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Home My Public Portal AboutJuly 10, 2023 City Council Emails701-32 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: 7/10/2023 Document dates: 7/3/2023 – 7/10/2023 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. From:Al Ghafouri To:Dennis Kelly Cc:Richard Corny; Council, City; Manager zareens; Franco Campilongo; Alexa Sol; Alexandra Lee-Gardner; Arce, Ozzy; Bruce Fukuji; Gillian@zombierunner.com; Guagliardo, Steven; Lara@labodeguita.com; Paloalto@summitbicycles.com; Ryankhalil91@gmail.com; alecia@vinvinowine.com; anthony@protegepaloalto.com; berry@gamelandia.fun; bfbusinessllc@gmail.com; carolina@blossombirthandfamily.org; cartal23@aol.com; charlie@paloaltochamber.com; chris@performancegaines.com; cv@kaligreekkitchen.com; dc@zombierunner.com; dennis@vinvinowine.com; info@vivesol.biz; info@casualchicsalon.com; info@italicorestaurant.com; info@galleryhouse.art; ismetsylm@gmail.com; izzysbb@gmail.com; jinsho454calave@gmail.com; joaniescafepaloalto@gmail.com; judy@lpetal.com; kanzeman@sbcglobal.net; labohemepaloalto@gmail.com; lifestylegoods@countrysun.com; lisa@vinvinowine.com; lotusthaibistro@gmail.com; lucia.miracchi@gmail.com; maico.campilongo@gmail.com; michael@labodeguita.com; michaelbendicott@gmail.com; moods.winebar@yahoo.com; nguyenbchan@gmail.com; nguyentoanandy@gmail.com; nick@performancegaines.com; paloalto@clubpilates.com; pastispaloalto@gmail.com; scott@countrysun.com; umetea888@gmail.com; victoriaballetpaloalto@gmail.com; zareensrestaurant@gmail.com Subject:Re: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus Group Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 1:28:39 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from alghafouri@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello everyone, I have been on cal ave over 25 years. 10 years at plantation cafe which was closed few yearsback after I sold the business and 15 years at current location Printers cafe . As I mentioned before my business still down 50 percent from before Pandemic , on top of that they are bunchof Food facilities right in front of cafe Every Sunday this is supposed to be Farmers Market not Food Market. Complaining to city few times nothings is done is Shame . During thedaytime on cal ave is like ghost town nothing like before pandemic. Best , Al Ghafouri Sent from my iPhone On Jul 10, 2023, at 12:45 PM, Dennis Kelly <dennis@protegepaloalto.com>wrote:I’m glad to see so many business owners weighing-in on this forum. Too manyhave sat on the sidelines due to their frustration with the process over the pastcouple of years. It appears to me that business owners who are benefiting from additional seatingcapacity support the street closure. Those who are suffering from the lack ofstorefront access for drivers are in favor of opening up the street to automobiles.Makes perfect sense. We believe every business on Cal Ave and its cross-streets (ex. True Salon, BistroElan, Café Pro Bono, Nachmarkt, etc…) deserves a voice in this crucial decision.This issue should be decided through a vote of those who invest their time, moneyand financial futures into our street on a daily basis… The business owners. The question is obvious: Should California Avenue open to automobiles in 2024?Each and every business should get ONE single vote and the voting ballot shouldbe PUBLISHED so that the process is fully transparent. Not every business will be fully satisfied in the end, but a rising tide lifts all boats. So why not put it to a published vote by the businesses and the majorityrules? Thank you very much for your consideration. DENNIS KELLY, MS Master Sommelier | OwnerM 707.291.1607 250 California AvenuePalo Alto, CA 94306 RESERVATIONSINSTAGRAM On Jul 10, 2023, at 11:24 AM, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com> wrote:Easy for businesses that benefit from the closure to say that.My business will thrive no matter what and this is my last email about the closure,sorry to have disrupted your time and sorry for the long email but I speak from theheart. It’s nice to see in writing how people feel so thank you. Some of you don’t wantthe street to reopen and want to us to “Move Forward” I take that as close minded, slightly greedy and slightly disrespectful . A moveforward would be to reopen and stop dwelling on a street closure that looks like adisorganized Wild West and a construction zone after 3 years. As neighbors weshould be able to compromise. Our family has been doing business on the street since 1940 and at our currentlocation since 1985.We have survived wars, recessions, dot com bust, financial crisis, street remodelsand a pandemic. On the other hand we have seen countless restaurants come and go, as well asretail, pharmacies, hardware stores and salons. We think a reopen (even a one way ) would make it fair for everyone and not justa few businesses and make it inviting for more diverse new businesses to want toopen up on Cal Ave. Also to make it easier for my elder customers to get to mystore. And that’s our opinion. Our business is a necessity, no one does what we do for miles. We serve to thewealthy as well as the poor. We do repairs for all the local high end stores likeWilkes, Bloomingdales, Louis Vuitton etc…. Doctors recommend us to their patients. People send us repair from all over the country and we have customers that travel from all over the bay. I’m as versatile as it gets. And as thriving as can thrive. Luckily I don’t have to adjust my hours accordingly and feel sorry for businessesthat have to. I also don’t need any lessons on my retail business from people who clearlybenefit from the closure. Thank you Good luck to everyone Respectfully CFO of The Cobblery LLC Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2023, at 5:03 PM, Jess <Jessicasadee@gmail.com> wrote:Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2023, at 9:22 AM, Manager zareens<zareensmanager@gmail.com> wrote:Hi Everyone Keeping Cal Ave. closed will make it a destination forfriends and family to hangout which will be good for allbusinesses and landlords. City of Palo Alto is alsohelping us bring foot traffic to our downtown. With the new parking reform law, AB 2097 that was passed this year, retail is now allowed to convert torestaurant easily so hopefully we will see less ‘for lease’signs and more restaurants on this street soon! I believe in the potential of Cal Ave. and this is thereason why we are expanding our foot print here. Best,Zareen KhanOwner/Chefwww.zareensrestaurant.com On Jul 7, 2023, at 11:40 AM, Franco Campilongo <francocampilongo@gmail.com> wrote:Fellow business owners I appreciate your perspective and willingness to share your thoughts. It's true that businesses often face challenges and need to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the accelerated business model changes brought by the pandemic. It's also important to recognize that not all businesses are able to adapt quickly or survive the changes. The shift towards remote work and the overall decrease in in-office workers has had a significant impact on the retail industry. The rise of online shopping has been accelerated by several factors, including the convenience it offers and the potential for cost savings. As a result, retailers have been adapting to these changes by investing in their online presence, expanding their e-commerce capabilities, and optimizing their websites for a seamless shopping experience. While political decisions can be challenging to satisfy everyone, it's important for cities to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of such decisions. From my perspective, closing a dead-end street to car traffic can present a significant opportunity for the city of Palo Alto if implemented effectively. Terun sales Ref to 2019 2019 = 100% 2020 = - 40% (mostly take out) 2021 = + 25% (partially on take out only) 2022 = + 40% 2023 = + 60% projected Italico Sales Ref to 2019 2019 = 100% 2020 = - 70% (closed few months) 2021 = - 50% (closed a month) Added Pizza to the Menu 2022 = + 20% 2023 = + 40% projected I believe that, based on my economic analysis, it would be beneficial for the street to remain closed and for the ongoing project to continue, making it an extraordinary space, especially considering the availability of now sufficient parking spaces. I acknowledge that this configuration may favor restaurants, and I believe that the direction of California Avenue becoming a restaurant row aligns with what I think and hear the community desires. Terun and Italico have made substantial investments in outdoor furniture and beautification of our front street space, aiming to provide an enjoyable experience for guests that is on par with, if not better than, being inside the restaurant. I also understand that some businesses may have held back on investments due to awaiting final decisions from the City. Regarding empty spaces: 1. Subway was replaced by another successful business 2. Former Spalti (empty way before pandemic) is being replaced by a restaurant that will thrive3. Old Theatre (former Zombie runner) is a hard to take lease4. Former bakery also hard lease to take (Empty pre pandemic)5. Starbucks wanted to leave in 2019 already, Zareen is takingover that space6. Former Pastis being replaced by an Indian restaurant7. Bank of the West was going to be replaced by SVB (we allknow what happened) 8. Nut house being replaced with a fresher project The street closure is not the primary cause of the empty spaces onCalifornia Avenue. It's important to consider multiple factors that maycontribute to vacant spaces, and it seems that, from my observation,the closure of the street is not the main driver. It's evident that I have a strong belief in the potential of CaliforniaAvenue and have taken proactive steps to enhance the customerexperience in my establishments. I am confident that my restaurants will thrive regardless of the street'sstatus. However, I believe that there is a significant opportunity forgreater success for California Avenue by keeping it closed to cartraffic. I think we should be shifting the focus towards the future anddiscussing strategies to make California Avenue attractive in theinterim. Dwelling too much on past issues might hinder progress, soit's important to look forward and identify actionable steps to enhancethe appeal of the area. Thank you Ciao Franco Campilongo and Terun/Italico family On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 4:29 PM Alexa Sol <alexaisabella11@gmail.com> wrote:Do we have any update on that last meeting that we had with the street design? I remember everyone wasinterested in a one way open road ? Or what was the consensus on the options?I apologize I have been out of the loop and I agree that the street is looking pretty sad out there with all the forlease locations, construction, empty offices and still an incohesive strategy and decision making. I wish everyone the best and appreciate all the efforts you are each taking for maintaining your business forour community. On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 9:48 AM Al Ghafouri <alghafouri@gmail.com> wrote:Hello All , This is Al from printers cafe our catering and walk in customer still is down 50 percent from 2019 prepandemic California ave is not the same any more is actually depressing to se no one on street .of courseall offices in the area are closed that’s not help either. Al Sent from my iPhone On Jul 6, 2023, at 9:38 AM, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com>wrote: Hello and thank you all for your time asalways It is strange to me that Palo Alto wantsto relax the ban in chain stores aroundCal Ave and such when we lost two ofthe biggest chains out there,STARBUCKS and SUBWAY. Multibillion dollar businesses couldn’tsurvive on our street with our lack offoot traffic. Don’t get me wrongStarbucks going out is great for thesmall mom and pops coffee shops, as itshould be. But to relax the big chainlaws is a big laughable mistake. No bigchains is going to open on a dead closedstreet. They’d rather go to the mall ortown and country type places. And as ofnow we’re down 2 big chain on ourstreet. So where’s their replacements?lolBy the way the doordash drivers havetaken the bank parking lot and some ofthe nice chairs and tables you put out.Doesn’t do any good for my businessbut great for them and the restaurants. And my retail is still 35% down fromlast year which was already terrible and50% down from pre-Covid by the way.Worse than during the financial crisis. Ifit wasn’t for my shoe repair services Iwould have closed already. As usual I am for a reopening of thestreet. Something that would benefit mybusiness and not just the restaurants. Thank you and good luck to everyoneout there. -- Alexa Sol Quinto Sol 2201 BroadwayRedwood City 6503655765www.quintosol.ca Sun of Wolf406 S. California Ave Palo Altowww.sunofwolfpa.com contact@sunofwolfpa.com -- Franco Campilongo Owner Terún Pizzeria 448 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306Tel. 650 6008310 info@terunpizza.com www.terunpizza.com Owner iTalico Restaurant & Wine Bar 341 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 4739616 info@italicorestaurant.com www.italicorestaurant.com From:Dennis Kelly To:Richard Corny Cc:Council, City; Manager zareens; Franco Campilongo; Alexa Sol; Al Ghafouri; Alexandra Lee-Gardner; Arce, Ozzy; Bruce Fukuji; Gillian@zombierunner.com; Guagliardo, Steven; Lara@labodeguita.com; Paloalto@summitbicycles.com; Ryankhalil91@gmail.com; alecia@vinvinowine.com; anthony@protegepaloalto.com; berry@gamelandia.fun; bfbusinessllc@gmail.com; carolina@blossombirthandfamily.org; cartal23@aol.com; charlie@paloaltochamber.com; chris@performancegaines.com; cv@kaligreekkitchen.com; dc@zombierunner.com; dennis@vinvinowine.com; info@vivesol.biz; info@casualchicsalon.com; info@italicorestaurant.com; info@galleryhouse.art; ismetsylm@gmail.com; izzysbb@gmail.com; jinsho454calave@gmail.com; joaniescafepaloalto@gmail.com; judy@lpetal.com; kanzeman@sbcglobal.net; labohemepaloalto@gmail.com; lifestylegoods@countrysun.com; lisa@vinvinowine.com; lotusthaibistro@gmail.com; lucia.miracchi@gmail.com; maico.campilongo@gmail.com; michael@labodeguita.com; michaelbendicott@gmail.com; moods.winebar@yahoo.com; nguyenbchan@gmail.com; nguyentoanandy@gmail.com; nick@performancegaines.com; paloalto@clubpilates.com; pastispaloalto@gmail.com; scott@countrysun.com; umetea888@gmail.com; victoriaballetpaloalto@gmail.com; zareensrestaurant@gmail.com Subject:Re: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus Group Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 12:48:14 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I’m glad to see so many business owners weighing-in on this forum. Too many have sat on thesidelines due to their frustration with the process over the past couple of years. It appears to me that business owners who are benefiting from additional seating capacity support the street closure. Those who are suffering from the lack of storefront access fordrivers are in favor of opening up the street to automobiles. Makes perfect sense. We believe every business on Cal Ave and its cross-streets (ex. True Salon, Bistro Elan, Café Pro Bono, Nachmarkt, etc…) deserves a voice in this crucial decision. This issue should bedecided through a vote of those who invest their time, money and financial futures into our street on a daily basis… The business owners. The question is obvious: Should California Avenue open to automobiles in 2024? Each andevery business should get ONE single vote and the voting ballot should be PUBLISHED so that the process is fully transparent. Not every business will be fully satisfied in the end, but a rising tide lifts all boats. So whynot put it to a published vote by the businesses and the majority rules? Thank you very much for your consideration. DENNIS KELLY, MS Master Sommelier | OwnerM 707.291.1607 250 California AvenuePalo Alto, CA 94306 RESERVATIONSINSTAGRAM On Jul 10, 2023, at 11:24 AM, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com> wrote: Easy for businesses that benefit from the closure to say that.My business will thrive no matter what and this is my last email about the closure, sorry tohave disrupted your time and sorry for the long email but I speak from the heart. It’s nice to see in writing how people feel so thank you. Some of you don’t want the street toreopen and want to us to “Move Forward” I take that as close minded, slightly greedy and slightly disrespectful . A move forward wouldbe to reopen and stop dwelling on a street closure that looks like a disorganized Wild Westand a construction zone after 3 years. As neighbors we should be able to compromise. Our family has been doing business on the street since 1940 and at our current location since1985.We have survived wars, recessions, dot com bust, financial crisis, street remodels and apandemic. On the other hand we have seen countless restaurants come and go, as well as retail,pharmacies, hardware stores and salons. We think a reopen (even a one way ) would make it fair for everyone and not just a fewbusinesses and make it inviting for more diverse new businesses to want to open up on CalAve. Also to make it easier for my elder customers to get to my store. And that’s our opinion. Our business is a necessity, no one does what we do for miles. We serve to the wealthy as wellas the poor. We do repairs for all the local high end stores like Wilkes, Bloomingdales, LouisVuitton etc…. Doctors recommend us to their patients. People send us repair from all over the country and we have customers that travel from allover the bay. I’m as versatile as it gets. And as thriving as can thrive.Luckily I don’t have to adjust my hours accordingly and feel sorry for businesses that have to. I also don’t need any lessons on my retail business from people who clearly benefit from theclosure. Thank you Good luck to everyone Respectfully CFO of The Cobblery LLC Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2023, at 5:03 PM, Jess <Jessicasadee@gmail.com> wrote:Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2023, at 9:22 AM, Manager zareens<zareensmanager@gmail.com> wrote:Hi Everyone Keeping Cal Ave. closed will make it a destination for friends andfamily to hangout which will be good for all businesses andlandlords. City of Palo Alto is also helping us bring foot traffic to ourdowntown. With the new parking reform law, AB 2097 that was passed this year, retail is now allowed to convert to restaurant easily so hopefully we will see less ‘for lease’ signs and more restaurants on this street soon! I believe in the potential of Cal Ave. and this is the reason why weare expanding our foot print here. Best, Zareen KhanOwner/Chefwww.zareensrestaurant.com On Jul 7, 2023, at 11:40 AM, Franco Campilongo<francocampilongo@gmail.com> wrote:Fellow business owners I appreciate your perspective and willingness to share your thoughts. It's true that businesses often face challenges and need to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the accelerated business model changes brought by the pandemic. It's also important to recognize that not all businesses are able to adapt quickly or survive the changes. The shift towards remote work and the overall decrease in in-office workers has had a significant impact on the retail industry. The rise of online shopping has been accelerated by several factors, including the convenience it offers and the potential for cost savings. As a result, retailers have been adapting to these changes by investing in their online presence, expanding their e-commerce capabilities, and optimizing their websites for a seamless shopping experience. While political decisions can be challenging to satisfy everyone, it's important for cities to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of such decisions. From my perspective, closing a dead-end street to car traffic can present a significant opportunity for the city of Palo Alto if implemented effectively. Terun sales Ref to 2019 2019 = 100% 2020 = - 40% (mostly take out) 2021 = + 25% (partially on take out only) 2022 = + 40% 2023 = + 60% projected Italico Sales Ref to 2019 2019 = 100% 2020 = - 70% (closed few months) 2021 = - 50% (closed a month) Added Pizza to the Menu 2022 = + 20% 2023 = + 40% projected I believe that, based on my economic analysis, it would be beneficial for the street to remain closed and for the ongoing project to continue, making it an extraordinary space, especially considering the availability of now sufficient parking spaces. I acknowledge that this configuration may favor restaurants, and I believe that the direction of California Avenue becoming a restaurant row aligns with what I think and hear the community desires. Terun and Italico have made substantial investments in outdoor furniture and beautification of our front street space, aiming to provide an enjoyable experience for guests that is on par with, if not better than, being inside the restaurant. I also understand that some businesses may have held back on investments due to awaiting final decisions from the City. Regarding empty spaces: 1. Subway was replaced by another successful business 2. Former Spalti (empty way before pandemic) is being replaced by a restaurant that will thrive 3. Old Theatre (former Zombie runner) is a hard to take lease 4. Former bakery also hard lease to take (Empty pre pandemic) 5. Starbucks wanted to leave in 2019 already, Zareen is taking over that space 6. Former Pastis being replaced by an Indian restaurant 7. Bank of the West was going to be replaced by SVB (we all know what happened) 8. Nut house being replaced with a fresher project The street closure is not the primary cause of the empty spaces on California Avenue. It's important to consider multiple factors that may contribute to vacant spaces, and it seems that, from my observation, the closure of the street is not the main driver. It's evident that I have a strong belief in the potential of California Avenue and have taken proactive steps to enhance the customer experience in my establishments. I am confident that my restaurants will thrive regardless of the street's status. However, I believe that there is a significant opportunity for greater success for California Avenue by keeping it closed to car traffic. I think we should be shifting the focus towards the future and discussing strategies to make California Avenue attractive in the interim. Dwelling too much on past issues might hinder progress, so it's important to look forward and identify actionable steps to enhance the appeal of the area. Thank you Ciao Franco Campilongo and Terun/Italico family On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 4:29 PM Alexa Sol<alexaisabella11@gmail.com> wrote:Do we have any update on that last meeting that we had with the street design? I remember everyone was interested in a one wayopen road ? Or what was the consensus on the options? I apologize I have been out of the loop and I agree that the street islooking pretty sad out there with all the for lease locations, construction, empty offices and still an incohesive strategy anddecision making. I wish everyone the best and appreciate all the efforts you are eachtaking for maintaining your business for our community. On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 9:48 AM Al Ghafouri <alghafouri@gmail.com> wrote:Hello All , This is Al from printers cafe our catering and walk in customerstill is down 50 percent from 2019 pre pandemic California ave is not the same any more is actually depressing to se no one onstreet .of course all offices in the area are closed that’s not help either. Al Sent from my iPhone On Jul 6, 2023, at 9:38 AM, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com> wrote: Hello and thank you all for your time as always It is strange to me that Palo Alto wants to relax theban in chain stores around Cal Ave and such whenwe lost two of the biggest chains out there,STARBUCKS and SUBWAY. Multi billion dollarbusinesses couldn’t survive on our street with ourlack of foot traffic. Don’t get me wrong Starbucksgoing out is great for the small mom and pops coffeeshops, as it should be. But to relax the big chain lawsis a big laughable mistake. No big chains is going toopen on a dead closed street. They’d rather go to themall or town and country type places. And as of nowwe’re down 2 big chain on our street. So where’stheir replacements? lolBy the way the doordash drivers have taken the bankparking lot and some of the nice chairs and tablesyou put out. Doesn’t do any good for my businessbut great for them and the restaurants. And my retail is still 35% down from last year whichwas already terrible and 50% down from pre-Covidby the way. Worse than during the financial crisis. Ifit wasn’t for my shoe repair services I would haveclosed already. As usual I am for a reopening of the street.Something that would benefit my business and notjust the restaurants. Thank you and good luck to everyone out there. -- Alexa Sol Quinto Sol 2201 BroadwayRedwood City 6503655765www.quintosol.ca Sun of Wolf406 S. California Ave Palo Altowww.sunofwolfpa.com contact@sunofwolfpa.com -- Franco Campilongo Owner Terún Pizzeria 448 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306Tel. 650 6008310 info@terunpizza.com www.terunpizza.com Owner iTalico Restaurant & Wine Bar 341 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 4739616 info@italicorestaurant.com www.italicorestaurant.com From:Richard Corny To:Council, City Cc:Manager zareens; Franco Campilongo; Alexa Sol; Al Ghafouri; Alexandra Lee-Gardner; Arce, Ozzy; Bruce Fukuji; gillian@zombierunner.com; Guagliardo, Steven; Lara@labodeguita.com; Paloalto@summitbicycles.com; ryankhalil91@gmail.com; alecia@vinvinowine.com; anthony@protegepaloalto.com; berry@gamelandia.fun; bfbusinessllc@gmail.com; carolina@blossombirthandfamily.org; cartal23@aol.com; charlie@paloaltochamber.com; chris@performancegaines.com; cv@kaligreekkitchen.com; dc@zombierunner.com; dennis@protegepaloalto.com; dennis@vinvinowine.com; info@vivesol.biz; info@casualchicsalon.com; info@italicorestaurant.com; info@galleryhouse.art; ismetsylm@gmail.com; izzysbb@gmail.com; jinsho454calave@gmail.com; joaniescafepaloalto@gmail.com; judy@lpetal.com; kanzeman@sbcglobal.net; labohemepaloalto@gmail.com; lifestylegoods@countrysun.com; lisa@vinvinowine.com; lotusthaibistro@gmail.com; lucia.miracchi@gmail.com; maico.campilongo@gmail.com; michael@labodeguita.com; michaelbendicott@gmail.com; moods.winebar@yahoo.com; nguyenbchan@gmail.com; nguyentoanandy@gmail.com; nick@performancegaines.com; paloalto@clubpilates.com; pastispaloalto@gmail.com; scott@countrysun.com; umetea888@gmail.com; victoriaballetpaloalto@gmail.com; zareensrestaurant@gmail.com Subject:Re: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus Group Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 9:24:25 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Easy for businesses that benefit from the closure to say that.My business will thrive no matter what and this is my last email about the closure, sorry to have disrupted your time and sorry for the long email but I speak from the heart. It’s nice to see in writing how people feel so thank you. Some of you don’t want the street toreopen and want to us to “Move Forward” I take that as close minded, slightly greedy and slightly disrespectful . A move forward wouldbe to reopen and stop dwelling on a street closure that looks like a disorganized Wild West and a construction zone after 3 years. As neighbors we should be able to compromise. Our family has been doing business on the street since 1940 and at our current location since1985. We have survived wars, recessions, dot com bust, financial crisis, street remodels and apandemic. On the other hand we have seen countless restaurants come and go, as well as retail,pharmacies, hardware stores and salons. We think a reopen (even a one way ) would make it fair for everyone and not