two parts in order to cut $2 million from this year’s budget. This would significantly delay the project which previously was scheduled to start construction this spring. This proposal would be a large budget cut and merits full discussion. Therefore, I am requesting that Council move this item off the consent calendar to allow for discussion. As a parent of two Gunn High School students (and one middle schooler), I worry about pedestrian and bike road safety. I am asking Council to support funding the Charleston-Arastradero Plan 100% completion now. Charleston-Arastradero serves eleven public and private K-12 schools. Foot-powered student commuters are vulnerable road users and road safety is important. Any delay means our students (and others) are at risk longer than necessary. This will fix gaps in the bike lanes the entire length of the corridor and improve safety at the highest injury collision intersections, Middlefield and El Camino Real, along with other safety improvements. I urge you to find ways to continue funding this project entirely now. Safety should be a top priority. Sincerely, Claire Kirner 3934 Nelson Drive Palo Alto 94306 6 Baumb, Nelly From:Evan Lurie <evlurie@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 11:01 AM To:Council, City Subject:shift agenda Item #8 to regular agenda and reject staff proposal to split C/A into two projects CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Council,    I send this message after a likely deadline has passed requesting you move Item #8 off the consent calendar to the  regular agenda.    Item #8 regards slashing the budget for 2021 Capital Projects by $2.5 million. From an adjusted budget of ~$40 million,  staff has concentrated budget cuts into just 4 of 16 approved projects. Cuts to just one of these four approved projects  represents ~80% of total savings. Targeting savings into a single approved project merits transparent, public comment  and explicit Council approval.    I am further concerned that staff's recommendation may result in increased city expenditures rather than a net savings.  Staff's report confirms that the received estimate for the currently approved project came in 7% over budget, but it is a  firm estimate. Splitting Charleston/Arastradero completion into two, rather than one project, will require new bids for  each and substantially push out timing. Most project construction costs will continue to increase rather than decline,  resulting in net spending far beyond the 7% increase the full estimate reflects today.    Finally, I note that slashing Charleston/Arastradero funding guts the 2012 Bicycle + Pedestrian Safety Plan.  Councilmembers Burt and Tanaka are the only current members who served during plan adoption. In 2012, Jaime  Rodriguez served as Chief Transportation Official while Curtis Williams was Planning Director. The C/A Plan has improved  safety and increased bicycle utilization but it remains incomplete. City Planning and Transportation staff has undergone  a complete turnover since then with Kamhi, Lait, Tanner, and McRee serving today. If Council slashes C/A funding now,  the public deserves to hear why neither Council nor staff believe Bicycle + Pedestrian safety is today a compelling  priority.    In conclusion, I am requesting thorough and public discussion of staff's recommendation on 2021 Capital Projects spend  and that Council affirm its commitment to bicycle and pedestrian safety by completing C/A construction as budgeted for  this fiscal year.    Thank you for your consideration.    Regards,  Evan Lurie  747 Marion Avenue  7 Baumb, Nelly From:Frank Viggiano <fpviggiano@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 8:07 AM To:Council, City Subject:Please fund completion of Charleston-Arastradero Phase 3 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Honorable Palo Alto Councilmembers:    I respectfully ask that the council votes to retain the completion of the Charleston/Arastradero corridor project Phase 3 in the current year’s budget. This program has already been delayed, and each time this has pushed up the cost as the work needs to be re-bid again. In addition to the increased cost of the delay, the remaining work is critical to bicyclist and pedestrian safety, as well as creating a better driving experience for motorists. When cycling eastbound from Gunn High School, the bike lane abruptly disappears just before the El Camino Real intersection, forcing cyclists into the traffic lane. This is a particularly dangerous situation, since drivers may not be aware of the cyclist in the bike lane and not see them as they flow into the traffic lane in front of them. And the stretch from Louis Rd. to San Antonio Rd. is a cyclist’s nightmare, with drivers cutting into the narrow bike lane on the curve. And then between Fabian and San Antonio there is no bike lane at all and the traffic lanes are packed with cars. I know the defects of that section all too well, having commuted through there by bicycle on a regular basis.   These stretches of roadway are a casualty waiting to happen. Let’s take care of them before any tragedy happens.   Thank you very much for your consideration.    Regards,  Frank Viggiano  830 Talisman Dr.  Palo Alto    8 Baumb, Nelly From:Maria Daehler <mariadaehler@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 11:48 AM To:Council, City Subject:Move Agenda item 8 to regular agenda. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council members,   I am asking you to reconsider cutting funding for the Charleston Corridor bike commuters.  As a parent of Gunn HS  students and an aunt to a niece who was hit by a car while riding her bike on this corridor I am deeply concerned.  I  understand you may have many budget challenges this year but hope that the lives of our children are not compromised  by this potential budget cut.   Thanks for all your work in running our city and particularly during this challenging time.  Maria Daehler, MD    Here are the requests you have likely heard from other folks:  1.  Ask Council to support funding the C‐A Plan 100% implementation now. Charleston‐Arastradero serves  eleven  public and private k‐12 schools. Foot‐powered student commuters are vulnerable road users and  road safety is important. Any delay means our students (and other people to) are at risk longer than  necessary. This will fix gaps in the bike lanes the entire length of the corridor and improve safety at the  highest injury collision intersections, Middlefield and El Camino Real, along with other safety  improvements.   2.  Please ask Council to move Agenda Item #8 to the regular agenda instead of the consent calendar.  A  budget cut like this deserves full discussion.   3. Use existing savings from projects that have not been appropriated for 2021, or ask staff if other current  costs can be shifted to early 2022 instead of this fiscal year.  Take an appropriate amount from this year’s  street paving program. Safety should be a top priority.  4.   9 Baumb, Nelly From:Robert Neff <robert@neffs.net> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 12:49 PM To:Council, City Subject:CIP Budget cuts / Charleston-Arastradero (Consent Calendar Item 8) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Honorable City Council Members, Please pull Item 8, the Capital Improvements Program budget cutting plan from the consent calendar for a council discussion, so that you can reconsider the proposed staging of the Charleston / Arastradero project. In the proposed plan, the original stage 3 is split into stages 3 and 4, using the savings from not funding stage 4 to meet council's budget cutting goals. An unfortunate side effect of not funding stage 4 this year is that stage 3 must go out for rebid, a process which will delay starting that project at least another 90 days, and missing the opportunity to make any progress on needed safety and connection improvements before school starts in the fall. I encourage you to work with staff to avoid splitting and rebidding the project, enabling the safety improvements on both stages as soon as possible, leading to the connection and mode share improvements that follow from safer, less stressful streets. Can staff suggest other ways to free up funding and use the the current, in hand bid? Can other projects, not as far along, be delayed to the '22 cycle, or is alternative financing possible? Is splitting this project going to save or cost money in the long term? Thank you for your service to our city of Palo Alto. -- -- Robert Neff Emerson near Loma Verde robert@neffs.net 10 Baumb, Nelly From:forest light <forest129@yahoo.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 8:28 PM To:Council, City Subject:May 3 City Council Meeting; Consent Calendar: Agenda Item 8 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    To The Palo Alto City Council:    While we understand the budget circumstances faced by the city, we are asking you to please find a way to follow  through on the city’s commitment to provide continuous bike lanes the entire length of the corridor, especially through  the El Camino state highway intersection.  This was a key goal of the C‐A Plan project. Phase 3 will improve the El  Camino Real intersection, and the Middlefield‐to‐Fabian segments of the corridor.    Please do not cut or delay this project.    The latest Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget cuts, including the staff recommendation for a $2 million reduction  to the Charleston‐Arastradero Plan project (PE 130010)  budget,  are on City Council’s Consent Calendar for Monday,  May 3 at  5:50pm (Agenda Item 8).    We urge you to support funding the C‐A Plan 100% completion NOW.    Please move Agenda Item #8 to the regular agenda instead of the consent calendar.  A budget cut like this which puts  the public and especially schoolchildren at risk of death or serious injury deserves full discussion.    Charleston‐Arastradero serves eleven public and private k‐12 schools. Foot‐powered student commuters are vulnerable  road users and road safety is important. Any delay means our students (and other people to) are at risk longer than  necessary. This will fix gaps in the bike lanes the entire length of the corridor and improve safety at the highest injury  collision intersections, Middlefield and El Camino Real, along with other safety improvements.    Please use existing savings from projects that have not been appropriated for 2021, or ask staff if other current costs can  be shifted to early 2022 instead of this fiscal year. Safety should be a top priority.    The Staffs proposed phased extension rather than the conclusion of this project is seriously flawed.    Phase 3 will improve Los Palos/Arastradero to Alma (which includes the El Camino intersection) and Middlefield to  Charleston Court (which is the first intersection east of Middlefield on the north side of Charleston).  El Camino and  Middlefield are the two highest collision spots on the corridor.    Phase 4 would implement Charleston Court to San Antonio.    A close read of the staff report indicates the budget reduction could result in delays of both phases 3 and 4.  On page  four, paragraph 1, the report says, “upon approval of staff’s recommendation, staff will bring forward a contract  amendment for the consultant to split the plans into two separate bid packages and will rebid Phase 3 this summer”   Construction was supposed to start this Spring.  Rebidding generally takes about 90 days, pushing Phase 3 into Fall when  school starts‐‐a bad time for construction on C‐A.   More delay and extension of safety risks.  11   It also  appears worthy of re‐emphasis that further delays will likely increase costs…    Can an appropriate amount be used from this year’s street paving program?    Deferring the $2M this year requires breaking Phase Three into yet two more phases, 3 and 4, delaying safety  improvements that would avert injury collisions that occur today in these segments of the road.    ________      We live on Fairmede Ave in South Palo Alto, essentially “landlocked” in our Greenacres One neighborhood. What  happens — or does not happen — on Charleston Arastradero is of critical importance to us. We have no other way in  and out of our neighborhood than our two access points on Arastradero… And (in normal times) we travel it several  times daily and know what is happening there.    Prior to the implementation of the C/A School Corridor Plan. our children went to school at Juana Briones, Terman and  Gunn on foot and bicycles and had to contend with the ungoverned traffic on Arastradero.    Which, put plainly, was a daily source of ongoing danger for our young family.    The implementation of the first two phases of the C/A has, however significantly controlled and controlled and  improved traffic flow, reduced/standardized traffic speeds and foot‐and‐bicycle safety on the C/A school corridor.  Especially during the school traffic hours. And made it far more possible for us to safely access our neighborhood.    The most hazardous of the several hazardous intersections  on the school commute corridor, are Middlefield/Charleston  and El Camino Real/C‐A. At El Camino, the bike lanes disappear completely on the eastbound and westbound  approaches to the eight‐lane state highway intersection. Yet safety is not mentioned as a critical element/issue for  consideration in the staff report on this issue. It is clear that safety concerns should be heavily re‐emphasized here since  the most likely victims of such hazards are, in this instance, the city’s schoolchildren.    (See bike/ped injury collision data from the 2012 City of Palo Alto Bicycle Pedestrian Transportation Plan  https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civicax/filebank/documents/31928 , p. 4‐13 and p. 4‐15)      Thank you,    Michael and Judith Maurier  Fairmede Ave.  Palo Alto  12 Baumb, Nelly From:Sonya Bradski <sonyangary@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 5:35 AM To:Council, City Subject:Charleston-Arastradero Plan Budget Cut On Consent Calendar CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      Dear City Council Members,    I ride my bike on Charleston-Arastradero every single day. I have been supporting this project since my oldest daughter (who is now a college graduate) was in preschool. My youngest child is graduating from Gunn High School, so my children will never benefit from the bike safety improvements the city promised years and years ago. My husband and I still need them. We mostly bike for local trips, and Charleston Arastradero is the main road that connects our neighborhood to the rest of the city.     Why does this safety project need to be cut? It has been delayed so many times already. Please pull this off of the Consent Calendar and discuss it. Explain why cutting this project is necessary, because that is not clear in the report.     I have spoken at many City Council meetings and been to so many community meetings over many years on this. When is it going to be completely done? The staff report does not say.    Two sections have no bike lanes:     1. Charleston-Arastradero leading up to at El Camino Real both directions. It is hard, even for a strong rider, to merge with traffic here. The bike lanes should go all the way to and through the intersection. The pork chop islands need to go.. We have to cross seven state highway lanes here. That is not easy. Drivers can be impatient and rude when you take a 13 lane there. Why do drivers get two continuous through lanes and a turning lane at this intersection, but bicyclists get no lane at all?    2. On Charleston, the bike lanes disappear between Fabian and San Antonio. Both of those intersections are very difficult to ride, though I shop down that way. My husband used to bike to work at a start-up in that area. He had some very scary experiences near San Antonio.     I have friends who have been hit by cars on this road. Why delay this again? Please finish this project this year. This is a school route. What are we waiting for?    Thank you.      Sincerely,    Sonya Bradski         To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   Virus-free. www.avg.com   [§] 14 Baumb, Nelly From:pennyellson12@gmail.com Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 11:53 PM To:Council, City Subject:Consent Calendar Item #8: Charleston-Arastradero Plan Budget $2M Reduction CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Honorable City Council,    Re:  Consent Calendar Item #8:  Review and Approve FY2021 Capital Budget Reductions of $2.5M and Approve a Budget  Amendment in the Capital Improvement Fund    I am writing to ask you to do three things on Monday night:    1.  Please support fully funding the C‐A Plan implementation now. Charleston‐Arastradero serves eleven  public  and private k‐12 schools. Foot‐powered student commuters are vulnerable road users and road safety is  important.  Splitting the final phase will delay both Phases 3 and 4. Any delay means  school commuters (and  other people to) are at risk longer than necessary.   2.  Please ask Council to move Agenda Item #8 to the regular agenda instead of the consent calendar.  This  change deserves discussion of questions below.   3. Use existing savings from projects that have not been appropriated for 2021, or ask staff if other current costs  can be shifted to early 2022 instead of this fiscal year.  Take an appropriate amount from this year’s street  paving program. Safety should be a top priority.    Some Questions I Hope You Will Ask    BUDGET: On page 3 Table 1 in the Deferral to FY2022 column, it looks like there are many millions of savings in 2021  deferrals that are not accounted for in the FY2021 $ Reduction Column. If you include the FY 2021 budget reductions  achieved by accounting for these deferrals, staff already has greatly exceeded (by millions) the $2.5M reduction that  Council directed at their last meeting on this subject. So why is the C‐A cut necessary?  If I am reading the Table right, the  city does not need to reduce the C‐A budget to meet Council’s requested $2.5million in additional cuts. Please ask staff  to clarify for the public where the money from those deferrals is going if not for FY2021 reductions.    SAFETY: Every year of delay has resulted in injury collisions on the corridor. See City of Palo Alto July 2012 Bicycle &  Pedestrian Transportation Plan https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/transportation/projects/bicycle‐ pedestrian‐transportation‐plan_adopted‐july‐2012.pdf bike and pedestrian collision data mapped on pages 4‐13 and 4‐ 15. The human cost of implementation delay in injuries and death has been and will be real. It is avoidable. The City  Charter and Comprehensive Plan policies require that safety for all road users be a paramount  consideration.  Moderation of speed and turning movements, continuous bike lanes the entire length of the corridor,  and visibility improvements at the major intersections with the highest injury collision numbers (Middlefield and ECR)  will make a significant safety difference for people who drive, walk and bike.  This project was originally scheduled to be  completed in 2007.  It repeatedly has been broken into phases, delayed by multiple trials, delayed by the last recession  cuts, and delayed more recently by on‐street pop‐ups.  The concept was unanimously approved in 2003 and  subsequently approved unanimously in each of its various stages  in 17 public hearings before the CC and PTC by  Council.  It has been through so many community meetings, I have lost count…and it would be a non‐trivial task to look  them all up.    15 This project, the mitigation for aggregate traffic safety impacts of nearly 1,000 units of housing, was approved in 2003,  but the study that laid out existing safety problems on the corridor and proposed the road diet solution was completed  in 1999.  It was clear that adding so much housing on the corridor would exacerbate existing traffic safety problems.  That was 21 years ago.  The project is still not done and staff, who tells us that they really want to do the whole project  now,  presents us with yet another recommendation for further delay on the Consent Calendar. What is going on?    Deferring the $2M this year requires breaking Phase Three into yet two more phases, 3 and 4, delaying safety  improvements of both phases that, if implemented,  would avert injury collisions that occur today in these segments of  the road.         Phase 3 will improve Los Palos/Arastradero to Alma (which includes the El Camino intersection) and Middlefield  to Charleston Court (which is the first intersection east of Middlefield on the north side of Charleston).  El  Camino and Middlefield are the two highest collision spots on the corridor.     Phase 4 would implement Charleston Court to San Antonio.  Another location where bike lanes disappear and a  location that is seeing increasing bike and pedestrian traffic because of the higher density housing, the JCC and  new retail that has been built in this area in both Palo Alto and Mountain View over the last 20 years.     This project was the promised mitigation plan for the aggregate impacts of housing and other development in Palo Alto  which we supported.  That housing has been built and occupied for years. More housing proposals are being brought  forward now in exactly the same area. Neighborhoods worked with the city and  trusted the city would implement the  promised mitigations in a timely way.  The city, for its part,  has delayed fulfilling their obligation repeatedly.  I work on a  lot of transportation projects. I know how much time it takes to plan and build them.  This one has gone so far beyond  what is normal and reasonable that I think it is fair to say the city has betrayed our trust.   Multiple staff members  assured me that I was wrong to think the city would delay it again. Yet, here we are‐‐an item on the Consent Calendar –  with another proposed delay.      Some Clarity Is Needed Regarding Delays‐‐Project Timing and Safety  1. A close read of this report indicates the budget reduction could result in delays of both phases 3 and 4.  On page  four, paragraph 1, the report says, “upon approval of staff’s recommendation, staff will bring forward a contract  amendment for the consultant to split the plans into two separate bid packages and will rebid Phase 3 this  summer”  Construction was supposed to start this Spring.  Rebidding generally takes about 90 days, pushing  Phase 3 into late summer or Fall when in‐person school is likely to start in full capacity‐‐a bad time for  construction on C‐A.  We will have completely lost the advantage of doing construction with lower pandemic  traffic volumes.  Further, more delay translates to extension of safety risks to road users.  Is this prudent and  sensible?    2. The report is very unclear about when after 2021 Phase 4 would be implemented. The same paragraph says, “  Funding for Phase 4 will be discussed as part of the FY 2022 budget process and 2022‐2026 Capital Improvement  Plan development, but will not be reflected in the proposed budget.”  It will matter how council prioritizes the  timing of Phase 4 right now.  Will Phase 4 be at the top or bottom of the stack of priorities for that budgeting  process? If Council is going to approve this reduction, though I think it would be wrong to delay this project any  further,  the community deserves a commitment on timing. Having waited more than two decades, we have  waited long enough.    It is time for the city to fulfill its obligations to the neighborhoods that are served by this impacted school commute  corridor. At minimum, the project should be taken off the Consent Calendar so these questions might addressed.    Thank you for considering my comments.     Penny Ellson    17 Baumb, Nelly From:Arnout Boelens <a.m.p.boelens@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 11:49 AM To:Council, City Subject:Charleston/Arastradeo phase 3 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council members,     We are writing to urge you to take Charleston/Arastradero phase 3 off of the consent calendar and approve the  complete funding of this project.   Since all the bids are in and this project is ready to go, splitting up the project and starting the bidding process all  over again deserves a full discussion.   If the City of Palo Alto is looking to save money, it does not make sense to split this project in two. This will  create extra overhead and construction costs will only increase as the economy picks up steam.   With all the projects in Table 1 that are deferred to FY 2022 staff already has saved much more than $2.5m, so  there does not seem to be a reason for additional budget cuts.  Please fully fund Charleston/Arastradero phase 3, so the whole corridor has continuous bike lanes. With the end of the  pandemic in sight, traffic is picking up again and Palo Alto needs to offer its citizens a viable alternative to driving. In  addition, the climate crisis is one of City Council's priorities for this year and by cutting an active transportation  infrastructure project City Council would actively work against its own priorities.    Kind regards,    Nicole, Arnout, & Ava Zoeller Boelens  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Kirsten Flynn <kir@sustainablehome.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 10:17 AM To:Council, City Subject:Charleston/Arastradero bicycle safety phase 3 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Honorable city council members,    I am writing asking that you support full funding of Charleston/Atascadero phase 3 build out plans.    I know that we must add a great deal of housing to Palo Alto, and much of it will be along the El Camino Corridor. This  makes sense because it has access to transit.    However additional housing will mean additional automobile trips Unless we make it safe for at least some of those  additional families to use commute alternatives.    As we add density to the El Camino Corridor we need to make sure that bicycle transportation remains a viable way of  our children getting to school. There are vehicle bicycle collisions involving school children along the  Charleston/Arastadero Corridor every year, and two of the highest collision points are Middlefield an El Camino the two  intersections that will be made safer in phase 3.    Do not delay phase 3 and four by making this cut.  We need to create a safe space for transportation modalities other  than cars for every trip.    I ask that this item be moved from consent calendar to the agenda. This item, which concerns the safety of our children  and all bicycle commuters, deserves a full discussion.    Best regards,  Kirsten a. Flynn    Sent from my iPhone  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Ken Kershner <ken@triomotors.co> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 3:56 PM To:Council, City Subject:Please Support the C-A Plan 100% implementation CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Council,        As a small business owner in Palo Alto, I am asking for you to support funding the Charleston‐Arastradero Plan 100%  implementation.      How will you feel if a student pedestrian or bike commuter is injured or killed because this infrastructure project is  delayed?      Vision Zero is an empty goal unless it is supported with the resources to create safe routes.  This C‐A Plan will fix gaps in  the bike lanes the entire length of the corridor and improve safety at the highest injury collision intersections,  Middlefield and El Camino Real, along with other safety improvements.    Please move Agenda Item #8 to the regular agenda instead of the consent calendar, as it deserves full discussion.     Instead of cutting $2M, fully fund the C‐A Plan with existing savings from projects that have not been appropriated for  2021, or ask staff if other current costs can be shifted to early 2022 instead of this fiscal year.  Take an appropriate  amount from this year’s street paving program. There are alternatives to cutting a top priority safety program.      To do otherwise is just lip service to Safety.     thank you,  Ken Kershner  ‐‐   Ken Kershner | Co-Founder & CEO  Cell 650-248-9059 | Email ken@triomotors.co Trio Motors | Palo Alto     2 Baumb, Nelly From:NTB <aarmatt@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 6:05 AM To:Council, City Subject:May 3rd Council Meeting: Charleston-Arastradero Corridor Project CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor DuBois and Council Members,     Safety.     Safety for school kids.   Safety for bicyclists.   Safety for pedestrians.   Safety for drivers.     That was the driving force for the Charleston‐Arastradero Corridor Project which began over fifteen years ago. With  eleven schools along the length of this corridor, protecting our school children was a top priority.  Phase 1&2 got  completed but the project still is not finished. Important sections like the dangerous intersection of  Arastradero/Charleston and El Camino have been left undone.  Data attests to the negative results of having left these  key sections unfinished.  Delaying further is unconscionable.    It sends the message....the Council doesn’t care about our safety.     Please move Agenda item 8 to the regular calendar. The cuts being proposed deserve thoughtful discussion.      Please make 100% completion of the Charleston‐Arastradero Corridor Project a top priority.  Skipping on to other  projects while this important safety project gets pushed aside once again is unacceptable.  It needs to be finished and  finished now. Completion of this project is long, long overdue.    Respectfully submitted,    Nina Bell  Los Palos Ave            3 Baumb, Nelly From:William Robinson <williamrobinson@goldenworld.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 1:46 PM To:Council, City Subject:A Crossing Guard appeals: please finish Chas-Arastradero Project CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  In 1987-1995 my two children attended Gunn. At that time Charleston-Arastradero was a dangerous racetrack. Please don’t waffle on completing the road calming and safety improvements on Phase 3. Spend CIP money NOW for completing the Charleston-Arastradero Safety Improvements. As a PAUSD Crossing Guard since 2017, I have witnessed BOTH: 1. Safety improvements in Phase 1 and: 2. DANGER remaining in sections of unfinished Phase 3. I served as Crossing Guard at three intersections along C-A: Middlefield, Alma and Coulombe. Middlefield and Alma need improvement. Phase 1 improvements at Coulombe make it SAFER for all: motorists, cyclists and walkers. ‘Rob’ William Robinson 650-464-8933 Resdident 52 years Wilkie Way 4 Baumb, Nelly From:James Pflasterer <jimpf@sbcglobal.net> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 9:25 PM To:Council, City Cc:Boelens, Arnout; Gold, Audrey Subject:Charleston-Arastradero Phase 3 Funding CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Honorable City Council members,    I am Jim Pflasterer, speaking on behalf of the Palo Alto Council of PTAs Traffic Safety Committee to voice our continued support for the Charleston/Arastradero Plan Phase 3 funding. We urge you to take Charleston/Arastradero phase 3 off of the consent calendar and approve the complete funding of this project.    Phase 1 and Phase 2 improvements have been in place for years now and have been a welcome improvement for the  safety and pedestrians and bicyclists, and students of all ages in the corridor. Phase3 Roadway improvements are planned in the remaining segments of the Charleston-Arastradero Corridor on Arastradero Road from Los Palos Avenue to El Camino Real and W. Charleston Road from El Camino Real to Alma Street, and E. Charleston Road from Middlefield Road to San Antonio Road. Two of the most dangerous intersections along the  corridor ‐ El Camino Real/Charleston‐Arastradero, and MIddlefield/Charleston will receive much needed changes and  enhancements.  Improvements at those intersections will greatly enhance the safety and allow easier navigation for  bikes and peds in the years to come.    Immediate approval of full funding should be done because:   This project is ready to go, splitting up the project and starting the bidding process all over again deserves a full discussion on the implications.  If Council is looking to save money, it does not make sense to split this project in two. This will create extra overhead and construction costs will only increase as the economy picks up steam. Over many years, corridor school site PTAs have consistently supported the Charleston-Arastradero project so students can walk and ride safely to school. We urge you again to ensure that funding is available for phase 3 this year, as planned. Please allow this project to move forward without any further delay. This way the whole corridor will have continuous bike lanes, and further unnecessary injury crashes can be prevented. We thank you for considering our comments. Jim Pflasterer Palo Alto PTA Safe Routes to School Chair Gunn High School Safe Routes Traffic Safety Representative 5 Baumb, Nelly From:bretande@pacbell.net Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 9:45 PM To:Council, City Subject:Please fully fund Phase 3 of Charleston/Arastradero now : May 3rd Council Meeting CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Honorable Mayor and Council Members,    Our community needs the improvements to the Charleston/Arastradero corridor to be implemented as planned. I use  this corridor often by both bike and automobile because it is a convenient east/west route with many destinations  (shops, schools, community facilities, neighborhoods along the way from San Antonio to Foothill). The approach and  crossings at Middlefield and El Camino are crowded and confusing and can cause quite some anxiety as one a  approaches and crosses by bike. I have seen more than one close call during my rides there. I am careful but also feel  lucky to have not had any run ins (or overs).     This corridor is in dire need of improvements in terms of safety and marking at the busiest intersections. It needs to  provide a continuous, safe path for bikes with traffic calming/management along its entire length. Please remove this  item from the Consent Calendar so the full funding can be reconfirmed for this worthy project. It has been a long  awaited highlight on both our Comprehensive and Sustainability and Climate Action Plans. The final phase of this project  is not the place to cut or defer spending and in any case such a decision would deserve full discussion by council.    Sincerely,    Bret Andersen, Palo Verde Neighborhood  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Elizabeth Santana <esantana@paplayers.org> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 12:37 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Players support of critical funding for City facilities cleaning and sanitation CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,   It was such an honor to have the opportunity to address the Council on March 15th on behalf of Palo Alto Players. We  were so honored to receive a proclamation for our 90 years of service to the community and are so grateful to the City  of Palo Alto for the continued support.     I write to you today with a humble request as you begin some difficult budget deliberations and the City continues to  face financial challenges from the pandemic.    The Community Services department has requested that the Lucie Stern Community Theatre be put on the list for City  spaces that receive daily sanitation and cleanings (when in use). I humbly ask for the City Council to approve the  budget to reinstate the janitorial services in the Lucie Stern Community Theater that were cut when performances  were cancelled due to the pandemic. Palo Alto Players, along with our resident theatre partners, West Bay Opera and  Theatreworks Silicon Valley, plan to resume our residence in the theatre space in the 2021‐22 fiscal year.    As Palo Alto Players works to meet the safety standards relating to Covid‐19 to resume public performances, the health  and safety of our artists and audiences is our first priority. We have made challenging and prudent business decisions  over the last year to survive so that we can bring back performing arts programming to the community and be an  economic driver for the City of Palo Alto.     It is critical to fund those services that make it possible to resume public events, for the benefit of the local economy,  and for the social and emotional wellbeing we so desperately need right now. Assuring that City facilities are clean and  safe for the community is one of the most effective uses of the City's limited resources.     Thank you for your consideration and I hope to see you at the theatre soon!  Elizabeth    ‐‐   Elizabeth Santana   Managing Director Email: esantana@paplayers.org    Support Your Local Theatre Company!    2 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.     Palo Alto Players-Peninsula Center Stage  The Peninsula’s First Theatre Company 1305 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 Phone: 650.363.8582 Box Office: 650.329.0891 www.paplayers.org  GI 3 Baumb, Nelly From:Elizabeth May <elizabethmay@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 12:05 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Children's Theater CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,     We recognize Palo Alto has challenging times ahead and cost savings must be found. We have also read that further cuts  to the Palo Alto Children's Theater Program, PACT are part of the budget discussion.   Our children have participated in a  few shows as well as summer camps over the years.   As a family we've often attended Main Stage and Hot Dog shows,  sharing the joy of our little theater with our grandparents and friends.    Our little theater is such a treasure and over the  years the investments to modernize and expand the theater space in LSC have been thoughtfully and wisely  done.  Preserving this space has required dedication by the City.          In the past year children who connected to most sports were able to resume activities outside.   But theater and  performance  remains absent for most kids other than some zoom alternatives. When our kids resume in person  activities all kids need opportunities to re‐engage with their peers and adults.   PACT serves a different population of  students who have been isolated and with limited arts programming for more than a year.           Over the years when I've spoken or written to the Council it has largely been about youth programs and the critical need  to keep youth programs accessible and located in Palo Alto.   Arts programs take support to be maintained.   Hard  decisions will need to be made, but preserving theater and its benefits to the population of kids it serves is not one to be  taken lightly.   PACT is accessible to kids, the productions and the tech support allow kids to be creative and learn.   It is  one the things our kids will need post pandemic.   Please do not let Palo Alto become a two‐dimensional place with  expensive club sports and academics the only extra‐curricular activities available to our kids.       Thank you,  Elizabeth May  4 Baumb, Nelly From:Neilson Buchanan <cnsbuchanan@yahoo.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 11:57 AM To:Clerk, City; Nose, Kiely Cc:Dave Price; Bill Johnson; Jocelyn Dong; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Brad Ehikian; Kamhi, Philip Subject:May 4 Finance Committee at 2pm Attachments:OOT Budget Infor May 2021.pdf; Special Revenue Funds Budget Overview May 2021.pdf Thanks for the budget information, I am stumbling forward on my own. I look forward to the links. I have a few more questions about budget terminology and will batch those questions to preserve your and Kiely's time during the next few hectic weeks. I still have major questions about council oversight of PATMA's forward looking budgets and transfers of quarterly funds from city to PATMA. There seems to be missing policy and budget issues. I will be advocating transparency of PATMA budget equal to any city department so that PATMA budget is rationalized to other city budgets such as OOT and Children's Theater. Tradeoff decisions have already been made in the past year and other decisions are pending without clear information. Those past and future decisions are important and I cannot find sufficient information in the budgets. Palo Alto has been addressing tough "guns" vs "butter" decisions and I am not convinced city staff and council have presented sufficient information to evaluate the role and viability of the PATMA during post covid recovery period. Major conditions have shifted such as Caltrain ridership, WFH, SOV dependency, private sector funding of TMA, viability of retail and related workforce, RTW, etc. Therefore, I would expect major council and staff evaluation of PATMA with consideration of funding shift to higher priorities. I do appreciate improved city budgeting process. Process and outcome gets better each year. I am particularly interested in the stewardship of permit parking revenue and other funds associated with Special Revenues. The budget and organization for OOT is very informative. However, OTT and PATMA have significant overlap without any apparent linkage in the budget. PATMA budget is not transparent at the city level and does not seem to be as transparent as other non-profit organizations associated with city government. I want to make my intentions crystal clear. Parking policies and management for the commercial cores and RPP neighborhoods are completely related. City management of these parking policies has never been integrated adequately. The new Office of Transportation has great potential to resolve parking irrationalities and budget waste. If City Council and staff want to seriously address climate change, reduce SOV/traffic and fund viable public transit, then city operating and capital budgeting must improve accordingly. Neilson Buchanan 155 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 650 329-0484 5 650 537-9611 cell cnsbuchanan@yahoo.com On Monday, May 3, 2021, 09:58:22 AM PDT, Clerk, City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Neilson, The budget books and links were published after we published the agendas. We will go back and add the links to the agendas. Thanks and stay healthy. BETH MINOR City Clerk (650)329-2379 | Beth.Minor@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Neilson Buchanan <cnsbuchanan@yahoo.com> Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 8:22 AM To: Clerk, City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>; Nose, Kiely <Kiely.Nose@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: May 4 Finance Committee at 2pm CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. The agenda includes the statements below. CIT"/ OIF PALO ALTO __ _ 6 I cannot find the budget details released on April 30. I am particularly interested in operating and capital information for Office of Transportation and the Palo Alto TMA. If this information is posted on the city website, please email a link to me. Recommendation Staff recommends that the Finance Committee review and discuss the FY 2021-2022 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets. Discussion Annually the City Manager issues a proposed operating and a proposed capital improvement budget and five-year capital improvement plan. These documents are expected to be released April 30, 2021. This initial agenda item with the Finance Committee is intended to review these documents via a verbal presentation with the Finance Committee in preparation for the scheduled deliberations with the Committee on May 11, 2021 and May 12, 2021 Neilson Buchanan 155 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 650 329-0484 650 537-9611 cell cnsbuchanan@yahoo.com CITY OF PALO ALTO CITY MANAGER OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION Mission Statement The Office of Transportation's mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life for Palo Alto residents, visitors, and businesses by providing efficient and cost-effective transportation services for all modes of transportation. Purpose The purpose of the Office of Transportation is to improve the safety of the users of all modes of transportation, reduce reliance on single-occu- pancy vehicles, address congestion, and reduce through traffic and non-resident parking in Palo Alto neighborhoods, leading to an integrated transportation system that serves local, regional, and intercity travel. • CITY OF PALO ALTO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 159 CITY MANAGER Chief Transportation Offlclal Philip Kamhi Administration 1.00 Management Analyst 1.00 Administrative Assistant Moblllty Planning 1.00 Transportation Planning Manager 1.00 Senior Transportation Planner 1.00 Associate Planner 2.00 Safe Routes to School Coordinators Parking Program Manager 1.00 Parking Manager 1.00 Parking Operations -Lead Engineering 1.00 Senior Engineer 1.00 Traffic Operations -Lead 2.00 Project Engineer 1.00 Associate Engineer FY 2022 POSITION TOTALS 15.00 -Full-time This organizational chart represents citywide Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) for this department. The Department Summary tables summarize FTEs by position allocation. 160 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET CITY MANAGER Description The Office of Transportation (OOT) was established in recognition of the scale, complexity, and level of citizen engagement related to transportation. High- profile issues include the separation of at-grade rail crossings, neighborhood traffic safety and bike boulevards, permit parking, traffic mitigation, and the safety of vulnerable road users. The Office is responsible for mobility, engineering, and parking in coordination with other City departments and agencies (such as Valley Transportation Authority, Caltrain, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, Palo Alto Unified School District and neighboring cities) through the following: MOBILITY /PLANNING Responsible for sustainable transportation systems that aim to reduce traffic congestion and auto emis- sions through increased pedestrian, bicycle, public transportation use, and other alternative modes of transportation. Programs include: Bicycle and Pedestrian -This program includes the discrete capital improvement projects and the pro- grammatic elements needed to implement goals of the Palo Alto Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Plan, including the Neighborhood Traffic Safety & Bicycle Boulevard project. This program also provides staffing to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC). The Palo Alto Free Shuttle Program is currently suspended due the impacts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting financial and health-order constraints. Staff continues to evaluate funding oppor- tunities for shuttle or other transit options and has been awarded grant funds from VTA to pursue innova- tive opportunities. Safe Routes to School -In partnership with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) and Palo Alto PTA, this program aims to reduce risk, and educate and encourage more families to safely walk, bicycle, bus, and carpool to school. It also includes the development of capital improvement projects to provide safer routes to schools. PARKING/PROGRAM MANAGEMENT Planning, development, and ongoing management of the Residential Permit Parking (RPP) program, park- ing in the City's garages and lots, and on-street parking in business districts. ENGINEERING Oversee the City's traffic and transportation infrastructure investments through long-and short-range plans, corridor plans, traffic studies, and review of proposed private developments: transportation demand management initiatives: traffic impact fees: and regional coordination. Projects include: • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 161 CITY MANAGER Rail Grade Separations: This is a monumental capital improvement to improve safety at existing railroad crossings. This project will span more than a decade to complete planning, environmental review, design, and construction. Traffic Operations & Capital Improvement Projects: These projects include the monitoring, operations, and modifications of the traffic system; investigation and response to citizen inquiries; and development of plans and funding for capital improvement projects that provide enhanced safety and relieve traffic congestion. Key Performance Measures CITIZEN SURVEY -EASE OF PUBLIC PARKING Goal Objective Percent of surveyed residents rating the amount of parking as good or excellent Description Purpose Status Provide, design, and implement transportation services that meet or exceed the expectations of Palo Alto residents; encourage transportation alternatives to single occupancy vehicle trips; and improve traffic flow and parking availability. I increase ease of public parking FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2019 FY 2020 Adopted FY 2021 Proposed Actuals Actuals Budget Estimated Budget N/A*I N/A** N/A*I 30% 30% The City participates in the National Citizen Survey (NCS) which asks residents to rate their perception of the ease of public parking. The NCS is a collaborative effort between the National Research Center and the International City/County Management Association. To obtain feedback from residents on the ease of public parking to determine if the program's resources are appropriate. Staff expects in calendar year 2021 to install an automated parking guidance system (APGS) in both the California Avenue district and University Avenue districts. This will assist in parking management including the balance of employee permit authorization and the RPP districts. * The National Citizen's Survey was transitioned from the City Auditor's Office to the Office of the City Manager as part of the FY 2021 Adopted Budget. As a result of this transition the survey was not completed for FY 2019. The survey was completed for FY 2018 and FY 2020; therefore, FY 2019 actual results are not available and are reflected by "N/A." This FY 2022 Proposed Budget recommends that the frequency of this survey be adjusted to every other year, to be completed on odd numbered fiscal years. Therefore, FY 2022, this projected data is also reflected by "N/A". The next survey is proposed to take place in FY 2023. **Survey responses for this performance measure were not provided in the FY 2020 National Citizen's Survey. Information will be provided in future budget publications if the data becomes available. 