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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-03 City Council EmailsDOCUMENTS 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: 2/3/2025 Document dates: 1/27/2025 - 2/3/2025 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. 701-32 From:City Mgr To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed Cc:Executive Leadership Team; Clerk, City; City Mgr Subject:City Council Bundle - February 3 Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 12:56:34 PM Attachments:FW Written public comment 113.msgFW CalTrain - Palo Alto Avenue - Quiet Zone.msgRE Cat Town at Stanford Shopping Center.msgRE Concerned Citizen Mini Cat Town Closure.msgimage001.pngimage002.pngAnother Example of Our City Hall"s Resident Neglect.msgFW Re Parking lot Q.msgRE 2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood.msg Dear Mayor and Council Members, On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please see the attached staff responses to emails received in the City.Council inbox through February 3, 2025. Thank you, Danille Danille RiceAdministrative AssistantCity Manager’s Office|Human Resources|Transportation(650) 329-2229 | danille.rice@cityofpaloalto.orgwww.cityofpaloalto.org From:CeCi Kettendorf To:Council, City Subject:Fire ENGINE vs. Fire TRUCK Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 10:57:40 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council; I am again told by those who know that the remodel of Fire Station 4 does not accommodate alarge million dollar fire ENGINE, which carries water, pumps, hoses and gauges, an extension ladder, etc. It will only accommodate a small fire truck, which carries tools.I am also told that your intent for FS4 is to use it as an EMT station, rather than an active fire station. Hence, the design.We need an active fire ENGINE for south Palo Alto. Respectfully submitted,CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident3719 Grove Avenue Palo Alto, Ca. 94303 From:John Shenk To:Council, City Cc:Clerk, City; Lauing, Ed; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Lu, George; Stone, Greer; Burt, Patrick; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed Subject:Request to Support Staff’s Original Recommendation on AB 2097 Parking Requirements Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 10:39:01 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Lauing and City Council Members, Amendments to Palo Alto Municipal Code Titles 18 and 21 are Item 8 on your agenda tonight.Many have raised concerns over the new parking requirements in response to AB 2097, and we strongly echo them. Instead of proceeding with the current council-directed language, weurge you to pause and adopt Staff’s original recommendation, which provides a more balanced and reasoned approach. There was much debate between Council and the City Attorney and the Director of Community Development it is hard for many to understand why Council is pushing the StateLaw and inviting legal action to settle what most communities have accepted. We encourage you to follow the legal advice provided by the City Attorney. This meeting’s Staff Report correctly frames the status (emphasis added): "On November 12, 2024, the City Council directed staff to require accessible andelectric vehicle parking based on the amount of parking that would have been required had AB 2097 not been enacted. Prior to this direction, staff only applied accessible andelectric vehicle parking based on the amount of parking actually provided on-site as part of a development." My main focus is the University Downtown (CD-C) area so my comments are focused on specific anticipated impacts and realities of this area. The 11/12/24 Staff Report (pages 10&11 of the mini-packet) recommended an approach consistent with the PTC recommendations and with neighboring cities’ interpretation and withState law that includes: • “...requiring ADA & EVCS parking may create other challenges related to projectcosts and urban design principles. In addition, requiring ADA and EVCS parking when parking is not otherwise provided could invite legal challenges given the ambiguity inthe law.” • "Alternatively, as conceptually supported by the PTC, the City could look atdeveloping a policy to distribute ADA parking spaces on streets or other public property within the AB 2097 radius. While this policy may limit direct on-site access to a specificproperty, distributing ADA spaces throughout the district could expand universal access to a greater number of individuals visiting these areas and would not just servean AB 2097 qualifying project’s tenants or visitors.” • “...staff recommends that if of interest, the City Council provide this direction for staff to report back with options on implementation, costs, and any resource constraints.Staff from the Office of Transportation are currently working on a municipal code parking update scheduled to go to the PTC later this year and this effort couldpotentially be included in that policy discussion. This approach also coincides with efforts underway in the City’s public works department, which already has anoperational system in place for installing EVCS spaces in the public right of way and it is also creating a new electric mobility strategic plan through the City’s S/CAP efforts." • "Based on the practical challenges and legal risks described above, the attached ordinance has been drafted to not require on-site ADA or EVCS parking spaces forqualifying AB 2097 projects. If Council wishes to provide alternative direction, staff can return with a separate ordinance to implement that direction in early 2025. If Council isinclined to require ADA and EVCS parking, staff offers the following secondary recommendation: The on-site parking requirement should be paired with an in-lieu feeoption. This in-lieu fee could be based on the cost to convert existing spaces in the right- of-way and in public lots to ADA and EVCS spaces. This would mitigate the problem ofneeding to accumulate significant funds before the fees can be expended.” Importantly, Staff explicitly advised against requiring ADA/EV spaces when none arevoluntarily included in a proposed project. This aligns with AB 2097’s intent and with how our neighboring cities interpret the State law to facilitate development near transit, notobstruct it. The City Attorney confirmed that state and federal law do not requireadditional mandates for ADA and EVCS stalls. Requiring parking, even in small amounts, would force projects in the University Avenue’sdowntown to build extremely costly underground garages, rendering projects economicallyinfeasible and also stuck since many sites are literally precluded by City Ordinance from having a curb cut for on-site parking. As Ken Hayes (a highly respected local architect) andStaff have outlined, this approach will discourage or even make impossible housingproduction rather than promote it. Moreover, downtown sites in the Parking Assessment District have already constructedand are still paying for parking, including ADA and EVCS stalls throughout the downtown.Imposing additional requirements contradicts this system and creates unnecessary practical and financial burdens. The sites within the Assessment District that have paid for the parkingalready should be given credit for those stalls to enable them to be redeveloped without new added constraints since they already provide parking. Staff’s recommendation and Staff’s previous presentation and answers to Council questions allows for further study to ensure that new policies neither create unintended consequencesthat would stifle the development AB 2097 encourages, nor trigger challenges from theHCD, nor create internal inconsistencies with other City codes further confusing prospectiveproject sponsors. I urge you to adopt Staff’s original recommendation consistent with our neighbors or simplyallow time for proper study rather than enacting policies that will hinder the practical and economic feasibility of projects that AB 2097 specifically enables in the University Avenuedowntown area. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, John Shenk C.E.O. | C.F.O.Thoits Bros., Inc. From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker; Burt, Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com;Jeff Conrad; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; Doug Minkler; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway;Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; Gerry Gras; Cait James; Tim James; MarinaLopez; Lewis james; Council, City; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Marty Wasserman; Pat M; Diana Diamond; DavePrice; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Daniel Kottke; Kaloma Smith; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James Subject:Columbia students just sued the university for attacks on pro-Palestine activism Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 9:42:35 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://open.substack.com/pub/dropsitenews/p/columbia-students-sue-university-palestine- activism?r=fjmzt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email From:Christian Bailey To:Council, City Cc:Natalya Bailey Subject:Urgent Need for Permanent Fire Truck and Crew at Station 4 Date:Monday, February 3, 2025 8:07:56 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, South Palo Alto urgently needs a fully equipped fire truck and a dedicated crew of four (2 in, 2 out) to bepermanently stationed at Fire Station 4. For the past two years, our community has been left vulnerable after ourtruck was reassigned—temporarily at first, but now indefinitely. This must be rectified. Our neighborhood is home to older wooden buildings and original Eichlers, which are highly susceptible to rapidfire spread and complete destruction in minutes. With 12 schools within a five-block radius of Station 4, the lack ofimmediate fire protection puts thousands of children at risk daily. Shifting resources from Station 4 has placed an unreasonable burden on Barron Park Station, extending responsetimes beyond legal limits. In emergencies, every second counts—delays due to overextended coverage areas or evensomething as simple as waiting for a train can be catastrophic. Moreover, neighboring cities like Mountain Viewmay hesitate to provide mutual aid, knowing we lack the capacity to reciprocate. The city’s $1.2 billion budget should prioritize public safety, and fire protection is in the top three. South Palo Altodeserves