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Home My Public Portal AboutSeptember 5, 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: 9/5/2023 Document dates: 8/28/2023 – 9/5/2023 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. From:Irene Lam To:Council, City Cc:Monica Yeung Arima Subject:City Council Meeting of September 5, 2023 - Public Comments Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 1:00:25 PM Attachments:Public Comment 952023 Agenda Item #7.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from ilam4500@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Attached please find my comments regarding item #7 on the agenda for the City Council’sSeptember 5, 2023 meeting. Please enter them in the record. Thank you for your attention and consideration. Irene Lam From:Jose Valle To:Aram James Cc:Richard k; Sean Allen; Raj; walter wilson; Sameena Usman; Jethroe Moore; Al Morales; Sheriff Transparency; Robert. Jonsen; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Shikada, Ed; Josh Becker; Michael Gennaco; Joe Simitian; Supervisor Otto Lee; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Cindy Chavez; District1; Jeff Rosen; Human Relations Commission; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Rebecca Eisenberg; ladoris cordell; Mila Zelkha; Perron, Zachary; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Shana Segal; Enberg, Nicholas Subject:Re: stop gassing prisoners! Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 11:37:34 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from jvalle1800@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Wow great work Aram! On Fri, Sep 1, 2023, 5:32 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: My dear friend Linda Jolly sent this powerful letter to Santa Clara County Sheriff RobertJonson today. With her permission, I am circulating her letter to you. Aram > > Sheriff Jonson -> > I was deeply moved by Aram James' editorial letter about prisoners being tortured withgas in their cells. I want you to stop > this practice immediately.> > Social scientists are increasingly convinced that a major cause of crime is the torture ofchildren in their homes. When people with > this background are further tortured in the penal system do we expect they will emerge asloving people upon their release?? > > I have been exposed to pepper spray and it is despicable. > > I have seen police abuse firsthand and now fighting it in Menlo Park. As you know, my friend Aram makes war on police abuse.> Eventually we will see to it that abusers in the justice system will be thrown out. Do not put yourself on our hit list.> > Linda Jolley 650-630-3021 From:Andrea Temkin To:Council, City Subject:The Cannery Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:27:52 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from andreatemkin@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council members: As a Ventura Neighborhood resident, I am writing to express my support to keep the Canneryintact as an important part of Palo Alto and California history. Please don’t miss this opportunity to honor our Chinese entrepreneurial heritage and to create an historical and cultural center that could serve our school children, arts community, andtourists for years to come. Thank you. Yours, Andrea Temkin3371 Park Blvd From:Liz Chew To:Council, City Subject:Save the Bayside Cannery Building Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:24:16 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from lchew2464@gmail.com. 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, I urge you to Save the Thomas Foon Chew's Cannery and STOP the demolition to preserve an important cultural and significant historical site. Please support the preservation of the cannery. Sincerely, Liz Fong Chew lchew2464@gmail.com 408-712-2464 From:Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce To:Council, City Subject:Please Join Us: Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 9:03:24 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Tuesday, September 19, 2023 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Volvo-McLaren Palo Alto 4190 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306 Palo Alto Volvo-McClaren will be discussing the future in automotive trends Connect with fellow professionals and business owners. Enjoy light refreshments and drinks. Chamber Members: Free Guests: $20 >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 at info@paloaltochamber.com. This email was sent on behalf of Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce 355 Alma St Palo Alto, CA 94301.To unsubscribe click here. If you have questions or comments concerning this email or services in general, please contact us by email atinfo@paloaltochamber.com. From:Walter Lim To:Council, City; Monica Yeung Arima Subject:Fwd: Thomas Foon Chew cannery site Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 4:20:27 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from wlim336688@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Thomas Foon Chew cannery site I am writing to support the preservation of the Thomas Foon Chew former Bayside cannery and vehemently oppose demolition that would preclude its designation as a Californiahistorical site. Physical connection to something historically significant is an extremely powerful way of educating and making the connection between the present and the past real both for ourselvesand for future generations. Think about field trips that schoolchildren make to historical sites and how that impacts their perceptions of history. I can still recall and visualize my elementaryschool field trip to Mission Dolores in the heart of San Francisco’s mission district. It instilled a visceral appreciation of history that a plaque or street name cannot convey. As a Chinese American and a 30+ year resident of Palo Alto, who was raised by immigrantparents in San Francisco, I can also speak first hand to the importance of physical landmarks. As a Board member for the Chinese Historical Society of America, we are fortunate that theCity and County of San Francisco supported CHSA in acquiring a Julia Morgan designed building. We educate every visitor to our museum on the history of the site, the barriers thatJulia Morgan faced in her time, and we are reminded of how the past and the present are connected by being physically present in the building. Palo Alto and the Sobrato Group have a unique opportunity to do something similar in PaloAlto by preserving a sufficient portion of the Thomas Foon Chew cannery and to support its designation as a California historical site. The very existence of the cannery in Palo Alto andits historical prominence both locally and nationally speaks volumes about the extensive and relatively un acknowledged contributions of the Chinese and of Chinese Americans inCalifornia as well as nationally. This is a major omission parallel to the failure to recognize the work of Chinese railroad workers on the Transcontinental Railroad — a story that repeatsitself over and over again when it comes to the contributions of minorities and other marginalized groups in this country—a country whose greatness is built upon its diversecitizenry and their belief in the American dream. The cannery also speaks to Thomas Foon Chee’s belief that his entrepreneurial spirit could be successful in Palo Alto. As someone who has made Palo Alto home and raised children who continue to call this areahome for their families, I believe strongly that the cannery needs to be appropriately preserved to acknowledge its historical significance in documenting part of the longstanding ChineseAmerican presence here and their contributions to this community. This is an opportunity for Palo Alto and the Sobrato group to partner with the many of us who are interested in forging acommunity minded, civicly focused and appropriate way to retain and preserve the cannery site in a manner where it serves multiple purposes. We have a unique opportunity to be leadersand a model for other communities in the creative preservation, redesign, and creative use of historical space. I urge the Palo Alto leadership to have the will and the good conscience to seethe importance of preserving the historical legacy that the cannery represents and its contribution to the history and values that characterize our community and demonstrate bytaking affirmative action to preserve the Thomas Foon Chew cannery. Sincerely, Walter Lim1020 Paradise Way Palo alto, CA415.886.7888 Sent from my iPhone From:Doris Hoogland To:Council, City Subject:2022 Extension Date:Tuesday, September 5, 2023 2:56:35 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from horis_hoogland@centurylink.net. Learn whythis is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi there, I hope this email finds you well. I am sending this email on behave of my boss Mr. Deisenrothwho is having delays in getting his 2022 taxes returns done in the USA due to some health issues and the passing away of his CPA. He's not owing taxes, and usually apply his refund and make estimated tax payments. Healready filed an extension before he took ill. If you have the capacity to take on new client, please feel free to reply back to this email or email him directly at malcolmdeisenroth@dgasproduct.com so all tax related materials can beforwarded to you. This is a bit urgent as the tax session is coming to an end in October. Awaiting your response. Best RegardDoris Hoogland From:Jon Kinyon To:Council, City Subject:COMMENT: Bayside Cannery, Thomas Foon Chew Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 11:42:43 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from jon.kinyon@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. My name is Jon Kinyon. I am a 5th generation Palo Altan. I have commented on this matter before, in a much longer statement a few years back. This time I will keep my statement as brief and to the point as I can. 4 years ago, the City received a Historical Resource Evaluation (HRE) which determined that the old Bayside Cannery building meets the criteria to be on the California Register of Historical Resources and that the building overall is "intact" with nearly all of its original features and structure present. This building, as noted in the HRE, is a rare surviving example of the industry that thrived in The Valley of Hearts Delight--which is what this area was known as before it became Silicon Valley--and, more importantly, it thrived right here in our town. As others will undoubtedly point out, the old cannery’s symbolic and historical importance to the Chinese-American community is undeniable and I hope that we no longer turn a blind eye to it. It is deserving of our full recognition. At this point, having a vision for what the building could be in the future, is almost as important as what it has been in the past. I believe we should dream big and be bold. I suggest, what I’ve come to believe, would be the best use for this building. This vision is different from what I’ve heard others suggest so far and I hope that it will be seriously considered. I could easily see this massive, beautiful, early 20th century industrial building transformed into an artist colony and cultural center for the community. Many cities have repurposed similar historical building sites into vibrant and prosperous hubs of culture and art; I don't see any reason why we couldn’t do this in Palo Alto. This exciting project could be called “Mayfield Cannery," "Palo Alto Cannery," or simply “The Cannery.” It could include lofts, live-work spaces for artists and craftsmen, numerous art galleries, a museum (perhaps a satellite for Stanford’s Canter Museum or a larger museum), a restaurant, cafe, brewery, convention rooms, classrooms, or a variation on this theme. I think it could be a beautiful and exciting place for the community to enjoy. Outdoor festivals could be held with music and vendors. The proximity to the railroad station could draw tourists down from San Francisco and up from San Jose--giving them another destination other than Stanford University. The wonderful history and contributions of Chinese-Americans in the early days of Palo Alto and Mayfield could be enshrined, commemorated, and celebrated throughout the revitalized complex. There are many successful examples of this type of repurposing around the world and here in the states. Here are some examples: TANNERY ARTS CENTER in Santa Cruz https://www.tanneryartscenter.org THE BREWERY ART COLONY in Los Angeles https://www.kcet.org/history-society/the-brewery-art-colony-from-craft-beers- to-arts-and-crafts BERGAMOT STATION in Santa Monica https://bergamotstation.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bergamot_(arts_center) STANLEY MARKETPLACE in Colorado http://stanleymarketplace.com MARATHON VILLAGE in Nashville https://www.marathonvillage.net/ From:Bob Moss To:Council, City Subject:Agena Item 7, Ventura Project Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 11:21:51 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from bmoss33@att.net. 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. ________________________________ Ageda Item 7 After reading the staff reports and attachments on Agenda Item 7, development in North Ventura area, I had thoughts about an alternative that builds on Alternative 2 but would be less expensive to process. The appendices note that Alternative 2 which retains the cannery building is environmentally superior, the cost of converting the interior to housing would be expensive. However, reuse of most of the cannery after 84,000 sq, ft. is demolished is included in the proposal. Can the area now planned for demolition be retained and reused economically for something useful? It occurred to me that we are spending time and money to improve community facilities such as the Roth building to provide community and historic resources. We need more such resources. Is it practical to retain all of the cannery building and use the area proposed for demolition as a community center (Ventura does not have enough such public assets) location for historic assets to be preserved and enjoyed, and an area for public meetings and events? The cannery building is a valued historic resource, and should be fully retained if at all possible. Reuse for the community is worth evaluating. Please consider modifying this proposed project to retain all of the cannery building with its reuse divided between that currently proposed for the portion now planned to be retained, and the area planned to be demolished which can be evaluated for use as a public resource. Regards, Robert Moss From:Min Zhou To:Council, City Subject:SAVE THIS IMPORTANT HISTORIC CANNERY BUILT IN 1918 Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:58:37 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from zmm0209@yahoo.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 urge you to stop the demolition of Thomas Foon Chew's cannery and preserve the entire building, the precious historic cannery built in 1918. Imagine the unique charm and flavor the cannery in Monterey has brought to the town. Thomas Foon Chew's cannery is a landmark from the 1920s to 1950s and a witness of Palo Alto's development from an agricultural village to a modern high-tech hub. More importantly， the cannery building's existence is an essential connection to the diversified community in Palo Alto. It is an important cultural site with historical significance. It is easy to build hundreds of modern condos overnight. However, the chance to create a hundred-year-old house with massive money is zero. So, I call for your attention to preserve the historic building rather than demolishing it. Please save it for us, for our future. Sincerely, Min Zhou Journalist & FilmmakerUnion City From:Evelyn L To:Council, City Subject:Objection to the Partial Demolition of Cannery building Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:23:55 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from qing2501@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi council, As a Palo Alto Ventura resident, I STRONGLY OBJECT to the partial demolition of cannerybuilding out of reasons from two perspectives: 1. The proposed partial demolition of the Thomas Foon Chew Cannery building is tantamount to total demolition, which will render the Cannery ineligiblefor historic protection, putting the entire building, including the monitor roofs in jeopardy for future generations. Palo Alto Neighborhoods has a history of advocacy around this propertyand for the construction of housing there as well. 2. If the cannery building location is further used for more commercial buildings like moretownhouse proposals, that will lead to a much more crowded neighborhood, not along Ventura has already been one of the most crowded neighborhoods in Palo Alto. Reviving those dreamsof a livable, walkable neighborhood with amenities and at the center of it is CRUCIAL for Venturans. We sincerely hope the council could listen to the community's voice and work together withthe applicant and community for a better, more sustainable and reasonable plan. Thanks for your consideration! Regards,Evelyn From:Melodie Lew To:Council, City Subject:Letter regarding the Bayside Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:14:34 PM Attachments:Save.Bayside.Cannery.Building.03sep23.docx Some people who received this message don't often get email from boygie.m2000@yahoo.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To Whom This Concerns: Please deliver this note to the Palo Alto City Council. Thank you. Wei and Melodie Lew 03 September 2923 Dear City of Palo Alto Council members: We strongly support saving and preserving the Bayside Cannery Building from demolition. When it is demolished, part of the Chinese American historical and cultural presence on the Peninsula will be demolished with it. Not only will this part of our Chinese American history be forever lost, part of American history will also be lost. We learn from our past so that we can know and learn about our different roots; and from knowing our roots, we can find the commonalities that bind all peoples; and from the commonalities that bind all peoples, we can grow our community with a strong rooted base that encompasses and values the variety of cultures that the City of Palo Alto and the Peninusula has. People learn in many ways and an important way to learn is through actual touching and seeing artifacts and buildings that have existed. Preserving the Bayside Cannery Building allows this form of learning to flourish in a caring community. The importance of preserving part of the cannery that was the third largest in this period cannot be overstated. Thank you. Sincerely, Wei and Melodie Lew San Mateo, California 94403 From:Aram James To:Greer Stone; Lauing, Ed; Burt, Patrick; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Bryan Gobin; Linda Jolley; Josh Becker;Council, City; Damon Silver; Molly; Stump, Molly; Jethroe Moore; Binder, Andrew; Robert. Jonsen; SheriffTransparency; Sean Allen; Shikada, Ed; Reifschneider, James; Angie Evans; Vara Ramakrishnan; MichaelGennaco; Joe Simitian; Wagner, April; Jeff Rosen; Human Relations Commission; Rebecca Eisenberg; ladoriscordell; Mila Zelkha; Perron, Zachary Subject:Los Angeles Times: How the L.A. Times helped write segregation into California’s Constitution Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:07:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ How the L.A. Times helped write segregation into California’s Constitution https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-10-21/prop-14-ronald-reagan-la-times-vote-segregation-californias- constitution Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Tannock, Julie; Figueroa, Eric; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Council, City; Emily Mibach;Jensen, Eric; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Binder, Andrew; Robert. Jonsen; Roberta Ahlquist; Reifschneider,James; Josh Becker; Michael Gennaco; Foley, Michael; Afanasiev, Alex; Lee, Craig; Tina Boales; Jeff Rosen; JoeSimitian; Human Relations Commission; Rebecca Eisenberg; ladoris cordell; Mila Zelkha; Perron, Zachary;DuJuan Green Subject:Los Angeles Times: How the L.A. Times helped write segregation into California’s Constitution Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:00:31 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ How the L.A. Times helped write segregation into California’s Constitution https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-10-21/prop-14-ronald-reagan-la-times-vote-segregation-californias- constitution Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Tannock, Julie; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; SeanAllen; Jethroe Moore; Mila Zelkha; Shana Segal; Michael Gennaco; Joe Simitian; Jeff Rosen; Josh Becker; HumanRelations Commission; Tina Boales; Wagner, April; Rebecca Eisenberg; ladoris cordell; Chuck Jagoda; Tim james;Perron, Zachary; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Jay Boyarsky; Enberg, Nicholas Subject:Los Angeles Times: Skelton: How a racist housing policy caused the biggest, bitterest brawl in California’s Capitol Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 9:57:02 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ Skelton: How a racist housing policy caused the biggest, bitterest brawl in California’s Capitol https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-09-04/column-marking-californias-ugly-past-on-racial- discrimination-in-housing Sent from my iPhone From:Lijie Tu To:Council, City Subject:Objection to the partial demolition of the Cannery Building Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 9:53:04 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from lijietu01@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear city council, As a Palo Alto citizen, we believe it is critical to preserve the city's history, especially thelegacy of an essential figure in the history of California by keeping the Cannery Building intact. The plan to demote partially the building will render it ineligible for historic protection,making it a loss for the whole community. Thanks, Lijie From:Doug Chan To:Council, City Subject:Bayside Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 9:47:06 PM Attachments:CHSA-Ltr2PaloAltoCouncil-2023-9-4-signed.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from dchanlaw@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Office of the City Clerk Palo Alto City Council Dear City Clerk: Enclosed please find my letter on behalf of the Chinese Historical Society of America expressing support for the preservation of the historic Bayside Cannery building at 340 Portage Avenue. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions or difficulty downloading the document. Thank you. Regards, Doug Chan DOUGLAS S. CHAN - Attorney at Law P.O. Box 210330, San Francisco CA 94121-0330; Tel.: direct: (415) 780-1566 CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION: The information contained in this electronic transmission is intended only for the use of the recipient and may be confidential, may be attorney-client privileged, and may constitute inside information. Unauthorized use, disclosure or reproduction is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete the message. Thank you. Nothing in this email or any document attached hereto shall constitute an electronic signature within the meaning of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or any other applicable law. This email is not encrypted, and information provided in this email may be electronically altered. We disclaim all responsibility for any cost, damage or liability directly or indirectly caused by viruses or other defects in this e-mail or any attached document. _________________________________________ September 4, 2023 VIA E-MAIL: city.council@cityofpaloalto.org Palo Alto City Council c/o Office of the City Clerk: City Hall, 7th Floor 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Re: Bayside Cannery building -- 340 Portage Avenue Dear Councilmembers: The Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) supports the preservation of the Bayside Cannery building. Founded in 1963, CHSA is the oldest organization in the United States dedicated to the interpretation, promotion, and preservation of the social, cultural and political history and contributions of the Chinese in America. As the President of CHSA, I am writing to express our deep concern and opposition to the proposed demolition, or any other action which could destroy the historic significance, of the Bayside Cannery building. This historic structure holds immense historical and cultural significance to the Chinese American community, and its preservation should be a top priority. The Bayside Cannery stands as a testament to the rich heritage of Alviso and the entire Bay Area. Built in 1916, the cannery developed into the third largest canning business in the United States, as well as one of the largest of its type in the world. It traces its origin to the economic recovery of the Chinese community in the wake of the 1906 destruction of the Precita Canning Company in San Francisco. Bayside grew into a major hub of economic activity and a source of employment over the years for thousands of Bay Area residents. During a time of severe racial discrimination in employment, the cannery contributed to the livelihoods of many Chinese, including members of my family. The building is also architecturally significant, with a unique design that reflects the industrial history of the area. Demolishing this building would not only erase a vital piece of our past but also eliminate potential opportunities for future economic growth and community development. Conserving the historic integrity of the Bayside Cannery for adaptive reuse provides an opportunity to make it a vibrant part of the community again as a valuable educational resource. A revitalized cannery would allow residents and visitors alike to learn about Alviso's history and the role it played in the development of our region. By preserving this historic structure, we can continue educating future generations about the heritage and Re: Bayside Cannery September 4, 2023 Page 2 culture that made Alviso unique. Any development plan for the Bayside site should strike a balance between preserving our heritage as embodied in the cannery building and accommodating the need for affordable housing. I urge you to explore alternatives that honor Bayside’s history with the aim of qualifying its cannery building as a historic landmark. This would represent a wise investment in the future and help assure that this important piece of history is preserved as a source of pride and educational resource for generations to come. We urge the Palo Alto City Council to require the preservation of the Bayside Cannery as soon as possible. We would be pleased to engage in further discussions regarding this matter at your convenience. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Very Truly Yours, CHINESE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Douglas S. Chan President cc: myarima@gmail.com From:Amy Noel Ellison To:Council, City Subject:A letter in support of preserving Thomas Foon Chew"s Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 9:02:52 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from amyknoel@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. ________________________________ To the Palo Alto City Council: I am writing to express my support for recent efforts to preserve Thomas Foon Chew’s cannery. I first learned about Foon a few years ago while working for the Los Altos History Museum. As a historian and museum curator with a Ph.D. in American History, I was struck by Foon’s many accomplishments, and especially by his ingenuity and determination in the face of adversity. He is indeed one of the most important figures in our local history, embodying the spirit of our community both then and now, helping us to understand the continuities between the Valley of Heart’s Delight and Silicon Valley. His success also came despite many obstacles, including widespread anti-Asian sentiment. By preserving Foon’s cannery, the community can continue to honor a local leader who can still inspire us today. One of the reasons Foon deserves this recognition is because of his continued relevance. Foon’s success was in large part a result of his willingness to experiment and innovate—not unlike many members of our community today. Before 1920, asparagus could not be canned without damage to the stalks. Foon and one of his employees found the solution in square cans, which prevented the stalks from being damaged. Foon became known throughout the region as “The Asparagus King.” Foon also took great pride in caring for his workers. He provided hot lunches for only ten cents, and also built housing for his Chinese laborers, as they were often discriminated against as renters. Foon even found an innovative way to provide transportation, using trucks to bus commuters to the plant. He was well-liked by his employees and well-respected in the community. When he died in 1931, 25,000 people attended his funeral procession. Foon left behind an important legacy of innovation, regard for his workers, and determination in the face of adversity. By preserving his cannery, our community can show that we still value these qualities and strive to follow his example. Sincerely, Amy Noel Ellison, Ph.D. From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Stump, Molly; Molly; Shikada, Ed; editor@paweekly.com Subject:Axon -Tasers a deadly weapon Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 8:42:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. At Taser maker Axon, ex-staff say loyalty meant being tased, tattooed reuters.com Sent from my iPhone From:Sue Fawn Chung To:Council, City Subject:Thomas Foon Chew"s Bayside Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 8:35:12 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from suefawnchung@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members: Please reconsider the demolition of the Thomas Foon Chew's Bayside Cannery. It stands as amonument to the work that Chinese Americans did in the cannery business and is the only extant example of such a facility. Until the publication of Roland Hui's Chinaman Tycoon:The Life and Times of Lew Hing (1858-1934), very little was known about the Chinese tn the canning business. Canned goods were so important to the housewives at the turn of thetwentieth century. Just like the Chinese railroad workers, the recognition of Chinese accomplishments and contributions to the development of America is in its infancy. Theestablishment of the Chinese American Museum as part of the Smithsonian Complex has been approved by Congress but will take time to be constructed and developed. The little pieces oftheir story should be preserved. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has initiated a Chinese Preservation project and this would be Palo Alto's contribution. Sincerely,Sue Fawn Chung Professor Emerita, UNLV History DepartmentAdvisor Emerita, National Trust for Historic Preservation Author of numerous articles and books on Chinese America, including In Search of Gold,Chinese in the Woods, A History of the Chinese in Nevada, Chinese American Death Rituals From:Chris Bush To:Council, City Cc:Monica Yeung Arima Subject:Save Bayside Cannery factory building Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 6:47:47 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from chrisbush2@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, I'm writing to you in hopes of saving the Bayside Cannery from demolition. History is so important to all of us. Destroying it will be a tragedy for us and for future generations. This is a short story about myself that would clearly describe how I feel about preserving the Bayside Cannery. I was born in Needles, CA and my grandfather was the only Asian in Needles. He had a restaurant that eventually was known by everyone. Everyone knew him and the parties he put on for Christmas. I remember people coming into the coffee shop to just chat with a cup of coffee and my grandfather would give them one of his famous egg custard dessert. Now that Needles is more or less a ghost town; people who are still there still talk about my grandfather and the coffee shop. I visited Needles a few times since I left and the coffee shop still stand and people tell heart warming stores about how they enjoyed the food and remembered my grandfather. During my visits to Needles, I see the coffee shop still standing but closed. That's ok because it is still standing and it represents what I remember from my past and will one day tell these stories to the kids, nieces and nephews. This is one of the main reason that the Bayside Cannery needs to be preserved. Young folks living the the area need to hear about the history of the cannery and what it used to be. Memoirs are written to document someone's life and events. Museums are created to preserve and to educate future generations of what was life like and how people lived. Buildings are preserved because of its history. Council members, I'm sure you keep momentos and items from your past that means a lot to you. Something you would like to pass onto the next generation. I would really appreciate it if the Bayside Cannery is preserved to pass on this history to the next generation. Thank you for your time. Best, Chris Bush Cell: (415) 717-4676 From:LT S To:Council, City Subject:Save the historic Bayside Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 5:51:59 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from sheklisat@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Member:As a retired school principal with the San Francisco Unified School District, I urge you to take action to preserve the Bayside Cannery. The Bayside Cannery was built by Thomas FoonChew, an immigrant from China who made history in California’s agricultural and canning industries. Preserving the Cannery is preserving an invaluable Chinese American heritage ofCalifornia. Please save the Bayside Cannery! Sincerely,Lisa Shek From:Lenore Delgado To:Council, City Cc:Lenore Delgado Subject:Do Not Demolish the Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 5:43:13 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from leonor31@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members, I urge you to stop the demolition of Thomas Foon Chew's cannery. It is an important cultural site that is historically significant and deserves to be saved. Thomas Food Chew was an important industrialist and humanitarian whose struggles and achievements in spite of the Chinese Exclusion Act must be recognized. This is our city’s history, and the city, in saving this factory building, will offer proof of an inspiring multicultural past for future generations. Residents need to know about the city’s past and able to honor that past. Developers should not have the last word on this issue. Sincerely, Leonor (Lenore) Delgado Barron Park From:Loran Harding To:Loran Harding; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; beachrides;bearwithme1016@att.net; David Balakian; Leodies Buchanan; bballpod; fred beyerlein; Council, City; CathyLewis; cramirez.electriclab133@gmail.com; Doug Vagim; dallen1212@gmail.com; Dan Richard; dennisbalakian;Daniel Zack; dan.richard@earthlink.net; eappel@stanford.edu; Scott Wilkinson; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu;Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; info@centralvalleyteaparty.com;Sally Thiessen; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner; kfsndesk; karkazianjewelers@gmail.com; Mark Standriff; Mayor;merazroofinginc@att.net; margaret-sasaki@live.com; maverickbruno@sbcglobal.net; MY77FJ@gmail.com;news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; newsdesk; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; terry; tsheehan;vallesR1969@att.net Subject:Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Action in Sacto re HO insurance Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 5:09:25 PM Attachments:image001.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Date: Mon, Sep 4, 2023 at 3:27 PMSubject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Action in Sacto re HO insurance To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Monday, September 4, 2023 To all- Here are miles of vids on Youtube showing the huge 747 Global Supertanker 944 inaction in California and other places. It was used on the Camp Fire and flew out of McClellen. It could deliver 19,200 gallons of water/retardant onto a fire and was the largest of its kind inthe world. The owners in Colorado went bankrupt so it is no longer available to fight our never-ending wildfires in California. In these videos, you can see it in action, see inside andoutside of it. It was a masterpiece with computerized controls for setting the mix of water/retardant and duration of the drop. 747 Global Supertanker at McClellen - YouTube I said in the mail below that the 747s are in boneyards in Texas, Spain and a former SovietRepublic. Now I see that large numbers of them are in a boneyard 80 miles east of LA at Victorville. So many, in fact, that 50 of them in good condition could probably be sourcedfrom there and probably pretty cheaply. And so many are there that the needed spare parts could also be obtained from there after the initial 50 are bought. Right there sits a big part ofthe solution to the horrific wildfires that are driving the homeowner's insurance industry out of California: Flying Above Victorville, the New Home of United's 747s - The Points Guy Here is drone footage taken over the Mojave Air and Space Port- a plane graveyard. Mojave Air & Space Port Airplane Graveyard 4K Drone Footage - YouTube Now another very real possible source of aircraft that California could buy and convert to air tankers to fight wildfires. The heat in the desert can destroy the electronics of a planestored there. (Electronics in a plane can be replaced). SO, here is the USAF 309th AMARG, the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, near Tucson, Arizona. 2600 acres ofplanes worth $35 billion. Mainly military aircraft, but some of those are big, like the KC-130. At 8:41 you see that two of those were recently sold to the Phillippine AF. Preservation is amajor skill-set at this boneyard, we learn here. So these folks can preserve a plane so that it is NOT destroyed by the desert heat. This is amazing stuff. I highly recommend this video. Isuggest that here is where California et. al. could buy big planes in good condition to convert to air tankers. If the 747s have all had their electronics ruined by desert heat, then buy KC-130s here that have been preserved by experts and can be put back in service. Inside The US $35 Billion Boneyard: Where Planes Come to Rest, and Then Fly Again - YouTube L. William Harding Fresno, Ca. Newsom and the legislature should at least talk to the Pentagon about what KC-130s preserved there would cost. Perhaps even bigger planes are preserved there. Maybe the KC-130s preserved there are not generally for sale and are intended for possible re-use by the US military.They did sell two of them recently to the Phillippine AF, however. L. William Harding Fresno, Ca. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Sally Thiessen <sally.thiessen.jb7t@statefarm.com>Date: Tue, Aug 29, 2023 at 1:49 PM Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Action in Sacto re HO insuranceTo: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> I haven’t read this yet, but I’ll dig into it soon. Thank you for sending. Sally S. Thiessen, agent License #0B16091 600 W Shaw Suite #460 Fresno, CA 93704 Phone: 559.244.0545 sally.thiessen.jb7t@statefarm.com From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2023 3:59 PMTo: Sally Thiessen <sally.thiessen.jb7t@statefarm.com>; gnewsom@calgov.comSubject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Action in Sacto re HO insurance Sunday, August 27, 2023 Ms. Thiessen- As you see, this email went far and wide. LH ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Date: Sun, Aug 27, 2023 at 3:39 PMSubject: Fwd: Action in Sacto re HO insurance To: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>, <alumnipresident@stanford.edu>,<antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov>, <bearwithme1016@att.net>, beachrides <beachrides@sbcglobal.net>, bballpod <bballpod@aol.com>, Leodies Buchanan<leodiesbuchanan@yahoo.com>, David Balakian <davidbalakian@sbcglobal.net>, fred beyerlein <fmbeyerlein@sbcglobal.net>, city.council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>,Cathy Lewis <catllewis@gmail.com>, Doug Vagim <dvagim@gmail.com>, dennisbalakian <dennisbalakian@sbcglobal.net>, <dan.richard@earthlink.net>, <dallen1212@gmail.com>,Daniel Zack <daniel.zack@fresno.gov>, <eappel@stanford.edu>, <cramirez.electriclab133@gmail.com>, Scott Wilkinson <grinellelake@yahoo.com>,<George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu>, <Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov>, huidentalsanmateo <huidentalsanmateo@gmail.com>, hennessy <hennessy@stanford.edu>, Irv Weissman<irv@stanford.edu>, <info@centralvalleyteaparty.com>, Sally Thiessen <sally.thiessen.jb7t@statefarm.com>, jerry ruopoli <jrwiseguy7@gmail.com>, Joel Stiner<jastiner@gmail.com>, <karkazianjewelers@gmail.com>, kfsndesk <kfsndesk@abc.com>, Mark Standriff <mark.standriff@fresno.gov>, Mayor <mayor@fresno.gov>,<merazroofinginc@att.net>, <margaret-sasaki@live.com>, <maverickbruno@sbcglobal.net>, <MY77FJ@gmail.com>, <news@fresnobee.com>, nick yovino <npyovino@gmail.com>,newsdesk <newsdesk@ksee.com>, <russ@topperjewelers.com>, Dan Richard <danrichard@mac.com>, Steve Wayte <steve4liberty@gmail.com>, terry<terry@terrynagel.com>, tsheehan <tsheehan@fresnobee.com>, <vallesR1969@att.net>, <yicui@stanford.edu> ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Date: Sun, Aug 27, 2023 at 2:48 PM Subject: Action in Sacto re HO insuranceTo: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sunday, August 27, 2023 To all- IMPORTANT: If you own a home in California, read this. Not sure if it's action, but at least some Republican Calif. State Senators sent a letter dated Friday, August 25, 2023 to elected California State Insurance Commissioner Lara sayingthat the homeowners insurance situation in California has reached the crisis stage. CA Senate Republicans Send Letter To Insurance Commissioner Lara Over Faltering Homeowners Insurance Market – California Globe There are things he can do to help the situation without action by the legislature andgovernor, they say. Apparently he has done little to nothing so far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had never heard his name. They say the legislature is ready to take action if he needs them to. Heneeds them to. Urge Gov. Newsom to get involved in this. Likewise the legislature. You would have to be brain-dead if you own a home in California and are unaware of what is happening with regardto homeowners insurance here. Five big insurance cos. have either pulled out of the California market or have severely limited the property they will insure. The endless wildfires inCalifornia are causing claims they cannot bear and so something has to give. Newsom has had very little to say about the wildfires that now ravage California for about 10 months per year destroying thousands of homes and businesses and killing people. Can you believe what you are reading? Guess he's too busy out shopping. The smoke alone isdamaging our health. It contains 5,000 compounds and I'll bet a few of them are carcinogens. But silence from Newsom. Not one word from Newsom about the health effects of all thesmoke. Dr. Jon LaPook on CBS Evening News said one time that the smoke contains 5,000 compounds. One disease I like that it causes is fibrosis of the lungs. One's lungs become toughand leathery and one cannot get air. The medical community knows what wildfire smoke can do to a person, but not one word from Newsom about it. We have ONE DC-10 tanker now in use in California. Diane Feinstein got seven smallplanes from the Coast Guard to be converted into tankers that can carry 4,000 gallons of retardant per flight. Until a couple of years ago we also had the 747 Global Super Tankerowned out of Colorado that carried 19,200 gallons of water-retardant per flight. It went bankrupt. It was used on the fringes of the Camp fire. We were paying $16,000 per hour to useit. It was flying out of McClellen. I keep urging that California buy and convert 50 old 747s. If they cost $100 million each to buy and convert to tankers, 50 would cost $5 billion, not an unheard of sum for the State ofCalifornia to spend. We should form a consortium with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Canada to buy, convert and use these 50 747 tankerson our endless wildfires. All of these entities are now having wildfires. Spread the cost to obtain and to use them. This would get at the heart of the homeowners insurance crisis in California. Florida isever worse off due to hurricanes, but hurricanes are hard to stop. We can do much better in fighting our wildfires here. If you own a home in California you are in danger of real trouble wrt homeownersinsurance on that home. Start pouring the letters into Newsom and the legislature and tell them to fix the homeowners insurance disaster that is befalling California. Maybe, almostcertainly, we need a new elected State Insurance Commissioner too. L. William Harding Fresno, Ca. CA Senate Republicans Send Letter To Insurance Commissioner Lara Over Faltering Homeowners Insurance Market – California Globe View this email in your browser. Visit us on www.lwvpaloalto.org, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter SEPTEMBER VOTER September 4, 2023 In this Issue Message from our Co-Presidents LWVPA Updates LWVPA Happy Hour Discussion LWVPA Fall Kickoff Event LWVPA Virtual Speaker Event From:LWV Palo Alto VOTERTo:Council, CitySubject:LWVPA September VOTER - Have You Registered for upcoming LWVPA Events?Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 5:08:48 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from publicity@lwvpaloalto.org. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Subscribe to our Google Calendar August 2023 Board Meeting Highlights Advocacy Reports Events by Other Leagues and in the Community Exploring the Impact of Guns in Homes and Society Another Momentous Year in the Supreme Court Virtual Lunch with League Spotlight On: An Equitable Water Feature In Case You Missed It LWVPA Virtual Speaker Event: How the Palo Alto Police Department Prioritizes Services to our City 2024 Affordable Housing Bond Measure Election Security Happy Labor Day! Message from our Co-Presidents Dear Members, We are excited to meet everyone at our Fall Kickoff on Sunday, October 1st at the Foster Museum, 940 Commercial St, Palo Alto. Please join us between 4 and 6 pm and meet our Board members and committee chairs—and to enjoy our guest speaker, Joe Simitian, whose Santa Clara County Supervisorial District (#5) includes Palo Alto. As a trusted membership organization that relies on comprehensive study and education to inform voters, our mission of “Making Democracy Work” continues during a vital period in our community. The League envisions a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. In preparation for the new League year, the Board held a retreat to identify the needs and strategies to support voter services and our program priorities: Climate Change, Housing and Transportation, Gun Violence Prevention, Local Campaign Finance Reform, and Civics Education. WE NEED YOU to help with these efforts. As you know, the League is run by volunteers and we need your help to ensure our efforts achieve these objectives. The Fall Kickoff is a great opportunity to meet committee chairs and learn about how you can help make an impact for our League. Elections are coming soon, and we are pivoting to build up voter services so we can tackle and maintain voter integrity, information and education. We’ve got an exciting team this year—consider joining these efforts. Please also consider bringing a friend to the Kickoff to introduce her/him to the work we're doing and the camaraderie we enjoy in doing it! A few thank you's for this last month: Palo Alto Police Chief Andrew Binder was our featured (virtual) speaker in August and was one of our best! Thank you, Events Chair Myra Lessner and your team, for producing this great event. You can watch the recording if you missed it. Special thanks to Matt Dolan, GM at Homewood Suites by Hilton, for hosting our retreat with conference room, presentation services, coffee and goodies! It was perfect for our needs, and we accomplished a lot. See you at the Kickoff! Judy and Nancy LWVPA Updates LWVPA Happy Hour Discussion The Abortion Talks and Civil Discourse 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Tuesday, September 12, 2023 1985 Cowper Street, Palo Alto Join us for community building, nibbles, and conversation as we discuss how we can all work to improve civil discourse. View the 95-minute The Abortion Talks: A Documentary in the comfort of your home prior to attending and come ready to share your takeaways. Directed by Josh Sabey and Sarah Perkins, this 2022 documentary describes the aftermath of John Salvi's murder spree at two Brookline abortion clinics when leaders from opposing sides of the abortion debate met together in secret talks. Register to receive a free-of-charge screening room link and password to view the documentary. Our special link ends at 11:59pm ET on September 20. Register Now LWVPA Fall Kickoff Event Sunday, October 1, 2023 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm The Foster Museum 940 Commercial Street, Palo Alto Light Hors d’Oeuvres Will Be Served Join us for engaging conversation with our Guest Speaker. Bring a friend and introduce them to the League! Featuring our Guest Speaker Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian Bridging the Divide — Hope for the Future Supervisor Joe Simitian will share his thoughts, based on his own experiences, on why he believes there is a way to push through and past our current polarization, and the role for the LWV Palo Alto in this process. Speaker Bio: Joe Simitian was elected to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in 2012, re-elected in 2016 and 2020. He represents the Fifth District, which includes Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Stanford, and portions of Sunnyvale and San Jose. Joe's public service over the years includes stints as a member of the California State Senate, the California State Assembly, Mayor of Palo Alto, President of the Palo Alto School Board, as well as an earlier term on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Colorado College. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford University, as well as a Masters degree in City Planning and a Juris Doctor law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. During his tenure in the State Legislature, Joe authored high-impact legislation on energy, water, environment, education, privacy, elder protection, and highway safety. Joe brings a wide range of perspectives and backgrounds to his work. He has served at all levels of state and local government. Joe also has hands-on experience in the private sector as a public school’s attorney, businessman, and certified city planner. Along with a breadth of international interests and experience, Joe's professional education and training particularly apply to his work in public service Register Now LWVPA Virtual Speaker Event How is Palo Alto Upgrading Our Electric Grid for an All-Electric Future? Thursday, October 19, 2023 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm As we switch our homes, buildings and cars from fossil fuels to electricity, we need more electric capacity, resiliency and "smarts" in our grid. Join City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) Director Dean Batchelor to hear about CPAU plans to modernize our electric grid, as well as address resident concerns about switching from gas to electric. Tom Kabat will discuss ways to save money while switching to electricity at home, and Cooper Marcus will talk about financial resources and planning to help residents electrify cost-effectively. Featuring our Guest Speakers Dean Batchelor, Palo Alto Utilities Director Tom Kabat, Home Electrification Equipment Expert Cooper Marcus, Home Electrification Planning Expert BIOs: Dean Batchelor: Dean has served in Palo Alto’s Utilities Department for 15 years. He started with the city in 2008 as the Assistant Director of Utilities. Dean has over 40 years of experience in power, water, gas, wastewater and telecommunications in both investor-owned and municipal environments. Helping customers through challenges gives him a sense of purpose in his work. Tom Kabat: Tom is a former Environmental Quality Commissioner for the City of Menlo Park who has contributed to developing an innovative All-Electric Reach Code for new construction, a Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions 90% by 2030, and other electrification policy measures. He has 30 years of experience in utility energy planning. Tom helped design efficiency programs and managed hydroelectric and renewable energy portfolios for the City of Palo Alto. Cooper Marcus: Cooper is the Chief Quitter at QuitCarbon. QuitCarbon helps homeowners gain the confidence and clarity they need to electrify their homes—and helps contractors grow their businesses by being part of the clean energy transition. Cooper believes that society’s move away from fossil fuel presents an incredible opportunity to respond to the climate crisis while improving the quality of life for homeowners, renters, and businesses. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the city’s plans for what will impact all Palo Alto residents! Submit your questions in advance to contact@LWVPaloAlto.org. August 2023 Board Meeting Highlights The bulk of the August Board meeting focused on items raised at the August 5 Board orientation and team-building meeting. We also discussed plans for our Fall Kickoff scheduled for Sunday, October 1. Approved Motions: To provide Matt Dolan, GM, Homewood Suites by Hilton, a one-year honorary membership in appreciation for supporting our August Board retreat. To create an ad hoc committee to consider converting from 501c4 to c3 Register Now status for the League. To hold the Dec. 6 Winter Luncheon at Il Fornaio restaurant and charge $40 (to offset cost with events budget). To approve Consent Calendar including June minutes. - Megan Swezey Fogarty, Secretary Advocacy Reports Join Local Campaign Finance Reform Task Force Meeting, September 11, 2 - 3 pm LWV Palo Alto Local Campaign Finance Reform Task Force will be meeting on Monday, September 11, 2-3 pm by Zoom to discuss activities for the coming year. Our Task Force focuses on local campaign finance laws, including stronger disclosures on election spending and lower donation and spending limits. If interested in attending, emall: contact@lwvpaloalto.org for the meeting Zoom link. Update of County League Housing Policy The Santa Clara County League’s Housing committee has identified LWV San Diego Region’s Housing Action Policy (HAP) as very useful for League education and advocacy on current housing issues. The HAP’s preface and 8 policy statements integrate existing national, state, and local housing and homelessness positions and link to specific actions by policymakers. Read the HAP HERE. A video explaining why LWV San Diego adopted the policy is HERE. League members and the public are invited to attend a September 8 Zoom meeting 3-4 pm with Myles Pomeroy, Public Policy/Housing Chair of LWV San Diego, who will discuss the background of the HAP. Request a Zoom link by emailing: contact@lwvpaloalto.org. Our LWV Palo Alto Board will vote on whether the County League should adopt the HAP by consensus. Please send comments on the HAP to contact@lwvpaloalto.org. Once adopted, local Leagues can use it for education and advocacy. New Blog: “What is Social Housing?” There are many policy approaches to relieving the crisis of housing affordability for all income levels, including “social housing.” Three social housing bills have been introduced this year in the California legislature. LWVC has written a letter of support for Asm. Alex Lee’s bill. Our LWV Palo Alto website hosts the blog “What Is Social Housing?” which has links to several articles and a SPUR webinar discussing where social housing has worked, why it has worked, and what might need to change for it to work here. Read the blog and watch the video HERE. Read how the League of Women Voters invented social housing for Montgomery County, Maryland HERE. Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) One of the missing policies for addressing the housing crisis is financing for developers to build homes that are affordable to low- and moderate-income households, especially in high opportunity areas, with the homeowner or renter paying no more than 30% of their income per month toward housing costs. On August 24, LWV Bay Area hosted a discussion by Kate Hartley, BAHFA’s Executive Director, of BAHFA’s regional bond measure planned for the November 2024 ballot, which could provide this essential financing. Watch a recording of BAHFA’s virtual workshop HERE. - Lisa Ratner, Advocacy Chair Events by Other Leagues and in the Community Discover Stanford for You: Exploring the Impact of Guns in Homes and Society Wednesday, September 13, 2023 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Gun ownership rates in the United States have reached unprecedented levels. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans have purchased firearms, many of them becoming gun-owners for the first time. Stanford professors and researchers David Studdert, Stanford professor in Health Policy and Law, and Maya Rossin-Slater, Stanford associate professor in Health Policy, will delve into the effects of introducing firearms into homes and the long-term consequences of school gun violence on students' mental health, education, and future economic prospects. Join us as we explore their insightful research findings in this crucial discussion. Learn more about the presenters and event details here. Another Momentous Year in the Supreme Court Wednesday, September 13, 2023 11 am - 12:30 pm Presented by the San Fernando Valley Unit of the Register Now League of Women Voters of Greater Los Angeles. Dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law, Erwin Chemerinsky will discuss: Another Momentous Year in the Supreme Court - What is the impact on our communities and our nation? Virtual Lunch with League Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 12 pm - 1 pm New York Times Bestselling Author Eleanor Herman "Off With Her Head: Three Thousand Years of Demonizing Women in Power" Author Eleanor Herman explores the patterns that have been operating for more than three thousand years—and are still operating today—against powerful women across the globe, including Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn, Marie Antoinette, Catherine the Great, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and more. Each chapter analyzes misogynistic methods to keep women down: Her Overweening Ambition Why Doesn’t She Do Something About Her Hair? The Dangers of Female Hormones The Alarming Shrillness of Her Voice The Mysterious Unlikability of Female Candidates She’s a Bitch and Other Animals Register Now She’s a Witch and Other Monsters Lunch with League is open to the public. Please pass along this information to others who might be interested in this topic. Spotlight On: An Equitable Water Future LWV of San Francisco Thursday, September 28, 2023 6 pm – 7 pm Where does San Francisco's water come from? How is the Bay Area's water security threatened by growing demand and by climate change? What needs to change in order to adapt and secure our water future? What can San Francisco and Bay Area residents do at the local and household levels to make sure our water future is secure and equitable for all? Please join the League of Women Voters of San Francisco for this educational event, with featured speaker Nahal Ghoghaie Ipakchi, Senior Director at Kearns & West and founder of EcoEquity Consulting. With a mission in equitable outreach and engagement for climate and water planning, policy, and funding, she will speak on ways we can proactively address the crisis and ensure water equity in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California. Her talk will be followed by a Q&A session. Register Now Register Now In Case You Missed It Catch up on these very informative League presentations! Palo Alto Police Chief Andrew Binder gave an excellent talk on how the Palo Alto Police Department prioritizes services to our city at LWV Palo Alto’s August Virtual Speaker Event. Kate Hartley, Director of Bay Area Housing Finance Authority, provided an overview of a proposed regional affordable housing 2024 bond measure at a League Bay Area event in August. The General Obligation Bond (parcel tax) measure would provide funding for affordable housing in the nine Bay Area counties. Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters Shannon Bushey gave a fact-filled presentation on Election Security at the August Lunch with League. She also discussed the challenge of getting more people to vote and asked the League to help with voter education and participation. 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Sign Up for LWV California & LWVUS News & Alerts Click here to sign up for LWVC Newsletter and LWVC Action Alerts Click here to sign up for LWVUS Email News (at bottom) and LWVUS Action Alerts How to contact your elected officials All your elected officials United States President Joseph R. Biden (202) 456-1414 Senator Dianne Feinstein (415) 393-0707 Senator Alex Padilla 202-224-3553 Rep. Anna Eshoo (650) 323-2984 California Governor Gavin Newsom (916) 445-2841 Senator Josh Becker (650) 212-3313 Assemblymember Marc Berman (650) 691-2121 Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian (650) 965-8737 joe.simitian@bos.sccgov.org Other Areas in California Locate your elected officials by using your street address JOIN A TEAM Learn More About Our Teams and Programs on our Website! Facebook Twitter Website Copyright © 2023 League of Women Voters Palo Alto, All rights reserved. From Voter Recipient List Our mailing address is: League of Women Voters Palo Alto 3921 E Bayshore Rd Ste 209 Palo Alto, CA 94303-4303 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Questions? Please contact communications@lwvpaloalto.org. From:Mary T. Marino-Crawford To:Council, City Subject:Thomas Foon Chew"s Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 5:04:11 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from mtmcrawford.scpd@gmail.com. Learn whythis is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To all members of the City Council of Palo Alto. Please do NOT tear down the Thomas Foon Chew Cannery. Because of its historical significance, it should be preserved for future generations of people to see. Mary Marino-Crawford From:Evelyn Seto To:Council, City Subject:Please retain our history. Stop Demolition of former Bayside Cannery, 340 Portage Ave Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 4:17:05 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from ejungseto@yahoo.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. ________________________________ To the City Council of Palo Alto: I’m a concerned citizen and interested in preserving historical sites that recognize the contributions made to our country by the Chinese immigrants who under extra ordinary circumstances of racial hatred and discrimination created the 3rd largest cannery in the Santa Clara Valley. He supplied jobs, food and housing for his workers. Thomas Foon Chew’s efforts should not be erased in history as many immigrants have in the past. Chinese immigrants have contributed to the growth of California more than most people know. They made inroads with the building the Transcontinental Railroad, building the levees that benefited the agriculture, developed strains of fruit. All under discrimination and the Exclusion Act. Our young people should know the full history of the building of this country, not just from the narrow perspective of a few. I strongly urge the council to consider another use for the site, demolish it repurpose it for say a historical museum that speaks to the history of the area before and after “silicon valley”. We saved the HP Garage. Why not this site? Evelyn Seto From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Robert. Jonsen; Mila Zelkha; Michael Gennaco; Foley,Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Tannock, Julie; Wagner, April; Jensen, Eric; Hornung, Joel; Josh Becker; dsnorris@menlopark.gov; Linda Jolley; Afanasiev, Alex; Lee, Craig; Reifschneider, James; Sean Allen; Shana Segal; Tina Boales; Jeff Rosen Subject:Re: At Taser Maker Axon, ex-staffers say loyalty meant being tased or Tattooed -Reuters August 30, 2023. Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 2:24:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. Sent from my iPhone On Sep 4, 2023, at 2:05 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Should Palo Alto be doing business with Axon Enterprise? Should Santa Clara County be doing Business with Axon Enterprise? I say emphatically, NO. Axon Enterprise maintains a sexist culture where women are called vaginas and men who don't go along with being tattooed or tased are calledpussies. It’s a replica of ugly police culture where showing loyalty is a priority if you want to remain employedbut NO commitment is demonstrated in return. \ Employees are pressured to be tased in a controlled setting to show loyalty. But these same employees must also sign a waivergiving up their right to sue if they are injured or die due to being tased. Axon does not have their employee's backs. SantaClara County has no business buying weapons from this predator corporation. aram 415-370-5056 <axon-taser-exposures-share.jpg> At Taser maker Axon, ex-staff say loyalty meant being tased, tattooed reuters.com From:arlene chew To:Council, City Subject:Thomas Foon Chew Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 2:19:45 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from arlene.chew@icloud.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. ________________________________ Please do not demolish the cannery. It’s a bright point in a dark period for the Chinese. An inspiration Thank you, Arlene Chew From:Holly Millar To:Council, City Subject:Thomas Foon Chew"s cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 2:12:47 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from hmillar@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 City Council, I urge you to stop the demolition of Thomas Foon Chew's cannery. It is an important cultural site which is Historically significant and deserves to be saved. Sincerely, Holly Millar From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Robert. Jonsen; Mila Zelkha; Michael Gennaco;Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Tannock, Julie; Wagner, April; Jensen, Eric; Hornung, Joel; Josh Becker;dsnorris@menlopark.gov; Linda Jolley; Afanasiev, Alex; Lee, Craig; Reifschneider, James; Sean Allen; Shana Segal; Tina Boales;Jeff Rosen Subject:At Taser Maker Axon, ex-staffers say loyalty meant being tased or Tattooed -Reuters August 30, 2023. Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 2:05:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Should Palo Alto be doing business with Axon Enterprise? Should Santa Clara County be doing Business with Axon Enterprise? I say emphatically, NO. Axon Enterprise maintains a sexist culture wherewomen are called vaginas and men who don't goalong with being tattooed or tased are called pussies. It’s a replica of ugly police culture where showing loyalty is a priority if you want to remain employedbut NO commitment is demonstrated in return. \ Employees are pressured to be tased in a controlled setting to show loyalty. But these same employees must also sign a waivergiving up their right to sue if they are injured or die due to being tased. Axon does not have their employee's backs. Santa Clara County has no business buying weaponsfrom this predator corporation. aram 415-370-5056 At Taser maker Axon, ex-staff say loyalty meant being tased, tattooed reuters.com From:Aram James To:Linda Jolley; Gardener, Liz; Roberta Ahlquist; Council, City; Angie Evans; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Shikada, Ed Subject:From The Mercury News e-edition - Affordable homes project grows in scope. ( more Builder’s Remedy housing ) Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 1:16:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ I saw this The Mercury News e-edition article on the The Mercury News e-edition app and thought you’d be interested. Affordable homes project grows in scope https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=673183e9-8dfd-4661-93dd- 5fa45be0b7fa&appcode=SAN252&eguid=c83f2647-2c23-48e9-9b22-da8e1e598ac2&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:Robert. Jonsen; Sheriff Transparency; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Reifschneider,James; Wagner, April; Shikada, Ed; Michael Gennaco; Jeff Rosen; Shana Segal; Josh Becker; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Human Relations Commission; Rebecca Eisenberg; ladoris cordell; Mila Zelkha; Chuck Jagoda; Perron,Zachary; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; Mila Zelkha; Jay Boyarsky; Enberg, Nicholas Subject:- Fatal police shooting of pregnant woman raises concerns over firing at moving cars Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 1:10:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ I saw this The Mercury News e-edition article on the The Mercury News e-edition app and thought you’d be interested. Fatal police shooting of pregnant woman raises concerns over firing at moving cars https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=d0143fe3-47c1-41a9-82c4- 36e9b4b9d59b&appcode=SAN252&eguid=c83f2647-2c23-48e9-9b22-da8e1e598ac2&pnum=14# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: Sent from my iPhone From:Remi Tan To:Council, City Subject:2023-09-05 Agenda Item 7 redevelopment of Bayside Cannery a 340 Portage Comment Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 12:34:42 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from remitan@sbcglobal.net. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Honorable City Council: I am a Bay Area architect and a second generation Chinese American. It has come to my attention that 40% of the historic Bayside Cannery is slated for demolition to be replaced by townhouses. While Icertainly understand the need for more housing in Palo Alto, in this case this is coming at the expense ofremoving a very historically significant building. As per the Rincon Consultants and Page and TurnbullCultural Resource study below, this is a very rare industrial agricultural building owned by a ChineseAmerican immigrant, Thomas Foon Chew. What makes this story even more compelling is that thecannery was the third largest after Delmonte and Dole. (see highlighted excerpts below from the CulturalResource Study.) What makes this story even more amazing is Thomas Chew managed to build and run a large successfulbusiness during a time of open and legislated racial discrimination when Chinese and Asians wereprohibited from owning property in CA due to the 1913 Alien Lands Law that was only repealed in1956,and when Chinese were also unable to immigrate to our country due to the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Actthat was only abolished in 1965. Also it is my understanding that the CA Historic Resource Commission is scheduled to review this verybuilding for including in the CA Historical Buildings Register and the Nation Historic Building Register nextweek on 09/14/2023. Reviewing the project site plan, the project can be reconfigured to place the new housing to the northand south of the existing historic building in the existing parking lots. These north and south parking lotportions site could accommodate equal and maybe even more housing units than currently proposed ifdone with denser apartment/condo style buildings. Parking can be shared between the residential andcommercial use in the historic building. Alternatively, the inside of the historic building could be adaptivereused, maintaining historic features into desirable loft style apartments/condos. Part of the historicstructure can be devoted to public use in lieu of the two proposed public parks at the NE and S part of thesites. Given the historical significance and rarity of the building, the upcoming review by the CA Historic Resource Commission, the fact that the housing can be built on the open parking lots to the north and south of the existing historic building and the historic building could be adaptive reused into housing, and the study's conclusion of a significant impact to historic resource, I strongly urge the City Council to deny this project as designed and require the developer to retain the historic building and redesign the project to be in compliance with the cultural resource study's recommendations. Excerpts from Appendix C of the EIR Cultural Resources Study by Rincon Consultants and Page and Turnbull Page 14 "340 Portage Avenue and the associated office building were previously recorded and evaluated for historic significance for the City of Palo Alto by Page & Turnbull, Inc. and found eligible for listing in the CRHR. The site’s significance was described in the Page & Turnbull evaluation as follows: 340 Portage Avenue and the associated former office building to the southeast appear to be individually significant under Criterion 1 in association with historical events important to the history of Palo Alto. Agricultural industries, including fruit and vegetable canning, were once the dominant industries in Santa Clara County. The oldest portions of the cannery building, itself, were constructed in 1918 for the Bayside Canning Company, which was owned by Chinese immigrant and prominent canning mogul, Thomas Foon Chew. Under Chew, the Bayside Canning Company rose to become the third largest fruit and vegetable cannery in the world in the 1920s, behind only Libby and Del Monte. After Chew’s death, the cannery was subsequently purchased and operated for more than twenty years by the Sutter Packing Company, another fruit and vegetable cannery. The Sutter Packing Company significantly expanded the cannery building and its operations throughout the 1930s and 1940s as it prepared for and raced to meet the demands of World War II. The expansion projects included the construction of the extant office building at 3201-3225 Ash Street to the southeast of cannery building at 340 Portage Avenue. For a time, the cannery was the largest employer in the Mid Peninsula, and when it closed in 1949, it was the largest employer in Palo Alto. The trajectory of canning operations at the plant —which began in the early twentieth century, peaked in the 1920s, increased production to meet the demands of World War II, and then quickly declined as residential development and new industries began to replace agricultural industries in the postwar period— corresponds closely to the broad pattern of the history of the canning industry in Santa Clara County. The building is a rare surviving example of Palo Alto’s and Santa Clara County’s agricultural past. As a result, the building at 340 Portage Avenue does appear to be individually significant at the local level under Criterion 1. The period of significance under this criterion begins in 1918, when canning operations began at the site under the Bayside Canning Company, and ends in 1949, when the Sutter Packing Company’s canning operations at the building ended." Page 20 "this impacts analysis finds that the project would result in the material impairment to a historical resource and result in a substantial adverse change in the significance of a resource. Furthermore, it does not comply with the Secretary’s Standards and as proposed and would result in a significant impact to a historical resource for the purposes of CEQA." Thank you and Best Regards, Remi Tan, AIA, LEED AP BD+CArchitecture, Green/Sustainability Consulting, and Real Estate Investment 650-291-3097 Virus-free.www.avast.com From:slevy@ccsce.com To:Council, City; Planning Commission Cc:Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly Subject:files and comments Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 12:19:51 PM Attachments:sclPaloAltoadoptout080323.pdfsclSan-JoseADOPTEDOUT082823.pdfHCD Menlo Park letter.pdf2023-08-18 - Grubb Letter to HCD re Palo Alto HUE (002).pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Happy Labor Day, I am attaching some files to make sure everyone has all of them. The first three are the HCD letters re the Palo Alto, San Jose and Menlo Park housing elements. Though each letter is specific to that city, there are common elements particularly re the PAand SJ letters: --concern with the fair housing implications of how BMR housing is distributed around the city --a request for more evidence that non-vacant sites has a realistic/feasible chance of housing development --a request for more evidence that constraints to housing are being addressed with the suggestion that additional sites and programs may be required. For PA fees, the RPO and tree ordinance are called out for review --a request to see evidence that review and processing reforms are actually working Next is a letter sent by the attorneys for the owner of the property at 788-796 San Antonio to HCD with a cc to the Planning Director. I will be interested to see how the city responds or whether the project needs to be removed from the site inventory. Finally, I hope the city attorney can provide advice on the various legal cases pending redenial of builder's remedy projects. Stephen Levy From:Matthew Bryant To:Council, City Subject:Bicycle and Ped safety Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 11:51:09 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from vacationmatt@yahoo.