162 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET CITY MANAGER Key Performance Measures CITIZEN SURVEY -TRAFFIC FLOW ON MAJOR STREETS Goal Objective Percent surveyed residents rating the traffic flow on major streets as good or excellent Description Purpose Status Provide, design, and implement transportation services that meet or exceed the expectations of Palo Alto residents; encourage transportation alternatives to single occupancy vehicle trips; and improve traffic flow and parking availability. I improve traffic flow on major streets. FY 2022 Proposed Budget N/A* N/A** N/A* 38% 38% The City participates in the National Citizen Survey (NCS) which asks residents to rate their perception of traffic flow on major streets. The NCS is a collaborative effort between the National Research Center and the International City/County Management Association. To obtain feedback from residents on the traffic flow on major streets to determine the perceived functionality of major streets. * The National Citizen's Survey was transitioned from the City Auditor's Office to the Office of the City Manager as part of the FY 2021 Adopted Budget. As a result of this transition the survey was not completed for FY 2019. The survey was completed for FY 2018 and FY 2020; therefore, FY 2019 actual results are not available and are reflected by "N/A." This FY 2022 Proposed Budget recommends that the frequency of this survey be adjusted to every other year, to be completed on odd numbered fiscal years. Therefore, FY 2022, this projected data is also reflected by "N/A". The next survey is proposed to take place in FY 2023. **Survey responses for this performance measure were not provided in the FY 2020 National Citizen's Survey. Information will be provided in future budget publications if the data becomes available. • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 163 CITY MANAGER Key Performance Measures NUMBER OF SHUTTLE RIDERS Goal Objective Number of Shuttle Riders Description Purpose Status Provide, design, and implement transportation services that meet or exceed the expectations of Palo Alto residents; encourage transportation alternatives to single occupancy vehicle trips; and improve traffic flow and parking availability. I increase the annual number of riders on the Palo Alto shuttle FY 2019 Actuals 104,929 FY 2020 Actuals 60,197 FY 2021 Adopted Budget This measure tracks the annual usage of the shuttle program. FY 2021 Estimated To track changes in satisfaction and ridership with the shuttle program. FY 2022 Proposed Budget While the Palo Alto Free Shuttle Program was discontinued in FY 2021, the City was awarded a $2M Innovative Transit grant from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority to fund an on-demand micro-transit service in Palo Alto. Service is tentatively scheduled to begin in the Summer of 2022. The Office of Transportation will reassess this measure and recommend an alternative measure that is more reflective of the new micro-transit service. Workload Measures Number of transportation inquiries to 311 Number of households in RPP district Number of students reached through educational programs with Safe Routes to School Number of development projects reviewed Number of traffic signals maintained FY 2019 Actuals 275 6,569 5,442 71 101 FY 2020 Actuals 279 8,816 1,947 156 101 FY 2021 Adopted Budget 300 5,900 6,735 80 101 164 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FY 2021 Estimated 125 8,816 5,109 308 101 FY 2022 Proposed Budget 195 8,816 5,209 300 101 Budget Summary Dollars by Division Administration Engineering and Planning Programs Total Salary & Benefits Healthcare Other Benefits Overtime Pension Retiree Medical Salary Workers' Compensation Total Salary and Benefits Dollars by Category Allocated Charges Contract Services Facilities & Equipment General Expense Operating Transfers Out Supplies & Material Total Dollars by Expense Category Revenues Operating Transfers-In Other Revenue Permits and Licenses Total Revenues Positions by Division Administration Engineering and Planning Programs Total FY 2019 Actuals $473,466 $499,205 $861,232 $1,833,902 $50,920 $11 ,358 $2,897 $116,288 $74,971 $431 ,343 $15,948 $703,726 $133,778 $754,971 $233,380 $7,780 $267 $1,833,902 $128,000 $13,332 $141,332 0.50 2.18 2.21 4.89 FY 2020 Actuals $546,829 $604,794 $900,441 $2,052,064 $68,462 $20,569 $1,439 $264,762 $77,220 $662,149 $24,355 $1,118,955 $152,710 $558,029 $945 $218,077 $3,347 $2,052,064 $128,000 $12,000 $37,919 $177,919 2.18 1.70 2.80 6.68 FY 2021 Adopted Budget $630,126 $604,400 $669,648 $1,904,173 $103,177 $26,528 $7,795 $304,620 $78,098 $791,163 $21,922 $1,333,304 $184,424 $132,446 $5,000 $228,750 $20,250 $1,904,173 $128,000 $13,332 $141,332 2.33 1.70 2.80 6.83 FY 2022 Proposed Budget $660,007 $618,138 $468,065 $1,746,209 $81 ,839 $28,610 $7,998 $334,724 $89,159 $721 ,229 $32,800 $1,296,359 $203,454 $41 ,800 $5,000 $189,346 $10,250 $1,746,209 $128,000 $60,000 $13,332 $201,332 1.75 1.90 1.55 5.20 CITY MANAGER FY 2022 Change$ $29,881 $13,738 $(201,583) $(157,965) $(21 ,338) $2,082 $203 $30,104 $11 ,061 $(69,934) $10,878 $(36,944) $19,030 $(90,646) $(39,404) $(10,000) $(157,965) $60,000 $0 $60,000 (0.58) 0.20 (1 .25) (1.63) • . 4.7% 2.3% (30.1)% (8.3)% (20.7)% 7.8% 2.6% 9.9% 14.2% (8.8)% 49.6% (2.8)% 10.3% (68.4)% -% (17.2)% -% (49.4)% (9.0)% -% -% -% 42.5% (24.9)% 11 .8% (44.6)% (23.9)% • CITY OF PALO ALTO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 165 CITY MANAGER Staffing Job Classification Administrative Assistant Administrative Associate Ill Associate Engineer Associate Planner Chief Transportation Official Coordinator Transportation Systems Management Management Analyst Parking Operations-Lead Project Engineer Senior Engineer Senior Planner Traffic Engineering-Lead Transportation Planning Manager Subtotal: Full-Time Equivalent Positions Temporary/Hourly Total Positions FY 2019 Actuals 0.30 0.65 0.24 0.55 0.74 0.02 0.10 0.50 0.28 0.65 0.36 4.39 0.50 4.89 FY 2020 Actuals 0.50 0.30 0.30 0.70 1.25 0.50 0.45 0.20 0.50 0.35 1.15 6.20 0.48 6.68 FY 2021 Adopted Budget 0.50 0.30 0.45 0.70 1.25 0.50 0.45 0.20 0.50 0.35 1.15 6.35 0.48 6.83 FY 2022 Proposed Budget 0.60 0.35 0.40 0.70 0.65 0.50 0.05 0.25 0.20 0.15 0.35 1.00 5.20 5.20 FY 2022 Change FTE 0.10 0.05 (0.05) (0.60) 0.05 (0.20) (0.35) (0.15) (1.15) (0.48) (1.63) • $52,416 $43,658 $43,613 $133,006 $72,440 $55,130 $6,841 $37,804 $31,999 $20,193 $55,692 $157,893 $710,685 $710,685 * The FY 2021 Adopted Budget includes position freezes that reduced the funding equivalent to holding a position vacant. The full- time positions impacted by this action are identified with "(Freeze)" following the job classification title. The FY 2022 Proposed Budget includes City Council direction to eliminate these positions (CMR 11872). In the Office of Transportation, a total of 0.48 FTE (0.0 full- time, 0.48 part-time) are eliminated as a result of this action. 166 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET Budget Reconciliation Positions Prior Year Budget 6.83 One-Time Prior Year Budget Adjustments FY 2021 Management and Professionals Group Compensation Reduction One-Time Prior Year Budget Adjustments Adjustments to Costs of Ongoing Activities Salary and Benefits Adjustments FY 2021 Staffing Freeze Eliminations (CMR 11872) (0.48) Information Technology Allocated Charges Liability Insurance Allocated Charges Printing & Mailing Services Allocated Charges Utilities Allocated Charges Workers' Compensation Allocated Charges Adjustments to Costs of Ongoing Activities (0.48) Total FY 2022 Base Budget 6.35 Budget Adjustments 1. Capital Staffing Funding Reallocation (1.15) 2. Transportation and Parking Consultant Services Reduction and Alternative Funding Total Budget Adjustments {1.15} Total FY 2022 Proposed Budget 5.20 Expenditures 1,904,173 45,845 45,845 140,090 (29,983) (2,007) 12,663 (200) 8,575 10,878 140,015 2,090,033 (203,824) (140,000) {343,824) 1,746,209 CITY MANAGER Revenues 141,332 -1 141,332 60,000 60,000 Net General Fund 1,762,841 45,845 45,845 140,090 (29,983) (2,007) 12,663 (200) 8,575 10,878 140,015 1,948,701 (203,824) (200,000) {403,824) 1,544,877 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 167 CITY MANAGER Budget Adjustments Budget Adjustments Positions 1. Capital Staffing Funding Reallocation (1.15) Expenditures Revenues (203,824) Net General Fund (203,824) This net-neutral action realigns the funding of various Office of Transportation (001) positions citywide, resulting in a net reduction of 1.15 FTE in the General Fund. This action more accurately aligns staff to their respective work assignments and projects and does not change overall staffing levels. • The most significant reallocations add staffing resources for transportation capital projects in the General Capital Improvement Fund, including South Palo Alto Bikeways (VERBS Grant Community Engagement Plan within the Safe Routes to School CIP (PL-00026); Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update within the Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Implementation CIP (PL- 04010); Churchill Avenue Enhanced Bikeway CIP (PL-14000); and Churchill Avenue/Alma Street Railroad Crossing Safety Improvements CIP (PL-20000). • This staffing realignment includes a reduction of 0.30 FTE in the Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) Fund and 1.15 positions in the General Fund. These reductions are offset by increases of 1.45 in the General Capital Improvement Fund. This action also aligns Office of Transportation staff assignments in the Planning and Development Services Department (PDS). OOT staff assigned to PDS support reviews of development projects with respect to parking, circulation, congestion, and general transportation demand management analysis. (Ongoing Savings: $207,939) Performance Results 0 This action realigns staff to ensure that costs are accurately tracked. 2. Transportation and Parking Consultant Services (140,000) 60,000 (200,000) Reduction and Alternative Funding This action includes reductions to planning and consulting services ($140,000) and dedicates grant funding ($60,000) to reimburse the cost of 0.60 FTE Coordinator -Transportation Systems Management. • The City has committed reimbursement through the VTA Measure B Encouragement and Education Grant Agreement. This program covers activities and the development and distribution of materials that promote, educate, and encourage safe walking/biking and communicate the benefits of, and associated responsibilities related to, these activities. • Bicycle program funding is reduced by $46,000 (78% reduction) and will impact the City's support of local bicycle education and encouragement programing that promotes the City's Sustainability goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. • Funding for on-call engineering and traffic data services is reduced by $37,000 (81 % reduction), resulting in increased response times and completion of transportation related 311 , City Manager, and Council requests. • OOT's travel, training and membership budget is reduced by $25,000 (13% reduction), resulting in limited capacity for maintaining best practices and fewer opportunities for employee training and professional development. This will impact the City's effective participation in annual and on-going events organized by staff, citizens and grass root organizations such as Bike Palo Alto, Bike to Work Day, Bike Rodeos, and Middle-School Bike Skills Safety Education. Lastly, this will discontinue membership with Friends of Caltrain. However, the City will maintain its mandatory membership in the Congestion Management Program (CMP) of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. • Lastly, reductions in transcription and parking study consultant services of $32,000 (85% reduction) will eliminate transcription services for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PABAC) and the City/School Traffic Safety Committee (CSTSC). Going forward, the use of transcription services will be minimal. If these services are needed for future parking studies, they will be funded in the Parking District Funds. (Ongoing savings: $200,000) Performance Results 0 This action contributes to cost containment strategies in FY 2022. 168 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW Overview Special Revenue Funds have revenues with either restriction on their use or special reporting requirements, such as development impact fees for community centers, libraries, parks, public facil- ities, and transportation; gas tax revenues from the state; housing mitigation fees assessed on com- mercial and industrial projects; in-lieu fees for the City's Below Market Rate (BMR) housing program; transportation mitigation fees paid by developers; parking in-lieu fees from commercial projects in the downtown area; parking permit revenues; and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from the federal government. PUBLIC ART FUND Administered by the Community Services Department. the Public Art Fund was created in FY 2014 to support the City's Public Art Program. The program seeks to increase the public's daily exposure to art through the commissioning and acquisition of a diverse range of artworks integrated into the City's urban environment. The Public Art Program strives to build the City's reputation as a dynamic public art locale with works of diverse styles, disciplines, and the highest aesthetic standards. Fund- ing for the Public Art Program is determined by the Municipal Code's direction of 1 percent for Art in Private Development. Construction projects over 10,000 square feet that require Architectural Review and have an estimated construction value of more than $200,000 have the option of com- missioning artwork on the development site equal to the cost of 1 percent of the estimated con- struction valuation or paying the 1 percent to the Public Art Fund. In FY 2022, the projected revenue for the Public Art Fund is $275,000 and includes a transfer of $170,000 from the General Fund to comply with requirements that limit the administration costs that are funded through fees (ordi- nance 5226). Additionally, although not accounted for in this fund, the City requires that for specific City-funded capital projects a 1 percent public art expense is set aside. Further detail is available in the Art in Public Space capital project (AC-86017) in the FY 2022 Proposed Capital Budget. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUNDS Revenue in this category comes from Development Impact Fees for community centers, libraries, parks, public facilities, and transportation. The Development Impact fees collected from new devel- opments provide funding for the City's infrastructure related to community centers, libraries, parks, public safety facilities, general government facilities, and the Charleston-Arastradero Corridor. The projected revenue within the Community Development Impact Fee Funds is $673,000 in FY 2022, primarily reflecting anticipated receipts in the Park Impact and Parkland Dedication Funds. The FY 2022 Proposed Capital Budget includes transfers of $4.7 million for improvements at Byxbee Park ($2.4 million) and Boulware Park ($1 .5 million). an Automated Material Handling (AMH) system to CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 89 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW sort returned Library materials ($350,000), installation of restrooms at parks ($343,439), and renovations at dog parks ($150,000). Annually, the Administrative Services Department issues a report of the activities in these funds, including the remaining balances within them. The 2020 annual report ending June 30, 2020, is included in CMR 11875. STREET IMPROVEMENT FUNDS (SIF) Revenue in this category comes from the state gas tax, including estimated receipts from S.B. 1 transporta- tion funds and federal and state grants earmarked for street improvements. These funds are used for trans- portation and traffic-related capital projects. Preliminary estimates from the State Department of Finance in January 2021 projected revenues at $3.1 million. These receipts include adjustments to Highway Users Tax Account CHUTA) allocations and the new S.B. 1 transportation funding bill, effective July 1, 2017. Under S.B. 1, it is anticipated that the City is allocated a total of $1.4 million in revenue from the Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA). Repayments from the State General Fund were received over three years at $80,000 per year, ending in FY 2020. In FY 2022, $2.7 million is programmed to be transferred to the Capital Improvement Fund for various city- wide transportation projects that include projects for street maintenance and safe routes to school. The City achieved its primary goal of reaching a citywide average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score of 85 in 2018, three years earlier than the initial goal; however, funding is maintained through the 2022 -2026 Capital Improvement Plan to work towards the City's secondary street maintenance goal of having no streets under a PCI score of 60. FEDERAL AND STATE REVENUE FUNDS The Federal and State Revenue Funds consist primarily of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. The City of Palo Alto receives funds annually from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devel- opment (HUD) as an entitlement City under the CDBG program. This is the principal Federal program that provides funds to the CDBG Program to expand and maintain affordable housing supply, promote housing opportunities, improve and maintain community facilities, and increase economic opportunities for persons of low and moderate-income. CDBG project expenditures draw upon program income and prior year allo- cations that have been unspent. The FY 2021-22 draft action plan includes a total budget of $738,920 and is tentatively scheduled for City Council review on May 3, 2021 (CMR 12014). The final application will be submitted to HUD by the May 15, 2021 deadline for final confirmation of allocations. Staff will bring forward budget adjustments to align with final allocations as necessary. A more detailed presentation of the FY 2022 Budget for the CDBG Fund is available at the end of the Special Revenue Funds Overview section. HOUSING IMPACT AND IN-LIEU FUNDS Revenues in this category come from fees required of commercial, industrial, and residential developers. These fees are used to offset the public infrastructure demands that new developments create and to pre- serve and provide affordable housing. 90 • CITY OF PALO ALTO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW For FY 2022, $2.2 million in in-lieu fees are anticipated. These estimates remain constant from FY 2021 and are based on historical tracking and Planning and Development Services (PDS) Department staff projections. Annually, the Administrative Services Department issues a report of the activities in these funds, including the remaining balances within them. The 2020 annual report ending June 30, 2020, is included in CMR 11875. As of June 30, 2020, these funds had a balance of $50.4 million. The majority of this funding is committed to projects in progress. PUBLIC BENEFIT FUNDS Revenue in this fund was established through a developer deposit for the senior housing project on Hamil- ton Avenue ("The Hamilton"). Revenues in this fund include the original deposit, interest earnings, and a percentage of unit sales prices. These funds continue to support a contract with the Avenidas agency to provide services for seniors. This fund is included in the Housing Funds category in the summary tables at the end of this section. SPECIAL DISTRICTS FUNDS Special District Funds reflect the combined financial activity of the following funds: University Avenue Parking District Fund, California Avenue Parking District Fund, and Residential Preferential Parking (RPP) Fund. This grouping does not include Assessment District Funds. Revenue in these funds, generated from parking permits and citations, is used for maintenance, repair, enforcement, and beautification of parking facilities and public areas within the University and California Avenue business districts and RPP districts. As of FY 2022, six neighborhoods are active in the RPP program to mitigate parking congestion in Palo Alto neighborhoods: College Terrace, Downtown, Evergreen Park/Mayfield, Crescent Park, Southgate, and Old Palo Alto. In FY 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic continued to significantly impact travel patterns, economic conditions, and community priorities. The City Council suspended parking enforcement and resources were redirected to support the City's emergency response (CMR 11238). During this time, permit sales functionally stopped, and only minimal revenue was received. The following adjustments to parking permit prices are recom- mended by Office of Transportation staff in light of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and will result in significantly lower ongoing revenue in the Special District Funds, potentially impacting future fund solvency. This FY 2022 budget includes a reversal of the previously adopted FY 2021 prices for Employee Parking Permits in all districts. Employee Parking Permit rates are recommended to decrease from the FY 2021 adopted value of $830 back to the FY 2020 adopted value of $806 per year in University Avenue and Downtown RPP district and $620 to $403 per year in California Avenue, Evergreen Park/May- field RPP district, and Southgate RPP district. A price adjustment is not recommended in FY 2022 to annual residential parking permits so these permits will remain at $50. A FY 2021 policy change to charge for the first residential parking permit, as approved by the City Council on May 13, 2020, is recommended to be reversed as well. A more detailed presentation of parking fees can be found in the FY 2022 Municipal Fee schedule. • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 91 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW In FY 2021 City Council approved several programmatic improvements to the RPP including decreases in ongoing operating expenses due to a shift to License Plate Reader (LPR) parking enforcement in the RPP districts, one-time expenses to purchase necessary equipment to support the implementation of LPR and correct RPP signage, and corresponding citation revenue increases. Council formally approved the pur- chase and use of LPR technology in the context of the City of Palo Alto's Surveillance Policy (CMR 11492) on February 22, 2021. LPR enforcement is anticipated beginning in Spring 2022. Due to the cessation of parking enforcement by Council on April 6, 2020 (CMR 11238), the fabrication and installation of RPP sig- nage has been delayed. Parking enforcement is due to start again on May 4, 2021 and staff is determining when signage will be installed. Outreach is being conducted with customers and stakeholders in prepara- tion for the transition to virtual permitting and staff intend to return to Council with related recommenda- tions and permit type adjustments needed. This FY 2022 Proposed Budget includes the following significant proposals: • Continue to provide funding to the Transportation Management Association (TMA) to support the reduction of single-occupancy vehicles (SOV) rates in Palo Alto ($350,000 one-time); Decrease permit sales revenue estimates by approximately $611,250 in University Avenue, $345,960 in California Avenue, and $263,000 in RPP Fund to reflect parking permit price decreases and by an additional $154,000 in the RPP Fund to reflect the reversal of the FY 2021 policy change to no longer provide the first residential parking permit free (ongoing); • Decrease daily permit sales revenue estimates by $484,000 in University Avenue, $145,000 in California Avenue, and $10,250 in the RPP Fund and citation revenue estimates by $104,000 in the RPP Fund to reflect lower volume of parking activity (ongoing); • Increase expenses by $55,000 for facilities maintenance expenses in custodial and street sweeping services for the new California Avenue garage (ongoing); • Increase expenses by $215,000 for the automated public toilet rental and servicing contract (CMR 11843), transitioning from the Public Works Department to University Avenue (ongoing); • Increase expenses by $168,000 and $35,200 in University and California Avenue respectively for the operations and maintenance of the Automated Parking Guidance System (APGS) (ongoing); • Reduce expenses by $111,750 in the RPP to reflect reductions in parking study contracts (ongoing); and • Capital improvement investments in FY 2022 through a transfer of $115 ,000 from the University Avenue Parking Fund to the General Capital Improvement Fund for the University Avenue Parking Improvements project. Additional project details are available in the FY 2022 Proposed Capital Budget. The ability of these funds to meet future cash flow needs will be significantly impacted by existing projects in the pipeline and the design and complexity of the elements of the comprehensive parking strategy, including permit pricing. In the upcoming year, staff will continue to develop and implement potential strat- egies for the organization and scaling of a comprehensive parking strategy. A pause on new projects and initiatives is still recommended in the upcoming fiscal year given the limited remaining fund balances avail- able due to the suspension of parking enforcement for the majority of FY 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 92 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW A more detailed presentation of the FY 2022 Budget for the University Avenue Parking District Fund and California Avenue Parking District Fund is available at the end of the Special Revenue Funds Overview sec- tion. TRAFFIC MITIGATION AND PARKING IN-LIEU FUNDS Traffic mitigation fee revenue is derived from fees paid by developers of new. non-residential projects to alleviate additional traffic congestion resulting from new development. Parking in-lieu fees result from commercial projects in assessment district areas, which contribute a fee for parking spaces in lieu of pro- viding the required spaces within the project area itself. In FY 2022, $275,000 in traffic mitigation and park- ing in-lieu fees are anticipated. These estimates remain steady with 2021 revenues and are based on historical tracking and Office of Transportation COOT) staff projections. The 2022 -2026 Capital Improve- ment Plan includes a transfer of $395,000 in FY 2022 for improvements to traffic signals. Of note, the City Council approved recommendations on April 22, 2019 (CMR 9531) to phase out all but one of the area-specific transportation impact fees and transition to a single citywide fee. The full details are available in staff report 9531. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) The Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) was established by an ordinance adopted in January 2004 to promote the economic revitalization and physical maintenance of the Palo Alto Downtown busi- ness district. The Council appointed the Board of Directors of the Palo Alto Downtown Business and Pro- fessional Association (PADBPA), a non-profit corporation, as the Advisory Board for the BID to advise the Council on the method and basis for levy of assessments in the BID and the expenditure of revenues derived from the assessments. In prior years. the BID has focused on street cleanliness. creating a safe downtown, and providing events and communication tools that bring business downtown. Beginning in 2020 and continuing in 2021 the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant economic impacts to local businesses. Concerning these impacts, the City Council adopted a resolution in May 2020 that rescinded the levy of assessments for the BID in calendar year 2020 and reimbursed pay- ments made by businesses during the period (CMR 11219). The PADBPA typically uses fees collected through the BID assessment for programs and activities. With no collections in FY 2020, a $70,000 sub- sidy from the General Fund was required. In FY 2021 City Council again directed staff to waive fees and assessments typically levied (CMR 11872). The associated activities and fee collections are also on hold; therefore, the FY 2022 Proposed budget eliminates funding levels, and a continued subsidy is not required. An updated FY 2020-21 action plan is anticipated to be released in Spring 2021. The most recent action plan for FY 2019-20 was included in CMR 10315. STANFORD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (SUMC) In 2011, the City of Palo Alto entered into a Development Agreement between the City of Palo Alto and the Stanford University Medical Center Parties (SUMC). Funds received in FY 2012 as part of this agreement were used in FY 2013 -2014, and beyond as outlined in the agreement and approved by the City Council. In FY 2018, the City received the final payment of $11.8 million, for a total amount of $44.3 million throughout the development agreement. The funds received per the development agreement are allocated for specific • CITY OF PALO ALTO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 93 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW purposes, which include funding for the 2014 City Council approved Infrastructure Plan. As outlined in the agreement, expenses and revenues for each category must be accounted for separately. Annually the Planning and Development Services Department, formerly the Planning and Community Envi- ronment Department, issues a report of activities during the prior period for Council review to ensure com- pliance with the agreement. The annual reports for 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 are under development and staff anticipates bringing these forward in May 2021. The most recent annual report for the 2016-2017 period is included in CMR 8999. Community Health and Safety: Funds are to be distributed to selected community health programs that benefit residents of the City. The projected beginning balance in this category is $2.9 million and there are no planned transfers in FY 2022 to the Capital Improvement Fund. Stanford Hospital Expansion Cost Mitigation: Funds are being held in this category to assure that City costs associated with the project do not exceed revenues to the City and ensure cost neutrality of the development. The projected beginning balance in this category is $2.4 million. The FY 2022 Proposed Cap- ital Budget includes a $500,000 transfer for railroad grade separation and safety improvements. lntermodal Transit: Funds are to enhance the pedestrian and bicycle connection from the Transit Center to the El Camino/Quarry Road intersection. The projected beginning balance in this category is $1.3 million. There are no planned transfers in FY 2022 to the Capital Improvement Fund. Quarry Road Improvements: Funds are to improve and enhance the public right-of-way at the pedestrian and bicycle connection from El Camino to Welch Road along Quarry Road. As of FY 2019, there is no lon- ger a fund balance in this category. Infrastructure, Sustainable Neighborhoods and Communities, and Affordable Housing: Funds in this cate- gory are to be used in connection with infrastructure, sustainable neighborhoods and communities, and affordable housing. The projected beginning balance in this category is $9.2 million. The FY 2022 Proposed Capital Improvement Budget includes a $750,000 transfer for the replacement of Fire Station four, which was originally planned for FY 2021 but delayed due to the impacts of COVID-19. Climate Change: Funds are to be used for projects and programs for a sustainable community, including programs identified in the City's Climate Action Plan. The projected beginning balance for this category is $2.5 million. The FY 2022 Proposed Capital Improvement Budget includes a $2.0 million transfer for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan-Implementation Project. A more detailed presentation of the FY 2022 budget for the Stanford University Medical Center Fund is available at the end of the Special Revenue Funds Overview section. 94 • CITY OF PALO ALTO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW Special Revenue Funds Traffic Mitig. Stan. Federal and Univ. Com. Bus. Housing Street and Stat Special Parking Medical Fund Summary Public Dev. lmprov. In-Lieu lmprov. Rev. District In-Lieu Center ($000) Art Fund Funds District Funds Fund Funds Funds Funds Fund Total Revenues Charges for Services 275 673 276 1,224 From Other Agencies 3,125 529 3,654 Net Sales -I 1,458 -I -I 1,458 Operating Transfers-In 170 393 - -563 Other Revenue 2,345 -I 136 -I -I 2,481 Other Taxes and Fines -156 -156 Permits and Licenses -I -I 2,223 -I -I 2,223 Rental Income 9 9 Return on Investments 16 337 463 9 7 109 260 370 1,571 Total 461 1,010 2,817 3,134 672 4,339 536 370 13,338 Expenses Allocated Charges 3 2 3 278 286 Contract Services 247 -I 2,123 -I -I 2,370 General Expense 53 640 399 -1,092 Operating Transfers-Out -1 364 133 -I -I 497 Rents & Leases 216 216 Salary & Benefits 221 64 -I 96 1,545 -I -I 1,926 Supplies & Material 121 121 Transfer to Infrastructure 4,743 2,724 115 395 3,237 11,214 Total 225 4,743 367 3,088 739 4,930 395 3,237 17,723 • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 95 SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW Consolidated Special Revenue Funds Fund Summary ($000) REVENUES Gas Tax Federal CDBG Housing In-Lieu Traffic Mitigation Fees Developer Impact Fees Parking Mitigation Fees BID Assessment Interest Income Other Revenue Subtotal Revenue Transfers In General Fund Technology Fund Utility Admin Fund Subtotal Operating Transfers In Total Source of Funds EXPENDITURES General Expense Subtotal Expenditures Transfers Out General Fund Capital Improvement Fund General Benefits • • 2,602 687 5,613 2,301 2,212 4,505 58 1,909 1,117 21,004 453 24 47 524 21,528 8,056 565 4,886 11 FY 2020 Actuals 2,895 444 750 180 1,522 4,417 24 1,746 985 12,962 559 26 52 637 13,600 5,076 506 9,285 18 FY 2021 Adopted Budget 2,834 501 2,150 276 673 5,801 140 1,571 835 14,781 489 55 27 571 15,352 6,896 494 12,376 96 • CITY OF PALO ALTO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET FY 2022 Proposed Budget 3,125 529 2,150 276 673 3,837 -I 1,571 615 12,776 484 24 54 562 13,338 6,012 497 11,214 FY 2022 Change $ 291 28 (1,964) {140) (220) (2,005) (5) (31) 27 (9) (2,014) (884) 3 {1,162) 10.3% 5.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% -33.9% -100.0% 0.0% -26.3% -13.6% -1 .0% -56.4% 100.0% -1.6% -13.1% -12.8% 0.5% -9.4% 0.0% SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS OVERVIEW Consolidated Special Revenue Funds Fund Summary ($000) Subtotal Operating Transfers Out Total Use of Funds Net To (From) Reserves FY 2019 Actuals 5,462 13,518 8,010 FY 2020 Actuals 9,809 14,886 (1,286) FY 2021 Adopted Budget 12,870 19,766 (4,414) FY 2022 Proposed Budget 11,711 17,723 (4,385) FY 2022 Change $ (1,159) ~ (2,043) -10.3% 29 -0.7% • CITY OF PALO AL TO FISCAL YEAR 2022 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET 97 7 Baumb, Nelly From:Jennifer Wang <jpwang@slippytoad.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 11:50 AM To:Council, City Subject:I support the Palo Alto Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council,    I am writing to protest the significant budget cuts that are being proposed for the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre. We live  in Palo Alto and have two elementary children. Before the pandemic, my daughter actively auditioned and participated  in 2 main stage productions. She absolutely loves theatre and is looking forward every day of this pandemic for the  programs to return so she can audition. We have hosted cast parties at our house and volunteers to sell concessions at  many of the plays. We attend many of the events and are strong supporters of the program. PACT is a significant part of  the community.    As I hope you can appreciate, the theatre is more than just plays, and all of the program parts work together. PACT's  Main Stage and Playhouse productions generate ticket revenue, but also serve to build excitement for our revenue  generating education experiences, and give kids something to look forward to and aspire to.    Young ushers in the lobby anxiously await the day that they will be old enough to audition for a play — which is how my  daughter got interested. The day she turned 8 (when she was eligible), she said to us, “I want to audition for a play."  Over the past decade, the Children’s Theatre has worked to build programs that are truly inclusive, with opportunities  for children of all ages and abilities. The theatre is a safe, creative home for youth and teens, where positive  relationships with trusted adults are built, making the theatre part of the safety net that our community has come to  rely on to keep our kids safe, happy and well.    I urge you to reconsider these budget cuts.    Thank you,    Jennifer Wang  650‐776‐7447  8 Baumb, Nelly From:Elizabeth Kim <kmevel703@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 7:59 AM To:Council, City Subject:Children's Theater CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council,    I am writing to ask that you reconsider further budget reductions to the Children's Theater.  The theater is such an  amazing resource for the entire community and in particular, it has been an important life experience for my family and  my daughter who loves to perform.   I understand that you have many difficult choices to make but if you could consider other ways to make these  reductions so that the theater could avoid further budget reductions.   Thank you,  Elizabeth Kim   169 Tasso Street   Palo Alto  9 Baumb, Nelly From:Jeremy Erman <jeremy_erman@yahoo.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 9:25 PM To:Council, City; City Mgr; Administrative Services Cc:Shikada, Ed; O'Kane, Kristen Subject:Fiscal Year 2022 Madness CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council,    I am shocked by the proposed FY 2022 budget. Its cuts to some of Palo Alto's most cherished institutions and programs  are deeply troubling. Children's Library, the Palo Alto Children's Theatre, the Art Center, teen programs...the list  apparently goes on and on, with cuts that not only reduce service but cut it to the bone so that most of these programs  would cease to exist in any recognizable and meaningful way. Some are called to be eliminated entirely.    Is this the city you want to represent? One that turns its back on children when they need support the most?    Children's education, social development, and mental and physical well‐being have been among the top concerns in our  society during the past year. The proposed budget would eviscerate Palo Alto's programs for children, teens, and  families right in the middle of the summer‐‐a time when these programs are usually at their height, but because of  COVID‐19, just at the time many of these programs are expected to return for the first time in over a year.    This is beyond the pale, and even more disturbing, the programs themselves are a relatively small part of the City  budget, especially compared to massive building projects which the City seems determined to push forward no matter  the cost. The City seems enthusiastically dedicated to finding money for these projects‐‐such as the new police building‐‐ in the face of all adversity, so why not apply the same enthusiasm and dedication to finding money to keep cherished  Palo Alto institutions open? Isn't the extra effort worth it?    I also don't understand how a General Fund budget which is supposedly 4.4% higher than this year's contains even more  devastating cuts than the current budget. It also seems to me that this year's budget contains funding for many  programs which never happened due to COVID closures. Didn't the City save money on projected programs and services  which never happened? Shouldn't the money roll over to next year? And if next year's budget is higher than this year's,  shouldn't you at least maintain the same level of funding?    I urge you to reject the current proposed budget and start over, taking into account the impact on the community and  not just the bottom line. Also, I urge to entire Council to discuss the budget in public meetings like they did last year and  not delegate this to the Finance Committee.    I urge you to listen to the public and approach the budget with open minds, collaboration, attention to detail, and,  above all, creativity. These are all attributes taught by the programs you want to cut, and I urge you to listen to their  wisdom before it's too late.    Sincerely,    ‐Jeremy Erman    11 Baumb, Nelly From:Pat Roberts <proberts@shschools.org> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 8:15 PM To:Council, City Subject:Fiscal year 2022 Budget CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Members of the City Council,    Please keep the Children’s Library open in 2022! The Children’s Library and the programming associated with the  Children’s Library are important to the development of literacy in the youngest members of our community. Built in  1940, the Children’s Library was the first freestanding library in the United States intended solely for children.    Our Children’s Library is a treasure!    Pat Roberts  Southampton Dr  Palo Alto, CA 94303    12 Baumb, Nelly From:Jessalyn Grant-Bier <jessalynmgb@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 3:55 PM To:news@padailypost.com; Council, City Subject:Please don't cut the PACT Budget CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    To the Palo Alto City Council,            It’s been a rough year, and I understand that during such times, budgets get cut. But to cut the Arts–the very things  that kept so many of us sane this past year–is more costly in the long run than it saves right now. Imagine the last year  without music. Without Netflix shows. Without movies. Without graphic tee shirts and the simple but pleasant wall  decorations that kept us from staring blankly at blank walls while trapped inside quarantining. Where are we without  art? Why would we want to stop fostering in our children and in ourselves the very thing that makes our community and  our culture vibrant and bright and joyful? The things we look forward to watching and doing when we come home from  our jobs or from school?            PACT provides so much good to our city. It’s a community for young artists, where they can express themselves and  cultivate a love of the performing arts, of singing, dancing, construction, painting–never just one skill but a multitude of  interdisciplinary ones. Theater is where children can learn confidence, make friends, and revel in the kind of make‐ believe play that fosters powerful imaginations and creativity. It’s been a haven for marginalized groups like the LGBTQ  community for decades. And it’s so much fun. Both for the participants, and for the community in the audience.            To make such a drastic cut to the theater budget deprives the whole community of the opportunity to watch and  participate in these important experiences, not to mention depriving the theater staff who work diligently to produce  quality theater experiences for our children and ourselves of their work. Their work is important and meaningful, and  benefits our community in so many ways. This cut would signify that we are not prioritizing these experiences in our  lives and our children’s lives. And that would be a shame, because investing in the arts makes our community stronger;  it makes our next generation stronger.            I should know, I was raised in Palo Alto in PAUSD schools. I’ve been in many PACT plays, and watched many, many  more. Though I’ll never be an actor myself, the memories I made in all those experiences were so valuable to my  upbringing, and shaped my interests into the present. I was so happy to grow up in a community that valued theater,  music and art, surrounded by artists and educators as much as by computer scientists. It gave me an alternative  definition of success other than the one that is implied by the rigorous nature of our school system. That is what I want  the next generation to have, and what I think we should value as a community. We cannot appreciate and value art if we  don’t fund it. For these reasons, I strongly believe the city should reconsider its budget cuts to the PACT.    Thank you,    Jessalyn Grant‐Bier  13 Baumb, Nelly From:Jo Ann Freiberg <joann.freiberg@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 10:36 AM To:news@padailypost.com; Council, City Subject:Proposed cuts to the PACT Attachments:Letter to PA City Council & Post.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Jo Ann Freiberg, Ph.D. School Climate Consultants, LLC www.schoolclimateconsultants.com 1392 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033-3108 (860) 861-4406, joann.freiberg@gmail.com Dear Palo Alto City Council Members & the Palo Alto Daily Post, I recently learned that there are proposals afloat to cut the budget for the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre (PACT), and I am writing in the strongest of opposition to this decision. The PACT was my home away from home from 1962 through my graduation from Palo Alto High School in 1971. My four siblings (Donald, Andrew, Ellen and Paul Freiberg) were also very much involved at the PACT to the same degree as me. When my children were young, I returned to my childhood home every summer from the east coast and all three of them were able to experience the joy and incredible positive impact of the PACT from the late 1980’s for twenty years beyond that. The PACT is a national gem and has impacted thousands of lives positively over its nearly 90 years in operation. Any cuts to this program would be devastating and incredibly short sited. This kind of a proposal is reminiscent of what happened fifty years ago, when a new City Manager proposed that public/city funding be eliminated, and that the PACT become a private entity. My parents, Ken and Jane Freiberg (842 Clara Drive, PA) immediately worked with other PACT parents to found the “Friends of the PACT” in 1971, which remains to this day. The original sole purpose of the “Friends,” was to ensure the continued existence of the theatre as it was conceived by Lucy Stern nearly a century ago. Although neither of my parents are still living, they would be just as active today as they were then to preserve the PACT today. My profession, as a nationally known educator is directly related to my learning and passion for the PACT. I learned that the only way to create successful individuals was to create community, have stellar relationships and work toward important common goals. I founded a non-profit dedicated toward creating positive environments for children (Operation Respect CT in collaboration with Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary), worked for fourteen years at the CT State Department of Education managing and overseeing anything and everything having to do with creating safe environments for children and the adults who work with them. I retired two years ago to continue this work full time nationally and with the current pandemic, it has become so blatantly clear that now, more than ever, we do need to be physically distanced, yet highly socially connected. The PACT must remain as it has for 85+ years. Just because there has been a pause in the level of programming, performances and outreach, I implore you not to be shortsighted in your financial decision making. Please, please take the long view and recognize the PACT for what it provides locally, state-wide and nationally. The PACT is the primary reason I am able to impact the hundreds of school districts and thousands of educators throughout this country. Thank you for your critical consideration. 