equitable protection. If additional resources are needed for stations elsewhere, the solution is to invest innew equipment—not to strip vital assets from one community to serve another. Residents in South Palo Alto feel overlooked and unprotected. We need immediate action to restore trust and ensureour safety. Please secure a fire truck and permanent crew for Station 4 without delay. Respectfully and sincerely,Christian Bailey3722 Grove Ave From:Loran Harding To:Loran Harding; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; David Balakian; beachrides; LeodiesBuchanan; bballpod; fred beyerlein; boardmembers; bearwithme1016@att.net; carloslawnservice14@gmail.com;Cathy Lewis; Council, City; Doug Vagim; dennisbalakian; dallen1212@gmail.com; eappel@stanford.edu;kdeem.electriclab@gmail.com; Scott Wilkinson; Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu;huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; Joel Stiner; Sally Thiessen; jerry ruopoli;karkazianjewelers@gmail.com; kfsndesk; Mayor; MY77FJ@gmail.com; Mark Standriff; margaret-sasaki@live.com;maverickbruno@sbcglobal.net; merazroofinginc@att.net; newsdesk; news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino;russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; tsheehan; terry; vallesR1969@att.net Subject:Fwd: Muy exper. pilot on DCA crash. Dont Miss Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 10:38:56 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: Sun, Feb 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM Subject: Fwd: Muy exper. pilot on DCA crash. Dont MissTo: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 To all- Very experienced pilot on the DCA crash. DO NOT MISS THIS: LH- I thought they hadradar altimeters in addition to the barametic pressure ones. Listen here to how tricky the latter ones are: And hear what he says about what a pilot with 500 hours should be doing: Mayberisking his or her own life in the air and nobody else's: (531) UPDATE: 500-Hour Blackhawk H-60 Pilot, Rebecca Lobach, Failed to See & Avoid American Eagle 5342 - YouTube The Blackhawk pilot, Rebecca Lobach, had 500 hours of flying experience. She was a bigname around Biden's WH, escorting Ralph Lauren, walking with him in the WH, that is, to get his Pres. Medal of Freedom. She's now flown a Blackhawk into her last commercial jet. Let'ssee the Army and NTSB cover this up- her low flying hours. Let's see the press inundate the Army and the NTSB investigators with questions about this!!!!!!!! This should be all overthe news. No five year investigation needed here: We know the truth. Now heads should rollway up into the Army ranks about this. Let's hear the new Sect. of Defense announce thefirings. Pretty clear that the US military is all infected with the Nazi affirmative action laws. Trump should get thousands of people in the military re-assigned from ranks and jobs they are notqualified to have due to those laws. We need a top to bottom review of the US military to re- assign and bust people who are in ranks and jobs they are not qualified for. 3RD PILOT IDENTIFIED!! Rebecca Lobach. PLANE & CHOPPER CRASH.Washington DC. Listen to this. In here, THIS MAN SAYS, you hear the tower tell the plane that "there ishelicopter traffic". You hear those words from ATF, HE SAYS. "WHERE is the helicopter traffic?" the plane might have asked. They did not ask and the tower never gave them a hint.This is the first I have heard that the ATC gave the plane any warning of "helicopter traffic" in their vicinity. The ATC had both craft on radar and they might have told the plane where thehilo was. Too much trouble, I guess. Pilot Exposes NEW Details the News Won’t Tell You (DC Mid-Air Collision) We also learn here or elsewhere that the plane heard the ATF tell the hilo to fall inbehind the plane.That is hard to understand because the NTSB said yesterday in its news briefing that thehilo operated on UHF and the plane operated on VHF. How could the plane hear what theATF told the hilo about falling in behind the plane? In this video of today, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, we hear at 23:36 an Army Colonel Ott tell why that training mission took place. Slide the slider to 23:36. You hear him say that the FAAdecides on all aircraft actiivity in the area. LH- But they don'f force the Army to do training here. They approve it. He almost says that the Army conducts these training flights at thedirection of the FAA! It is the Army that decides to do this training by the hilos and theArmy can decide to put a stop to it. He does say the Army will review all of this. TheFAA did halt all hilo traffic around Reagan for 30 days, I believe. JUST IN: Unified Command Holds Press Briefing On Fatal Helicopter-Plane Crash In Washington, D.C. L. William Harding Fresno, Ca. From:Henry Etzkowitz To:Council, City; Office of the Provost; Rebecca Eisenberg; Roberta Ahlquist; Brian Good; Jim Hersh; JeanneFleming; Avroh Shah; Gennady Sheyner; Palo Post; Braden Cartwright; Sarah Wright; Marty Wasserman; EllenFox; Lotus Fong; mickie winkler; Charlie Weidanz; Whitney McNair; Shikada, Ed; Bette Kiernan; Hannah Lu;Gloria Hom; Aram James; Mary Rorty; Team JulieforPaloAlto; John Salois; Mark Granovetter; Martha Russell;Ellen Granovetter; Artie; Firoozeh Dastmalchi; Sally Tomlinson; Bette; Alex Etzkowitz; John Marlin; Carol Kiparsky Subject:Defending against the inevitable Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 10:28:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.The “rule of thumb” is that from 7-40% of so-called natural disasters are human andorganizational. They may be operationalized in specific commonplace concepts like corruption. For example, flooding and loss of life due to heavy rains in the southern Brazil city of RioGrande del sul was exacerbated by levees not properly maintained. Beyond the rescue effort, utilizing its assault vehicles, President Lula has charged Brazil’s Marines with preventionresponsibility in collaboration with representatives of key societal spheres. In addition to proximate causes, long term, but no less identifiable than property risk analytics summarized by the”many Homes in Los Angeles were Built close to wildfire risks” headline(NY times 2/1/2025:A12). Implication for Palo Alto The “industrial area”adjacent to Mountain View , currently slated for housing, as well as adjacent properties, should be repurposed as a “sequoia” firebreak. Housing in the currentremit may be placed on stilts above the Stanford Shopping Center Parking Garages, without disturbing shopping center access. No home’s sun or views will be elided by living-working lofts,triple, even quadruple, scaled, beyond admirable “drop in the housing bucket” efforts (Lythcote-Haims “Inconvenient Truths” Neighbors Together Striving 2/2/2025). With allincome levels integrated, Bakar classic Oak Creek amenities included along with set asides for Seniors, Stanford employees and children of Palo Alto residents, Stockholm’s Kista could bereplicated through an international design competition. Concomitantly, downtown parking lots slated for housing could become urban parks, with an element of the projectedsouth Palo Alto gymnasium scheme might be decentralized to downtown as a cafe surrounded ice skating rink. Pueblo Redux A consortium of local and international developer, community planning and architecturalfirms, complemented by Stanford faculty and student advisors is forming with the objective of collaborating with Palo Alto to create a defensible, sustainable “Pueblo” as an alternative tothe post-war fire prone. Sincerely Henry EtzkowitzNeighbors for environmental and Social Justice www.triplehelix.net Sent from my social iPhone From:Amie Ashton To:Council, City Cc:Charlie Weidanz; Richard Hackmann Subject:Agenda Item #8 - AB 2097 Implementation Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 3:58:56 PM Attachments:Agenda Item #8 AB 2097 (02.02.25).pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council, We urge you to reconsider amendments related to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking spaces as part of Zoning Ordinanceamendments to implement AB 2097 for the reasons outlined in the attached letter. Thank you, Amie Ashton Executive Director Palo Alto Forward February 2, 2025 SUBJECT: Item #8 - AB 2097 Ordinance Amendments Dear Mayor Lauing and Council Members, We urge you to reconsider amendments related to Electric Vehicle (EV) charging and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) parking spaces as part of Zoning Ordinance amendments to implement AB 2097. The proposed additional EV/ADA parking requirements will hinder housing development. We need to remove barriers to housing, not put up new ones - as also stated in the letter received from Ken Hayes on December 12, 2024. These new parking requirements should be further analyzed by the City consistent with Housing Element Program 3.2 B, which calls for an assessment detailing the impacts of new regulations on housing production and recommended solutions to address those impacts. Additional parking requirements will also create barriers to filling commercial vacancies and implementing tenant improvements on California and University Avenues. Under AB 2097, allowed commercial uses are interchangeable without costly in-lieu parking fees or additional parking analysis. Further, these additional EV/ADA parking requirements are inconsistent with Council’s current efforts to improve and revitalize our downtown areas. AB 2097 was approved by the state to reduce the cost of housing and reduce slashing pollution, while facilitating walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods. Diverse groups such as the Sierra Club of California, American Association of Retired Persons, Habitat for Humanity California, League of Women Voters of California, and Midpen Housing supported AB 2097. There are better and more thoughtful ways to ensure EV charging stations and additional ADA parking spaces are provided within 0.5-mile of transit if that is a Council priority. Thank you for your service to our community. Amie Ashton Executive Director, and on behalf of the Board of Palo Alto Forward From:CeCi Kettendorf To:Shikada, Ed Cc:Blackshire, Geoffrey; Council, CitySubject:Re: New Fire Station 4 BuildDate:Sunday, February 2, 2025 1:11:16 PMAttachments:image004.pngimage002.pngimage006.