just a fewbusinesses and make it inviting for more diverse new businesses to want to open up on Cal Ave. Also to make it easier for my elder customers to get to my store. And that’s our opinion. Our business is a necessity, no one does what we do for miles. We serve to the wealthy as well as the poor. We do repairs for all the local high end stores like Wilkes, Bloomingdales, LouisVuitton etc…. Doctors recommend us to their patients. People send us repair from all over the country and we have customers that travel from all over the bay. I’m as versatile as it gets. And as thriving as can thrive. Luckily I don’t have to adjust my hours accordingly and feel sorry for businesses that have to. I also don’t need any lessons on my retail business from people who clearly benefit from the closure. Thank you Good luck to everyone Respectfully CFO of The Cobblery LLC Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2023, at 5:03 PM, Jess <Jessicasadee@gmail.com> wrote:Sent from my iPhone On Jul 8, 2023, at 9:22 AM, Manager zareens <zareensmanager@gmail.com> wrote:Hi Everyone Keeping Cal Ave. closed will make it a destination for friends andfamily to hangout which will be good for all businesses andlandlords. City of Palo Alto is also helping us bring foot traffic to ourdowntown. With the new parking reform law, AB 2097 that was passed this year, retail is now allowed to convert to restaurant easily so hopefully wewill see less ‘for lease’ signs and more restaurants on this street soon! I believe in the potential of Cal Ave. and this is the reason why weare expanding our foot print here. Best,Zareen KhanOwner/Chefwww.zareensrestaurant.com On Jul 7, 2023, at 11:40 AM, Franco Campilongo <francocampilongo@gmail.com> wrote:Fellow business owners I appreciate your perspective and willingness to share your thoughts. It's true that businesses often face challenges and need to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the accelerated business model changes brought by the pandemic. It's also important to recognize that not all businesses are able to adapt quickly or survive the changes. The shift towards remote work and the overall decrease in in-office workers has had a significant impact on the retail industry. The rise of online shopping has been accelerated by several factors, including the convenience it offers and the potential for cost savings. As a result, retailers have been adapting to these changes byinvesting in their online presence, expanding their e-commerce capabilities, andoptimizing their websites for a seamless shopping experience. While political decisions can be challenging to satisfy everyone, it's important forcities to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of such decisions. From myperspective, closing a dead-end street to car traffic can present a significantopportunity for the city of Palo Alto if implemented effectively. Terun sales Ref to 20192019 = 100%2020 = - 40% (mostly take out)2021 = + 25% (partially on take out only)2022 = + 40%2023 = + 60% projected Italico Sales Ref to 20192019 = 100%2020 = - 70% (closed few months)2021 = - 50% (closed a month) Added Pizza to the Menu2022 = + 20% 2023 = + 40% projected I believe that, based on my economic analysis, it would be beneficial for the street toremain closed and for the ongoing project to continue, making it an extraordinaryspace, especially considering the availability of now sufficient parking spaces. I acknowledge that this configuration may favor restaurants, and I believe that thedirection of California Avenue becoming a restaurant row aligns with what I thinkand hear the community desires.Terun and Italico have made substantial investments in outdoor furniture andbeautification of our front street space, aiming to provide an enjoyable experience forguests that is on par with, if not better than, being inside the restaurant.I also understand that some businesses may have held back on investments due toawaiting final decisions from the City. Regarding empty spaces: 1. Subway was replaced by another successful business2. Former Spalti (empty way before pandemic) is being replaced by a restaurantthat will thrive3. Old Theatre (former Zombie runner) is a hard to take lease4. Former bakery also hard lease to take (Empty pre pandemic)5. Starbucks wanted to leave in 2019 already, Zareen is taking over that space6. Former Pastis being replaced by an Indian restaurant7. Bank of the West was going to be replaced by SVB (we all know whathappened) 8. Nut house being replaced with a fresher project The street closure is not the primary cause of the empty spaces on California Avenue.It's important to consider multiple factors that may contribute to vacant spaces, and itseems that, from my observation, the closure of the street is not the main driver. It's evident that I have a strong belief in the potential of California Avenue and have taken proactive steps to enhance the customer experience in my establishments. I am confident that my restaurants will thrive regardless of the street's status. However, I believe that there is a significant opportunity for greater success forCalifornia Avenue by keeping it closed to car traffic. I think we should be shifting the focus towards the future and discussing strategies tomake California Avenue attractive in the interim. Dwelling too much on past issuesmight hinder progress, so it's important to look forward and identify actionable stepsto enhance the appeal of the area. Thank you Ciao Franco Campilongo and Terun/Italico family On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 4:29 PM Alexa Sol <alexaisabella11@gmail.com> wrote:Do we have any update on that last meeting that we had with the street design? I remember everyone was interested in a one wayopen road ? Or what was the consensus on the options? I apologize I have been out of the loop and I agree that the street islooking pretty sad out there with all the for lease locations, construction, empty offices and still an incohesive strategy anddecision making. I wish everyone the best and appreciate all the efforts you are eachtaking for maintaining your business for our community. On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 9:48 AM Al Ghafouri <alghafouri@gmail.com> wrote:Hello All , This is Al from printers cafe our catering and walk in customerstill is down 50 percent from 2019 pre pandemic California ave is not the same any more is actually depressing to se no one onstreet .of course all offices in the area are closed that’s not help either. Al Sent from my iPhone On Jul 6, 2023, at 9:38 AM, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com> wrote: Hello and thank you all for your time as always It is strange to me that Palo Alto wants to relax theban in chain stores around Cal Ave and such whenwe lost two of the biggest chains out there,STARBUCKS and SUBWAY. Multi billion dollarbusinesses couldn’t survive on our street with ourlack of foot traffic. Don’t get me wrong Starbucksgoing out is great for the small mom and pops coffeeshops, as it should be. But to relax the big chain lawsis a big laughable mistake. No big chains is going to open on a dead closed street. They’d rather go to themall or town and country type places. And as of now we’re down 2 big chain on our street. So where’stheir replacements? lol By the way the doordash drivers have taken the bankparking lot and some of the nice chairs and tables you put out. Doesn’t do any good for my businessbut great for them and the restaurants. And my retail is still 35% down from last year whichwas already terrible and 50% down from pre-Covid by the way. Worse than during the financial crisis. Ifit wasn’t for my shoe repair services I would have closed already. As usual I am for a reopening of the street. Something that would benefit my business and notjust the restaurants. Thank you and good luck to everyone out there. -- Alexa Sol Quinto Sol 2201 BroadwayRedwood City 6503655765www.quintosol.ca Sun of Wolf406 S. California Ave Palo Altowww.sunofwolfpa.com contact@sunofwolfpa.com -- Franco Campilongo Owner Terún Pizzeria 448 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306Tel. 650 6008310 info@terunpizza.com www.terunpizza.com Owner iTalico Restaurant & Wine Bar 341 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 4739616 info@italicorestaurant.com www.italicorestaurant.com From:Aram James To:Sheriff Transparency; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Josh Becker; Reifschneider, James;Binder, Andrew; Mila Zelkha; Wagner, April; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Cindy Chavez Subject:: I-Team: Police Officer Fired After Turning in Chief - YouTube Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 8:49:31 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com>Date: July 10, 2023 at 6:30:16 AM PDTTo: Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com>Cc: sallen6444@yahoo.comSubject: I-Team: Police Officer Fired After Turning in Chief - YouTube This rings a bell for me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8_AZbbz640 Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Perron, Zachary; DuJuan Green; Kevin Jensen; dennis burns; Ladoris Cordell; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore;Reifschneider, James; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed;Javier Ortega; Mila Zelkha; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Council, City; Shana Segal; Jeff Rosen;Joe Simitian; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Robert. Jonsen; Sheriff Transparency; Human Relations Commission;Michael Gennaco; Josh Becker; Rebecca Eisenberg; chuck jagoda; Jay Boyarsky; Wagner, April; Enberg,Nicholas; Angie Evans; Greg Tanaka Subject:Aurora police chief fires officer after racial slur, but he"s back on th... Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 8:08:53 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://youtu.be/5TO9aIYEFrk Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Perron, Zachary; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Council, City; Robert. Jonsen; Sheriff Transparency; Ladoris Cordell;Rebecca Eisenberg; Reifschneider, James; Michael Gennaco; Stephen.Connolly@oirgroup.com; Wagner, April;Shikada, Ed; DuJuan Green; Kevin Jensen; dennis burns; Figueroa, Eric; Cindy Chavez; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Gennady Sheyner; Shana Segal; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Human Relations Commission; chuckjagoda; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Jay Boyarsky; Binder, Andrew; Enberg, Nicholas; Javier Ortega; Angie Evans; MilaZelkha; Greg Tanaka; Vara Ramakrishnan; Bains, Paul; Rob Baker; Cecilia Taylor; Josh Becker Subject:OPEN VALLEJO: Under union pressure, Vallejo police chief ends body camera analysis Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 7:58:21 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Under union pressure, Vallejo police chief ends body camera analysis“By canceling they essentially ceded to union pressure. And by doing that, they’ve gone back to status quo, which is to review practically none of it,” the company's CEO said about thecity’s body camera videos. Read in Open Vallejo: https://apple.news/A_cbGTs1CSOSdivHrOIkB2g Shared from Apple News Sent from my iPhone From:Michelle Fang To:Council, City; ParkRec Commission Subject:Do not swap Terman Park! Keep it a city park Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 7:57:15 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from lfang.michelle@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Council members, My name is Michelle, and I have been living in the Green Acres neighborhood for just overten years now. I went to Terman (now Fletcher) middle school, then Gunn High School, and have recently moved back home after graduating college. Throughout my time here, the park has been a vital part of my life. As an avid biker, it allowsme access to the Los Altos bike path and passage to Los Altos, Gunn, and the foothills beyond. I jog and walk through the park as well, whether with my friends, brother, or parents.It is quite literally part of our everyday routine! Especially as I have tried to cut down on driving and make this area walkable, the park and path through it are absolutely crucial. If it were swapped and the school closed the gate, mymobility would be severely curtailed and my life negatively impacted. I understand the desire for city jurisdiction over other land, but Terman Park must not be what is given in return. This parkland is non-negotiable for all of its nearby residents – as a peacefuloutdoor space, public sports courts, and non-car throughway connecting two towns. Please keep it as designated parkland! Sincerely, Michelle Fang Green Acres 1 From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Council, City; Dave Price; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright;Shikada, Ed; Figueroa, Eric; Rebecca Eisenberg; mark weiss; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner,April; Shana Segal; Kaloma Smith; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Cindy Chavez; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; JoshBecker; Mila Zelkha; ladoris cordell; chuck jagoda; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Tina Boales;Javier Ortega; Angie Evans; DuJuan Green; Greg Tanaka; Kevin Jensen; dennis burns; Vara Ramakrishnan;Human Relations Commission; Bains, Paul; Rob Baker; Cecilia Taylor Subject:Black graduation rates from elite institutions Date:Monday, July 10, 2023 1:08:17 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://www.forbes.com/sites/shaunharper/2023/07/03/graduation-rates-higher-for-black-collegians-than-for- students-overall-at-harvard-and-princeton-equal-at-yale/amp/ Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Council, City; Angie Evans; Linda Jolley; Gardener, Liz; Shikada, Ed; editor@paweekly.com; Sean Allen; JethroeMoore; Mila Zelkha; Josh Becker; Shana Segal; Human Relations Commission; Reifschneider, James; Wagner,April; Jeff Rosen; Binder, Andrew; Robert. Jonsen; Bains, Paul; Joe Simitian; Cindy Chavez; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Sue Dremann; chuck jagoda Subject:Veterans access one-stop shop for housing, other resources ( San Jose Mercury News Sunday July 9, 2023 Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 11:18:08 PM Attachments:favicon.ico CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Here is one response from a friend who has lived experience with being unhoused. I have theauthor’s permission to share her response to the SJ Mercury article. Aram I am glad that some are getting help. But keep in mind that a lot of this is mainly PR to makeorganizations look good. A few years ago I suddenly lost my housing. The VA sent me to a group home in San Jose.The management there said that to live there I would have to be tortured fulltime by wearing a brassiere and would have togive up my paying work by attending a long meeting every morning. I quickly realized I would be better off living in afriend's truck. And that worked! Later, I tried to help a homeless friend who was desperate following serious surgery. Life Moves did not even answer myemails. Con is all around us! Veterans access one-stop shop for housing, other resources - The Mercury News edition.pagesuite.com From:Yahoo Mail.® To:Honky Subject:Document asserts shots be: “Banned Immediately and Criminal Investigations Should Begin” Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 6:28:14 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Sir or Madam As a New Jersey resident and board member of, an officer of and on behalf of the National American Renaissance Movement, I submit this evidence to you. This evidence will also be distributed to State Attorneys across Florida and County Sheriffs by another board member and officer of the National American.Renaissance.Movement. And I will distribute this evidence to State Attorneys and County Sheriffs nationwide. This document was prepared by National American Renaissance Movement, President and NJ criminal defense trial attorney, David Meiswinkle. This document lists 149 exhibits and asserts evidence that state and federal crimes have been committed. This document demands an immediate ban of Covid 19 ‘vaccines’ and criminal investigations. This document states, Covid ‘vaccines’ be “Banned Immediately and Criminal Investigations Should Begin”. The submission of this evidence is public record. There can be no legitimate claim that this evidence was not provided to the Florida Grand Jury Covid Vaccine investigation. This documents outlines crimes and persons of interest. This document asserts that C19 injections meet the criteria of biological weapons according to Florida and Federal bioweapons laws. It points to evidence of racketeering, treason, crimes against humanity, and other serious crimes. The war ahead can’t be won without you. Please share this far and wide. In Solidarity With Justice For All Frank Agamemnon https://nationalarm.org Executive Summary Florida Grand Jury Evidence National ARM – National American RenaissanceMovement From:Fuzhen Lu To:Council, City; ParkRec Commission Subject:Keep Terman Park as city parkland Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 4:16:51 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from fuzhenlu25@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Council members, I am 84 years old and living on Los Palos Ave with my family. I can't drive. Everyday, I walkto Terman Park to exercise and meet with my friends. It is the only place safe and accessible to me and my elderly friends living in Green Acres 1. I can't imagine where I could go if itwas closed to us. It would have a huge negative impact on my physical and mental health. Please keep Terman Park as designated city parkland. Some many peoples' wellbeings depend on it. Thank you! Fuzhen LuGreen Acres 1 From:Alex at YIMBY LatinxTo:Council, CitySubject:Concrete to Green! Join YIMBY Latinx on a walking tour!Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 3:24:44 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from alex@yimbyaction.org. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. YIMBY Action Register here! Are freeways racist? Have they harmed the Latino community? Come meet other YIMBYs in San Francisco! YIMBY Latinx will be doing a walking tour of the central freeway to give a glimpse into the past, present and future of San Francisco’s Central Freeway. What freeways did, what we have now, what it can be. Affordable housing, walkable streets and restored green space. YIMBY Latinx is partnering with Latino Conservation Week, the Vision Blvd Team, Urban Environmentalists and YIMBY Action for a walking tour Saturday, July 22nd at 10:30am. We’re leaving at 11am! So don’t be late or you will have to find us on the route. Register for more details. Never been to a YIMBY event before? Perfect! This event is designed for you. Please wear comfortable walking shoes. If you would like, we will be ending up at Patricia’s Green in Hayes Valley Picnic Area then walk to Papito Hayes for a late lunch. Register here! YOUR YIMBY ACTION MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP STATUS None DONOR LEVEL None VOLUNTEER LEVEL None Join or Renew LOCATION Unknown, Unknown Unknown Add/update location MOBILE ALERTS None Add/update mobile Keeping this information up to date powers our activism! Need help with your membership? Email hello@yimbyaction.org. We are a Latinx-led chapter of YIMBY Action, a Image network of pro-housing activists fighting for more inclusive housing policies and a future of abundant housing. Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from YIMBY Action, please click here. From:Shea Tate-Di Donna To:Council, City Subject:Keep Terman a City Park Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 3:19:30 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from smdidonna@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Councilmembers, Please keep Terman Park a dedicated parkland. As a resident, I frequently walk there. My children play there. The watershed is important for the local creek and should not be overrun with buildings and concrete. Please do not swap Terman Park. Best, Shea Tate-Di Donna From:Aram James To:Robert. Jonsen; Sheriff Transparency; DuJuan Green; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen;Josh Becker; Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Reifschneider, James; Shana Segal; Jeff Rosen; HumanRelations Commission; Rebecca Eisenberg; Figueroa, Eric; Enberg, Nicholas; Tannock, Julie Subject:From The Mercury News e-edition - ‘A bad shoot’: Critics decry teen’s death at traffic stop Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 10:21:14 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ ‘A bad shoot’: Critics decry teen’s death at traffic stop https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=4d5f18ad-b740-4732-90dd- 950eda270114&appcode=SAN252&eguid=a3e6178e-4be3-4a5b-a3be-4389de7890c1&pnum=42# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Joe Simitian; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Council, City Subject:From The Mercury News e-edition - Big tech site may host affordable housing Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 10:12:40 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Big tech site may host affordable housing https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=265ed0fa-bf30-41bf-a61d- 7435dc32e8e1&appcode=SAN252&eguid=a3e6178e-4be3-4a5b-a3be-4389de7890c1&pnum=40# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Council, City; Gardener, Liz; Linda Jolley; Sean Allen Subject:From The Mercury News e-edition - Veterans access one-stop shop for housing, other resources Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 10:05:34 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Veterans access one-stop shop for housing, other resources https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=e290aea0-fcea-4383-aeca- 087a225beb0a&appcode=SAN252&eguid=a3e6178e-4be3-4a5b-a3be-4389de7890c1&pnum=39# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Greg Tanaka; Veenker, Vicki; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Josh Becker; Council, City Subject:W- How to give people a bigger voice in government Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 9:46:10 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ How to give people a bigger voice in government https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=f6c30eb0-126e-433e-aad1- 54fa49440fb1&appcode=SAN252&eguid=a3e6178e-4be3-4a5b-a3be-4389de7890c1&pnum=30# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Lauing, Ed; Council, City; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Rebecca Eisenberg; Shikada, Ed; Shana Segal;Mila Zelkha; Joe Simitian; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Cindy Chavez; Greg Tanaka Subject:From The Mercury News e-edition - Zoom a weapon for hate speech Date:Sunday, July 9, 2023 9:11:00 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Zoom a weapon for hate speech https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=80c4b77b-c753-46b8-8d8f- 1485e1cb3586&appcode=SAN252&eguid=a3e6178e-4be3-4a5b-a3be-4389de7890c1&pnum=3# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Leo Volpe To:Kou, Lydia; kou.pacc@gmail.com; Burt, Patrick; Lauing, Ed; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Stone, Greer; Tanaka, Greg;greg@gregtanaka.org; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City Subject:Terman Park Date:Saturday, July 8, 2023 7:51:03 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from leovolpe@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council-members: It has come to my attention that some of you are entertaining the idea of swapping Terman Park for Cubberley Community Center add-on. Please drop it. My house is located right across Arastradero Road. When I bought the property 20 years ago, one of thekey attractions was Terman Park. If you put a swap proposition on the ballot, as the City Charter mandates, I will campaign against it. Myneighbors feel the same way, and we will prevail. If you try to circumvent the City Charter, I will sue to protect the value of my property, and my neighborswill join. Thanks for your consideration, -Leo Volpe 4191 Donald DrivePalo Alto, CA 94306Tel: 650-739-0841 From:Anna Wichansky To:Kou, Lydia; Council, City; ParkRec Commission Subject:Fw: No swapping Terman Park Date:Saturday, July 8, 2023 5:26:24 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from radcliffe73@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and City Council, I have recently read via the Palo Alto Online there is a plan to "undedicate" Terman Park as an open space in order to more easily dispatch it to the school district. I think this is pretty underhanded, as then it will become off limits to our fellow citizens in Palo AltoOrchards, Green Acres, and other adjoining neighborhoods, who USE THE PARK EVERYDAY. I would therefore like to reiterate my opposition to "undedicating" Terman Park and swapping it for land atCubberly with the PAUSD. The people in our neighborhood don't want access to land at Cubberley or theBaylands. They want someplace THEY CAN WALK TO. We are appalled at the idea that this last small bit of green space will be off-limits. Please do not do this. Itwas bad enough during Covid when we couldn't access it at all through Glen Brook Drive. Even now, wecannot walk during certain times of the day due to the kids at school. Bikes and dog walkers are alsousing the space. It is not much but seems to be in a good location to promote walking and other physicalactivity. We have very limited recreational sites and services in this part of town the way it is. See below for my original letter. Many thanks. Anna Wichansky, 4234 Suzanne Drive, Palo Alto 94306 ----- Forwarded Message -----From: Anna Wichansky <radcliffe73@yahoo.com>To: city.council@cityofpaloalto.org <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Sent: Monday, June 19, 2023 at 06:08:23 PM PDTSubject: No swapping Terman Park To Mayor Kou and City Council, I am senior citizen resident of Palo Alto Orchards with some mobilityproblems, using Terman Park Daily to walk. It is diffiucult to get to other parks in Palo Alto at this point.I need access to Terman Park all the time, to do my exercises and walk my dog. We have no other parkor equivalent on our side of Arastradero, other than the cemetery, wherewe aren't allowed to walk and they close the gates. Please do not swap this for land at Cubberly, or allowthe school district to do it. We have so little recreational facilities on this sideof town (South Palo Alto) the way it is. No pool at all. This is the least you can do, please; my husbandand I vote for you in every election. We appreciate preservation of the few limited sites and services weget in our neighborhood. Thanks, Anna Wichansky, 4235 Suzanne Drive, Palo Alto. From:Y Fang To:Council, City; ParkRec Commission Subject:Keep Terman Park as designated city parkland Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 9:30:38 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from yfang00@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Council members, Many years ago, when my family decided to buy the house in the Green Acres neighborhood,one of the important reasons is the Terman park. We've seen our children grow up playing sports in the park with their friends often. They bike everyday through the park when theyattended Gunn High School as that's the best and safest route for all the kids in the neighborhood. My wife and I took our daily walk through the park as our main exerciseroutine. Every weekend, I play tennis with my friends in the park. Our family also frequently walks through the park to go to Los Altos downtown or the many stores on El Camino Real toshop. As we get older, we are counting on the park to continue our exercise routine as well as meeting and talking with our friends in the neighborhood. It is absolutely essential to thephysical and mental health of ours, as well as so many elders in and around the neighborhood. Terman Park is the only green space left that is accessible to the many residents in this part of Palo Alto and the surrounding communities. Losing it would have a detrimental impact on thewellbeing and safety of everyone in this part of the city, especially the children and elderly people. I strongly urge the city to KEEP Terman Park as designated parkland. Do NOT swap itwith the school district. Thank you! Yu Fang Green Acres 1 From:Ronald Chun To:Council, City Subject:Terman Park - It is inappropriate! Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 6:44:43 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from ron_chun@msn.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Councilmembers, Reporter Gennady Sheyner's article on Terman Park in the July 5th edition of the Palo Alto Weekly revealed a lot. The article shared School Superintendent, Don Austin's comment that the swap of Terman Park "would have several hurdles on the city side since it is currently a dedicated open space" to which Councilman Pat Burt commented that "those hurdles need not, however, be insurmountable". Councilman Burt explained. He proposes that undedicating Terman Park could be "part of a broader ballot initiative that includes other local sites." The article then describes how making changes at those "other local sites" are viewed as a popular move by many in the community. So, in other words, by linking Terman Park's undedication to proposals that ARE popular, Councilman Burt hopes to get Terman Park undedicated, a proposal that is NOT POPULAR. First, Terman Park is a valued and needed park in South Palo Alto. This park is used by hundreds of residents in the area. Students, families, athletes and their pets use this park on a daily basis. Undedicating this park and giving full ownership to the school district is a disservice to the neighborhood and all of Palo Alto. Secondly, the proposal to make it part of a broader ballot initiative is a violation of the Transparency principal that all of the City Council members talked about in their election to office. By hiding Terman Park’s undedication with other properties is neither transparent nor good government. “Burying” the undedication of this park as part of a broader ballot initiative with other properties is nothing more than ‘backroom politics’. How can this city profess to be “transparent” and think such an obvious, underhanded maneuver could go unnoticed? I urge all members of the City Council to reject the old style politics of hiding the ball and adhere to their promises of transparency and good government. I also urge the City Council to investigate the efforts of the staff to notify the community about this proposed trade of Terman Park. I am seriously concerned about the fact that there was no adequate outreach to the community about this proposal. The argument that it was published in the City Council agenda is not acceptable. In City Actions affecting real property owners, athletes, and families in the neighborhood, there was no notice that this action was being considered. I urge the City Council to investigate why the community was not adequately noticed. Ronald Chun Palo Alto Orchards From:Maico Campilongo To:Council, City Subject:Fwd: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus Group Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 5:55:53 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, Given the significance of the decision that the city council will soon have to make regarding California Ave, I believe it is appropriate for you to read the comments on the Car Free California Ave email group. Maico CampilongoResident, house owner and business owner in Palo Alto. cell. +16507998481https://www.terunpizza.com/ https://www.italicorestaurant.com/https://www.impastosancarlos.com/ ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Maico Campilongo <maico.campilongo@gmail.com>Date: Fri, Jul 7, 2023 at 5:14 PM Subject: Fwd: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus GroupTo: Tom DuBois <tom.dubois@gmail.com> Ciao Tom , I don’t know if you are part of this mailing but I’m happy to share with you . Ciao Maico Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Maico Campilongo <maico.campilongo@gmail.com>Date: July 7, 2023 at 3:34:37 PM PDTTo: Leslie Witham <leslied_05@yahoo.com>Subject: Fwd: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus Group Read the last , he is the drunker across itálico ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: mahmood saljooqi <moods.winebar@yahoo.com> Date: Fri, Jul 7, 2023 at 3:33 PMSubject: Re: Car-free Streets: Cal Ave. Business Owners Focus Group To: Berry Hatfield <berry@gamelandia.fun>CC: Ryan Khalil <ryankhalil91@gmail.com>, Abraham Khalil <kanzeman@sbcglobal.net>, Al Ghafouri <alghafouri@gmail.com>, Alexa Sol<alexaisabella11@gmail.com>, Alexandra Lee-Gardner <a.leegardner@fehrandpeers.com>, Arce, Ozzy<Ozzy.Arce@cityofpaloalto.org>, Bruce Fukuji <bruce@fukuji.com>, Franco Campilongo <francocampilongo@gmail.com>, <gillian@zombierunner.com>,Guagliardo, Steven <Steven.Guagliardo@cityofpaloalto.org>, <Paloalto@summitbicycles.com>, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com>,<alecia@vinvinowine.com>, <anthony@protegepaloalto.com>, <bfbusinessllc@gmail.com>, <carolina@blossombirthandfamily.org>,<cartal23@aol.com>, <charlie@paloaltochamber.com>, <chris@performancegaines.com>, <cv@kaligreekkitchen.com>,<dc@zombierunner.com>, <dennis@protegepaloalto.com>, <dennis@vinvinowine.com>, <info@vivesol.biz>, <info@casualchicsalon.com>,<info@italicorestaurant.com>, <info@galleryhouse.art>, <ismetsylm@gmail.com>, <izzysbb@gmail.com>, <jessicasadee@gmail.com>,<jinsho454calave@gmail.com>, <joaniescafepaloalto@gmail.com>, <judy@lpetal.com>, <labohemepaloalto@gmail.com>,<Lara@labodeguita.com>, <lifestylegoods@countrysun.com>, <lisa@vinvinowine.com>, <lotusthaibistro@gmail.com>,<lucia.miracchi@gmail.com>, <maico.campilongo@gmail.com>, <michael@labodeguita.com>, <michaelbendicott@gmail.com>,<nguyenbchan@gmail.com>, <nguyentoanandy@gmail.com>, <nick@performancegaines.com>, <paloalto@clubpilates.com>,<pastispaloalto@gmail.com>, <scott@countrysun.com>, <umetea888@gmail.com>, <victoriaballetpaloalto@gmail.com>,<zareensmanager@gmail.com>, <zareensrestaurant@gmail.com> Hello everyone! My name is Mahmood and I have a wine bar on California Street“Moods. Wine Bar”. I am so blessed that my business survived but it wasn’t easy by no means. To me it really doesn’t matter either way. The city has been veryaccommodating to all restaurants. Unfortunately not all retailers are happy about the street closure. Retail businesses are hurting all over the nation due to onlineshopping. I think we as a community should support and advertise for them in our establishments whether a restaurant or a wine bar. Not much we can do for emptyoffice spaces if everyone is promoting work at home programs so they can save money. I definitely think if the street is going to be closed for cars, the city needsto keep up with cleaning the street. Sent from my iPhone On Jul 7, 2023, at 1:16 PM, Berry Hatfield <berry@gamelandia.fun> wrote: Hi everyone, I thought I'd weigh in with some thoughts as one of the new kids onthe block. We moved to Palo Alto two years ago after experiencing thenightmare of COVID-19 in New York City, without any priorexperience of how Cal Ave used to be pre-pandemic. When wedecided to open Gamelandia, we reworked our business model andUVP to account for the post-pandemic landscape, vs. existing retailgame stores. We were drawn to the potential for a thriving commercial andrecreation corridor anchored in a pedestrian plaza due to the streetclosure, and saw real opportunity for Cal Ave as things recoveredfrom the lockdown. We actually neglected to even look at vacancieson University Avenue as it didn't have what we saw in Cal Ave. Weknew that there was a high office vacancy rate, and based on ourexperience talking to friends back in New York did not expect that torecover any time soon. We were not concerned about the streetclosure as there is ample public parking in multiple lots and garages,and expected that the combination of the street closure and top-tierrestaurants would be a natural draw for people looking to get out ofthe house and do something together. The curbside dining in NewYork was incredibly popular in New York, and has become apermanent and thriving cornerstone of the city's commercial districtsin neighborhoods dense and small. After observing the street over several weeks last year, we departedfrom the established hobby/game store norms and designed our storeto appeal to walk-by foot traffic, and adjusted our operating hoursaccordingly. We are open 12p - 10p during the week and see greatresults 6-10pm from people before or after dinner. We signed thislease expecting almost zero office worker business for at least 3 yearsand planned accordingly, instead targeting dining visitors and nearbyresidents. We owe a lot of our business to the draw of the restaurants,and they will continue to be a major draw for Cal Ave into the future.Having seen Cal Ave during the winter of 2021, the restaurants reallyhave done the lion's share of keeping the flame lit on Cal Ave and weare certainly grateful for them. I agree with Franco's assessment that the way forward is to looktowards the future, not dwelling on a past that isn't coming back, or inmy case, that I have no reference to. Prior success is no guarantee offuture performance, and we are all venturing towards unchartedhorizons as small retail businesses after a global pandemic. However,there's lots of opportunity to be had on Cal Ave, and businesses must realize this and adapt to thrive. We are doing a gamestore in a waythat few people are, and many of our regional competitors think it's crazy and expect us to be gone in 6 months. My take on that is thatthey aren't even competitors, as we are targeting different audiences completely and provide a completely different experience. The Cal Ave of the future will be a completely different experiencefrom what it was before, and I for one am excited to be a part of it. Berry Berry HatfieldOwnerGAMELANDIAP: 650-382-2528 M: 917-620-5003A: 290 California Ave, Ste A Palo Alto, CA 94306W: www.gamelandia.fun E: berry@gamelandia.fun On Fri, Jul 7, 2023 at 12:13 PM Ryan Khalil<ryankhalil91@gmail.com> wrote: Adapting to the New Normal: Changes in Startup Investment andOffice Spaces Dear everyone, I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to share some insights on how the post-pandemic landscape has affected the startupecosystem, particularly in terms of investment opportunities and office space utilization. In the pre-pandemic era, startups enjoyed a relatively easier timesecuring vast investments due to a thriving market and bustling office spaces. The presence of numerous professionals andentrepreneurs in shared work environments, such as those on Cal Ave, created an atmosphere conducive to networking, collaboration, and business growth. This environment, combinedwith readily available funding, contributed significantly to the sales and growth of startups. However, the pandemic brought about a dramatic shift in thedynamics of the startup ecosystem. Remote work and social distancing measures necessitated the implementation of work-from-home policies, resulting in vacant office spaces and limited in- person interactions. As a result, the once vibrant and energeticoffices on Cal Ave now stand empty, with fewer people present to generate sales and foster an atmosphere of innovation. Moreover, the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic hasled to a decrease in startup investments. Many investors have become more cautious, adopting a wait-and-see approach to assessthe long-term effects of the global health crisis. This shift in investment sentiment, coupled with widespread layoffs in the techsector and hiring freezes across various industries, has created a challenging environment for startups seeking funding. However, despite these challenges, the startup community hasdisplayed remarkable resilience and adaptability. Many entrepreneurs have embraced remote work as an opportunity toreimagine their business models and expand their talent pool beyond geographical limitations. Virtual collaboration tools, onlinenetworking events, and innovative marketing strategies have emerged as vital resources for startups to thrive in this new normal. Although the availability of vast investment and bustling officespaces may not be as prevalent as before, startups now have a chance to focus on leaner operations, remote team building, anddigital engagement. Investors, while exercising caution, continue to seek out promising ventures that demonstrate adaptability,scalability, and long-term viability. the post-pandemic era has necessitated a fundamental shift in the startup landscape. While the days of easy investment and bustlingoffice spaces may be temporarily on hold, startups can leverage the power of remote work, innovative technologies, and virtualcollaboration to forge ahead and create new opportunities in this evolving ecosystem. Not the street closure… Thank you for your time. Warm regards,Ryan Khalil By the way im one of the youngest merchants on Cal Ave and i grew in Palo Alto. On Fri, Jul 7, 2023 at 2:56 PM Abraham Khalil<kanzeman@sbcglobal.net> wrote: Hi all Franco is right Thank You Abraham khalil On Jul 7, 2023, at 2:48 PM, Franco Campilongo <francocampilongo@gmail.com> wrote: Fellow business owners I appreciate your perspective and willingness to share your thoughts. It's true that businesses often face challenges and need to adapt to changing circumstances, such as the accelerated business model changes brought by the pandemic. It's also important to recognize that not all businesses are able to adapt quickly or survive the changes. The shift towards remote work and the overall decrease in in- office workers has had a significant impact on the retail industry. The rise of online shopping has been accelerated by several factors, including the convenience it offers and the potential for cost savings. As a result, retailers have been adapting to these changes by investing in their online presence, expanding their e- commerce capabilities, and optimizing their websites for a seamless shopping experience. While political decisions can be challenging to satisfy everyone, it's important for cities to weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks of such decisions. From my perspective, closing a dead-end street to car traffic can present a significant opportunity for the city of Palo Alto if implemented effectively. Terun sales Ref to 2019 2019 = 100% 2020 = - 40% (mostly take out) 2021 = + 25% (partially on take out only) 2022 = + 40% 2023 = + 60% projected Italico Sales Ref to 2019 2019 = 100% 2020 = - 70% (closed few months) 2021 = - 50% (closed a month) Added Pizza to the Menu 2022 = + 20% 2023 = + 40% projected I believe that, based on my economic analysis, it would bebeneficial for the street to remain closed and for the ongoingproject to continue, making it an extraordinary space, especiallyconsidering the availability of now sufficient parking spaces. I acknowledge that this configuration may favor restaurants, andI believe that the direction of California Avenue becoming arestaurant row aligns with what I think and hear the communitydesires.Terun and Italico have made substantial investments in outdoorfurniture and beautification of our front street space, aiming toprovide an enjoyable experience for guests that is on par with, ifnot better than, being inside the restaurant.I also understand that some businesses may have held back oninvestments due to awaiting final decisions from the City. Regarding empty spaces: 1. Subway was replaced by another successful business2. Former Spalti (empty way before pandemic) is beingreplaced by a restaurant that will thrive3. Old Theatre (former Zombie runner) is a hard to takelease4. Former bakery also hard lease to take (Empty prepandemic)5. Starbucks wanted to leave in 2019 already, Zareen istaking over that space6. Former Pastis being replaced by an Indian restaurant7. Bank of the West was going to be replaced by SVB (weall know what happened) 8. Nut house being replaced with a fresher project The street closure is not the primary cause of the empty spaceson California Avenue. It's important to consider multiple factorsthat may contribute to vacant spaces, and it seems that, from myobservation, the closure of the street is not the main driver. It's evident that I have a strong belief in the potential ofCalifornia Avenue and have taken proactive steps to enhance thecustomer experience in my establishments. I am confident that my restaurants will thrive regardless of thestreet's status. However, I believe that there is a significantopportunity for greater success for California Avenue by keepingit closed to car traffic. I think we should be shifting the focus towards the future anddiscussing strategies to make California Avenue attractive in theinterim. Dwelling too much on past issues might hinder progress,so it's important to look forward and identify actionable steps toenhance the appeal of the area. Thank you Ciao Franco Campilongo and Terun/Italico family On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 4:29 PM Alexa Sol <alexaisabella11@gmail.com> wrote:Do we have any update on that last meeting that we had with the street design? I remembereveryone was interested in a one way open road ? Or what was the consensus on the options?I apologize I have been out of the loop and I agree that the street is looking pretty sad out there withall the for lease locations, construction, empty offices and still an incohesive strategy anddecision making. I wish everyone the best and appreciate all theefforts you are each taking for maintaining your business for our community. On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 9:48 AM Al Ghafouri<alghafouri@gmail.com> wrote: Hello All , This is Al from printers cafe our catering and walk in customer still is down 50 percent from2019 pre pandemic California ave is not the same any more is actually depressing to se noone on street .of course all offices in the area are closed that’s not help either. Al Sent from my iPhone On Jul 6, 2023, at 9:38 AM, Richard Corny <guitarrichie@yahoo.com>wrote: Hello and thank you all for yourtime as always It is strange to me that Palo Altowants to relax the ban in chainstores around Cal Ave and suchwhen we lost two of the biggestchains out there, STARBUCKS andSUBWAY. Multi billion dollarbusinesses couldn’t survive on ourstreet with our lack of foot traffic.Don’t get me wrong Starbucksgoing out is great for the small momand pops coffee shops, as it shouldbe. But to relax the big chain laws isa big laughable mistake. No big chains is going to open on a deadclosed street. They’d rather go to the mall or town and country typeplaces. And as of now we’re down 2 big chain on our street. So where’stheir replacements? lol By the way the doordash drivershave taken the bank parking lot and some of the nice chairs and tablesyou put out. Doesn’t do any good for my business but great for themand the restaurants. And my retail is still 35% downfrom last year which was already terrible and 50% down from pre-Covid by the way. Worse than during the financial crisis. If itwasn’t for my shoe repair services I would have closed already. As usual I am for a reopening of the street. Something that would benefitmy business and not just the restaurants. Thank you and good luck toeveryone out there. -- Alexa Sol Quinto Sol 2201 BroadwayRedwood City 6503655765www.quintosol.ca Sun of Wolf406 S. California Ave Palo Altowww.sunofwolfpa.com contact@sunofwolfpa.com -- Franco Campilongo Owner Terún Pizzeria 448 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306Tel. 650 6008310 info@terunpizza.com www.terunpizza.com Owner iTalico Restaurant & Wine Bar 341 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 4739616 info@italicorestaurant.com www.italicorestaurant.com -- Maico Campilongo Owner Terún Pizzeria 448 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 6008310 info@terunpizza.com www.terunpizza.com Owner iTalico Restaurant & Wine Bar 341 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 4739616 info@italicorestaurant.com www.italicorestaurant.com -- Maico Campilongo Owner Terún Pizzeria 448 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 6008310 info@terunpizza.com www.terunpizza.com Owner iTalico Restaurant & Wine Bar 341 California Ave Palo Alto CA 94306 Tel. 650 4739616 info@italicorestaurant.com www.italicorestaurant.com From:Katie Mueller To:Council, City Cc:ParkRec Commission Subject:Preserve Our Dedicated Parkland Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 4:30:27 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from katie@bowmanschool.org. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Council Members, I am writing to emphasize the importance of Terman Park as a dedicated public park space for the entire community. I have been working in Palo Alto for over 10 years, and I use Terman Park and the access itprovides via the Glenbrook gate to the Hetch Hetchy Trail on a near-daily basis. I cannot overstate how much I value and benefit from the opportunity to spend time in nature, getexercise in a safe and pleasant area, and build community within the neighborhood. I am confident that many others share my sentiment! The time I spend at Terman Park is fundamental to maintaining my physical, mental, andemotional health, and it deepens my connections within the community in a way that enriches all areas of my life. Terman Park (and the Hetch Hetchy Trail, which I access through TermanPark) is the only place where I experience a shared community with a broad sampling of the public, unconstrained by demographics or exchange of capital. Over the years, I have enjoyedcountless interactions and even formed friendships in this space. People I've met in the park have invited me to use their vacation homes, and I have painted portraits of their pets whenthey pass away. I particularly enjoy the intergenerational exchanges, which can be hard to come by anywhere else. Public parkland brings people together across divides, and our societyneeds more of this – not less. For all these reasons and more, I urge you not to swap Terman Park. While I understand the importance of the situation at Cubberley, there must be a better solution than giving updedicated parkland that provides so much value to so many in the community. Respectfully, Katie Mueller -- Katie Mueller Director of Community Development Bowman School 4000 Terman Drive Palo Alto, CA 94306 Phone: 650-285-9556 Discover. Create. Become. Facebook|Twitter|Instagram Pronouns: she/herWhy are pronouns important? From:Kristen Van Fleet To:Planning Commission; French, Amy; Sauls, Garrett; Star-Lack, Sylvia; Council, City; Transportation Subject:For PTC PACKET of July 12, 2023 - Ellsworth Place Residents Demand a Safer and More Accessible Road Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 3:45:34 PM Attachments:Ellsworth Place Residents Demand a Safer and More Accessible Road - Google Docs.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from kvanfleet@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Regarding: "2901 Middlefield Road and 702 Ellsworth Place: Request for Rezoning to Amend Planned Community 2343 (PC 2343) and to apply the R-1 Zoning to 702 Ellsworth Place to Enable the Development of a Single-Story, Single-Family Residence ” (Applications 23PLN-27, 23PLN-00027, 23PLN-00025) July 7, 2023 Dear Chair Summa and Members of the Planning and Transportation Commission, Please find attached the response of the Ellsworth Place Residents to the "Traffic Review" prepared by Hexagon for the entrance and line-of-site triangle at Middlefield Road and Ellsworth Place. Sincerely, Kristen A. Van Fleet Ellsworth Place Residents Demand a Safer and More Accessible Road July 3, 2023 Ellsworth Place residents tried back in April 2013 to get improvements made with how Ellsworth Place intersects Middlefield Road. A resident who was a Block Preparedness Coordinator (BPC) at the time reached out to the City of Palo Alto asking for help with how to make the intersection of Ellsworth Place and Middlefield Road better. The residents wanted to apply for the “Know Your Neighbors” grant money and use the money to make improvements to the road. At the time, they came up with a list that included: adding mirrors, having Middlefield Road sidewalk in front of Ellsworth Place marked with paint and signage to alert pedestrians to the presence of a road, having Keys School give awareness to their parents and staff that there is a road directly across Middlefield Road from their driveway next to Matadero Creek, getting a street light installed at the start of Ellsworth Place (on the first utility pole), and having a speed bump installed at the start of Ellsworth Place. The City of Palo Alto (CPA) refused to help assess the situation, or to even let residents know how they could go about making changes, or if the changes were legally allowed to be made if the residents paid for them or applied grant money to them. At the time, residents assumed, perhaps incorrectly, perhaps not incorrectly, that they were not allowed to place mirrors, speedbumps, or apply paint to the road and public sidewalk, without the approval of CPA, and because CPA would not give approval, the residents then concluded that no changes were allowed to be made. Fast forward to 2023, and these problems still exist only they will become worse should a home be allowed to be built on the parking lot, thereby removing circulation and narrowing the entrance to Ellsworth Place overall. This is not okay with any of the Ellsworth Place homeowners or tenant, and it is also not okay with the tenants of the apartments we’ve spoken with; who refuse to put their grievances in writing for fear of retaliation by the property owner in the form of a rent increase or eviction. (A recently released study of People Experiencing Homelessness by UCSF listed high housing costs as a factor on the path to homelessness.) What we have learned in this whole process of challenging a development plan that seeks to remove most of the public benefits the current PC-2343 City Ordinance provides, outside of the 12-units of housing, is that our voices are now a part of the public record should a life-threatening accident occur at this intersection of Ellsworth Place at Middlefield Road. We have also learned that PC-2343 was amended from PC-1810, which required the driveway entrance of Ellsworth Place to be widened as a condition of the PC agreement and this was never done. We want this law fully implemented before any discussion of a potential residence begins. In the words of Vice Mayor Stone , ( City Council Meeting on March 13, 2023, timestamp 2:58:30) “I think a lot more research is needed here, I mean, balancing the concerns of the nearby residents, the interest of the community which spans even beyond Ellsworth Place, but also the public safety issues there. I drive by Ellsworth Place every single day. I myself have seen several near accidents in that intersection and if we’re balancing here property rights of one potential homeowner compared to not only the safety of Ellsworth Place residents, but all who drive by that, that’s not an easy…that’s not a difficult weighing of interests there. I think safety of course is going to have to win out at the end of the day. …” 1 Here is what as homeowners and tenants of Ellsworth Place know to be true: THE PARKING LOT IS OUR CIRCULATION ● The parking lot has provided circulation for Ellsworth Place for 56+ years ● The parking