14 Baumb, Nelly From:Marlowe Ephron <marlowe.ephron@icloud.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 8:57 PM To:Council, City Subject:Please Save PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  To the city council,  Palo Alto Children’s Theatre is so important to me and many others. I have so many great memories of being onstage and backstage, hanging out with other theatre lovers and practicing my craft! I have made so many friends along the way and can’t imagine what my middle school and elementary years would have been like without PATC! I’ve learned so many things like collaboration, focus, and hard work. PATC has always been a safe space to be able to express myself and connect with others, and it pains my heart to learn that their budget may be lowered. I really hope that this does not happen so that other kids in the future will be able to have the same great experience that I had!  -Marlowe, age 14    Sent from my iPhone  15 Baumb, Nelly From:David Ephron <david@ephron.net> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 8:39 PM To:Council, City; news@padailypost.com Cc:Kimberly Thacker; Lara Ephron Subject:Re: Please Save PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council ‐    I would like to add that I hope that the City Council thinks about PACT as an important asset of the city, rather than just  as an operating expense. PACT is one of the community treasures that distinguishes Palo Alto from other cities in the  Bay Area and around the country. PACT relies on continuity of funding to maintain its high level of excellence; the  damage done by deep cuts cannot be easily reversed. The city advises residents to continue to water trees during a  drought, while letting lawns turn brown. The same logic applies to PACT.    David Ephron.    > On May 1, 2021, at 5:15 PM, Lara Ephron <lara@ephron.net> wrote:  >  >  > Dear City Council,  >  > My family is deeply saddened to learn of further budget cuts to Palo Alto Children’s Theatre. PACT has been our  second home. My daughter has enthusiastically participated in PACT’s Outreach program, after‐school classes, Summer  Hot Dog productions, Cabaret and Main Stage Theatre. It’s given her a place where she can learn, explore, and thrive  outside of school.  >  > The PACT community is so warm, welcoming and supportive. It brings me to tears trying to imagine what my  daughter’s, and so many other children’s, lives would have looked like these past years without PACT and all it has given  them. We've greatly missed our PACT family during COVID, and have been looking forward to coming back together this  summer and meeting new friends.  >  > Please don’t devalue the importance of PACT in our children’s lives. I hope you will reconsider further budget cuts.  >  > Lara Ephron  >    16 Baumb, Nelly From:Bonnie Packer <bbpacker@comcast.net> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 8:25 PM To:Council, City Subject:Don't accept the proposed reductions in the 2022 budget CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Councilmembers,    I understand that the proposed operating budget for 2022 includes drastic cuts to vital programs at the Art Center, the  Children’s Theatre, the Libraries, our Parks, Avenidas,  PACCC, community building events such as the May Fete parade,  the Chili Cook‐off, etc. The list of cuts in the proposed budget is sickening and disheartening to read.    I am a current and long time user of the Art Center. Our children participated in and benefited from many of the  programs this budget would destroy.    Whatever you do, please do not accept any of these draconian reductions.  Programs such as Cultural Kaleidoscope and  Project Look, the Children’s Theatre and so many others are what make Palo Alto a very special place.  You will not want  to be remembered as the council that drove a dagger into the very essence of the soul of this City.    The economy will rebound.  Be brave and approve a budget that does not destroy our city.    Bonnie Packer  Stone Lane  Palo Alto      17 Baumb, Nelly From:Max Rosenblum <maxrosenblum2002@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 11:49 AM To:news@padailypost.com; Council, City Subject:Save the Palo Alto Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am writing to encourage reconsideration to the proposed budgets cuts to the Palo Alto Children's Theatre. As a current student at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, I've met countless other impassioned artists from around the globe - and pretty much all of them who don't come from New York, LA, or some other major metropolis lament the lack of arts opportunities in their hometown. But I never found myself sharing that sentiment. Palo Alto is known for being an academic pressure cooker, and that's very true, but for me, what made that environment even somewhat bearable was the fact that there was also a vibrant artistic community. And I believe this community grew as a result of the Children's Theatre. There isn't a single person I've collaborated with - whether it be actors, musicians, photographers, etc - who hasn't been involved in the Theatre in some form. Either as a performer or techie in a production, or a member of the Teen Arts Council. When I tell people at school about TAC, and about how on a Friday night, a city sponsored arts event is kind of the place to be, they barely believe me. But it's true. In a town famous for putting a toxic amount of emphasis on excellence, Open Mics are a place for teens to grow and learn as artists and as people. There really isn't anything comparable. Nowadays, you don't need money or fancy equipment to make art. But what you do need is community. People to work with, to challenge and inspire you. The PACT is the backbone of the community here. And when you take out someone's backbone - well I didn't pay the best attention in Biology but I think bad things happen. And a Palo Alto without an artistic community would come very dangerously close to actually becoming the oppressive, toxically achievement oriented environment it's so often seen as. Thanks for reading, Max. 18 Baumb, Nelly From:Kathryn Kobza <kathryn.kobza@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 10:55 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Children's Theater CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello Palo Alto City Council,     I'm Kathryn Kobza and have lived in the area basically my entire life, attending Nixon Elementary and JLS in the 1990's,  and graduating from Gunn High School in 2004 (with former Mayor Adrian Fine). I have such wonderful memories of  attending Palo Alto Children's Theater performances as a child. And now having children of my own, it is such a joy to  take them to performances. My oldest child is in Kindergarten this year, and he cannot wait to see more performances  as well as go to camp and participate in the Palo Alto Children's Theater community. Now, more than ever we need the  arts, and we need to return to normalcy.   Please continue to support the arts for children, the community and the city by fully supporting the Palo Alto Children's  Theater budget.     Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email.    kind regards,    Kathryn Kobza  kathryn.kobza@gmail.com  19 Baumb, Nelly From:Joyce Liang <aayjoycey@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:07 PM To:Council, City Subject:PACS CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hi—    We have just been made aware that there are significant budget cuts being considered for this long‐standing Palo Alto  institution that is adored by so many in this community. My son has been attending these classes and is so inspired by  the many children and plays that he comes across here. What could be better spent than fostering the imagination of  children, getting them confident in front of audiences, finding additional ways of self‐expression. I’ve had friends who  have autistic children, shy children, children from all walks of life speak highly of this program. The children of this  community will go on to be our future and legacy. Please don’t take away from such a treasure in this community,  especially off the heals of such an isolating year.    ‐Joyce (Cowper St.)  20 Baumb, Nelly From:Clea Sarnquist <cleasarnquist@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 3:39 PM To:Council, City; news@padailypost.com Subject:Budget for the Palo Alto Children's Theater CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council member,     I write to urge you not to make further budget cuts to the Palo Alto Children’s Theater (PACT).      As someone who was lucky enough to be part of PACT as a child and teenager, and now has a daughter who  has participated in PACT shows and programs, I can attest to the power of this innovative institution to  support and grow young people in our community.      PACT remains a most unusual place for our youth to learn. In all its programs, standards of both personal  responsibility and commitment to the team are exceedingly high. What makes PACT stand out so much is that  these high standards are wrapped in a deep framework of dignity, inclusiveness, and respect that makes it a  safe, supportive home‐away‐from‐home for many young people from our community and beyond.      Furthermore, at this moment in time, when our community must be responsive to the needs of our youth, and  when all of our institutions are trying to do better at diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), PACT is truly  priceless. As a leader in both youth development and DEI for decades, PACT is an essential and unique  resource.     If you have ever been to a summer evening hotdog show (many of which sell out every year), you know that  PACT is not only a magical, life-altering place for all of the young people involved in the production, but also for the audience, young and old.     While I appreciate that difficult spending choices must be made, further cutting of this community gem seems  to reduce opportunities in one of the areas of greatest need post‐pandemic: places where our young people,  who are experiencing very high rates of mental health conditions and other challenges, can be themselves,  learn both leadership and teamwork skills, and grow.      Please reconsider more cuts to this important institution.     Sincerely,     Clea Sarnquist  21 Baumb, Nelly From:Eric Dorsey <eric_dorsey@mac.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 12:59 PM To:Council, City Cc:news@padailypost.com Subject:Children's Theater Budget CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Palo Alto City Council,    I believe that you will be voting on next year’s budget for the Children’s Theater in the next few days. I understand the  recent proposal is the reduce the budget from this year which will result in a 61% reduction in budget when added to  the reduction from this year. I understand that the pandemic has reduced the number of productions for 2021 but I  assume that for 2022 the theater should be able to resume normal operation.    Our son, Xander,  was in several productions when he was in elementary school and all through middle school. He acted  in several plays and then was in the Crew for several more. This was a very valuable experience for him and it helped a  lot with his public speaking skills and emotional maturity.    I believe the Children’s Theater to be a very valuable asset for Palo Alto and I also believe it is the oldest Children’s  Theater in California. I hope that Palo Alto will continue to support the Children’s Theater and not cut its budget even if  it means raising ticket prices for the productions.    Thank you,  Eric Dorsey  Palo Alto Resident  22 Baumb, Nelly From:Sarah Levine <sarahlevine2@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:25 AM To:Council, City Subject:in support of Palo Alto Children's Theater CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council:     I write to ask you not to reduce the budget of the Palo Alto Children's Theater, and in fact to increase it.    My child has participated in PACT productions and camps for many years. I know you've heard a lot about the value of  these programs‐‐children and teens learn to work with one another, are introduced to performance skills, and get to  experience the excitement of live theater. My kid also learned to build sets, participate in lighting design, and sew  costumes.     Beyond all those really important things, PACT offered my kid supportive adults, great teachers, and a welcoming  community when my child was feeling lonely and uncertain in school. The summer camps and school year programs  were sometimes one of the few places that gave my child pleasure during a difficult few years.     Every community should have a vibrant and accessible arts program. PACT is truly one of Palo Alto's bright lights ‐ a  lifesaver for us. Money here is money well spent. Please do not cut the budget for the children's theater.    Best,     ‐‐   Sarah Levine  (she, her)  23 Baumb, Nelly From:Evelyn Zhang <evelynzhang2006@icloud.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 10:03 PM To:Council, City Subject:Additional Budget Cuts for the Children’s Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hi,    I’m currently a freshman attending Paly who loves performing in different productions at the Children’s Theatre. This  email pertains to the additional budget being proposed at the Council meeting next week. When Covid‐19 hit, the  theatre already had to suffer large cuts from its budget, limiting the amount of productions it could produce each year.  These additional budget cuts would absolutely devastate the theatre and prevent the Children’s Theatre from holding  PAUSD outreach programs, limiting the number of students that could come across this amazing institution. The  Children’s Theatre has always been a safe place for me and others to truly express themselves. Whenever I walked into  that building, I was always greeted by multiple people asking how my day was. The theatre provides a space where  peers can forge life‐long connections with each other. Personally, the theatre has greatly improved my confidence and  social skills overall because of the constant encouragement to improve given by staff and peers. Though I understand  the pandemic has been challenging fiscally, the Children’s Theatre is a place that I, among many others, hold dear to my  heart because of how large of an impact it has had. The tides are turning with Covid‐19 and the Children’s Theatre could  finally open and start productions again. In the future, I hope younger children get the experience the power of the  Children’s Theatre and are able to discover this amazing place. I strongly urge the Council to reconsider these proposed  budget cuts.    Cordially,  Evelyn  24 Baumb, Nelly From:Lisa Rt <lrtmail@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 10:14 AM To:news@padailypost.com; Council, City Subject:Ask to reconsider cuts to PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council Members,    We are writing in support of the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre and to ask the Council to please reconsider making further  deep cuts to the Theater’s budget.    It is our understanding that the proposed additional budget cuts would leave just a few opportunities at the Theatre for  the many children who wish to participate each year. These kids and their families have come to rely on the Theatre for  the community, educational and artistic opportunities it offers.  Further cuts will be a painful loss for not just the  Theatre, but to so many families and our community as a whole.    Despite the pandemic, the Theater offered Covid‐safe virtual classes and performance opportunities. These helped keep  many children connected with their Theatre friends and mentors.  Without a minimum level of funding, even such  scaled‐back programs would be at risk.    Finally, there is a real concern that the severity of the budget cuts will threaten the long term, post‐Covid viability of the  Theatre. Maintaining funding at current levels will allow the Theater to make a full and robust comeback when safety  restrictions are lifted.    Sincerely,  Lisa Trovato and Danny Espinoza  Charleston Meadows  25 Baumb, Nelly From:Dror Sneh <dsneh@hotmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 3:52 PM To:Council, City Cc:news@padailypost.com Subject:PACT proposed budget cuts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council members.     As a father of 3 boys who participated in a very long list of performances by the Palo Alto Children's Theatre, I  cannot begin to tell you how disappointed I am in the proposal to further cut the PACT budget, and put on  hold most of the theatre's performances for a second year in a row. These performances have been, hands  down, the best youth program my kids have participated in, and not only in Palo Alto. They provide great skills  and values to their participants, along with endless lifelong friendships. My youngest son, who still participates  in these performances, would give up any other activity in order to participate in another theatre  performance. I have seen many theatre programs for children around the country and abroad, and I must say  that I've never seen any program at this level, with so much dedication by both students and staff.    The past year has taken a significant toll on the physical and emotional health of our children, being couped at  home, experiencing a pandemic and a world‐wide scare. As a matter of fact, I cannot think of anything better  program for my son's mental health than participating in the school theatre production, and in as many  productions as possible at the PACT. We also signed him up for the theatre summer camp, and he's already  looking forward to it.    We are fortunate to have a very strong parent community in the theatre, and I'm sure most parents will be  more than willing to up their donation to the theatre in order to keep it going at the previous years' capacity.    Please, please, please, keep this program alive and thriving. There is no better investment in our children than  this program.     Thanks,  Dror.  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lissy Bland <lissybland@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 7:25 AM To:Council, City Subject:Boulware Park Renovation CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am writing to encourage you to keep  the planned funding fo renovate Boulware Park. The available park space in the  Ventura neighborhood is below the city guidelines. The renovation will expand the park to include the recently  purchased adjacent lot and provide very welcome updates.      I am anxiously waiting to be able to walk to Boulware Park with my young granddaughters so that they can play on the  new playground.    Lissy Bland  235 Wilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Laurie Phillips <lauriecdphillips@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 10:38 AM To:Council, City Subject:Junior Museum and Zoo Admission Price CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,     What fun it is to watch the progress at the Junior Museum and Zoo.  My family loves walking past watching the  construction‐‐from the demolition to the building, and now the presence of so many beautiful and wonderful animals  and familiar Zookeeper Friends like Lee!  We love seeing new animals as well as favorites, like Edward!  My children have  grown up with the zoo, and I did, too.      I am very concerned by the proposed admission fee.  I feel that it is too high and even prohibitive for many.  While I  understand that there are many expenses associated with the zoo, I feel that charging this price for admission will hurt  the zoo in the long run.  This magical place needs to be accessible for all families.  Please consider changing a much  lower admission fee.  It is a mistake to charge more.    Thank you for your consideration,  Laurie Phillips  2 Baumb, Nelly From:Dan Nitzan <dan.nitzan@pobox.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:01 AM To:Council, City Subject:Children's Theatre Funding CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  "When Winston Churchill was asked to cut arts funding in favor of the war effort, he simply replied, ‘then what are we  fighting for?’ "  Although he never said this, it nevertheless provides clear direction: Fund the arts, and the Children's Theatre in  particular!    -- Daniel Nitzan 734 Waverley St Palo Alto CA 94301 dan.nitzan@pobox.com (650) 465-2057     To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InAVG logo   This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.  www.avg.com       3 Baumb, Nelly From:Donna Bohling <donna@bohling.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 4:27 PM To:Council, City Subject:Proposed Admission Fee for the new Jr Museum and Zoo CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,    As a resident of Palo Alto, a donor to The Friends of the JMZ capital campaign, and as a parent and grandparent who  frequented the old JMZ, I urge you, DO NOT set the admission fee at $18.  The Friends’ $25M gift to rebuild the JMZ is the  largest gift ever given to the City of Palo Alto.  It is sad recognition of this outstanding gift for the Council to ignore The Friends  input on instituting a first‐time ever admission fee to the renovated museum.    Prior to renovation, the JMZ was free and asked for donations (which I was happy to give). The JMZ is a resources beloved by  not only Palo Altans but our neighbors to the north and south. I understand there MAY need to be a fee but $18 is way out of  line. An $18 admission fee would reduce the number of visitors, (thus lowering overall  attendance and revenue), hurt  accessibility, and undermine the goodwill of our community.     I urge you to reject the City Staff recommendation of an $18 admission fee to the new JMZ.    Donna Bohling  1856 Emerson St  Palo Alto    4 Baumb, Nelly From:Aprajit Mahajan <aprajit@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:57 PM To:news@padailypost.com Cc:Council, City Subject:Please do not Defund PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council, I am writing to express in the strongest possible terms my protest at the proposed defunding of PACT. The Children's Theater is absolutely unique, in all of the United States. It is really integral to the community and it would be terrible if it were to be curtailed. Thank You Aprajit Mahajan   ‐‐   --------------------------------------- Aprajit Mahajan  207 Giannini Hall  Dept. of Agricultural & Resource Economics,    UC Berkeley,   Berkeley, CA 94720-3310  Web: http://are.berkeley.edu/~aprajit Phone: 650-308-8137   Office Hours Sign-Up: https://tinyurl.com/y8y48cus    5 Baumb, Nelly From:Michelle Nelson <mqk.nelson@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:09 AM To:Council, City Subject:JMZ rates CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hi there,    Just wanted to pass along our opinion on the daily visit proposed rate of $18. As a military family stationed here for  school, that rate is prohibitive for us. We were members when JMZ was at its temporary location, even though they just  asked for donations. We value JMZ and everything it has to offer. We won’t be here long enough to get an annual  membership to JMZ, so it seems we will probably not even visit before we have to leave, which is quite sad. I understand  you have costs to cover, but $18 is quite a lot for families who cannot do an annual membership.    Also wanted to add that board members who got to see the museums in advance confirmed that it is cool, but not $18  cool when you look at the Children’s Discovery Museum and other nearby features.    Sincerely,    Michelle Nelson  3389 St Michael Drive  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Jane Rytina <janerytina@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 12:09 PM To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:JMZ Fee set at $18? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Mayor Mayor DuBois and our City Council, and Mr Shikada,    I am emailing you about the proposed (very high) $18 fee for the new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ).    My husband Jonathan and I donated a significant amount of money to rebuild this very important, previously barrier‐ free, community asset. I am a former board member of the Friends of the JMZ for 5 years, and therefore asked my  friends and colleagues for money for the rebuild, many of whom also donated. I am very proud to have played a part in  the project. Recently I had a tour of the new facility, and it retains all of its ability to provide an exceptional, play based,  educational experience. It is a great place for children to experience science and nature in their early years, and develop  science skills, and empathy for nature and the environment. Skills we hold dear in our community, do we not? In  addition, the teaching facilities, the general facilities such as bathrooms, and the animal care facilities have all been  brought into the 21st century.    The place the (80 year old) JMZ holds in the heart of the community is untouched by almost any other of Palo Alto’s  community assets (I can only think of the parks as close to it). While I understand it cannot be free (but please  remember it WAS free before it was closed for the rebuild), $18 per person seems restrictive and may I say, cruel, to  those families who simply cannot afford to pay that amount.    Apart from absolutely going against the culture and sentiment of affordable early education that the JMZ represents in  our community, I think there are some basic marketing and economic principles that don’t seem to match up to such a  high price:    1. In terms of supply and demand, the high price will bring down the sense of “value” of the visit, discouraging people to  return, or to "feel good" about their visit. Demand will drop, or maybe never get started and you will not see the  revenue returns for which you have planned.    2. Market price: the JMZ is a 2 hour visit with young kids at best. It is small (by design, and by City Council direction). It  offers no food, it isn’t near restaurants (without getting back in your car). Assuming you are a family of 4, would you pay  nearly $80 to take your under fives somewhere for 2 hours? Please consider the equivalent local sites:  ‐ CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point: between $12.95 and $15.95 $1.Infants are free. They do charge for parking at $6 per car  which would add $1.50 per person for a family of 4.  ‐ Happy Hollow in San Jose ($12 for everyone, children under 2 go free), has food, more space and other attractions such  as rides. Does charge for parking at $6 per car which would add $1.50 per person for a family of 4.  ‐ The Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose: $15 per person. It is a larger facility and also food is available.  ‐ if you would like to look out of town, the Santa Barbara Zoo ( a much larger facility) charges between $14 and $19. This  is a full blown, 4 hour at least experience.    In addition to all these comments, I would like to make one more. The $25 million to rebuild this facility was a huge gift  to the city, from donors such as myself and others, with the assumption that this community asset would remain  2 accessible to all.  Please do not betray the trust we put in you. I know there ARE suggested programs to allow those on  government programs to have access for free. I was part of envisioning those programs. However for families on low  incomes, who do not qualify for government support, will find $18 per person an impossible barrier to overcome. We  can do better!    I hope you will reconsider the ticket price. We can afford to subsidize a fabulous community asset in Palo Alto. I also  hope you will question the supply and demand assumptions your economists have made. Also, please come together  WITH the Friends of the JMZ and think about a solution to this destructive idea.    I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and will attend the special council meeting this coming Tuesday.    Sincerely,    Jane Rytina  500 Kingsley Ave, Palo Alto  6505758635  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Donna Bohling <donna@bohling.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 4:27 PM To:Council, City Subject:Proposed Admission Fee for the new Jr Museum and Zoo CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,    As a resident of Palo Alto, a donor to The Friends of the JMZ capital campaign, and as a parent and grandparent who  frequented the old JMZ, I urge you, DO NOT set the admission fee at $18.  The Friends’ $25M gift to rebuild the JMZ is the  largest gift ever given to the City of Palo Alto.  It is sad recognition of this outstanding gift for the Council to ignore The Friends  input on instituting a first‐time ever admission fee to the renovated museum.    Prior to renovation, the JMZ was free and asked for donations (which I was happy to give). The JMZ is a resources beloved by  not only Palo Altans but our neighbors to the north and south. I understand there MAY need to be a fee but $18 is way out of  line. An $18 admission fee would reduce the number of visitors, (thus lowering overall  attendance and revenue), hurt  accessibility, and undermine the goodwill of our community.     I urge you to reject the City Staff recommendation of an $18 admission fee to the new JMZ.    Donna Bohling  1856 Emerson St  Palo Alto    2 Baumb, Nelly From:Jane Rytina <janerytina@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 12:09 PM To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:JMZ Fee set at $18? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Mayor Mayor DuBois and our City Council, and Mr Shikada,    I am emailing you about the proposed (very high) $18 fee for the new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ).    My husband Jonathan and I donated a significant amount of money to rebuild this very important, previously barrier‐ free, community asset. I am a former board member of the Friends of the JMZ for 5 years, and therefore asked my  friends and colleagues for money for the rebuild, many of whom also donated. I am very proud to have played a part in  the project. Recently I had a tour of the new facility, and it retains all of its ability to provide an exceptional, play based,  educational experience. It is a great place for children to experience science and nature in their early years, and develop  science skills, and empathy for nature and the environment. Skills we hold dear in our community, do we not? In  addition, the teaching facilities, the general facilities such as bathrooms, and the animal care facilities have all been  brought into the 21st century.    The place the (80 year old) JMZ holds in the heart of the community is untouched by almost any other of Palo Alto’s  community assets (I can only think of the parks as close to it). While I understand it cannot be free (but please  remember it WAS free before it was closed for the rebuild), $18 per person seems restrictive and may I say, cruel, to  those families who simply cannot afford to pay that amount.    Apart from absolutely going against the culture and sentiment of affordable early education that the JMZ represents in  our community, I think there are some basic marketing and economic principles that don’t seem to match up to such a  high price:    1. In terms of supply and demand, the high price will bring down the sense of “value” of the visit, discouraging people to  return, or to "feel good" about their visit. Demand will drop, or maybe never get started and you will not see the  revenue returns for which you have planned.    2. Market price: the JMZ is a 2 hour visit with young kids at best. It is small (by design, and by City Council direction). It  offers no food, it isn’t near restaurants (without getting back in your car). Assuming you are a family of 4, would you pay  nearly $80 to take your under fives somewhere for 2 hours? Please consider the equivalent local sites:  ‐ CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point: between $12.95 and $15.95 $1.Infants are free. They do charge for parking at $6 per car  which would add $1.50 per person for a family of 4.  ‐ Happy Hollow in San Jose ($12 for everyone, children under 2 go free), has food, more space and other attractions such  as rides. Does charge for parking at $6 per car which would add $1.50 per person for a family of 4.  ‐ The Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose: $15 per person. It is a larger facility and also food is available.  ‐ if you would like to look out of town, the Santa Barbara Zoo ( a much larger facility) charges between $14 and $19. This  is a full blown, 4 hour at least experience.    In addition to all these comments, I would like to make one more. The $25 million to rebuild this facility was a huge gift  to the city, from donors such as myself and others, with the assumption that this community asset would remain  3 accessible to all.  Please do not betray the trust we put in you. I know there ARE suggested programs to allow those on  government programs to have access for free. I was part of envisioning those programs. However for families on low  incomes, who do not qualify for government support, will find $18 per person an impossible barrier to overcome. We  can do better!    I hope you will reconsider the ticket price. We can afford to subsidize a fabulous community asset in Palo Alto. I also  hope you will question the supply and demand assumptions your economists have made. Also, please come together  WITH the Friends of the JMZ and think about a solution to this destructive idea.    I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and will attend the special council meeting this coming Tuesday.    Sincerely,    Jane Rytina  500 Kingsley Ave, Palo Alto  6505758635  4 Baumb, Nelly From:Michelle Nelson <mqk.nelson@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:09 AM To:Council, City Subject:JMZ rates CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hi there,    Just wanted to pass along our opinion on the daily visit proposed rate of $18. As a military family stationed here for  school, that rate is prohibitive for us. We were members when JMZ was at its temporary location, even though they just  asked for donations. We value JMZ and everything it has to offer. We won’t be here long enough to get an annual  membership to JMZ, so it seems we will probably not even visit before we have to leave, which is quite sad. I understand  you have costs to cover, but $18 is quite a lot for families who cannot do an annual membership.    Also wanted to add that board members who got to see the museums in advance confirmed that it is cool, but not $18  cool when you look at the Children’s Discovery Museum and other nearby features.    Sincerely,    Michelle Nelson  3389 St Michael Drive  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Donna Bohling <donna@bohling.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 4:27 PM To:Council, City Subject:Proposed Admission Fee for the new Jr Museum and Zoo CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,    As a resident of Palo Alto, a donor to The Friends of the JMZ capital campaign, and as a parent and grandparent who  frequented the old JMZ, I urge you, DO NOT set the admission fee at $18.  The Friends’ $25M gift to rebuild the JMZ is the  largest gift ever given to the City of Palo Alto.  It is sad recognition of this outstanding gift for the Council to ignore The Friends  input on instituting a first‐time ever admission fee to the renovated museum.    Prior to renovation, the JMZ was free and asked for donations (which I was happy to give). The JMZ is a resources beloved by  not only Palo Altans but our neighbors to the north and south. I understand there MAY need to be a fee but $18 is way out of  line. An $18 admission fee would reduce the number of visitors, (thus lowering overall  attendance and revenue), hurt  accessibility, and undermine the goodwill of our community.     I urge you to reject the City Staff recommendation of an $18 admission fee to the new JMZ.    Donna Bohling  1856 Emerson St  Palo Alto    2 Baumb, Nelly From:Laurie Phillips <lauriecdphillips@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 10:38 AM To:Council, City Subject:Junior Museum and Zoo Admission Price CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,     What fun it is to watch the progress at the Junior Museum and Zoo.  My family loves walking past watching the  construction‐‐from the demolition to the building, and now the presence of so many beautiful and wonderful animals  and familiar Zookeeper Friends like Lee!  We love seeing new animals as well as favorites, like Edward!  My children have  grown up with the zoo, and I did, too.      I am very concerned by the proposed admission fee.  I feel that it is too high and even prohibitive for many.  While I  understand that there are many expenses associated with the zoo, I feel that charging this price for admission will hurt  the zoo in the long run.  This magical place needs to be accessible for all families.  Please consider changing a much  lower admission fee.  It is a mistake to charge more.    Thank you for your consideration,  Laurie Phillips  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Amy D <okapi@comcast.net> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 12:30 PM To:Council, City; CSD Cc:info@friendsjmz.org Subject:admission to Jr. Museum & Zoo CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Vice Mayor Burt et al., I just read about the proposed $18 admission fee for the renovated Jr. Museum & Zoo and understand it is being discussed today. I grew up near Rinconada Park and cherished JMZ. As kids, my sister and I took many art/science classes there and were very keen on the native wild animals we could see up close. The notion that cost may now prevent low-income families from enjoying this community resource is so discouraging. More than ever, children need environmental education and ways to relate with other species. I don't doubt the City is in need of revenue but you can't put a true price on early learning opportunities. I hope you decide to charge less than $10 in order to keep the JMZ experience affordable. Sincerely, Amy Differding 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Mary Gloner <mary@psnyouth.org> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 4:47 AM To:Council, City Subject:5/4 Finance Committee - Agenda #2: Discuss and Accept Stanford University Medical Fund Current and Planned Commitment Report Attachments:05-04-2021 PSN Letter to City of Palo Alto Finance Committee - SUMC Development Fund.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Finance Committee,    I submit the attached letter on behalf of Project Safety Net's Board of Directors.    Thank you,  Mary C.B. Gloner    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  Mary Cheryl B. Gloner, MPH, MBA - She/Her/Hers  Chief Executive Officer | Project Safety Net  Cubberley Community Center | 4000 Middlefield Rd. T5 | Palo Alto, CA 94303  Main: 650.329.2432 | Direct: 650.329.2330   Email: mary@psnyouth.org  Website: www.psnpaloalto.org  Facebook // Twitter // Instagram  Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~    Project Safety Net (PSN) mobilizes community support and resources in Palo Alto for youth suicide prevention and mental wellness. We are a coalition working on community education, outreach, and training; access to quality youth mental health services; and policy advocacy. Cubberley Community Center • 4000 Middlefield Road, Building T5 • Palo Alto, CA 94303 • www.psnpaloalto.org • Office: (650) 329 -2432 May 4, 2021 Council Finance Committee City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Dear City of Palo Alto Finance Committee, On behalf of Project Safety Net (PSN) Board of Directors, we submit this letter to offer Project Safety Net’s assistance to develop and facilitate a community-centered process to disburse the $2.4M Stanford University Medical Center Development Agreement Funds. PSN (www.psnpaloalto.org) is a collective impact representing nearly 50 youth serving organizations, behavioral health providers, educators, policymakers, academia, and community members, including young people and their families. Spearheaded by the City of Palo Alto and Palo Alto Unified School District, PSN came together ten years ago to advance youth wellbeing, mental health, suicide prevention, and resiliency. The PSN Board tasked board members, Dr. Tamra Chavez (Director of Mental Health at Family and Children Services) and Dennis Burns (LifeMoves and Retired City of Palo Alto Police Chief), to: 1. Review the Stanford University Medical Center Development Agreement.2. Identify opportunities to assist City Council with disbursing the agreement funds to advancecommunity health. Ten years ago, Lucile Packard Children’s Health and Stanford Healthcare caved out $4M for “Community Health and Safety” in response to the first cluster of youth suicide. Of this amount, $2M was dedicated to Project Safety Net activities, with majority allocated to railway safety and means restriction efforts. One proposal for Council’s consideration is to establish a community endowment that invest in youth mental health activities, which can include intergenerational, family, worksite, creative arts, and other programs. A long-term investment strategy will be important as we address the repercussions of COVID-19 and racial health disparities on the welfare of young people. PSN is available to facilitate a community-centered process leveraging PSN Partners Council, partner organizations, and community. This role is consistent with supporting the City of Palo Alto efforts related to County of Santa Clara’s Community Mobile Response to Palo Alto, allcove youth mental health centers, and PERT (Psychiatric Emergency Response Team). PSN looks forward to the opportunity to support the City of Palo Alto in its commitment to community health, especially the youth. Please do not hesitate to contact me at (650) 329-2330 or mary@psnyouth.org, if you would like to further explore the proposal or for assistance. With appreciation, Mary Cheryl B. Gloner, MPH, MBA Chief Executive Officer 2020 – 21 PSN Board of Directors Rev. Dr. Eileen Altman, Chair First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, Pastor Meghna Singh, Vice-Chair PAUSD Alumna, College Student Robert George, Treasurer Parent & Business Leader Noor Navaid, Secretary PAUSD Alumna, College Student Vinita Bhalla Union Bank – Downtown Palo Alto, Vice President, Branch Manager Dennis Burns LifeMoves & Retired Palo Alto Chief of Police Dr. Tamra Chavez Family & Children Services, Caminar, Director of Mental Health Patricia DeMellopine El Camino Health, Nurse Educator and Psychiatric Consult RN Dr. Shashank Joshi Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital & Stanford University, Psychiatrist Dr. Ivonne M. Klatt Kaiser Permanente, Adult Clinic Manager Kristen O’Kane, ex-officio City of Palo Alto, Director of Community Services Peter Stone Governance Committee Chair Hopkins & Carley Chief Executive Officer: Mary Cheryl B. Gloner 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Carol Kenyon <carolskenyon@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 12:41 PM To:Council, City Subject:City Budget RE: Palo Alto Art Center. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council    The Palo alto Art Center is a long time City Treasure for the entire mid peninsula.  It is a hub of learning, art appreciation  and community gatherings for adults, teens and children.  Please do not allow the city budget for the Art Center to  decrease.  The previous cuts have eliminated far too many critical staff members.    Thank for for taking my views into consideration and for continuing to steer our fantastic City in a forward direction.    Best regards,    Carol Kenyon      2 Baumb, Nelly From:Jo Ann Mandinach <joann@needtoknow.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 11:05 AM To:Council, City; Lydia Kou; Cormack, Alison; Burt, Patrick; Tanaka, Greg; Stone, Greer; DuBois, Tom; Filseth, Eric (Internal) Subject:Fwd: Budget Questions and comments and priorities CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Jo Ann Mandinach <joann@needtoknow.com>  Date: Mon, May 3, 2021 at 7:52 PM  Subject: Budget Questions and comments and priorities  To: <Meghan.Horrigan‐Taylor@cityofpaloalto.org>    What is the city doing to cut waste, poor management and inefficiencies and its consultant gravy train rather than resident services? Has it polled TAXPAYERS and CITIZENS on OUR priorities? Where's the transparency? Palo Alto wastes a fortune on highly paid PR and Communications Staff that can't do decent outreach and then cuts librarians who make so much less yet are more, responsive, efficient and more valuable. SHAME ON YOU! 1) Why is the city cutting resident services WHILE spending money on consultants to develop Fiber-to-The-Home when City Of Palo Alto Utilities has shown itself to be incapable of providing decent customer service during outages or cost-effective services when it overcharges us $20,000,000 annually to siphon funds from us into the General Fund? To add insult to injury, it makes US pay the cost of appealing the $12,000,000 judgment awarded in the Miriam Green class action suit which is only ONE of the class action suits against CPAU's ILLEGAL over-charges. 3 Is it so delusional that it thinks it can provide cheaper and better service than well-established players like AT&T and Comcast?? How about instead cutting the waste and poor management in CPAU where employees joke about using different names on different days to send emails. This was the response I got when I followed up on where a promised email was, "Oh, look under Tim; I use that name on Tuesday." Cute. Cut those fools who can't provide decent customer service instead of librarians who cost less! 2) Why is the city cutting resident services WHILE pursuing its COSTLY and delusional Climate Change and Sustainability plan that will force US to give up our cheaper and reliable natural gas heat and appliance to pay three times as much for electricity when the city can't provide reliable electrical service? Is it planning to staff up to ban gas-powered cars at our borders when people are keeping their old cars even longer than in the past? Is the city so delusional that it thinks it can single-handledly stop climate change? HOW ABOUT POLLING RESIDENTS ON WHETHER WE WANT THAT OR LIBRARIES AND GOOD COPS?? 2A) The City is planning to spend even more money to impede through traffic WHILE increasing the population of commuters and residents. Has it learned nothing from citizen anger at its wasteful spending on roundabouts and traffic "calming" devices and "road furniture" that only create gridlock and MORE emissions?? It wastes money on consultants to tell 3,000 citizen petitioners (Ross Road) they're not experiencing the problems they're experiencing!) 4 3) Why is the city continuing to employ bad cops that cost us $20,000,000+ in lawsuits for their brutality while paying them full pensions?? How about looking at the waste in the Palo Alto Police Department where they send 2 cop cars with 2 cops each with lights flashing to let us know they just slipped a notice into your mailbox but fail to communicate transparently on major incidents in our neighborhoods. 