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking onlinks. Deaar Mr. Shikada,Our concern is that there will be no truck, 24/7, to serve this neighborhood out of Fire Station 4. Our concern is that the larger bay is, as yousay, for a reserve truck, an inactive truck.So are you assuring us that a truck will be available 24/7 to answer fires, housed in one of the two open bays? Will 911 calls in south Palo Altobe first routed to Fire Station 4, which is in closest proximity to south Palo Alto? We are told by firefighters that the two active bays are intended for EMT services, not fire response. They say the bays are not large enoughfor a fire truck.I think you can understand our skepticism when we just found out that we have not had a fire truck for two years, probably longer. Hence, thelong response time to the fire at PHILZ. Hence the incredibly prolonged response time to a (false) fire alarm at MItchell Library. On and on....We feel betrayed. Again, fire fighters and an architect say the two open bays will accommodate ambulances, but are too tight for a firetruck. Are you assuring south Palo Alto that there will be a firetruck on active duty there, housed in one of the two open bays? As importantly, willyou fund the staff for said truck, 24/7 by four men? We don't want to see our truck "loaned" elsewhere, never to return. (Our insurance rates will rise since we are no longer within a mile of a fire station,.... but a small concern.)We have been misled and lied to, so we are distrusting. I and others are circulating a petition to keep the residents aware of our vulnerability.......1.2 Billion dollar budget. Spend the money to make us safe. We are worth it.What say you? Are you promising us? Respectfully submitted,Ceci Kettendorf45 year resident3719 Grove On Sun, Feb 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hello CeCi, I hope this helps. Below is an excerpt from the approved plans for Fire Station 4. As shown, the station is designed with two drive-thruapparatus bays and one reserve apparatus bay. The apparatus bays will accommodate fire engines as well as an ambulance. Also shown arefive bedrooms for staff. Best, --Ed Ed Shikada, City Manager ICMA Credentialed Manager (650) 329-2280 | ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 8:42 PMTo: Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking onlinks. Dear City Council, I just reviewed the drawings for the remodel of Fire Station 4. I see that two of the bays in the new plans for Station 4 are only large enoughfor ambulances. The third bay can accommodate a small engine. Everywhere it says that the latter bay will be for RESERVE ENGINES. According to the fire fighters , RESERVE ENGINE means it is in storage until there is a global emergency in the City. Perhaps I was correct on my first query to you? There is no design which accommodates an active, on call Fire engine ready for servicewhen the call comes in? Does this really mean that there has never been an intention to provide ACTIVE FIRE COVERAGE fromFireStation 4? Is there no expectation that we will be saved from fire in south Palo Alto by our Fire Station 4, which has saved us for 50years? I do not see in those plans that a fire engine and a crew are designated, nor provided for. PLease let me know wherein I am confused. Respectfully submitted, CeCi Kettendorf On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Ceci, My understanding is that your information is not correct. Pat Get Outlook for iOS From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com>Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:46:35 AMTo: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clickingon links. Dear Council Members, I have been told by two fire fighters who came to my door to sign the petition that the remodel of Fire Station 4 will not be large enoughfor a small fire truck, let alone the large one the city wants to purchase for a million dollars. The bays there, as designed, will notaccommodate a fire truck. They are designed for ambulances only. I hope this is not true. There are twelve schools within a five block radius of Station 4. We need a fire truck to serve south Palo Alto. Mountain View knows now that we have not had a fire truck at Station 4 for over two years. They are reconsidering our reciprocalagreement. Please tell us that we will have a large bay and a large fire truck with a ladder, in the new Fire Station 4. Respectfully submitted, CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident 3719 Grove Avenue From:Shikada, Ed To:cecihome@gmail.com Cc:Blackshire, Geoffrey; Council, City Subject:RE: New Fire Station 4 Build Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 12:36:53 PM Attachments:image004.pngimage002.pngimage006.png Hello CeCi, I hope this helps. Below is an excerpt from the approved plans for Fire Station 4. As shown, the station is designed with two drive-thru apparatus bays and one reserve apparatus bay. The apparatus bays will accommodate fire engines as well as an ambulance. Also shown are five bedrooms for staff. Best, --Ed Ed Shikada, City Manager ICMA Credentialed Manager (650) 329-2280 | ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 8:42 PM To: Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking onlinks. Dear City Council, I just reviewed the drawings for the remodel of Fire Station 4. I see that two of the bays in the new plans for Station 4 are only large enough for ambulances. The third bay can accommodate a small engine. Everywhere it says that the latter bay will be for RESERVE ENGINES. According to the fire fighters , RESERVE ENGINE means it is in storage until there is a global emergency in the City. Perhaps I was correct on my first query to you? There is no design which accommodates an active, on call Fire engine ready for service when the call comes in? Does this really mean that there has never been an intention to provide ACTIVE FIRE COVERAGE from FireStation 4? Is there no expectation that we will be saved from fire in south Palo Alto by our Fire Station 4, which has saved us for 50 years? I do not see in those plans that a fire engine and a crew are designated, nor provided for. PLease let me know wherein I am confused. Respectfully submitted, CeCi Kettendorf On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Ceci, My understanding is that your information is not correct. Pat Get Outlook for iOS From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:46:35 AM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clickingon links. Dear Council Members, I have been told by two fire fighters who came to my door to sign the petition that the remodel of Fire Station 4 will not be large enough for a small fire truck, let alone the large one the city wants to purchase for a million dollars. The bays there, as designed, will not accommodate a fire truck. They are designed for ambulances only. I hope this is not true. There are twelve schools within a five block radius of Station 4. We need a fire truck to serve south Palo Alto. Mountain View knows now that we have not had a fire truck at Station 4 for over two years. They are reconsidering our reciprocal agreement. Please tell us that we will have a large bay and a large fire truck with a ladder, in the new Fire Station 4. Respectfully submitted, CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident 3719 Grove Avenue From:slevy@ccsce.com To:Council, City Cc:Lait, Jonathan Subject:Item 8 on 2/3 agenda Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 10:56:11 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Lauing and council members, I am writing to urge you NOT to approve item 8 with regard to ADA/EVCS parkingrequirements. I have read Ken Hayes letter attached to the staff report. The letter raises what are to me serious concerns about the impact of this item on project costs and technical feasiblity. Council and staff have made significant progress in eliminating constraints/barriers to developments that meet city goals. Item 8 appears to reverse course and potentially add costs that can convert projects that are financially feasible into the not-feasible zone. In m review of the new staff report, I did not see any analysis of the impact on projectfeasibility of approving item 8. I encourage the council to revisit their original request and disapprove item 8. BUT at a minimum if council wishes to proceed, an independent feasibility analysis should be conducted and some consideration of how imposing new costs will appear to HCD. Stephen Levy From:Martin Wasserman To:h.etzko@gmail.com Cc:Aram James; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Council, City; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Bill Newell; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Braden Cartwright; Today EPA; Diana Diamond; Doug Minkler; Gerry Gras; Palo Alto Free Press; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; Pat M; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Dave Price; dennis burns; Human Relations Commission; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; Tim James; Templeton, Cari; Cait James; Lewis james; Marina Lopez; jason.green@bayareanewsgroup.com; Cecilia Taylor; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Michelle; Foley, Michael; michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com; Mickie Winkler; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Daniel Kottke; kamhialison@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; Vicki Veenker; Raymond Goins; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; qy2103@columbia.edu; Jack Ajluni; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Sandy Perry- HCA; San José Spotlight; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Jessica Speiser; Vara Ramakrishnan; Steve Wagstaffe; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; Gennady Sheyner; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Barberini, Christopher; Stump, Molly; Ellen Fox Subject:Re: Israel Escalates West Bank Military Assault, Invading Areas Across the North Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 9:23:38 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Henry, I'm a bit surprised that you would use a prayer service in a Jewish synagogue to bless the"state of Palestine,” a state that in fact does not exist, and if common sense prevails in Israel, will never exist. If Israel did allow such a state to come into being, it would surely pose amortal danger to the Jewish state, since the entire basis of Palestinian nationalism is hatred of Israel and commitment to its destruction. Maybe you think this state would be run by liberal,western-trained technocrats and academicians. But how could they prevent the state from being