lot functions as a cul-de-sac, providing the only safe place for a vehicle, especially a truck to turn around. ● The parking lot is used by both Ellsworth Place homeowners and tenants alike, alongside the Sutter Arms apartment tenants, and has been for over 56+ years. ○ It was designed to function as the transition between the homes on Ellsworth Place, the Sutter Arms apartments, and Middlefield Road. ○ It effectively widens the road to 25-26 feet, allowing for cars and delivery trucks to pass one another safely. ○ Tenants of the Sutter Arms apartments use the parking lot! (See photo below). ○ The parking lot provides overflow parking for the Sutter Arms apartments ■ Families with children often have two cars or more. ■ Roomates who share an apartment to cut back on rent ofter have more than one car among them. ■ Some of the carport spaces are too narrow to safely park modern-size vehicles which have become larger (wider & longer) over the years and are continuing to do so. ■ Gig-workers use their own vehicles when driving for companies like Door-Dash and Uber, among others, and they need a place to park their cars where they live too. ○ Parking on Sutter Ave can be more dangerous ■ Sutter Ave is a much wider street which may be required to cross in order to find street parking. ■ Women coming home at night have to walk further to their apartment than if they park in the Ellsworth Place parking lot. ■ Other apartments depend on Sutter Ave for their overflow parking ■ The 15 Ellsworth Place addresses depend on Sutter Ave for their overflow parking. ○ It provides temporary parking for deliveries made to both the Sutter Arms apartments and the houses on Ellsworth Place. ○ It keeps the overflow parking off of Ellsworth Place which is only 20-feet wide in front of the homes; the minimum width needed for emergency vehicles to access. ● The temporary fence that was placed around the parking lot from mid-December 2022 to April 2023, created safety problems for ALL of Ellsworth Place; the homeowners & tenants, and for the tenants of the Sutter Arms apartments, AND also for those in the greater community who drive by Ellsworth Place or use the public sidewalks that run in front of Ellsworth Place. ○ Apartment tenants parked alongside the temporary fence; overflow parking. ○ Apartment tenants parked alongside 706 Ellsworth and blocked half of the 20-foot wide Ellsworth Place road. ○ Delivery trucks made multi-point turns to turn-around in front of the fence ■ Often hitting the temporary fence ■ Blocking the Ellsworth Place roadway ■ Making it more dangerous on Ellsworth ○ Delivery trucks parked in the bus-pullout on Matadero Creek ○ Delivery trucks backed out onto Middlefield Road into traffic 2 THE DRIVEWAY OPENING OF ELLSWORTH PLACE IS TOO NARROW ● The driveway opening of Ellsworth Place is too narrow at approximately 21-feet wide currently. ○ A car can’t turn into Ellsworth Place at the same time a car is leaving Ellsworth Place! ■ This is especially a problem when turning right into Ellsworth Place after descending over Matadero Creek. ● Requires coming to almost a complete stop on Middlefield Road. ● Can cause a rear-end collision if the driver behind the one turning onto Ellsworth Place is following too closely. ● Middlefield Road has traffic speeds of 30 - 45+ miles an hour. ● The driveway opening of Ellsworth Place has an incline where it joins Middlefield Road. ● The Matadero Creek side also looks up an incline of Middlefield Road. ● The driveway opening of Ellsworth Place has line-of-sight issues; especially on the Matadero Creek side where the sidewalk has a blind spot as it curves and follows the narrowing of Middlefield road over Matadero Creek. ● The driveway opening was supposed to be widened as a condition allowing the Sutter Arms Apartments to be build in 1967; this condition was never met. WHAT IS NEEDED TO KEEP ELLSWORTH PLACE SAFE FOR EVERYONE; including for the Sutter Arms apartments and the Midtown Neighborhood 1) Widen the driveway approach to Ellsworth Place a) Ed Lauing , (City Council Meeting on March 13, 2023, timestamp 3:00:02) “Focus on the street and the opening there, whatever happens there with this project and area, I think this City has a problem on Middlefield with access and safety of our citizens so that one way or another has to get addressed.” b) Make it more visible from Middlefield Road. c) Make it more visible from the Keys School Driveway across from it. d) Make it more visible for pedestrians who use the public sidewalk in front of if. i) An asphalt approach would signify there is a road. ii) Curbs that force pedestrians to step down would signify a road. 2) Keep the first 100 feet of road on Ellsworth at 25 - 26 feet like it is currently. a) This matches with the Palo Alto Municipal Code 21.20.240 for WIDTHS of Private roads. b) This is the width of the usable road if the parking lot is full of cars. c) This matches up with the road widths of other multi-family complexes and San Carlos Court, also located in this area of Middlefield road. d) This maintains most (not all) of the current circulation room on Ellsworth Place. i) Trucks must still use the space behind the Sutter Arms apartment carports on the Ellsworth Place side to be able to turn around safely. 3) Ensure maximum visibility between Ellsworth and Middlefield a) Fences (even if slatted) and vegetation three feet high will impede visibility, given the slopes of both Ellsworth and Middlefield b) Trees with thin trunks are OK 4) Place the “delivery space” in a usable and legal location. a) The current proposal blocks the carports and delivery drivers can’t use it for liability reasons. b) The current proposal is dangerous for those who park in the Ellsworth Place carports because it blocks their cars. c) Note that a “delivery space” according to Palo Alto Municipal Code 18.36.060, should be 12 feet x 45 feet, so bigger is better, given the size of many delivery vehicles. 3 5) Assess the current parking situation in the Sutter Arms carports, as some of the stalls are not wide enough to meet current parking standards. a) Assess a feasible parking solution for the cars that do not fit in the carports, in a way that does not rely on only Sutter Ave. i) BASED ON TENANT FEEDBACK: Tenants pay a lot of rent to live at the Sutter Arms. If their parking space does not fit their car and another suitable space is not provided for them, then they should be compensated with decreased rent or some other arrangement that is fair to them. ii) Sutter Ave is also the overflow parking area for the 15 home addresses on Ellsworth Place. iii) Lydia Kou - (City Council Meeting on March 13, 2023, timestamp 2:44:40) “...the parking issue, if it’s going to be replaced over on Sutter or within the apartments, I think that is just kicking the problem onto Sutter versus addressing it, … “ 6) Mark the public sidewalk at Ellsworth Place to make pedestrians more aware of the road. a) Use yellow bumpy plates in the sidewalk b) Use paint c) Use signage 7) Paint the curbs red at the entrance of Ellsworth Place ● This is done for all other driveways and entrances to the multi-family complexes and San Carlos Court that are located near Ellsworth Place. 8) Paint “NO PARKING” on the asphalt and/or use NO PARKING SIGNS at the entrance of Ellsworth Place ● This is done for all other driveways and entrances to the multi-family complexes and San Carlos Court located near Ellsworth Place. 9) Provide “NO PARKING” signs within the first 100 feet of Ellsworth Place road so that the “NO PARKING” rule is enforceable. TRAFFIC REVIEW Hexagon Transportation Consultants, Inc. April 14, 2023 Hired by Richard Dewey, RLD Land LLC Title: Transportation Review for the Residential Single-Family Home at 702 Ellsworth Place in Palo Alto, California ELLSWORTH PLACE HOMEOWNERS & TENANTS' RESPONSE PROBLEMS: ● Biased; in fairness and neutrality, the City of Palo Alto should hire or contract directly and charge the applicant or the costs. ● It's a traffic review and not a study. ● It’s not a safety study. ● Where is the data? PAGE 1 - Title Page Access Analysis ● “Based on the site plan prepared by Todd Kalbfeld Landscape Design…” PROBLEMS: ● “Adequate” - a.k.a satisfactory or acceptable = NOT GOOD ENOUGH 4 MISSING INFORMATION: ● No onsight measurements are given. ● No study data is included. ● No reference to the incline of Ellsworth Place entering Middlefield Road. ● No reference to the decline of Ellsworth Place exiting Middlefield Road. ● No reference to the decline of Middlefield Road over Matadero Creek. ● No reference to the incline of Middlefield Road over Matadero Creek. ● No reference to the narrowing of Middlefield Road at Matadero Creek. ● No reference to the “blind spot” in the public sidewalk at Matadero Creek. ● No reference to Middlefield having a Caltrans Minor Arterial classification. ● No reference to Middlefield Road not having a shoulder. ● No reference to Middlefield Road not having a bike lane. ● No reference to bicyclists using the sidewalk. ● No reference to the “private school” on the Project Site Location map ● No reference to the Winter Lodge/Kim Grant Tennis on the Project Site Location INCORRECT STATEMENTS: ● “It should be noted that the number of backing maneuvers from 702 Ellsworth would be reduced since the number of parking spaces on site would be reduced from eight to two.” ○ It does NOT account for the number of back-and-forth maneuvers needed for a USP/FedEx/Amazon-type delivery truck to turn around by using the combined “delivery space” offered by Dewey and the widened driveway offered by Handa. ● “One of the additional parking spaces added to the existing apartment building would exit onto Ellsworth Place if vehicles are parked in both tandem spaces.” ○ Tandem indicates TWO vehicles Ellsworth Place INCORRECT STATEMENT: ● “Based on a visual inspection, Ellsworth has several potholes and is not in good repair.” ○ A visual inspection would prove there are no potholes on Ellsworth Place ○ Was a site visit made? PROBLEMS: ● “According to typical fire access requirements, this is wide enough to safely accommodate two-way traffic and emergency vehicles.” (Referring to 20 feet width. ○ While it may be “adequate” once two cars are both in line with one another, it is not a sufficient amount of space for a car to turn into Ellsworth Place while a second car is pulling out of Ellsworth Place. (Per an Ellsworth resident, “cars are not made of elastic.) MISSING INFORMATION : ● The number of R1 houses = 11 ● The number of R2 duplexes = 2 ● The total number of residential addresses = 15 ● No reference is made to Palo Alto Municipal Code for WIDTHS of a private street under Municipal Code 21.20.240 PAGE 2 - Location Map 5 MISSING INFORMATION : ● No reference to the “private school” on the Project Site Location map ● No reference to the Winter Lodge/Kim Grant Tennis on the Project Site Location PAGE 3 - Figure 2 Site Plan - Handa’s House Plans PROBLEMS: ● This is a different plan than what is included in the packet PTC Meeting of June 28, 2023, PACKET on PDF page 4 (Packet page 12). ● The location of the pavers is different from what is in “the packet”. ● The fence encroaches on the existing public sidewalk at the Matadero Creek corner. MISSING INFORMATION : ● The PTC Meeting of June 28, 2023, PACKET on PDF page 4 (Packet page 12) reads, “To address the neighbors’ concerns about the street width, the applicants have proposed providing pavers to increase the perceived width of Ellsworth Place.” - These pavers are not indicated in the Figure 2 Site Plan. ● No measurements are given to show the setback of the fence from the city sidewalk. ● No measurements are given to show the setback from Ellsworth Place (the road). ● No measurements are given to show the setback from Middlefield Road. ● No measurements are given to indicate the total width of pavers across the Ellsworth Place side of the house. ● No measurements are given to indicate the width of the driveway. PAGE 4 - (page two of the typed report) INCORRECT STATEMENTS: ● “According to Table 5 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code 18.54.070, 20 feet is the minimum width to serve residential developments. ○ This is the Municipal Code for Parking Design ○ This is the Municipal Code for Driveway Dimensions For Multiple-Family Residential Uses of 11 Units or More and For All Nonresidential Uses MISSING INFORMATION : ● Municipal Code 21.20.240 for the Widths of a private road - As stated on Page 1, “Ellsworth Place is a 530 feet long private street with no turnaround area.” *NOTE: Santa Clara County says Ellsworth Place as being a public road owned by the City of Palo Alto. So both codes for public and private streets need full consideration and evaluation. (a) Streets shown in any master street plan or affected by proceedings initiated or approved by the city council shall have widths as required by such plan or proceedings. (b) All other streets shall have rights-of-way of the following widths, except where the city council determines that the topography or the small number of lots served and the probable future traffic development are such as to justify a narrowed width. Increased widths may be required where streets are to serve nonresidential property, or where probable traffic conditions warrant such increased widths: 6 (1) Major arterials: eighty-six feet to one hundred feet; (2) Collector streets, local streets, or cul-de-sac streets longer than three hundred fifty feet: sixty feet; (3) Cul-de-sac streets three hundred fifty feet or less in length: fifty feet; (4) Private streets : Such right-of-way as would be required for a comparable public street, except as specified below. Streets serving five or more lots shall be no less than thirty-two feet wide. Streets serving four or fewer lots shall be no less than twenty-two feet wide providing that the Director of Planning and Community Environment and the City Council specifically approves the twenty-two foot street width. (a) If a building adjacent to a private street has a setback of at least twenty feet between the street and building allowing on-site parking, then the width of the private street may be no less than twenty-six feet at the discretion of the Director of Planning and Community Environment and the City Council. (b) If a private street has a public parking strip of at least six feet in width between the street and the building location, then the width of the private street may be no less than twenty-six feet at the discretion of the Director of Planning and Community Environment and the City Council. Effective Date: This private street width requirement applies to any project or development that has not obtained a final map, building permit, and performed significant construction as of July 31, 2009. If the effective date of July 31, 2009, is held by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judicial action to be void, voidable, or unenforceable, then the effective date of this ordinance as it applies to private street width shall be November 4, 2009. (Ord. 5059 § 5, 2009: Ord. 3345 § 36, 1982: Ord. 3157 § 1 (part), 1979) INCORRECT STATEMENTS: ● “There are trade-offs involved in driveway design…” ○ “Wider driveways are easier to turn in and out of, but that means turning speeds are higher.” ■ This is misleading because if there is insufficient room for two cars to pass one another at the entrance of Ellsworth Place, then: ● A car either has to back up to give room enough for the second car to turn in and pull alongside the first car, which creates another type of “backup manoeuver” on Ellsworth Place. ● A car either has to back up to give room enough for the second car to turn in and pull alongside the first car, which creates the potential for a front-end collision on Ellsworth Place. ● The first car can abruptly leave the 20-foot wide road too quickly in order to make room for the second car to enter Ellsworth Place, and in haste turn into traffic on Middlefield Road and cause a collision. ● The first car can abruptly leave the 20-foot wide road too quickly in order to make room for the second car to enter Ellsworth 7 Place, and in haste, roll onto the sidewalk at Middlefield Road and fail to see a pedestrian. ● The first car can abruptly leave the 20-foot wide road, turning into traffic too quickly so as to make room for the second car to enter, and in haste, fail to see a bicyclist on the sidewalk who is descending from Matadero Creek, which has a blind corner. ● The first car can abruptly leave the 20-foot wide road, turning into traffic too quickly so as to make room for the second car to enter, and in haste, fail to see a commuter bicyclist on the Middlefield Road, either by “taking the lane” or using the future bike lane; descending from Matadero Creek which has an overpass incline/decline. ● The first car can abruptly leave the 20-foot wide road, turning into traffic too quickly so as to make room for the second car to enter, and in haste, fail to see other cars on the Middlefield Road traveling northbound or southbound. ● The first car can abruptly leave the 20-foot wide road, turning into traffic too quickly so as to make room for the second car to enter, and in haste, fail other cars pulling out of Keys School parking lot and onto Middlefield Road; the Keys School driveway is which is directly across from Ellsworth Place. ● “There trade-offs involved in driveway design…” ○ “Also, wider driveways are less safe for pedestrians to cross.”. ● Pedestrians already do not see that there is a road when they are crossing and have run into cars on more than one occasion! ● Bicyclists and skateboarders or those on any device that is faster than a walking pace, who are using the sidewalk, are at risk of getting hit by crossing the current 20-foot driveway configuration. ● “The current 20-foot dustpan style driveway on Ellsworth Place at Middlefield Road…” ○ “...requires vehicles to almost come to a stop to turn into the street” ■ Vehicles would be coming to almost a stop ON MIDDLEFIELD ROAD!!! ○ When traveling south on Middlefield Road this is less treacherous due to the crossing over two lanes of oncoming traffic which allows for better visibility of Ellsworth Place, and the ability to get the car into the 90-degree angle turn before entering the Ellsworth Place driveway entrance in a more direct, straight on way. ○ Bicycles traveling north on the sidewalk zig-zag through the curve of the sidewalk’s blindspot over Matadero Creek, and can approach Ellsworth Place quickly while the driver is looking to turn left from Middlefield Road onto Ellsworth Place. ○ When traveling north on Middlefield Road, the road descents from the Matadero Creek overpass just prior to intersecting with Ellsworth Place ■ Drivers who are less familiar with this approach can hit their brakes abruptly when looking for 8 and coming upon the turn-in to Ellsworth Place road. (We’ve heard squealing brakes many times over the years.) ■ Many people complain about visibility when turning right onto Ellsworth Place. ■ Those who are familiar with this right-hand turn start their turn signals and braking before they go over the Matadero Creek overpass, and “pray that the car behind them sees their blinker!” ■ People pull out from the driveway of Winter Lodge Ice Rink and Kim Grant Tennis, which is directly on the other side of Matadero Creek overpass, but on the same side of the street, as Ellsworth Place. ○ Which is classified by Caltrans as a Minor Arterial. ■ And was almost increased to a Major Arterial by City Council in 2015. (The City may choose to increase the classification of Middlefield Road in the future.) ○ Which has speeds of 30 - 45+ miles an hour (in spite of speed limit signs near Keys School of 20 mph) Sight Distance at Middlefield INCORRECT STATEMENTS: ● “Sight distance recommendations vary depending on the roadway speeds. … The recommended stopping sight distance for the intersection of Ellsworth Place and Middlefield Road is 200 feet (based on a design speed of 30 mph) .” ○ The front of Handa’s parcel, if you include the road, is 56.42 feet wide. Matadero Creek is 60 feet wide. So when traveling north in preparation to turn right onto Ellsworth Place from Middlefield Road, the stopping sight distance is at about the Winter Lodge/Kim Grant Tennis parking lot entrance. ■ THE VIEW TO ELLSWORTH PLACE IS OBSTRUCTED BY THE MATADERO CREEK OVERPASS FROM THE WINTER LODGE ICE RINK/KIM GRANT TENNIS PARKING LOT! ● “There is adequate sight distance at the intersection…” ○ This is only a true statement when traveling south on Middlefield Road. ○ This is NOT TRUE for drivers traveling north on Middlefield Road. ● “...as Middlefield Road is straight and does not allow for street parking (see figure 3). ○ Define “straight”. ■ Middlefield Road has an overpass to cross Matadero Creek. ■ Middlefield Road narrows at the Matadero Creek overpass. ● “Bicyclists share the street with vehicles as there are no bike lanes on this segment of Middlefield Road.” ○ Only a few daring commuter cyclists share the road here ○ Experienced cyclists “TAKE THE LANE” if they choose to cycle on Middlefield Road in this section! ○ Bicyclists, who are mostly children, USE THE SIDEWALK in this section of Middlefield Road. 9 ● “A sight triangle as shown in Figure 4 should be established at both corners of the intersection so that exiting vehicles can see pedestrians on the sidewalk and bicycles and motor vehicles in the street” ○ Due to the blind corner in the sidewalk as Middlefield Road narrows at Matadero Creek, and the sidewalk curves to follow the road, this site triangle of 35 feet is NOT LONG ENOUGH on the Matadero Creek side of Ellsworth Place, as it intersects with Middlefield Road. ■ Drivers exiting Ellsworth Place are looking up two inclines to where that blind spot is located: ● Drivers are looking up from the Ellsworth Place incline, making this section of Ellsworth Place not flat. ● Drivers are looking up the incline of the Matadero Creek overpass, making this section of Middlefield not flat. ● THE ELEVATION GAIN NEEDS A LONGER THAN A 35-foot SIGHT TRIANGLE ON THE MATADERO CREEK SIDE! ● “Any vegetation taller than three feet should be removed within the sight distance triangle… ○ This is not true. Per the experiences of Ellsworth Place residents, vegetation should not be over 1-foot in height, unless it’s a tree with a narrow trunk and a canopy existing above the 4-foot line. Ellsworth Place neighbors don’t want anything BETWEEN about 1 foot to 4 feet in height in the “sight triangle” on the Matadero Creek side of Ellsworth Place. ○ This three-foot vegetation rule works for the north side (Sutter Arms Apartment side) of Ellsworth Place. ● “...and the project’s fence should not be taller than three feet within the sight triangle area per Palo Alto Municipal Code 16.24.040.” ○ This is Municipal Code for Fences at Intersections. ○ It should be compared with Palo Alto Municipal Code 16.24.060 Fences on corner lots ■ “...no fence may be constructed for a clear distance of twelve feet from the point of intersection of driveway and property lines.” ■ Ellsworth Place has a “...dustpan style driveway” entrance. So unless this entrance is modified to a wider, asphalt approach, Ellsworth Place residents want the most visible lin-of-sight available on the Matadero Creek side of the street. ● “Some neighbors have noted that bicyclists occasionally ride illegally on the sidewalk which is beyond the purview of this project.” ○ It is not illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in this location of Palo Alto! ● “However the City may want to address it since it is in conjunction with the private school across the street.” ○ There is nothing to address because it is not illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk in this area of Palo Alto. ○ This paragraph is the first time the “private school” a.k.a Keys School, is mentioned in this Traffic Review! ○ Why is this private school not marked on page 2 “Project Location Map”? ○ Why aren’t Winter Lodge Ice Rink & Kim Gran Tennis marked on page 2 “Project Location Map”? Proposed Reduced Parking 10 INCORRECT STATEMENTS: ● The parking spaces designated as “guest only” parking for the adjacent parking complex…” ○ It also functions as the overflow parking for the apartment complex. ● “...but were rarely used given that Sutter Avenue has plenty of street parking.” ○ FALSE: See this photo from Sunday, July 2, 2023, which shows three cars parked in the parking lot. All of these cars are apartment tenants. There are cars parked in this parking lot daily. Some carport spaces are too small for modern-size cars. ● “The elimination of the eight guest parking spaces on the home side and moving four of these parking spaces to the apartment complex increase safety for the apartment residents…” ○ FALSE: Now apartment tenants have to park on Sutter Ave. and possibly walk a block. ■ This is less safe for women coming home at night. ■ This makes their cars more accessible for theft ■ This is farther away from their apartment than the parking lot. ● “...as they no longer have to walk across Ellsworth Place.” ○ Instead, they have to walk from Sutter Ave. and possibly cross the 32-foot wide (or more) Sutter Ave. and/or other apartment driveway entrances. ● “Therefore, the removal of the parking spaces at the single-family home site would not impact the apartment complex parking.” ○ Walking farther has an impact on parking for the apartment complex. ○ People may choose not to rent at this apartment complex if parking becomes difficult. PAGE 5 - Middlefield Road Sight Distance (photos) MISLEADING: ● The Photo looking right from Ellsworth Place is taken from standing in the City of Palo Alto landscape stripe, almost standing in Middlefield Road; or was it taken off of Google Maps? ● The Photo looking left from Ellsworth Place is taken from standing in the City of Palo Alto landscape stripe, almost standing in Middlefield Road; or was it taken off of Google Maps? 11 ● These photos do not show the incline over Matadero Creek. All photos make this look flat, and it’s not flat! ● These photos are not taken from where a driver’s head is located while they are exiting Ellsworth Place, which is down two declines: one decline over the Mataero Creek overpass, and one decline from the driveway entrance into Ellsworth Place. PAGE 6 - Ellsworth Place and Middlefield Road Sight Triangle (Figure 4) MISLEADING: ● These overhead photos do not show the incline over Matadero Creek. All photos make this look flat, and it’s not flat! ● The sight triangle on the Matadero Creek side is not big enough! ● The sight triangle on the Matadero Creek side needs to extend to the curve in the sidewalk, which is where the blind spot is! PAGE 7 Loading Vehicle Access INCORRECT STATEMENTS: ● Hexagon understands that delivery trucks occasionally use the eight-space parking area for parking and turnaround because there is no parking on Middlefield Road and Ellsworth Place is too narrow for trucks to turn around.” ○ DELIVERY TRUCKS ARE USUALLY DAILY OCCURRENCE, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY. ○ The delivery drivers also access the Sutter Arms Apartments at the same time as the residents living in the Ellsworth Place homes. ● “It should be noted that the current parking lot is private…” ○ It should be noted that the current parking lot has been used for vehicle circulation, vehicle passing, community events, delivery vehicles, residents of other homes on Ellsworth Place, their guests, as well as apartment guests for over 56 years! There has never been any enforcement of its “private” status and is effectively a public space. ● “To assist with overall circulation, the project proposes to provide a delivery truck parking space across from the project site adjacent to the apartment complex…” ○ This delivery space is smaller than what is required by Municipal Code (c) Off-Street Loading Spaces (1) Each off-street loading space shall consist of a rectangular area not less than twelve (12) feet wide and forty-five (45) feet long, with a vertical clearance of not less than fifteen (15) feet. Conclusions ● “...adequate space…” ○ “Adequate” - a.k.a satisfactory or acceptable = NOT GOOD ENOUGH ● “The existing 20 feet width of Ellsworth Place is adequate for two-way traffic…” ○ A 20-foot width is insufficient room for two cars to pass one another at the entrance of Ellsworth Place. ● “An adequate 35 feet sight distance triangle (per Palo Alto Municipal Code 16.24.040) should be created and maintained for exiting vehicles.” ○ This does not take into account the incline/decline situation of both Ellsworth Place and the Matadero Creek overpass. ● “Trees and fences within the sight triangle should be reduced to three feet.” 12 ○ Per the experiences of Ellsworth Place residents, vegetation on the Matadero Creek side should not be over 1-foot in height, unless it’s a tree with a narrow trunk and a canopy existing above the 4-foot line. Ellsworth Place neighbors don’t want anything BETWEEN about 1 foot to 4 feet in height in the “sight triangle” on the Matadero Creek side of Ellsworth Place. ○ This three-foot vegetation rule is more suited to the north side (Sutter Arms Apartment side) of Ellsworth Place; and may be too tall for seeing children under three feet in height; especially is they are moving faster than walking pace. ● “A space for delivery vehicles would be created across from the new home at the apartment complex which will improve circulation in the area.” ○ This delivery space will block the carports on the Ellsworth Place side. ○ Delivery drivers will not use a space that blocks cars for liability reasons. ○ This delivery space is smaller than Municipal Code allows. OTHER THINGS THAT ARE LEFT OUT : ● “The Packet” for PTC Meeting of June 28, 2023, lists pavers as a way to make the width of the road “perceived” wider than 20 feet. ○ This does not fix the problem of losing circulation if the parking lot is no longer available ○ No one drives on people’s pavers ○ If people drove on the pavers they would be driving across the walkway to Handa’s proposed house. ○ The pavers are in line with a utility pole on the apartment side = dangerous ○ The pavers are in line with a utility box on the apartment side = dangerous ○ Is this even legal? ● The delivery drivers who are too large to turn around on the narrow Ellsworth Place road will ○ Park in the bus-turnout on Matadero Creek overpass ○ Park on Middlefield partially blocking the lane or in the bike lane (once it’s built) ○ Parking in either of these locations creates more blind spots ○ Parking in either location is dangerous for anyone, pedestrian, cyclist, or vehicle alike, who is using Middlefield Road. ● Ellsworth Place is not visible from the private school driveway. ○ Ellsworth Place residents and Keys School parents have had more than one fender-bender here. ● PC1810 was modified to before PC2343, and still implements all of PC1810 except for section 2 where the parcels are mentioned. It was approved, “subject to widening the driveway to Ellsworth Place.” ○ This was designed with Ellsworth Place road in mind, and it is mentioned many times in the ordinances. ○ This law was never applied ○ Just because it’s 56 years old, it is still valid! (The US Constitution is older.) ○ The parking lot provides 25 - 26 feet of road width behind parked cars and serves as circulation for the whole street. ○ The parking lot allows the apartments and the Ellsworth Place homes to exist harmoniously together. 