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. ________________________________ Good morning council members, I am writing to express my support of bicycle and pedestrian safety on El Camino Real. There are many people who walk and bicycle on ECR and any infrastructure improvements will improve safety and increase the usability along this street. Please support CalTrans future efforts to add bicycle lanes and improve crosswalks and intersections on ECR. This is not only a safety issue but also a social equity issue. Many people who use ECR know this is the fastest, shortest route across Palo Alto when driving a car or taking a bus, therefore it’s natural to walk or ride a bicycle on the same road. Thank you for supporting a safe, healthy and livable ECR accessed and used equally by everyone. Best regards, Dr. Matt Bryant 471 Pepper Ave Palo Alto, CA Sent from Outer Space From:Denise Lee To:Council, City Cc:myarima@gmail.com Subject:Save Bayside Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:28:20 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from deniselee4590@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council of Palo Alto, I am stunned in an age of great education that we are still demolishing history literally and concerned citizens still have raise awareness. Many older generations want to be honored but they are forgetting to leave historical remnants so the younger generations realize there is history around them and not just in a book. With regards to Asian Americans in particular, our contributions keep getting wiped out like no one wants to know these immigrants came to build a life and in doing so helped build the state of California and our Nation. It has given me great pride as a 4th generation Chinese American to know how my ancestors helped create this fabric of the state of California beyond just the Transcontinental Railroad – all the railroads in CA, the wine industry, the Delta, the fishing, lumber, legal precedence and the canning industry to name a few. The youth of today have no realization of the amazing history their Asian American generations before them accomplished to have and be what they are today. Whether they are Asian American or another race, the realization alone is education that will be lost as well as agency. What happened to smart housing? As the building can be a historical landmark building with a historical plaques and the interior can be remodeled for living spaces. It can also be suggested for a certain area to be designed to show the significance of the building’s history for all to learn. Plus there has got to be some tax advantage to do so. Please consider other alternatives besides the constant destruction we keep witnessing to create utopian views we keep seeing in the movies. We can do better as history tries to teach us that but is often overlooked. Thank you, Denise Lee Temple of Kwan Tai Mendocino, CA From:Kenneth Hong To:Council, City; Kou, Lydia Cc:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; myarima@gmail.com; Terry Holzemer Subject:Preserve the Bayside Cannery Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:09:05 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from kenneth.hong@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 Palo Alto City Council Members, My name is Kenneth Hong. I am writing to you in support of preserving the Thomas FoonChew Cannery and adding it to the California register of historical buildings. I am not a current resident of Palo Alto; however, my family have been long-time residents going back to the late 1800's before Thomas Foon Chew built the Bayside Cannery in 1918.My great-grandfather and grandfather lived and worked in Palo Alto. My grandfather was a graduate of both Palo Alto High School and Stanford University ('28, Eng '32). I have manyuncles and cousins who grew-up and lived in Palo Alto as well. I grew up just up the peninsula in San Mateo. Remembering Thomas Foon Chew and the early Asian American pioneers in Palo Alto isimportant because history has, more often than not, all but forgotten them. The Cannery is significant not only for my family but for all current and future residents of Palo Alto andCalifornia. As former Palo Alto Mayor Karen Holman said, “It is very important to have a physical historical site that everyone can visit. People will deepen their understanding of historybecause of the real experience of the physical site.” Please help make the Bayside Cannery a fitting monument to the struggles and triumphs of Palo Alto's early Asian American pioneers. Please vote in favor of preserving the BaysideCannery and adding it to California's registry of historical buildings. Best regards, Kenneth J. Hong Malvern, PA 19355 From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Tanaka, Greg; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Roberta Ahlquist;Linda Jolley; friendsofcubberley94303@gmail.com; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Kevin Jensen; SheriffTransparency; Robert. Jonsen; Vara Ramakrishnan; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Josh Becker; Mila Zelkha; AngieEvans; wilpf.peninsula.paloalto@gmail.com; Shana Segal; Lewis. james Subject:Special meeting called over tear gas use in Santa Clara County jails Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 10:03:17 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ https://www.ktvu.com/news/special-meeting-called-over-tear-gas-use-in-santa-clara-county-jails Sent from my iPhone From:Rebecca Sanders To:Council, City Cc:gsheyner@paweekly.com; Dave Price; Furman, Sheri Subject:Item 7, September 5, 2023 Partial Demolition is Tantamount to Total Demolition Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 9:49:04 AM Attachments:PAN_09052023_Cannery_Letter.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and Councilmembers: It is vitally important to understand that the proposed partial demolition of the Thomas Foon Chew Cannery building is tantamount to total demolition. Approving the proposal before you on September 5, the demolition of about 40% of the building, will render the Cannery ineligible for historic protection, putting the entire building, including the monitor roofs in jeopardy for future generations. The legacy of an important figure in not only Palo Alto’s history, but in the history of Santa Clara County and of Chinese history in California will be swept away with your “yes” vote. Palo Alto Neighborhoods has a history of advocacy around this property and for the construction of housing there as well. Back in 2019, PAN supported the colleagues memo proposed by Councilmembers Kou and DuBois to expedite the housing work plan, in particular measures to build affordable and BMR housing. Even before the NVCAP process began, PAN advocated for sunsetting the use of office/commercial at the Fry’s/Cannery site, as prescribed by previous councils, so that the property could be redeveloped as housing, which Palo Alto desperately needs. During the NVCAP process, PAN backed the bold Alternative M as put forth by Terry Holzemer, Keith Reckdahl and Becky Sanders. Alternative M would have given us hundreds of housing units, all while preserving the legacy of Thomas Foon Chew and enhancing North Ventura by providing homes for new neighbors in a livable, walkable environment. Now that the EIR has reported that the demolition would be culturally destructive and would cost us one of the most major historic resources in our city, it's time to look for meaningful alternatives. You can in fact add the same amount of housing (or more) without any demolition of the Cannery. A number of ideas for that have not been formally explored. For example, instead of building a massive new two-story garage north of the Cannery, cars can be parked inside the portion of the Cannery that was to be demolished. This will free up space further from the train for new housing while saving the entire Cannery. It's more environmental -- and it preserves a historic resource. Below you will find a link to an article about the history of the Cannery that appeared last week in the Chinese language news outlet World Journal. PAN urges Council to work with the applicant and community to come up with a plan that preserves the cannery in its entirety. Thank you for your consideration. Sheri Furman Becky Sanders Co-Chairs, Palo Alto Neighborhoods https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121617/7406944?from=wj_good_index Residents Seek to Salvage the Old Factory Building of the Chinese "Asparagus King" and Call for the Preservation of Historical Sites Reporter Xu Beibei/Palo Alto Report 2023-08-31 14:28 ET The city of Palo Alto will soon finalize plans for a redevelopment of a factory building at 340 Portage Ave. However, behind this factory building is the history and years of Thomas Foon Chew*, a Chinese business tycoon in the Bay Area at the beginning of the last century. In the last century when the Chinese Exclusion Act was the most severe, Zhao Chan Yuan opened several factories in the Bay Area and owned the third largest canning factory in the United States at that time. He revolutionized asparagus canning technology and was known as the "King of Asparagus". He unfortunately died of pneumonia at the age of 41, and more than 25,000 people in Chinatown in San Francisco attended his funeral. Terry Holzemer is a teacher in the Palo Alto School District. By chance, he read the book "Historic Bay Area Visionaries" by Robin Chapman, which records Zhao Chan Yuan's deeds . In the face of the city council's proposal to demolish the factory building and build 74 townhouses, he raised $1,500 on a crowdfunding website and applied to list the factory building as a historic site, exempting it from demolition. "It's important to know Thomas Foon Chew, and unfortunately history has all but forgotten him. He should be recognized for what he accomplished in an environment of unimaginable racial prejudice and discrimination," Holzemer said. "We often forget this point, if our next generation forgets where they came from, it will be a great loss to the whole society." Karen Holman, the former mayor of Palo Alto, said, "It is very important to have a physical historical site that everyone can visit. People will deepen their understanding of history because of the real firsthand experience. People would say, oh, this is where that and such and such happened. It is very important to preserve the historical relics that are within reach. Especially considering that Zhao Chan Yuan’s factory in Alviso is gone today.” At present, the old canning factory site has passed the preliminary review and meets the standards of the California Historic Site Registration, but it still needs to pass the hearing of the Historic Resources Board in Palo Alto on September 14. On the 5th of next month, the Palo Alto City Council will discuss the development agreement between the city government and Sobrato, which currently owns the factory building. If approved, 40 percent of the factories would be demolished to make way for 74 townhouses. The remaining factory buildings will be refurbished for commercial use. What worries Holzemer and Holman is that once the council approves the development agreement and 40 percent of the building is demolished, the old cannery building will no longer qualify as a historic site. So, they hope that more people can attend the city council meeting on September 5, or write to the council, expressing their wishes to preserve the old canning factory building as a historic site. Monica Yeung Arima, director of the Palo Alto City Museum of History, said: "Asian American history is not well documented, not well taught to our next generation, or even part of classroom programs. And the rise of hate crimes against Asians reminds us of the importance of history education.” Yeung Wai Ping** said, "The Asian community is growing, and it is of great significance to preserve a historical site that can resonate with the Asian community. This historical site tells us that since a long time ago, we belong here." *Chew’s official English name is “Thomas Foon Chew,” but his Chinese name is Zhao Chan Yuan. **”Yeung Wai Ping” is Monica Yeung Arima’s Chinese name From:Amy joan Subject:Let us help you with your hiring needs !! Date:Monday, September 4, 2023 4:11:54 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from amyjoanitservice@outlook.com. Learn whythis is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi, We are a specialist RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) firm that provides a Dedicated Remote Recruiters at a reasonable price who could assist you to find the right candidate as per your requirement and handle all the recruitment needs of your company. If so, let’s set up a time to chat/call to discuss the further steps if this is something you are looking for! Regards, Kelly From:Liz Gardner To:Council, City Cc:Sue Dremann; Roberta Ahlquist; Lotus Yee Fong; Aram James; Palo Alto Renters" Association; Palo Alto Forward Subject:On the Streets of Palo Alto Irene Macias Daughter & Baby David Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 9:00:17 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council and Mayor Kou, Just a quick, very sad update about a local Irene Macias family now on the streets of Palo Alto: Irene , daughter Samantha and Baby David are parked somewhere in their vehicle tonight -- Life Moves a contracted city service provider did zero toassist them with with anything. Life Move no-one and they shined this family on -no shelter beds and no motel -- and it's a Holiday weekend. And we are entrusted with a property 1 dollar a year lease and multi millions of dollars in development funding? They could not prevent one young family from vehicular survival. The city of Palo Alto failed on every level for this very unfortunate working family who are EVICTED from the most recent, very low income multi-family housing at Mayfield Place -- solely for non-payment of rent. It appears the city and associatedagencies and housing non-profits are ill equipped to handle the housing / rental /jobs, crisis. It's in triplicate sorrow because the Palo Alto Weekly could have helped in Januarywith a story. Irene was one of five of Sue Dremann's contacts for an article aboutMayfield Place, Related and Stanford Research Park. This -- very low-income multi-family development (used as a backdrop photo for the City HEWG web page) of tenant, amenity and management failures -- which after interview and research mysterious reasons got dropped. Sincerely, Liz GardnerMayfield Place Palo Alto From:Connie Yu To:Council, City Cc:myarima@gmail.com Subject:Save Bayside Cannery factory building Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 7:48:51 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from connieyoungyu@msn.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, The Bayside Cannery building must not be demolished and its significant legacy erased from the Palo Alto. Thomas Foon Chew was a great industrialist and humanitarian of his time whose struggles and achievements during the Chinese Exclusion Law must be brought forth. This is American history, and the City of Palo Alto, by saving this factory building, will have proof of an inspiring multi-cultural past for future generations. As a Chinese American historian, 3rd generation Californian and author of Chinatown, San Jose, USA, I feel this building has physical evidence important to the community of Palo Alto and beyond. I was a member of the committee (AISHAC) that saved the detention barracks on Angel Island from demolition. I have consulted on the archaeological excavations of two Chinatowns in San Jose and a Chinese railroad workers camp in the Sierras. Physical evidence is critical to learning the truth about our past. Once it is destroyed -- it is gone forever. So, I urge you to please save and preserve the Bayside Cannery on Portage Road. It's an opportunity of discovering the past right here -- and great possibilities for the future. Sincerely, Connie Young Yu 12981 La Barranca Rd. Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 c. 415 260-2494 From:Jeff Hoel To:UAC Cc:Hoel, Jeff (external); Council, City Subject:08-06-23 UAC meeting -- FTTP item Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 4:24:51 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Commissioners, At your 09-06-23 meeting, you will consider an item (Item 3) about FTTP. The staff report is on PDF pages 45-58.https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/utilities-advisory-commission/archived-agenda-and-minutes/agendas-and-minutes-2023/09-sep-2023/09-06- 2023-uac-packet.pdf The 09-06-23 staff report is nearly identical to the staff report for your 08-02-23 meeting, which was cancelled.https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/utilities-advisory-commission/archived-agenda-and-minutes/agendas-and-minutes-2023/08-aug- 2023/packet_20230725183430568.pdf My comments on the 08-02-23 staff report appear in this Letters From Citizens document (PDF pages 6- 13)https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/utilities-advisory-commission/archived-agenda-and-minutes/agendas-and-minutes-2023/09-sep-2023/september- 6-2023-public-letters-to-the-uac.pdf They're still applicable. Thanks. Jeff -------------------Jeff Hoel731 Colorado AvenuePalo Alto, CA 94303------------------- PS: Differences between the 09-06-23 and 08-02-23 staff reports: * The 08-02-23 staff report says "In addition to construction constraints, staff does not have enough internal resources to project manage, perform engineering make ready, and inspect construction for both projects in parallel." The 09-06-23 staff report omits the words highlighted in yellow. * The 09-06-23 staff report omits 5 pages of back-up slides. * On page 4 of 8, two paragraphs are merged into one. * The 09-06-23 staff reports (less slides) is 8 pages long, while the 08-02-23 staff report (less slides) is 7pages long, because of minor typesetting differences. From:Bill Fitch To:Planning Commission; Council, City Subject:Changes to housing element Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 12:53:07 PM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from facehiker@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. ________________________________ As a 47 year Palo Alto home owner, I support the Palo Alto Forward proposal for increasing housing. I can see the highrise Stanford graduate student housing from my yard and would like to see my lot converted to a highrise apartment in the next ten years. Bill Fitch 173 Park Ave. From:Samina Sundas To:Council, City Subject:An invitation for the Multifaith Peace Picnic on 9/11 in Palo Alto Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 9:59:28 AM Attachments:2023 Multifaith peace picnic flyer -3.pdf Some people who received this message don't often get email from saminasundas@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Peace partners, Please help with the outreach and invite the whole world so we can bringmore peace makers together for this important event. Thank you, Samina650-387-1994 Here is the link for registration. https://tinyurl.com/2p838h55 From:Jaya Pandey To:City Mgr; Clerk, City Cc:Know Your Neighbor Grants Subject:Invitation: Barron Park Diwali, Nov 4th Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 9:22:36 AM Attachments:Diwali Festival_Barron Park Nov 4th.png Some people who received this message don't often get email from jaya.jpandey@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 City of Palo Alto, On behalf of BarronPark Association, you are invited to Barron Park Diwali celebrations on Nov 4th. Details are in the attached flyer. Please attend with your friends and family if possible. Thanks to the City's Know Your Neighbors Grant to make this event possible! Sincerely, Jaya Pandey From:Lucia Pedrana To:Council, City Subject:Invitation to Exhibit in Venice 2024 Date:Sunday, September 3, 2023 2:18:03 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from lucia@ecc-italy.eu. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Byxbee Park, I trust this message finds you well. I'm Lucia Pedrana, from the Art team at the EuropeanCultural Centre. I'm reaching out to share the opportunity tied to the upcoming 7th edition of our biennial art exhibition "Personal Structures", scheduled from April 20 to November 24, 2024. Coincidingwith the renowned La Biennale di Venezia, it will be opened with preview special events on April 18th and 19th. Rooted in the themes of Time, Space, and Existence, the exhibition aims to offer a creativeexploration and a dynamic platform capturing the latest in contemporary art. The exhibition and various associated side events will be held in exceptional venues within the heart ofVenice, including Palazzo Bembo, Palazzo Mora, and particularly the Marinaressa Gardens. This scenic backdrop adds a significant dimension to the showcase and offers an outdoorspace for displaying sculptures in our art park. Following the previous ECC projects and the inaugural showcase of Marinaressa Garden organised by the Yorkshire Sculpture Park back in 2015, we aim to highlight the special roleof outdoor public art institutions as creative and educational hubs. To continue breathing life into this project and enrich the experience, we're excited about the prospect of invitingcurators and directors from renowned institutions to contribute their projects to our garden. It's a captivating collaborative endeavor we would be delighted to have you join. Our exhibitions and associated public programs operate on a non-profit basis, allowing freeentry for all attendees. Participants are therefore encouraged to seek financial assistance corresponding to the scale and complexity of their presentations. The ECC team is assisting inthe fundraising process for past participants who have received backing from private sponsors, secured grants through successful applications, or devised self-funding strategies. We believe that you would be an important addition to our Personal Structures 2024exhibition. If you're interested in exploring this opportunity further or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us. Thank you for considering this invitation.Hope to hear from you soon! Warm Regards, Lucia & Team -- Lucia Pedrana Exhibition OrganiserHead of University Relations email: lucia@ecc-italy.eu tel: (+39)3467603386 skype: lucia.pedrana From:Adam Schwartz To:Council, City Subject:City Council meeting September 11 - 3265 El Camino Real Date:Saturday, September 2, 2023 8:44:59 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from adamdschwartz@yahoo.com. Learn why thisis important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To the Palo Alto City Council: Greetings. I write in SUPPORT of the housing project at 3265 El Camino Real. This proposal will go before the City Council for a study session on September 11. This project will provide 44 rental homes for teachers. This is so important, because many of our city’s teachers must drive large distances to get to work here. As a result, many teachers have a hard time being available to students and their families after school. Further, long commutes means more greenhouse gas emissions. This also makes it harder for our schools to recruit new teachers. It will be located on a major bus route, and a short distance from retail and other amenities. This is exactly where we should be building new housing. New customers will help our struggling retailers on California Avenue. My family has lived in Palo Alto for eight years. Our greatest concern is with building abundant housing for all income groups. Including our hard-working teachers! Sincerely, Adam Schwartz 523 Channing Ave. From:Adam Schwartz To:Planning Commission; Council, City Subject:Planning Commission September 13 meeting - Housing Element Date:Saturday, September 2, 2023 8:09:11 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from adamdschwartz@yahoo.com. Learn why thisis important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To the Palo Alto City Council and Planning Commission: Greetings. I write regarding the Palo Alto Housing Element. I understand it will be discussed at the Commission’s September 13 meeting. I urge you to make substantial changes from the last draft, in order to ensure that Palo Alto builds abundant homes for people at all income levels. Specifically, please: 1. Allow housing on more sites- New housing should be more fairly dispersed throughout the city to provide access to transit, schools, retail, and services. 2. Upgrade zoning standards- This includes changing outdated floor area, parking, height, and density requirements that prevent projects from being built. 3. Speed up approvals - Our planning process is convoluted and complicated, with some of the longest processing times in the entire state. 4. Eliminate barriers- Update the tree and retail ordinance and review impact fees, which are unfairly borne by smaller condos/apartment units. My wife and I have lived in Palo Alto for eight years, and we plan to stay here. I hope that my mother can move here, and that my young adult children can stay here. But it is very difficult for them to do so, given the scarcity and high price of homes. Building more homes is the local issue that is most important to me, by far. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Adam Schwartz 523 Channing Ave. From:Ken Joye To:Planning Commission; Council, City Subject:Housing Element Date:Saturday, September 2, 2023 7:27:55 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ I understand that the Housing Element is due to come before the Planning Commission. I would be happiest if the approval of that plan resulted in reduced barriers to construction so that a wider spectrum of people are able to live in our community. We raised our two children here but because neither of them hold high paying jobs it is difficult or impossible for them to afford to live here. I would like the people who work at the grocery stores or restaurants which I patronize to be my neighbors, rather than force them to drive to work from far away. One clear way to remove barriers is to allow increased density in our town. The block I live on has ten or eleven parcels, depending upon how you count. There are two parcels with ADU’s, two duplexes and one four-plex. I like to think that our block is quite liveable and invite you to take a stroll with me to see for yourself. I believe that all parts of Palo Alto could be like my block, hope that you would agree. Please remove barriers to building more reasonably priced housing. thank you for your service, Ken Joye Ventura neighborhood From:Jo Ann Mandinach To:Planning Commission; Council, City Subject:Housing Element Date:Saturday, September 2, 2023 4:28:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello. In considering the housing element, please 1) Ensure that existing neighborhoods and their character are preserved, especially since the targets are based on outdated and unrealistic numbers. 2) Do not change zoning, height requirements, density requirements and parking requirements that will push the burden for parking into other neighborhoods, block sunlight and conversion to solar energy. 3) Palo Alto is the TREE city so do your best to preserve them to foster healthy living, 4) Preserve and encourage MORE retail, not less. The biased recommendationsfrom StreetSense show a pathetic lack of awareness of Palo Alto but have given us all some good laughs, Their arrogant attempts to tell the city what WE can and cannot do are utterly ridiculous, Whoever selected them should be ashamed of themselves. Thanks and best regards, Jo Ann Mandinach From:Emily Young To:Council, City Cc:Steve Branz; David Bergen; Elizabeth Ratner Subject:supporting Housing Element suggestions!! Date:Saturday, September 2, 2023 12:12:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council I am writing to support the following suggestions from the Housing Element committee 1. Allow housing on more sites- New housing should be more fairly dispersed throughoutthe city to provide access to transit, schools, retail, and services. 2. Upgrade zoning standards- This includes changing outdated floor area, parking,height, and density requirements that prevent projects from being built. 3. Speed up approvals - Our planning process is convoluted and complicated, with someof the longest processing times in the entire state. 4. Eliminate barriers- Update the tree and retail ordinance and review impact fees, whichare unfairly borne by smaller condos/apartment units. Please keep working hard on housing and keep an open mind for serious suggestions that the Housing Element group is putting forward. We need to act now to make more affordablehousing in Palo Alto. Thanks for listening and considering my letter. Emily Young and Stephen Branz- residents of Palo Alto since 1980 -- Emily Young 402 El Verano AvePalo Alto, CA 94306 home: 650-856-9571 From:Chao Lam To:Council, City; Planning Commission Subject:Housing Element Big Four Date:Saturday, September 2, 2023 11:42:44 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from chao@cs.stanford.edu. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, This is Chao Lam from 193 Waverley St. As a long-time Palo Alto resident, I would like youto know I support more housing types in Palo Alto and following four principles: 1. Better Zoning 2. More sites for housing3. Fast Process 4. Less red tape Thanks for listening,Chao Lam From:Yahoo Mail.® To:Honky Subject:JAG Sentences 10 Clot Shot-Loving Physicians to Hang ? HHMMMMM But did it really happen ? Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 8:39:36 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Since this has happenned August 23 2023 and the same in 2021 too only for Fraud in 2021 AND 2023, It must happen for MURDER TOO WE THE PEOPLE (OR BUST) 2023 Justice Department Announces Results of Nationwide COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Action Justice Department Announces Results of Nationwide COVID-19 Fraud Enforc... The Justice Department announced today the results of a coordinated, nationwide enforcement action to combat COV... 2021 Justice Department Takes Action Against COVID-19 Fraud Justice Department Takes Action Against COVID-19 Fraud The Department of Justice announced an update today on criminal and civil enforcement efforts to combat COVID-19... If this didn't happen ? IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED (AND TO MORE THAN 10) WE THE PEOPLE (OR BUST) JAG Sentences 10 Clot Shot-Loving Physicians to Hang JAG Sentences 10 Clot Shot-Loving Physicians to Hang The United States Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps and the Office of Military Commissions on Thursday entered... NARM "Ban the Jab" Forum WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH ARMS IN EVERY STATE nationalarm.org (it's who WE are ) NARM "Ban the Jab" Forum National American Renaissance Movement (NationalArm.org) 'Ban the Jab' Forum. This in depth educational forum in... From:Aram James To:Michael Gennaco; Molly; Stump, Molly; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Shikada, Ed; Wagner, April; BryanGobin; Council, City; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Tannock, Julie; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Rebecca Eisenberg; SheriffTransparency; Jeff Rosen; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert. Jonsen; Rob Baker; David Angel; Joe Simitian; HumanRelations Commission; ParkRec Commission; Josh Becker; Mila Zelkha; Perron, Zachary; DuJuan Green; dennisburns Subject:At Taser Maker Axon, ex-staffers say loyalty meant being tased or Tattooed -Reuters August 30, 2023. Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 6:34:20 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Fyi: Should Santa Clara County be doing Business with Axon Enterprise? I say emphatically, NO. Axon Enterprise maintains a sexist culture where women are called vaginias, and men who don't go along with being tattooed or tased are called pussys. It’s a replica of ugly police culture where showing loyalty is a priority if you want to remain employed but NO commitment is demonstrated in return. \ Employees are pressured to be tased in a controlled setting to show loyalty. But these same employees must also sign a waiver giving up their right to sue if they are injured or die due to being tased. Axon does not have their employee's backs. Santa Clara County has no business buying weapons from this predator corporation. aram 415-370-5056 At Taser maker Axon, ex-staff say loyalty meant being tased, tattooed reuters.com From:Aram James To:Vara Ramakrishnan; Emily Mibach; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Robert. Jonsen; Cerise Castle; CeciliaTaylor; Sheriff Transparency; Shikada, Ed; Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Dave Price; Human Relations Commission;EPA Today; Diana Diamond; friendsofcubberley94303@gmail.com; Binder, Andrew; Council, City; PlanningCommission; Shana Segal; Reifschneider, James; Michael Gennaco; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov Subject:Stop gassing prisoners! Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 5:52:09 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ > My dear friend Linda Jolly sent this powerful letter to Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonson today. With her permission, I am circulating her letter to you. > > Aram > > > > > >> >> Sheriff Jonson - >> >> I was deeply moved by Aram James' editorial letter about prisoners being tortured with gas in their cells. I want you to stop >> this practice immediately. >> >> Social scientists are increasingly convinced that a major cause of crime is the torture of children in their homes. When people with >> this background are further tortured in the penal system do we expect they will emerge as loving people upon their release?? >> >> I have been exposed to pepper spray and it is despicable. >> >> I have seen police abuse firsthand and now fighting it in Menlo Park. As you know, my friend Aram makes war on police abuse. >> Eventually we will see to it that abusers in the justice system will be thrown out. Do not put yourself on our hit list. >> >> Linda Jolley 650-630-3021 From:Aram James To:Richard k; Sean Allen; Raj; walter wilson; Sameena Usman; Jose Valle——-debug; Jethroe Moore; Al Morales;Sheriff Transparency; Robert. Jonsen; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Shikada, Ed; JoshBecker; Michael Gennaco; Joe Simitian; Supervisor Otto Lee; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Cindy Chavez;District1@bos.sccgov.org; Jeff Rosen; Human Relations Commission; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Rebecca Eisenberg;ladoris cordell; Mila Zelkha; Perron, Zachary; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Shana Segal; Enberg, Nicholas Subject:stop gassing prisoners! Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 5:32:25 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. ________________________________ My dear friend Linda Jolly sent this powerful letter to Santa Clara County Sheriff Robert Jonson today. With her permission, I am circulating her letter to you. Aram > > Sheriff Jonson - > > I was deeply moved by Aram James' editorial letter about prisoners being tortured with gas in their cells. I want you to stop > this practice immediately. > > Social scientists are increasingly convinced that a major cause of crime is the torture of children in their homes. When people with > this background are further tortured in the penal system do we expect they will emerge as loving people upon their release?? > > I have been exposed to pepper spray and it is despicable. > > I have seen police abuse firsthand and now fighting it in Menlo Park. As you know, my friend Aram makes war on police abuse. > Eventually we will see to it that abusers in the justice system will be thrown out. Do not put yourself on our hit list. > > Linda Jolley 650-630-3021 From:Loran Harding To:Loran Harding; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; beachrides; bearwithme1016@att.net; David Balakian; LeodiesBuchanan; bballpod; fred beyerlein; boardmembers; Council, City; Cathy Lewis;cramirez.electriclab133@gmail.com; Doug Vagim; dallen1212@gmail.com; Dan Richard; dennisbalakian; DanielZack; eappel@stanford.edu; Scott Wilkinson; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov;huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; Sally Thiessen; jerry ruopoli; Joel Stiner; kfsndesk;karkazianjewelers@gmail.com; Mark Standriff; Mayor; merazroofinginc@att.net; margaret-sasaki@live.com;maverickbruno@sbcglobal.net; MY77FJ@gmail.com; news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; newsdesk;russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; terry; tsheehan; vallesR1969@att.net Subject:Fwd: Stanford joins the ACC Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 2:21:32 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org>Date: Fri, Sep 1, 2023 at 12:29 PM Subject: Stanford joins the ACCTo: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Friday, September 1, 2023 Announcement today by Stanford: Change in Stanford's athletic conference membership. - loran.harding@alumni.stanford.edu - Stanford Alumni Mail (google.com) L. William Harding, Stanford '64 Fresno, Ca. From:Roberta Ahlquist To:Gardener, Liz; Julie Lythcott-Haims Cc:Lotus Yee Fong; Aram James; Council, City; city.council@cityofpaloalto.com Subject:Re: What A Difference A Year Makes Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 2:05:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. We desperately need extremely low, low-low, and low income housing for our service sectorworkers, cleaners,janitors, receptionists, etc. Wher is the RENTER'S REMEDY to counter/address the BUILDER'S REMEDY? BUILD UP,AND FACTOR IN RENT COSTS WITH HEIGHTS OF BUILDINGS. CHALLENGE SOBRATO, as they are now building low income housing inOakland, why not here, where it is sorely needed. Make Stanford more accountable w/ apt housing for workers on the Stanford Shopping CenterParking lots! 15 stores at east...across from transit, 101 Alma, which is 13-15 stores of condos,expensive. Fry's is a prime place for low-low income housing.Let's make it possible!We have too many vacant , expensive townhouses, and too much vacant office space! Creativeprojects are needed now!Sincerely, Roberta Ahlquist On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 8:47 PM Liz Gardner <gardnerjaqua@gmail.com> wrote:My reply to Julie about Fry’s ... let’s not forget the Mayfield botched agreement w the city sndStanford. It’s time the city stop acting like poor sister relations to the power grabbers and land gobblers. Note to Julie: Dear Julie, I always get the chills and thrills of goodness reading your update!! Thank you fromthe bottom of my heart. You are a leader of the extraordinary kind. Now a more sombering note: Fry's. They may own it yet CC get to zone it. The 14 acres of residentially zoned land is one of a kind to Palo Alto. It was forward thinking planning in 1996. Parsing residentially zoned property goes full sail against our cavernous housing crisis. Breaking apart the rich Asian history and the RM30 zoning will forever destroy a once in a Century Palo Alto opportunity which could, might serve more than 74 luxury townhomes and a cannery plaque. $5 million in change and an uncooked ham bone thrown in should not be a deal breaker !! Afterall Sobrato, after Fry's vacated, had no plans for any housing there or so they kept voicing -- and now the dice rolls in their favor -- They may own it yet you Julie, zone it. Sobrato ought to donate the whole parcel to the City as a write off gift of good will, honoring history and making a social contribution. Rather than the going "flavor of the day" the greed of making three bucks instead one! Along this line. If there was an example of a bad agreement to learn from is the one in 2005 between two International powers Stanford and Palo Alto: The Mayfield Agreement (a rezone near the same acreage of Fry's) Where the deals were wheeled out. A soccer park for a buck a year lease, 69 low-income units built (cheaply and poorly accomode our hard working family inhabitants) in exchange for market rate housing -- Stanford Terrace, a cafe, a non-profit and the swank, commercial Sandhill Properties (which to my knowledge just sold Sandhill Oak Creek to Stanford) . Please Julie seriously consider this flawed Mayfield agreement while moving toward a decision about Fry's and Chew's Cannery legacy site. Mayfield is also a legacy historical site, once a public school, a cattle corral served as a little town for a more diversely populated outlier to Stanford and Palo Alto. I know you are deeply considering everything with your vote. Let's not let history repeat itself, again. Our future is in your hands -- Let's honor the forebears of the 1996 City Council -- they saw the future and its now in a legacy land ! Sincerely, Liz GardnerPalo Alto On Thu, Aug 31, 2023 at 2:10 PM Julie Lythcott-Haims <teamjulieforpaloalto@gmail.com>wrote: It's Been A Year. An Actual Year. I'd been successfully resisting the persistent arm twisting of local progressives trying to include me in a slate of candidates for the Palo Alto City Council. But then NIMBY Susan Kirsch up in Mill Valley got her proud self on the front page of the Sunday Business section of the New York Times, bragging about preventing housing from being built in her town for seventeen years. And I slammed that thing down and said, Oh hell no. I'm tired of that happening here. On August 27, 2022 we launched our city council campaign in Juana Briones Park, against the backdrop of the market-rate single family homes that stand where the sixty units of affordable housing for seniors were supposed to go on Maybell Avenue, but which thanks to NIMBYism were voted down. Reflecting on that launch one year ago grounds me as to why I'm in it: More housing for humans who can't afford to live here, but should be able to, for their own sake-- Liz Gardner and for the sake of our city which needs not just the rich but everybody. That's why you helped get me elected. And I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve. Here are a few photos from the journey: I wish the entirety of Team Julie was in this photo, but alas that's not ever possible. So I want to give them all a shoutout by name. Jeanette Miller - administration (Jackson, Mississippi) Clarice Cho - social media, and design (Brooklyn, New York) Trisha Suvari - constituent correspondance (Palo Alto) Sierra Peterson - third place efforts (Palo Alto) Kurt Frewing - website and video intern (Menlo Park) Mallika Patel - social media intern (Palo Alto) Kinsey Hall - housing research intern (Santa Clara) Miles Breen - housing research intern (Palo Alto) Chania Rene-Corail - young minds celebrated intern (Palo Alto) *The gentleman pictured far left is Cristian Arrillaga with Imagination Lab School I couldn't do any of this without them ♥ Next Up at Council In light of the Labor Day holiday this coming Monday, Council will instead meet on Tuesday September 5. The agenda has only a few items on it, including interviewing candidates for our Architectural Review Board, but one agenda item in particular will tap into a lot of feelings in our community: What to do with the former Fry's site, located in the North Ventura neighborhood. The Sobrato company owns the site and has plans to redevelop it. A portion of the site happens to also be the long-ago home to a cannery owned by Thomas Foon Chew, one of the first Chinese Americans to own and operate such a thriving establishment which at one point in time was one of the biggest canneries in the COUNTRY. Sobrato hopes to build 74 town houses there, and put in a 'research & development' type tenant, as well as a small piece of retail such as a cafe. They're also proposing giving the city 3.25 acres adjacent to these buildings for a city park and affordable housing, with $5 million thrown in to get that affordable housing built. It's safe to say that numerous ideas and opinions lie between the extremes of DO NOTHING TO IT and DEMOLISH IT ALL AND BUILD SIX STORIES OF HOUSING. There are historical issues, and implicit in them the notion of how to properly honor a person of color who lived here long go, there is the housing potential (market rate and affordable), the possibility of a park, concerns about parking, the question of whether retail back there will even be viable, and zoning changes that will need to be made. Read the latest account of the opposition here. But the opining has been going on for many years with community meetings, an NVCAP (North Ventura Coordinated Area Plan), an ad hoc group, meetings with the Architectural Review Board, Historical Review Board, and Planning and Transportation Commission, revised plans from Sobrato, and concerns that it would all fall apart. It's finally time to make a decision and we all know it. This is inherently a compromise, and embedded in the process of whatever we end up agreeing to are lessons for how to do things a little differently NEXT time. For one thing, I know staff have felt EXHAUSTED from all of the back-and-forth, and we can't keep burning out staff in our efforts to generate more housing! That said, as the Rolling Stones put it best: So please let's all keep that in mind. Note, I do want to alert you to a procedural twist on this topic: we're breaking it into two meetings, owing to the complexity and degree of interest in the matter. On the 5th, we'll hear from the applicant (Sobrato) and the community. And then at our next regularly scheduled meeting (September 12) Council will deliberate and act on the matter. Here is the Agenda for the September 5 meeting. Click here to participate, or come in person, or watch on Zoom. (Meeting ID 362 027 238). You can also watch live on YouTube. Broadcast Live on Cable TV Channel 26. Remember, your voice matters and your willingness to participate in local matters is everything. The Unyielding Quest to SupportOur Youth Youth need to know that they matter, period - not because of their grades and scores and accolades and awards, but because they breathe. This is the theme of an important new book out by journalist Jennifer Wallace: Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic - and What We Can Do About It. Every Palo Alto parent, as well as parents in similar communities, should read it. And you can watch a recent conversation I had with Jennifer about her book, sponsored by the Glenbard Parent Series in Chicagoland, here. We here at Team Julie are also trying to do our part to show our youth that they matter. I was delighted to have the opportunity to say a few words of encouragement to the students at Castilleja on opening day. And we're putting on our second "Young Minds Celebrated" event on Sunday September 17 from 5:30-7pm at Mike's Diner, which will feature youth sharing their opinions and talents with us. And we need your help in recruiting youth to perform. So if you know a young person aged 12-19 who would want to give a speech/talk/monologue, perform music, or do a comedy routine, please let them know about this event. You can give them this link to sign up to perform. ALLCOVE PALO ALTO HELPS YOUTH FIND SUPPORTIVE SPACES One of our treasured youth support organizations is allcove Palo Alto, which is a space for youth to find community, support, advice or even just a moment of pause, located at 2741 Middlefield Road, Suite 102, in the heart of MidTown. Upcoming Special Events at allcove: September 5: Virtual Group Family Coaching. 1-2pm, 12 week course. September 6: What is Psychiatry? (for guardians and parents) 5-6pm. September 8: Slice of Confidence. 4:30-6pm. September 11: I'm Anxious Too. 5-6pm Recurring Events at allcove: Monday's: The Art of Self Care 4:30-5:30pm Tuesday's: Open Mic Tunes Day 5:30-6:30pm Thursday's: Game Night 5:30-6:30pm Friday's: Movie Night 4-6pm Saturday's: Saturday Reset 11am-12:00pm All events are come as you are and drop-ins are welcome. You can view the calendar and event details here. Important Conversations onPressing Issues Thanks to SiblingCities Palo Alto and Bloomington, Indiana were the first ever American cities to come up with a "sibling cities" agreement. My fellow council member Vicki Veenker is a co-founder of the concept which aims to "bridge America's regional divides two cities at a time." Read more about the partnership between our cities here. Our two cities will embark upon a Town Hall Series this fall where residents will gather virtually to share thoughts and ideas on these important issues of common concern: Bridging Regional Divides: Sept 17, 1-3 PM PT. Register here. Climate Action: Oct 8, 1-3 PM PT Race & Belonging: Nov 12, 1-3 PM PT. On the Palo Alto side, the meetings will take place at the Mitchell Park Community Center. More information can be found here. I think it'll be super interesting to sit down with folks across the country and hear their views while sharing ours. I plan to attend as many of these as possible and hope to see you there! In addition to these Town Halls, Bloomington invites us to attend a virtual author talk on AI with Douglas Hofstadter which will be held in Bloomington on September 7 at 7pmET/4pmPT, and will be live-streamed at Rinconada Library. Oh goodness... AI... as a writer, I'm finding the whole thing kinda terrifying! Meet County Supervisor CandidateSally Lieber With our fearless and stalwart leader Joe Simitian getting termed out of his role as Santa Clara County Supervisor, it's time to select his replacement. Come to a coffee at my place on Sunday September 24, from 10am-12noon, with my candidate of choice, Sally Lieber! Sally is a longtime elected official in our community, including serving on the Mountain View City Council and as Mayor, in the State Assembly, and on the State Board of Equalization. When I put out the call for folks to join me on my "Caravan to Clint Texas" to draw more attention to the plight of the migrant kids back in 2019, Sally joined me. And she spoke at my campaign launch a year ago. I couldn't be more delighted to support her as she embarks on the next step in her very impressive public service journey! RSVP here. Learn more about Sally here. Community Events LIVE MUSIC Don't miss these opportunities to get out, relax, and enjoy! September 8, 6-10pm Tuck and Patti (Earthwise) Mitchell Park Bowl, Free September 10, 4-6pm Will Bernard and Beth Custer (Earthwise) Lucie Stern Community Center, $20 ANNUAL MOONLIGHT RUN & WALK, Sept. 29 This beloved annual event benefits local non profits that support kids and families. Your last day to register is Sept. 27, so don't miss out! Start times: 5K Walk- 7pm 5K Run- 8:15pm 10K- 8:25pm Half Marathon- 7:30pm There's even a Virtual Option(!) if you don't want to participate in person. Find out more at the event website. Hey did you now that Boulware Park in the Ventura neighborhood is getting a renovation and the addition of new parkland - the first time that has happened to a Palo Alto park in the past 20 years. Come for the groundbreaking Thursday, September 7 at 10:30 a.m. I love seeing the Ventura neighborhood getting a lot of love as we sort out the even bigger deal of what to do with the Fry's site. If you've read this far, drop a note to tell us how you are. You're why we're doing this, and we appreciate you. xo View this email in your browser Julie Lythcott-Haims for Palo Alto City Council 2022 julieforpaloalto@gmail.com | 3790 El Camino Real #2022 Palo Alto, CA 94306 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. GET INVOLVED TODAY! From:Kat Snyder To:Council, City Subject:Public Comment: S/CAP - please track this suite of building electrification bills Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 1:06:29 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council, I want to make you aware of a suite of building electrification bills that I hope you'll take a position on because they further our 80x30 S/CAP goals. In particular, AB 593 - "Master Planfor Climate-Friendly Homes" - will bring together multiple state agencies and other stakeholders to strategize how best to retrofit current housing stock. In order to meet 80x30 thecity will have to retrofit nearly all homes - which is much harder than all-electric new construction. State support on strategy makes us far more likely to succeed. Additional bills in the suite are as follows:SB 394: Master plan to keep our kids safe and healthy in schools SB 48: Efficiency upgrades for commercial buildingsSB 410: Utility service upgrades for all residents Each of these address electric retrofits to another type of existing building stock. Perhaps our city's lobbyist, Townsend Public Affairs, can track and report back on this suite of bills? Ibelieve these bills can further our 80x30 goals and, as the legislative session nears its close, they may need support to get them across the line. In case it helps, here is a press release on the suite of bills. Of note - two of the four bills werebrought forward by our very own Josh Becker! Take care, ~Kat Snyder From:Emily Young To:Council, City Cc:Jason Matlof Subject:housing for teachers Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 12:23:15 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from emilyjeanyoung@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council, We are writing in support of the proposal brought forward by Jason Matlof of the Half dome Capital LLC for a housing structure for teachers. We are desperately in need of housing in Palo Alto. A teachers salary isn't high enough forrent or purchase of housing right here in the community, If more affordable housing were available for teachers they would not have to commute from so far away and they would be closer to the schools where they work and spend long hours. The proposed building would provide an easy commute to 7 PAUSD schools and the ElCamino corridor and this would reduce congestion getting teachers off the highways. My daughter ( a former Palo Alto student) was a teacher north of Palo Alto in San Carlos and she was forced to commute an hour from work in order to find affordable housing. Thanks for listening and for your consideration for this worthwhile proposal. . Sincerely, Emily Young Stephen Branz Palo Alto Residents since 1980 . -- Emily Young 402 El Verano AvePalo Alto, CA 94306 home: 650-856-9571 From:Athena Smith To:Council, City Subject:Cityofpaloalto Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 12:02:55 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from athena.smith@digitys.live. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Exhibitor, I am following up to confirm, if you are interested acquiring the Attendee List ICMA Annual Conference 2023 01 - 04 Oct 2023 Austin, USA Counts: 860 Attendee Includes: Client Name, Business Name, Title, Email Address, Phone Number, and WebAddress etc. Let me know your thoughts, so that I can send discount cost & additional information. Athena Smith | Attendee List Consultant. From:Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo To:Council, City Subject:You"re Invited: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the JMZ! Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 12:02:44 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. Logo_Full_Color_CMYK.jpg This event is free with admission. To purchase tickets for the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, please go to Enjoy! Online and book your visit for Friday, September 15. We hope to see you then! Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zooinfo@friendsjmz.org | www.friendsjmz.org DONATE NOW Connect with us Friends of the JMZ | 1451 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301 Unsubscribe city.council@cityofpaloalto.org Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by info@friendsjmz.org powered by Try email marketing for free today! From:Tony Svensson To:Vargas-Aguilera, ElisaCc:Reynolds, Brian; Hartley, Craig; Hoyt, George; Burt, Patrick; Council, CitySubject:Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street] Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 9:27:46 AM 09:25, 1 September 2023: ANOTHER GAS LEAF BLOWER ON AMHERST On 30 Aug 2023, at 11:09, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: GAS LEAF BLOWER ON AMHERST On 22 Aug 2023, at 10:39, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: got it(last name is Svensson) On 22 Aug 2023, at 10:32, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Good morning Mr. Svennson, I’m writing to give you an update. Our Code Enforcement Officer Mr. Hartley visited 2251 Bowdoin Street and did not witness a leaf blower being used at the property. He did however speak to the Superintendent of the site and provided him a verbal warning. The Superintendent acknowledged that there were some folks working at the site that were from out of town that didn’t know the rules about leaf blowers. Even though this was the case, he shared that he would assure that no one else uses a gas leaf blower at the site. I am hopeful that this will resolve the issue at this location. Unfortunately, this does not mean that you may not experience more disruption. If you find yourself in this situation again, please do not hesitate to reach out. We will continue to monitor this district for gas leaf blowers. Thank you, <image001.png>Elisa Vargas, CCEO Code Enforcement Supervisor (Interim) Planning & Development Services (650) 885-8565 | elisa.vargas@cityofpaloalto.org https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning-Development-Services <image002.png><image003.jpg><image004.png><image005.png><image006.png> <image007.png> From: Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 2:50 PM To: Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: Reynolds, Brian <Brian.Reynolds@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hartley, Craig <Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street] Pulled from your web site: (650) 329-2605. Have not lodged complaint on 311. The crew operating the gas leaf blower is from Legacy Roofing & Waterproofing, (408) 467-0150 Starting just after 1 PM today, ending some 15 minutes later. Previously: On 17 Aug 2023 at 07:50, the house is woken up by a gas leaf blower literally across the street from us, specifically at the work site on 2251 Bowdoin Street. (I walked over to talk to them and was completely ignored.) Before that: Numerous! And diligent calling to Police (recently Code Enforcement) has yielded Nada. Re, your suggestion, “Then every time you hear this gas leaf blower send me an email.” Respectfully: I really do not WANT to have to deal with this. It’s your job. On 21 Aug 2023, at 14:17, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Some people who received this message don't often get email from tonyb@trimarket.com. Learn why this is important Mr. Svensson, I understand that hearing this gas leaf blower(s) is very disrupting and we are here to assist. Firstly, could you please share the code enforcement phone number that you are calling with me? Secondly, were you able to lodge a complaint via 311? If not, or do not wish to, I can enter them for you. This is an important step in our process that we have been using to identify violations by date, time, and location. So far, this strategy has been useful in many of our neighborhoods. We may find that this may not be the most effective strategy in your situation. I would be most appreciative if you would provide me all the dates, times, and location(s) of when you have heard the gas leaf blower(s). Then every time you hear this gas leaf blower send me an email. With your diligent assistance, I am certain we will locate this gas leaf blower and provide them with a warning and potentially a notice of violation. Thank you, <image002.png>Elisa Vargas, CCEO Code Enforcement Supervisor (Interim) Planning & Development Services (650) 885-8565 | elisa.vargas@cityofpaloalto.org https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning-Development-Services <image003.png><image004.jpg><image005.png><image006.png><image007.png> <image008.png> From: Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 1:35 PM To: Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: Reynolds, Brian <Brian.Reynolds@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hartley, Craig <Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street] Importance: High CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Attached is an image of the STIHL gas leaf blower operated at 2251 Bowdoin Street, as previously reported. On 21 Aug 2023, at 13:18, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: AGAIN, the same gas leaf blower is operating at 2251 Bowdoin Street. Calling the Code Enforcement phone number yields, “Code enforcement is not available, leave a message.” What a joke, you guys ought to be ashamed of yourself. On 17 Aug 2023, at 08:26, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: Ms. Vargas-Aguilera: Today at 07:50, the house is woken up by a gas leaf blower literally across the street from us, specifically at the work site on 2251 Bowdoin Street. Calling the police some 15 minutes later yields the response, “We don’t handle that anymore, it’s Code Enforcement, I will connect you.” which results in some 15-20 signals and then a disconnect. Elucidate further how this factual dead-end maps with the City’s stated, quote, 1. “We are working diligently to address the gas leaf blower complaints in your neighborhood.” and how that 2. “...reflects our evolving Leaf Blower Enforcement Program and the commitment the City of Palo Alto has in keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint.” Conversely, and to be clear, this instead reflects on the City’s complete lack of code enforcement since the 2005 gas leaf blower ban and the commensurate lack of an interest in, quote, “keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint.” What’s the plan here? Mr. Svensson On 7 Aug 2023, at 13:11, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Mr. Svensson, Thank you for your email. We are working diligently to address the gas leaf blower complaints in your neighborhood. We were upset to hear that we might have missed an opportunity to address your concerns. I have investigated your leaf blower concerns reported within the College Terrace District where 2264 Bowdoin Street is located and have asked Code Enforcement Officer C. Hartley to provide me with an update. Leaf Blower statistics for College Terrace District between January 1, 2023 - August 7, 2023: Opened valid Leaf Blower cases in College Terrace District:11 Total Closed cases: Warning letters were sent out to property owners. No repeat violations. Of these seven (7) cases, two (2) cases were violations observed by Officer C. Hartley and Notice of Violations were sent out. 7 Currently Open: Open complaints are currently on schedule to be inspected.4 Street locations for valid leaf blower locations:Numbered Opened Stanford Avenue 0 Amherst Avenue 0 Bowdoin Street 0 College Avenue 8 Dartmouth Street 1 Hanover Street 1 2300 Columbia Street 1 We understand that gas leaf blowers disrupt the quiet enjoyment of your neighborhood and make it a priority to reach out to anyone who takes the time to enter a complaint. We are working diligently to continue to spread the word that gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited in residential neighborhoods and enforcing when necessary. A complaint was received by Code Enforcement Officer C. Hartley via email by Tony Svensson tonyb@trimarket.com on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 6:40 AM. A response was generated and emailed to tonyb@trimarket.com on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 10:54 AM that yielded no further communication. It is highly possible that this response might have been forwarded to you SPAM mailbox. If you have further questions regarding Leaf Blower cases in your district, please feel free to email me directly. I am hopeful that the information brough forth in this email reflects our evolving Leaf Blower Enforcement Program and the commitment the City of Palo Alto has in keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint. You are always welcomed to report gas leaf blower though our 311 App, or you can contact any one of our code officers. Code Enforcement Officer Craig Hartley:Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org Tel: (650) 329-2503 Lead Code Enforcement Officer Brian Reynolds:Brian.Reynolds@cityofpaloalto.org Tel: (650) 329-2358 <image001.jpg> From:Tony Svensson To:Vargas-Aguilera, ElisaCc:Reynolds, Brian; Hartley, Craig; Hoyt, George; Burt, Patrick; Council, CitySubject:Zendesk on Customer Service Date:Friday, September 1, 2023 7:05:24 AM Attachments:first-reply-time-hero.png Folks, Please read this from Zendesk (whose platform you’re using), specifically its entries on acceptable response times: First reply time: 6 tips for faster customer service zendesk.com The time interval between a lodged complaint and the perpetrator having left the site is generally no more than 15-30 minutes. Mr. Svensson On 30 Aug 2023, at 11:09, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: GAS LEAF BLOWER ON AMHERST On 22 Aug 2023, at 10:39, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: got it(last name is Svensson) On 22 Aug 2023, at 10:32, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Good morning Mr. Svennson, I’m writing to give you an update. Our Code Enforcement Officer Mr. Hartley visited 2251 Bowdoin Street and did not witness a leaf blower being used at the property. He did however speak to the Superintendent of the site and provided him a verbal warning. The Superintendent acknowledged that there were some folks working at the site that were from outof town that didn’t know the rules about leaf blowers. Even though this was the case, he shared that he would assure that no one else uses a gas leaf blower at thesite. I am hopeful that this will resolve the issue at this location. Unfortunately, this does not mean that you may not experience more disruption. If you find yourself inthis situation again, please do not hesitate to reach out. We will continue to monitor this district for gas leaf blowers. Thank you, <image001.png>Elisa Vargas, CCEOCode Enforcement Supervisor (Interim)Planning & Development Services (650) 885-8565 | elisa.vargas@cityofpaloalto.orghttps://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning-Development-Services <image002.png><image003.jpg><image004.png><image005.png><image006.png> <image007.png> From: Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 2:50 PMTo: Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org>Cc: Reynolds, Brian <Brian.Reynolds@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hartley, Craig <Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street] Pulled from your web site: (650) 329-2605.Have not lodged complaint on 311. The crew operating the gas leaf blower is from Legacy Roofing & Waterproofing, (408) 467-0150Starting just after 1 PM today, ending some 15 minutes later.Previously: On 17 Aug 2023 at 07:50, the house is woken up by a gas leaf blower literally across the street from us, specifically at the work site on 2251 BowdoinStreet. (I walked over to talk to them and was completely ignored.) Before that: Numerous! And diligent calling to Police (recently Code Enforcement) has yielded Nada. Re, your suggestion, “Then every time you hear this gas leaf blower send me an email.” Respectfully: I really do not WANT to have to deal with this. It’s your job. On 21 Aug 2023, at 14:17, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Some people who received this message don't often get email from tonyb@trimarket.com. Learn why this is important Mr. Svensson, I understand that hearing this gas leaf blower(s) is very disrupting and we are here to assist. Firstly, could you please share the code enforcement phone number that you are calling with me? Secondly, were you able to lodge a complaint via 311? If not, or do not wish to, I can enter them for you. This is an important step in our processthat we have been using to identify violations by date, time, and location. So far, this strategy has been useful in many of our neighborhoods. Wemay find that this may not be the most effective strategy in your situation. I would be most appreciative if you would provide me all the dates, times, and location(s) of when you have heard the gas leaf blower(s). Then every time you hear this gas leaf blower send me an email. With your diligent assistance, I am certain we will locate this gas leaf blower andprovide them with a warning and potentially a notice of violation. Thank you, <image002.png>Elisa Vargas, CCEOCode Enforcement Supervisor (Interim)Planning & Development Services(650) 885-8565 | elisa.vargas@cityofpaloalto.orghttps://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning-Development-Services <image003.png><image004.jpg><image005.png><image006.png><image007.png> <image008.png> From: Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 1:35 PMTo: Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org>Cc: Reynolds, Brian <Brian.Reynolds@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hartley, Craig <Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hoyt, George<George.Hoyt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street]Importance: High CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Attached is an image of the STIHL gas leaf blower operated at 2251 Bowdoin Street, as previously reported. On 21 Aug 2023, at 13:18, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: AGAIN, the same gas leaf blower is operating at 2251 Bowdoin Street. Calling the Code Enforcement phone number yields, “Codeenforcement is not available, leave a message.” What a joke, you guys ought to be ashamed of yourself. On 17 Aug 2023, at 08:26, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: Ms. Vargas-Aguilera: Today at 07:50, the house is woken up by a gas leaf blower literally across the street from us, specifically at thework site on 2251 Bowdoin Street. Calling the police some 15 minutes later yields the response, “We don’t handle that anymore, it’s CodeEnforcement, I will connect you.” which results in some 15-20 signals and then a disconnect. Elucidate further how this factual dead-end maps with the City’s stated, quote, 1. “We are working diligently to address the gas leaf blower complaints in your neighborhood.” and how that2. “...reflects our evolving Leaf Blower Enforcement Program and the commitment the City of Palo Alto has in keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint.” Conversely, and to be clear, this instead reflects on the City’s complete lack of code enforcement since the 2005gas leaf blower ban and the commensurate lack of an interest in, quote, “keeping the air clean and reducing ourcarbon footprint.” What’s the plan here? Mr. Svensson On 7 Aug 2023, at 13:11, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Mr. Svensson, Thank you for your email. We are working diligently to address the gas leaf blower complaints inyour neighborhood. We were upset to hear that we might have missed an opportunity to addressyour concerns. I have investigated your leaf blower concerns reported within the College TerraceDistrict where 2264 Bowdoin Street is located and have asked Code Enforcement Officer C.Hartley to provide me with an update. Leaf Blower statistics for College Terrace District between January 1, 2023 - August 7,2023: Opened valid Leaf Blower cases in College Terrace District:11 Total Closed cases: Warning letters were sent out to property owners. No repeat violations.Of these seven (7) cases, two (2) cases were violations observed by Officer C. Hartley and Notice of Violations were sent out. 7 Currently Open: Open complaints are currently on schedule to be inspected.4 Street locations for valid leaf blower locations:Numbered Opened Stanford Avenue 0 Amherst Avenue 0 Bowdoin Street 0College Avenue 8Dartmouth Street 1Hanover Street 1 2300 Columbia Street 1 We understand that gas leaf blowers disrupt the quiet enjoyment of your neighborhood and makeit a priority to reach out to anyone who takes the time to enter a complaint. We are workingdiligently to continue to spread the word that gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited inresidential neighborhoods and enforcing when necessary. A complaint was received by Code Enforcement Officer C. Hartley via email by Tony Svensson tonyb@trimarket.com on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 6:40 AM. A response was generatedand emailed to tonyb@trimarket.com on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 10:54 AM that yieldedno further communication. It is highly possible that this response might have been forwarded toyou SPAM mailbox. If you have further questions regarding Leaf Blower cases in your district,please feel free to email me directly. I am hopeful that the information brough forth in this email reflects our evolving Leaf BlowerEnforcement Program and the commitment the City of Palo Alto has in keeping the air clean andreducing our carbon footprint.You are always welcomed to report gas leaf blower though our 311 App, or you can contact any one of our code officers. Code Enforcement Officer CraigHartley:Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.orgTel: (650) 329-2503 Lead Code Enforcement Officer BrianReynolds:Brian.Reynolds@cityofpaloalto.orgTel: (650) 329-2358 <image001.jpg> From:christopher jette To:Council, City Subject:Cannery demolition Date:Thursday, August 31, 2023 8:26:54 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from christopherjette@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 City Council Members: Please vote to save the Cannery from demolition. Please add it to Palo Alto's list of historic buildings and preserve it and its rich history for generations to come. I would like to point out the significance of historical buildings in the social and economic fabric of Monterey as an example of why these things matter to communities, not just the individuals living now. Thank you. Christopher Jette Ventura neighborhood From:Sue Mccomas To:Council, City Subject:Save the Cannery please!!! Date:Thursday, August 31, 2023 6:18:30 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from sue.mccomas@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 City Council Members: Please vote to save the Cannery building from demolition. Please add it to Palo Alto's list ofhistoric buildings and preserve it and its rich history for generations to come. It’s a unique piece of Palo Alto history!! Thank you. Sue McComas Leland Manor From:Liz Gardner To:Council, City Cc:Roberta Ahlquist; Lotus Yee Fong; Alexander, Katherine Subject:Hitting the Street: Welfare of Family of 3 with Two Year Old Date:Thursday, August 31, 2023 12:06:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Kou and City Council Members: I would like it to be noted that a hard working family of three - a grandma Irene Macias (physical disabilities), her young daughter Samantha and baby grandson, David are being evicted from Related Mayfield Place (MFP), 2500 El Camino Real.This fact is a health and human welfare emergency and a disgrace to ourcommunity. MFP is a very low-income Mayfield Agreement complex that was erected to helpshelter 69 of the poorest working families in this city -- while the city got a soccerfield for a dollar a year, and Stanford got many quality units at Stanford Terrace uphill, for their own faculty. Irene has lived here the entire seven years Mayfield came "online " in 2017 (anightmare experience getting here in itself) -- and ironically, the its the most recent low-income, multi-family housing poor workforce housing. The manager Bella Cokic is demanding they leave by 1pm tomorrow, Fri Sept 1.Irene Macias has sought assistance for weeks for a shelter bed from Life Moves Palo Alto and Mountain View and none are available. There is a "waitlist". Too the Macias family have a case worker and a county attorney assisting with this heavy lift ,just to get a shelter bed and an extension on her family's exit from MFP. Irene isworking for the love of her baby David, his health and welfare yet and being punted like putty in the hands of power, between something now (a roof) and nothing. Life Moves is also not providing state issued Home Key dollars for a temporarystay at a local motel. These are two hard working women who earn a living caring for in-home, infirm elders in our town's community -- these very old people depend on Irene and Samantha for the loving generous low pay care they give our elders -- so they can age gracefully in place. Irene and Sam share the childcareresponsibilities of the little baby boy to help the child care cost burden and keep him safe. She needs an extended stay at Mayfield Place until a shelter bed comes available forher and her family -- this will give them the ability to continue to work and care full time for baby David. I was heartbroken seeing an active smart boy -- playing joyously in our complex quad (such a sweet gentle tyke) -- envisioning a future of so much stress and uncertainty. What a waste that we as town, city, community could allow such deprivation to take place -- for goodness sake, please get underneath this familycrisis and shake some leaves at Life Moves to get immediate action tosafely transition to temporary shelter. The Macias family have nowhere to go tomorrow and according to what LifeMoves is saying, nowhere the next day either. Liz Gardner Roberta Alquest Lotus Yee Fong Palo Alto From:ReDoing 2020 To:Council, City Cc:brad.eggleston@cityofpaloalto.com; Lait, Jonathan Subject:FYI: Incompetent management at 724 Arastradero Rd--disgusting laundry rooms-- combustible garbage pileup--risks of disease & potential fire hazard (see photos enclosed) Date:Thursday, August 31, 2023 11:33:42 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from redoing2020@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. 