taken over by radical jihadists who think nothing of killing or dying for their cause?Every time Israel has retreated from territory, that territory has always been taken over by hostile forces, not friendly ones, and peace has gotten more distant, not closer. Marty On Feb 1, 2025, at 9:25 PM, Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Aram Not good news but expectable, sadly from corrupt Netanyahu government that to date always seem to land on its feet. This morning at Etz Chaim Rabbi Chaiminvited me to lead the prayer for the State of Israel which I did, inserting a blessing for state of Palestine, future sister of Israel. I received a look from one person but otherwise calmly accepted as far as I couldtell. Best Henry Ps will you join me for 9-10am Torah study next week as we have discussed?Sent from my iPhone On Jan 31, 2025, at 2:51 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:On Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Israel Escalates West BankMilitary Assault, InvadingAreas Across the North Israel’s defense minister says troops will remain in Jeninrefugee camp indefinitely MARIAM BARGHOUTI JAN 31 ∙GUEST POST READ IN APP The funeral ceremony of 10 Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack on Tamoun, a village in Tubas, West Bank on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu via Getty Images) JENIN AND TULKAREM—An Israeli airstrike on a crowded neighborhood in the village of Tamoun in the northern West Bank on Wednesday killed at least 10 Palestinians, one of the single deadliest strikes in the West Bank in months. Minutes later, Israeli forces raided the city of Qalqilya and surrounding areas, escalating the military assault. Israeli troops backed by drones and fighter jets have now taken hold of all of the major districts in the north of the occupied territory. Barely 48 hours after the “ceasefire” in Gaza came into effect on January 19, Israel announced “Operation Iron Wall,” a large-scale military operation to “defeat terrorism in Jenin.” What began in the Jenin refugee camp has expanded to Tulkarem, Tubas, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Jericho. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and thousands of families have been forcibly displaced. In the span of 10 days, at least 37 Palestinians have been killed, including a two-year-old who was shot with a bullet to the head at home in Jenin. A group of UN special rapporteurs released a statement this week saying the Israeli military operation in the West Bank “marks a dangerous escalation against Palestinians.” “We are dismayed by the escalation of deadly violence sweeping through Jenin and the rest of the occupied West Bank,” the UN experts said. “Israel's repression seems to have no end in sight… The heightened assault on the occupied West Bank is part of an overall process of Palestinian forced displacement and replacement and the territorial expansion of Israel.” In a publicized visit to the Jenin camp on Wednesday, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz, declared that troops would maintain a permanent presence there once the military operation was over. “We have declared war on Palestinian terror in the West Bank,” he said. “After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return.” Drop Site News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid Depopulating Jenin refugee camp Within the first few hours of Operation Iron Wall, the Israeli army killed at least 11 Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp, the vast majority of them civilians. Over the next three days, Israeli forces began systematically depopulating the camp—bombing neighborhoods, firing live ammunition, and bulldozing streets and homes. “All we heard from the drones was ‘get out of your homes or we will kill you.’ We got afraid, and we left with only the clothes we had on,” said Haniyeh Dabayah, a 73-year-old resident who says she escaped the camp while being shot at by the Israeli army. Within days, the camp had been largely emptied, with thousands of families forced to take refuge in neighboring villages, staying either with relatives or friends, not knowing if or when they could return. While Israeli military raids on the Jenin refugee camp have become common in the last three years, Operation Iron Wall set a new precedent by attacking the entire governorate of Jenin— which includes Jenin city and refugee camp and surrounding villages and towns—placing it on lockdown for days, with families unable to leave their homes as Israeli warplanes bombed sites across the area. Dubbing it the “Wasps Nest,” Israeli military and intelligence have long targeted Jenin as a stronghold of armed resistance. Although relatively small and impoverished, Jenin refugee camp has been one of the few areas in the West Bank that has managed to organize armed groups across factional lines into the Jenin Brigade. However, according to residents from the camp and other sources, most of the fighters in the Jenin Brigade left the camp early on in the Israeli operation. Only a handful opted to remain and confront the Israeli military. A day before the latest Israeli invasion, Palestinian Authority security forces had concluded their own large-scale offensive on the camp dubbed Operation Home, one of the longest and most lethal assaults by Palestinian security forces in recent memory. At least 11 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians, including one child. Security forces also arbitrarily detained dozens of residents and subjected them to torture and abuse. The Israeli army invaded while Palestinian Authority armored vehicles and soldiers were still in the camp. “[The security forces] chose to withdraw from the camp in order to avoid direct confrontation with the Israeli army,” the Palestinian Authority security forces’ spokesperson, Gen. Brig. Anwar Rajab, said in a statement. As the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Jenin refugee camp, the Palestinian Authority detained several prominent Jenin Brigade fighters, including their spokesperson Abu Issam, as they were escaping. With most of the fighters relocated outside the camp, the Israeli military began a campaign of “mowing the lawn,” in which residential buildings were bombed, bulldozed, and set ablaze. While journalists were again denied entry, the sounds of explosions and the sight of smoke from inside the camp were continuous. By the seventh day, the majority of the camp had been destroyed. According to the Israeli military, more than 60 houses in Jenin were demolished and at least 3,000 families have been displaced, according to the UN. At the same time, Israel attacked neighboring towns and villages with drone strikes and ground troops. “The sound of drones was so loud and close I thought they were in the house,” said Sameeh Hazza, a resident of Muthalath Shuhada, a small town southwest of Jenin. His two-year-old niece Laila Khateeb was shot in the head and killed on Saturday while in her home. “What did she do wrong?” Hazza says standing by her grave moments after the burial. “We were preparing to eat dinner and all we saw were red and green lasers in the house, then the bullets poured in.” An elderly Palestinian man stands in the middle of a destroyed market during an Israeli military raid on the city of Tulkarem and Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Assault on Tulkarem By the second week, the operation had expanded to the governorate of Tulkarem, southwest of Jenin. On the morning of January 27, an airstrike on a car outside the Nour Shams refugee camp, located just outside the city of Tulkarem, killed two Palestinian fighters. Moments later, another airstrike hit Tulkarem refugee camp. Within hours, Israeli bulldozers and soldiers were deployed deep into the city of Tulkarem. The main market was quickly emptied while the public hospital was encircled and put under siege. Similar to the operation in Jenin, the Israeli army began by targeting critical infrastructure in the city—destroying telecommunication networks and water mains. “We were forced out of our home at gunpoint while explosions continued in the camp,” said Azza Kahle, 35. A mother of five, Kahle told Drop Site that she had never before witnessed this level of violence. “We weren’t allowed to take anything except our phones and the clothes we were wearing,” she said. “Now we’re displaced, with nowhere to go and my children are cold.” Some families managed to reach the homes of relatives on the outskirts of Tulkarem, but dozens had nowhere to go and were forced to take shelter in the local mosque. The Israeli military continued to escalate its attack, bulldozing streets and displacing dozens of families in the city itself. Many families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint as soldiers stationed snipers inside them and turned residential buildings into makeshift military posts. “The Israeli army is besieging the entire city with an unprecedented number of soldiers sprawled across the area,” said Tariq Hishme, a journalism student from Tulkarem. “This did not even happen in this way during the Second Intifada, and the targeting of the city itself marks a terrifying and new escalation,” he said. The Israeli military also obstructed medical personnel and journalists from accessing certain areas. As the army besieged the hospital, patients were unable to receive proper medical care. “I need to give birth,” said a pregnant woman as she stood several meters away from the hospital in the cold. It took medics hours to be able to coordinate her entry into the hospital. “The goal of the Israeli forces besieging hospitals is to obstruct medics from reaching the wounded,” Ahmad Zahran, the deputy chief of emergency care in Thabit public hospital, told Drop Site. “They take hours in their security check,” he said. “The time they take in checking medics and verifying patients takes away from the patient's time." According to Zahran, the level of violence in Tulkarem is like no other he has witnessed before. “I’ve been obstructed before, and they’ve invaded Tulkarem before, but this time it’s a different type of aggression.” As medics were detained while on duty, journalists were targeted with stun grenades, teargas, and live ammunition. At least one journalist, Nagham Al-Zayet was injured with shrapnel in Tulkarem. From Gaza to the West Bank In the first three weeks of the new year, Israeli forces killed 26 Palestinians, including four children. In the last ten days—since the Gaza ceasefire and the launch