13 ● Santa Clare County Assessors has viewed Ellsworth Place as being owned by the City of Palo Alto since their 1968 parcel map. ● FEMA puts the current value of one human life at 10 million dollars. ● The average car size is increasing: 5.8 feet wide (69.6 inches) x 14.7 feet long (176.4 inches) https://www.thezebra.com/resources/driving/average-car-size/#:~:text=Average%20car%20width, performance%20or%20added%20safety%20features. ○ And for this reason, some of the existing carports are not wide enough for modern cars. THE CONCLUSION OF THE ELLSWORTH PLACE NEIGHBORS We understand the situation occurring on our “private” road is very complicated.I n Councilman Pat Burt’s words, “a can of worms or a Gordian Knot!” For the greater good of the community, we don’t want the knot cut! This situation was not of our creating and it needs to be unraveled instead of made worse by squeezing in a home and removing the circulation of a street that serves the houses and apartments alike. We have attempted to work with the developers by meeting with them, only to have our words misconstrued and our concerns largely ignored. The “benefits” they are offering are not safe solutions. We demand maintaining the circulation on Ellsworth Place for both safety reasons and deliveries and also have ample parking provided for cars. Not only is this for our safety, but it also affects the value of our homes. Homeowners who rent their houses have had tenants choose not to rent from them due to the parking issues. These are not problems we want to be exacerbated. The issues we raise affect the greater community and should not be ignored. On behalf of the Ellsworth Place Residents, Kristen A. Van Fleet Homeowner 724 Ellsworth Place Palo Alto, CA 94306 650-646-8677 14 From:William T Newsome To:Council, City Cc:William T Newsome; Brie Linkenhoker Subject:Terman park belongs to ALL people in Palo Alto! Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 3:40:23 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from bnewsome@stanford.edu. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Palo Alto City Council members We are writing to encourage you in the strongest possible terms to say NO to the proposed swap of Terman Park for PAUSD land at Cubberley. Terman Park is a multi-use area that benefits everyone in the surrounding neighboorhoods in numerous, tangible ways. Terman serves the obvious uses of all neighborhood parks for exercise, organized recreation, kids play, and community building activities such as picnics and celebratory gatherings. Terman is the only parkland on the south side of Arastradero...it would be a community disaster to lose it. Just as importantly, however, Terman Park provides SAFE bicycle access from southside neighborhoods to Gunn High School, Fletcher Middle School, the Bowman School and points beyond (e.g. the VA hospital). Safe access to school for our children is of paramount importance. Arastradero Road carries very heavy traffic as all of you know. Routing additional bicycle traffic onto Arastradero would add substantially to the risk of accident and injury involving children. As parents of a child at Bowman, we are also concerned about fire safety. If Terman Park is swapped and the Glenbrook gate is closed, the entirety of Bowman has only the escape to Arastradero Road as a path to safety. The Glenbrook gate provides an essential release valve in case of danger of ALL kinds to all Bowman children, including the unspeakable danger caused by the presence of so many guns in our communities. We entreat you to keep Terman Park as is. We are sympathetic to the city’s need for more land at Cubberley, but surely trading some other parcel would have less negative impact on Palo Alto neighborhoods. Sincerely, Bill Newsome and Brie Linkenhoker Bowman School parents From:ANDREA B SMITH To:City Mgr; Council, City; Library Director Subject:library room bookings Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 3:39:35 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello City Manager and City Council and City Librarian - A week ago (June 29, 2023) I sent an e-mail to librarycommunityrooms@cityofpaloalto.org to inquire about the booking Rinconada Room at Rinconada Library for the San Francisco Opera Guild. We had the room a few years ago and wanted to book it again for opera lectures I received no reply to my e-mail so telephoned yesterday and left a message since the call was not answered by a human being. I received a call today from Allison DeHearst (sp?) at Rinconada Library and did get in contact with her this afternoon finding out that the senior staff decided NOT to allow the Rinconada Room to be booked by the public. If this is the case, then that e-mail (librarycommunityrooms@cityofpaloalto,org) needs to be removed from the website. If that is not acceptable to the City, then out of COURTESY at least respond to e-mails. I'm confused as to why this is the case since we taxpayers pay for the use of community rooms. Andrea Smith From:Tran, Joanna To:Council, City Cc:Executive Leadership Team; Clerk, City Subject:City.Council Bundle 6/6 - 7/4 Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 2:07:34 PM Attachments:RE Renters Blues to Renters Bliss.msgRE Urgent person in need Moutain ViewPalo AltoLos Altos Compassion and Intervention for a VulnerableCommunity Member Robert.msgRE Tree Protection Violation - 923 Shauna Ln Palo Alto.msgimage001.pngimage003.pngimage004.pngimage006.pngimage007.pngimage008.pngRE Greene Middle School - Leaking Water.msgRE Decibel Limits for Exhaust-Modified Vehicles.msgRe Greene Middle School - Leaking Water.msgimage009.png Dear Mayor and Councilmembers, On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please see attached staff responses to emails received in the City.Council inbox from 6/6 to 7/4. Thank you! Best, Joanna Joanna Tran Executive Assistant to the City Manager Office of the City Manager (650) 329-2105 | joanna.tran@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From:Charlie Weidanz To:Council, City Subject:Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce News & Updates - July 7, 2023 Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 10:55:55 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. NEWS & UPDATES - July 7, 2023 Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Summer Buzz - Third Thursday California Avenue - July 20 Athena Awards - Nominations Due July 21 Leadership Palo Alto - Applications Due July 31 Stanford Summer Celebrations 2023 Palo Alto Festival of the Arts - Sponsorship Opportunity SlingShot Connections Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Mike's Diner Bar 2680 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 The City of Palo Alto will present an update on UpLift Local. Connect with fellow professionals and business owners. Enjoy light refreshments and drinks. >RSVP Online Summer Buzz - Third Thursday California Ave Palo Alto Third Thursday - A Monthly Live Music Event Join us on Third Thursday6:00 pm - 9:00 pm July 20th, 2023 California Avenue in Palo Alto Musical groups will be playing at various locations along the street creating the joyful opportunity to explore the Ave and support local businesses. Learn More Athena 2023 Leadership Award Presentation Save the Date - 37th Annual ATHENA® Awards Thursday, October 19, 20235:30 pm - 7:30 pm Sheraton Palo Alto 625 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94301 2023 Nominations - Due July 21, 2023 --- Nominate an outstanding professional or business women in your community who should be recognized and honored for their achievements: >NOMINATE: OUTSTANDING WOMAN OF THE YEAR - 2023 >NOMINATE: EMERGING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR - 2023 More Info Leadership Palo Alto 2023-2024 Participants will graduate ready to re-imagine and reshape our community with 21st-century leadership skills. Topics include: Local, Regional and State Government Education Arts & Culture Environment & Sustainability Housing & Transportation Health & Wellness& More Learn More and Apply Online Here Applications are Due July 31 Contact Charlie@paloaltochamber.com for more information. Summer Celebrations at Stanford Research Park Summer Celebrations at Stanford Research Park Join us in celebrating 70 years of innovation at Stanford Research Park this summer. This event series will celebrate culture, sustainability, and STEM with activities, music, and entertainment for all ages. Individuals who work in Stanford Research Park, their friends and family, and Palo Alto residents are welcome to attend anytime between 4 pm and 8 pm on June 8, July 6, and August 3. Complimentary appetizers, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverages provided by Stanford Research Park. Meals, beer and wine available for purchase from Coupa Café. More Details and Free Registration Here Palo Alto Festival of the Arts - Celebrating 40 years Want to get your business in front of tens of thousands of local residents? Join us as a Corporate Sponsor for the 2023 Palo Alto Festival of the Arts Aug. 26-27 along University Avenue. Along with branding, you will have promotional and lead generation opportunities galore with tens of thousands of attendees expected over the weekend. We look forward to helping you find a creative and satisfying fit for your specific needs. For details, call Claudette Mannina at 831- 461-1796 or claudette@designingleads.com. See full Festival details at www.paloaltochamber.com/festival. Hope to see you Aug. 26-27! This signature event is proudly hosted by: SlingShot Connections Transform your business hiring today! Call: 408-247-8233 Email: hospitality@slingshotconnections.com See Our Upcoming Events Learn More About The Chamber PALO ALTO CHAMBER & VISITORS CENTER 355 ALMA STREET | PALO ALTO | CA | 94301 | 650-324-3121 WWW.PALOALTOCHAMBER.COM This email was sent on behalf of Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce 355 Alma St Palo Alto, CA 94301.To unsubscribe clickhere. If you have questions or comments concerning this email or services in general, please contact us by email at info@paloaltochamber.com. From:Aram James To:Gardener, Liz; Lauing, Ed; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Jethroe Moore; Josh Becker; Council, City; Sean Allen; Ladoris Cordell;Rebecca Eisenberg; Shana Segal; Roberta Ahlquist; Greer Stone; Shikada, Ed; Kaloma Smith; Jack Ajluni; Lewis.james; Salem Ajluni; Salem Ajluni; Human Relations Commission; GRP-City Council; Robert. Jonsen; Binder, Andrew Subject:WEST BANK] Devastating human rights violations Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 10:00:41 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. View in Browser DEVASTATING ATTACKS IN WEST BANK: DEMAND AN END TO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS Brian Castner examines rubble of destroyed building in Ukraine JENIN, WEST BANK - The destruction of a house caused by Israeli military forces’ attacks on July 4, 2023. Getty Images Aram, this week Israeli military forces launched the largest and most intense military attack in the occupied West Bank in nearly 20 years — on a refugee camp.1 Following a military attack by Israeli forces in Jenin refugee camp, at least twelve Palestinians and one Israeli soldier were killed and nearly one hundred injured, according to news reports. Thousands of people were woken up in the middle of the night and forced to flee from their bedrooms and homes in a matter of minutes. The scene in Jenin has been compared to a natural disaster. Air strikes have destroyed homes and critical infrastructure. Electricity poles are toppled and there is no access to water. Flattened cars and piles of rubble line the scorched streets. Amnesty’s research plays a vital role in documenting testimonies and evidence in attacks like these. Please rush an emergency donation to fuel Amnesty’s research into violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in Israel. MAKE AN EMERGENCY GIFT This latest attack reflects the deadly cost of the Israeli government’s system of apartheid that Amnesty has documented over years. If we fail to hold Israeli authorities accountable, they will continue to have free rein to segregate, control, and dominate Palestinians on a daily basis, and perpetuate human rights abuses, suffering, and bloodshed. Last year was one of the deadliest years for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank since at least 2005, with some 153 Palestinians, including dozens of children, killed by Israeli forces, mostly in the context of increased military raids and arrest operations.2 Amnesty’s research has shown that the Israeli government has created and maintains laws, policies, and practices that deliberately oppress Palestinians wherever it has control over their rights: in Israel, the OPT, and against displaced refugees by denying their right to return.3 This system of domination amounts to the crime of apartheid under international law — and we MUST act swiftly to end it. When you make a donation right now, you can help us: Gather on-the-ground evidence and document human rights violations as well as possible war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and in Israel Demand that the Israeli government abide by international humanitarian law and call on all parties to end international humanitarian law violations Build pressure on President Biden, the U.S. State Department, and U.S. Congress to halt U.S. military and security funding to the Israeli government and support a comprehensive arms embargo PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CIVILIANS Amnesty does not take sides in any situation anywhere in the world, nor do we support or oppose any government, group, political party, or ideology. Our human rights concerns are about the policies, laws, and actions of governments, militaries, and armed groups which cause human suffering and amount to violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. With each new violation, there is growing international recognition that Israeli authorities are committing the crime of apartheid,4 and we have an opportunity right now to push for the government of Israel to adhere to its obligations under international law. Your donation will strengthen what Amnesty does best: focus the world’s attention on human rights violations, demand accountability, and create a more just world for everyone. Send vital support to defend human rights and hold Israeli authorities accountable for attacks on Palestinian civilians » Thank you for making a difference, Elizabeth Rghebi Advocacy Director, Middle East and North Africa Amnesty International USA [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/world/middleeast/israel-withdraws-jenin-west-bank.html [2] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/02/israel-opt-palestinian-lives-in-peril-as-israel- reinforces-apartheid/ [3, 4] https://www.amnestyusa.org/endapartheid/ DONATE NOW © 2023 Amnesty International USA 311 W 43rd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10036 | 1-800-AMNESTY Please don't reply to this email. You can send questions to aimember@aiusa.org. We’re so happy you’re here to hear about the most important updates on human rights! If necessary, you can opt to receive fewer emails or unsubscribe here. From:Aram James To:Linda Jolley; Gardener, Liz; chuck jagoda; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Angie Evans; Veenker, Vicki; DuJuan Green;Greg Tanaka; Binder, Andrew; Robert. Jonsen; Sheriff Transparency; Jethroe Moore; Council, City; Josh Becker;Mila Zelkha; Shana Segal; Diana Diamond; Shikada, Ed; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Wagner, April; Figueroa, Eric;Jeff Rosen; Rob Baker; Kevin Jensen; dennis burns; Human Relations Commission; Joe Simitian; Reifschneider,James; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Javier Ortega; Vara Ramakrishnan;Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Cecilia Taylor; Cindy Chavez; Bains, Paul Cc:Assemblymember.Berman@assembly.ca.gov; info@paloaltorenters.org; Lauing, Ed; editor@paweekly.com; Gennady Sheyner; Sue Dremann Subject:From The Mercury News e-edition - Homeless camp dilemma remains Date:Friday, July 7, 2023 7:58:02 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.________________________________ Homeless camp dilemma remainshttps://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=6a298e67-604b-4a1f-9a96-b952891dffcc&appcode=SAN252&eguid=3a04c2cb-5405-4128-9d39-104990986aae&pnum=2# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Michael Fang To:Council, City; ParkRec Commission Subject:Please do not trade away Terman Park Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 11:14:42 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from lfang.michael@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and the Palo Alto City Council, My name is Michael, and I have lived in the Green Acres neighborhood almost all of my life. Iattended Juana Briones Elementary and Fletcher Middle School, spending a ton of time around Terman Park and creating some of my best memories with friends there. Even today, I oftentake the path through Terman Park to Los Altos, walking or jogging to the sweet shop or Safeway with family and friends. On weekends, we often gather to play basketball onthe court as well. The park has been a significant part of my childhood and adolescence, and it continues to be a cherished path that I travel through nearly every day. The memories TermanPark creates, alongside its path connecting communities and people, make it a vital part of this neighborhood. Please do not exchange it with the school district. Thank you so much,Michael Los Palos Avenue From:Lin Liu To:Council, City; ParkRec Commission Subject:NO Swapping Terman Park Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 10:13:03 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from ludan00@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Council members, I have lived in the Green Acres neighborhood for many years. My kids went to Briones, Fletcher, and Gunn. They also played in Terman Park a lot. I take a walk through Terman Park every single day. Sometimes I walk to CVS, Safeway, or Whole Foods to shop; other times, I jog through the park after dinner to exercise. I always run into neighbors and see kids playing in the park. Terman Park is vital to our community. We need Terman Park to be accessible to all residents. Also, we need an exit through Glenbrook gate in emergencies. Please keep it a city park, do NOT swap it with the school district. Thanks, Lin Liu Green Acres 1 From:upcomingsales@friendspaloaltolib.org To:Council, City Subject:Independent, Incredible, Iconic Book Sale - Friends of the Palo Alto Library Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 8:16:47 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. BOOK SALE NEWSLETTERTHIS WEEKEND ATCUBBERLEY Visit our web site CUBBERLEY USED BOOK SALES Saturday July 8Bargain Room 9:30am - 4pmChildren's Room 10am - 4pmSummer Super Sale 10am - 4pm(outside Children's Room)Main Room 11am - 4pm Sunday July 9 All Rooms 11am - 4pm (Summer Super Sale Saturday Only) FEATURED IN JULY Art DVDs Gardening Puzzles/GamesBiographies/Memoirs 4000 Middlefield Road Palo AltoNE corner of the CubberleyCommunity Center (650) 213-8755 www.fopal.org Maps and DirectionsMore information on the salesDonate your used books, DVDs, &c ALL NET PROCEEDS GO TO HELP PALOALTO LIBRARIES Main Room In our Main Room, prices are way below what used book stores charge.Hardcover books start at $3.00 andsoftcover books start at only $2.00. No numbered tickets this month! Please note that due to crowding during the first two hours of the Book Sale, no strollers, rolling carts, etc. can be brought into the Main Room. This is for the safety of shoppers and volunteers alike. By 12:30 or so, the crowd thins out and shoppers are welcome to bring these items into the sale. Children's Book Sale The Children's Room is located in theportable next to the soccer field nearGreendell School. It is entirely filledwith children's books and toys. You'llfind picture books, school age fictionand non-fiction, fiction for teens, awardwinners, non-English titles, CDs andDVDs, and books for parents andteachers, most for 50 cents or $1.Strollers are welcome in the Children'sRoom at any time. Bargain Books in H-2 The Bargain Room is located in Rooms H-2 and H-3 of the Cubberley maincampus, between Marty's Room andMiddlefield Road. On Saturday,paperbacks are 50 cents, hardcovers are$1, and children's books are 50 centseach. The room also contains manyrecords, CDs, and DVDs at $1 each. OnSunday, the room opens at 11 am and all prices are half off. Or, save even more on Sunday by buying green FOPAL reusable bags from us for $3/ea (or bring your own grocery-size reusable bag) and stuffing them with any items in the room for $5/bag. Fill four bags at $5/bag and fill a fifth bag FREE! (We no longer receive sufficient used paper grocery bags along with donations for this purpose.) News from the Library, by E-mail and RSS If you have ever given the Library your e-mail address, like this newsletter editor did when he signed up for a Palo Alto Library card, you have probably noticed that they are sendingyou one to a few e-mails per month. The Library would like you to know that the Summer Reading for a Cause program is on and you can sign up and log your reading. They want help getting 20,000 books read so they can give $2,500 to Foundation for a College Education, and probably some other things because they post more often to their blog than we send out this newsletter. You can subscribe to their blog with an RSS reader. The Library also has an Events Calendar that is full of stuff to do. -Frank McConnell July Sale Highlights July is FOPAL's busy donation time, signaling that summer is here! FOPAL is offering plenty of summer-time reads, games, puzzles, music, movies, and more! From the Art section, look for a big special on a collection of art books donated from a retired fine art docent along with all the other Art books donated this month. The majority of these books can be found in two special bays on your right as you enter the Main Room. The Puzzles &Games sections have been completely restocked with a wide variety of items from a large recent donation from the Palo Alto Veterans Administration. Also from the Palo Alto Veterans Administration this month FOPAL received hundreds of nearly new DVDs! Look for FULL sections/shelves of Puzzles & Games and DVDs both the Main Room and theBargain Room. The equally nice selection in the Bargain Room is a reflection of the overflow from the Main Room. The Biographies / Memoirs section has more than enough books to fill most of the shelves twice over. Look for good picks for summer-time reading in this superabundant section! And, stop by the Gardening section for a nice display of books that will help you grow a green thumb and then some. For all FOPAL's bibliophile customers the unique special of High-Value books normally soldby our High-Value team on Amazon, eBay, or at auction continues! Enjoy this opportunityto shop the High-Value inventory at the July Sale at FOPAL's Summer Super Pop-up SaleSaturday 7/8, 10am- 4pm (Children's Room parking lot) This summer super high-valuePop-Up sale features 2000+ items, from books to ephemera and CDs. Worth $20-$59online; we will be offering these items for only $10-$25 each during this special in-personsale. -Janette Herceg Art Special Sale FOPAL recently received 40 bankers' boxes of art history books from a long-time docent at the DeYoung Museum. Many of these wonderful books will be found in a special display just inside the entrance as well as on a red cart near the monographs. There are numerous books on American art, Impressionism, Modern art, Dutch 17th-century painting, Chinese art, Women in Art, Paris and Venice, and medieval and Renaissance Europe. Included are many catalogues for special exhibitions in New York, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. The Art red cart holds guides to American and European museums and compilations of "Masterpieces" from these museums. Most of the books in this month's special are priced from $3 to $8. Many interesting things from this donation were sent to the Bargain Room because they have some highlighting. Those books are still very readable and useful as research tools or for their illustrations. For