8/31/23 Notice about serial landlord & property manager violations at this address, taking place on your watch, was sent yesterday to the Fire Marshall & the building inspectiondepartment and Zero Waste enforcement for their action. Now it's up to the Council to make sure employees follow through. 8/30/23 yesterday, updated today 8/31/23 We are a volunteer consumer effort, and were asked to send these evidence photos of some of the continuing negligence by the "Prodesse Property Group" the manager representing Mr. "Go Sasaki Sr. " the building owner/investor who has a documented poor record of protecting tenant health & safety, or of conforming to local or State laws. He got away with saving thousands in permit fees when he totally reconstructed 60+ apartments, including new external wall windows, entire bathrooms, kitchens, appliances, wiring, toxic PVC vinyl floors throughout that never stop off-gassing harmful fumes (yet the deceptive marketing ads say "wood floors" & more. ) Consequently, the Palo Alto "Building Official" claimed he was ignorant of this extensive construction activity, materials & large appliances deliveries, etc. going on in his municipal. jurisdiction. So he failed to order inspections to assure the redone apartment spaces were safe and habitable. Later, when complaints mounted, curiously he stubbornly ignored repeated requests to act, defacto favoring the landlord's money-saving interests at the expense of tenant safety protections. We're told there's even an shocking email distributed on your servers he sent telling public employees not to discuss 724 issues with residents. Check it out! However, some have since noticed violations in the uninspected construction ( i.e.scalding shower water above 130 degrees) - - so it's never too late to do the right thing for resident protection and proper.code enforcement. Observation: Mr. Hoyt must have forgotten to bring his thermometer when he reluctantly finally examined one unoccupied remodeled unit himself . Moreover, while on site, he also was overheard ridiculing tenant complaints as he shared his prejudices not realizing his unprofessional conduct & hurtful attitude was being revealed.) Not surprisingly, tenants are reluctant to identify themselves for fear of retaliation by the disrespectful owner/manager team that gets so little pushback when flouting the law in Palo Alto. To wit, Mr. Sasaki evaded the law for two years by operating two elevators with expired permits & no safety inspections. Not until a tenant got stuck and the State red tagged the equipment did this landlord unclench his fist to pay for month long repairs. When the hot water ran lukewarm for a month (against State law to prevent Legionnaires & other waterborne diseases) here too, the boiler wasn't fixed till furious tenants snared an inspector to visit. This month brought a "back flow emergency" and sudden water shut off, but a tenant said that the water had smelled slightly "off" for a couple of days prior. What pollution may have entered the system was not revealed, nor were possible after effects warnings issued. . Nor did the site staff know a broken garage water pipe was leaking puddles onto the concrete for days before a tenant reported that the untrained site staff seemed not to be walking the property daily to detect problems before emergencies erupt. Though we don't usually process individual consumer complaints, in this current case of a serial violator not constrained by the local municipality, it seemed important to report these events. We are motivated to serve as a trustworthy channel to get credible factual information to officials for appropriate action to curtail misbehavior & reduce consumer/tenant harm. Note: Please review the photo of the two dryer ducts assembly. The transparent mesh sections seem to reveal a dense cotton-like clumpy obstruction through which the super heated air must travel as it exits. (And upon which the combustibles rest in piles.) Can this be safe/legal? Or is it a DIY disaster? Or what? As is the shameful management practice, they often use unqualified unlicensed handymen to do technical tasks in order to save investment profits. Also, they routinely employ cheap harmful toxic indoor materials without regard to safety or human health. Many agree that such immoral behavior shouldn't be allowed in governance of the habitat in which families live. Residents want to trust that their elected representatives will oversee effective rules to serve the public (not to satisfy wealthy real estate self interests nor any staff that protects their wrongdoing.) More examples: The site property staff sprays laboratory scented cancer promoting hazmat eligible VOCs into the building interiors to be unavoidably breathed in by captive tenants. Plus they break the State law requiring an ingredients notice for such items. Clueless Prodesse misses the fact that they cause the premises to smell like a public toilet, & not a high-priced nearly $40,000 a year 1 bedroom rental apartment in a tight inflated housing market in Silicon Valley. Most recently, "dry rot" was discovered in the wood covered balconies and contractor repair quotes were solicited. Since the owner is allergic to inspections or to paying permit fees, tenants will feel safer if the City thoroughly looks over this 60 year old structure as a whole, to examine for adverse risks & deficient conditions not yet revealed by the owner or are unaddressed by the unprofessional staff. And if after inspection, existing law allows landlords like Mr. Sasaki to escape responsibility to the public, then it's time for Palo Alto's City Council and the State to update the deficient rules. Let us know if you have questions, or if the City does actually take remedial action, tell us and we'll pass it along. IMPORTANT: Please remember, that as deliverer of this complaint content, we expect "whistle-blower" anonymity so that our ongoing public service aims won't be hampered by smarmy management attempts at retribution (also a violation in California.) Thanks very much for your courtesy and job dedication to do whatever you can to help. TELEMTU GEDIDUN ______ 4 photos of the laundry rooms dangers are attached or will be sent separately. From:Jade Sohn To:Council, City Subject:RE: Item 6 - Approval of a revised Term Sheet with Pets In Need for Operations of the Palo Alto Animal Shelter Date:Thursday, August 31, 2023 12:44:55 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from mybarbie311@icloud.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. ________________________________ Council members, I am a resident of Palo Alto and a Stanford student. Regarding the City renewing its contract with Pets In Need (PIN) for animal sheltering and clinic services, I am very concerned that your ban of Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) will result in MORE unowned cats: One unspayed cat left to breed produces more than 2 million cats in just 8 years! That is what your no TNR policy achieves. If residents are told at the PIN clinic that the feral cat they have gone to the trouble of trapping will be killed, nobody will do this important (and free to the City) work. Result: more feral cats. That is what your no TNR policy achieves. TNR has been proven to be effective nationwide at reducing the numbers of feral cats. Stanford University had over 500 cats on campus 34 years ago. Now there are fewer than half a dozen, thanks to TNR. Every jurisdiction in the Bay Area, except Palo Alto, endorses, supports, and funds TNR. “Best municipal practices” means supporting TNR. Feral cats have zero impact on human health. They are terrified of people and avoid contact with them. Please support TNR in Palo Alto and sister cities. PIN supports TNR. One more important point: The City Council should mandate more spay/neuter availability at PIN. Sixty appointments per month is pitifully inadequate. Please require double or triple that. Residents have a right to get their animals neutered affordably at this taxpayer supported clinic. Thank you. Sincerely, Nadia Jo From:matt@evolutionaryteams.com To:Palo-Alto@FridaysForFutureUSA.org Subject:FFF Follow Up – Aug 25 (Week #85)Date:Wednesday, August 30, 2023 7:34:04 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Katie and Corrina, visitors from San Diego, stopped by and expressed their concern about the recent major tropical storm, Hurricane Hilary, that swept through theircity. They reported that sea-level rise is already affecting the fragile coastal cliffs and causing disruptions for the Surfliner, the Amtrack train connecting San Diego to LA. Amy, an environmental science student at Northern Arizona University, expressed her dedication to preserving a habitable planet. She also shared her deep affectionfor the Ponderosa Pine Forest that surrounds her university. Anna, a student climate leader at Stanford, is promoting the upcoming Global Climate Strike to environmental justice groups at Stanford. Thank you, Anna, for yoursupport! Bing stopped by and expressed her eagerness to help make Palo Alto more resilient to climate change. Bing recently joined Palo Alto’s parks commission. Wereviewed the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) key issue areas (page 8 of the presentation), and saw that she can impact of a number of areas, notthe least of which are “Reduce impacts of climate change from sea level rise and wildfires” and “Enhance biodiversity – restore and enhance resilience of thenatural environment.” Thank you, Bing, for your dedication to improving Palo Alto’s climate resiliency! After George and Robin led an interesting conversation about the unconscious biases that keep people from climate action, we turned to planning the upcomingGlobal Climate Strike on September 15. We have secured the permit for Lytton Plaza! Also, we reviewed strike demands, participation, event promotion and music. We are getting ready for a fun event! We ended by singing Casey’s “Let Her Be” and Rick’s “This Land is Your Land.” Keep Up the Fight and See You Friday! Be Kind Upcoming Events Friday, Sept 1, Noon: Fridays for Future Palo Alto Climate Strike! – King Plaza in front of Palo Alto City Hall Thursday, Sept 14 – The ClimateMusic Project concert/fundraiser – Ft. Mason, SF: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/climatemusic-fundraiser-concert-at-fort-mason- with-copus-tickets-687553991497?aff=oddtdtcreator Friday, Sept 15, 4:00PM – GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE! – Lytton Plaza Thursday, Sept 21, 10:30AM – Zoom webinar: Ask A Climate Scientist – Dr. Kimberley Nicholas works as a climate science professor at Lund University in Sweden. You can ask her about her book, Under the Sky We Make, or other global warming concerns. Register here. Friday, Sept 22: Joint Event – Climate Stike and Climate Friends Book Club – we will discuss All We Can Save chapter 4 – King Plaza in front of Palo Alto City Hall Saturday, Sept 30, 1PM to 4PM: Heat pump water heater community outreach -- large conference room at the Rinconada Library, 1213 Newel Road, 1:00 pm to pick up materials and your “turf” for walking. EngageOn calendar: https://www.engageon.org/events Peninsula Peace and Justice calendar: https://peaceandjustice.org/events-calendar/ More Climate ActionHere 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. Casey recommends both Third Act and Environmental Voter Project, Palo Alto’s Heat Pump Water Heater Program Status Here’s the latest data on the Heat Pump Water Heater Program: As of:7/27 6/29 6/1 4/27 4/5 HPWH full-service interest list signups 459 511 488 466 432 Site assessment agreements (SAA) sent 458 437 399 345 125 Signed SAAs 326 306 280 156 70 Completed site assessments 244 147 111 58 22 New HPWH rebate applicants 12 4 Rebates paid this month 2 5 Installations Total Full Service HPWHs installed 27 16 12 8 1 Total DYI HPWH installed TBD TBD Total HPWHs installed TBD TBD Target Installations 1000 1000 1000 Monthly Installation Rate Monthly Installation Rate 13 9 4 7 n/a Target Monthly Installation Rate 83 83 83 Weekly PhotosFFF Aug 25: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VVrTceddu4ZAjAg89 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/3% (TV series): (Netflix series): https://www.netflix.com/title/80074220 Extrapolations (Apple 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/ Email List: https://mailchi.mp/c8c130127345/join-fridays-for-future-palo-alto From:Patty Irish To:Council, City Subject:Venture Site Proposal Date:Wednesday, August 30, 2023 3:47:53 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from irishpw@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Madame Mayor and Council Members, When you consider the Ventura proposal during your next few meetings, I hope you will see the opportunities here to create a plan that accomplishes a number of things. It will bring housing, park land, small commercial and other things to an area that is near transportation, schools, and many amenities the city has to offer. It utilizes what we have but would add some of what we need. I support building subsidized housing here too. Please encourage creative planning with interesting architecture. This can be an area of attraction and function. Please put your imaginations to making something special happen that increases the quality of life here and adds the opportunity for more people to share in our resources. Thank you, Patty Irish, resident of Channing House 10 years on Palo Alto Housing, Corp (Alta) 9 years on Channing House Board of Trustees 7 years on staff of Peninsula Habitat for Humanity 6 years on Board of Abilities United 3 years on Board of Stevenson House -- Patty Irish850 Webster St. #628 Palo Alto, CA 94301 650-324-7407 650-245-3906 cell How do you tell a story that has been told the wrong way for so long? From:Roberta Ahlquist To:Senator.Cortese@senate.ca.gov; Council, City Subject:Re: Invitation: 9/11 Day of Remembrance Ceremony and Reception Date:Wednesday, August 30, 2023 3:45:48 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Sheriff Bob Jonsienshould be tried for gassing inmates in the County jail. When will the abuse stop!? I hope you will work to hold him accountable for such abuse of power.Sincerely, Dr. Roberta Ahlquist Professor EmeritaSan Jose State University On Wed, Aug 30, 2023 at 3:36 PM <Senator.Cortese@outreach.senate.ca.gov> wrote: sd15 Hello! You're invited to join me and County of Santa Clara Sheriff Robert "Bob" Jonsen on Sunday, September 10th, 2023 from 10 AM to 11 AM at our 9/11 Day of Remembrance Ceremony and Reception. The event is being held in honor and commemoration of 9/11 first responders, victims and their surviving families. Both County of Santa Clara Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew and City of San Jose Fire Chief Robert Sapien Jr. will join us in the Ringingof the Bell in memory of each 9/11 victim who had roots in Santa Clara County followed by a moment of silence in memory of all the victims. Flags will be raised at half-staff. WHAT: 9/11 Day of Remembrance Ceremony and Reception WHO: Senator Dave Cortese, Sheriff Bob Jonsen, Supervisor Cindy Chavez, County Fire Chief Suwanna Kerdkaew, City Fire Chief RobertSapien Jr., County Emergency Medical Services Director Jackie Lowther, National Anthem Singer Reyna Padron WHEN: Sunday, September 10th, 2023 at 10 AM to 11 AM WHERE: Sheriff's Office Building - 55 West Younger Ave., San Jose, CA PARKING Event guests are encouraged to park in the County Parking Lot in front of the Sheriff's Office Building. Guests are further encouraged to enter the lot through North 1st Street, West Hedding Street, or San Pedro Street entrances. NOTE: WestYounger Ave. will be closed. sd15 CO-HOSTS/SPONSORS: The event is co-hosted by Mike Hennessy and Retired Col. Ray Watts. It is co- sponsored by AFSCME Local 101 and the County of Santa Clara Deputy Sheriff's Association. QUESTIONS? For questions or additional details, please contact my District Field Representative Mario B. Lopez at our Office Phone 408-558-1295 or via email at Mario.lopez@sen.ca.gov. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you, Senator Dave Cortese Follow Us Here Facebook Twitter Instagram View as a Web Page Visit Website Contact Us CAPITOL OFFICE 1021 O Street, Suite 6630 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 651-4015 Fax: (916) 651-4915 CAMPBELL 2105 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 154, Campbell, CA 95008 Phone: (408) 558-1295 Fax: (408) 558-1296 California State Senate © 2023 Click here to unsubscribe or update your email address. From:Van Der Zwaag, Minka To:Council, City Subject:FW: FYI - Rental Registry Program (RRP) Meeting - Thursday August 31, 2023 - 5-6:30PM - In Person and Virtual Participation Options Date:Wednesday, August 30, 2023 11:33:12 AM Forwarding message from the individual below. -----Original Message----- From: Ted Kaehler <ekaehler@sonic.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2023 2:26 PM To: Van Der Zwaag, Minka <Minka.VanDerZwaag@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Ted Kaehler <ted-all@legenda.com> Subject: Re: FYI - Rental Registry Program (RRP) Meeting - Thursday August 31, 2023 - 5-6:30PM - In Person and Virtual Participation Options [You don't often get email from ekaehler@sonic.net. 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. ________________________________ Hello Ms Van Der Zwaag, As a rental property owner, I want to comment on the proposed Rental Registry Program. The requirement to sign an affidavit is not acceptable. It is way too heavy-handed. I can be arrested if any of the items in my Registration Form later turn out to be incorrect. Here is a partial list of problems with the affidavit. -- Does the number of Vehicle Parking Spaces include driveway spaces? Does it include driveway spaces that block a garage? -- Internet service is not included with the rent. The tenant is free to arrange service from any internet provider. Should Internet be checked in "Property amenities/services" even though I don't provide it? -- What qualifies as "Storage"? -- I can't swear under oath what square feet my rental property has. I have not measured the square feet myself. Does that include the garage? The City needs to obtain the square feet directly from property tax records. Please provide a check box that says "Use County Records". -- Does "Property owner full name" mean the name of the trust that owns the house, or my name? -- I'm guessing that I will not be allowed to submit my information without signing the affidavit. That is grossly unfair. Please provide a box for me to check that says, "I'm submitting my information, but I am not able to sign the affidavit." No one would worry about the distinctions mentioned above, except that you are making me legally responsible for every detail of my answers via an affidavit. May I suggest that you drop the affidavit requirement? Please submit this letter to City Council Housing Ad Hoc Committee. I will not be able to attend the August 31st meeting. Signed, Edwin Kaehler Address: 3261 Montecito Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89120 Rental Property Address: 3415 Cork Oak, Palo Alto, CA 94303 From:Tony Svensson To:Vargas-Aguilera, ElisaCc:Reynolds, Brian; Hartley, Craig; Hoyt, George; Burt, Patrick; Council, City Subject:Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street]Date:Wednesday, August 30, 2023 11:09:45 AM GAS LEAF BLOWER ON AMHERST On 22 Aug 2023, at 10:39, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: got it(last name is Svensson) On 22 Aug 2023, at 10:32, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Good morning Mr. Svennson, I’m writing to give you an update. Our Code Enforcement Officer Mr. Hartley visited 2251 Bowdoin Street and did not witness a leaf blower being used at the property. He did however speak to the Superintendent of the site and provided him a verbal warning. The Superintendent acknowledged that there were some folks working at the site that were from out of town that didn’t know the rules about leaf blowers. Even though this was the case, he shared that he would assure that no one else uses a gas leaf blower at the site. I am hopeful that this will resolve the issue at this location. Unfortunately, this does not mean that you may not experience more disruption. If you find yourself in this situation again, please do not hesitate to reach out. We will continue to monitor this district for gas leaf blowers. Thank you, <image001.png>Elisa Vargas, CCEO Code Enforcement Supervisor (Interim) Planning & Development Services (650) 885-8565 | elisa.vargas@cityofpaloalto.org https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning-Development-Services <image002.png><image003.jpg><image004.png><image005.png><image006.png> <image007.png> From: Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 2:50 PM To: Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: Reynolds, Brian <Brian.Reynolds@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hartley, Craig <Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street] Pulled from your web site: (650) 329-2605. Have not lodged complaint on 311. The crew operating the gas leaf blower is from Legacy Roofing & Waterproofing, (408) 467-0150 Starting just after 1 PM today, ending some 15 minutes later. Previously: On 17 Aug 2023 at 07:50, the house is woken up by a gas leaf blower literally across the street from us, specifically at the work site on 2251 Bowdoin Street. (I walked over to talk to them and was completely ignored.) Before that: Numerous! And diligent calling to Police (recently Code Enforcement) has yielded Nada. Re, your suggestion, “Then every time you hear this gas leaf blower send me an email.” Respectfully: I really do not WANT to have to deal with this. It’s your job. On 21 Aug 2023, at 14:17, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Mr. Svensson, Some people who received this message don't often get email from tonyb@trimarket.com. Learn why this is important I understand that hearing this gas leaf blower(s) is very disrupting and we are here to assist. Firstly, could you please share the code enforcement phone number that you are calling with me? Secondly, were you able to lodge a complaint via 311? If not, or do not wish to, I can enter them for you. This is an important step in our process that we have been using to identify violations by date, time, and location. So far, this strategy has been useful in many of our neighborhoods. We may find that this may not be the most effective strategy in your situation. I would be most appreciative if you would provide me all the dates, times, and location(s) of when you have heard the gas leaf blower(s). Then every time you hear this gas leaf blower send me an email. With your diligent assistance, I am certain we will locate this gas leaf blower and provide them with a warning and potentially a notice of violation. Thank you, <image002.png>Elisa Vargas, CCEO Code Enforcement Supervisor (Interim) Planning & Development Services (650) 885-8565 | elisa.vargas@cityofpaloalto.org https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/Planning-Development-Services <image003.png><image004.jpg><image005.png><image006.png><image007.png> <image008.png> From: Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 1:35 PM To: Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: Reynolds, Brian <Brian.Reynolds@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hartley, Craig <Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Leaf Blower Concerns in College Terrace District [2264 Bowdoin Street] Importance: High CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Attached is an image of the STIHL gas leaf blower operated at 2251 Bowdoin Street, as previously reported. On 21 Aug 2023, at 13:18, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: AGAIN, the same gas leaf blower is operating at 2251 Bowdoin Street. Calling the Code Enforcement phone number yields, “Code enforcement is not available, leave a message.” What a joke, you guys ought to be ashamed of yourself. On 17 Aug 2023, at 08:26, Tony Svensson <tonyb@trimarket.com> wrote: Ms. Vargas-Aguilera: Today at 07:50, the house is woken up by a gas leaf blower literally across the street from us, specifically at the work site on 2251 Bowdoin Street. Calling the police some 15 minutes later yields the response, “We don’t handle that anymore, it’s Code Enforcement, I will connect you.” which results in some 15-20 signals and then a disconnect. Elucidate further how this factual dead-end maps with the City’s stated, quote, 1. “We are working diligently to address the gas leaf blower complaints in your neighborhood.” and how that 2. “...reflects our evolving Leaf Blower Enforcement Program and the commitment the City of Palo Alto has in keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint.” Conversely, and to be clear, this instead reflects on the City’s complete lack of code enforcement since the 2005 gas leaf blower ban and the commensurate lack of an interest in, quote, “keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint.” What’s the plan here? Mr. Svensson On 7 Aug 2023, at 13:11, Vargas-Aguilera, Elisa <Elisa.Vargas@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Mr. Svensson, Thank you for your email. We are working diligently to address the gas leaf blower complaints in your neighborhood. We were upset to hear that we might have missed an opportunity to address your concerns. I have investigated your leaf blower concerns reported within the College Terrace District where 2264 Bowdoin Street is located and have asked Code Enforcement Officer C. Hartley to provide me with an update. Leaf Blower statistics for College Terrace District between January 1, 2023 - August 7, 2023: Opened valid Leaf Blower cases in College Terrace District:11 Total Closed cases: Warning letters were sent out to property owners. No repeat violations. Of these seven (7) cases, two (2) cases were violations observed by Officer C. Hartley and Notice of Violations were sent out. 7 Currently Open: Open complaints are currently on schedule to be inspected.4 Street locations for valid leaf blower locations:Numbered Opened Stanford Avenue 0 Amherst Avenue 0 Bowdoin Street 0 College Avenue 8 Dartmouth Street 1 Hanover Street 1 2300 Columbia Street 1 We understand that gas leaf blowers disrupt the quiet enjoyment of your neighborhood and make it a priority to reach out to anyone who takes the time to enter a complaint. We are working diligently to continue to spread the word that gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited in residential neighborhoods and enforcing when necessary. A complaint was received by Code Enforcement Officer C. Hartley via email by Tony Svensson tonyb@trimarket.com on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 6:40 AM. A response was generated and emailed to tonyb@trimarket.com on Monday, February 27, 2023, at 10:54 AM that yielded no further communication. It is highly possible that this response might have been forwarded to you SPAM mailbox. If you have further questions regarding Leaf Blower cases in your district, please feel free to email me directly. I am hopeful that the information brough forth in this email reflects our evolving Leaf Blower Enforcement Program and the commitment the City of Palo Alto has in keeping the air clean and reducing our carbon footprint. You are always welcomed to report gas leaf blower though our 311 App, or you can contact any one of our code officers. Code Enforcement Officer Craig Hartley:Craig.Hartley@CityofPaloAlto.org Tel: (650) 329-2503 Lead Code Enforcement Officer Brian Reynolds:Brian.Reynolds@cityofpaloalto.org Tel: (650) 329-2358 <image001.jpg> From:Aram James To:Molly; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Barberini, Christopher; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April;Tannock, Julie; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Hornung, Joel; Emily Mibach Cc:Gennady Sheyner; editor@paweekly.com Subject:Family of man who died after being shocked by Taser reaches $8M settlement with Pittsburgh | TribLIVE.com Date:Wednesday, August 30, 2023 12:04:40 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.