of Operation Iron Wall—the Israeli military has killed 37 Palestinians in the West Bank, including four children. “This is not random,” Roshdi Al-Norsi, a 43-year-old resident of Jenin refugee camp, told Drop Site. “This assault comes amid the release of Palestinian detainees and the suspension of bombs on Gaza. What Israel is telling us, is that we are not allowed to celebrate anything, not the release of the detainees, not the resistance, nothing.” Israeli battalions that served in Gaza—including members of the Kfir brigades and the Skylark unit—have been deployed in Jenin as part of Operation Iron Wall. “Look, over there in the distance. That smoke you see, that’s my home,” Abu Nizar, 63, told Drop Site. Standing on a hill overlooking Jenin refugee camp, he struggled to contain his grief. “Israel is vengeful, they see Jenin as Gaza, so as they leave Gaza with the ceasefire they’re coming here. After here, it’s the rest of the West Bank.” Leave a comment Upgrade to paid A guest post by Mariam Barghouti Mariam Barghouti is a writer and a journalist based in the West Bank. She is a member of the Marie Colvin Journalist Network. Subscribe to Mariam Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: Subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe From:Henry Etzkowitz To:George for Palo Alto; Carol Kiparsky; Cari Templeton for Council; Cribbs, Anne; Rebecca Eisenberg; Brian Good;Lotus Fong; Jeanne Fleming; Avroh Shah; Gennady Sheyner; Palo Post; Braden Cartwright; Sarah Wright Cc:Roberta Ahlquist; Hannah Lu; Office of the Provost; Jim Hersh; Ellen Fox; Gloria Hom; Marty Wasserman; Council, City Subject:Fwd: Sign the petition: Stop the removal of fact checks at Meta Date:Sunday, February 2, 2025 6:24:55 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Hi George Recall your mentioning at Vi candidate event that your job at Meta was fact checking. Areyou fired? Moved to Texas? How do Mr zuckerberg’s recent pronouncements affect you?Meta colleagues? How may we support you all? Best HenryNeighbors for environmental and Social Justice (NESJ) Ps recalling your wonderful campaign event at bar Zola, took overseas visitor to show best ofPalo Alto night scene and next LeQuy ffor best in SPA restaurant, Charleston ShoppingCenter find for after Mitchell Park Library closing rendezvous Sent from, ,my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Meta Alert via Courage California <info@couragecampaign.org>Date: February 1, 2025 at 12:01:07 PM PSTTo: HENRY ETZKOWITZ <h.etzko@gmail.com>Subject: Sign the petition: Stop the removal of fact checks at MetaReply-To: info@couragecampaign.org  Henry, We use Facebook for so many reasons -- to stay connected with those nearand far, to plan our social lives, and to find out the latest news. But Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has decided that it’s more importantto pander to Donald Trump and protect his bottom line than to makeFacebook a safe place for us to share by eliminating fact-checking onthe platform.(1) Meta is engaging in a race to the bottom with Elon Musk’s X to see which platform can become a more vile cesspool of lies and disinformation. Byallowing unchecked hate and violence to spread on these platforms, they are contributing to a ratcheting up of violent rhetoric and lies thatcan only end in real-world violence. Will you join thousands of people nationwide in demanding Meta re-instate fact-checking? SIGN NOW Zuckerberg’s decision to not only abandon fact-checking but also to move the skeletal remaining “trust and safety” team from California to Texas“where there’s less concern about the bias of our teams.”(2) This move makes clear the reason behind Zuckerberg’s machinations: He is notinterested in preserving an unbiased, safe platform but simply wants to gain favor with Trump and sell out Meta's users to protect his own profit. Right-wing trolls, agitators, and insurrectionists have used Facebook to spread hate, intimidate whole swaths of the population, and plot outrightviolence. And Zuckerberg is opening the floodgates for this behavior to escalate and lending a veneer of credibility to the right-wing disinformationnarrative that fact-checking is politically motivated.(3) But we know that Meta needs something even more than Trump’s favor: Itsusers. If enough of us speak out together and make our voices heard, we can show Meta that their customers–the people they rely on to make money byshowing us ads–reject the removal of fact-checking. Add your name and make your voice heard: Meta must restart its fact-checking program immediately. Thank you for being with us. –Irene, along with Annie, Angela, Isidra, Cecilia, Jen, and Lindsay (the Courage team) SUPPORT OUR WORK Footnotes: 1. https://apnews.com/article/meta-facts-trump-musk-community-notes-413b8495939a058ff2d25fd23f2e0f43 2. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/01/07/meta-factchecking-zuckerberg/ 3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/01/07/meta-factchecking-zuckerberg/ You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time. From:Loran Harding To:Loran Harding; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; David Balakian; beachrides;boardmembers; Leodies Buchanan; bballpod; fred beyerlein; bearwithme1016@att.net;carloslawnservice14@gmail.com; Cathy Lewis; Council, City; Doug Vagim; dennisbalakian;dallen1212@gmail.com; Doug Vagim; eappel@stanford.edu; kdeem.electriclab@gmail.com; Scott Wilkinson;Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; JoelStiner; Sally Thiessen; jerry ruopoli; karkazianjewelers@gmail.com; kfsndesk; Mayor; MY77FJ@gmail.com; MarkStandriff; margaret-sasaki@live.com; maverickbruno@sbcglobal.net; merazroofinginc@att.net; newsdesk;news@fresnobee.com; nick yovino; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; tsheehan; terry;vallesR1969@att.net Subject:Fwd: Female Blkhwk pilot opines. Hear this Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:46:10 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: Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 4:41 PM Subject: Fwd: Female Blkhwk pilot opines. Hear thisTo: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Saturday, February 1, 2025 To all- Ex-Black Hawk helicopter pilot believes three things went wrong in plane collision She has flown Blackhawks around Reagan National and she says three mistakes were made: (1) Three crew should have been four. One crew chief in the back of the hilo couldnot be watching out both sides!! There should have been two, one on each side. If the hilo had had a second crew chief looking out the left side of the hilo, he might have seen thecommercial jet approaching. LH- Not once, by Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, has the NTSB or anyone else addressed this. It's like THEY DON'T KNOW THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TWO CREW CHIEFS IN THEBACK OF THE HILO WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE IN HEAVILY CONGESTED SPACE LIKE THAT, OR THEY DON'T KNOW THERE WAS ONLY ONE BACKTHERE. THE NEWS MEDIA SHOULD BEAR DOWN ON THEM ON THIS. I think they are doing a little cover-up on this point. She says here: (2) "When the ATF asked the hilo if it saw the commercial jet, theyshould have said TO THE HILO, to the hilo to the hilo to the hilo SHE SAYS HERE,"the PLANE is approaching you at 5 O'clock". THEY DID NOT!!" LH- She mispoke here. Look down at your lap. Imagine you are looking down on a clockface. Imagine you, the commercial jet, are traveling toward 12 oclock. LH- Actually, the hilo was coming at the plane from about 2 o'clock from the plane's perspective. One formerpilot says it was a small, dark object that was out of place.That is what was happening, but the ATC merely asked the hilo if the hilo saw "the commercial plane" without saying whereit was. WITHOUT SAYING WHERE IT WAS. WE KNOW THAT IS THE CASEFROM THE TOWER RECORDING. I believe the ATC should have asked THE HILOif it saw the traffic at 11 or twelve o'clock. i.e. out in front of the hilo moving from left toright. Because we have the ATC tapes, no amount of investigating will change the fact that thetower did not indicate to the hilo WHERE the commecial jet was. They just asked the hilo if they saw it and they said that they did. So the plane was out at 11 or 12 o'clock as far as the hilo was concerned, and the hilo wascoming at the plane from the plane's two o'clock position. The plane was never approaching the hilo from the hilo's five o'clock position. She is correct that the ATF should have told the hilo WHERE the plane was and that wasat 10 or eleven or twelve o'clock from the hilo's standpoint. That is the second mistake that was made, she is saying. LH- And how about this? The ATF NEVER MENTIONED THE HILO TO THEPLANE AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh Jesus! The ATF should have told the plane, especialliy after they moved it over to their right, to the east, to line up for runway 33, that there was aBlackhawk coming down the Potomac above its eastern shore and that they should look for it. It would be at 2 o'clock for the plane. The news media has never so far brought this up toinvestigators. (3) The hilo being about 350 to 400 feet altitude is the third thing she says went wrong. It was supposed to be at 200 feet altitude at that point in its flight. Everyone seems to agree onthat. Next video: "Military helo pilot gives possible cause for DCA midair: Military Helo Pilot Gives Possible Cause for DCA Midair Next video: The DC plane crash is worse than you think. 