4) Why is the city continuing to employ City Planners who don't ask the right questions regarding projects like Castillea for YEARS? The hearings were shocking as they disclosed the OUTDATED traffic data being used. How much was wasted on that fiasco. Cut the waste and inefficiencies there before cutting our WELL-RUN libraries! Other examples abound. Listen to the CITIZENS for a change! Jo Ann Mandinach 5 Baumb, Nelly From:Nicole Ardoin <nicole.ardoin@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 9:36 PM To:Council, City Subject:Budget: Palo Alto Children's Theatre Proposed Cuts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor DuBois and City Council Members,     I had hoped to speak at this evening's City Council meeting, but the speaker list filled and closed before I had an  opportunity to do so. Please find below the comments I had prepared.    Best wishes,  Nicole M. Ardoin  Community Member    Thank you, Council Members, and Mayor DuBois. I am here to speak on behalf of the Palo Alto  Children’s Theatre. I am deeply concerned about the proposed $70,000 reduction in staffing  and direct program support‐‐or the proposed program elimination—as described in the  presented budget, and I also note that these proposed reductions come on the heels of last  year's intense funding cuts.      The Palo Alto Children’s Theatre is an incredibly important local institution and, indeed, a  national landmark. Founded in 1937, the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre was the country's first  taxpayer‐funded children’s theatre. It has been recognized nationally for decades for its high‐ quality programming and excellence in education, and each year‐‐in a pre‐pandemic year‐‐the  theatre works with more than 500 youth directly through its acclaimed performances and  reaches more than 500,000 in its incredibly diverse and wide‐ranging audiences.     Despite the theatre's small team and packed schedule, the staff members are professional,  collaborative, creative, and dedicated to the community in countless ways. Beyond the  theatre’s well‐known on‐site programs, they also partner with local schools and educators,  offering holistic, thoughtfully designed, model opportunities for arts‐based learning and social‐ emotional learning, youth development, and teacher professional development.     As a parent and community member, I can attest to the countless hours that children of the  peninsula spend learning, challenging themselves, and growing through this theatre's  incomparable offerings. My daughter—now 13—tried out for her first children’s theatre  production on the day she turned 8 and, after that, was hooked. Since then, she has acted in  several plays, taken voice lessons with the theatre's professional‐calibur vocal coaches,  volunteered as an usher, and walked with the Children's Theatre group in Palo Alto's May Day  6 parade. Among the children’s theatre community, I have observed growth in self‐confidence  and esteem, a sense of belonging, a love of the arts, and a desire to give back to the community  not only in my child, but among many others as well.   One of the best and most unique features of this children’s theatre is their welcoming,  approachable, inclusive culture. Founded by a mom who wished to see children learn, explore,  and grow together‐‐through a wide range of diverse opportunities‐‐the children’s theatre is  incredibly special: It contributes to making our town a joyful place where youth and families  thrive. Please support our children’s theatre and recognize it as the gem that it is, contributing  consistently and centrally to our community’s cohesiveness and wellbeing over nearly a  century.  7 Baumb, Nelly From:melissa baten caswell <mbcaswell@yahoo.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 9:15 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Art Center program budget concerns CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Honorable City Council Leaders: Mayor DuBois, Vice Mayor Burt and Council Members Cormack, Filseth, Kou, Stone, Tanaka May is Mental Health Awareness month and as you know Covid-19 has created stresses in our community we could have never imagined. In this difficult time, the Arts have been a lifesaver for many and the Palo Alto Art Center programming is an important support for all of our residents, especially our young people who especially need the inspiration, connections, and support the Arts provide. According to the budget plan that you are reviewing, the Palo Alto Art Center would lose all City support for its exhibition programs for the first time in its 50-year history, the city will eliminate all teen programs and free Family Day programs, scrap Project Look (an inspirational art history, appreciation, and art making program which uses the gallery's exhibitions to inspire elementary school classrooms across the community), and cancel the Cultural Kaleidoscope program (a long time bridge-building program that brings artists to local elementary schools and connects students to each other and cultural history). Many of these programs are supported by public private partnerships, but they cannot survive without city support. Why is the Art Center taking the blunt of the staffing reductions among all the programs in the Community Services Department (CSD)? A loss of 2.16 positions total—is DOUBLE of any other program. After all that the Art Center has done in the past year—including actively generating revenue, serving constituents virtually with severely reduced staff, stepping up to assist CSD with coordination with HR around COVID guidelines, helping to distribute vaccine appointments to CSD staff and leading an IMLS CARES grant initiative to support staffing positions at the library, JMZ and the Art Center, it does not make any sense. Many families move to Palo Alto to take advantage of our schools and the wonderful youth programs that the Community Services Department supports. Please use your leadership to reduce these cuts to more equitable levels. Losing all of these programs, even for one year, will make replacing them very difficult- if not impossible. Our community and kids are counting on you. Respectfully, Melissa Baten Caswell Former Board President and Trustee, Palo Alto Unified School District Former President, Santa Clara County School Boards' Association Former Delegate, California School Boards Association phone: 650-823-1188 email: mbcaswell@yahoo.com 9 Baumb, Nelly From:Aparna Ramanathan <inform1ar@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 8:35 PM To:Council, City Subject:Funding Palo Alto Children's Theater Attachments:Funding the Palo Alto Children's Theater.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Council Members,     Please see the attached letter.    Thank you,  Aparna Ramanathan  May 3, 2021 Dear Members of Council, I understand the stresses placed on you with pandemic-related budget shortfalls and can't presume to know the priorities you are weighing. However,it may be helpful to know the role that the Palo Alto Children's Theater and their programs have had on the mental health of my children. Our 12-year-old son in particular wasn't in a good place in middle school. The staff and community of PACT played a huge role in helping his emotional state and self-worth. I imagine they've played a big role in other children's lives in a similar way. The evidence for the link between the performing arts and positive mental health is clear. The next pandemic will be about mental health and will impact our low-income youth in particular. PACT’s programs were accessible to all, unlike theater programs in neighboring counties. I hope that funding their important work will be a priority as you make your budget decisions. Thank you for your consideration, Aparna Ramanathan (650)427-9578 10 Baumb, Nelly From:Danika Heaney <danika.heaney@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 7:08 PM To:Council, City Subject:Request about Capital Improvement Project Budget Cuts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council,     My name is Danika Heaney, and I am an alumnus of Gunn High School. I am writing to you today about the latest Capital  Improvement Project budget cuts, including the $2 million dollar reduction to the Charleston‐Arastradero Plan project  budget.     I have a personal stake in this budget cut as I was hit by a car on Charleston Road while commuting to Cubberley for  soccer practice. I can still remember what it was like to hit the windshield of the car and roll onto the ground. My bike,  which I was riding at the time, was bent out of shape and had to be thrown out. I was lucky because the car that hit me  was moving slowly. Speed on Charleston REALLY matters. It is what saved my life. It is important to moderate driver  speeds so drivers have time to see and react when they make mistakes.  People who walk and bike need a safe place on  the road. Please make sure future students have a safe route to school and after‐school activities.     I ask that the City Council finish this project this year without further delay or any cuts to the budget.    Thank you for your time,  Danika  11 Baumb, Nelly From:Jennifer Fisher-Siddeek <jensiddeek@yahoo.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 6:10 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto funding decisions CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello City Council, I'm writing today to express my opposition to pending funding decisions before the council. Number 1 is the funding for the Children's Theater- cutting productions from 28 to 5 is a drastic step! Please reconsider this move and reduce to perhaps 20 from 28. The Palo Alto Children's Theater is a gem, whose mission and activities are unique and should be supported, not cut. Number 2 is funding for the Children's branch of the library. Again, another gem in our community that is unique and should be supported. Zoom out for a few moments and look at these policy decisions and the long-term impact they will have on Palo Alto. You already are obstructing construction of affordable housing- which is desperately needed for families of school-age children. Through learning about Measure Z on the ballot last November, I discovered that only 25% of the households in Palo Alto have school age children. Enrollment in PAUSD is declining so much that two elementary sites may be closed in the next few years. Think of what Palo Alto will be like without school children. Is that what you want? Opposing housing, cutting funding for the theater and library that will be the consequence. Certainly that paints a picture of a community I would not want to live in. Make better decisions before it is too late. Respectfully, Jennifer Siddeek renter mom of 4 school-aged children 12 Baumb, Nelly From:Eve V Clark <eclark@stanford.edu> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 5:39 PM To:Council, City Subject:College terrace library CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council,            Please keep the College Terrace Library open.  It is an invaluable resource for College Terrace, the campus housing  area, and the neighborhoods beyond.  It has been my main access to the Palo Alto Library system for over  50 years, and I have missed it sorely this last year and more.    It is a critical resource for children in this area, and we need it.    Yours sincerely,         Eve Clark       Professor Emerita       Stanford    Sent from my iPad  13 Baumb, Nelly From:Christianna Kienitz <tannak@att.net> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 4:50 PM To:Council, City Subject:Save the Children's Theatre and Teen Programs! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council, I am a 3rd generation Palo Alto resident. I am appalled by the proposed cuts to the Children's Theatre budget. The Children's Theatre has always been known as a safe place for all children. It's a place where one can be a performer, a designer, a teacher, or a builder as well as many other things. In the theatre children learn empathy walking in another's shoes, they build confidence by learning to speak in front of others, and they learn to accept those who are different. I grew up at the Children's Theatre and after graduating from college came back to teach. Words can never express how grateful I am for the experience. When the cluster of suicides happened in Palo Alto the Children's Theatre became a place where teens could express their emotions freely without fear of being stigmatized. The mental health of our children needs to be addressed and the Children's Theatre has always been there to deal with these problems. It has given teens a voice with their Teens Arts Council and an outlet from stresses with their open mic nights. As a director of countless theatre shows I have seen personally how theatre can transform a child. I witnessed a child with dyslexia overcome her difficulties and start to read above her grade level (she's now a writer) after working hard memorizing her lines for a play. I have seen a shy little girl who would sit in a corner barely speaking, break free with confidence when she was cast as a bombastic character. I've seen a young boy cry because of an incident at his school and then be able to talk about it at rehearsal knowing that we would all be there for him. Robert Kelley the founder and long time artistic director of TheatreWorks, the Tony award winning and artistic jewel of Palo Alto, had his start at The Palo Alto Children's Theatre. He has said that his theater career began when he joined the Children's Theatre at the age of 8. He sees the organization as a major asset to the community. At this time, when our children need more support, not less, the Children's Theatre needs the budget to continue its work with our youth. Lucie Stern, who expressly built and gifted the theatre for the youth of Palo Alto to have a place to call their own, would be incensed with the way her legacy is being treated. Please defer the capital improvement projects and add a business tax rather than further cut the budget of our beloved Children's Theatre. Thank you, 14 Christianna Kienitz 15 Baumb, Nelly From:Jeffrey Lu <jeffreylu6@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 4:34 PM To:Council, City Subject:concerned about cutting funding for charleston-arastradero safety improvements CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  City Council,    I am extremely concerned that the city is considering delaying and cutting funding for road safety improvements on  Charleston‐Arastradero.    Past improvements on this corridor have already made non vehicular transport on Charleston‐Arastradero lower stress,  safer, and more pleasant. It is critical that this project be finished as soon as possible.    I request that the City Council:    ‐ Move agenda item 8 to the regular agenda from the consent calendar. At the very least, a decision on this matter  deserves discussion.    ‐ Commit to supporting the safety of all road users, particularly non‐vehicular transport modes, and complete the  Charleston‐Arastradero safety improvements. Charleston‐Arastradero serves many schools and is used by many foot‐ powered students. It also remains a critical gap in Palo Alto's bike network.    Thank you for your consideration,    Jeffrey Lu    16 Baumb, Nelly From:Ivana Maric <ivana.mmari@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 5:38 PM To:Council, City Subject:Letter regarding proposed cuts to PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Members of the City Council,      We wanted to express our concerns regarding proposed cuts to Palo Alto’s Children Theatre. We know that it  has been an incredibly challenging year due to COVID‐19 pandemics, and Palo Alto Children’s Theatre has  already been impacted by severe cuts last year. As the situation with COVID‐19 pandemics started to slowly  improve, we were looking forward to future beautiful PACT productions with children of age 8‐12 as their  main actors (and other shows). We are concerned that these additional cuts will make such productions  impossible, thereby depriving children in that age range of both fun and educational experience of  participating and/or watching such PACT performances.       Our family (we have one child in the 8‐12 age range and one almost in that range) has been a regular visitor  first to the Playhouse and then to the Main Stage, for 8 years now. Our daughter could not wait to turn 8 to be  able to audition for a performance in PACT.  The excitement and experience she got by participation in a PACT  performance were just wonderful. We are really sad to learn that these very special, high‐quality and loved‐ by‐everyone performances may be reduced or not be organized anymore.      We ask you to please reconsider these measures that will negatively impact families in our community.      Sincerely,   Ivana Maric   1 Baumb, Nelly From:Kimberly Thacker <kdawnkali@yahoo.com> Sent:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 10:08 PM To:Council, City Subject:Protect and revitalize our Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council, I'm sure it has been a tiring and disheartening year for you, as it has been for all of us. I'm writing to beg you to reconsider your further cuts to our outstanding Children's Theatre. Our children and youth have suffered so much loss this year of friends, school, activities, passions, family, and security. In this time where there is finally hope, please don't take it away. For many child and youth performers, the Children's Theatre is so much more than an "extra," it is the center of their friend community, a place of mentorship, a space to release their fears and anxieties, and a chance to express their voice and creativity. Additionally, for many in the program, the Theatre does more for kids and youth struggling with mental health or learning differences than other therapies and programs. This is especially true this year when so many of us parents have helplessly watched our normally happy kids fall into depression, apathy, and cynicism. So many kids have been looking forward to a chance to perform again, hoping that it will be this year as vaccines have spread and cases have lowered. Please consider these points and take the time and energy to rethink your proposed cuts, and even maybe revitalize our wonderful programs by returning some of the budget cut last year.  Your cuts would reduce the number of performances from 28 in a regular year to only 5 (with none in schools), and the amount of kids who can perform from 593 to around 35. You are taking away the opportunity for over 500 kids and youth to perform and for thousands to enjoy watching live theatre.  The Children's Theatre is unique in its performance policy of accepting donations rather than a pay to perform program. This allows those who are economically disadvantaged in our community to perform, often the only after-school or arts activity available to them. This is true for even more kids during the pandemic. Your funding makes this possible  The Children's Theatre staff is comprised of many individuals who are talented experts in their fields and have built up an amazing and professional program that is a tribute to the community. What can be torn down quickly is much harder to rebuild.  A year is a long time for kids. Two years of no theatre is half of a student's high school, almost all of middle school, all of 4th and 5th grade. It can be easy for adults to think it's just one more year, but putting off performance for another year is very significant for our kids.  So many of our kids are struggling with depression and anxiety, more than any other time they need an outlet for expression, accomplishment, and joy. The parent community realizes the economy is struggling. We know money is short and the City has a significant income loss and hard choices need to be made. What we're asking is that you take the extra time to think outside the box and take emergency and novel measures to give the community hope, joy, and passion after this year of heartache, anxiety, and loss. Consider what the city could put off for a few years in order to protect and revitalize the Children's Theatre and other community services that provide emotional and social benefits that are so needed right now. 2 The budget cuts last year crippled our theatre, please don't destroy it! Prioritize and show compassion for our kids and youth and give them the gift of performance. Sincerely, Kim Thacker 3 Baumb, Nelly From:Michele Wang <meeshwang@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 9:52 AM To:Council, City Subject:Please SUPPORT the Palo Alto Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council,    I am writing to encourage you to support the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre.  I understand that the city is planning for  another round of cuts in 2021, just as our children were getting so excited to finally be able to re‐join their beloved  community.    In 2020, the city cut 45% of the total budget for the Children’s Theatre.  That left a bare bones staff to try and fulfill  connection and arts expression for our local youth.  Now, in 2021, the city is looking to reduce the budget AGAIN by up  to $300,000 for a total budget cut of 61% over the two years.    The theatre provides a safe community for children to express themselves and connect to like minded youth.  The  leadership at the Palo Alto Children’s Theatre has been wonderful at providing guidance, opportunities for expression  and resources for our children for 88 years.  With these deep cuts, our children will no longer have access to their strong  community or opportunities to express themselves.  It devastates me to see this city jewel dwindle.    I am urging the Palo Alto City Council to please reconsider that this resource is so special to so many creative children in  Palo Alto.      Thank you,    Michele Wang  Board Member of Friends of The Palo Alto Children’s Theatre Mother and Resident of Palo Alto since 2001    4 Baumb, Nelly From:Claire Morse <clairemorse4@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, April 26, 2021 11:39 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  To Whomever This May Concern,     I am writing to express my support of the Palo Alto Children's Theatre and to encourage the City Council to reconsider its  reductions to the Children's Theatre budget. My name is Claire Morse, and I have lived in Palo Alto for 8 years. In that  time, I have participated in six shows at the PACT, both as an actor and a stagehand.     I learned all about stagecraft from the PACT, and I also met my current best friends during a show. The Children's  Theatre was a place for me to expand my horizons and share a work of art with the community, and I will always be  grateful for the opportunities it granted me. Without the Children's Theatre, I would not have the self‐confidence or the  love of theatre that I do today, both of which have guided me through my life as I have grown. Some of my happiest  memories are from the shows I have worked on at the Children's Theatre, and I would be devastated if other kids were  deprived of the chance to grow and learn through the collaborative and friendly exposure to the dramatic arts that the  Children's Theatre offers. I have met so many amazing people and had so many incredible experiences at the Children's  Theatre, and I cannot stress how much the Children's Theatre has meant to me for the past eight years. I urge you to  continue to support the Children's Theatre, and through it, to support all of the creative children of this community who  need a place to feel welcomed.    Thank you so much for your time.    Sincerely,  Claire Morse  5 Baumb, Nelly From:Priya Satia <psatia@stanford.edu> Sent:Monday, April 26, 2021 2:30 PM To:news@padailypost.com; Council, City Subject:budget cuts to PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear PA City Council,    Thank you for all the work you do to serve our community. I am writing to appeal to you about the proposed budget  reductions for the Palo Alto Children's Theater‐‐on top of major cuts from last year.    This is dismaying news, especially as we are at a point where we have hope that theatre performances may soon be able  to resume, along with the PACT's many other cherished programs. This theater is the beating heart of our children's  community, and the proposed cuts will eliminate performance and crew experiences for its core age group, hollowing it  out.    Both my children have been active in the theatre‐‐my son was cast in a play, to his delight, just before lockdown, and  waited patiently all year for rehearsals to restart, to no avail. But this year brings new hope, and these cuts strike a blow  for children who have already lost a great deal.    The theater has been part of our life since my older one (age 15) was 2 or 3. The staff there are a source of warmth and  friendship and mentorship to my kids. The community  is welcoming and nurturing. It is a different kind of teamwork for  kids who may not thrive in team sports (like my younger one). He loves to act and do tech. My older one acts and writes  scripts. They love their theater friends, who they don't get to meet at school. They love Mr. Lucky and all the directors  and Mr.  Richard at the desk. Please don't take away this essential resource for kids to act, design, produce, and, most  importantly, watch theater.    Surely, we can find ways to supplement the budget and keep the theater open? Theater tickets and refreshment sales  and donations can be enhanced, perhaps?    The PACT's reach extends well beyond Palo Alto; it is a regional treasure. Please, let's do what's needed to keep this  jewel shining at its best.    Please give our children a chance to reconnect with this essential human artform, after a year of losing it from their  lives.    Thank you for considering this request,    Very best,    Priya Satia    ‐‐  Priya Satia  6 Raymond A. Spruance Professor of International History Professor of History Department of History Stanford University  Stanford, CA 94305‐2024  Email: psatia@stanford.edu  Web: http://history.stanford.edu/people/priya‐satia    7 Baumb, Nelly From:Eric Rosenblum <mitericr@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, April 26, 2021 1:55 PM To:Council, City Subject:Fwd: Save the Palo Alto Children's Theater CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  To the Council  I am writing to support the Palo Alto Children's theater, and to urge City Council to not make further cuts to their  already precarious budget.     The Children's Theater is the sort of institution that makes Palo Alto truly special‐‐ there is really nothing like it up and  down the peninsula. It is one of the few institutions that binds the whole city together‐‐ are there any parents who have  not taken their kids to the Hotdog Theater in the summer?     For kids, it is precious. There are plenty of local opportunities for "sports kids", "science kids" and "music kids". However,  there is very little theater in the early grades in school. The genius of the Children's Theater is that it has not only given  these kids a home, it is a home for life. The kids who grow up at the Children's Theater become members of the Teen  Arts Council, and put on music festivals, film festivals, poetry slams, and art exhibitions. All of this is "by kids, for kids"‐‐  they do everything (just like at the Children's Theater shows‐‐ the kids are working crew, taking tickets, ushering,  hawking concessions, and manning the till. In a day‐and‐age where many of us worry about overly involved parents and  overly coddled kids, the Children's Theater has consciously kept the parents at an appropriate remove‐‐ this is for the  kids.    I understand that Palo Alto, like many cities, is facing a severe budget crisis. There are many sacred cows that will have  to be sacrificed. However, the money that we're talking about in this case is peanuts in the grand scheme of things. A  parking space in Palo Alto costs $60,000 apiece to construct, and yet we have no shortage of parking spaces.     Please consider the unique nature of the Palo Alto Children's Theater, and please realize that a severely truncated  program would mean that it would no longer be a home to so many kids. It will be neither here nor there‐‐ too  infrequent to be meaningful in a child's life, and yet still a significant budgetary commitment for the city.     Hoping that Council will recognize this,     Eric Rosenblum  154 Bryant St (and parent of 2 former Children's Theater kids)      ‐‐   Eric Rosenblum   650 575 5616  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lina Crane <lina.crane@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 1:04 PM To:Council, City Subject:Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am horrified to read that the council has, for the second year, depleted the revenue allocated to the  Children's Theatre.  Without these funds, they will be unable to visit schools, put on many plays, and have hot dog times outdoors.  The total of 61% decrease is extraordinary and a blow to the community.   Please revisit your egregious and restore value to this valuable agency.  Sincerely  Lina Crane      *  *  *  *  *  *            2 Baumb, Nelly From:Lina Crane <lina.crane@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, April 27, 2021 1:06 PM To:Council, City Subject:Re: Your e-mail to City Council was received CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Sorry: should be " egregious action "    from lina Crane    On 4/27/21, Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  > Thank you for your comments to the City Council. Your e‐mail will be   > forwarded to all seven Council Members and a printout of your   > correspondence will also be included in the next available Council packet.  >  > If your comments are about an item that is already scheduled for a   > City Council agenda, you can call (650) 329‐2571 to confirm that the   > item is still on the agenda for the next meeting.  >  > If your letter mentions a specific complaint or a request for service,   > we'll either reply with an explanation or else send it on to the   > appropriate department for clarification.  >  > We appreciate hearing from you.  >      ‐‐  *LFC  from lina*  *  *  *  *  *  *  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Linda Mills <chulamills@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, April 26, 2021 8:19 PM To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Children’s Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,  We recently became aware that the Palo Alto Children's Theatre is at risk of losing substantial funding from  the city. We find this decision very disturbing and we urge the City Council to reconsider.   Our daughter, a junior in high school, has been participating in PACT programs since she was 10 years old. On  a personal level, the PACT has been a place of growth, happiness and friendship for our daughter. She has  developed as an artist and a performer, but more importantly she has built lasting relationships with both  fellow cast and crew, as well as with the incredible staff of the PACT.       On the community level, the PACT has been a beloved institution and source of civic pride within Palo Alto for  nearly 90 years. It serves as a safe space for children of all types to build friendships and gain exposure to the  arts in an inclusive environment. We have witnessed the children who participate in PACT programs develop  self‐confidence and public speaking skills while learning how to work as a creative team. Unlike sports, for  which there are many public and private options for participation, the PACT is one of the very few programs  available for children to explore the arts. Because the PACT does not charge children to participate, the PACT  is open to all children in the community, regardless of their economic circumstances. In a time when many  families are struggling financially, this benefit cannot be overstated. Finally, beyond those participating in the  shows, we have seen many people from the parts of the community, young and old, delight in attending the  PACT performances and watching the children of our community shine.  In this time of great stress, it is our long‐standing traditions and institutions that sustain us. We understand  that shows and gatherings have needed to be curtailed during the ongoing public health crisis, but we urge  you to offer hope to the children of this area that their beloved theatre might return as soon as it can do so  safely. We ask that funding be restored as soon as possible to allow operations to resume once it is safe to do  so. We encourage you to look for private or other funding options as well. The Palo Alto Children’s Theatre is a  jewel in this community and maintaining it through this difficult time should be a priority for the City Counsel.   Best regards,  Josh and Linda Mills    Sent from my iPhone  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Lissy Bland <lissybland@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 7:25 AM To:Council, City Subject:Boulware Park Renovation CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I am writing to encourage you to keep  the planned funding fo renovate Boulware Park. The available park space in the  Ventura neighborhood is below the city guidelines. The renovation will expand the park to include the recently  purchased adjacent lot and provide very welcome updates.      I am anxiously waiting to be able to walk to Boulware Park with my young granddaughters so that they can play on the  new playground.    Lissy Bland  235 Wilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Laurie Phillips <lauriecdphillips@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 10:38 AM To:Council, City Subject:Junior Museum and Zoo Admission Price CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,     What fun it is to watch the progress at the Junior Museum and Zoo.  My family loves walking past watching the  construction‐‐from the demolition to the building, and now the presence of so many beautiful and wonderful animals  and familiar Zookeeper Friends like Lee!  We love seeing new animals as well as favorites, like Edward!  My children have  grown up with the zoo, and I did, too.      I am very concerned by the proposed admission fee.  I feel that it is too high and even prohibitive for many.  While I  understand that there are many expenses associated with the zoo, I feel that charging this price for admission will hurt  the zoo in the long run.  This magical place needs to be accessible for all families.  Please consider changing a much  lower admission fee.  It is a mistake to charge more.    Thank you for your consideration,  Laurie Phillips  2 Baumb, Nelly From:Dan Nitzan <dan.nitzan@pobox.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:01 AM To:Council, City Subject:Children's Theatre Funding CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  "When Winston Churchill was asked to cut arts funding in favor of the war effort, he simply replied, ‘then what are we  fighting for?’ "  Although he never said this, it nevertheless provides clear direction: Fund the arts, and the Children's Theatre in  particular!    -- Daniel Nitzan 734 Waverley St Palo Alto CA 94301 dan.nitzan@pobox.com (650) 465-2057     To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InAVG logo   This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.  www.avg.com       3 Baumb, Nelly From:Donna Bohling <donna@bohling.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 4:27 PM To:Council, City Subject:Proposed Admission Fee for the new Jr Museum and Zoo CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,    As a resident of Palo Alto, a donor to The Friends of the JMZ capital campaign, and as a parent and grandparent who  frequented the old JMZ, I urge you, DO NOT set the admission fee at $18.  The Friends’ $25M gift to rebuild the JMZ is the  largest gift ever given to the City of Palo Alto.  It is sad recognition of this outstanding gift for the Council to ignore The Friends  input on instituting a first‐time ever admission fee to the renovated museum.    Prior to renovation, the JMZ was free and asked for donations (which I was happy to give). The JMZ is a resources beloved by  not only Palo Altans but our neighbors to the north and south. I understand there MAY need to be a fee but $18 is way out of  line. An $18 admission fee would reduce the number of visitors, (thus lowering overall  attendance and revenue), hurt  accessibility, and undermine the goodwill of our community.     I urge you to reject the City Staff recommendation of an $18 admission fee to the new JMZ.    Donna Bohling  1856 Emerson St  Palo Alto    4 Baumb, Nelly From:Aprajit Mahajan <aprajit@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:57 PM To:news@padailypost.com Cc:Council, City Subject:Please do not Defund PACT CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council, I am writing to express in the strongest possible terms my protest at the proposed defunding of PACT. The Children's Theater is absolutely unique, in all of the United States. It is really integral to the community and it would be terrible if it were to be curtailed. Thank You Aprajit Mahajan   ‐‐   --------------------------------------- Aprajit Mahajan  207 Giannini Hall  Dept. of Agricultural & Resource Economics,    UC Berkeley,   Berkeley, CA 94720-3310  Web: http://are.berkeley.edu/~aprajit Phone: 650-308-8137   Office Hours Sign-Up: https://tinyurl.com/y8y48cus    5 Baumb, Nelly From:Michelle Nelson <mqk.nelson@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:09 AM To:Council, City Subject:JMZ rates CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hi there,    Just wanted to pass along our opinion on the daily visit proposed rate of $18. As a military family stationed here for  school, that rate is prohibitive for us. We were members when JMZ was at its temporary location, even though they just  asked for donations. We value JMZ and everything it has to offer. We won’t be here long enough to get an annual  membership to JMZ, so it seems we will probably not even visit before we have to leave, which is quite sad. I understand  you have costs to cover, but $18 is quite a lot for families who cannot do an annual membership.    Also wanted to add that board members who got to see the museums in advance confirmed that it is cool, but not $18  cool when you look at the Children’s Discovery Museum and other nearby features.    Sincerely,    Michelle Nelson  3389 St Michael Drive  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Jane Rytina <janerytina@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 12:09 PM To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:JMZ Fee set at $18? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Mayor Mayor DuBois and our City Council, and Mr Shikada,    I am emailing you about the proposed (very high) $18 fee for the new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ).    My husband Jonathan and I donated a significant amount of money to rebuild this very important, previously barrier‐ free, community asset. I am a former board member of the Friends of the JMZ for 5 years, and therefore asked my  friends and colleagues for money for the rebuild, many of whom also donated. I am very proud to have played a part in  the project. Recently I had a tour of the new facility, and it retains all of its ability to provide an exceptional, play based,  educational experience. It is a great place for children to experience science and nature in their early years, and develop  science skills, and empathy for nature and the environment. Skills we hold dear in our community, do we not? In  addition, the teaching facilities, the general facilities such as bathrooms, and the animal care facilities have all been  brought into the 21st century.    The place the (80 year old) JMZ holds in the heart of the community is untouched by almost any other of Palo Alto’s  community assets (I can only think of the parks as close to it). While I understand it cannot be free (but please  remember it WAS free before it was closed for the rebuild), $18 per person seems restrictive and may I say, cruel, to  those families who simply cannot afford to pay that amount.    Apart from absolutely going against the culture and sentiment of affordable early education that the JMZ represents in  our community, I think there are some basic marketing and economic principles that don’t seem to match up to such a  high price:    1. In terms of supply and demand, the high price will bring down the sense of “value” of the visit, discouraging people to  return, or to "feel good" about their visit. Demand will drop, or maybe never get started and you will not see the  revenue returns for which you have planned.    2. Market price: the JMZ is a 2 hour visit with young kids at best. It is small (by design, and by City Council direction). It  offers no food, it isn’t near restaurants (without getting back in your car). Assuming you are a family of 4, would you pay  nearly $80 to take your under fives somewhere for 2 hours? Please consider the equivalent local sites:  ‐ CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point: between $12.95 and $15.95 $1.Infants are free. They do charge for parking at $6 per car  which would add $1.50 per person for a family of 4.  ‐ Happy Hollow in San Jose ($12 for everyone, children under 2 go free), has food, more space and other attractions such  as rides. Does charge for parking at $6 per car which would add $1.50 per person for a family of 4.  ‐ The Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose: $15 per person. It is a larger facility and also food is available.  ‐ if you would like to look out of town, the Santa Barbara Zoo ( a much larger facility) charges between $14 and $19. This  is a full blown, 4 hour at least experience.    In addition to all these comments, I would like to make one more. The $25 million to rebuild this facility was a huge gift  to the city, from donors such as myself and others, with the assumption that this community asset would remain  2 accessible to all.  Please do not betray the trust we put in you. I know there ARE suggested programs to allow those on  government programs to have access for free. I was part of envisioning those programs. However for families on low  incomes, who do not qualify for government support, will find $18 per person an impossible barrier to overcome. We  can do better!    I hope you will reconsider the ticket price. We can afford to subsidize a fabulous community asset in Palo Alto. I also  hope you will question the supply and demand assumptions your economists have made. Also, please come together  WITH the Friends of the JMZ and think about a solution to this destructive idea.    I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and will attend the special council meeting this coming Tuesday.    Sincerely,    Jane Rytina  500 Kingsley Ave, Palo Alto  6505758635  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Meredith Martin <meredithvmartin2001@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 9:50 PM To:Council, City Cc:Shikada, Ed Subject:Important Palo Alto resources CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear DCity DCouncil     Why is the City Manager wanting to cut funding and close the College Terrace and Children's Library?    This was a battle fought over a year ago and we care very much about these libraries.  Now that vaccinated residents  can gather and benefit from a library experience why are you proposing to close them:?  Why are you punishing  residents because of the city's past wrongdoings?       It is not good enough.  We will not stand for the resources that make this city of Palo Alto one we want to call home.      Yours sincerely  Meredith and Jason Martin  1440 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306  2 Baumb, Nelly From:Diane <dianeef@comcast.net> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 2:12 PM To:Council, City Cc:Shikada, Ed Subject:College Terrace and other libraries CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear Mayor and members of the City Council, I have lived in College Terrace since 1967 and hate to recall all the times  this neighborhood has had to fight to keep our gem of a library open. Last year we all breathed a sigh of relief when we  were spared total closure, once again. Now as the City is faced with more financial troubles, the first choice, as always, is  to cut services to residents that make life here pleasant.    I cannot say much about the other libraries on the chopping block because I have never patronized them. My four  children all grew up going to the College Terrace library since they could walk or bike there. Now children on this side of  ElCamino are to be deprived of that part of their childhood. And, as one of your many senior citizens living here I am  definitely not driving across town to wrestle a parking spot at another library.    Quality of life for residents, young and old, should be your priority in making budget decisions. Cut back on projects that  can wait until the economy is better.    Very truly yours,    Diane Finkelstein  2049 Dartmouth Street    Sent from my iPad  3 Baumb, Nelly From:Judith Content <judithcontent@earthlink.net> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 2:10 PM To:Council, City Subject:Support the Palo Alto Art Center CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Dear City Council and Finance Committee,    As we emerge from a year of isolation, it seems the perfect time to return to the beloved Community Arts Programming  at the Palo Alto Art Center. Children, students, teens and adults all have well‐established, highly regarded programs  awaiting them there.  (Project Look, Cultural Kaleidoscope, Family Days and the exemplary Gallery Arts Exhibition  Program among others) These community services are integral to what makes Palo Alto special.    Over the last year, Karen Keinzle and her greatly reduced staff have already faced large  budget cuts. They still managed  to generate revenue and virtually serve the community with creative programming and classes.    The cuts  proposed in today’s budget would effectively eliminate all Art Center programming. It would put staff  retention at risk. It would put the very Art Center at risk, exactly when we need community services most.    I am a resident of Palo Alto,  a past Foundation Board member and a current Emeritus Member. I am the creator of the  community arts project “Pottery Creek", flanking the Art Center entryway. I treasure the Art Center and I am just one of  many.    I respectfully ask the City Council and Finance Committee to keep the current Art Center funding as is and don’t reduce it  further. The Art Center is poised to contribute to the health and well being of this community. Don’t take away  something that makes Palo Alto the special place it is.    Sincerely,  Judith Content  Palo Alto, CA  4 Baumb, Nelly From:tideview <tideview@aol.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 5:52 PM To:Shikada, Ed Cc:Council, City Subject:college terrace library CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  I was surprised and saddened to hear of the plans to close the College Terrace library. This library is part of the heart of our neighborhood, something that makes the neighborhood a special place. It is used by patrons from surrounding communities as well. For seniors, especially those no longer drive, it is a vital link since the other libraries are not easily accessible. Fiscal irresponsibility should not result in this library closure. It seems like money has been spent during a pandemic that could have been reserved for a later date. Teachers who aren't teaching still rate a pay raise while families deal with the lack of a proper education for their children and the lack of socialization. Of course revenue is down because businesses have gone under, but our library has been closed for more than a year so we are not a drain on the budget. Last year we petitioned to save our library and it was understood that other savings would be found. It is hard to believe that a year later other possible solutions have not become available that don't involve closing our library. I urge you to reconsider the library closure. Linda Logan 5 Baumb, Nelly From:Jen Chu <jenchu2004@yahoo.