photographs of the shelves, see www.fopalbooks.com. -Melinda and Mandy, Art Puzzles & Games The puzzle shelves are stuffed with some recent big 500 and 1000 piece donations. This includes a donation of 3 sets of 3 identical 500 piece Ravensburger puzzles for hosting a puzzle tournament. If that is not your idea of entertainment, how about hosting a murder mystery night? We have a couple of those, too. And for the more traditional family games with a twist how about Monopoly--Star Wars or Disney style or a Simpsons Chess game? Want crazier? We have the popular and wacky Throw, Throw, Burrito too! Lots of new adult games, too. Check it all out in Puzzles and Games. -Vicky Evans FOPAL Summer Super Sale At the same time as our July Monthly Book Sale FOPAL will have another of its very successful High Value Sales. The sale will have around 2,000 items including books, ephemera, CDs, and LPs. What: FOPAL will be selling books from its High Value inventory that have an online value of $20 to $59. All books will be significantly reduced with a price range of $10 to $25. The books will cover subjects from art to travel to children's vintage, with both hard covers and soft covers. All books have been specially selected by our High Value team and will be the cream of the crop of what we have within that price range. FOPAL has just agreed to make a grant of $100,000 to help increase the Library'scirculation, that is, more new books, more updated books, as well as helping to shorten thetime it takes to get a book that is on hold. Literally every time you buy a book from FOPAL to put on your shelf at home it puts a book on a shelf at one of our excellent Libraries! When: Saturday July 8th 10am to 4pm Where: The parking lot outside the Children's Room, the south west corner of the Cubberley Community Center. We look forward to seeing you. For more information on FOPAL please go to www.FOPAL.org. -Nigel Jones Children's Vintage This is a special month for children's vintage! We have some especially good stuff for older readers in the usual places in the children's room: more Landmark history books,approximately 50 Ladybird series books (fairy tales, history, non-fiction), several Avalonromance books with dust jackets in mylar covers, and 4 Illustrated Junior Library classicsfrom the early 50s in slipcases. In addition - and this is the exciting part! - there are 26boxes of high value children's vintage books as part of the special July high value saletaking place in front of the Children's Room from 10-4 on Saturday! The books range inprice from $10-$25 (half the online retail price) and are separated between older andyounger readers. Two of the boxes contain books in languages other than English, twocontain complete sets of the My Bookshelf series, and one box contains bound volumes ofearly 20thC St Nicholas magazines. That leaves 20 boxes of general fiction/non-fictionhand-curated picks to choose from. Happy reading! -Lisa Heitman High Value Ephemera Sale Browse through our amazing collection of vintage ephemera at our July parking lot sale! Expect discounts of 50%-75% or more from comparable prices on the internet. For sale are both book and non-book items - vintage children's games, old brochures, pamphlets, chap books, spiral-bound special publications, self-published oddities, magazines and military maps - you name it! Examples: Vintage children's board games and other curios Bags of 1,000 off-paper stamps, $2 per bag. Vintage magazines: Fortune, Life, Look - Rolling Stones, Beatles, Moon Landing, etc. Brochures, pamphlets and small books from the late 1800s on - poetry, political screeds, short stories Radio and Railway magazine and manuals from the 1930s on. U.S. Military Publications from WW1, WW2 to Viet Nam Rare political pamphlets from the 1930s by Lenin, Molotov and others. I.W.W. Union pamphlets, song books, etc. Workers Party of America, Communism in America-1930s Maps-WWII military, China, Viet Nam in 1966 Vintage books with beautiful illustrations, including engravings of animals, travels in Africa etc., from the late 1800s -Ms K Education & Language New books available in July in Education & Language: The First Book of Etymology, Treasures of the Library of Congress, and Joy of Reading. In addition you'll find Talk Like Ted: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds. Books range from: theories of education, language and linguistics; reading and libraries; writing, grammar and syntax;ESL and sign language; K-12, and post-secondary education; plus teaching and educationadministration. For college, try 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays. Now thatschool's out, check out The Unofficial Minecraft Lab for Kids. See photos at www.fopalbooks.com. -Virginia Perry Home & Crafts For July, the Home section showcases designer earrings, beauty, and wedding guides, plus manners and etiquette. You'll also find fashion, including Oscar de la Renta, and costume design theory. Other shelves include Flea Market Decorating and interior design concepts for kitchen, bath, the entire house, and outdoors as well. Building and remodeling titles feature Alternative Housebuilding and The Tool Catalog, along with multiple titles for woodworking. Home organizing titles include Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. In need of home repairs? Try How to Fix Damn Near Everything and How Things Work in Your Home. The Crafts shelves include floral arts and arranging, featuring Paula Pryke's Living Color. Peruse craft guides from jewelry-making to scrapbooking, with a special title, Crafting Your Own Heritage Album. You'll also find coloring books and origami. This month these shelves include: an array of sewing books, a multitude of quilting titles, plus knitting and needlepoint how-tos for all your fabric projects. Photos can be found at www.fopalbooks.com. -Virginia Perry Antiques & Collections Among the July offerings in Antiques & Collections: Great Books and Book Collectors; Topps Baseball Cards 1951-1985; Penny Toys from Heaven and Tin Toys; Lead Soldiers and Figurines, and Model Soldiers. New in this section: American Quilts: The Democratic Art, 1780-2007 and The Art of Embroidery history. Other titles include: rugs and furniture; jewelry; guns and pocket knives; antiques encyclopedias, plus many more titles for your collecting reference. Photo can be found at www.fopalbooks.com. -Virginia Perry Poetry July's for Independence Day For flags and speeches and for play, And poetry at FOPAL's sale. Each volume holds a unique tale Of poets who have paid their dues, From the Ukraine to Langston Hughes. And throw some virtual confetti Upon the Beats, like Ferlinghetti. -Mandy MacCalla Religion Expand your understanding of the Bible. There are many volumes from different sets of the Anchor Bible series. And if you wish to study the New Testament in Greek there are aids for that. R. C. Sproul's commentary on Acts gives another dimension. -Nancy Mahoney Cohen Reference This month the Reference Section features preparation guides for a large variety of Advanced Placement ("AP") subject tests. -Bruce Heflinger Children's Room Hard to believe, but the first day of school is only 5 weeks away! Teachers and home- schoolers, check the Non-Fiction section for an abundance of teaching materials for all grades, covering math, reading, spelling, writing, and other subjects. To fill some of the time between now and when school starts, the Activities section has games for all ages; puzzles of every size, shape, and material; and crafts including origami, quilling, and a Melissa & Doug loom! To help prepare for classes, we offer workbooks and flashcards for math, science, language arts, and social studies. Just for fun, browse the graphic novels shelves, where this month we feature Big Nate. The World Languages section is particularly flush with books in French and German. Find a foreign-language storybook your child is familiar with in English--it will be fun for them to read it in a language they are studying. The School-Age Fiction shelves are packed. Highlights this month include Rick Riordan's latest books as well as a boxed set of Percy Jackson and the Olympians; all the books in the Harry Potter series; a boxed set of the New York Times best-selling series Gregor the Underland Chronicles, by Suzanne Collins; a boxed set of Anne of Green Gables; a beautiful edition of Homer Price, by Robert McCloskey; a 12-volume boxed set of the Malory Towers series, by Enid Blyton; a boxed set of classic horse stories, by Marguerite Henry; and a collector's edition of Stuart Little, by E. B. White. -Carolyn Davidson Curious Books In addition to the usual miscellany, this month’s collection at Curious Books features books on habits and character, dubious and otherwise. Various volumes in our selectioncan instruct you in praiseworthy behaviors and self-improvement. Or, if you prefer, othervolumes can give you ideas for mischief and the gleeful annoyance of many. Step right up,plenty to choose from. Buy yourself some books, and enjoy your summer! -Donya W. Judaica Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion and culture including editions of the Torah and other basic texts, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs, Israel, Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects. New this month - Jewish Life in the American West; Gangsters vs. Nazis: How Jewish Mobsters Battled Nazis in WW2 Era America; Jewish Images in the Comics; Wounds into Wisdom: Healing Intergenerational Jewish Trauma; King David: The Real Life of the Man Who Ruled Israel; By Bread Alone: The Story of A-4685; The Gates of November by Chaim Potok Most fiction with Jewish themes will be found in Modern Literature/Classics or CurrentFiction. Books entirely in Hebrew are shelved in the European Languages section. -Charlotte Epstein, Section manager for Judaica Self-Help This month there are 4 FULL SHELVES of new arrivals PLUS 3 shelves of 'Popular on Amazon' books. Some of the featured books are: The Laws of Human Nature; The Art ofNoticing; Mastery; Stillness is the Key (3 copies) - all popular on Amazon. There is a'Marked Down' section (some of these books are popular on Amazon). Due to a recentlarge donation, there are now 1 and 1/4 shelves of books on Addiction with multiple copiesof some of the commonly used AA books - great if you lead a group or want to share withyour friends. Most books are $2-3 dollars each so you can load up with as many as 'tickleyour fancy'. Enjoy Browsing, -Marnie Fantasy & Science Fiction In Fantasy and Science Fiction, notable are handsome slip-cased sets of Amish's Shiva Trilogy and The Maps of Tolkien's Middle-Earth by Sibley and Howe, small-press first editions of books by Robert McCammon and Dean Koontz, several Warhammer 40,000 books on the Game Worlds shelf, several "Best of the Year" anthologies, and a batch of "Best of" single-author collections. -Rich McAllister Graphic Novels and Comics In Graphic Novels and Comics, manga are back! Mostly English-language, with some Japanese. -Rich McAllister History After a slow start, History donations started rolling in this month and we have a large selection of new volumes! This month we're featuring Theodore Roosevelt, including a biography by his colleagueJacob Riis, and a biography of his youngest son, Quentin, by Kermit Roosevelt. Afro-American history has a large selection of new arrivals, including a book analyzing MartinLuther King's "I have a dream" speech. If you're interested in British royal gossip, we have the first volume of Henry Channon's memoirs about his time with the British royal family. We also have several biographies of Che Guevara, along with then-contemporary books on conflict in Nicaragua. If ancient European history is more to your liking, we have a nice set of the Heritage edition of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. We also have a collection of older books on Indonesian history. On the Exploration shelf, in addition to a facsimile copy of Lewis and Clark's journal, there is a nice reprint paperback of George R. Stewart's Names on the Land And if you think that books do furnish a room, we have several older books (1920 or older) in the section, including an omnibus of South African history - from a British perspective. -Lin McAllister Donations We have made it past Drop-off Donations 3.0 and have returned to accepting donations without the need to make an appointment. HOWEVER.... We are closed for donations from Sunday July 2 through Sunday July 9 to prepare the Main Room for this weekend's sale. Please hold your donations until Monday July 10. Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us. All that said, our normal hours for drop-off donations are Monday through Saturday, 3pm- 5pm. (But not the week before the sale.) Suggestions? We're always eager to hear your suggestions for ways to improve our book sale. Please email us at suggestions@friendspaloaltolib.org. This notice comes to you from the non-profit organization Friends of the Palo Alto Library. No trees were felled in the making of this e-mail. Visit our web site. Become a member by joining online. Be sure to receive your own free copy of this e-mail notice so that you'll know about all special upcomingbooks sales. To sign up, just e-mail us. We carefully protect the privacy of your e-mail address. We will not share your e-mail address with any other organization and we will not use it for any purpose other than tosend you these notices. If you do not wish to receive these e-mail notices in the future, please reply withthe words "Remove Me" in the first line of the text. From:Aram James To:Javier Ortega; Robert. Jonsen; Binder, Andrew; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Reifschneider, James; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Greg Tanaka; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Sheriff Transparency; Wagner, April; Human RelationsCommission; Jeff Rosen; Josh Becker; Shana Segal; ladoris cordell; Michael Gennaco; Rebecca Eisenberg; chuckjagoda; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Angie Evans; Jay Boyarsky; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; KevinJensen; Vara Ramakrishnan; Rob Baker; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg Subject:Cops Tase Unarmed Black Man To Death After Mistaking Him For Burglar Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 6:02:52 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://youtu.be/-1lz0SF7KkE Sent from my iPhone From:NTB To:Council, City Cc:ParkRec Commission; daustin@pausd.org Subject:Findings in PA Weekly"s Terman Park article Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 3:12:53 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Councilmembers, Reporter Gennady Sheyner's article on Terman Park in the July 5th edition of the Palo AltoWeekly revealed a lot. He shared School Superintendent, Don Austin's comment that the swap of Terman Park "would have several hurdles on the city side since it is currently a dedicatedopen space" to which Councilman Pat Burt commented that "those hurdles need not, however, be insurmountable". And what exactly does he mean by that? Councilman Burt explained. He proposes that undedicating Terman Park could be "part of abroader ballot initiative that includes other local sites." The article then describes how making changes at those "other local sites" are viewed as a popular move by many in the community. So, in other words, by linking Terman Park's undedication to proposals that ARE popular,Councilman Burt hopes to get Terman Park undedicated, a proposal that is NOT POPULAR. How could he possibly think such an obvious, underhanded maneuver could go unnoticed? Nina BellGreenAcres 1 https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2023/07/05/as-city-ponders-trading-terman-park- neighborhood-residents-fight-to-keep-access From:Aram James To:Council, City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Sheriff Transparency; Josh Becker; JeffRosen; Human Relations Commission; Kaloma Smith; peaceandjusticecenter@gmail.com; ladoris cordell; Lewis.james; Salem Ajluni; Jack Ajluni; Shikada, Ed; Binder, Andrew; Robert. Jonsen; Shana Segal; Joe Simitian; AngieEvans; Vara Ramakrishnan; alisa mallari tu; Rob Baker; Reifschneider, James; Roberta Ahlquist;wilpf.peninsula.paloalto@gmail.com Subject:- Palestinian residents emerge to scenes of vast destruction Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 2:09:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ War crimes by the terrorist state of Israel against the Palestinian people with the financial support of the U.S. Palestinian residents emerge to scenes of vast destruction https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=f486581b-fdfa-4414-bd29- 7a6eb2f5a362&appcode=SAN252&eguid=170eafa7-c93f-4e1d-bff2-8e6c9b27d4b0&pnum=14# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Bowman Advancement To:Council, City Subject:Keep Terman Park a City Park! Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 11:43:27 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from office@bowmanschool.org. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Councilmembers, Please don't swap Terman Park for acreage at Cubberley Community Center! We all love the park and our community uses and takes care of the park pretty well! We love to be able tocontinue having access to Terman Park! Sincerely, Jasmine Zhang From:Naveen Neelakantam To:Council, City Subject:Keep Terman a City Park! Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 11:37:42 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from neelakan@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, We just learned that there are discussions occurring that would result in Terman Park beinglost as a city park. I am a parent of a student who attends Bowman School and wanted to voice my opposition to this plan. City parks are a crucial part of our communities and in an era of ever increasingurban development, we should be retaining our parks at a minimum (and ideally finding ways to add city parks). As a city park, Terman Park is available for use by everyone in the community. If it wereconverted to school district land, for example, access would be restricted during school hours and an otherwise shared resource would be lost to the community. Our school would be unableto share use of the park, and similarly residents of the neighborhood would be unable to use the park for play and exercise. Terman Park is a city resource and should be available toeveryone! Thank you for your consideration, Naveen From:Niaz Ahmed To:Council, City Subject:Keep Terman a City Park! Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 9:19:09 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from niazuddin.ahmed@gmail.com. Learn why thisis important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Councilmembers, I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Terman Park swap. This swap would have a devastating impact on our community, for the following reasons: The path through Terman Park is a vital safe bike route for children and adults traveling to school or into Los Altos, not just from our neighborhood but also from other south-side neighborhoods. Terman Park is the only parkland on our side of Arastradero. It is a vital open space for residents of all ages, especially seniors, who use it for daily exercise. The field at Terman Park is a popular gathering place for neighborhood children. In an emergency, schoolchildren need to be able to exit into our neighborhood. I urge you to reconsider this proposal. The Terman Park swap would be a major loss for our community. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Niaz From:Sheriff Transparency To:Aram James Cc:Robert. Jonsen; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Reifschneider, James; Council, City; Human Relations Commission; Shikada, Ed; Wagner, April; Figueroa, Eric; Foley, Michael; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Shana Segal; Joe Simitian; ladoris cordell; Rebecca Eisenberg; chuck jagoda; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Lee, Craig; Afanasiev, Alex; Enberg, Nicholas; Javier Ortega; Mila Zelkha; Angie Evans; DuJuan Green; Vara Ramakrishnan; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; Rob Baker; Greg Tanaka; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Cecilia Taylor; Cindy Chavez Subject:Re: Black LAPD officer was making film while off duty. Then, he says, he was racially profiled his owndepartment - Los Angeles Times Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 2:40:38 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Again, no surprises here. Happens all the time with black officers in every law enforcementagency across the USA. Number of black officers are sadly dwindling. The outreach and recruitment by Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police have literally disappeared because of their 'fear' of the changes withaffirmative action and now worse with the recent Supreme Court ruling which they will use as an excuse when hiring and cover up their real biases. Blame the Department’s Command, but also blame the community and the likes of folks onthis email who do nothing but complain or worse do nothing and watch. Actions speak louder than words. You are all aware of that. A diverse department is still much better than a homogenous one. Yet those will continue to relish in their complicit behavior, either complaining that does not help with affecting changeor sitting back and doing nothing. No assistance with recruitment, no assistance with extending the reach of local agencies into their own communities with encouragement and assistance to potential applicants, eventhrough the tough and tenuous issues. We have many in our group who are not in LE, who volunteered for police interview panels, who recommended and followed those through the hiring process to ensure they were treatedfairly and appropriately, etc, etc. It is clear to us that the egregious behavior to other LE Officers different from "you" is deserved because they chose to wear the same uniform. They have/had clear intentions toactually effect positive change in a manner that puts them front and center. That's what communities thrive on. What about you? We appreciate and respect changemakers. They, whether civilian or LE, will be the REALdifference in our future with LE not those who complain or sit back and collect a big paycheck. Maybe dig deep down to earn it and a make a difference. Support your local black LE Officers and potential applicants! SCCSTG On Wed, Jul 5, 2023, 4:51 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-05/black-lapd-officer-was-making-film-while-off-duty-then-he-says-he-was-racially-profiled-his-own-department Sent from my iPhone From:Sheriff Transparency To:Aram James Cc:Robert. Jonsen; Sean Allen; Council, City; Veenker, Vicki; Angie Evans; Shana Segal; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Greg Tanaka; DuJuan Green; Kevin Jensen; Molly; Mila Zelkha; Josh Becker; Binder, Andrew; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Javier Ortega; Jeff Rosen; Rob Baker; David Angel; Raj; Cindy Chavez; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; chuck jagoda; Damon Silver; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Diana Diamond Subject:Re: Santa Clara County probe sustains discrimination allegations against DA chief investigator Date:Thursday, July 6, 2023 1:45:27 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Doesn't surprise us in the least. He was not neutral to our complaint about a County public official and suspected he was aproblem and had issues. We stand correct and had no idea about this investigation. Our contact was negative with him. Our opinion of him is that he was unable to remain neutral and his biases would get in the way of a fair investigation. We sought relief at the State levelbecause of his behavior towards our complaint and DA Rosen ignoring our request for assistance. We hope the DA removes him from his job. More folks need to be aware, as this kind ofbehavior is what poisons the DAs office (and other agencies). Wake up people! He should have retired years ago. Just like others we are aware of. Powertrips end up being the sole reason at the top for folks like this. The systemic problems are kept alive and well by folks like this. When are people, especiallythose on this thread going to learn that those at the top are a serious threat. And, make no mistake, he is not the only one in Santa Clara County we have all eyes on. SCCSTG On Wed, Jul 5, 2023, 9:44 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 million people Open APP Santa Clara County probe sustains discrimination allegations against DA chief investigator NBC Bay Area I found this on NewsBreak: Santa Clara County probe sustains discrimination allegations against DA chief investigator Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram JamesTo:Council, City; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Kaloma Smith; Human Relations Commission; Josh Becker; Jeff Rosen; Reifschneider, James; Human Relations Commission; Jay Boyarsky; Shikada, Ed; Shana Segal; Joe Simitian; Cindy Chavez; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Cecilia Taylor; Robert. JonsenSubject:Blood in your eyeDate:Thursday, July 6, 2023 12:10:05 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.________________________________ Sent from my iPhone From:Charlie Weidanz To:Council, City Subject:Chamber Mixer & Networking Event - Update on Uplift Local Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 11:55:57 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Tuesday, July 18, 20235:30 pm - 7:30 pm Mike's Diner Bar 2680 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 The City of Palo Alto will present an update on UpLift Local. Connect with fellow professionals and business owners. Enjoy light refreshments and drinks. >RSVP Online This email was sent on behalf of Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce 355 Alma St Palo Alto, CA 94301.To unsubscribe clickhere. If you have questions or comments concerning this email or services in general, please contact us by email atinfo@paloaltochamber.com. From:Aram James To:Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Jeff Rosen Cc:Javier Ortega; Jay Boyarsky; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Burt, Patrick; Planning Commission; ParkRec Commission; EPA Today; Bains, Paul; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; Sheriff Transparency; Shana Segal; Vara Ramakrishnan; Rebecca Eisenberg; Angie Evans; David Angel; DuJuan Green; Emily Mibach; Gary Goodman; Molly; Council, City Subject:“Reparation Is Due”: California Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations in Final Report Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 10:59:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. NewsBreak Used by over 45 million people Open APP “Reparation Is Due”: California Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations in Final Report sdvoice.info I found this on NewsBreak: “Reparation Is Due”: California Task Force Delivers 115 Recommendations in Final Report Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Sheriff Transparency; Robert. Jonsen; Sean Allen; Council, City; Veenker, Vicki; Angie Evans; Shana Segal; JulieLythcott-Haims; Greg Tanaka; DuJuan Green; Kevin Jensen; Molly; Mila Zelkha; Josh Becker; Binder, Andrew;Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Javier Ortega; Jeff Rosen; Rob Baker; David Angel; Raj; CindyChavez; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; chuck jagoda; Damon Silver Cc:Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Diana Diamond Subject:Santa Clara County probe sustains discrimination allegations against DA chief investigator Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 9:44:30 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.NewsBreakUsed by over 45 million people Open APP Santa Clara County probe sustains discrimination allegations against DA chief investigator NBC Bay Area I found this on NewsBreak: Santa Clara County probe sustains discrimination allegations against DA chief investigator Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:YIMBY ActionTo:Council, CitySubject:Join Us: Funding National Affordable Housing with Diane YentelDate:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 9:31:58 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Image Millions of Americans struggle to keep a steady roof over their heads because of the housing shortage and affordability crisis. To truly solve these issues and achieve housing affordability and stability for all, we need to take bold steps at every level of government. At the federal level, there are lots of ways we can get involved. From the federal budget, to federal legislation focused on housing stability, Diane Yentel from the National Low Income Housing Coalition will share what we can do to advocate for housing right now across the country. Sign up to hear more about federal affordable housing investments, as well as two key bills that could significantly increase housing stability: The Family Stability & Opportunity Vouchers Act and the Eviction Crisis Act. Sign up and join us on Thursday, July 27th, at 1pm PT | 4pm ET | 10am HT RSVP NOW YOUR YIMBY ACTION MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP STATUS None DONOR LEVEL None VOLUNTEER LEVEL None Join or Renew LOCATION Unknown, Unknown Unknown Add/update location MOBILE ALERTS None Add/update mobile Keeping this information up to date powers our activism! Need help with your membership? Email hello@yimbyaction.org. Image YIMBY Action is a network of pro-housing activists fighting for more inclusive housing policies and a future of abundant housing. Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from YIMBY Action, please click here. From:Darcy Koch To:Council, City Subject:Terman Park should stay as a public park Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 7:43:45 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from darcy.koch@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Please keep this wonderful park as a park for the public! It is so peaceful and there is nothingquite like it. This area has extremely few public green spaces; Palo Alto is required to provide open space as part of the Quimby Act. Thank you for considering! Darcy Koch From:L Weingram To:Council, City Subject:Save Terman Park Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 6:25:35 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from lweingram@gmail.com. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Dear Mayor Kuo and Councilmembers, Terman Park and the bike path are essential biking/walking commute routes as well essential for the mental health of Terman students and children, adults and pets in general. Palo Alto aims to be a cycling route leader. Consider what your change of land use will do to bicycle routes. I know because I have tried cycling around late at night due to fear of cycling through the dark park. I live by the Sweet Shop. I was in so much more danger in traffic cycling down Arastradero, up El Camino and right on Los Altos. It took 4 times as long to cycle around vs using the bike path. Seriously. You try the two options on a bike, by yourself, day AND night with a dim light or no light. (Many students forget to consider earlier darkness in the fall and must cycle in the dark after sports practice). My sons felt oppressed at Santa Rita school in Los Altos so I did an inter district transfer and my sons did well at Gardner Bullis (25890 Fremont Road, Los Altis Hills) partly due to open fields and open space behind Gardner Bullis. Please go visit Gardner Bullis after hours or this Saturday or Sunday. Walk on the path behind the school from the lower field to the upper field and on to the dirt and horse trails behind Gardner Bullis school. Inhale. How do you feel? Now consider what you are thinking of doing with Terman’s much smaller parcel. Ask yourself, would it really be ethical to sell or restrict use of Terman’s field and the bike path? Terman’s field is already smaller than Gardner Bullis’. It is needed by all students and the public. I beg of you. Please go up to Gardner Bullis. Experience Gardner Bullis and consider how your choice at Terman will permanently impact countless children and the public at large. Please reduce the high rate of teen suicide in Palo Alto by keeping Terman’s fields available to students during the day and the public in the evening. In fact, developing that parcel will further stress wildlife. My property backs up to Alta Mesa cemetery across from Gunn high. The wildlife needs this corridor to stay open. I hear vixens in the spring and coyotes singing as a group at night. Many other forms of wildlife thrive there as well. Terman park is part of wildlife territory, especially at night. In addition, Bowman school needs the fields and the bike path for student use. Bowman serves many students who are unable to thrive in public school settings due to learning differences or emotional issues. These children especially need access to or bike path use of the Terman field open space and pathways. Special kids lives matter. Please keep Terman fields open as fields. Selling/reassigning would be incredibly short sighted. I attended Hoover school when it was in Midtown on Middlefield Road. Palo Alto’s sale of that original Hoover School parcel was incredibly short sighted. Students learn better in classrooms than portables. I know. I have experienced both as a student at Hoover School on Middlefield Road as a child. Now portables are increasingly a problem and only way to squeeze more kids into less space. I have been dismayed as I cycled through Paly to an adult school class after hours. The portables at Paly have even taken over the blacktop! Portables run almost up against “the wall” on top of where students hung out during the 1980’s! Palo Alto schools will likely need Terman’s field to expand into as our beloved Palo Alto grows. I am a teacher. I observe student mental health daily. I am amazed by how much a visit to the garden or a field positively impacts a child’s mental health. Please save Terman Park. Lauren Weingram From:Nicole Jarvis Babaoglu To:Council, City Subject:Park Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 6:11:06 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from nicoley4@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Good Evening, I used to work at Bowman and now send my children there. Although my children at atBowman West right now I can’t imagine them going to Bowman East and not being able to have that park. I have many fond memories of smiling children using that park to run around,taking a “hike” on the trail, sitting in the grass, doing field day like activities. It would mean a lot to my family and our communities if you would consider keeping Terman Park. All my best,Nicole Babaoglu From:Mingqiang Zhang To:Council, City Subject:Urgent: Preserve Terman Park - Our Community"s Lifeline Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 5:21:13 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from mqzhangtian@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Members of the Palo Alto City Council, I hope this email finds you well. I write to you today on behalf of a deeply concernedcommunity regarding the proposed land swap between Terman Park and the acreage at Cubberley Community Center. As you may already be aware, this proposition, if passed,would significantly impact our community, compromising the safety, accessibility, and quality of life of our residents. Terman Park is not just a park; it is the heart of our community, a common ground that bringspeople together and a vital asset that contributes to our wellbeing. Here are some reasons why we passionately believe this proposed swap should be reconsidered: 1. Safe Commuting Route: The path through Terman Park provides a safe bike route for kidsand adults traveling to school or into Los Altos. This is not only beneficial for our immediate neighborhood but also for other south-side communities.2. Only Accessible Parkland: Terman Park is the only accessible green space on our side of Arastradero, offering a safe and pleasant area for residents of all ages to exercise, play, andconnect with nature. 3. Vital Emergency Exit: Living in a landlocked neighborhood with only one exit point (viaArastradero), the Glenbrook Gate in Terman Park provides a crucial alternate point of egress in an emergency. Its importance cannot be overstated, as it ensures the safety of our residents.4. Community Engagement: The park serves as an important social hub where neighborhood children play, fostering a sense of community among residents.5. Emergency Plan for Schoolchildren: In times of crisis, schoolchildren need to have an accessible exit into our neighborhood. Terman Park provides this essential safety outlet. The proposed land swap puts all these benefits at risk. Terman Park is dedicated parkland, andto lose it would be to lose a piece of our community's identity and, more importantly, its safety. We understand that the proposal will require a city-wide vote, but we implore you toconsider the profound impact this decision will have on our community. Please reconsider this swap and explore alternatives that do not involve sacrificing such an important community asset. The collective voice of our community is clear: we want topreserve Terman Park. We believe that our local government, in its mission to serve its constituents, will value and act upon our concerns. We look forward to engaging in more discussions about this matter. Thank you for your timeand attention. Sincerely, Mingqiang Zhang From:Yize Li To:Council, City Subject:Please save Terman park Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 5:18:33 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from liyize@gmail.com. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Members of the City Council, I hope this email finds you well. I am writing as a concerned member of the Palo Alto community to express my deep distress regarding the proposed swap of Terman Park for land at Cubberley Community Center. As a resident and a proud member of the Bowman community, I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and preserve the invaluable resource that Terman Park represents for our neighborhood. Terman Park holds a special place in our hearts, serving as a vital space that enhances our quality of life and supports the educational and recreational needs of our community. Losing this park would have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only our children but also residents of all ages who rely on it for various activities and experiences. One of the primary concerns we have is the potential loss of access to the paved path through Terman Park. This path serves as a safe and essential bike route for students and adults traveling to school or into neighboring areas like Los Altos. It not only promotes physical activity and healthy commuting habits but also fosters a sense of community and connection among our residents. The loss of Terman Park would also disrupt our school's operations and educational programs. Our students heavily rely on the park's fields for free play and athletics, which play a crucial role in their physical development, teamwork skills, and overall well-being. Furthermore, the park's creek serves as a valuable resource for STEM education, allowing our students to engage in hands-on learning and exploration. I urge you to listen to the voices of our community members who value Terman Park and recognize its importance. I kindly request that you take into account the numerous reasons provided by concerned residents, alumni, parents, and children who have articulated the significance of preserving this park. Let us work together to protect our shared heritage and safeguard the well-being of our community for generations to come. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and I sincerely hope you will carefully consider our plea. The preservation of Terman Park is essential not only for the residents of Palo Alto but for the collective spirit and vitality of our community. Thanks, Yize From:Charlie Weidanz To:Council, City Subject:Chamber Mixer & Networking Event - Update on Uplift Local Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 4:55:09 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Tuesday, July 18, 20235:30 pm - 7:30 pm Mike's Diner Bar 2680 Middlefield Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94306 The City of Palo Alto will present an update on UpLift Local. Connect with fellow professionals and business owners. Enjoy light refreshments and drinks. >RSVP Online This email was sent on behalf of Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce 355 Alma St Palo Alto, CA 94301.To unsubscribe clickhere. If you have questions or comments concerning this email or services in general, please contact us by email atinfo@paloaltochamber.com. From:Aram James To:Robert. Jonsen; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Reifschneider, James;Council, City; Human Relations Commission; Shikada, Ed; Wagner, April; Figueroa, Eric; Foley, Michael; JulieLythcott-Haims; Shana Segal; Joe Simitian; ladoris cordell; Rebecca Eisenberg; chuck jagoda; Jay Boyarsky; JeffRosen; Lee, Craig; Afanasiev, Alex; Enberg, Nicholas; Javier Ortega; Tina Boales; Mila Zelkha; Angie Evans;DuJuan Green; Vara Ramakrishnan; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; Rob Baker; Greg Tanaka; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Cecilia Taylor; Cindy Chavez Subject:Black LAPD officer was making film while off duty. Then, he says, he was racially profiled his own department - Los Angeles Times Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 4:51:32 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-05/black-lapd-officer-was-making-film-while-off-duty-then-he- says-he-was-racially-profiled-his-own-department Sent from my iPhone From:matt@evolutionaryteams.com To:Matt Schlegel Subject:FFF - June 30 - Fridays for Future Follow up (Week #77)Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 4:22:16 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links. We enjoyed making more music on Friday. Casey created Let Her Be (sung to Let It Be): When we find our Earth in times of trouble Mother Earth she says to me Speaking words of wisdom Let me be! And when the broken-hearted people Living in the world agree There must be an answer Let her be! Rick, Ian, Carol and I all joined in singing this and Give Earth a Chance. Ian is inspired to bring his guitar for musical accompaniment. We celebrated the Daily Post’s headline on June 29: That’s 13 down, 987 to go Staff writer Braden Cartwright covers the status of Palo Alto’s heat pump water heater program in which he quotes Jonathan Abendscheinon the intention to increase the installation rate to 20 electric water heaters per week – that sounds like a great target! Meanwhile, here’s the latest HPWH status report from Palo Alto’s Sustainability Programs Administrator Scott Mellberg: As of:6/29 6/1 4/27 4/5 HPWH full-service interest list signups 511 488 466 432 Site assessment agreements (SAA) sent 437 399 345 125 Signed SAAs 306 280 156 70 Completed site assessments 147 111 58 22 New HPWH rebate applicants 4 Rebates paid this month 5 Installations Full Service HPWHs installed 16 12 8 1 DYI HPWH installed TBD Total HPWHs installed TBD Target Installations 1000 1000 Monthly Installation Rate (as of 6/29 including DIY installations) Monthly Installation Rate 9 4 7 n/a Target Monthly Installation Rate 20 20 Have you had climate conversations with friends and family over the long July 4th weekend? I have and am fascinated as people repeatedlyasserting that they can’t do anything about the climate crisis. Why do people feel helpless? Is it because they really don’t want to change? After all, as long as we want to feed our addiction to burning fossil fuels, there will be a pusher that sells them to us. Or, perhaps we have beentaught to feel helpless, in which case we need to UNLEARN LEARNED HELPLESSNESS! Keep Up the Fight and See You Friday! Declare Your Independence from Fossil Fuels! Upcoming Events Friday, July 7, Noon: Fridays for Future Palo Alto – King Plaza in front of Palo Alto City Hall Saturday July 8 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM – Engage On’s Imagine Future Art Show -- Palo Alto Art Center community hall gallery at 1313 Newell Rd., Palo Alto. Friday, July 14, Noon: Fridays for Future Climate Strike! and march to Avenidas – meet at King Plaza in front of Palo Alto City Hall Sunday, July 23 at 1:30 pm: Climate Friends Book Club – we will discuss All We Can Save chapters 5 & 6. Details at: https://www.engageon.org/events Friday, Sept 15 – GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE! – Time and Place: TBD EngageOn calendar: https://www.engageon.org/events Peninsula Peace and Justice calendar: https://peaceandjustice.org/events-calendar/ More Climate Action Join Rick and Casey and encourage AARP to promote climate action. Sign the petition: https://supportaarpclimateaction.org/ Here is the slide deck from the S/CAP program presented to Palo City Council on 6/5: https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/viewer?id=1869&type=2. David Ligouy is in Tijuana fulfilling his mission of creating worker co-ops in every state in Mexico to build electric bike kits. He seeks: 1) a technicalpartner to help produce the motor; 2) help to organize the management structure of the worker co-op; and 3) cash to “prime the pump” for the first 3 monthsof operations. Reach out to David or me if you know anyone who can help. Palo Alto’s Heat Pump Water Heater Program Status Here’s your monthly update on the Heat Pump Water Heater Program: See above Weekly Photos FFF June 30: https://photos.app.goo.gl/7C7BoCv8AGXYgw4V9 What We Are Watching/Listening to: Climate One podcast: https://www.climateone.org/listen-watch/podcasts (By the way, I interviewed co-host Greg Dalton here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epzK2e161JA ) The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens (podcast): https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/ Extrapolations (TV series): https://www.apple.com/tv-pr/originals/extrapolations/ Follow Fridays For Future Palo Alto: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fridaysforfuture_paloalto/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fri4Future_PA Email notifications of FFF Palo Alto events: https://mailchi.mp/c8c130127345/join-fridays-for-future-palo-alto You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in supporting climate action in Palo Alto. If you no longer wish to receive these emails,please let me know. Matt Schlegel Organizer Fridays For Future Palo Alto Cell: 650-924-8923 Email: Palo-Alto@FridaysForFutureUSA.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fridaysforfuture_paloalto/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fri4Future_PA Web: https://fridaysforfutureusa.org/local-groups/palo-alto/ From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Gardener, Liz; Linda Jolley; Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Veenker, Vicki; Shana Segal; AngieEvans; Vara Ramakrishnan; Shikada, Ed; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; BradenCartwright; Lydia Kou; Greg Tanaka; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Human Relations Commission; JoshBecker; Mila Zelkha; Joe Simitian; Binder, Andrew; Roberta Ahlquist Subject:San Jose official"s stay in homeless shelter exposes reality - San José Spotlight Date:Wednesday, July 5, 2023 10:37:44 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-officials-stay-in-homeless-shelter-exposes-reality/ Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Gardener, Liz; chuck jagoda; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider,James; Wagner, April; Shikada, Ed; Robert. Jonsen; Sheriff Transparency; Shana Segal; Angie Evans; Jeff Rosen;Veenker, Vicki; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; Josh Becker; ladoris cordell; Rebecca Eisenberg; Human RelationsCommission; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Javier Ortega; Mila Zelkha; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; KevinJensen; Vara Ramakrishnan; Rob Baker; Greg Tanaka; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Council, City; Cecilia Taylor;Cindy Chavez; Jay Boyarsky; EPA Today Subject:BBQ Becky’ notoriety continues to resonate Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 9:47:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ fYI: ‘BBQ Becky’ notoriety continues to resonate https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=939d841c-5cd1-4fbf-be4a- 694af9313659&appcode=SAN252&eguid=d739238b-dd58-4dde-bdae-d2c48f99a0f6&pnum=1# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Sheriff Transparency To:Aram James Cc:RANDALL HIGGINS; Cecilia Taylor; Lee, Craig; Afanasiev, Alex; Reifschneider, James; Barberini, Christopher; Jose Valle——-debug; Jethroe Moore; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; peaceandjusticecenter@gmail.com; Salem Ajluni; Gennady Sheyner; Sue Dremann; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Brad Imamura; Josh Becker; Robert. Jonsen; Sean Allen; Binder, Andrew; Wagner, April; Shana Segal; ladoris cordell; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; Shikada, Ed; chuck jagoda; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; Angie Evans; Mila Zelkha; Javier Ortega; Rob Baker; Vara Ramakrishnan; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; DuJuan Green; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Cindy Chavez Subject:Re: Los Angeles County deputy throws woman to ground outside WinCo grocery store in Lancaster - ABC7 LosAngeles Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 5:02:10 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Thank you Aram. Here is another link from body worn camera... https://www.foxla.com/news/la-county-cop-slams-woman-lancaster News outlets fueling the divide with one stating the call was for robbery while another stated itwas shoplifting doesn't help with the situation. Its called fact finding and putting out the correct information. That (robbery or other felonious crime posing a community threat) could change the dynamicsof the approach, old or young, sick or healthy...of the Deputies response and any resistance met upon arrival. Because age and physical condition no longer becomes a factor to handle asituation that could potentially become dangerous or deadly, armed or not. Furthermore, if loss prevention agents from Winco peacefully escorted the couple out, how did this escalate so quickly? Many in our group are active and retired LE and in their initial analysis, average communitymembers are not trained to de-esculate or mediate with LE. The man with the woman can be heard saying "just cooperate" to the lady. Easier said than done in the heat of the moment and especially if someone is suffering fromillness, confusion, impairment or disorder. LE are the ones who need to de-esculate not the person involved. In watching the body worn camera we can clearly see where this situation was not handled appropriately based on ourgroup's collective training and experience of over 200yrs. So, if Deputies kept a hands off approach for potentially a citable misdemeanor offense of allegedly shoplifting a cake, (and not Robbery and no further details).. what would be the harm in asking the woman to step away from the patrol car, produce ID, and tell her side of what happened inside the store with loss prevention agents? Last time wechecked, many patrol officers work an 8, 10, 12hr shift. What's the hurry here? She is maintaining she or the man didn't do anything wrong. That's someone you are going to have to engage in a discussion before you think they are going to agree with hands on. Our group has been met with same statements and were able to de-esculate and mediate andfinish their job of writing a citation or taking someone safely into custody in a majority of low level situations without the need to rush a situation and/or resort to use of force. So, now our question is what was the background of the people detained (warrants, multipleoffenses, felonies, etc) and the goals of the Deputies at the moment where they had to escalate the situation? The reason why we are heavily discussing this is because Lancaster and the Antelope Valleyhad been under investigation before and had been found to repeatedly commit civil rights violations. They have history. The LASD had 10yrs to make the required changes. That's long enough to see a pattern ofchanges take place for effective law enforcement and way better than it was before. We see Mr. Bob Jonsen is in this email thread. Perhaps he can elaborate from his own experience since he came from the Antelope Valley where Lancaster is located. Wishfulthinking as we are sure he will not comment. Again, our goal here is to focus on Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police whose backgrounds are part of the systemic problems for their agencies. We need to have stronger consequences for theCommanders of LE agencies to avoid future problems. Those in LE all know too well...' Not IF something will happen, but WHEN'. And WHEN would be the time when you KNOW howto do your job. Firing the Deputy in the case will do very little to address the problem at the top. Remember, just because there may be less egregious circumstances in Santa Clara County, we are currently experiencing a paradigm, generational shift in LE and young impressionablerecruits are molded by the rank/file, and influenced in many ways by the Commander at the top. Find us anyone in LE who has spent a significant amount of time in LE rank/file who willagree. OR, look no further than the LASD and its cast of bad actors (active, retired and elsewhere in the top seat throughout the USA). SCCSTG On Tue, Jul 4, 2023, 4:14 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Sheriff Transparency, Another excellent memo. I look forward to reading the two reports you refer to in your letter( DOJ & LA County Attorney) as soon as your time permits sending them out. Best regards, Aram James Sent from my iPhone On Jul 4, 2023, at 3:25 PM, Sheriff Transparency <sccsherifftransparencyinfo@gmail.com> wrote: Not surprising, given the location and agency. Apparently they didn't learn nothing since the DOJ Civil Rights report released in 2013 and the lawsuits and mandated changes that followed. Lancaster was the area that the current Santa Clara County Sheriff, Bob Jonsencame from and the Commander during the Civil Rights investigation in which he conveniently left in 2013 to become Chief in Menlo Park when the reportwas released. The investigation occurred during his command. If one carefully reads the report and the changes they were compelled to make from the follow up reportwith the LA County Attorney Office, it does not include throwing people on the ground under the circumstances such as this case as we see it. We have reached out to our LE sources on this and waiting until moreinformation is gathered on why this woman ended up on the ground. But on the face of it, if there were no weapons or armed suspects involved or any potential for a serious assault on LE or others at the scene, or seriousinterference with LE, what was the purpose to toss an older lady with cancer on the ground in this manner? IF: 1) The lady was physically interferring with the actual arrest of her husband 2) Was an immediate threat to LE on scene 3) Was carrying an object or weapon that can produce bodily injury or worse 4) Threat to the public Did we forget one? Then