24:02 Do not miss this. It's really good. DC Plane Crash - What REALLY Happened? See near the end his brilliant recommendation: Get all of the commercial aviation OUTof Reagan International and put them at Dulles. Build a 25 mile long tunnel from Reagan out to Dulles Airport and have a shuttle running back and forth in that tunnel. Re-do Dullessince it is in bad shape. As a builder, Trump could oversee that. It has adequate runways. Get the commercial planes OUT of congested Reagan with all of those military craft in there. It ismadness to try to land com. planes in there with helos all over the place at night!! He has an important suggestion in this. Reagan has had several near misses recently. L. William Harding Fresno, Ca. From:Henry Etzkowitz To:Aram James Cc:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Council, City; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Bill Newell; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Braden Cartwright; Today EPA; Diana Diamond; Doug Minkler; Gerry Gras; Palo Alto Free Press; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; Pat M; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Dave Price; dennis burns; Marty Wasserman; Human Relations Commission; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; Tim James; Templeton, Cari; Cait James; Lewis james; Marina Lopez; jason.green@bayareanewsgroup.com; Cecilia Taylor; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Michelle; Foley, Michael; michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com; Mickie Winkler; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Daniel Kottke; kamhialison@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; Vicki Veenker; Raymond Goins; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; qy2103@columbia.edu; Jack Ajluni; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Sandy Perry- HCA; San José Spotlight; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Jessica Speiser; Vara Ramakrishnan; Steve Wagstaffe; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; Gennady Sheyner; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Barberini, Christopher; Stump, Molly; Today EPA; Human Relations Commission; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Stump, Molly Subject:Re: Israel Escalates West Bank Military Assault, Invading Areas Across the North Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 9:25:55 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Aram Not good news but expectable, sadly from corrupt Netanyahu government that to date alwaysseem to land on its feet. This morning at Etz Chaim Rabbi Chaim invited me to lead the prayer for the State of Israel which I did, inserting a blessing for state of Palestine, future sisterof Israel. I received a look from one person but otherwise calmly accepted as far as I could tell. Best Henry Ps will you join me for 9-10am Torah study next week as we have discussed?Sent from my iPhone On Jan 31, 2025, at 2:51 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:On Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Israel Escalates West Bank MilitaryAssault, Invading Areas Across the North Israel’s defense minister says troops will remain in Jenin refugeecamp indefinitely MARIAM BARGHOUTI JAN 31 ∙GUEST POST READ IN APP The funeral ceremony of 10 Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack on Tamoun, a village in Tubas, West Bank on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu via Getty Images) JENIN AND TULKAREM—An Israeli airstrike on a crowded neighborhood in the village of Tamoun in the northern West Bank on Wednesday killed at least 10 Palestinians, one of the single deadliest strikes in the West Bank in months. Minutes later, Israeli forces raided the city of Qalqilya and surrounding areas, escalating the military assault. Israeli troops backed by drones and fighter jets have now taken hold of all of the major districts in the north of the occupied territory. Barely 48 hours after the “ceasefire” in Gaza came into effect on January 19, Israel announced “Operation Iron Wall,” a large-scale military operation to “defeat terrorism in Jenin.” What began in the Jenin refugee camp has expanded to Tulkarem, Tubas, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Jericho. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and thousands of families have been forcibly displaced. In the span of 10 days, at least 37 Palestinians have been killed, including a two-year-old who was shot with a bullet to the head at home in Jenin. A group of UN special rapporteurs released a statement this week saying the Israeli military operation in the West Bank “marks a dangerous escalation against Palestinians.” “We are dismayed by the escalation of deadly violence sweeping through Jenin and the rest of the occupied West Bank,” the UN experts said. “Israel's repression seems to have no end in sight…The heightened assault on the occupied West Bank is part of an overall process of Palestinian forced displacement and replacement and the territorial expansion of Israel.” In a publicized visit to the Jenin camp on Wednesday, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz, declared that troops would maintain a permanent presence there once the military operation was over. “We have declared war on Palestinian terror in the West Bank,” he said. “After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return.” Drop Site News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid Depopulating Jenin refugee camp Within the first few hours of Operation Iron Wall, the Israeli army killed at least 11 Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp, the vast majority of them civilians. Over the next three days, Israeli forces began systematically depopulating the camp—bombing neighborhoods, firing live ammunition, and bulldozing streets and homes. “All we heard from the drones was ‘get out of your homes or we will kill you.’ We got afraid, and we left with only the clothes we had on,” said Haniyeh Dabayah, a 73-year-old resident who says she escaped the camp while being shot at by the Israeli army. Within days, the camp had been largely emptied, with thousands of families forced to take refuge in neighboring villages, staying either with relatives or friends, not knowing if or when they could return. While Israeli military raids on the Jenin refugee camp have become common in the last three years, Operation Iron Wall set a new precedent by attacking the entire governorate of Jenin—which includes Jenin city and refugee camp and surrounding villages and towns—placing it on lockdown for days, with families unable to leave their homes as Israeli warplanes bombed sites across the area. Dubbing it the “Wasps Nest,” Israeli military and intelligence have long targeted Jenin as a stronghold of armed resistance. Although relatively small and impoverished, Jenin refugee camp has been one of the few areas in the West Bank that has managed to organize armed groups across factional lines into the Jenin Brigade. However, according to residents from the camp and other sources, most of the fighters in the Jenin Brigade left the camp early on in the Israeli operation. Only a handful opted to remain and confront the Israeli military. A day before the latest Israeli invasion, Palestinian Authority security forces had concluded their own large-scale offensive on the camp dubbed Operation Home, one of the longest and most lethal assaults by Palestinian security forces in recent memory. At least 11 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians, including one child. Security forces also arbitrarily detained dozens of residents and subjected them to torture and abuse. The Israeli army invaded while Palestinian Authority armored vehicles and soldiers were still in the camp. “[The security forces] chose to withdraw from the camp in order to avoid direct confrontation with the Israeli army,” the Palestinian Authority security forces’ spokesperson, Gen. Brig. Anwar Rajab, said in a statement. As the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Jenin refugee camp, the Palestinian Authority detained several prominent Jenin Brigade fighters, including their spokesperson Abu Issam, as they were escaping. With most of the fighters relocated outside the camp, the Israeli military began a campaign of “mowing the lawn,” in which residential buildings were bombed, bulldozed, and set ablaze. While journalists were again denied entry, the sounds of explosions and the sight of smoke from inside the camp were continuous. By the seventh day, the majority of the camp had been destroyed. According to the Israeli military, more than 60 houses in Jenin were demolished and at least 3,000 families have been displaced, according to the UN. At the same time, Israel attacked neighboring towns and villages with drone strikes and ground troops. “The sound of drones was so loud and close I thought they were in the house,” said Sameeh Hazza, a resident of Muthalath Shuhada, a small town southwest of Jenin. His two-year-old niece Laila Khateeb was shot in the head and killed on Saturday while in her home. “What did she do wrong?” Hazza says standing by her grave moments after the burial. “We were preparing to eat dinner and all we saw were red and green lasers in the house, then the bullets poured in.” An elderly Palestinian man stands in the middle of a destroyed market during an Israeli military raid on the city of Tulkarem and Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Assault on Tulkarem By the second week, the operation had expanded to the governorate of Tulkarem, southwest of Jenin. On the morning of January 27, an airstrike on a car outside the Nour Shams refugee camp, located just outside the city of Tulkarem, killed two Palestinian fighters. Moments later, another airstrike hit Tulkarem refugee camp. Within hours, Israeli bulldozers and soldiers were deployed deep into the city of Tulkarem. The main market was quickly emptied while the public hospital was encircled and put under siege. Similar to the operation in Jenin, the Israeli army began by targeting critical infrastructure in the city—destroying telecommunication networks and water mains. “We were forced out of our home at gunpoint while explosions continued in the camp,” said Azza Kahle, 35. A mother of five, Kahle told Drop Site that she had never before witnessed this level of violence. “We weren’t allowed to take anything except our phones and the clothes we were wearing,” she said. “Now we’re displaced, with nowhere to go and my children are cold.” Some families managed to reach the homes of relatives on the outskirts of Tulkarem, but dozens had nowhere to go and were forced to take shelter in the local mosque. The Israeli military continued to escalate its attack, bulldozing streets and displacing dozens of families in the city itself. Many families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint as soldiers stationed snipers inside them and turned residential buildings into makeshift military posts. “The Israeli army is besieging the entire city with an unprecedented number of soldiers sprawled across the area,” said Tariq Hishme, a journalism student from Tulkarem. “This did not even happen in this way during the Second Intifada, and the targeting of the city itself marks a terrifying and new escalation,” he said. The Israeli military also obstructed medical personnel and journalists from accessing certain areas. As the army besieged the hospital, patients were unable to receive proper medical care. “I need to give birth,” said a pregnant