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 6:52 PM To:Council, City Subject:Budget Cuts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council-     This email is a commentary on the upcoming budget cuts. Neighborhoods, youth services such as the Children's Library and the Children's Theater, our parks, our library system, ALL the stations in the PAFD, PAPD, our restaurants and retail establishments, our safe bikeways are what has defined Palo Alto as a special community for decades. We need a budget that supports those things, not one that erodes them. Cuts that impact those things should be last on the block; look first at consultant fees, capital projects that can be deferred or even eliminated, and any administrative excess that can be trimmed.    Thank you,    Jen Chu  6 Baumb, Nelly From:Gurmeet Lamba <glamba@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 7:29 PM To:Council, City Subject:An appeal for preserving the Palo Alto Art Center CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Council Members: I am writing this note to plead for a fair and equitable treatment of funding for the Palo Alto Art Center. The proposed reductions will reduce this Gem of Palo Alto into a transactional pay for classes commercial establishment. That will be an irrecoverable tragedy for the community. I am used to dealing with tight budgets and making tough calls in my professional life and completely understand how difficult it is. I’ve also learned over the years the difference between strategic and tactical calls. I respectfully urge you to keep the strategic nature of the art center & it’s philanthropic model front and center in making your final decisions. Thank you. Gurmeet Lamba Board Member - Palo Alto Art Center Foundation glamba@gmail.com    7 Baumb, Nelly From:Patty Hartsell <pharts004@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 10:55 PM To:Council, City Subject:Library Closures CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on  links.  ________________________________    Hello City Council:    We are 30 Year residents of the College Terrace neighborhood.  We have enjoyed walking with our kids to “our” library to choose books, research projects and find books for ourselves.   NOW  it is time for our grandkids to WALK to preschool story time.    We fought the closing of our little, community oriented gathering spot LAST year and we are prepared to do it again.    It seems like the city of Palo Alto is unfairly and unjustly undermining the very neighborhood and community we love.  First you want to take away our library.  Second you want to totally close our fire station in the same week!  Third....we all PAID for our RPP program this year...under threats of fines, etc.  That was $200 for our home and we have had NO enforcement whatsoever.  It feels like to us and our neighbors that we are being unfairly disadvantaged.     PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT close the beloved College Terrace library.         Christy & Patty Hartsell         Oberlin Street        8 Baumb, Nelly From:Lydia Callaghan <lydiacallaghan2011@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10:29 AM To:Council, City Subject:A letter in support of the Palo Alto Children's Theatre CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello Council members,     I live in Crescent Park, am the mother of 16‐year‐old twin girls, and serve on the board of the Friends of the Palo Alto  Children’s Theatre.    The theatre is a treasure in our city. It is nationally recognized, having won a grant from the National Endowment for the  Arts. It is also ground‐breaking: it recently collaborated with Stanford on an innovative program at the intersection of  theatre and technology.  However, most importantly, our theatre is beloved by our community.     When I first moved to Palo Alto, my girls were 5 years old.  When I asked friends for recommendations for fun activities  for kids, the Children’s Theatre was at the top of many people’s lists.  My family especially loved watching the outdoor  hot dog shows on a picnic blanket in the summer.    My girls fell in love with theatre, first as spectators then as participants.  However, many fans of the theater did not have  budding thespians in their families. Rather they just enjoyed going to the theatre.  It is important to remember that  many in our community engage with and love the Theatre simply as audience members.    As you have heard, the theatre is a special place for children struggling with mental health challenges. For many kids  struggling with anxiety and depression, the theatre is the only activity that brings them joy and hope.   We know this at  the theatre because many parents have shared their stories of the life‐altering impact it has had on their children.    Also, now more than ever, our community needs this important resource.  According to the Center for Disease Control,  during COVID, Mental Health‐Related Emergency Room visits increased 24% for children aged 5‐11 and 31% for children  aged 12‐17.    Finally, I want to raise another question that I urge the Council to reflect upon. The theatre is extremely fortunate to be  led by an eminently qualified African American man, Judge Luckey.  Judge graduated from the University of Michigan’s  performing arts program, consistently rated the top theatre program in the country.  Before joining us, he had a long  and successful career in theatre and television. Most important, he is beloved by both parents and children for his talent  and dedication. The stellar productions he directs are so popular that we parents have to jump online the day tickets go  on sale because the weekend performances sell out immediately.    Throughout our nation, non‐profits, government entities, and corporate America are struggling to improve diversity in  their staff. So, it is extremely perplexing to many of us that only community service slated for total elimination under the  Tier 2 reduction plan is the only one run by African American man who is also uniquely qualified, talented, and  esteemed.    Thank you for your consideration.     Sincerely,  Lydia Callaghan  10 Baumb, Nelly From:tideview <tideview@aol.com> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10:52 AM To:Council, City Subject:plice admin building CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Thank you Greg Tanaka for sensibly recommending a delay in construction of the police building on Sheridan. This is not the time to spend money on a project that can easily be delayed. There are plenty of vacant spaces that could be used temporarily for admin work. Furthermore, the reduction in the police force should decrease the need for the extra space as well. Linda Logan 701-32 DOCUMENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE: LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZENS ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES Prepared for: 05/17/2021 Document dates: 04/28/2021 – 05/05/2021 Set 2 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. 1 Baumb, Nelly From:Timothy Misner <TimothyMisner@fico.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 6:28 PM To:Council, City Cc:Piya Chees Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Palo Alto City Council:     I really enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with the closure of  Ramona St.     Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St, through the summer—and  even longer!!    Thank you     Tim Misner, 1330 greenwood, community center 94301  This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential, proprietary  and intended solely for the individual or entity to whom they are  addressed. If you have received this email in error please delete it  immediately.   2 Baumb, Nelly From:Maya Misner <mayamisner@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 6:26 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you  Maya Misner  3 Baumb, Nelly From:475ida <ida.shiri4@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 9:58 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  4 Baumb, Nelly From:Esther Gutierrez <estherg75@icloud.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 6:16 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  5 Baumb, Nelly From:Kristina Sakamoto <kristinasakamoto@yahoo.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 5:36 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.     Thank you     sent from my iPhone   6 Baumb, Nelly From:Mel Baugh <baughm03@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 5:26 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  7 Baumb, Nelly From:Lauren Mohrman <lmohrman@sandiego.edu> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:26 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.     Thank you     ‐‐     Lauren Mohrman  lmohrman@sandiego.edu  8 Baumb, Nelly From:Leonardo Piacentini <l.piacentini@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:15 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  9 Baumb, Nelly From:Monica Inouye <monicainouye@icloud.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 9:15 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  10 Baumb, Nelly From:Nicole Vogt <nikeevee@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 8:56 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you  11 Baumb, Nelly From:Andrew Vogt <andrew.n.vogt@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 8:53 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you  12 Baumb, Nelly From:Sohrab <sohrab.sami@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 8:49 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  13 Baumb, Nelly From:Katina Ballantyne <katina.ballantyne@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 8:23 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Katina Ballantyne    Sent from my iPhone  14 Baumb, Nelly From:Jamie Lopez <jamie_lopez@icloud.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 2:00 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep University Ave Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy safely dining outdoors on University Ave  with the street closed from traffic. Please count my vote for city street  CLOSED through the summer for a safe, socially distanced experience.      Sent from my iPhone  15 Baumb, Nelly From:Jeff Oberle <joberle11@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 4:56 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you  16 Baumb, Nelly From:Hunter Antonio Martinez <hmart@stanford.edu> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 6:57 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you      Sent from my iPhone  17 Baumb, Nelly From:David York <davideyork@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 4:44 PM To:Council, City Subject:I'm Voting to keep Ramona St Closed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be  cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ________________________________    Palo Alto City Council: I enjoy the safe outdoor experience created with  the closure of Ramona St. Please count my vote to CLOSE Ramona St,  through the summer.    Thank you         David  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 3:07 PM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: 'I want lasting change.' Following hate crimes, community members stand up for Asian Americans | News | Palo Alto Online | CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    From: Allan Seid   Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 2:54 PM  Subject; PALO ALTO MARCH and RALLY      'I want lasting change.' Following hate crimes, community members stand up for Asian Americans | Source: P.A,  WEEKLY NEWS | Palo Alto Online |    https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2021/05/03/i‐want‐lasting‐change‐following‐hate‐crimes‐ community‐members‐stand‐up‐for‐asian‐americans?utm_source=express‐2021‐05‐ 04&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=express  Membership: Active News 'I want lasting change.' Following hate crimes, community members stand up for Asian Americans Downtown march, rally draws about 250 people by Magali Gauthier/ Palo Alto Weekly Uploaded: Mon, May 3, 2021, 7:27 pm4 Time to read: about 1 minutes A march and rally to raise awareness of the injustices facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders took place in downtown Palo Alto on May 2, 2021. Video by Palo Alto Online. Palo Alto a n I I n • 2 Around 250 people marched and rallied in downtown Palo Alto on Sunday afternoon to raise awareness about the recent attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to increase voter registration within this group. City Council member Greg Tanaka launched an "8 by 8" campaign at the May 2 event, challenging people to invite eight others to register to vote within eight days. "I want lasting change," said Tanaka to the crowd gathered outside City Hall. "And lasting change is really going to help through voter registration and more participation politically." The event was organized by City Council members Greg Tanaka and Lydia Kou with the help of about 70 volunteers. It began with a 2 p.m. march from the city parking garage at 528 High St. and continued with a 3 p.m. rally at King Plaza. Rep. Anna Eshoo, former Rep. Mike Honda, Kou and state Assembly member Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, also spoke to the crowd assembled outside City Hall. What's local journalism worth to you? Support Palo Alto Online for as little as $5/month. Join Attendees were able to stop for information at booths set up at the rally by the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, Palo Alto Chinese Parents' Club and Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association Peninsula Chapter. Two additional educational exhibits highlighted the Chinese rail workers in North America and the Arboretum Chinese Labor Quarters projects at Stanford University. Stay informed Get daily headlines sent straight to your inbox. Sign up Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebookand on Instagram @paloaltoonlinefor breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. Related Past Stories • - 3    Comments Neal,Community Center Registered user 8 hours ago This sounds like a campaign rally for Greg Tanaka than a rally to support Asians. Report Objectionable Comment | Email Moderator Derek McKennon,Stanford Registered user 4 hours ago "I want lasting change." This in itself is both an ironic and contradicting statement from the standpoint of change being a static entity or concept. Instead... "I want progressive measures taken to fully address Asian hate crimes in America and duly enforced by the laws of our country" would have made far more sense to the semantically inclined. Just saying. Report Objectionable Comment | Email Moderator resident,Stanford Registered user 3 hours ago This was NOT a campaign rally for Greg Tanaka, but thanks for pointing out that he was there, along with Rep Anna Eshoo, supporting young people who want to stop Asian hate crimes and encouraging community engagement. • 4 Report Objectionable Comment | Email Moderator Jim Colton,Green Acres Registered user 42 minutes ago This was BOTH a rally to stop Asian hate crimes AND a way for Greg to kick off his campaign. Report Objectionable Comment | Email Moderator Don't miss out on the discussion! Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. allanseid734@gmail.com Submit Post a comment You are currently logged in to Town Square. We've made changes to some of our policies. Read about them. Please be respectful and truthful in your postings so Town Square will continue to be a thoughtful gathering place for sharing community information and opinion. All postings are subject to our TERMS OF USE, and may be deleted if deemed inappropriate by our staff. Your NameRed Your Community [ \/]Not sure? Comment 2000 characters remaining. Submit © 2021 Palo Alto Online. All rights reserved. Share to Email AppShare to FacebookShare to TwitterMore AddThis Share options 5 Baumb, Nelly From:Gail Price <gail.price3@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 11:22 AM To:Council, City; PlanningCommission@cityofpaloalto.org Cc:Gail Price Subject:Fwd: 350SV PA Co-Hosting Webinar on Climate Change and Housing on Wed May 12 @ 5 pm CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor DuBois and PTC Chair Hechtman,      I wanted to make sure you have received information about this upcoming event during Affordable Housing Month. It is  timely and important information.  Thank you,     Best,  Gail Price   President, Palo Alto Forward Board               Dear 350SV PA Team Member:     We pleased to announce our partnership with a number of local environmental and housing  organizations to present: Climate Change and Housing: Re‐thinking Land Use for Our Planet's Future  on Wednesday May 12th at 5pm.       Palo Alto and other Bay Area communities have led the nation with policies to protect open spaces  and to reduce carbon emissions.  But climate change is happening faster than was predicted. Our  greenest neighborhoods are also our most dense. How can we re‐think the way we design  neighborhoods to promote more energy efficient, sustainable cities with robust parks and open  spaces?  ~,, .. • 3. I .5. o ·SILICON ~ . ·. · VALLEY , Palo Alto Climate Tea 6    To learn how we can protect our open spaces and meet our affordable housing goals, join the  webinar to hear from:                      ‐ Amanda Eaken, Director of Transportation, American Cities Climate Change Challenge at  Natural Resources Defense Council                  ‐ Justin Wang, Advocacy Manager at Greenbelt Alliance                  ‐ Moderated by Sandra Slater.        Please RSVP today: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XWCIPd0lRumrCjQQPJb7qQ     If you have a few minutes, please share this event with your networks:     Here’s a link to send/post the event’s  flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1isbqNL8e50c3wEi5VXZa_ziudiTjFUST/view?usp=sharing      And here’s a link to the Facebook event to share: https://fb.me/e/26tVAZspG    Warmest Regards,      350 Silicon Valley Palo Alto Climate Team Steering Committee:   Susan Chamberlain, Andrea Gara, Hilary Glann, Debbie Mytels, and Sandra Slater     -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "350 SV Palo Alto Climate Team" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to 350-sv-palo- alto+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/350-sv-palo- alto/051901d7410a%2455a9f8c0%2400fdea40%24%40gmail.com.    7 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 6:44 AM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: 'Chi Com,' 'Go Home': Thai American Home in Kentucky Vandalized With Anti-Asian Slurs CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    From: Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 6:01 PM  Subject: 'Chi Com,' 'Go Home': Thai American Home in Kentucky Vandalized With Anti‐Asian Slur      https://nextshark.com/kentucky‐chi‐com‐go‐home‐thai‐american‐anti‐asian‐slurs/  ‘Chi Com,’ ‘Go Home’: Thai American Home in Kentucky Vandalized With Anti‐Asian Slurs A Thai American family in Prospect, Kentucky is scared, angry and frustrated after seeing their home vandalized with anti‐Asian slurs over the weekend. In yellow spray paint, words such as “Chi Com,” “Go home” and “c***kkk” shocked the family of five, who have decided to stick together at all times. 8 9 Image Screenshot via WKLY A neighbor discovered the graffiti in the family’s front door around 11 a.m. on Saturday. “We live in a really nice neighborhood in the east part of Louisville. This doesn’t happen here, or at least I didn’t think it did,” Todd Blankenship, who is white, told WLKY. Todd, a former marine, is married to Sasiwan “Sassy” Onphukhao, who is Thai. She is in the process of becoming a legal citizen and already has her green card. The couple has three biracial children. “I feel sad because I don’t understand,” Sassy told WHAS11. “I’m Thai, I’m an Asian woman. I did not hurt anyone. I did not do anything bad.” To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Kentucky Sassy speaks to WHAS11 over the vandalism. Image Screenshot via WHAS11 Sassy has lived in the U.S. for the past four years. She’s aware of the rise in anti- Asian sentiment but has not experienced discrimination until Saturday’s incident. 10 “I didn’t think what happened to me would happen. I watch that in the news, online, Facebook. I never thought it would happen to me. It made me stunned and sad,” Sassy tells WHAS11. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Kentucky Todd and Sassy found their 4-year-old daughter drawing the vandalism. Image Screenshot via WHAS11 The family has since set up security cameras, locked their doors, closed their blinds and put all their beds in their living room. The incident also left Todd and Sassy worried about their children’s well-being, especially their 4-year-old daughter who started drawing the graffiti on paper. 11 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Kentucky Image Screenshot via WAVE3 However, the couple was moved when they saw the message their daughter had left on their porch. “She said, ‘Bad guys, go away,'” Todd tells WAVE3. “She stuck it on the table on our porch. This morning when nothing happened, I said ‘Are you okay? Do you feel safe?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, the bad guys didn’t come back because they saw my note on the porch.’ She believes the power of her heart stopped the bad people from coming to our house. That’s amazing to me.” Precise proton therapy Ad by MD Anderson Cancer Center See More     GI 12 Todd was also moved by friends, neighbors, and fellow marines who made sure they were okay following the incident. The family filed a report with the Louisville Metro Police Department. Todd was frustrated when authorities did not come in person to check graffiti, saying it goes against their policy. The authorities took a report over the phone through their Telephone Reporting Unit. An investigation into the graffiti is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the department’s anonymous tip line at (502) 574-LMPD. Feature Image Screenshots via WHAS11 13 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10:49 AM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com; ALLAN SEID; Stephen Lee; Adam Seid; ALBERT CHING; ALEX LEE; ALICE KAWAZOE; ALICE SMITH; ALLAN CHIN; ALLAN LOW; ALMA BURRELL; AMANDO PADILLA; AMY YANG; Anita Wong Kwock; ANN XU; ANNIE CHO; ANTHONY LIN; ARLENE SEID; ARMINA HUSIC; ARTURO CAZARES; BALDWIN CHIU; BEETHOVEN BALA; BEN BURR; BERRY YUET; BLANCA ALVARADO; BOB BROWNSTEIN; BOB LIVENGOOD; BRENDA WONG; CAROL BACHETTI; Carole Chinn; CHARLENE LIAO; CHARLOTTE FU; Christian Jochim, PhD; CHRISTIE LI; CHRISTINE PHAM; CHRISTY CHUNG; CINDY CHAVEZ; CLARISSE LI; CLARK Agbayani; CONNIE YOUNG YU; CYNTHIA CHOI; DAIMEN SEID; DALE LIEBES; DALE MINAMI; DALE TROCKEL; DANIEL YANG; DAVID KWOH; DAVID PALBOA LIU; DAVID THORTON; DAVID TORIN; Deanna Seid; DEBRA HUI CEN; DENNIS LEE; DESI HAMMOND SEID; DIANNE McKENNA; DINAH CHENG; DIRK BENNETT; DON AUSTIN; DON TAMAKI; DON WOO; Summa, Doria; EIMI OKANO; ELAINE SEID; ELIZABETH HUNT; ELLEN KAMEI; ELLENBERG ELLENBERG; EMORY LEE; Filseth, Eric (external); ERNIE ORDUNA; EUGENE MOY; Eunice CHENG; EVA TROCKEL; EVAN LOW; FLO OY WONG; FRANCES MORSE; FRANCES SHIH; GARRET VAN DYKE; GAY YUEN; GERRYE WONG; GILBERT WONG; GINGER LAI; GREER STONE; GREG TANAKA; HANNAH LU; HELEN LI; HELEN LI; HELEN YOUNG; HENRY DER; HENRY MANAYAN; IAN AITCHISON; ISAO KOBASHI; JACK SUN; JAHMAL WILLIAMS; JAQUI GUZMAN; JEAN AITCHISON; JEANETTE ARAKAWA; JEFF MOORE; JEFF ROSEN; JEFFREY LEE; JENNIFER DIBRIENZA; JINGjing XU; Jocelyn Dong jdong@embarcaderopublishing.com; Joe SIMITIAN; JOHN A. MOORE; JOHN STCLAIR; JORGE WONG; JOSH BECKER; Joy Sleizer; JUDY CHU; JUDY LAI; K.C. Chae; KALOMA SMITH. (PASTOR); KAREN MORRISON; KELLY CHAU; KELLY TSAI; KEN YEAGER; KENNETH DAUBER; KIMBERLY ENG LEE; KYUNG (KW) LEE; LADONNA YUMORIKAKU; LADORIS CORDELL; LARRY GERSTON; Laurie Seid; Leslie Seid; LILY LIM; LIN SUN-HOFFMAN; LINDA WOO; Lydia Kou; LYNETTE LEE-ENG; MANJUSHA KULKARNI; MANUEL HERRERA; MARC BERMAN; MARC SEID; MARCIA PUGSLEY; MARGARET ABEKOGA; MARIA FUENTES; MARIA MAO; MARJORIE and NOEL CALINAWAN; MARSHA FONG; MARY ALICE THORNTON; MARY BETH TRAIN; MELISSA Luke; MICHAEL FONG; MICHAEL SETO; MICHELE LEW; MICKEY TROCKEL; MIKE ENG; MIKE HONDA; MIKE WASSERMAN; MIKE WOO; Molly Lorraine Van Dyke; MONICA YEUNG ARIMAS; MUNSON KWOCK; NANCY FLOWERS; NEILSON BUCHANAN; NORMAN MINETA; OTTO LEE; OTTO LEE; Council, City; PAT BURT; PATRICK KWOCK; PINKI FUNG; RAJ JAYADEV; REYMUNDO ESPINOZA; RHONDA BEKKEDAHL; RICHARD KONDA; RICK ENG; ROD DIRIDON; ROSE AMADOR; ROSE DAO; Rose Seid; ROSEMARY KAMEI; ROSS PUSEY; ROY & PJ HIRABYASHI; ROY TAKEUCHI; RUBY HE; SABRIYA SEID; SALLY BEMUS; SALLY LIEBER; SALLY WU; SARA Woodham; SARAH MARC-GUERTIN; SARITA KOHLI; SHARON VEACH; SHOUNAK DHARAP; SKYLER Seid; SLOAN SEID; SOPHIA LIU; STEVE PREMINGER; STEVE WING; SUELLEN KWOCK; SUSAN HAYASE; Timothy Van Dyke; TITI LIU; TOM DUBOIS; TOM TSAI; TOMARA SEID; TONY ALEXANDER; TONY LY; TRINH PHAM; VICKI TAKETA; VICTOR GARZA; WALTER WILSON; WEI DONG; WES MUKOYAMA; WILFORD Low; WILLY WONG; YUKARI LAKE; YVETTE LEE; YVONNE MAXWELL; ZOE LOFGREN; j.underdal@gmail.com; KIM KREBS; ELIZABETH SCHMIDT; mayle.tom@gmail.com; j.furukawa@gmail.com; vincent.mary@gmail.com Subject:Fwd: 'Disgusting and horrific': Two Asian women stabbed in downtown San Francisco, police say; suspect arrested CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    From: Allan Seid   Date: Wed, May 5, 2021   14 Subject: 'Disgusting and horrific': Two Asian women stabbed in downtown San Francisco, police say; suspect arrested  Source: Yahoo News        https://news.yahoo.com/disgusting‐horrific‐two‐asian‐women‐043426565.html  'Disgusting and horrific': Two Asian women stabbed in downtown San Francisco, police say; suspect arrested Wed, May 5, 2021, 8:44 AM Authorities arrested a man who they say is suspected of stabbing two Asian women without warning in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday. Officers were sent to 4th and Stockton streets shortly before 5 p.m. and found the wounded women, who were taken to a hospital, according to The Associated Press. There was no immediate word on their conditions. Witnesses told KPIX-TV that a man clutching a knife was walking down Market Street when he approached a bus stop, stabbed the women, and then walked away. Police didn't immediately indicate whether the women were specifically targeted or whether the attack might be a hate crime. Matt Haney, a representative on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, expressed outrage Tuesday over the incident. "Disgusting and horrific attack on Market St this afternoon of two Asian seniors," he said on Twitter. "I've been closely in touch with the SFFD and SFPD. The suspect was just arrested. The victims are at the hospital. #StopTheAttacks #StopAsianHate." Asian Americans have been the target of several unprovoked attacks in the San Francisco Bay Area and in other parts of the country in recent months. The attacks are believed to stem mainly from misguided anger about the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in China. Anti‐Asian hashtags soaredafter Donald Trump first tied COVID-19 to China on Twitter, study shows 15 Related: Asian woman attacked in New York City by stranger with hammer demanding victim remove mask, police say Former President Donald Trump frequently drew widespread criticism for anti- Chinese rhetoric. Anti-Asian bias and attacks have grown exponentially over the past year in conjunction with this rhetoric. Asian Americans made up roughly 6.7 million people in California in 2019, by far the nation’s largest, according to the Pew Research Center. Just this past weekend, two Asian women were attacked in New York City by a stranger who demanded they remove their masks before striking one in the head with a hammer, police said. In March, the organization Stop AAPI Hate — founded last year in response to increased targeting of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders during the pandemic — said it had received reports of nearly 3,800 hate incidents in a year and estimated that was only a fraction of the actual number. The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino found a 164% increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in the first quarter of 2021 versus last year in 16 cities and jurisdictions across the country. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Asian women attack: Police arrest suspect in San Francisco stabbing 16 Baumb, Nelly From:Canopy <info@canopy.org> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10:25 AM To:Council, City Subject:Register Now: Greening the Outdoor Classroom Webinar CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.    To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.         Greening the Outdoor Classroom: Bringing Nature to School Campuses   Thursday, May 20, 2021 10:00 - 11:30 AM   To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.     Increased use of outdoor learning spaces is top of mind for schools due to limitations posed by Covid-19 on indoor classroom use. In addition to reducing virus risks, outdoor learning benefits students’ social, emotional, and mental well-being. Research shows that trees and gardens create better learning environments for students by alleviating mental fatigue, improving attention, and encouraging hands-on learning outdoors — all of which can bolster academic performance. In this webinar, learn strategies for bringing trees and nature to school campuses. Find out how to design for success by anticipating roadblocks, identifying feasible opportunities, and engaging with key stakeholders. Certified Arborists will earn 1.5 ISA CEUs upon attending the live webinar.   Register       This event is part of our More Trees Please webinar series that offers guidance from Bay Area experts on ways to ensure resilient urban forests, 17 providing useful tools to decision-makers, from elected officials to city planners, arborists, tree growers, and landscape architects. This series is made possible by a generous grant from the County of Santa Clara Office of Sustainability.   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.     To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.               Speakers   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Lauren Freels Landscape Architect, Bay Tree Design   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   Jaime Zaplatosch Director of Green Schoolyards for Healthy Communities, Children & Nature Network   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   Devon Conley Board President, Mountain View Whisman School District       Visit Our Website   Tree Library   Find an Arborist   Blog     Canopy's mission is to grow urban tree canopy in Midpeninsula communities for the benefit of all.   To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InFacebook   To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InTwitter   To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InIn stagram   To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InYouTube            Canopy | 3921 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 Unsubscribe city.council@cityofpaloalto.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by info@canopy.org powered by   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Trusted Email from Constant Contact - Try it FREE today. Try email marketing for free today!       18 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10:16 AM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: Sikh Community Demands Hammer Attack in NYC Hotel to Be Investigated as Hate Crime CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      Fr. Allan Seid  Date: Wed, May 5, 2021   Subject: Sikh Community Demands Hammer Attack in NYC Hotel to Be Investigated as Hate CrimeSource: Source: Yahoo  News    https://news.yahoo.com/sikh‐community‐demands‐hammer‐attack‐192923136.html  19 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 10:05 AM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: Man Charged After Attacking Two Asian American Women With CEMENT BLOCK in Baltimore CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    Fr. Allan Seid  Date: Wed, May 5, 2021   Subject: Man Charged After Attacking Two Asian American Women With CEMENT BLOCK in Baltimore  Source:Yahoo News    https://news.yahoo.com/man‐charged‐attacking‐two‐asian‐180911994.html    20 Baumb, Nelly From:Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter <reply@emails.sierraclub.org> Sent:Wednesday, May 5, 2021 8:01 AM To:Council, City Subject:You Can Protect Your Community From Sea Level Rise CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Dear Supporter To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. “Sea level rise will have a profound impact on the San Francisco Bay and the communities that surround it. The challenge is to protect housing, businesses and critical infrastructure in an environmentally sensitive way. Learning from experts and local leaders involved in nature based solutions, this webinar series will inform key stakeholders about options for addressing sea level rise while restoring and protecting the Bay.” - Dave Pine, Chair of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority; San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 1; Member of the Bay Conservation and Development Commission Sea Level Rise: Why We Need Nature Based Adaptation 3-Part Webinar: Thursdays 9 am - Noon, May 13, 20, 27 Click here to register for free Decision makers need information and understanding of why nature-based adaptation to sea level rise is critical for cities around the Bay. This webinar provides an introduction to nature based adaptation strategies, how to plan for them and how to fund them. This is an opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field about how to make your community resilient to the impacts of sea level rise. You will join decision-makers and community stakeholders who are working to protect their communities while improving the quality of life for residents and leaving a living legacy. San Francisco Bay is a complex living ecosystem, essential to the ecology of California. As sea levels rise, urgent action is needed as rising levels seriously endanger the Bay's ecology in addition to threatening economic harm to housing, industry and critical infrastructure. Recent studies are confirming what scientists have believed, that traditional “armored” shorelines such as levees and concrete bulkheads offer less long-term protection than people might think. Now more scientists, policy makers and funding agencies have come to understand that “living shorelines” are valuable in protecting coastlines. Webinar Agenda Speaker Bios 21 Jointly presented by the Loma Prieta Chapter, the Redwood Chapter and the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the Sierra Club To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Supporting Organizations: To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Sponsored by the Bay2030 Campaign of the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automati To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automati To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automati Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter This email was sent to: city.council@cityofpaloalto.org This email was sent by the Sierra Club 2101 Webster St., Suite 1300, Oakland, CA 94612 Manage Preferences/Unsubscribe | View as Web Page l a I 22 Baumb, Nelly From:Alice Smith <alice.smith@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 11:56 PM Subject:May 12th Stop Voter Suppression Roundtable, Call to Action: Zoom link provided CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.        Please join us.  Your vote is your voice but others should have this voice, too!    To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.                                      Let Every Citizen Vote!    Wed. May 12th, 2021 – 5:00 to 6:30 (Pacific) ZOOM LINK details below.   Join NATIONAL VOTER CORPS in the fight to stop voter suppression.   Discover WHAT five leading organizations are doing to stop voter suppression   and HOW you can help! ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS:  • Santa Clara County Supervisor JOE SIMITIAN (moderator) • Former FEC & Fair Political Practices Commission member ANN RAVEL (keynote) • Reclaim Our Vote Executive Director ANDREA MILLER • Mi Familia Vota Executive Director HECTOR SANCHEZ BARBA • VoteRiders Executive Director DAVE GRIGGS • Four Directions Founder O.J. SEMANS • Students Learn, Students Vote Special Projects Director EDDY ZERBE Audience Q&A will follow the roundtable discussion. JOIN ZOOM MEETING at 5pm – 6:30 pm (PACIFIC Time) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82779466629?pwd=ZVQ4RHpYLzZGZ3JwN0NTbTd5bmUrdz09 Meeting ID: 827 7946 6629 Passcode: 398421 One tap mobile +16468769923,,82779466629#,,,,*398421# US (New York) 23 +16699006833,,82779466629#,,,,*398421# US (San Jose) Thank you for helping to save our democracy.   Please forward this invitation to your network! Alice Schaffer Smith Executive Director, National Voter Corps National Voter Corps.org                                      Copyright © 2021 National Voter Corps, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you indicated you are interested in getting updates about voting events and important messages about voters rights. Our mailing address is: National Voter Corps P.O. Box 7848 Menlo Park, Ca 94026 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp       ‐  24 Baumb, Nelly From:Robert Neff <robert@neffs.net> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 10:46 PM To:Council, City Subject:New organization of Agenda is terrific! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Honorable City Council Members, City Manager, and staff, The new organization of the city council agendas, including links to pertinent letters, and staff Q&A, is terrific. No more wading through every accidental email sent to council to see the letters. This is a big improvement in signal to noise, and thank you to whoever instigated it. -- -- Robert Neff Emerson & Loma Verde, Palo Alto robert@neffs.net 25 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 2:30 PM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: Asian player punched, called racial slurs in Bay Area basketball game CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    Subject: Asian player punched, called racial slurs in Bay Area basketball game  Source:S.J. Mercury. 5/11/21  Fr: Allan Seid    https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/05/03/asian‐american‐teen‐punched‐called‐racial‐slurs‐during‐ basketball‐game‐in‐bay‐area/  Asian American teen punched, called racial slurs during Bay Area youth basketball game San Jose player suffered concussion from punch thrown by San Francisco player Cam InmanMay 4, 2021 at 9:27 a.m. Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said the tournament was sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union. The AAU clarified that it was not involved. An Asian American teenage boy was targeted with a racial slur and sustained a concussion when punched in a weekend basketball tournament against a San Francisco-based team, the boys’ parents told KPIX5. The boy, identified only by his first name, Evan, was playing Saturday for the South Bay Snipers in a game at the Battle of the Bay tournament organized by Grassroots 365 at Oakland’s Soldiertown gym. “Not one single parent stood up to go protect my son. I ran across the gym to get him,” his mother, Lennie, told KPIX’s Maria Medina. “They did use the ‘C’ word.” 26 The boy’s father said two-thirds of the Snipers team is Asian. The interaction was captured on video aired by KPIX. Grassroots 365 issued a statement on Instagram condemning anti-Asian racism, adding: “We are sickened by the senseless and deplorable actions of individual players on the court this past weekend in Oakland. We have taken swift action to address the individuals involved and will continue to diligently and comprehensively investigate the incident.” Evan dove for a loose ball on the court with a San Francisco Generals player. In an ensuing altercation, a second Generals player pushed Evan over the first General, who was still on the ground. After Evan stood up, he exchanged words with the second player, who then punched him in the face. That player was banned from Sunday’s tournament games. The boy’s parents told KPIX they plan to file a report with the Oakland Police Department. It’s not yet clear if OPD has processed a report on the matter. The altercation comes against the backdrop of an increase in racist attacks on Asian people in the Bay Area and nationwide over recent months. Attempts to reach the Snipers team have not yet been returned. A statement posted Monday afternoon to the Snipers’ Instagram account, in conjunction with PrimeTime Basketball Academy, read in part: “We strongly condemn any and all forms of violence or acts of hate against all racial backgrounds. Any form of violence will not be tolerated.” The Snipers’ statement also noted that they’re in contact with the Generals and tournament organizers to “provide a fun, safe and competitive league while embracing the diversity and culture that the sport of basketball is meant to encompass.” 27 Baumb, Nelly From:Mary Gallagher <livebuoyantly@gmail.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 10:27 AM To:Roberta Ahlquist; Council, City Subject:Fwd: Develop Smart Cities and Communities with ArcGIS Urban CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Folks with an interest in Urban Planning and Housing for Socially, Economically, and Culturally Diverse Communities: May we consider using the tool that is described below to plan Palo Alto's future for the next 100 years?   ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Esri <smartplanning@esri.com>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 9:14 AM  Subject: Develop Smart Cities and Communities with ArcGIS Urban  To: <livebuoyantly@gmail.com>    Esri's ArcGIS Urban is a suite of web‐based 3D planning tools for long‐ and short‐range planning, 3D urban visualization, scenario analysis, and project planning management.  To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Esri | The Science of Where View email in web browser. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Plan for the Development of Smart Communities 28 Esri's ArcGIS Urban is a web-based 3D experience designed to improve urban planning and decision-making for a more holistic approach to smart city planning. View the story map and see how ArcGIS Urban can:  Simplify project collaboration for public and private stakeholders.  Streamline the complex zoning process.  Stimulate private investment and support development to achieve a desired community vision. View the Story Map     To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   You received this due to your subscription to ArcGIS Urban Product Announcements. Update your subscription preferences. Esri.com | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright © 2021 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373, USA. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Facebook To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Twitter To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.In stagram To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.GeoNet To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.LinkedIn To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.YouTube   To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the InThe Scienc        To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the In         ‐‐   Mary Gallagher, B.Sc. Aquatics Professional 650-683-7102 (cell)    Copyright 2021     Security Alert Notice  The information contained in this e-mail is confidential information, presumed to be virus free, and intended only for use by the individual or entity named above. Virus protection is the responsibility of the recipient. If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient, dissemination or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please delete the material from your computer.   --- 29 Baumb, Nelly From:Russell Hancock <hancock@jointventure.org> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 9:00 AM To:Council, City Subject:There is still time (and an urgent need) to endorse Climate-Safe California CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Having trouble? View in browser Don't miss an email. Add us to your address book To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Announcing the release of the 2020 Silicon Valley Index To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Act boldly on climate. Add your voice. Dear Silicon Valley elected official: I'm writing to follow up on my email of April 19, inviting you to add your 30 personal endorsement to Climate-Safe California. The effort urges California state leaders to adopt more aggressive carbon drawdown targets, in the manner of this appeal Supervisor Dave Pine and I published in the Mercury News. We're pleased that a sizeable group of Silicon Valley elected officials have endorsed the effort, including: Sam Liccardo, Mayor, City of San Jose Kathy Watanabe, Councilmember, City of Santa Clara Zach Friend, Supervisor, Santa Cruz County Jon Willey, Councilmember, City of Cupertino Jen Wolosin, Councilmember, City of Menlo Park Margaret Abe-Koga, Councilmember, City of Mountain View Emily Beach, Councilmember, City of Burlingame David Cohen, Councilmember, City of San Jose Alison Hicks, Council Member, City of Mountain View Zach Hilton, Council Member, City of Gilroy Don Horsley, Supervisor, San Mateo County Patricia Showalter, Councilmember, City of Mountain View George Tyson, Vice Mayor, Town of Los Altos Hills Matt Mahan, Councilmember, City of San Jose Dave Pine, Supervisor, San Mateo County Susan Ellenberg, Supervisor, Santa Clara County Adding your name to the list is easy. Simply visit the endorsement page and enter your information. The page also includes a wealth of resources, including scientific citations. My colleague Barry Vesser is spearheading this effort for us. He is completely available to answer your questions, or provide a thorough briefing. Barry and his team will take the liberty of following up, but you can email him immediately at vesser@jointventure.org. As you well know, a sizeable list of endorsements holds the power to unleash change. Yours, 31 To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Russell Hancock signature Russell Hancock President & Chief Executive Officer Joint Venture Silicon Valley provides analysis and action on issues affecting our region's economy and quality of life. To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Watch our videos on YouTube Copyright © 2021 Joint Venture Silicon Valley. All rights reserved. | www.jointventure.org 84 West Santa Clara Street, Suite 800, San Jose, California 95113 Unsubscribe from this list | Update your preferences | Add us to your address book Forward this email to a friend. To learn more about how we are complying with GDPR, read our privacy policy. Gmail Users: Not seeing our emails in your inbox? Learn how to add them to Gmail's Primary tab.      GI 32 Baumb, Nelly From:Irene Lloyd <irenelloyd@sbcglobal.net> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 8:43 AM To:Council, City Subject:Grade Separation CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  City is looking for "cheap grade separations" in Palo Alto. This is what cheap can cause: . "What We Know About the Mexico City Train Crash (msn.com)" Do you really want this to happen here? Please do not think about the cost, think about the future and safety. No one really considers overpasses for trains in densely populated cities as they're ugly, noisy and pollute the air we breathe. You all have a responsible job to do, so do it right! If tunnel is out of your budget, then go with the trench. Over/Under passes may be cheap but not one would be happy once the project is completed. Think of it as buying shoes--if you buy a cheap pair your feet would hurt after only one wear... If AECOM is not experienced in building tunnels, then there are other companies who are. How does BART manages tunneling? Perhaps they could share their experience in connecting Bay Area cities with you. After all, BART connected more cities that Caltrain could dream of! Sincerely Irene Lloyd Resident 33 Baumb, Nelly From:Steve <steve@trmats.com> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 6:27 AM To:Council, City Subject:LogoCarpet - USA CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Good Day,    May I send you our LogoMat price‐list?    