________________________________ https://triblive.com/local/family-of-man-who-died-after-being-shocked-by-taser-reaches-8m-settlement-with-pittsburgh/ Sent from my iPhone From:Ellen Hartog To:Council, City Subject:via duct for grade separation is not for Palo Alto Date:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 9:50:25 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from ellenhartog109@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I am so upset - no one has been informed that the via duct is back because the school districtwants it. They do not live here - they are not engineers - why are you not listening to the citizens of Palo Alto - we have said it from day 1 in 2009 study!! I was on the citizenadvisory and you are going backwards at the expense of the taxpayer!!- it was deemed inappropriate, loud, vibrations and an eye soar for a single story overlay neighborhood20 feet from a monster structure which is loud and vibrates, and makes for unlivable conditions. NO TO VIADUCTS!! View this email in your browser Dear Reader, Today is a big day. Today a judge ruled that San Jose and former Mayor Sam Liccardo violated state transparency laws by failing to adequately search private texts and emails for public records. This major decision comes after San José Spotlight and the First Amendment Coalition sued the city and former mayor in 2022. The ruling marks a clear victory for transparency, journalism and the public’s right to know -- and it's vindication in our dogged fight to shed light on wrongdoing and hold the powerful accountable. We took on this monumental fight because of our convictions that you -- our readers -- deserve to know what your government officials are doing, how decisions are made and how the city interacts with lobbyists and special From:Aram James To:Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Human Relations Commission; Rebecca Eisenberg; board@valleywater.org; GregTanaka; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright Subject:A big victory! Date:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 9:32:09 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. READ MORE HERE interests. This is why we exist. This ruling is a wake-up call for San Jose City Hall. Officials in Silicon Valley and across the state should use or copy a government account when conducting public business, as suggested by the California Supreme Court. San Joseans deserve a transparent, honest and accountable government -- and we won’t stop fighting for it. Sincerely, Ramona Giwargis Co-Founder and CEO Join our fight to increase government transparency and hold power to account by making a special gift to support our legal efforts. Want to change how you receive these emails? Update your preferences or unsubscribe. YES, I'll support San José Spotlight From:Aram James To:Sheriff Transparency; Foley, Michael; Lee, Craig; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Hornung, Joel; Shikada, Ed; ladoriscordell; Bains, Paul; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Braden Cartwright Cc:Robert. Jonsen; Kevin Jensen; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Binder, Andrew; Sean Allen; Jethroe Moore; Reifschneider, James; james pitkin; Council, City; vote@sallylieber.org; Rebecca Eisenberg; David Angel; Angie Evans; Michael Gennaco; Mila Zelkha; Josh Becker Subject:Santa Clara County supervisors delay tear gas, military purchase vote Date:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 7:56:03 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Sherriff Transparency,Thanks for your detailed and thoughtful response. We will continue to advocateagainst any chemical sprays being used by LE against our most vulnerable community members be they in our jails or on the streets.Your continued support is very much appreciated. Best, aram Hi Aram, This is great news! We hope that common sense will prevail with the strict use of CS gas for riotsituations and not on individuals who are not compliant over medication. We think that since other Bay Area Jails do not employ this tatic, best practices should prevail in preserving human rights. As we mentioned before, our focus is that of the Sheriff himself. Knowing that hecame from a heavy handed LA Sheriff Dept, and that he himself has been involved with Civil Rights viols as evident by DOJ's 2013 report findings of thestations he commanded during the investigation. We feel in this use of CS gas case, coupled with his obvious lack of response, he has no remorse for how he is willing to operate the jails at the expense of inmatesand taxpayers who end up paying for unnecessary injuries and violation of civil rights. Sheriff Jonsen, we can confidently say can be a dangerous man. He needs to begone already. However, we will await the ongoing investigations and if need be, based on the results, hope to create public outcry for him to be recalled or toresign. In the meantime, keep up the great work in ensuring that the Sheriff does not use tactics that could run amuk and injure or kill our vulnerable population in thejails. Here is one of many articles detailing the abuse of LASD use of CS gas. This is the mindset that Bob Jonsen came from. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-07-10/lawsuit-accuses-l-a-jailers-of-firing-58-canisters-of-tear-gas-into-dorm-at-north-county-correctional-facility SCCSTG On Tue, Aug 29, 2023, 2:03 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: > > https://www.ktvu.com/news/santa-clara-county-supervisors-delay-tear-gas-military-purchase-vote > > > Sent from my iPhone From:Deborah Goldeen To:Star-Lack, SylviaCc:City Mgr; Arce, Ozzy; Council, CitySubject:Re: Hostile to Bikes Sign on Cal Ave Date:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 6:12:09 PM 1) Sounds like the council made a mistake and needs to fix it ASAP.California Ave is an essential bicycle route arterial. It is an official bike route. 2) This “temporary” signage has been in place for two years. It should have been redesigned more than a year ago. Redisgn so that it is not actively hostile to bikes needs to happen ASAP. 3) Since you are speaking on behalf of the city, it’s clear the city doesn’t care about cyclists to the point that they feel it is OK to be actively hostile towards them. 4) None of the issues I raised were taken seriously or seriously addressed. If you can’t do that, please don’t bother to reply. On Aug 29, 2023, at 5:51 PM, Star-Lack, Sylvia <Sylvia.Star-Lack@CityofPaloAlto.org> wrote: Dear Ms. Goldeen, On behalf of the City Manager, thank you for your email regarding signage for bicycle use at car-free California Ave. I understand that the signage can be seen as confusing given the important bicycle connection California Ave plays with respect to access for the Stanford Research Park, residential areas, and the California Ave tunnel. The City Council directed an interim design of Cal Avenue that was a pedestrian zone in order to address concerns about bike/pedestrian conflicts on the car-free street. While staff have not heard of these collisions occurring here, this signage was felt to be the best way to convey to cyclists the need to take care in this zone where pedestrian traffic is multi-directional and where pedestrians may suddenly and unknowingly step into the path of cyclists. The current signage is part of a temporary layout for the car-free street. A study will be initiated soon that will receive community input for the longer-term design of the street, including bicycle access. In the meantime, this Fall, Council will be asked for input regarding changes to the temporary layout after December while the long-term study is in process. Your comments clearly state your preference that California Ave be open for those on bikes while the long-term design is developed and shared with the community. Thank you for your input and for your long career of bicycling in Palo Alto! -Sylvia Sylvia Star-Lack (she/her)| Transportation Planning Manager Office of Transportation | City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue | Palo Alto, CA 94301 T: 650.329.2546 |E: Sylvia.star-lack@cityofpaloalto.org Please think of the environment before printing this email – Thank you! Use Palo Alto 311 to report items you’d like the City to fix!! Download the app or click here to make a service request. From: Deborah Goldeen <deborah.goldeen@sonic.net> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2023 6:23 PMTo: Transportation <Transportation@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Fwd: Hostile to Bikes Sign on Cal Ave CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Ozzy’s automatic reply says emails should be sent to “office of transportation” while he is on vacation, which he evidently is until September 5th Begin forwarded message: From: Deborah Goldeen <deborah.goldeen@sonic.net>Subject: Hostile to Bikes Sign on Cal AveDate: August 21, 2023 at 6:07:41 PM PDTTo: Ozzy Arce <ozzy.arce@cityofpaloalto.org>Cc: City Mgr <citymgr@cityofpaloalto.org>, "Council, City" <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Ozzy - When Cal Ave was first closed and these signs appeared, I wrote you and requested this signage be redone. The red circle with red slash over a bike rider is a powerful image that immediately conmmunicates “No Bike Riding!” Cal Ave is a bike route. Ridiing bikes is allowed in the street. Every single pedestrian who looks at this sign automatically assumes that every cyclist who is riding their bike - legally - and out of necessity - because this is an essential bike route arterial - is breaking the law. Because of this sign, cyclists get an excess of harassment. Not only it this sign conveying a message that is false, 63% of City of Palo Alto green house gas emissions are from CARS. If you want that to change, you need to support cycling, not punish people forcycling. Change these signs. ASAP. Thank you. Deborah Goldeen, 2130 Birch St., 94306, (650)799-3652 From:Aram James To:Barberini, Christopher; Tannock, Julie; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Enberg, Nicholas; Robert. Jonsen;Jethroe Moore; Sean Allen; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Jay Boyarsky; Jose DEBUG; Josh Becker; MichaelGennaco; Foley, Michael; Joe Simitian; Sheriff Transparency; Jeff Rosen; Julie Lythcott-Haims; RebeccaEisenberg; ladoris cordell; Mila Zelkha; Shana Segal; DuJuan Green; Perron, Zachary; Kevin Jensen; dennisburns; Wagner, April; chuck jagoda; Vara Ramakrishnan; Angie Evans; Afanasiev, Alex; Gardener, Liz Subject:Sadistic California Cops Bragged About ‘Violating Civil Rights’ Date:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 2:11:55 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 Sadistic California Cops Bragged About ‘Violating Civil Rights’ Rolling Stone I found this on NewsBreak: Sadistic California Cops Bragged About ‘Violating Civil Rights’ Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Dan McKinley To:Dave Stellman; Becchetti, BenjaminCc:City Mgr; osbaldo@or-builders.com; VCondon@wongelectric.com; manu@k9ventures.com; Moffatt, Pete; bill@paloaltoglass.com; cathi@lerchconstruction.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; swong@wongelectric.com;RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com; davestellman@gmail.com; nancy@drewmaran.com; Patrick Kelly; Maor Greenberg; McDonough, Melissa; Reifschneider, James; Tanaka, Greg; Lauing, Ed; Kou, Lydia; Transportation; Veenker, Vicki; Binder,Andrew; Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Marguerite Poyatos; Patrick Kelly; John Lerch; Lester Wong; Dori Dorombozi Subject:Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial concernsDate:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 8:58:21 AM Some people who received this message don't often get email from danmck@scientific-equipment.com. Learn why this is important Hello All, Just one thought to add. If unsafe vehicles with expired tags ( in some cases expired over 5 years) are driving 1/2 mile on Palo Alto streets does that constitute an infraction? Is there abling eye turned to this unsafe practice? On 8/28/2023 8:17 PM, Dave Stellman wrote: Hello Ben and thank you for your detailed email. I will assume you will be our point of contact with the city since no one else has replied. In response; We appreciate your efforts to increase patrols in our area to once a week; this should help. PLEASE keep it up. I think that if your people can see first hand just who is reallyin need and get them some help vs. those who are just playing the park-and-move game, they can better target their enforcement. And speaking of enforcement, as you statein your reply; "If a vehicle moves once during that requisite 72 hour period, even if they return to the same spot, they are in compliance of the regulations". Does this makeany sense to you? It sure doesn't to any of us. If someone is doing this it is obvious to everyone that they have no intention of ever leaving, and they know there is nothing wecan do about it. After your last warnings were placed we saw some of the multi-vehicle owners start their standard drive-around-the-block-and-repark scenario. Localemployee's quickly moved their personal vehicles into these spaces. This worked great until we had to go home, and by morning they were back exactly where they werebefore, in front of our businesses. Please let us know the process for getting this regulation changed to something you can actually enforce like a half-mile relocation, ormaybe a 72 hour NO re-parking requirement? The city of Atherton's parking regulation seems pretty simple; " Parking or leaving any vehicle on a public street or highway for seventy-two or more consecutive hours is prohibited. The regular or permanent storage or parking on anypublic street, right-of-way, alley or driveway of house campers, house cars, buses, trucks over 1-1/2-ton, commercial vehicles, disabled, dismantled, or junked vehicles orparts thereof, trailer coaches, tractors, boats, and boat or horse trailers is prohibited." Seems reasonable. Since we are going to actively attempt to resolve this problem in our area, would it be possible for us to receive the weekly report of warnings posted, citations issued andvehicles towed you are referring to? It would be very helpful to us to see your progress, and possibly help with on-site information to your officers. You mention that over thelast two weeks you placed 72 hour tow warnings on 21 vehicles. 13 moved (no progress, let's change the regulations), 6 were cited (please follow up on these with towing ifthey won't leave), and 2 were towed (thank you, its a start!). Even if it's just an email like this one from you every Monday that would be so much help to us. We do appreciate the Police Department's help with this, and please do continue to work with the other agencies involved to resolve this problem. Dave Stellman On Mon, Aug 28, 2023 at 12:17 PM Becchetti, Benjamin <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hello Dave (and others ), I am responding to your message concerning parking and other associated issues in the area surrounding your business(es). Thank you for writing the City with your concerns. If you have not already, I would encourage you to read the City’s blog post from March 2021 describing our parking enforcement efforts along El Camino Real, which presents some similar challenges. Please note that police are not legally allowed to enforce parking restrictions in private lots (e.g., vehicles parking without permission). Officers can ask the vehicle owner not to use private business lots for their personal purposes, and perform a civil standby to ensure safety if any such vehicle is towed, but the tow itself must be initiated by the property owner. We have marked and cited vehicles in your area on a weekly basis for the last month, and approximately bi-weekly prior to August. We have issued several citations for various violations such as expired registration. As we have found to be a best practice among other cities, we mark for 72-hours, cite if there is a violation upon re-check, and repeat this process again before considering towing any vehicle, including RV’s. If a vehicle moves the requisite distance once during that 72 hour period, even if they return to the same spot, they are within compliance of the regulations. This process also includes some personal contact from an officer to speak with the owner about available social services. Our goal is to obtain voluntary, legal compliance wherever possible. Over the last two weeks, the Department marked 21 vehicles for apparent 72 hour violations (tow warnings). 2 of them were subsequently towed, while 6 vehicles were cited. Of the remaining 19 vehicles, 13 were moved and deemed in compliance with the parking regulations during that time. In addition to our Community Service Officers attending to weekly parking issues, we have two officers patrolling that area on a regular basis in response to your ongoing concerns, in a marked police car and sometimes in an unmarked (undercover) vehicle. They have been instructed to look for electrical theft issues, illegal dumping, and other nuisance violations. What can complicate enforcement efforts is that many of these offenses are legally classified as infractions and are, thus, not enforceable by the police after the fact, even with video. In other words, an officer must see the violation occurring to take enforcement action. The Police Department will continue to consult with the City’s Transportation and Public Works Departments (wastewater treatment), as well as the City Manager’s Office, to identify additional strategies for mitigating the issues you’re experiencing. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions, Ben You don't often get email from dave@paloaltoglass.com. Learn why this is important Lieutenant Ben Becchetti Investigative Services/Traffic Palo Alto Police Department 650-329-2232 From: Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2023 10:41 AM To: Tanaka, Greg <Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Kou, Lydia <Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <Transportation@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Veenker, Vicki <Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Binder, Andrew <Andrew.Binder@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Stone, Greer <Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lythcott-Haims, Julie <Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Osbaldo Romero <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Veronica <VCondon@wongelectric.com>; Moffatt, Pete <pete@petemoffat.com>; Nancy Powers <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Patrick Kelly <info@basketmaterials.com>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Dori Dorombozi <dori@k9ventures.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Ramon Moreno <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> Subject: Street Parking Problem CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. I am writing this email on behalf of the commercial building and business owners on Commercial, Transport and Industrial Streets, to address the "homeless" problem in our area. I have included our Mayor, Vice Mayor, Police Chief and city council members. I am copying the local building and business owners in the hope that this thread can continue on and allow an ongoing dialog for present and future problems by hitting "reply all" by all parties. I currently own a building on Transport Street. Over the last few years the "homeless" problem has gotten progressively worse, and is now at the point where something must be done. I paraphrase "homeless" because this is not the only thing going on here. Our streets have become a free storage lot for anyone's car, truck, trailer or motorhome. Years ago our parking enforcement would at least swing by occasionally to place "You Will Be Towed" signs on their windshields; this has now been abandoned or is unenforced and when we call in a vehicle that never moves we are told by the police; "Our instructions are that if a vehicle has current registration, there is nothing we can do. Tow companies say motorhomes and trailers are too much trouble because of habitation and personal belongings, and the Palo Alto City Council does not want to get into a war with the homeless community over street parking. Complain to the city council". So here we are. Our streets currently have so many vehicles either being lived in or stored here that there is no longer room for our employees or customers to park. I was recently told by one business owner that an employee was actually ticketed for parking too close to a handicap ramp. Really? With everything else going on here this is what you choose to enforce? Where would you suggest we park if you won't clear our streets? We are finding extension cords plugged into outdoor outlets overnight stealing power. Our dumpsters are being filled with all kinds of debris - some of which we have even been reprimanded for by the city waste disposal for hazardous materials when we have no control over it. And last but not least, it is becoming almost a daily occurrence for someone to dump their human waste down the storm drains requiring the city to send a crew out to clean it up. When is enough enough??? We all realize there is a homeless problem, but should we be forced to accept these conditions in one of the most prosperous cities in the county just because our city leaders don't want to make waves and enforce our existing laws? We are respectfully requesting that due to the ongoing and increasing problems listed above, the city starts enforcing the already existing 72 hour parking limit. Per the Palo Alto Municipal Code: "The Palo Alto Municipal Code requires that any vehicle parked on a public street be driven at least one-half mile every 72 hours, even if it re-parks in the samelocation. If you would like to report a vehicle that you believe is violating this ordinance by remaining parked for more than 72 hours without driving, please completethe form below". (available online through the City website, https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Home ) "If you'd prefer, you can also leave this information on our recorded Abandoned Vehicle Hotline at (650) 329-2258". "When we receive a complaint (we receive over 1,200 such complaints City-wide annually), our Community Service Officers respond and place a warning notice onthe vehicle with the details of the law. Placing this written notice is required by the Municipal Code. We then return 72 hours later and take enforcement action asappropriate. This could include a citation, a tow, or both."If this was actually done and citations and towing were carried out 72 hours after a notice, I don't think it would take long for word to get out that this is not a goodplace to permanently park or store your vehicle and maybe we could have our neighborhood back. Everyone seems concerned about rights, but what about ours?I will leave the end of this email open for responses from our city leaders, and in the hope that any other building or business owners will add their experiences andcomments as well.Regards,Dave Stellman --Scientific Equipment Repair950 N. Rengstorff Ave., Suite FMountain View, CA 94043 (650) 938-3169 https://www.scientific-equipment.com From:Charlie Weidanz To:Council, City Subject:Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Date:Tuesday, August 29, 2023 8:00:22 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Chamber Mixer & Networking Event Tuesday, September 19, 2023 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Volvo-McLaren Palo Alto 4190 El Camino Real Palo Alto, CA 94306 Palo Alto Volvo-McClaren will be discussing the future in automotive trends Connect with fellow professionals and business owners. Enjoy light refreshments and drinks. Chamber Members: Free Guests: $20 >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 at info@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.