woman as she stood several meters away from the hospital in the cold. It took medics hours to be able to coordinate her entry into the hospital. “The goal of the Israeli forces besieging hospitals is to obstruct medics from reaching the wounded,” Ahmad Zahran, the deputy chief of emergency care in Thabit public hospital, told Drop Site. “They take hours in their security check,” he said. “The time they take in checking medics and verifying patients takes away from the patient's time." According to Zahran, the level of violence in Tulkarem is like no other he has witnessed before. “I’ve been obstructed before, and they’ve invaded Tulkarem before, but this time it’s a different type of aggression.” As medics were detained while on duty, journalists were targeted with stun grenades, teargas, and live ammunition. At least one journalist, Nagham Al- Zayet was injured with shrapnel in Tulkarem. From Gaza to the West Bank In the first three weeks of the new year, Israeli forces killed 26 Palestinians, including four children. In the last ten days—since the Gaza ceasefire and the launch of Operation Iron Wall—the Israeli military has killed 37 Palestinians in the West Bank, including four children. “This is not random,” Roshdi Al-Norsi, a 43-year-old resident of Jenin refugee camp, told Drop Site. “This assault comes amid the release of Palestinian detainees and the suspension of bombs on Gaza. What Israel is telling us, is that we are not allowed to celebrate anything, not the release of the detainees, not the resistance, nothing.” Israeli battalions that served in Gaza—including members of the Kfir brigades and the Skylark unit—have been deployed in Jenin as part of Operation Iron Wall. “Look, over there in the distance. That smoke you see, that’s my home,” Abu Nizar, 63, told Drop Site. Standing on a hill overlooking Jenin refugee camp, he struggled to contain his grief. “Israel is vengeful, they see Jenin as Gaza, so as they leave Gaza with the ceasefire they’re coming here. After here, it’s the rest of the West Bank.” Leave a comment Upgrade to paid A guest post by Mariam Barghouti Mariam Barghouti is a writer and a journalist based in the West Bank. She is a member of the Marie Colvin Journalist Network. Subscribe to Mariam Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: Subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe From:CeCi Kettendorf To:Burt, Patrick Cc:Council, City Subject:Re: New Fire Station 4 Build Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 8:43:06 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council,I just reviewed the drawings for the remodel of Fire Station 4. I see that two of the bays in the new plans for Station 4 are only large enough for ambulances. The third bay canaccommodate a small engine. Everywhere it says that the latter bay will be for RESERVE ENGINES. According to the fire fighters , RESERVE ENGINE means it is in storage untilthere is a global emergency in the City. Perhaps I was correct on my first query to you? There is no design which accommodates anactive, on call Fire engine ready for service when the call comes in? Does this really mean that there has never been an intention to provide ACTIVE FIRE COVERAGE fromFireStation 4? Is there no expectation that we will be saved from fire in south Palo Alto by our Fire Station 4, which has saved us for 50 years?I do not see in those plans that a fire engine and a crew are designated, nor provided for. PLease let me know wherein I am confused.Respectfully submitted, CeCi Kettendorf On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Ceci,My understanding is that your information is not correct. Pat Get Outlook for iOS From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:46:35 AM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members, I have been told by two fire fighters who came to my door to sign the petition that theremodel of Fire Station 4 will not be large enough for a small fire truck, let alone the large one the city wants to purchase for a million dollars. The bays there, as designed, will notaccommodate a fire truck. They are designed for ambulances only. I hope this is not true. There are twelve schools within a five block radius of Station 4. Weneed a fire truck to serve south Palo Alto. Mountain View knows now that we have not had a fire truck at Station 4 for over two years. They are reconsidering our reciprocal agreement. Please tell us that we will have a large bay and a large fire truck with a ladder, in the newFire Station 4. Respectfully submitted,CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident3719 Grove Avenue From:CeCi Kettendorf To:Burt, Patrick Cc:Council, City Subject:Re: New Fire Station 4 Build Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 2:24:40 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members;Thank you for your response, Mr. Burt. Good! I am glad my info is incorrect. South Palo Alto needs a fully equipped fire truck, to be permanently housed at Station 4. Weneed 24/7 coverage with a crew of 4; 2 in and 2 out. We want our firetruck to stay put at Station 4 because we have a great need for fire protectionin south Palo Alto, home to closely nestled old wooden buildings, and original Eichlers vulnerable to flashover and a 10 minute demise. Our truck should not be loaned out! Please buy a truck for the station in the hills; fire season is long now. We have lost our truck for TWO YEARS, likely more, because it was lent outtemporarily, which became permanently. Please ensure that there is a water source in the design for the new Station 4, because the lackthereof was given as a reason for sending our truck elsewhere. The City of Palo Alto's first responsibility to the residents is providing for the safety of thepublic. Fire Protection leads the list of safety needs. If you look at a map of Palo Alto as to where the Fire Stations are, you will see the incredibleburden placed on the Barron Park station to cover not only its own area, but now also Station 4's area. No wonder response times have been illegally prolonged. Might the fire truck bewaiting at the train track, for the train to pass before it can rush to a fire deep into this neighborhood? Might Mountain View not reciprocate now that it knows we cannot?There are 12 schools within five blocks of Station 4. Please give us a truck and a crew to protect our children.Residents feel betrayed at this end of town that our Fire Station 4 has not housed a fire truck for at least two years, leaving us incredibly vulnerable. No notice was given to us, breedingimmense distrust. Fire Protection must be the first need to be funded from the 1.2 billion dollar city budget.Please buy us a fire truck. If firefighters are expensive, pay them what the market will bear. At this end of town, we are all worth it! Respectfully submitted,CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident3719 Grove Avenue On Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Ceci,My understanding is that your information is not correct. Pat Get Outlook for iOS From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:46:35 AM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members, I have been told by two fire fighters who came to my door to sign the petition that theremodel of Fire Station 4 will not be large enough for a small fire truck, let alone the large one the city wants to purchase for a million dollars. The bays there, as designed, will notaccommodate a fire truck. They are designed for ambulances only. I hope this is not true. There are twelve schools within a five block radius of Station 4. Weneed a fire truck to serve south Palo Alto. Mountain View knows now that we have not had a fire truck at Station 4 for over two years. They are reconsidering our reciprocal agreement. Please tell us that we will have a large bay and a large fire truck with a ladder, in the newFire Station 4. Respectfully submitted,CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident3719 Grove Avenue From:Burt, Patrick To:CeCi Kettendorf; Council, City Subject:Re: New Fire Station 4 Build Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 1:50:45 PM Ceci, My understanding is that your information is not correct. Pat Get Outlook for iOS From: CeCi Kettendorf <cecihome@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:46:35 AM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: New Fire Station 4 Build CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members,I have been told by two fire fighters who came to my door to sign the petition that the remodel of Fire Station 4 will not be large enough for a small fire truck, let alone the large onethe city wants to purchase for a million dollars. The bays there, as designed, will not accommodate a fire truck. They are designed for ambulances only.I hope this is not true. There are twelve schools within a five block radius of Station 4. We need a fire truck to serve south Palo Alto. Mountain View knows now that we have not had a fire truck at Station 4 for over two years. They are reconsidering our reciprocal agreement.Please tell us that we will have a large bay and a large fire truck with a ladder, in the new Fire Station 4.Respectfully submitted, CeCi Kettendorf45 year resident 3719 Grove Avenue From:CeCi Kettendorf To:Council, City Subject:New Fire Station 4 Build Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 10:47:20 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council Members, I have been told by two fire fighters who came to my door to sign the petition that theremodel of Fire Station 4 will not be large enough for a small fire truck, let alone the large one the city wants to purchase for a million dollars. The bays there, as designed, will notaccommodate a fire truck. They are designed for ambulances only. I hope this is not true. There are twelve schools within a five block radius of Station 4. Weneed a fire truck to serve south Palo Alto. Mountain View knows now that we have not had a fire truck at Station 4 for over two years. They are reconsidering our reciprocal agreement. Please tell us that we will have a large bay and a large fire truck with a ladder, in the new FireStation 4. Respectfully submitted,CeCi Kettendorf 45 year resident3719 Grove Avenue From:Andrea Allais To:Council, City Subject:The new HVAC in Heritage Park is too loud Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 9:31:04 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Councilmember, I am a frequent user of the Heritage Park playground. The HVAC system of the