Best regards,      Steve Watson  LogoCarpets  LLC.  580 California Street  San Francisco, CA 94104  Ph: (866) 566‐3702    To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.   ********************************************************************** This message is intended for the addressee named and may contain privileged information or confidential information or both. If you are not the intended recipient please delete it and notify the sender. **********************************************************************   To unsubscribe, reply to this email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.   city.council@cityofpaloalto.org GI 34 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 3:17 AM To:Loran Harding; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; David Balakian; fred beyerlein; bballpod; beachrides; Leodies Buchanan; bearwithme1016@att.net; boardmembers; Council, City; Chris Field; Cathy Lewis; dennisbalakian; Doug Vagim; Daniel Zack; Dan Richard; david pomaville; esmeralda.soria@fresno.gov; eappel@stanford.edu; Steven Feinstein; fmerlo@wildelectric.net; francis.collins@nih.gov; grinellelake@yahoo.com; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; steve.hogg; Irv Weissman; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner; kfsndesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; leager; lalws4 @gmail.com; mthibodeaux@electriclaboratories.com; Mayor; margaret-sasaki@live.com; Mark Standriff; newsdesk; news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; sanchezphilip21@gmail.com; tsheehan; terry; vallesR1969@att.net Subject:Fwd: America's microchip problem- "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 2:24 AM  Subject: Fwd: America's microchip problem‐ "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 1:52 AM  Subject: Fwd: America's microchip problem‐ "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 1:08 AM  Subject: Fwd: America's microchip problem‐ "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 12:58 AM  35 Subject: Fwd: America's microchip problem‐ "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 12:42 AM  Subject: Fwd: America's microchip problem‐ "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Tue, May 4, 2021 at 12:25 AM  Subject: America's microchip problem‐ "60 Min." Sun. May 2, 2021.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>                Monday, May 3, 2021     Late, even for me.                   To all‐                 This segment on "60 Minutes" on Sunday was well done, with some embarrassing lapses. Stahl said that Intel  "made $78 billion in revenue last year". You get revenue, top line, and you hope to make a profit at the bottom of the  income statement. You learn that on the first page of your Principles of Accounting book. She says that Intel was the  founding Co. of Silicon Valley, when it was Hewlett‐Packard.                     The INTC fab in Phoenix cost $10 billion.  The Intel CEO says his co. is the only one making chips in the U.S.  What about Advanced Micro Devices?  Micron Technology? Probably production overseas.  Most chips are now made in  Asia. Biden wants to put $50 billion into the US chip industry. He says chips are infrastructure, which is true. Congress  should approve that.   INTC c. at $64 on 3‐31‐21 and at $57.53 last Friday, 4‐30‐21. Mos. ago it was in the news that  there is a kind of chip they cannot make. The stock has drifted since then. I do not own any   BUT I did buy MU at  $36.4364 on 3‐19‐20 and it c. at $85.02 today. Makes me feel a little guilty. 13:14:               Watch 60 Minutes: America's microchip problem ‐ Full show on CBS               Intel is still a great company, but the federal government has let this industry go to heck, and we really need to be  leaders here. It is now sort of like our steel industry in 1970‐  on the way down. Maybe the white men with big‐gun  educations in this field are all moving to Munchen, where, BTW, Intel has a big operation. No Nazi laws to deal with  there. They can hire and promote anybody they want to, thus beating our brains out.                  Here is Biden at a conference with executives about chips:                          Biden pushes for more investment in U.S. semiconductor industry ‐ YouTube                     Here is a good piece from DW ‐ 13 minutes‐   about the global chip shortage.  One flaw‐ they show a woman 3X  who is infected with "You know", to bastardize the English language.  We don't produce vids that bastardize die  Deutsche Sprache, so I wish DW wouldn't do it to us.     36                Global chip shortage: How microchips became one of the worlds most precious resources ‐ YouTube                You really see here how big a deal this is. A lot about China and Taiwan.  Chips have become among the most  valuable commodities on the planet.                     L. William Harding                  Fresno, Ca.   37 Baumb, Nelly From:LWV Palo Alto VOTER <publicity@lwvpaloalto.org> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 5:30 PM To:Council, City Subject:LWVPA May VOTER - Help Us Make an Impact! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    View this email in your browser.        To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.     Visit us on www.lwvpaloalto.org and on our Facebook Page   Subscribe to our Google Calendar         May 2021     In this Issue  Message from our President  Annual Membership Meeting  High School Civic Engagement Club Caucus  April Board Meeting Highlights  Invest in the League  Advocacy Reports  A Glimpse into History  100 Community Conversations on Race  May Fete 2021  Understanding the Asian American/Pacific Islander Experience 38    LWV California 68th State Convention  Bystander Intervention: Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment  BART Bond Oversight Committee  Bay Area Monitor  Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month       Message from our President   Dear members, Our League is preparing for the Annual Meeting of members on May 15 at 9:30 am; chat time opens at 9 am for socializing. This is our meeting to reflect on accomplishments over the past year and look forward to the new year with program adoption and voting in new board members. Guest Speaker at the Annual Meeting is AME Zion Church’s Pastor Kaloma Smith, Chair of the Palo Alto Human Relations Commission (HRC). Pastor Smith will talk about the “Power of Community” and the progress that can be made when all community organizations work together. This portion of the Annual Meeting will be open to the public and begins at 10:30 am. Our League is working with the HRC’s “Reimagine Community” initiative. Please consider becoming a leader by hosting one of the 100 Community Conversations on Race for your friends and neighbors. See more in the newsletter about how to sign up. Looking back at this past year, where every meeting was conducted on Zoom, the League didn’t skip a beat during elections and pivoted all services to Zoom. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.GI 39   The Event Committee, looking to restart Speaker Luncheons, brought the talks directly to you the same way, via Zoom. Although we are beginning to discuss in-person meetings again, we realize that many members prefer virtual, so part of next year could be a hybrid of both virtual and in-person meetings. Through all of this, it has been an honor to serve as President of the LWV Palo Alto during this year, and the accomplishments we have achieved are due to the dedicated work of our Directors and Committee Chairs. Thank you all for making this League so impactful. Sincerely, Nancy Shepherd       LWVPA Annual Membership Meeting   Saturday, May 15, 2021 9:30 am - 12:00 pm (Zoom room opens at 9 am) We are excited to invite all members to join our Annual Membership Meeting, the most important gathering of our League year! Members will accomplish the following during the meeting:  Approve 2021-2022 budget  Adopt our top Program emphases for 2021-2022  Make bylaws changes  Elect new officers, directors, and a nominating committee Members should have received a separate invitation on May 1 with registration information and a link to the Annual Meeting Kit. 40   To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Special Guest Speaker: Pastor Kaloma Smith Power of Community 10:30 am - 11:00 am Pastor Kaloma Smith, leader of the University AME Zion Church in Palo Alto and Chair of the City of Palo Alto Human Relations Commission, will talk about hopes for progress that can be made when all community organizations work together. Pastor Smith’s talk is open to the public and we welcome non- members to attend this highly pertinent speech from 10:30 to 11:00 am. Please join us and help us shape the important work that we do for the coming year. We look forward to seeing you there!   Register Now     LWVPA High School Civic Engagement Club Caucus at the LWVC State Convention Monday, June 7, 2021 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Great news: The LWVPA High School Civic Engagement Club Caucus has been accepted by LWVC for the State Convention in June! Our presenters, Jenn Wagstaff Hinton, Co-Chair of Civics at LWVPA and Rachael Kaci, Palo Alto Unified School District Teacher, welcome you to join an engaging and inspirational caucus on June 7. 0 41   In the fall of 2020, LWVPA President Nancy Shepherd envisioned a partnership between the League and our local high schools to expand students' civic-engagement knowledge and influence in an elective Civic Engagement Club structure. The student-led club model is based on the CA Department of Education’s "State Seal of Civic Engagement" (SSCE) award criteria that were adopted in September 2020. The SSCE criteria include five areas of exploration, culminating in the call for students to share their retrospective learnings with broader school and community groups. Club students can earn the SSCE seal for inclusion on their transcript and diploma upon graduation. Application for the LWVC Caucus slot is one of two learning forums that the club is pursuing. The caucus will be held on Zoom and is open to the public. We will share the registration link once it becomes available. Stay tuned!       April Board Meeting Highlights   The following motions were approved:  The Natural Resources Committee will host a Zoom event titled “The Promise of Carbon Neutrality by 2050" in July (date TBD), which will include a presentation by Irene Yang and Julie Gaudin, members of the Silicon Valley North Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby.  Our August 4 speaking event with Larry Diamond, who will speak about possible electoral reforms to reduce political polarization in the U.S., will be cosponsored by Congregation Beth Am.  We will help publicize the upcoming three-part panel discussion “Understanding the Asian American/Pacific Islander To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.GI 42   Experience,” hosted by Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. Board Discussion and Other Business:  Our membership will be invited by email to the Annual Meeting that will take place on Saturday, May 15. Our guest speaker, Pastor Kaloma Smith, will talk about the “Power of Community.” Links to registration and the Annual Meeting Kit will be included in the email. Zoom room opens at 9:00 am.  Dan Zalles is chairing our new Equal Justice Team. They actively supported and publicized the May 2 AAPI rally in Palo Alto and will continue to promote Palo Alto HRC’s 100 Community Conversations on Race. - Sue Hermsen, Secretary       Invest in the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto Thank you for your support of the League of Women Voters and the work we do in the Palo Alto and Stanford community. Our mission to encourage informed and active participation of our local citizens in government, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy, continues to be critical. Our annual campaign letter was sent to our members and donors at the end of March. If you have already given, thank you! If you have not yet had a chance to contribute, please donate today. We appreciate your partnership in our work for democracy in our local community!   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.GI 43 Donate Now       Advocacy Reports   To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. National LWVUS joined 150 environmental and civil rights groups calling for Congress to include in President Biden’s infrastructure bill a ‘Clean Energy Standard’--80% carbon-free power by 2030 and 100% by 2035. LWVUS issued a statement on the trial of Derek Chauvin: “Today, the police officer responsible for the murder of George Floyd was held accountable for his crime. While the decision to convict George Floyd’s murderer was just, it does not remedy the undeniable fact that policing in America is fundamentally broken. . .” Read the entire statement here. LWVUS hosted a day of action on redistricting; resolved a lawsuit against the Census Bureau which prevented states from excluding noncitizens from redistricting; issued a statement to support Senate Filibuster Reform; announced a partnership with health professionals (Vot-ER) to assist patients to register to vote and engage in other civic activities. Read all LWV’s press releases here. 44   State LWV of California (LWVC) urged the Supreme Court to reject challenges to California’s Charitable Reporting Law. LWVC supports the following bills in the legislature: AB 236 that requires disclosure of members of limited liability companies who oppose or support a candidate or ballot measure; SB 90 that requires names of nonprofits, businesses or individuals who signed ballot arguments to be listed on the ballot label; SB 31 that directs the State Energy Commission to use federal COVID relief funds to decarbonize existing and new commercial and residential buildings; AB 1145 that requires city and county general plans to consider emergency evacuation routes, wildfire risk, and sea- level rise in meeting regional housing allocations; SB 262 that requires bail to be set at $0 for all offenses except, among others, serious or violent felonies, violations of specified protective orders, battery against a spouse, sex offenses, and driving under the influence; SB 300 that eliminates the death penalty for persons without an intent to kill during the commission of a felony; SB 503 that, as amended, would improve the signature verification of mail-in ballots, which currently has a significantly higher rate of rejection for Latinix and Asian American voters, by establishing multiple levels of review and other safeguards before a ballot is rejected; and SCA 2, that repeals Article 34 of the state constitution requiring a two-thirds popular vote before a city or county can build ‘low-rent’ housing. - Lisa Ratner, 2nd Vice President and Advocacy Chair     A Glimpse Into History 45   Liz Brownell, LWVPA member, shares with us a poignant yet inspiring story about her grandmother, Clara Darrow, first President of the Votes for Women League in North Dakota. Clara Darrow very much wanted to vote back at the turn of the century. Her speech, "I Want to Vote," given at Fargo, North Dakota, on October 25, 1914, tells the story of a courageous woman’s fight and her long wait to get to the polls. Read her full speech here. My Favorite Suffragette, Clara L. Darrow Written by Liz Brownell My grandmother Clara Darrow was the first President of the Votes for Women League in North Dakota. She organized an equal suffrage league in every county in the state. Along with her two daughters she traveled all over the state to speak and urged the passage of the Suffrage ballot. My father, youngest of 5 children, at 15 years of age frequently drove Clara around to the speaking engagements. She had always said, "I want to vote with my father and brothers." My father remembered that in one town he went to the local pharmacy to buy a soda and heard one man say, "That woman should stay at home rocking her baby." My father responded by saying, "I'm the baby and don't need to be rocked." Unfortunately Clara Darrow died in 1915 and was never able to vote or see her work in North Dakota suffrage fully realized.       Events by other Leagues and in the Community   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.0 46   To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 100 Community Conversations on Race and the Lived Experience in Palo Alto City of Palo Alto Human Relations Commission Since May 2020, Palo Altans have examined themselves, their city, and its institutions to understand racism as it exists in Palo Alto. What began as demonstrations and protests evolved into reading lists and discussions. In February, neighbors engaged in the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, and close to 2,000 neighbors took advantage of the resources of the Challenge to learn about racist acts and the structural racism of policies and programs in Palo Alto. It was an extraordinary experience for all who participated. The Human Relations Commission tasks the community to reimagine itself and be a model for equity and belonging. We are asking civic, social, professional, school, neighborhood, and organizational leaders to host one of the 100 Community Conversations on Race between May 25th and Juneteenth. Discussion guides and training will be provided, and each host will engage four to eight people to explore structural racism and consider their anti- racist journey. We ask you to be a host for such a conversation. You will receive a tool kit and discussion guide in mid-May and attend one of the training sessions scheduled for an hour (TBD) on May 17th or 20th. Please join people from City Council and neighborhoods who have stepped up to host the 100 Community Conversations on Race.   47 Sign Up Now   There will be more opportunities to examine racism and the lived experience of Black and Brown Palo Altans: Palo Alto Library's Book to Action event: Anti-Racism 101: How to Show Up for Racial Justice, on Thursday, May 6, 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Register here. From May 1 to August 14, the Palo Alto Art Center presents The Black Index, an exhibit of six artists that challenges our understanding of Blackness and race. See details of the exhibition here. A recording of the opening celebration can be viewed here. In May, Theatre Works will present a free online performance for students, A Kids Play About Racism, accompanied by four talkback sessions with Davied Morales, one of the show’s actors and creators! Reserve your spot here. Theatre Works will have a reading of an AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) play on June 5th. Please join us and become the agent of change in promoting justice and equity in our own community. Questions? Leave a message @ 650-463-4906 and To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 48   check our website for event calendars and more. - Valerie Stinger, Vice Chair, Human Relations Commission     To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Palo Alto's May Fete 2021 May 1-8, 2021 THEME: What a Wonderful World Although we can't get together as we have in the past, we are celebrating May Fete 2021 in the following fun and creative ways: “Reverse Parade” Decorating Contest – Celebrate by decorating your own yard, home, porch, front door, or business with something that makes our world wonderful for our community's kids. Residents will come by to view your decorations between May 1 and May 8 on their own "parades." Prizes will be awarded in these categories: Culturally Diverse, Spring Themed, and People's Choice. Pets on Display – fun ideas to show off your pet! Additional May Fete Activities  Palo Alto Library Story Times with theme-matching books  2021 Virtual vintage vehicle festival GI 49   Learn all about this year’s May Fete here.       To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. Understanding the Asian American/Pacific Islander Experience Thursdays, May 13, 20 and 27 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm This May, Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) and Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian are hosting a three-part series of panel discussions on “Understanding the Asian American/Pacific Islander Experience,” that will feature a diverse group of AAPI leaders and community members from across the country. The panel topics are designed to provide a foundation for understanding the diverse AAPI community, discussing the history and origins of violence and prejudice, and notions of identity within the AAPI community. The League is a proud supporter of the series. All panel discussions will be open to the public for free.   Register Now     50   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. The 68th State Convention of the LWV of California Friday, June 11, 2021 - Sunday, June 13, 2021 10:00 am - 4:00 pm All League members are invited to attend LWVC Convention 2021, a virtual event this year. The state convention meets every other year to conduct business as outlined by the bylaws. But just as important, the purpose of the Convention is to inspire and empower Californians to increase their active and informed participation in civic life. Come meet passionate people from across the state who are making democracy work! Every LWVPA member is eligible to be a delegate, with registration paid for by the League. Members can also register as nonvoting attendees who can observe plenary sessions and participate in workshops, caucuses, and other events. Anyone is welcome to observe the plenary sessions and caucuses at no cost. To take advantage of this great opportunity to meet new friends, be a part of the League in action, attend a great selection of workshops, and learn far more than you expect, email lwvpaoffice@gmail.com. Read more about the registration, schedule, and workshops.     Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) and Hollaback! To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 51   are co-sponsoring free online training sessions for when and how to intervene when we see anyone being harassed. These one-hour stand-alone sessions are packed with tips and I highly recommend attending one. My session had 3,200 attendees, so they are held as webinars, not meetings. The website has a list of other community and national sources of information, including the “AAPI Anti-Hate Community Resources", a crowdsourcing document that compiles resources from all over the country to help local communities. - Ellen Forbes, 1st Vice-President and Webmaster       Announcements   To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. BART Bond Oversight Committee The League of Women Voters of the Bay Area is looking for a League member to fill a vacancy on the BART Bond Oversight Committee (Measure RR). The committee consists of five professionals in the areas of engineering, auditing, public finance and construction project management, and includes two members from the League of Women Voters. One of the League members is resigning by the end of the year for personal reasons. This position will serve two years on the Committee. The $3.5 billion bond, approved in November 2016, includes projects that will GI 52   replace and strengthen BART’s infrastructure by replacing 90 miles of severely worn tracks, repair tunnels damaged by water intrusion and upgrade the aging train control system. Committee members are responsible for the following: assess how bond proceeds are spent; assess that work is completed in a timely, cost-effective and quality manner; communicate its findings and recommendations to the public; and publish an annual report. Committee members are asked to sign a conflict-of-interest statement and to disclose any potential conflicts that may arise in the course of their service. If you want to know more details, how to apply, etc., please contact Alex Starr, Chair of LWVBA Transportation Committee, at starrpeake@me.com.       Bay Area Monitor     April / May 2021  Getting Experimental  Tune up to Electric Vehicle Market  Regional Planning for Sea-Level Rise  Reducing Emissions  Take These Broken Wings     To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 53   To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Achievement First Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. During this month- long celebration, our nation acknowledges the historic achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and highlights their undeniable impact on American history. To celebrate, we recommend watching Asian Americans on PBS.       LWVPA Board Officers & Directors       OFFICERS       Nancy Shepherd President Ellen Forbes 1st Vice President, Webmaster Lisa Ratner 2nd Vice President, Advocacy Sue Hermsen Secretary Theivanai Palaniappan & Paula DIRECTORS Kathy Miller Voter Services Ellen Smith Parliamentarian Karen Kalinsky Collaborations & Community Outreach 54   Collins Co-Treasurers       Hannah Lu Communications Lynne Russell Fundraising Co-Chair Myra Lessner Events Liz Jensen Voter Services and Census 2020 Lizzy Gardner       LWVPA Off-Board    Budget Team Kathy Miller, Chair Theivanai Palaniappan Rosemary Nurre Hallatt Paula Collins City of PA HRC Liaison Valerie Stinger Civics Janet Wells Jenn Wagstaff Hinton Civil Discourse Liaison Susan Owicki Education Team Natural Resources Mary O'Kicki Hilary Glann Nominating Committee Trina Lovercheck, Chair Louise Valente Megan Swezey Fogarty Lynne Russell Lizzy Gardner Observer Corps Kevin Ma Pros & Cons and League Presentations Mary Jo Levy 55   Chair TBD Equity Justice Committee Chair Dan Zalles Facebook/Social Media Admin, Tech Advisor Aisha Piracha-Zakariya Fundraising Co-Chairs Abbie Dorosin Heike Enders Housing & Transportation Steve Levy, Chair Membership Erika Buck, Chair     Responsible Gun Ownership Hilary Glann Stacey Ashlund Seeking Racial Justice in Education Jeannie Lythcott VOTER and E-blast Editors Arati Periyannan, Hannah Lu Voter's Edge David Springer           Stay Informed! Sign Up for LWV California & LWVUS News & Alerts Click here to sign up for LWVC Newsletter and Action Alerts Click here to sign up for Email News and Action Alerts from LWVUS       How to contact your elected officials 56   United States President Joseph R. Biden (202) 456-1414 Senator Dianne Feinstein (415) 393-0707 Senator Alex Padilla 202-224-3553 Rep. Anna Eshoo (650) 323-2984 California Governor Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841 Senator Josh Becker (650) 212-3313 Assemblymember Marc Berman (650) 691-2121 Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (650) 965-8737 joe.simitian@bos.sccgov.org Other Areas in California Locate your elected officials by street address For a complete list of ALL your electeds, see here on our website.         JOIN A TEAM       To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.     Learn More About Our Teams and Programs on our Website!             To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.            To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office preventedownload of this picture from the Internet.Facebook   Facebook     To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office preventedownload of this picture from the Internet.Twitter   Twitter     To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office preventedownload of this picture from the Internet.Website   Website        57     Copyright © 2021 League of Women Voters Palo Alto, All rights reserved. From Voter Recipient List Our mailing address is: League of Women Voters Palo Alto 3921 E Bayshore Rd Ste 209 Palo Alto, CA 94303-4303 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp          58 Baumb, Nelly From:Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 5:27 PM To:To: Tom DuBois; DuBois, Tom; Lydia Kou; Kou, Lydia; Alison Cormack; Cormack, Alison; Greer Stone; Stone, Greer; Pat Burt; Burt, Patrick; Greg Tanaka; Tanaka, Greg; Filseth, Eric (external); Filseth, Eric (Internal); Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Human Relations Commission; Planning Commission; Joe Simitian; Joe Simitian; Josh Becker; joshbbecker1@gmail.com; Aram James; Roberta Ahlquist; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; mark weiss; Mark Petersen-Perez; Dave Price; Bill Johnson; Jesse Gary; rebecca; Angie, Palo Alto Renters Association Subject:Re: Eric Filseth's one-line defense of the Mayor CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  It has become very clear that some of our elected council have little understanding of the role that social class plays. It is  called intersectionality,  and you need to factor in race/class/ethnicity/gender/ability in your analysis. These ideas do not 'stand' alone in  isolation. Please consider  educating yourselves regarding the role that all of these play in purchasing housing, among many other things.  Roberta Ahlquist,  Low‐income Housing Committee, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, Peninsula branch    https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Palo-Alto-s-housing-debate-is-a-battle-over-16142750.php?  “I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois said. “I  don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."    On Mon, May 3, 2021 at 12:45 PM Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com> wrote:  Responding publicly to Eric Filseth's defense of the Mayor, which was sent to me directly rather than to the group:      Eric writes:   On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM Eric Filseth <efilseth@gmail.com> wrote:  Data on this is publicly available if you know where to look.  Eric    I respond:     Eric, I conduct research for a living. I have looked many places, including on paid databases that attorneys and legal  researchers rely on for filing and defending cases related to civil rights and racial discrimination.      59 Given the highly charged state of race relations and the urgent crisis of discrimination and violence against AAPI  individuals, not to mention PACC's official commitment to end such bias and discrimination, one would think that the  Mayor of a famous city would not make such a generalization without solid proof that his comments are true (query  why a white mayor of a majority white city would make this statement altogether). If there is a source I am not aware  of, at very least you should clarify which source, don't you think?  "If you know where to look" is not a source.    On the other side of "where to look" are ample sources demonstrating the Mayor's comments to be based on racial  bias rather than on facts.  Perhaps the Mayor is confusing "rate of purchase" with "percentage of buyers?"    In other words, there is no evidence available that Asian‐Americans make up MOST of home buyers in Santa Clara  County, and there is a lot of evidence that they do not, including the Pew article and the LA Times article I cited and  linked.     The closest I could find is that the RATE of Asian American purchases was increasing. And that they purchase at a higher  percentage than non‐Asians.    BUT Asian‐Americans still are only approximately 1/3 of the population. They can purchase in higher percentages but  that does not make them the majority of buyers. Even if every single AA bought a home ‐‐ which is not true ‐‐ it is still  unlikely that they could comprise the majority of buyers.  It's close to mathematically impossible.     Perhaps the Mayor is confusing rate of purchase with percentage of buyers?   Asian‐Americans may purchase at a rate of 60% of their ethnic group overall (this is a made‐up number to show you  how the math works), but that 60% of AAs still cannot constitute a majority of buyers given that AAs are only 38% of  the population. 60% of 38% equals 22.8%.     Or, perhaps the Mayor was conflating *Asian American* buyers with *Asian* buyers ‐‐ aka, buyers from outside the  country?  Although it is true that many purchasers of SCC land are Asian nationals, there is no evidence that Asian  nationals, alternatively, purchase most of the available homes. (And BTW Asian‐Americans generally do not appreciate  being confused and/or conflated with Asian nationals.)     TL/DR Asian‐Americans may be the largest ethnic group of buyers, and possibly (although unproven) they constitute a  plurality of buyers, but it is highly unlikely that they make up the majority of buyers, and if they did, I am not sure if that  data is available beyond, possibly, a list of "Asian sounding names."     This may seem like mincing words to you, but in a context of a known epidemic of violence against Asian‐Americans,  these types of unfounded remarks often fuel the fire of racial violence. Given that this remark was out of place in the  first place, I wonder why a Mayor would resort to race‐based fear‐mongering as a way (ironically) to argue that racism  does not exist?     I ask you again to be more careful with your words. These types of generalizations fuel the very anti‐AAPI violence and  discrimination that you swore officially to fight against.     Best,   Rebecca       Rebecca L. Eisenberg Esq.  www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg  www.winwithrebecca.com  rebecca@winwithrebecca.com  415-235-8078    60   On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM Eric Filseth <efilseth@gmail.com> wrote:  Data on this is publicly available if you know where to look.  Eric        From: Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com>   Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2021 3:41 AM  To: Tom DuBois <tomforcouncil@gmail.com>; tom.dubois@cityofpaloalto.org; Lydia Kou <lydiakou@gmail.com>; Kou,  Lydia <lydia.kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Alison Cormack <alisonlcormack@gmail.com>; Alison Cormack  <alison.cormack@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <gstone22@gmail.com>; greer.stone@cityofpaloalto.org; Pat Burt  <patburt11@gmail.com>; pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org; Greg Tanaka <greg@gregtanaka.org>;  greg.tanaka@cityofpaloalto.org; Eric Filseth <efilseth@gmail.com>; Filseth, Eric (Internal)  <Eric.Filseth@cityofpaloalto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Shikada, Ed  <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org>; Human Relations Commission <hrc@cityofpaloalto.org>; Planning Commission  <Planning.Commission@cityofpaloalto.org>  Cc: susan@susanellenberg.com; Joe Simitian <supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org>; Joe Simitian  <joe.simitian@bos.sccgov.org>; Josh Becker <becker.josh@gmail.com>; joshbbecker1@gmail.com; Aram James  <abjpd1@gmail.com>; Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto  <wilpf.peninsula.paloalto@gmail.com>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto <wilpfpeninsulapaloalto@gmail.com>; mark weiss  <earwopa@yahoo.com>; Mark Petersen‐Perez <paloaltofreepress@gmail.com>; Dave Price  <price@padailypost.com>; Bill Johnson <bjohnson@paweekly.com>; Jesse Gary <jesse.gary@foxtv.com>  Subject: "“I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois  said. “I don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."     Dear Mayor Dubois,      I was confused and concerned by a (purported) factual assertion you made to the San Francisco Chronicle, because I  fear it may reflect unconscious bias more than it reflects factual reality.      Specifically, you said:      https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Palo-Alto-s-housing-debate-is-a-battle-over-16142750.php?  “I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois said. “I  don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."     61 I wonder on what basis you concluded that most new homes are purchased by Asian Americans? I am not aware of any study that confirms your observation. Rather, available economic studies conclude that Asian Americans as a group have a lower rate of home ownership than non-minority groups. Pew Research provides a helpful overview of these matters:     https://www.pewresearch.org/fact‐tank/2021/04/29/key‐facts‐about‐asian‐americans/     One of the most important points made by this Pew article (and all others on this topic) is the important point that  "Asian Americans" are not a unitary group. There are dozens of countries in Asia from which Santa Clara county  residents have emigrated. Like with all ethnic groups, immigrant communities range the socio‐economic scale.  Although there are some Asian‐Americans who have succeeded in accumulating significant wealth, the truth is that  there also are Asian‐Americans who are poor and struggling, as with other minority (and otherwise historically  excluded) groups. Decision Theory may attribute your remarks to a flawed yet very common bias in perception called  the "representative heuristic." Under the theory of the representative heuristic, first introduced by Amos Tversky and  Daniel Kahnemann as part of their creation of Decision Theory (for which Dr. Kahnemann was awarded a Nobel Prize,  which he would have shared with Dr. Tversky had Dr. Tversky still been alive at the time), the representative heuristic  creates a misperception in the eyes of the beholder that "those they see" represent "those that are." In other words,  when policy makers surround themselves only with the wealthy, they often have trouble even *believing* in the  poor.      Here is an interesting article about Asian American homeownership, which also discusses the genuine harm and risk to  safety that is created by the perpetuated of harmful stereotypes against minority groups such as Asian‐Americans:   https://www.latimes.com/world‐nation/story/2021‐04‐29/asian‐americans‐north‐dakota     There are innumerous reasons that you could have made that problematic remark about Asian‐Americans buying the  majority of available homes in Santa Clara County. But, given the lack of factual support for your comment, I wonder if  any of those reasons reflects well on your capacity to represent Palo Alto, where Asian Americans (of every socio‐ economic level) represent a large, diverse, and vibrant percentage of our residents.     Being Mayor of a world‐famous city like Palo Alto means that people listen to what you say, and believe that you  speak the truth. This certainly was the case for the San Francisco Chronicle reporter, who did not fact‐check any of  your assertions, even when demonstrably false (such as the questionable assertions that Cupertino is behind Palo Alto  on housing, and the disproven theories that multi‐family housing (a) increases traffic and/or (b) reduces home  values).  Given the weight given to your remarks, It strikes me that a truly civil and responsible leader would work  harder to choose his words more carefully.     I hope you will receive this email in the civil and constructive spirit in which it was sent. Feel free to call me at any time  to discuss. 415‐235‐8078.   62    Warm regards,      Rebecca         On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 3:41 AM Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com> wrote:  Dear Mayor Dubois,      I was confused and concerned by a (purported) factual assertion you made to the San Francisco Chronicle, because I  fear it may reflect unconscious bias more than it reflects factual reality.     Specifically, you said:     https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Palo-Alto-s-housing-debate-is-a-battle-over-16142750.php?  “I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois said. “I  don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."    I wonder on what basis you concluded that most new homes are purchased by Asian Americans? I am not aware of any study that confirms your observation. Rather, available economic studies conclude that Asian Americans as a group have a lower rate of home ownership than non-minority groups. Pew Research provides a helpful overview of these matters:    https://www.pewresearch.org/fact‐tank/2021/04/29/key‐facts‐about‐asian‐americans/    One of the most important points made by this Pew article (and all others on this topic) is the important point that  "Asian Americans" are not a unitary group. There are dozens of countries in Asia from which Santa Clara county  residents have emigrated. Like with all ethnic groups, immigrant communities range the socio‐economic scale.  Although there are some Asian‐Americans who have succeeded in accumulating significant wealth, the truth is that  there also are Asian‐Americans who are poor and struggling, as with other minority (and otherwise historically  excluded) groups. Decision Theory may attribute your remarks to a flawed yet very common bias in perception called  the "representative heuristic." Under the theory of the representative heuristic, first introduced by Amos Tversky and  Daniel Kahnemann as part of their creation of Decision Theory (for which Dr. Kahnemann was awarded a Nobel Prize,  which he would have shared with Dr. Tversky had Dr. Tversky still been alive at the time), the representative heuristic  creates a misperception in the eyes of the beholder that "those they see" represent "those that are." In other words,  when policy makers surround themselves only with the wealthy, they often have trouble even *believing* in the  poor.     Here is an interesting article about Asian American homeownership, which also discusses the genuine harm and risk to  safety that is created by the perpetuated of harmful stereotypes against minority groups such as Asian‐Americans:   https://www.latimes.com/world‐nation/story/2021‐04‐29/asian‐americans‐north‐dakota    63 There are innumerous reasons that you could have made that problematic remark about Asian‐Americans buying the  majority of available homes in Santa Clara County. But, given the lack of factual support for your comment, I wonder if  any of those reasons reflects well on your capacity to represent Palo Alto, where Asian Americans (of every socio‐ economic level) represent a large, diverse, and vibrant percentage of our residents.    Being Mayor of a world‐famous city like Palo Alto means that people listen to what you say, and believe that you  speak the truth. This certainly was the case for the San Francisco Chronicle reporter, who did not fact‐check any of  your assertions, even when demonstrably false (such as the questionable assertions that Cupertino is behind Palo Alto  on housing, and the disproven theories that multi‐family housing (a) increases traffic and/or (b) reduces home  values).  Given the weight given to your remarks, It strikes me that a truly civil and responsible leader would work  harder to choose his words more carefully.    I hope you will receive this email in the civil and constructive spirit in which it was sent. Feel free to call me at any time  to discuss. 415‐235‐8078.     Warm regards,     Rebecca    Rebecca L. Eisenberg Esq.  www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg  www.winwithrebecca.com  rebecca@winwithrebecca.com  415-235-8078  64 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 4:03 PM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: One arrested in Bay Area purse thefts targeting Asian women CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    Subject: Bay Area Thief Targeting Asian Women   Source: S.J. Mercury  4/30/21  Fr: Allan Seid    https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/04/30/one‐arrested‐one‐sought‐in‐bay‐area‐car‐intrusion‐purse‐ robberies‐targeting‐asian‐ women/?campaign=sjmnbreakingnews&utm_email=5471747C047CF4F134FEE503FE&g2i_eui=sqnKQBf 51kRyOuCrHJAwNHEFBT0TrrOE&g2i_source=newsletter&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&ut m_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mercurynews.com%2f2021%2f04%2f30%2fone‐arrested‐one‐sought‐in‐ bay‐area‐car‐intrusion‐purse‐robberies‐targeting‐asian‐women%2f&utm_campaign=bang‐sjmn‐nl‐ breaking‐news‐alerts‐nl&utm_content=alert  One arrested, one sought in Bay Area car‐intrusion purse robberies targeting Asian women San Jose police arrest Oakland man linked to dozens of thefts where he allegedly reached into or broke into cars with victims inside Robert SalongaApril 30, 2021 at 12:17 p.m. SAN JOSE — Police have arrested one man and are seeking another suspect in connection with a series of smash-and-grab robberies targeting Asian women, where the pair allegedly boxed in motorists in parking lots then reached into or broke into their cars and took purses and other items while the victims were inside. San Jose police robbery detectives traveled to Oakland on Wednesday and arrested 23-year-old Hassani Burleson-Ramsey on suspicion of multiple counts of felony robbery and misdemeanor vandalism, authorities said. He is suspected in nine 65 robberies and thefts in San Jose, and up to 30 more in Oakland, Hayward, Newark, Union City and other parts of Alameda County. Over the past few weeks, police in those cities say they have been taking reports about a pair of men committing thefts where, in numerous instances, a driver would block a car that was either parked or in the process of parking, while another man outside on foot smashed a window or reached into the passenger side of the targeted vehicle and took a purse and other items. San Jose police released surveillance video of two such thefts, on April 12 and April 16, when announcing the arrest Thursday, with excerpted footage posted online at youtu.be/kwWmu4j6xjg. Several of the victims, who police said are all “female and members of the AAPI community,” later reported fraudulent purchases on their credit cards and other activity indicating identity theft. A second suspect is being sought, and police are asking for public tips in identifying that person. Anyone with information for investigators can contact robbery Detective Amanda Estantino at 408-277-4166 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at svcrimestoppers.org. 66 Baumb, Nelly From:Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 12:58 PM To:Tom DuBois; DuBois, Tom; Lydia Kou; Kou, Lydia; Alison Cormack; Cormack, Alison; Greer Stone; Stone, Greer; Pat Burt; Burt, Patrick; Greg Tanaka; Tanaka, Greg; Filseth, Eric (external); Filseth, Eric (Internal); Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Human Relations Commission; Planning Commission Subject:Who really owns most of our real estate? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Finally, it's easy to find a list of the actual largest owners of Silicon Valley.  My favorite resource is the well‐researched  Mercury News article that can be found here:     https://extras.mercurynews.com/whoowns/    In sum, these giant corporations (and the white billionaires that control them) own most of our region, and many of  these huge companies have been increasing their footprints in Palo Alto:    1   Stanford University  2   Apple  3   Google  4   Irvine Company  5   Jay Paul  6   Cisco Systems  7   Essex Property  8   Intel  9   Sobrato Organization  10   Prometheus  Not an Asian‐American individual in the bunch.   Best,   Rebecca    On Mon, May 3, 2021 at 12:44 PM Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com> wrote:  Responding publicly to Eric Filseth's defense of the Mayor, which was sent to me directly rather than to the group:      Eric writes:   On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM Eric Filseth <efilseth@gmail.com> wrote:  Data on this is publicly available if you know where to look.  Eric    I respond:     67 Eric, I conduct research for a living. I have looked many places, including on paid databases that attorneys and legal  researchers rely on for filing and defending cases related to civil rights and racial discrimination.      Given the highly charged state of race relations and the urgent crisis of discrimination and violence against AAPI  individuals, not to mention PACC's official commitment to end such bias and discrimination, one would think that the  Mayor of a famous city would not make such a generalization without solid proof that his comments are true (query  why a white mayor of a majority white city would make this statement altogether). If there is a source I am not aware  of, at very least you should clarify which source, don't you think?  "If you know where to look" is not a source.    On the other side of "where to look" are ample sources demonstrating the Mayor's comments to be based on racial  bias rather than on facts.  Perhaps the Mayor is confusing "rate of purchase" with "percentage of buyers?"    In other words, there is no evidence available that Asian‐Americans make up MOST of home buyers in Santa Clara  County, and there is a lot of evidence that they do not, including the Pew article and the LA Times article I cited and  linked.     The closest I could find is that the RATE of Asian American purchases was increasing. And that they purchase at a higher  percentage than non‐Asians.    