until this is confirmed, we will stand behind what we saw until the factsare in. If any of the above, or actions we mentioned, then no further comment from us on this situation. But for now engaging in dialogue and discussion needs to happen before wedemand harsh action if no other circumstances justify the actions seen. To us, this appears to be another example of what the previous commanders did not resolve with training or not hiring bad people. They set the precedent and left to spread their toxicity elsewhere. We haveproof of that. Trust us, this is not the only situation that has happened in the past 10yrs in the Antelope Valley to question the training and tactics of LE. Our recommended resolve is to be rid of these systemic disasters who callthemselves leaders. There are plenty of reasons to do so. Just ask us. For City and County Officials afraid of lawsuits, your biggest fear is from innocent people being thrashed by rogue cops who do not know how tohandle their calls. You should have no fear of the leadership you hire or were voted in, to fire or recall them for the many reasons that would justify it. It is our goal to see to it that these Commanders, especially in Santa ClaraCounty, are held accountable no matter WHEN they did any egregious acts or failure to take action or resolve problems anytime in their career. They are thereasons for systemic problems that lead to unfortunate incidents such as this. Since its a Holiday and we are not in the office, we will follow up to this email with attaching the DOJ Civil Rights report and the LA County attorney reporttomorrow. You all have a stake in reading up on this! It is mind boggling that those tasked with hiring Mr. Bob Jonsen for MPD and PAPD did not do their due diligence. If they had, we would not be 'stuck' with aSheriff who has personally, professionally and systemically been a problem with the last 3 agencies he has commanded as well as ALIGN himself withthose who has been formally accused or convicted of corruption including the previous Sheriff Laurie Smith. Feel free to forward! In fact, we encourage it so that you can engage in thenecessary discussions to be rid of LE problems. We appreciate changemakers and not those who stand or sit on the sidelines acting as if this does not involvethem. Complicity can be a debatable subject, but if you are a public official, not so much. SCCSTG On Tue, Jul 4, 2023, 2:17 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: https://abc7.com/lancaster-winco-grocery-store-deputies-caught-on-video/13459979/ Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Sheriff Transparency; RANDALL HIGGINS; Cecilia Taylor; Lee, Craig; Afanasiev, Alex; Reifschneider, James;Barberini, Christopher; Jose Valle——-debug; Jethroe Moore; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov;peaceandjusticecenter@gmail.com; Salem Ajluni; Gennady Sheyner; Sue Dremann; Dave Price; Emily Mibach;Braden Cartwright; Brad Imamura; Josh Becker Cc:Robert. Jonsen; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Josh Becker; Wagner, April; Shana Segal; ladoris cordell; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; Shikada, Ed; chuck jagoda; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; Angie Evans; Mila Zelkha; Javier Ortega; Rob Baker; Vara Ramakrishnan; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; DuJuan Green; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Cindy Chavez Subject:Re: Los Angeles County deputy throws woman to ground outside WinCo grocery store in Lancaster - ABC7 LosAngeles Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 4:15:05 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Sheriff Transparency, Another excellent memo. I look forward to reading the two reports you refer to in your letter (DOJ & LA County Attorney) as soon as your time permits sending them out. Best regards, Aram James Sent from my iPhone On Jul 4, 2023, at 3:25 PM, Sheriff Transparency <sccsherifftransparencyinfo@gmail.com> wrote:Not surprising, given the location and agency. Apparently they didn't learn nothing since the DOJ Civil Rights report released in 2013 and the lawsuits and mandated changes that followed. Lancaster was the area that the current Santa Clara County Sheriff, Bob Jonsencame from and the Commander during the Civil Rights investigation in which he conveniently left in 2013 to become Chief in Menlo Park when the report wasreleased. The investigation occurred during his command. If one carefully reads the report and the changes they were compelled to make from the follow up report with theLA County Attorney Office, it does not include throwing people on the ground under the circumstances such as this case as we see it. We have reached out to our LE sources on this and waiting until more informationis gathered on why this woman ended up on the ground. But on the face of it, if there were no weapons or armed suspects involved or any potential for a serious assault on LE or others at the scene, or serious interference with LE, what was the purpose to toss an older lady with cancer on the ground inthis manner? IF: 1) The lady was physically interferring with the actual arrest of her husband 2) Was an immediate threat to LE on scene 3) Was carrying an object or weapon that can produce bodily injury or worse 4) Threat to the public Did we forget one? Then until this is confirmed, we will stand behind what we saw until the facts are in. If any of the above, or actions we mentioned, then no further comment from uson this situation. But for now engaging in dialogue and discussion needs to happen before we demand harsh action if no other circumstances justify the actions seen. To us, this appears to be another example of what the previous commanders didnot resolve with training or not hiring bad people. They set the precedent and left to spread their toxicity elsewhere. We have proof of that. Trust us, this is not the only situation that has happened in the past 10yrsin the Antelope Valley to question the training and tactics of LE. Our recommended resolve is to be rid of these systemic disasters who call themselves leaders. There are plenty of reasons to do so. Just ask us. For City and County Officials afraid of lawsuits, your biggest fear isfrom innocent people being thrashed by rogue cops who do not know how to handle their calls. You should have no fear of the leadership you hire or werevoted in, to fire or recall them for the many reasons that would justify it. It is our goal to see to it that these Commanders, especially in Santa Clara County, are held accountable no matter WHEN they did any egregious acts or failure totake action or resolve problems anytime in their career. They are the reasons for systemic problems that lead to unfortunate incidents such as this. Since its a Holiday and we are not in the office, we will follow up to this emailwith attaching the DOJ Civil Rights report and the LA County attorney report tomorrow. You all have a stake in reading up on this! It is mind boggling that those tasked with hiring Mr. Bob Jonsen for MPD andPAPD did not do their due diligence. If they had, we would not be 'stuck' with a Sheriff who has personally, professionally and systemically been a problem withthe last 3 agencies he has commanded as well as ALIGN himself with those who has been formally accused or convicted of corruption including the previousSheriff Laurie Smith. Feel free to forward! In fact, we encourage it so that you can engage in the necessary discussions to be rid of LE problems. We appreciate changemakers andnot those who stand or sit on the sidelines acting as if this does not involve them. Complicity can be a debatable subject, but if you are a public official, not so much. SCCSTG On Tue, Jul 4, 2023, 2:17 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: https://abc7.com/lancaster-winco-grocery-store-deputies-caught-on-video/13459979/ Sent from my iPhone From:Sheriff Transparency To:Aram James Cc:Robert. Jonsen; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Josh Becker; Wagner, April; Shana Segal; ladoris cordell; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; Shikada, Ed; chuck jagoda; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; Angie Evans; Mila Zelkha; Javier Ortega; Rob Baker; Vara Ramakrishnan; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; DuJuan Green; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Cindy Chavez Subject:Re: Los Angeles County deputy throws woman to ground outside WinCo grocery store in Lancaster - ABC7 LosAngeles Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 3:25:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Not surprising, given the location and agency. Apparently they didn't learn nothing since the DOJ Civil Rights report released in 2013 andthe lawsuits and mandated changes that followed. Lancaster was the area that the current Santa Clara County Sheriff, Bob Jonsen came from and the Commander during the Civil Rights investigation in which he conveniently left in 2013 tobecome Chief in Menlo Park when the report was released. The investigation occurred during his command. If one carefully reads the report and the changes they were compelled to make from the follow up report with the LA County AttorneyOffice, it does not include throwing people on the ground under the circumstances such as this case as we see it. We have reached out to our LE sources on this and waiting until more information is gatheredon why this woman ended up on the ground. But on the face of it, if there were no weapons or armed suspects involved or any potential for a serious assault on LE or others at the scene, or serious interference with LE, what was thepurpose to toss an older lady with cancer on the ground in this manner? IF: 1) The lady was physically interferring with the actual arrest of her husband 2) Was an immediate threat to LE on scene 3) Was carrying an object or weapon that can produce bodily injury or worse 4) Threat to the public Did we forget one? Then until this is confirmed, we will stand behind what we saw until the facts are in. If any of the above, or actions we mentioned, then no further comment from us on this situation. But for now engaging in dialogue and discussion needs to happen before we demand harshaction if no other circumstances justify the actions seen. To us, this appears to be another example of what the previous commanders did not resolvewith training or not hiring bad people. They set the precedent and left to spread their toxicity elsewhere. We have proof of that. Trust us, this is not the only situation that has happened in the past 10yrs in the Antelope Valley toquestion the training and tactics of LE. Our recommended resolve is to be rid of these systemic disasters who call themselves leaders. There are plenty of reasons to do so. Just ask us. For City and County Officials afraid of lawsuits, your biggest fear is frominnocent people being thrashed by rogue cops who do not know how to handle their calls. You should have no fear of the leadership you hire or were voted in, to fire or recall them for themany reasons that would justify it. It is our goal to see to it that these Commanders, especially in Santa Clara County, are held accountable no matter WHEN they did any egregious acts or failure to take action or resolveproblems anytime in their career. They are the reasons for systemic problems that lead to unfortunate incidents such as this. Since its a Holiday and we are not in the office, we will follow up to this email with attachingthe DOJ Civil Rights report and the LA County attorney report tomorrow. You all have a stake in reading up on this! It is mind boggling that those tasked with hiring Mr. Bob Jonsen for MPD and PAPD did notdo their due diligence. If they had, we would not be 'stuck' with a Sheriff who has personally, professionally and systemically been a problem with the last 3 agencies he has commanded aswell as ALIGN himself with those who has been formally accused or convicted of corruption including the previous Sheriff Laurie Smith. Feel free to forward! In fact, we encourage it so that you can engage in the necessarydiscussions to be rid of LE problems. We appreciate changemakers and not those who stand or sit on the sidelines acting as if this does not involve them. Complicity can be a debatable subject, but if you are a public official, not so much. SCCSTG On Tue, Jul 4, 2023, 2:17 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: https://abc7.com/lancaster-winco-grocery-store-deputies-caught-on-video/13459979/ Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Robert. Jonsen; Sean Allen; Sheriff Transparency; Jethroe Moore; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; JoshBecker; Wagner, April; Shana Segal; ladoris cordell; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; Shikada, Ed;chuck jagoda; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Julie Lythcott-Haims;Human Relations Commission; Jethroe Moore; Council, City; Angie Evans; Mila Zelkha; Javier Ortega; Rob Baker;Vara Ramakrishnan; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg Cc:dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; DuJuan Green; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Javier Ortega; Cindy Chavez Subject:Los Angeles County deputy throws woman to ground outside WinCo grocery store in Lancaster - ABC7 LosAngeles Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 2:17:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.________________________________ https://abc7.com/lancaster-winco-grocery-store-deputies-caught-on-video/13459979/ Sent from my iPhone From:Jim Colton To:Council, City Cc:ParkRec Commission Subject:Terman Park Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 9:39:35 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from james.colton10@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Terman Park is used extensively by those of us in Green Acres I and II and by adjoining neighborhoods. It is the only such facility in the area. Also, the bike path along the park ismuch used for recreation and for getting around by biking. Please keep the park as is! Jim Colton Green Acres II -- JimColtonPhotography.com From:San Jose Silicon Valley NAACPTo:Council, CitySubject:Sign our petition calling on colleges, universities, and corporations across the country to commit to diversity, no matter what.Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 8:27:50 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. Unashamedly Black, Unapologetically Beautiful!!!! The Oldest, Largest And Strongest Civil Rights Organization In The United States. 2023 Black Resistance Past, Present,& Future 7 Lessons from the Life of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Know Yourself: “Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave” Listen and Learn: “Experience is a keen teacher” Witness: “Participate with me in this, my life-giving determination” Defend Freedom of Speech: “To suppress free speech is a double wrong” Tell Your Own Story: “Lions write history” Protect Privacy: “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” Be Free in the 21st Century: “Power concedes nothing without a demand” "To suppress free speech is a double wrong. It violates the rights of the hearer as well as those of the speaker." READ MORE THURSDAY JULY 20th, 2023 6:30pm-8:30pm 205 E Alma St. San Jose Ca Conference Room COMMENTARYBlack people who celebrate the Fourth of July should totally pay these penalties If you're bent on honoring a holiday that's not about your freedom, here's what you should give up in returnBy D. WATKINS So I'm at the bar, drinking a glass of wine at the end of a work day when a Black guy stands up and says, "Big-a** July Fourth shindig at the park by my crib. All are invited!" OK so my mind screamed, what kind of Black person says "shindig"? But verbally I responded, "No, no, nope. Black people aren't allowed to celebrate the Fourth. Rescind the invitations. The party is canceled." "You're funny, my bro," he responded before he joyfully skipped out of the door like Peter Pan. "I feel you, my man," a white dude in a plaid button-up said as I ordered another round. "I celebrate Junete READ MORE Equality Biden Can Cancel Student Debt Even If Supreme Court Blocks Order, Advocates Say Supreme Court ruling on Biden debt relief expected this week Activist groups to pressure White House if plan is struck down ByLaura Litvan Advocates of student debt relief want President Joe Biden to use a 1965 law to cancel student debt if the Supreme Court overturns his loan forgiveness program. Biden’s current plan — to forgive as much as $20,000 in federal loans for certain borrowers making less than $125,000 per year, $250,000 for households — is based on his authority in the 2003 Heroes Act. A Supreme Court ruling invalidating the loan forgiveness program looks likely as the court issues some its most momentous decisions this week. READ MORE A Moral Declaration for America: On Our Shared Task of Building the Nation That’s Never Yet Been. I am calling on all Repairers of the Breach friends and partners to read and sign/add your name to the letter. For many Black and brown students, education in this country is less accessible than ever. It’s now on us to take a stand and demand equal opportunity in education for our community.Here's how you can get involved: Sign our petition: Sign our petition calling on colleges, universities, and corporations across the country to commit to diversity, no matter what. Contact your senator: Urge your senator to continue to advocate for student debt relief. Share your student debt story: Read testimonials from other student loan borrowers and share your own story with us so we can continue to show our elected officials why they must act now to cancel student debt. Let me be clear: The decision to eliminate race-conscious admissions in schools will not only impact the opportunities our young people have to thrive at the universities and colleges of their choosing, but it will have far-reaching implications, impacting the representation we have in all spaces from hospitals to courtrooms and board rooms. We also know that Black borrowers are 50 percent more likely to have their loans fall into default, therefore student debt relief is essential to closing the racial wealth gap and creating a path for the Black community to attain generational wealth and achieve true economic freedom. It is critical that we commit to confronting the historic and persistent inequalities that have long impacted our community. Can we count on your support? ‌ JOIN OUR YOUTH & COLLEGE TEAM Are you interested in joining the Youth & College national staff? Apply today to become a Racial Equity Fellow focused in the areas of Race & Justice or Inclusive Economy. On June 29, 2023, the Task Force to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans issued its final report to the California Legislature. The final report surveys the ongoing and compounding harms experienced by African Americans as a result of slavery and its lingering effects on American society today, and proposes a comprehensive reparations plan in satisfaction of the direction set forth by the Legislature in AB 3121 (2020). For ease of reference, the complete report, executive summary, and each individual chapter are available for download via the links below. Full Finale Report Executive Summary Celebrate the Fourth — while we can! Democracy is crumbling but there's a cookout at my place This Fourth of July, I'm missing my grandma and mourning the state of America. But maybe Trump did us a favorBy D. WATKINS I actually get excited about the Fourth of July. But I have some rules. Things I don’t do: Wave an American flag, wear outfits with flags on them, sing the Star- Spangled Banner or salute the founding fathers, who also happened to be (for the most part) a bunch of slave-owning racists. Thing I actually do: Crank Earth, Wind & Fire at the highest level as I fire up the grill, drink too much, burn chicken, talk trash to relatives and think about my late grandma. She loved the Fourth – probably because it was the only day in the summer that brought the whole family together. Those family gatherings haven’t been the same since she passed; we try to make it work in the midst of our own disagreements, with the surge of white supremacy as the backdrop, I still find the energy to light up the charcoal and invite people who will ever show up. I intend to do the same this year as our democracy disappears. There may not be a cookout - - or, as my white friends say, a "barbecue" -- next year. READ MORE ‌ WHAT WILL EXPOSITORS DO ABOUT THIS JESUS? ©Wendell Griffen, 2023 What will theologians, pastors, religious educators, and other expositors of the religion of Jesus do about the Jesus who strolled in Jericho on his final trip to Jerusalem to observe Passover and invited himself to dine at the home of a fellow named Zacchaeus? Before you answer, allow me to put my question in a context you may find interesting and, hopefully, challenging. In her preface to The 1619 Project, journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones observed that historian and journalist Lerone Bennett, Jr. documented that African people had lived “on the land that in 1776 would become the United States” since 1619, when a ship named the White Lion arrived at Jamestown, Virginia a year before the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock. For the next 246 years, Black people in this society were enslaved, kidnapped, transported, sold, whipped, raped, castrated, terrorized, and abused in other ways. Their descendants have received nothing to repay. repair, or otherwise account for the legion of wrongs they suffered. That is a colossal moral, ethical, social, political, economic, and humanitarian issue. Yet, it is one about which theologians, pastors, preachers, and other commentators about the religion of Jesus have seldom commented. READ MORE NACOLE invites you to an online forum for jail and prison oversight practitioners. The first event in the series will occur from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, July 13, 2023. These forums will he held quarterly and will be facilitated by NACOLE Board member Nashla Rivas Salas and members of NACOLE’s jail and prison oversight committee. They will give practitioners and researchers of jail and prison oversight from around the country the opportunity to meet and network with professional colleagues. In addition, they will discuss common issues and share information about training, technology, online tools, and other relevant resources. NACOLE members and employees of agencies holding organizational memberships are invited to participate so please forward this to other staff in your agency who may be interested in participating. There is no need to pre-register for these events. Simply click the link below to join us on July 13, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. JULY ZOOM LINK CLIMATE CHANGE MAKER Applications are now open forEPA’s new National Environmental Youth Advisory Council, a spacefor young people to provide a critical perspective on how climate change and other environmentalharms impact their communities. If this sounds like you, apply forthe National Environmental Youth Advisory Council today! Applications are due by August22. I Historically Speaking: The 272: The Families Who Were Enslaved and Sold to Build the American Catholic Church Thursday, July 20 | 7 p.m. In person and online | Free In 1838, a group of America’s most prominent Catholic priests sold 272 enslaved people to save their largest mission project, what is now Georgetown University. REGISTER What to expect at the NAACP Convention in Boston Steph Solis When the NAACP National Convention comes to Boston in July, local officials expect thousands of attendees and an estimated $10 million boost to the local economy. The city last hosted the convention in 1982. Why it matters: Boston still has a reputation as a racist city to some, especially considering its historical roles in the slave trade and segregation. The convention gives the city a chance to "reintroduce itself," says Tanisha Sullivan, president of the NAACP’s Boston branch. READ MORE Website History Events Youth ‌ Address: 205 E Alma Ave d10 San Jose, CA 95112 Telephone: +1 (408) 898-6985 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Drop Us A Line San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP | 1313 N Milpitas Blvd #163, Milpitas, CA 95035 Unsubscribe city.council@cityofpaloalto.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by moore2j@att.net powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Mary Gallagher To:Police; Council, City Subject:Decibel Limits for Exhaust-Modified Vehicles Date:Tuesday, July 4, 2023 12:43:53 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Police and Council Folks: May something be done about the vehicles with modified exhausts? Tonight and on many an early morning/eventing, these vehicles have been zooming around the Ventura neighborhood and beyond disturbing the sleep of many residents in Palo Alto and beyond. The Governor of New York passed a law known as the Sleep Law (see details below) with a decibel level of 60 db. In the interest of resident safety and health, may Palo Alto and the State of California lower the decibel level to 60 db in our existing vehicle noise law (see below)--sooner rather than later? https://www.semasan.com/legislative-alerts/new-york/fact-vs-fiction-new-york- exhaust-noise-legislation https://maisonlaw.com/safety-laws/california-exhaust-noise-laws/ Too often Sleepless in Palo Alto, -- Mary Gallagher, B.Sc.Aquatics Professional 650-683-7102 (cell) Copyright 2022 Security Alert Notice The information contained in this e-mail is confidential information, presumed to be virus free, and intended only foruse by the individual or entity named above. Virus protection is the responsibility of the recipient. If the reader of thisemail 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. From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Gardener, Liz; Salem Ajluni; Jack Ajluni; Lauing, Ed; Planning Commission; ParkRecCommission; Human Relations Commission; peaceandjusticecenter@gmail.com; ladoris cordell; Council, City;Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Josh Becker; Mila Zelkha; Shana Segal; Greer Stone; Greer Stone; GRP-City Clerk;Lydia Kou; Kevin Jensen; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Jeff Rosen; Joe Simitian; Michael Gennaco; chuckjagoda; Rebecca Eisenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Perron, Zachary; Enberg, Nicholas; Javier Ortega; Tina Boales; AngieEvans; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Vara Ramakrishnan; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Rob Baker Subject:Israel kills numerous Palestinians with impunity in total disregard for international law -while the U.S. remains silent and complicit Date:Monday, July 3, 2023 11:51:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/liveblog/2023/7/3/jenin-attack-live-israel-kills-eight-palestinians-tensions- high Sent from my iPhone From:Heidi SchwenkTo:Council, City; cityofpaloalto@service.govdelivery.comSubject:Greene Middle School - Leaking WaterDate:Monday, July 3, 2023 8:08:23 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from heidischwenkdesign@gmail.com. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.________________________________ July 3, 2023, 7:45pmBroken Sprinkler I don’t know who to send this to for immediate attention. Heidi SchwenkResident of Palo Alto 760 Northampton DrivePalo Alto CA 94303 Mobile: 407-893-6163 Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Lauing, Ed; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore Subject:Go Sally Date:Monday, July 3, 2023 2:39:14 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://www.sallylieber.org/ Shared via the Google app Sent from my iPhone