BUT Asian‐Americans still are only approximately 1/3 of the population. They can purchase in higher percentages but  that does not make them the majority of buyers. Even if every single AA bought a home ‐‐ which is not true ‐‐ it is still  unlikely that they could comprise the majority of buyers.  It's close to mathematically impossible.     Perhaps the Mayor is confusing rate of purchase with percentage of buyers?   Asian‐Americans may purchase at a rate of 60% of their ethnic group overall (this is a made‐up number to show you  how the math works), but that 60% of AAs still cannot constitute a majority of buyers given that AAs are only 38% of  the population. 60% of 38% equals 22.8%.     Or, perhaps the Mayor was conflating *Asian American* buyers with *Asian* buyers ‐‐ aka, buyers from outside the  country?  Although it is true that many purchasers of SCC land are Asian nationals, there is no evidence that Asian  nationals, alternatively, purchase most of the available homes. (And BTW Asian‐Americans generally do not appreciate  being confused and/or conflated with Asian nationals.)     TL/DR Asian‐Americans may be the largest ethnic group of buyers, and possibly (although unproven) they constitute a  plurality of buyers, but it is highly unlikely that they make up the majority of buyers, and if they did, I am not sure if that  data is available beyond, possibly, a list of "Asian sounding names."     This may seem like mincing words to you, but in a context of a known epidemic of violence against Asian‐Americans,  these types of unfounded remarks often fuel the fire of racial violence. Given that this remark was out of place in the  first place, I wonder why a Mayor would resort to race‐based fear‐mongering as a way (ironically) to argue that racism  does not exist?     I ask you again to be more careful with your words. These types of generalizations fuel the very anti‐AAPI violence and  discrimination that you swore officially to fight against.     Best,   Rebecca       Rebecca L. Eisenberg Esq.  www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg  www.winwithrebecca.com  68 rebecca@winwithrebecca.com  415-235-8078      On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 3:04 PM Eric Filseth <efilseth@gmail.com> wrote:  Data on this is publicly available if you know where to look.  Eric        From: Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com>   Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2021 3:41 AM  To: Tom DuBois <tomforcouncil@gmail.com>; tom.dubois@cityofpaloalto.org; Lydia Kou <lydiakou@gmail.com>; Kou,  Lydia <lydia.kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Alison Cormack <alisonlcormack@gmail.com>; Alison Cormack  <alison.cormack@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <gstone22@gmail.com>; greer.stone@cityofpaloalto.org; Pat Burt  <patburt11@gmail.com>; pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org; Greg Tanaka <greg@gregtanaka.org>;  greg.tanaka@cityofpaloalto.org; Eric Filseth <efilseth@gmail.com>; Filseth, Eric (Internal)  <Eric.Filseth@cityofpaloalto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Shikada, Ed  <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org>; Human Relations Commission <hrc@cityofpaloalto.org>; Planning Commission  <Planning.Commission@cityofpaloalto.org>  Cc: susan@susanellenberg.com; Joe Simitian <supervisor.simitian@bos.sccgov.org>; Joe Simitian  <joe.simitian@bos.sccgov.org>; Josh Becker <becker.josh@gmail.com>; joshbbecker1@gmail.com; Aram James  <abjpd1@gmail.com>; Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto  <wilpf.peninsula.paloalto@gmail.com>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto <wilpfpeninsulapaloalto@gmail.com>; mark weiss  <earwopa@yahoo.com>; Mark Petersen‐Perez <paloaltofreepress@gmail.com>; Dave Price  <price@padailypost.com>; Bill Johnson <bjohnson@paweekly.com>; Jesse Gary <jesse.gary@foxtv.com>  Subject: "“I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois  said. “I don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."     Dear Mayor Dubois,      I was confused and concerned by a (purported) factual assertion you made to the San Francisco Chronicle, because I  fear it may reflect unconscious bias more than it reflects factual reality.      Specifically, you said:      https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Palo-Alto-s-housing-debate-is-a-battle-over-16142750.php?  “I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois said. “I  don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."  69    I wonder on what basis you concluded that most new homes are purchased by Asian Americans? I am not aware of any study that confirms your observation. Rather, available economic studies conclude that Asian Americans as a group have a lower rate of home ownership than non-minority groups. Pew Research provides a helpful overview of these matters:     https://www.pewresearch.org/fact‐tank/2021/04/29/key‐facts‐about‐asian‐americans/     One of the most important points made by this Pew article (and all others on this topic) is the important point that  "Asian Americans" are not a unitary group. There are dozens of countries in Asia from which Santa Clara county  residents have emigrated. Like with all ethnic groups, immigrant communities range the socio‐economic scale.  Although there are some Asian‐Americans who have succeeded in accumulating significant wealth, the truth is that  there also are Asian‐Americans who are poor and struggling, as with other minority (and otherwise historically  excluded) groups. Decision Theory may attribute your remarks to a flawed yet very common bias in perception called  the "representative heuristic." Under the theory of the representative heuristic, first introduced by Amos Tversky and  Daniel Kahnemann as part of their creation of Decision Theory (for which Dr. Kahnemann was awarded a Nobel Prize,  which he would have shared with Dr. Tversky had Dr. Tversky still been alive at the time), the representative heuristic  creates a misperception in the eyes of the beholder that "those they see" represent "those that are." In other words,  when policy makers surround themselves only with the wealthy, they often have trouble even *believing* in the  poor.      Here is an interesting article about Asian American homeownership, which also discusses the genuine harm and risk to  safety that is created by the perpetuated of harmful stereotypes against minority groups such as Asian‐Americans:   https://www.latimes.com/world‐nation/story/2021‐04‐29/asian‐americans‐north‐dakota     There are innumerous reasons that you could have made that problematic remark about Asian‐Americans buying the  majority of available homes in Santa Clara County. But, given the lack of factual support for your comment, I wonder if  any of those reasons reflects well on your capacity to represent Palo Alto, where Asian Americans (of every socio‐ economic level) represent a large, diverse, and vibrant percentage of our residents.     Being Mayor of a world‐famous city like Palo Alto means that people listen to what you say, and believe that you  speak the truth. This certainly was the case for the San Francisco Chronicle reporter, who did not fact‐check any of  your assertions, even when demonstrably false (such as the questionable assertions that Cupertino is behind Palo Alto  on housing, and the disproven theories that multi‐family housing (a) increases traffic and/or (b) reduces home  values).  Given the weight given to your remarks, It strikes me that a truly civil and responsible leader would work  harder to choose his words more carefully.     70 I hope you will receive this email in the civil and constructive spirit in which it was sent. Feel free to call me at any time  to discuss. 415‐235‐8078.      Warm regards,      Rebecca         On Sun, May 2, 2021 at 3:41 AM Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com> wrote:  Dear Mayor Dubois,      I was confused and concerned by a (purported) factual assertion you made to the San Francisco Chronicle, because I  fear it may reflect unconscious bias more than it reflects factual reality.     Specifically, you said:     https://www.sfchronicle.com/local/article/Palo-Alto-s-housing-debate-is-a-battle-over-16142750.php?  “I think the majority of new homes being acquired in Santa Clara County are by Asian Americans,” DuBois said. “I  don’t know how you say the zoning itself is exclusionary."    I wonder on what basis you concluded that most new homes are purchased by Asian Americans? I am not aware of any study that confirms your observation. Rather, available economic studies conclude that Asian Americans as a group have a lower rate of home ownership than non-minority groups. Pew Research provides a helpful overview of these matters:    https://www.pewresearch.org/fact‐tank/2021/04/29/key‐facts‐about‐asian‐americans/    One of the most important points made by this Pew article (and all others on this topic) is the important point that  "Asian Americans" are not a unitary group. There are dozens of countries in Asia from which Santa Clara county  residents have emigrated. Like with all ethnic groups, immigrant communities range the socio‐economic scale.  Although there are some Asian‐Americans who have succeeded in accumulating significant wealth, the truth is that  there also are Asian‐Americans who are poor and struggling, as with other minority (and otherwise historically  excluded) groups. Decision Theory may attribute your remarks to a flawed yet very common bias in perception called  the "representative heuristic." Under the theory of the representative heuristic, first introduced by Amos Tversky and  Daniel Kahnemann as part of their creation of Decision Theory (for which Dr. Kahnemann was awarded a Nobel Prize,  which he would have shared with Dr. Tversky had Dr. Tversky still been alive at the time), the representative heuristic  creates a misperception in the eyes of the beholder that "those they see" represent "those that are." In other words,  when policy makers surround themselves only with the wealthy, they often have trouble even *believing* in the  poor.     71 Here is an interesting article about Asian American homeownership, which also discusses the genuine harm and risk to  safety that is created by the perpetuated of harmful stereotypes against minority groups such as Asian‐Americans:   https://www.latimes.com/world‐nation/story/2021‐04‐29/asian‐americans‐north‐dakota    There are innumerous reasons that you could have made that problematic remark about Asian‐Americans buying the  majority of available homes in Santa Clara County. But, given the lack of factual support for your comment, I wonder if  any of those reasons reflects well on your capacity to represent Palo Alto, where Asian Americans (of every socio‐ economic level) represent a large, diverse, and vibrant percentage of our residents.    Being Mayor of a world‐famous city like Palo Alto means that people listen to what you say, and believe that you  speak the truth. This certainly was the case for the San Francisco Chronicle reporter, who did not fact‐check any of  your assertions, even when demonstrably false (such as the questionable assertions that Cupertino is behind Palo Alto  on housing, and the disproven theories that multi‐family housing (a) increases traffic and/or (b) reduces home  values).  Given the weight given to your remarks, It strikes me that a truly civil and responsible leader would work  harder to choose his words more carefully.    I hope you will receive this email in the civil and constructive spirit in which it was sent. Feel free to call me at any time  to discuss. 415‐235‐8078.     Warm regards,     Rebecca    Rebecca L. Eisenberg Esq.  www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg  www.winwithrebecca.com  rebecca@winwithrebecca.com  415-235-8078  72 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 12:10 PM To:Stephen Lee; DENNIS LEE Subject:Fwd: [chbb850] asian woman attacked CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    Date: 5/4/21  Subject: Asian Woman Attacked  Source: N.T.Daily News  Fr: Allan Seid    Wes Parnell, New York Daily News Mon, May 3, 2021, 8:51 AMꞏ2 min read NEW YORK – An Asian woman walking in Midtown Manhattan was bashed in the head with a hammer by a stranger demanding the victim remove her mask, police said Monday. The NYPD is investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, the latest in a string of bias-fueled attacks against Asian victims in New York City. The 31-year-old victim was walking on W. 42nd St. she was accosted by a woman near Ninth Ave. about 8:45 p.m. Sunday. “Take off your mask,” the assailant, who appeared to be in her 50s, bizarrely demanded, according to cops. The attacker bashed the victim in the head with a hammer before running off east on W. 42nd St., police said. Medics took the victim to NYU Langone Health in stable condition with cuts to her head. The attacker was wearing black jeans and a black tank top, police said. New Yorkers who are fully vaccinated are now allowed to walk around outside with no mask on, following recently revised national guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Biden administration. New Yorkers are still encouraged to wear a mask if they are in a large group, even if outside. Just hours before the attack, city leaders spoke at a rally in Flushing, Queens, to decry the spate of hate crimes and call for harsher punishments. 73 “To anyone who commits a hate crime, let’s be blunt, let’s be clear: we will find you, we will prosecute you,” said Mayor de Blasio. “You will suffer the consequences.” Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who also spoke at the rally, said the Biden administration had already taken a more aggressive approach to cracking down on hate crimes. “To those who perpetuate Asian hate, we now have people in the Justice Department dedicated to finding you, exposing you and prosecuting you,” Schumer said. ____ (With Clayton Guse) ‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CHBB" group.  To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  chbb850+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.  To view this discussion on the web visit  https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chbb850/559138099.17428.1620062751867%40mail.yahoo.com.  74 Baumb, Nelly From:Arlene Goetze <photowrite67@yahoo.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 11:50 AM To:Sara Cody; Gavin Newsom Subject:US/EU-- 11,310 D-eaths-- Menses bleed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Vaccine deaths in US (Vaers) and European Union (Eudra Vigilance) report 11,310 deaths after vaccines and 449,120 injuries/averse events after shots . . . and some women bleeding for a month. So is fertility a question?????? Significant Jump in Reported Injuries, Deaths After COVID Vaccine Compared to Last Week The Defender reported: childrenshealthdefense.org. 4/30/21 … Every Friday, VAERS makes public all vaccine injury reports received as of a specified date, usually about a week prior to the release date. Today’s data show that between Dec. 14, 2020 and April 23, a total of ** 118,902 total adverse eventswere reported to VAERS, including ** 3,544 deaths — an increase of 358 over the previous week — and ** 12,619 serious injuries, up 2,467 since last week. These figures released by CDC and VAERS are a significant jump over last week. In the European Union, suspected drug reactions are reported to EudraVigilance,which also tracks reports of injuries and deaths following the experimental COVID vaccines. It has. similar number of vaccines injected as the US as of April 17 — 7,766 reports of deaths and 330,218 reports of injuries following injections of the four COVID vaccines were reported: * Pfizer-BioNTech: 4,293 deaths and 144,607 injuries * Moderna: 2,094 deaths and 15,979 injuries * AstraZeneca: 1,360 deaths and 169,386 injuries * Johnson & Johnson (Janssen): 19 deaths and 246 injuries (used a shorter time) Cardiac and blood/lymphatic disorders were among the most commonly reported injuries. COVID vaccines and menstrual cycle disruption Women have reported hemorrhagic bleeding with clots, delayed or absent periods, sudden pre-menopausal symptoms, month-long periods and heavy irregular bleeding after being vaccinated with one or both doses of a COVID vaccine. There’s no data linking COVID vaccines to changes in menstruation because clinical trials omit tracking menstrual cycles. “There are many reasons vaccination could alter menstruation,” wrote Alice Lu- Culligan, an M.D./Ph.D. student at Yale School of Medicine, and Dr. Randi Epstein, writer in 75 residence at Yale School of Medicine. “Periods involve the immune system, as the thickening and thinning of the uterine lining are facilitated by different teams of immune cells and signals moving in and out of the reproductive tract,” Lu-Culligan and Epstein explained. “Vaccines are designed to ignite an immune response, and the female cycle is supported by the immune system, so it’s possible vaccines could temporarily change the normal course of events.” To find out whether the COVID vaccine truly disrupts menstrual cycles, experts say there needs to be a controlled study with a placebo group. This week’s VAERS data show: Of the 3,544 deaths reported as of April 23, 25%were in 48 hours of vaccination, 17% within 24 hours and 40% who became ill within 48 hours of vaccination.-- ** 3 deaths ages 15-16. . . 2 from Pfizer and one from Moderna * 21% of deaths were related to cardiac disorders. 54% male, 44% female, 2% unknown * As of April 23, 598 pregnant women reported 170 reports of miscarriage or premies * Of the 1,099 cases of Bell’s Palsy reported, 51% Pfizer, 39% Moderna. 12% J&J. * 121 reports of Guillain-Barré Syn.: w/ 44% Pfizer, 43% to Moderna, 17% to J&J. * e 33,673 reports of anaphylaxis with 39% Pfizer’s , 44%Moderna, 16% to J&J. Of the 1,845 cases reported, there were 655 reportswere about Pfizer, 577 Moderna, and 608 to J&J — an increase of 448 J&J-related cases in just one week. U.S. health officials only admitted 15 blood clot cases with the J&J vaccine at the April 16 meeting. * CDC continues to ignore The Defender's March 8 request for more information. * Children as young as 6 months now in COVID vaccine trials at Stanford * Government considering COVID vaccine mandate for U.S. troops Presently . . . one-third of troops and 40% of Marines had declined the vaccine as of February, according military officials. Injured by a Vaccine? Here’s How to Report It 1. Contact VAERS--government program of Health & Human Services 2. Go to VAXXTracker.com..outside source vs government (You can be anonymous) 3. Contact childrenshealthdefense.org--share same info with all three Condensed from The Defender newsletter, childrenshealthdefense.org and forwarded by Arlene Goetze, MA spiritual writer/editor, No Toxins for Children, photowrite67@yahoo.com 77 Baumb, Nelly From:Menachem Mevashir <mevashir@aol.com> Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 12:38 AM To:Council, City; cityleaders@fcgov.com; John Kefalas; jkefalas@larimer.org; loveland.mlkevents@gmail.com Cc:Lowell House; Michael Ranieri; karen_king@harvard.edu Subject:9uke/11 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/05/02/time-for-a-wakeup-call-on-9-11/ Remember the cover story? Osama bin Laden wanted the US out of Saudi Arabia because troops were likely to disgrace the holy places of Islam? No excuses, the facts are here, no nanothermite, no games, no paid disinformation, just the facts, read them and awaken. https://www.veteranstoday.com/2020/11/01/the-secret-history-of-9-11/ Editor’s note: This is a reprint from 2016 of a recap of an investigation done between May 5, 2014, and June 2015 by select members of a combined team including but not limited to: Gordon Duff, Ian Greenhalgh, Dr. James Fetzer, Jeff Smith of VT and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Dmitri Khalezov of the Soviet 12th (Nuclear) Directorate, Jim W. Dean, Dr. Kevin Barrett, A working group from the University of California at Los Alamos/Sandia National Labs, Colonel’s James Hanke and Eugene Khrushchev, Sources within the FBI and Russian Naval Intelligence, Michael Shrimpton, and substantial works by journalists such as Wayne Madsen and others. https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/05/02/time-for-a-wakeup-call-on-9-11/ Breathtaking: Solving Nuclear 9/11, the Pommer Report By Gordon Duff, Senior Editor - December 30, Submitted by Heinz Pommer with Jeff Prager to Veterans Today Introduction by Gordon Duff with Ian Greenhalgh and Jeff Smith (Nuclear weapons designer/particle physicist) 78 The material here is overwhelming, hours of lectures and dozens of detailed slides. This is not an easy read. It is another piece of irrevocable proof regarding 9/11 and the use of nuclear weapons and, on its own, worth much more than just scanning or flipping through. Architects and engineers say planes don’t knock down skyscrapers. Nuclear physicists say only atomic bombs can turn out this kind of heat and damage. The real investigators who were silenced by a grand jury and a wealth of threats said it was a conspiracy and named lots of names, some expected, some not. Now an independent physicist has proven the work done by the original investigators who were silenced and much new work as well. His modeling and detail is breathtaking. We were recently introduced to the work of Germany physicist Heinz Pommer. I chose to contact him. His work deeply parallels work done by the US Department of Energy and IAEA which was censored and suppressed so that the fake 9/11 report could be published and blame put on Iraq and Afghanistan. Unlike Pommer’s work (aided by Jeff Prager), the VT team included some of those involved in the ill fated original investigation. Working from different data, to an extent, both teams have ended up with nearly identical results. https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/09/25/the-secret-history-of-9-11/ VT knows the who, how and when from official sources. Pommer (and Prager), however, have taken their portion a step further and have produced what the original team would have presented to congress and the president, had they been allowed, of the proofs of nuclear weapons and their effects. Their work is identical to the secret work by the DOE and Sandia National Labs but adds much as well. Included are video presentations sent by Pommer to me and his PDF slides. This material has been submitted to the US team and we will get their comments. 79 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 6:47 AM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: Asian American Man Fatally Stabbed in ‘Unprovoked' Attack in Washington CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      From: Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 5:55 PM  Subject: Asian American Man Fatally Stabbed in ‘Unprovoked' Attack in Washingt    https://nextshark.com/asian‐american‐man‐fatal‐stab‐wa/  Asian American Man Fatally Stabbed in ‘Unprovoked’ Attack in Washington Bothell police have arrested a 25‐year‐old man for the fatal stabbing of an Asian American man who was visiting an apartment complex in the city. The incident: The stabbing occurred at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, near the entrance of The Villas at Beardslee off 112th Avenue, described as a “fairly busy” area according to KOMO News. Intersection at 112th Ave NE, just west of Beardslee Blvd still blocked. Traffic being diverted, as investigation into homicide continues. Thank you for your patience. https://t.co/MwmeP8xIcO pic.twitter.com/yxblmXDO3e — Bothell Police (@BothellPolice) April 26, 2021  The 29-year-old victim and another Asian American man were leaving a meeting at the apartment complex when a Caucasian man, 25, confronted them and gave the victim the finger, KIRO7 reported.  After asking the suspect, “What’s the matter with you?” he reportedly lunged at the victim and stabbed him in the chest. He also tried to attack the other person, but the latter managed to escape. 80  Bothell police and paramedics attempted to save the man’s life and tried a field blood transfusion on the scene of the crime.  One unnamed witness who reported the incident to police told KIRO7, “It sure seemed like they were targeted because they were Asian,” while other witnesses said the attack appeared unprovoked. The arrest: The suspect, a resident of the building, was later arrested and charged with murder.  He was found in his third floor apartment minutes after the incident, with witnesses suggesting he showed no remorse and was silent.  The suspect, who reportedly does not seem to have a criminal record, was scheduled to appear in King County Superior Court on Tuesday. The investigation: Bothell police are unable to say as of yet that they are investigating the case as a hate crime, as witnesses on the scene have told officers different accounts.  In a statement from Monday, they announced that they are “continuing to investigate all possible motives.”  “To date, we have identified 10 witnesses and anticipate many others could be identified in the coming days. It is very important that our investigators take this time to locate and listen to all people with information, and examine all evidence.” Bothell police urged anyone with information to contact their business line at (425) 486-1254. Featured Image via KOMO News 81 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 10:09 PM To:Loran Harding; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; David Balakian; fred beyerlein; bballpod; beachrides; Leodies Buchanan; bearwithme1016@att.net; Cathy Lewis; Council, City; Chris Field; dennisbalakian; Doug Vagim; Daniel Zack; esmeralda.soria@fresno.gov; eappel@stanford.edu; Steven Feinstein; fmerlo@wildelectric.net; grinellelake@yahoo.com; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; leager; kfsndesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; mthibodeaux@electriclaboratories.com; margaret- sasaki@live.com; Mayor; newsdesk; news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; david pomaville; jerry ruopoli; Dan Richard; Steve Wayte; Mark Standriff; Joel Stiner; tsheehan; terry; vallesR1969@att.net; boardmembers; lalws4@gmail.com; russ@topperjewelers.com; sanchezphilip21@gmail.com Subject:Dr. John Campbell in UK, Sat. May 1, 2021. Lots re India, US FINALLY ltd flts in!!!!!!!!!! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.                Saturday, May 1, 2021              To all‐  Here is Dr. Campbell looking at case rates in the English speaking countries and then in India, which is  horrific.             Saturday update ‐ YouTube                   He excoriates the U.S. government for starting to exclude non‐U.S. citizens from flying in from India starting on  May 4.  What are they thinking. It should have been done weeks ago.  He really gets mad.  The UK finally did that last  Friday, 8 days ago, weeks late, and he raved about that.  "Surely we are not being let down by our politicians" he  speculates. The Biden administration are a bunch of bunglers. So I'm a little more certain on that point than is Dr.  Campbell.               He goes over a well done, properly done study of Remdisivir. No more guessing about this drug now. It is ghastly  expensive, but it does help significantly. It has to be administered via an IV, which is a labor intensive process. It is not a  miracle cure, but you hear the numbers here and it really helps.  I think Trump was given some by IV in the WH before  he went to the hospital. Once there, he got 5 gms of the Regeneron 2‐drug cocktail of their monoclonal antibody.  You'll  notice he survived.                     Hear his comments about restrictions on flights into the US from India.  Biden is a bungler surrounded by highly  paid, incompetent female and minority bunglers, apparently, with big Nazi affirmative action jobs. You can see the US  going down the drain because of all this Nazi stuff. The rest of the world loves it.                   L. William Harding               Fresno, Ca. b                                                                 82 Baumb, Nelly From:Roberta Ahlquist <roberta.ahlquist@sjsu.edu> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 9:15 PM To:Aram James Cc:Rebecca Eisenberg; Council, City; Planning Commission; chuck jagoda; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Human Relations Commission; mark weiss Subject:Re: The Mercury News E-Edition Article CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  YES. I spent Thursday and Friday in Oakland taking a look at these diverse and creative alternatives. When will we have  to courage   to grow our city in a more collaborative, community‐oriented and inclusive direction?  roberta    On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 1:02 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:  Hi Rebecca,   Thanks for all of your spot on comments. Aram     Sent from my iPhone      On May 1, 2021, at 12:23 PM, Rebecca Eisenberg <rebecca@winwithrebecca.com> wrote:     This is exactly how housing should evolve.  Query why any human being should have to pay for a place  to live. Query why all land is not owned by the public for the use of the public.  Human beings are  meant to live in social communities, to share resources, to work together.  In a different universe, our  society moved in the direction of social villages rather than in the direction of the toxic and private  isolation that is fostered and protected, despite its harm, today.      Note that Cob on Wood is located under a 880 highway overpass. This is what we could see if  Caltrain/HSR were moved to viaducts. No cost to the city.  There likely are lots of locations that could  host such attractive and sanitary shelter. Perhaps some that are under the radar to escape political  scrutiny and public notice.     When our government leaves such huge gaps, human invention picks up. If a similar community grew  here, would our local government quash it, when that community actually would be providing the  resources that our city is legally and ethically required to provide?  I fear that Palo Alto would destroy  these beautiful communities. Palo Alto ‐‐ virtually alone in the world ‐‐ continues to cling to the myth  that homeless shelters attract and increase homelessness, despite decades of evidence, studies, and  lived experiences proving the opposite:  that shelters and housing are the only known solution way to  end homelessness.     Best,  Rebecca    83     Rebecca L. Eisenberg Esq.  www.linkedin.com/in/eisenberg  www.winwithrebecca.com  rebecca@winwithrebecca.com  415-235-8078      On Sat, May 1, 2021 at 9:29 AM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:  Follow the link below to view the article.  https://mercurynews‐ca‐app.newsmemory.com/?publink=18b8b9565_1345d69      Sent from my iPhone  84 Baumb, Nelly From:Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 8:19 PM To:Loran Harding; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; David Balakian; fred beyerlein; bballpod; beachrides; Leodies Buchanan; bearwithme1016@att.net; boardmembers; Chris Field; Cathy Lewis; Council, City; dennisbalakian; Doug Vagim; Daniel Zack; Dan Richard; david pomaville; esmeralda.soria@fresno.gov; eappel@stanford.edu; Steven Feinstein; fmerlo@wildelectric.net; francis.collins@nih.gov; grinellelake@yahoo.com; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner; kfsndesk; kwalsh@kmaxtv.com; leager; lalws4@gmail.com; mthibodeaux@electriclaboratories.com; Mayor; margaret-sasaki@live.com; newsdesk; news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; clinton.olivier; russ@topperjewelers.com; Mark Standriff; Steve Wayte; tsheehan; terry; vallesR1969@att.net; sanchezphilip21@gmail.com Subject:Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there. CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 7:55 PM  Subject: Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 7:26 PM  Subject: Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 7:14 PM  Subject: Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 6:55 PM  85 Subject: Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 5:19 PM  Subject: Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 5:04 PM  Subject: Fwd: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>      ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Forwarded message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐  From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 4:49 PM  Subject: Learn vast amounts re. Ramos Arizpe, Mexico and big GM facility there.  To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>                     Saturday, May 1, 2021                      To all‐‐ This is interesting. GM has a huge production facility in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, right by Saltillo, Mexico.  There, GM will invest an additional $1 billion to build EVs, says an announcement by GM this week. You see much about  the GM plant in this link, and references to the new $1 billion investment there. Best I can tell, ramos means branch and  arizpe means oak.  Big manufacturing center, maybe four hours drive south of the border.  You'll see what I mean if you  look at this link.  Think they all ride donkeys in Mexico? This will change your mind:                   ramos arizpe mexico ‐ Google Search                    About the GM investment at Ramos Arispe:  BTW, if you think electric vehicles are a non‐starter, click on any of  the grey tabs at the top of this link when it opens. Anybody who has anything to do with the automotive industry is deep  into it.                  GM invests one billion to expand Mexican plant ‐ electrive.com                 Something like this will be under your hood:                  general‐motors‐flexible‐global‐platform‐antrieb‐drive‐2020‐02‐min.png (1500×750) (electrive.com)    86               Driving south from Nuevo Laredo in July, 1992, I saw a big GM plant and a big Chrysler plant as I entered Saltillo.  Might have been Ramos Arizpe instead. One saw trains going north with cars inside "see‐through" rail cars from that  area. And this was before NAFTA passed in 1993! I might have had a little something to do with that. NAFTA sort of back‐ fired.                   That evening was an adventure, trying to find a hotel. I drove way up on a hillside road above Saltillo, at one  point following a cab. He thought I wanted to rob him. Finally, he stopped and I ran up to his cab. I asked him to drive to  a hotel and I'd follow him, this with very rusty Espanol at that point. That never worked out. Finally, in downtown Saltillo  I saw two men in white business shirts. I asked them and they directed me to a hotel in the center of town. Business  men, who just have to learn English.                 One tiny other story:  There were several Sam's Clubs in Guadalajara, where I resided and studied Espanol for 33  months, and they were enormous stores.  I was at one and I noticed constructon starting about 10 feet from it. I was  told that that would be the new Walmart store.  One could hardly see to the end of this new construction it was so big.  When it opened, here is what one found: A vast parking lot, of course, There were two huge doors in the front of the  building, I think with men with carbines at each door. Once inside, between those doors were 56 checkout lanes, all with  the latest electronic registers.  Then at one end of these lanes was a complete Ace Hardware store, also inside the  building. At the other end of the lanes was a big restaurant, also inside the building.  Farther back, a complete seafood  store. Across the back was a big bakery, with lots of decorated birthday and other cakes. Look in your grocery store.  There are probaby 13 check out lanes. So more than four times as many checkout lanes at the Guadalajara Walmart. The  floors were marble. I said to a local "I can't believe that there is a Walmart this big in Guadalajara". He replied "There's  not. There are three".                 So when Walmart opens a store in the United States, they are thinking "small potatos". They build at scale in  Mexico.                 L. W. Harding              Fresno, Ca.                                            87 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Saturday, May 1, 2021 5:12 PM To:CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: Unity Against Hate National Rally - Community Against Hate CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      From: Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com>  Date: Sat, May 1, 2021 at 10:38 AM  Subject: Unity Against Hate National Rally ‐ Community Against Hate      https://www.communityagainsthate.org/event/unity‐against‐hate‐national‐rally/  Unity Against Hate National Rally 2 p.m. EDT | 11 a.m. PDT Which rally location do you plan to attend? Cincinnati, OH  Washington Park – 1230 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Cleveland, OH (Address TBA) Columbus, OH  East – Blacklick Park (6975 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068),  Northwest – Coffman Park (5200 Emerald Pkwy, Dublin, OH 4301),  North – North Orange Park (7560 Gooding Blvd, Delaware, OH 43015) Fremont, CA  Veterans Memorial Park, corner of Paseo Padre Parkway and Walnut Ave. Fresno, CA 88  Save Mart Center, Fresno State University – 2650 E Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA 93710 Garden Grove, CA (Address TBA) Houston, TX  Justice Center Steps – 1100 Hemphill St., Fort Worth, TX Los Angeles, CA (Address TBA) New York City, NY  Chatham Square – Park Row, New York, NY 10038 North Texas  Belo Garden Park – 1014 Main St, Dallas, TX 75202 Oakland, CA  Pacific Renaissance Plaza – 388 9th St. Oakland CA Sacramento, CA  State Capitol North Steps facing L Street San Diego, CA (Address TBA) San Mateo, CA  City of San Mateo Central Park – 50th E 5th Ave, San Mateo, CA Seattle, WA (Address TBA) Washington, DC  Freedom Plaza – 1455 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. Unity Against Hate – Rally RSVP 89 Baumb, Nelly From:contact@livableca.org Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 7:50 AM To:Council, City Subject:May 1 Teleconference 10 am: The Seven Bad Bills of 2021 bring back Scott Wiener’s terrible SB 50! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.        To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.Image Hi folks! This is an RSVP‐only teleconference on May 1 at 10 AM. By 3  pm tomorrow,  Friday, you must RSVP at this link. If you registered  previously you will receive a reminder with the Zoom  meeting  link. Problems? Email: admin@livableca.org.   This month, legislative committees voted YES on SB 9, SB  10 and other Bad Bills that destroy single‐family zoning,  affordable housing, beloved communities – in favor of  bulldozers.   One deeply troubled Democratic legislator from SoCal told  constituents: "It's an ideology."   Join us as our experts explain what the 7 Bad Bills do, and  what YOU can do to kill the bills as they move to  Appropriations and, in many cases, on to “the second  house.” In a repeat of 2020, legislators are piece‐mealing SB 50 authored by the  developers’ spokesman, state Sen. Scott Wiener of the Bay Area. Last  year we all worked to kill the 9 Bad Bills, and we beat back most of them!  For 2020 we’ve identified 7 Bad Bills.  Please join us Saturday at 10 am for a crucial update on the Amended 7  Bad Bills. Folks, we ask you to please DONATE to Livable California today. We are  small fry fighting tech giants and deep pockets who seek to pave over  working‐class neighborhoods and compete with homebuyers to scoop up  houses as “permanent rentals” and “upzoning” properties.  90 Some legislators have sadly lost their way. So we thank you very much for  helping out!  Again, this is an RSVP event. By 3 pm tomorrow, Friday, you must  RSVP at this link. If you registered before, you’ll get a reminder with a  Zoom link. Issues? Email: admin@livableca.org.  We prefer and encourage participants from groups! However,  individuals are welcome! If you call in via cell, please set your phone to  show your name, not just a number. Thanks!!    Livable California is a non-profit statewide group of community leaders, activists and local elected officials. We believe in local answers to the housing affordability crisis. Our robust fight requires trips to Sacramento & a lobbyist going toe-to-toe with power. Please donate generously to LivableCalifornia.org here. Livable California 2940 16th Street Suite 200-1 San Francisco, CA 94103 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.      To help prprivacy, Mprevented download from the In   91 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Friday, April 30, 2021 7:08 AM To:Stephen Lee; DENNIS LEE Subject:Fwd: Stand in Solidarity Against Racism CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      From: Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com>  Date: Fri, Apr 30, 2021 at 7:01 AM  Subject: Stand in Solidarity Against Racism  Source: S.J. Mercury 4/30/21        https://mercurynews‐ca.newsmemory.com/eebrowser/ipad/html5.check.21030914/  Mercury News By Carl Guardino Recently, several leaders I greatly admire led "Fight the Hate" rallies, spurred by the growing hate crimes against our Asian American neighbors. We've witnessed, with horror, similar attacks against Blacks and Latinos, and we must continue to stand in solidarity to rally against racism. Yet we must do more than "Fight the Hate." We must also take positive, proactive steps to "Spread the Love." In San Jose alone, where our population is nearly 40% Latino, 35% Asian and nearly 5% Black, we can show with our words, our wallets and our deeds our appreciation and admiration for the rich cultural and ethnic diversity that is the bedrock of our society. We can take proactive action professionally and personally, through our time, treasure and talent. Here are three immediate ways that we can act: • San Jose Aspires: Through the leadership of San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, SJ Aspires equips and empowers high school students in some of our most diverse yet underserved communities with some of the funds needed to successfully pursue a college degree. 92 The mayor has personally raised more than $5 million this year alone, to provide college scholarships of up to $5,000 for 1,000 high school students. Why is this important? Only 3 in 10 San Jose students complete any postsecondary program. Low-income students are two times less likely - with Latinx and African American students three times less likely - than their peers to earn a bachelor's degree. It's why my employer, Bloom Energy, supports this solutions-oriented initiative. • Latinos in Technology Scholarship Fund: Through the tenacity of former San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley created the Latinos in Technology Scholarship Fund to focus financial support for college students seeking STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) degrees at four-year universities. Why is this needed? In Silicon Valley, only 3% of tech jobs are filled by Latinos. Several years ago, my wife, Leslee, and I supported a young Latina - the first in her family to go to college - as she secured her mechanical engineering degree at San Jose State University. She is now employed at one of the top renewable energy companies in the world, based right here in Silicon Valley. We are now helping another young Latina earn her engineering degree, also at San Jose State. With annual contributions in the $7,000 to $10,000 range, many of us who have been blessed by Silicon Valley's success can pass along those blessings to others behind us. • Reading Partners: Helping underserved students, especially kids of color, cannot be limited to those already in high school or college. The earlier we can help, the more likely will be a child's pathways to progress. It's why even a small investment of time - as little as one hour a week for a duration as short as 10-12 weeks - can permanently benefit the life of a child. Reading Partners provides a way to serve as a reading tutor to a K-6 student in the safe space of a school or library. A little training combined with a lot of compassion is all that is needed to impact an elementary school student. The first student I tutored, at Horace Mann Elementary School in the shadows of San Jose City Hall, advanced a full gradeand-a-half after just one semester of reading together. It was transformative, both for her and for me. This year, let's continue to stand up for everyone in our community. It is vital that we are not silent, that we stand up and speak up for others as we battle hate, 93 mistrust and intolerance. Concurrently, let's also step up with our time and treasure to lift up everyone in our communities. Some may wish to tear us down. We win together, only when we lift others up. Carl Guardino is executive vice president for government affairs & policy at Bloom Energy, headquartered in San Jose. 94 Baumb, Nelly From:Martha <marthalg@sonic.net> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 10:12 PM To:Council, City Subject:parking for ADU units in Barron Park CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members,  I have a suggestion on parking rules. The current rule states that ADUs do not need a designated off the street parking space. I believe this shouldn’t apply to new construction when both a new single family home and ADU are being built at the same time. This came to my attention when we noticed a new construction notice for a new home with an ADU at the end of our dead end street. The previous owner had rented out a very small cottage and the renter’s car made it difficult for the owner of the adjoining home to back out of her driveway. She could back up, but with the car there she couldn’t turn to go down the street. This will continue to be a problem with three cars on one very small lot and the current ADU rule. Also another reason for this change is due to Barron Park’s lack of sidewalks. People in our neighborhood, including school children, have to walk on the side of the streets. Obviously if a car is parked on the street everyone has to walk, run, or bike around it into the middle of the street. Therefore parking on the street can be dangerous for all the pedestrians, runners and bicycles. At least consider this rule change for our Barron Park neighborhood. Thank you for your consideration.  Martha Gregory  95 Baumb, Nelly From:Danny Shader <shaderdanny@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 5:49 PM To:Council, City Subject:Fiber CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hi there     I'm emailing to express my strong support for investing in a fiber network for Palo Alto.  I would be happy to pay up to  twice what currently I'm paying to Comcast to the City for providing this service, assuming it's better and  bidrectionally faster, which I assume it would be.    best  Danny Shader  Washington Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301  96 Baumb, Nelly From:Harriet Stern <jacobeatrice@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 4:01 PM To:Council, City Subject:Harriet Stern Follow-Up (Public Art Commission) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Mayor DuBois, Vice Mayor Burt, Council Member Cormack, Council Member Filseth, Council Member Kou, Council  Member Stone and Council Member Tanaka:       Thank you for the opportunity to interview last night for the Public Art Commission. It was a pleasure to hear all the  candidates. We are a fortunate community to have so many talented and enthusiastic volunteers.    There are several reasons to write today.  One is to elaborate on the Q&A from last night and the other is to query the  Council on eligibility for the PAC.    I was asked about our Palo Alto values. I think our beacon is diversity, inclusion and equity with a guiding light of  innovation, culture, environment and sustainability.     When asked which underserved groups I wish to connect to through art, I mentioned seniors and the various persons  who have been victims of hate. I have also brainstormed programming for teens using digital media and for our vehicle  dwelling residents in Congregation Safe Parking.  I have many more potential projects including a way to connect  seniors, teens and veterans using our very own Palo Alto Art Collection.        Perhaps some of the Council members may recall (from my previous PAC interview of August 2020) I presented several  ways to use public art to generate community spirit and foot traffic to improve revenue for local businesses.  I have no  shortage of out‐of‐the‐box concepts using art.      In May the HRC will undertake an ambitious community discourse program of 100 Conversions.  Here is a perfect  opportunity to involve creatives as scribes, spoken‐word artists, musicians, graphic novelists, etc. to record and reflect  what they hear. This then becomes a permanent record for the greater community.  We should not miss this  opportunity to use art to intersect with disenfranchised populations.    Temporary collaborative arts programming which engages people of all ages and abilities across all classes and races  should be a focus. Interestingly, art is a great equalizer. When we are young, no one is afraid to express themselves with  paints and crayons.  It is only as we become self conscious do we become afraid of art.    Public Art Commssioners tend to reapply to continue their appointments.  That is a terrific sign that the role is fulfilling  and an enjoyable way to serve Palo Alto.  It does, however, make it challenging for new people to break in. I am grateful  to all the Commissioners for their dedication and contribution to our community. I also appreciate that the City Council  has now instituted term limits.    My query today has to do with eligibility around residency.  Last night Commissioner Klaus withdrew his application,  which indicated he is not a Palo Alto resident (the actual address was redacted online). If he had not withdrawn, and  precedent stood, he likely would have been reappointed.  Chair Miyagi is now applying for a third term and also  indicates that he is not a resident of Palo Alto. Similarly, in 2011 when I first applied for the PAC, the director of the  97 Pacific Art League was appointed even though he lived in the East Bay.     Our public art is often the first impression visitors have of our community.  It is a source of civic identity and pride. To  that end why are we allowing residents of other cities to make those decisions for us?  If we have qualified and willing  citizens who want to step up, should they not automatically be prioritized in the selection process for commissions?  I  feel this way because public art is a visual expression of who we are and for what we stand.     No matter who you select for the Public Art Commission this time around you can not go wrong because all the Palo  Altans interviewed were qualified, eager and creative. They will all make fine Public Art Commissioners.    Thank you for your additional time and consideration.    With best regards,    Harriet Stern  98 Baumb, Nelly From:Yahoo Mail.® <honkystar@yahoo.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 2:18 PM To:Morton Homer Subject:Re: Very strange CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  SAME HERE Mort It is NOT strange at all? MIXING a FALSE NARRATIVE with the TRUTH? to DISCREDIT ALL THE TRUTH? on ANY truth WEBSITE? It is as bad as CNN reporting FAKE NEWS as well as any GOVERNMENT (MIND CONTROL).It is ALL they do to CONTROL the MASSES ANARCHISTS will have NO Government ANARCHISTS have ONLY ONE RULE (LAW? LOL) DO NO HARM On Thursday, April 29, 2021, 03:55:33 PM EDT, Morton Homer <morthomer@sbcglobal.net> wrote: BUNCH OF NONSENSE. EVEN IF YOU WISH HILIARY WOULD BE PROSECUTED. THIS FALSE ARTICLE SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH THE INTERNET.MORT. IT IS AS BAD AS CNN REPORTING FAKE NEWS. TOTALLY FAKE. BE SMART AND DELETE THIS. AS YOU KNOW I AM NOT A CLINTON FAN. On Thursday, April 29, 2021, 08:31:49 AM CDT, Peggy harrell <spcaanc44@gmail.com> wrote: https://truth11.com/2021/04/27/hillary-clinton-hanged-at-gitmo/ SPCA Alliance of NC 604 Palmer St. Tarboro, NC 27886 252-813-1114 PayPal spcaanc44@gmail.com 99 Baumb, Nelly From:Yahoo Mail.® <honkystar@yahoo.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:37 AM To:Honky Subject:Public Health Authorization has surfaced online, naming the COVID-19 vaccine a poison CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  ← Brilliant Irish Doctors and Lawyers Speak Out, Revealing COVID Anomalies: Voices for Truth – The Experts You Can Trust BREAKING: SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccine Named a Poison and Gene Technology Using GMOs for Private”Emergency Management” of Elderly and Care Home Staff by Australian Health Authority Posted on April 28, 2021 by Ramola D | Leave a comment Report | Ramola D | April 27, 2021 This is extraordinary news which raises a number of questions, whichever way you look at it. A Public Health Authorization has surfaced online, naming the COVID-19 vaccine a poison, as well as referring to it as gene technology using GMOS, among other revelations. Dr. Andrew Robertson, Chief Health Officer, Western Australia, has signed this authorization dated 18 February 2021 to “supply or administer a poison [SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccine-Australian Defence Force]” for purposes of emergency management during a public health emergency to authorize specific “persons”, further elaborated in an annexure to be nurses and midwives, contracted or subcontracted to Aspen Medical or “an entity contracted by Aspen Medical Pty Ltd” to receive, possess, supply, and administer the VACCINE–spelled in all caps–to staff and residents at residential aged care and disability facilities. 100 Baumb, Nelly From:Yahoo Mail.® <honkystar@yahoo.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 9:48 AM To:Honky Subject:Biden’s new plan will ruin America TAKE HEED TO THIS MESSAGE Dr. Ron Paul SPEAKS OUT (YES DOCTOR Ron Paul for 60 years) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  https://orders.stansberryresearch.com/?cid=MKT533670&eid=MKT540241&assetId=AST179799&page=1 America's Downfall According to Dr. Ron Paul, the problems we're seeing in America today are about to get a whole lot worse: "The folks in Washington today have put us on a dangerous path to a new financial crisis. It will be worse than the financial crisis of 2008... the huge stock market drop we saw in March of 2020... and even worse than the Great Depression." You see, we've now borrowed so much money our country can never, ever hope to legitimately pay it back to our creditors (the largest of which is you, the American taxpayer.) But none of this matters... Everyone just wants a quick fix. An easy handout. And, as we've seen in the past year, our elected officials are happy to give the masses what they want. "Unfortunately, these policies – and those that are sure to keep coming as this 'crisis' lingers on – will cause even greater damage to the Americans they're meant to help. So please, if you are concerned about this country – it's time to wake up, and take action." Find out what your government is up to in this important new video from Dr. Ron Paul. And then take this important step to protect your wealth in the months to come. Sincerely, A.J. Wiederman Senior Researcher, Stansberry Research To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.According to Dr. Ron Paul, the problems we're seeing in America today are about to get a whole lot worse. 102 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 5:31 AM To:ALLAN SEID; Stephen Lee; DENNIS LEE Subject:Fwd: More disturbing news about anti-Asian racism, right here inthe Siuth Bay CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.      Subject: More disturbing news about anti‐Asian racism, right here in the South Bay  Souce: KTVU news  Fr: Allan Seid    https://www.ktvu.com/news/vietnamese‐restaurant‐in‐sunnyvale‐vandalized‐disturbing‐note‐left      103 Baumb, Nelly From:Bob Wenzlau <bob@wenzlau.net> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 9:38 PM To:Council, City Subject:Thank You for The Opportunity to Serve on Storm Water CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Councilmembers,     Thank you for the opportunity to share my interest to continue serving on the storm water oversight committee.  I do  hope that more direction can be set by Council, and agree with the Mayor that the work plan can provide that.  It is a  challenging venue given our scope to frankly address the urgent infrastructure and environmental challenges.  This is a  venue where the "all water" concept could be contemplated, and support building a more integrated water resource  model in Palo Alto while also serving the fiduciary duties we are obligated to attend to. I my role I will continue to  present best practice experiences derived outside Palo Alto.    Again, I appreciate your service on Council, and am willing to serve another term at your discretion.  It appears you have  many great candidates, so we are a lucky community!    Sincerely,    Bob      ‐‐     Bob Wenzlau  bob@wenzlau.net  650‐248‐4467  104 Baumb, Nelly From:Palo Alto Forward <palo.alto.fwd@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 9:28 PM Subject:Invitation: Affordable Housing Month CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  May is Affordable Housing Month in Santa Clara and San Mateo County. During this month, housing partners, advocates, and activists come together to learn and engage around our housing challenges and solutions. Since Palo Alto has identified housing as a top priority, we wanted to share information about upcoming events. All are free and open to the public. They will be in webinar format. Click here for more information. Palo Alto Forward is co-hosting two great events: -Climate Change and Housing: re‐thinking land use for our planet's future -Safe Parking: Best Practices for Stabilizing Home Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.      Best,   Angie Evans   105 Baumb, Nelly From:Ian Klaus <ianrklaus@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 7:05 PM To:DeMarzo, Elise; Kang, Danielle; Brettle, Jessica; Council, City Subject:Reapplication Withdrawal CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear City Council Members and City Clerk,    It is a privilege to serve on the Palo Alto’s Public Arts Commission (PAC).     The PAC’s commitment to using public art and public space to advance equity is a noble one, and there remains much  work to be done, including in the Public Art in Private Development program. The alignment of public art with city  priorities in support of local business, residents and commuters during the Covid‐19 pandemic illustrates the potential  for bringing policy and culture together, an alignment that remains important as the city recovers.    In July 2020, the City Council voted to reduce the number of members on the PAC. Along with fellow commissioners, I  voiced concerns that this might limit the perspectives and backgrounds represented on the PAC. As I believe was the  Council’s hope, the reduced number of commissioners has allowed for increased debate and dialogue, while also making  the PAC more efficient and congenial. As such, I was excited to apply for reappointment.    The importance of different voices remains, however, and the applicant pool this cycle is notably diverse, accomplished  and impressive. Recognizing the merits of the reduced PAC but also the opportunity to add new and expert voices  beyond my own, I am withdrawing my application for reappointment.    I am eager to continue the work I committed to for the remainder of my appointment, and know that with the expert  and amazing staff, experienced commissioners, and exciting new voices, the city’s public arts program will thrive.    Regards,  Ian Klaus  106 Baumb, Nelly From:City of Palo Alto <cityofpaloalto@service.govdelivery.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 5:05 PM To:Council, City Subject:South Palo Alto Bikeways Project Upcoming Virtual Events CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hello,  The City of Palo Alto is undertaking an effort to improve bicycling along East Meadow Drive, Fabian Way, and the  Waverley Bike Path in South Palo Alto. These corridors serve as key walk‐and‐roll routes for students traveling to  multiple schools and connect the community to the new Highway 101 Pedestrian/Bike Bridge Project at Adobe Creek, as  well as other Palo Alto communities.  Join us for a series of upcoming virtual events to share your input and learn more about potential bikeway  enhancements under consideration. Visit the project website to register.   Introductory Webinar – Thursday, May 13 @ 6:30 PM   Virtual Route Tour 1 –Saturday, May 22 @ 11:00 AM   Virtual Route Tour 2 – Thursday, May 27 @ 6:30 PM   Engagement Summary – Tuesday, June 22 @ 6:30 PM  Learn more about the project and other ways to connect by visiting the project website at cityofpaloalto.org/Bikeways.   Thank you,  City of Palo Alto, Office of Transportation  To help protect your priv acy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet. 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This email was sent to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: City of Palo Alto ꞏ 250 Hamilton Ave ꞏ Palo Alto, CA 94301 ꞏ 650-329-2100 To help protect your privacy, Microsoft Office prevented automatic download of this picture from the Internet.GovDelivery logo   107 Baumb, Nelly From:Patrice Banal <patbanal@gmail.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 1:13 PM To:Jagdish Pamnani Cc:james hempatead; carlin otto; Council, City; cma group Subject:Re: [cma_neighborhood] No Elevated Train ! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  With all respect, I do not think this issue can be simplified to, "how much do you want your property taxes to go up/"   For the family unfortunate enough to potentially be victimized by Eminent Domain, the Biggest issue is:  a choice for the underpass means we will LOSE our property, our investments, and our community.    This is unacceptable,  the residents of Charleston Road should NOT be viewed as collateral damage.  In a city that prides itself on our sense of community, empathy, inclusiveness and innovation Palo Alto citizens should   reject the use of eminent domain and acknowledge that a plan that involves taking citizens' homes is inconsistent with  our values  and must be rejected, it is NOT AN OPTION.    We have spent years discussing options and while I care about the environment, bike safety, and the odd fish in a creek  bed,  I still believe we must prioritize the people, OUR FELLOW CITIZENS ON CHARLESTON RD and endorse  an option that will not leave them homeless.     Given the choice of paying a little more in property taxes vs, having NO PROPERTY, I would gladly pay a bit more.    FYI, the ONLY outreach to potentially impacted families on Charleston Rd was supposedly a flyer left on doorknobs.    I spoke to ALL FAMILIES slated to lose their homes via total or partial takes‐    NOBODY RECEIVED ANY DIRECT OUTREACH FROM THE CITY   EVER!!!!!!    How can you truly vet an option without engaging the people who would be most directly impacted  by an underpass project‐this is NOT due diligence, it is not good government, it is not the Palo Alto we know or want.    In the end, it should come down to How can anyone advocate for a plan that displaces and cancels your fellow Palo  Altans.  Please do not cancel us.  Please do not push for the underpass.  Please agree that property takes are not an option.      Patrice Fester              108     On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 12:28 PM Jagdish Pamnani <jpamnani@gmail.com> wrote:  Everybody needs to get real about commuter rail, the price of trench is way to expensive and will end up at least 50%  more then the projected ~$950m (given the history of construction projects in the bay area), the hybrid or underpass  are the most cost effective and will take far less time ($190m to $420m and will go over‐budget) but at least it is less  risky.     If people are concerned about a rail commuter on a 50 mile/hour train invading your privacy (has anyone travelled on  commuter trains in the UK or Europe will realize you cannot see much detail from a speeding train for objects  immediately outside the train) then choose the underpass options which keep the tracks at the same level.    In the end its going to come down to how much you want your property taxes to go up? All the other cities have mostly  decided and Palo Alto is the laggard.    On Mon, Apr 26, 2021 at 12:00 PM james hempatead <kimohmp@comcast.net> wrote:  Carlin  Thanks for the information, great points   Kimo  On Apr 26, 2021, at 10:42 AM, carlin otto wrote:      Dear Palo Alto City Council:     As you consider the options for railroad grade separations for southern Palo Alto  (Meadow and Charleston), I ask you to remove the two raised / elevated options from considerations.     Here are my reasons:    1. Raised / elevated options (the viaduct and the hybrid)   will have the trains operating ABOVE   the roofs of all the homes in the large single‐story overlay neighborhoods   of Greenmeadows and Charleston‐Meadows, and of course  higher than all single‐story houses in the entire City.      2. The newly‐installed electrification poles are already creating  an ugly, visibly‐divisive wall. These poles will be placed ON TOP of   the viaduct or hybrid berm making this ugly, divisive wall even higher   and more overwhelming    Both of these raised / elevated solutions would create a huge visual barrier stretching through the  middle of a huge section of our City.     3. Raised structures push their noise much wider / farther than below‐grade or at‐grade options so  the train noise will affect many more people than the current train does.  Building a raised train guarantees that noise for the next 100 years.     4. Over time, as Palo Alto builds more housing, the train noise will operate in a direct line to the  windows of the 2‐4 story apartment buildings that will be built adjacent to the train tracks. Would you  personally want to live in these apartments? Would you want your child to live in such an apartment?    109 5. Viaducts all over the world, over time, become dirty and ugly and poorly‐maintained. The land  beneath them becomes a litter‐strewn, barren wasteland which is incredibly depressing and ugly. It  will be no different in Palo Alto. Why build something that you know will become ugly and dirty?    6. Cities around the world who have built raised / elevated solutions come to hate them many years  before the structures reach their end of life. Many cities have even torn them down.    7. Twenty years from now (even ten !) noone is going to remember what the grade separation cost us  / them!  They will only know whether the solution has degraded or improved their City. Why build  something that will degrade our City by making it uglier, noisier, more littered, and more visually  divided.    Please choose a solution that IMPROVES Palo Alto.  Remove the viaduct and the hybrid options from consideration.    Carlin Otto  231 Whitclem Court  Palo Alto      ‐‐   ‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Charleston Meadows Neighborhood"  Google group.  ‐‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Charleston Meadows  Neighborhood" group.  To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  cma_neighborhood+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.  To view this discussion on the web visit  https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cma_neighborhood/CAKip2Rc7xd4fo7M‐ T1FuAqpkH%3DVCBtMsZ%2B‐86H3‐1WCDGmuetg%40mail.gmail.com.    ‐‐   ‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Charleston Meadows Neighborhood" Google group.  ‐‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Charleston Meadows Neighborhood"  group.  To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  cma_neighborhood+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.  To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cma_neighborhood/FAC653E2‐671D‐ 4845‐8162‐0C1D216891CB%40comcast.net.  ‐‐   ‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the "Charleston Meadows Neighborhood" Google group.  ‐‐‐   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Charleston Meadows Neighborhood"  group.  To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to  cma_neighborhood+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.  110 To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cma_neighborhood/CAP1QSL%2BfxcY‐ HqqhHHoey%2Bh1E%2Bgz6mdCYRJuisf0n%2BRwpX8q9Q%40mail.gmail.com.  1 Baumb, Nelly From:Minor, Beth Sent:Tuesday, May 4, 2021 9:44 AM To:Kang, Danielle; Baumb, Nelly Subject:FW: Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo Attachments:Rep. Eshoo Ltr to City of Palo Alto re CPF - 5.3.21.pdf; Rep. Eshoo CPF ltr - Palo Alto Mental Health Response - 4.28.21.pdf Can you put these in doc letters, please?      Thanks and stay healthy.      BETH MINOR  City Clerk  (650)329‐2379 | Beth.Minor@cityofpaloalto.org   www.cityofpaloalto.org                         From: Gaines, Chantal <Chantal.Gaines@CityofPaloAlto.org>   Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 11:05 PM  To: Minor, Beth <Beth.Minor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Brettle, Jessica <Jessica.Brettle@CityofPaloAlto.org>  Subject: Fwd: Letter from Congresswoman Eshoo    Hey Beth, please see attached and share these letters with the Mayor and the City Council. They are from  Congresswoman Eshoo.     Best,     Chantal     Sent from my mobile device. Please excuse brevity and typos.    From: Ramzanali, Asad <Asad.Ramzanali@mail.house.gov>  Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 11:30 AM  To: Gaines, Chantal     CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Hi Chantal,     • 2 Please find attached a letter from Anna notifying you all that she advanced your request to the Appropriations  Committee, as we discussed. Please let me know if you have questions.     Asad      ‐‐  Asad Ramzanali  Legislative Director  Office of Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, CA‐18  cell: 202‐558‐8012     1 April 28, 2021 The Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro, Chair Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies 2358-B Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Tom Cole, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies 1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole, As you begin your critical work on the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, I strongly urge your inclusion of $3.3 million for the City of Palo Alto, in partnership with the City of Mountain View and the City of Los Altos, for a Community Project Funding request to respond to welfare and mental health-related emergency calls with appropriate resources rather than law enforcement. This project is associated with the Health Surveillance and Program Support account through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It’s abundantly clear that governments must begin to rethink traditional policing. An idea with mounting support is for cities to provide an alternate means of responding to calls of service like welfare checks and mental-health-related incidences. Police are often not equipped or trained to handle these calls in a way that is helpful to all parties. Several recent tragic incidences have shown that when an officer is not able to handle the situation appropriately, the result can be violence. This is unacceptable, and we can do better. Providing an alternative service would reduce the burden of police and create better outcomes for the community. Cities such as Denver, Albuquerque, and Portland have begun piloting similar programs. Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) unit responded to 748 incidents in its first six months, none of which involved an arrest nor escalation to a police response. Previously, these incidences would have required a law enforcement response. This is why I believe a pilot project for alternative responses in my region is worthy of federal funds. J>J/zl'ta :§'. ~"'7" g,w&=d ~.1k-,a- ~;,;,ma .,, .... . .. c.: ... 11 , '\ ~~at1 o/ de U,dd Yta,M'~ $//t/4e o/' ~a«tlat'we4 ~~/t, 9-'&: Ptl5~5 2 As an indication of local support, I’ve enclosed letters of support from the Mayor of the City of Mountain View, the Santa Clara County Behavioral Services, Project Safety Net, and 67 of my constituents. If enacted, this request would create safer and more compassionate communities, and it’s why I wholeheartedly support this Community Project Funding request and ask that you do so as well. Most gratefully, Anna G. Eshoo Enclosures Jilmza J1. ~/loo 'l:~eend !?Jutnd <&if;1;.,-ma May 31 2021 it ~ ,,;; "iiv. F '\ 11J #J. ~n;p&Jd q/ t~ Pl'mtd 51-at&J 7?atde o/ !JP~&Jaztatw&J ~j~kW,~ 9. %: .ff(J5-/5 The Honorable Tom DuBois; Mayor City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo A~rnia 94301 Dear ~..o~~ois1 l1m so pleased to inform you that l have submitted the Palo Alto1s Mental Health Alternative Response Pilot Program as one of the Community Project Funding requests and am urging the Approrpriations Committee to consider funding it this year. The Committee aUows Members to submit just IO requests each for Committee consideration1 which was especially difficult because l received 50 high-quality and worthy funding applications from my Congressional District. For this reason1 l wasn1t able to submit a[[ of Palo Alto1s requests. ln the coming weeks1 the Approrpriations Committee will consider projects subm.itted by Members; and they can only fund a limited number of projects. Given the exceUent support of this project1 l have confidence in it. l1m so proud to represent; and l1m very grateful to you for the important work you1re re doing to improve our community. na C. Eshoo Member of Congress Enclosure cc: The Honorable Members of the Palo Alto City Council Mr. Ed Shikada1 City Manager ~·· 3 Baumb, Nelly From:Rice, Danille Sent:Monday, May 3, 2021 2:17 PM To:Council, City Cc:Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed; Gaines, Chantal; Nose, Kiely; ORG - Clerk's Office Subject:City of Palo Alto Comment Letter on Senate Bill (SB) 556 Attachments:SB 556 (Dodd) Palo Alto Opposition-april2021.pdf Good afternoon Mayor and Council Members,   On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, I would like to inform you that the attached letter was sent to the Honorable Ben  Hueso from the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee regarding Senate Bill (SB) 556 (Dodd), related  to wireless broadband infrastructure deployment. The letter aligns with previous Council action on this topic.    Respectfully,   Danille       Danille Rice  Executive Assistant to the City Manager  (650) 329‐2105 | danille.rice@cityofpaloalto.org   www.cityofpaloalto.org                      • CITY OF :ft8 11 ~ • m on Office of the Mayor and City Council City of Palo Alto April 30, 2021 The Honorable Ben Hueso Chair, Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee State Capitol Building, Room 4035 Sacramento, CA 95814 RE: SB 556 (Dodd) Street Light Poles, Traffic Signal Poles, Utility Poles, and Support Structures: Attachments (As Amended 03/16/21) Opposed from the City of Palo Alto Dear Senator Hueso, The City of Palo Alto must respectfully oppose Senate Bill (SB) 556 (Dodd), related to wireless broadband infrastructure deployment. In 2019, the City of Palo Alto supported United States House Resolution 530 which empowered local communities in relation to accelerated wireless broadband development. SB 556 directly conflicts with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) adopted regulations on wireless services deployment, which cities and counties across the nation are actively implementing. This measure requires local governments to make space available to telecommunications providers without recognizing local authority to manage the public right-of-way preserved in federal law. FCC regulations explicitly enable local governments to ensure that such installations meet appearance and design standards, maintain traffic safety, protect historical resources' integrity, and safeguard citizens' quality of life. Safety on local streets is solely the responsibility of local governments. The bill (SB 556) creates ambiguity in the fee structure for local governments to charge for access to infrastructure. Additionally, SB 556 seems to conflict with Palo Alto’s current Master License Agreements with carriers regarding traffic signal poles. While attachments are permitted on wood utility poles and street light poles, traffic signal poles are determined to be critical infrastructure and are currently excluded from attachments for public safety reasons. If the goal of SB 556 is to implement the existing FCC orders into state law, there should be no added ambiguity created by changes from what was already decided at the federal level. We encourage the state legislature to look for more opportunities to support local governments in California in our efforts to expand broadband internet access to further the state and federal broadband goals. If there is one thing that became clearer during the pandemic it is that there is a need for more reliable, low cost, internet access. Palo Alto is working on a fiber to the home project to enhance internet connectivity locally. As the state works to close the digital divide, legislative efforts to encourage and incentivize telecommunications companies to better service historically underserviced areas with access to reliable and affordable internet would be time well spent. Unfortunately, SB 556 does not accomplish that goal. DocuSign Envelope ID: 34E581FE-4B18-434A-9010-CD29F83D086D P.O. Box 10250 Palo Alto, CA 94303 650.329.2477 650.328.3631 fax While Palo Alto stands ready to work with the Legislature to further the state's broadband goals, these efforts should not inherently conflict with the appropriate local authority to manage the right-of-way and comply with existing FCC decisions. For these reasons, the City of Palo Alto opposes SB 556 (Dodd). Sincerely, Tom DuBois, Mayor City of Palo Alto cc: The Honorable Bill Dodd Josh Becker, Senator, California’s 13th Senate District Marc Berman, Assemblymember, California’s 24th Assembly District Seth Miller, Regional Public Affairs Manager, Peninsula Division, League of California Cities Emily Beach, Division President, League of California Cities Cities Association of Santa Clara County Palo Alto City Council DocuSign Envelope ID: 34E581FE-4B18-434A-9010-CD29F83D086D 4 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Sunday, May 2, 2021 5:11 PM To:Steve; CHBB850@googlegroups.com; CHOpinion@googlegroups.com Subject:Fwd: Scan Attachments:20210502162720723.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.    Date: Sun, May 2, 2021 at 4:30 PM  Subject: Racist Attack on Oakland Chinatown Leader  Sourve: S.J. Mercury 5/2/21  Fr: Allan Seid    B6 BAYAREA NEWS GROUP 111 OAKLAND Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce President Carl Chan, speaking at a Feb. 3news conference at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza in Oakland, was pushed from behind and punched in the ·head Thursday, police said. JANE TYSKA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Chinatown Chamber of Commerce president Carl Chan is attacked By George Kelly and Harry Harris Staff writers OAKLAND )) Chinatown Chamber of Commerce president Carl Chan was attacked on a public side- walk Thursday afternoon and· police officers were able to detain. a suspect, authorities said. Authorities said it ap- ,p ears the suspect, a 25-year-old man, did not know Chan. Police have not yet released his name. Authorities said the suspect approached Chan from behind just before 4 p.m. Thursday in the 400 block of Eighth Street near Broadway, yelled a profanity at him and then punched him in the back of his head, causing him to fall to the pavement and temporarily lose con- sciousness. tigators. Responding officers pro-During the past year, vided fii,-st aid, but Chan Chan took a prominent declined medical treat-· role in pressing city staff ment. Chan then provided members for multiple re- cellphone pictures he had sources, including the re- managed to capture of his turn of foot patrol officers, attacker to police. to Chinatown, released Based qn a description fuuding for additional from those images, other surveillance cameras officers canvassed the area and changes in street and detained the 25-year-and garage parking to old man in the 700 block reflect changed shop- of Seventh Street about 20 ping habits and to limit minutes later. parking tickets, to com- Chan was able to iden-bat not only the COVID-19 tify his _attacker in a field pandemic's economic e,f- lineup, authorities ~aid. fects but increased reports After being interviewed, ofmerchant robberies and the man was arrested on attacks. suspicion of felony bat-Chan l_ater praised the tery and violating parole.. city's restoration of a com- What the man is on parole munity officer removed for was not immediately earlier under budget cuts. known. He was taken to Santa Rita Jail. Police have not yet said what the man told inves- Contact George Kelly at 510-208-6488 and Harry Harris at 510-208-6443. 5 Baumb, Nelly From:Allan Seid <allanseid734@gmail.com> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 11:33 AM To:Stephen Lee; DENNIS LEE Subject:Fwd: Please email me a copy again of the MERCURY article of ALA successful lawsuit vs Santa Clara City Attachments:Binder1 sjmnews cvra article 2021.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.        Dear Friends,    This article is a repeat account of a local and historical Asian‐American successful lawsuit in concert with a  coalition of African‐American, Latinix, and Indigenous Amerian organizations vs. the City of Santa Clara. In my  opinion, the  landmark event is a model to be emulated more often by all communities with sinificant  segments of citizens who  are deprived of the right of equal and just representation in the arena  of decision‐making. The courageous individuals and groups who spoke out and acted   in the City of Santa Clara are to be remembered and lauded.      Allan Seid    SUBJECT: VOTERS REPRESENTATION  SOURCE: S.J. MERCURY  DATE: 4/29/21      NEWS > POLITICS· News Santa Clara settles voting rights lawsuit after spending $6 million, four years on legal battles City was sued in 2017 over its at-large election system By JOSEPH GEHA I jgeha@bayareanewsgroup.com I Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: April 23, 2021 at 4:25 p.m. I UPDATED: April 23, 2021 at 5:04 p.m . After spending $6 million of taxpayer money and four years fighting a lawsuit and a court order forcing Santa Clara to switch to district elections, the city has thrown in the towel -vindicating residents who argued that at-large elections diluted the votes of Asian Americans. As part of a settlement agreement, the council, by June 1, must call for an election to be held in which voters can choose whether to amend the city's charter to make permanent the current six-district system, according to City Attorney Brian Doyle, who announced the settlement at a special City Council meeting this week. The settlement comes after the city lost an appeal in December 2020 to a 2017 California Voting Rights Act lawsuit brought by five Asian Americans from Santa Clara. In 2018, a Santa Clara County Superior Court ruled that the city's longstanding at-large elections violated the voting rights act and that the city needed to create six council districts for council elections. No Asian American was ever elected to the City Council in Santa Clara since its city charter adoption in 1951 until the city made the switch to a six-district election system in 2018, in which candidates for each seat ran to represent a smaller area of the city, except the mayor. While appealing the case, Santa Clara held two district elections, which put its first Asian Americans on the City Council. Councilman Raj Chahal was the first Asian American elected, in 2018, and two other Asian-Americans, Kevin Park and Suds Jain, were elected in 2020. "I think it was a terrible mistake to have fought the case in the first place," Jain said in an interview Friday. "It's pretty well understood that nobody has ever won a CVRA lawsuit.". Santa Clara was one of many California cities that attorneys pushed into district elections in recent years by claiming violations of the voting rights in demand letters that threatened lawsuits. Many cities capitulate without much hassle, even if some officials disagree with the claims made by attorneys, as the lawsuits are often costly to fight, and no city has won one yet. Santa Monica currently has a case pending before the California Supreme Court. Doyle noted that the city would soon fulfill its financial obligations to the plaintiffs' attorneys, which include finishing paying out a rough total of $4.5 million for their legal fees and accrued interest. The plaintiffs in the case were LaDonna Yumori-Kaku, Wesley Mukoyama, Herminia Hernando, Umar Kamal and Mike Kaku, represented by the Law Office of Robert Rubin of Mill Valley, Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho of Oakland, and the Asian Law Alliance of Santa Clara County, the attorneys group said in a statement. The city has also spent about $1.5 million paying for its own outside legal counsel to fight the various court battles on its behalf since 2017, Doyle said in an interview Friday. The settlement begins to write what appears to be the final chapter in the years- long controversy over how to best elect council members in Santa Clara, during which city officials twice tried and failed to pass measures that would have created new elections systems. Measure A, proposed in mid-2018, would have divided the city into two three- member City Council districts and instituted ranked-choice voting for all elections in the city. It failed by a narrow margin. Plaintiffs' attorneys in the lawsuit opposed the measure, saying they preferred smaller neighborhood districts because it would give minority voters a better chance of getting minority candidates on the City Council. Measure C, which was put to the voters in March 2020, would have cut the number of court-ordered districts in half from six to three, but it was defeated by 60% of the vote and also opposed by the plaintiffs' attorneys. "After years of resistance to the implementation of a district election system, the city is now required to adopt a voting procedure that will ensure the full and fair participation of the Asian American community in the political process," Rubin, the civil rights attorney who initiated the case, said in the statement. "The right to vote is the most fundamental right in our democracy and the elimination of the discriminatory at large system removes a significant barrier to the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the city of Santa Clara's election system," Richard Kanda of the Asian Law Alliance said. Doyle, in an interview Friday, disagreed with the characterization that the city ever tried to avoid switching to district elections after hearing from the plaintiffs. He said the two ballot measures the city put forth both offered district elections, and those measures importantly honored the city's charter by allowing voters to decide what kind of system they wanted. He noted that Palm Desert ultimately adopted a similar two-district system with ranked choice voting after being forced to switch to district voting, and an arbitrator in that case called it "a creative hybrid solution." "If Measure A had passed, we would have avoided the vast majority of litigation, and the lawsuit would have been moot," Doyle said. He also thinks the plaintiffs' attorneys opposing both Measure A and Measure C, played a role in their failing at the ballot box. Gillmor, who supported both measures, didn't respond to a voice message and an email seeking comment for this story Friday. Jain, the councilman elected in November, said he thinks city leaders "got bad advice" from "a number of people" on how to respond to the original lawsuit. "The previous system of at-large elections preserved the status quo, and for 70 years it prevented less connected or minority candidates from getting elected," Jain said. Some people, including Gillmore, Jain said, "wanted to keep things the way they were." @) Report an error Policies and Standards Contact Us [f) The Trust Project Tags : Editors' Picks, Lawsuits, PM Report, Politics, Santa Clara County Elections, South Bay Elections Joseph Geha I Reporter Joseph Geha is a multimedia journalist covering Fremont, Milpitas, Union City, and Newark for the Bay Area News Group. His prior work has been seen in multiple Bay Area outlets, including SF Weekly, as well as on KQED and KLIV radio. He is a graduate of California State University, East Bay (Hayward), a Fremont native and a lifelong Oakland Athletics fan. jgeha@bayareanewsgroup.com f Follow Joseph Geha josephgeha 16 '# Follow Joseph Geha @josephgeha16 SUBSCRIBE TODAY! ALL ACCESS DIGITAL OFFER FOR JUST 99 CENTS! 6 Baumb, Nelly From:Barbara Kelsey <barbara.kelsey@sierraclub.org> Sent:Thursday, April 29, 2021 10:57 AM To:Council, City Cc:Gita Dev; James Eggers Subject:Sierra Club comment letter on Palo Alto Housing Attachments:Sierra Club comment letter on Palo Alto Housing 4-29-21.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  April 29, 2021    City of Palo Alto  Mayor DuBois and Palo Alto City Council    Dear Mayor DuBois and Palo Alto City Council members,    While we are grateful for your receptiveness to our letter warning about further housing development in the path of sea-level rise, particularly east of 101, we think the Council’s action to restrict planned home zoning in all R-1 neighborhoods goes too far. Please see our full comment letter attached.    As a responsible city of the twenty-first century, you have an opportunity to lead the way to a sustainable future by assertively but gently densifying our neighborhoods.    Respectfully submitted,    Gladwyn D’Souza  Conservation Chair  Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter    Cc James Eggers, Executive Director, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter  Gita Dev, Co-Chair, Sustainable Land Use Committee, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter    sent by:  Barbara Kelsey  she/her/hers  Chapter Coordinator  Sierra Club, Loma Prieta Chapter  3921 E. Bayshore Rd, Suite 204  Palo Alto, CA 94303  barbara.kelsey@sierraclub.org    Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm  Friday, 9:30 to 11:30 am    Please note that our Chapter office in   Palo Alto is closed until at least   sierraclub.org/loma-prieta ~ 3921 East Bayshore Road, Suite 204, Palo Alto, CA 94303 SAN MATEO, SANTA CLARA & SAN BENITO COUNTIES April 29, 2021 City of Palo Alto Mayor DuBois and Palo Alto City Council Via email: City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org Dear Mayor DuBois and Palo Alto City Council members, While we are grateful for your receptiveness to our letter warning about further housing development in the path of sea-level rise, particularly east of 101, we think the Council’s action to restrict planned home zoning in all R-1 neighborhoods goes too far. The city has a history of not building enough housing. According to the Palo Alto weekly, “[the city] has fallen well short of the regional goals. In the current cycle which runs from 2015 to 2022, the city was assigned 1,988 housing units. By the end of 2019, it had only approved 554 units...”1 At the same time, it has had a persistent jobs-housing imbalance, which the city’s own comprehensive plan recognizes creates environmental and housing affordability problems: Palo Alto has an unusually high concentration of jobs, with approximately three times as many jobs (over 100,000) as employed residents (about 36,000). This indicates an exceptionally strong local economy, but it has also brought negative side effects over the past decade. Due to the high number of jobs relative to a low number of employed residents, many workers must commute to Palo Alto, resulting in traffic congestion, air pollution and parking constraints. The understandable desire of workers to live close to their jobs has driven up the price of housing dramatically. The resulting high cost of living prevents restaurants, hotels, and others in the service industry from finding sufficient employees.2 In 2019, the Sierra Club Board of Directors adopted an Urban Infill Policy, which includes the following clause: 1 Sheyner, G, “State's ambitious housing targets spur anxieties in Palo Alto”, Palo Alto Online, https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2020/07/09/states-ambitious-housing-targets-spur-anxieties-in-palo-alto 2 City of Palo Alto, Comprehensive Plan 2030, P. 189 sierraclub.org/loma-prieta ~ 3921 East Bayshore Road, Suite 204, Palo Alto, CA 94303 “The Sierra Club believes affordable housing is a human right. Further, all neighborhoods should be open to people of all income levels and backgrounds.” Sierra Club has long maintained that increasing density within a half mile walking distance of transit corridors can actively direct a more equitable future and continue climate leadership by reducing VMT while still providing for our growing housing needs and for addressing affordability. By adding growth along transit corridors, including within single family neighborhoods, we can also provide the ridership to actually make transit more viable and create a virtuous cycle of improved function and cost effectiveness. Other environmental organizations recognize that Palo Alto’s most important climate policy lever is infill. UC Berkeley’s Cool Climate Policy Tool estimates that Urban Infill would result in reducing CO2-equivalent emissions in the city by over 90,000 metric tons.3 We are therefore greatly concerned that the city council has decided to make it significantly harder or impossible to build affordable housing in the vast majority of Palo Alto’s neighborhoods. If Palo Alto wants to continue to be seen as a champion of climate action and positive social change, it needs to be more flexible in the types of housing it allows in many of its neighborhoods. The ability of people who work in Palo Alto to live in Palo Alto would make a huge difference in their carbon footprint, to say nothing of their enjoyment of life and access to clean air, good schools, and a walkable/bikeable lifestyle. As a responsible city of the twenty-first century, you have an opportunity to lead the way to a sustainable future by assertively but gently densifying our neighborhoods. Respectfully submitted, Gladwyn D’Souza Conservation Chair Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Cc James Eggers, Executive Director, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Gita Dev, Co-Chair, Sustainable Land Use Committee, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter 3 https://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/ca-scenarios/index.html 8 Baumb, Nelly From:Kris Loew <kris@loewco.com> Sent:Wednesday, April 28, 2021 9:27 PM To:Council, City Subject:Mask Litter Attachments:Palo Alto Mask Litter.jpg CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.  Dear Members of City Council,  I take a daily walk around Cubberley to Mitchell Park to Ramos Park and up Fabian Way. I've noticed so many  abandoned masks on the track and fields, in the bushes, and along the streets. Over three days, I photographed the ones  along my path to illustrate the problem, and I hope you can post/share/publish this collection to encourage people to  discard masks properly. We have a very clean City and I see minimal other litter so I find it interesting that there are so  many masks (single‐use wipes, too, but I'll save that project for another day)!     Thank you for your consideration,  Kris Loew  792 E. Charleston Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94303  650 576 0604     Dear Mayor Dubois: We have owned our horr,e in Palo Al to for over 59 years. f1:1 All of theae years everythiny has been going well. We consider it to be a relatively peaceful neighborhood. Our newest neighbor at 4097 Park Boulevard has a general contractin~ business from his single garage home. His big black pickup truck is almost always parked in front of our home as if it is his own territory. It is now a fre~uent eyesore to some of the older neighbors. Our neighbor feels he is legally parking on the street. We feel he is definitely abusing his parking privileges. The weekly streetswee~er is unable to clean all the debris on our side of the street. It is also a nuisance to our weekly maintenance man who cleans up our yard, as well as prevents any of our visitors to park in front of our resiaence. We would appreciate any help you or the rest of the City Council can provide in copin~ with such an aggressive newcomer. We want ?ala Alto to be a ?eaceful not congested place to live. Thank you again in considering this matter for us. Sincerely, ~atlhi @/4 ~ Karen Chin Lady of the House N c,£:! --i > -1-< -< -0 nc::, :::0 r...,, N ~7:'J U:> ~!> ;::'1:1 """O c/20 :::it >-' o, N .,,_ .. ~o n· CX) ,.,,r. >