newlyrenovated Roth building has been placed right next to the playground, and it produces a constant, very loud humming noise. I hope that the Council can look into this nuisance: it isaffecting many residents, especially children. Unless the noise is eliminated or drastically reduced, this cherished public space will be permanently degraded.Best Regards From:Patricia Judge Tamrazi To:Elvert, Catherine Cc:Council, City; City Attorney; UAC; City Mgr; Marshall, Tomm; Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed; Fire Subject:Re: 2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood Date:Saturday, February 1, 2025 9:24:09 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links. Dear Catherine, In early 2024, there were loose connections on 2 of 2 poles climbed on my block - that’s a fire risk. Logic follows that there would beloose connections on other poles in the neighborhood, unless maintenance was performed. We know maintenance has not beenperformed. Loose connections could allow electricity to arc, which would account for the sparks overhead that people on Louis saw just before thefire on Janice. Loose connections could also, for example, cause power surges which could cause the fire WITHIN the home, on thecustomer side of the meter. In that case, although the fire started on the customer side of the meter, the cause of the fire would be fromthe Utility. Your note below is grossly inaccurate on many points. Is this due to negligence, or are you actively misrepresenting the facts? I first reported flickering lights to the City in January 2024 - as did multiple other neighbors who were not responded to properly.Electrical records obtained later, after help from now Mayor Lauing, show this was due to a LOOSE NEUTRAL (fire risk) whichUtilities knew about and chose to NOT properly fix. The power supply to my house and the house of my neighbors was NOT fixed in February 2024, as you state below. I was provided anelectrical chart dated March 2024 with the words “loose neutral” across the top. In February 2024, I was told by Utilities’ own employees that my neighborhood was receiving a “Band-aid fix” and that they wereHIGHLY CONCERNED that people would get hurt from Utilities’ negligence, which would cause a fire, like the 2 electrical fires thatoccurred in my neighborhood earlier this month. The aforementioned evidence of the loose neutral, obtained in the Spring, supportsthe employees’ very real fears. The power supply to my house was not fixed until over SIX MONTHS LATER in August 2024, and only after I looped in CPUCregulators who have no jurisdiction but I suppose were persuasive. You have NOT fully responded to my public records requests. You do NOT follow CPUC regulations, or else you’d be able to produce maintenance schedules and progress on those schedules. I won’t go on, but you should be highly ashamed to be complicit in the way this City conducts itself. TO EVERYONE COPIED ON THIS EMAIL: Someone is going to get very hurt. You’re lucky they weren’t hurt in either of the 2fires that have already occurred. Have you taken the time to go see what the house on Janice looks like? I have included picturesbelow. The flames were HUGE - take a look at the damage to the tree. If someone does get hurt, it’s going to be blood on all of yourhands - compounded by the fact that you won’t even fully staff the fire house nearby. You already have property damage caused bynegligence which has happened on your watch - after MULTIPLE ignored requests for you to do the right thing. It is never too late to do the right thing. Trish Tamrazi Sent from my iPhone On Jan 31, 2025, at 1:58 PM, Elvert, Catherine <Catherine.Elvert@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  Dear Trish, Thank you for your message and consideration about safety for your family and neighbors. We take safety very seriously and have looked into these issues. The City of Palo Alto Fire Department is investigating the electrical fires you referenced. Reports show that the electrical fires were caused inside resident’s homes, on the customer’s side of the electrical meter. In reviewing our systems, we were able to verify the causes were not due to issues with the City of Palo Alto Utilities electrical lines or equipment. If you would like details on the Fire Department’s investigations, you may file a Public Records Request and provide the incident date, address, and any other information you would like to request. The City’s Public Records Request portal is available online at: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/City-Clerk/Clerk-Services/Public-Records-Request Regarding electric utility safety at your home, the City has investigated your concerns and addressed the equipment serving the area. You have received all records of maintenance the City of Palo Alto Utilities has performed on electrical equipment for your property. The City of Palo Alto Utilities repaired and/or replaced the electrical equipment and transformer serving your property in February 2024. To reassure you, the City of Palo Alto Utilities follows industry safety practices for electrical equipment construction, operations, and maintenance. This includes the California Public Utilities Commission General Orders (GO) 95 and 128 for overhead and underground electrical lines and equipment. https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Home/Proceedings-and-Rulemaking/CPUC-general-orders Sincerely, Catherine <image002.jpg>CATHERINE ELVERT (she/her/hers) Utilities Communications Manager (650) 329-2417 | Cell (650) 833-9433 Catherine.Elvert@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org/utilities <image004.png><image006.png> <image008.jpg> <image010.png> From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <tamrazi.law@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2025 10:11 AM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: City Attorney <city.attorney@CityofPaloAlto.org>; UAC <UAC@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Stump, Molly <Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Fire <fire@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: 2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachmentsand clicking on links. Following up on my email below from 3 days ago. Can someone please respond to my concerns? Mr. Shikada - I know that last year you told the Fire Department to ignore my call and have Head of Utilities call me instead - now that there is no Head of Utilities, nor a Head of Electric (per the autoreply I received from Mr. Mashall's email address) - who will you have respond? As many of you know, I had a KNOWN LOOSE NEUTRAL (fire risk) on the City's electrical wires going into my house between January and August of 2024, which Utilities CHOSE TO IGNORE. It was only due to your own employees putting their neck on the line - and getting fired for it in at least 1 instance - did I know to keep pushing and get it fixed. The electrical system to my house is likely the same age, receiving the same maintenance of my neighbors' with the fires on Janice and Kenneth (or lack of maintenance - although how would you know with no maintenance schedules?). Has Utilities been out to put load loggers up, to see if there are surges causing these fires? I've been told one resident saw SPARKS overhead prior to the fire on Janice. Has anyone followed up on that? Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <tamrazi.law@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City Council (in your capacity as regulator of City of Palo Alto Utilities), There have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood near Palo Verde in the last 2 weeks. Is this being investigated to determine whether this is connected to Utilities' lack of safety protocols, including an apparent lack of maintenance schedules? Am I safe to remain in my home in the neighborhood? I have small children. My neighbor next door is elderly and not very mobile. Are we safe? This email also follows up on my email below from August, which I never received a response to, asking the City to competently address glaring safety shortcomings in Utilities, especially with regards to the electrical grid. As you know (and can see below, for those of you who are new), I first reached out to you in February 2024 for help with flickering lights in my neighborhood (later discovered to be caused by a LOOSE NEUTRAL, which Utilities knew about and decided NOT to properly fix, although industry standard is that a loose neutral is a "climb the pole in the middle of the night" electrical emergency, due to FIRE RISK). Through City employees, acting as kind of whistleblowers in asking me personally to advocate for changes out of fear someone would get seriously injured, and follow-up Public Records Requests for more information (which, although incomplete in response, were revealing), a number of very serious safety shortcomings have been uncovered, detailed in part below. I have asked you repeatedly to address these shortcomings. Now, there have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood, I believe in the span of 1 week: one on Kenneth Drive on or around January 16 (believed to be in relation to an electric heated towel bar) and one on Janice Way on or around January 23 (believed to be in relation to an electric car charger). The danger of these fires is compounded, of course, by the fact that these are flammable Eichlers, in a tree-heavy neighborhood, and that we are a fire engine short down here in South Palo Alto, due to budget decisions leaving firehouses short staffed. Could you please update me on what steps are being taken to bring the safety practices of City of Palo Alto Utilities in line with industry standards? Are the electrical fires being investigated? Trish Tamrazi Increasingly Concerned Palo Alto Homeowner On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 8:59 AM Subject: Re: FW: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org>, <molly.stump@cityofpaloalto.org>, Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org>, Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@cityofpaloalto.org>, Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@cityofpaloalto.org>, Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>, City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Good morning, Mr. Shikada - Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fix the glaring health and safety issues within Utilities? Following up on my email below from August 2, since I have not heard back from any of you. Today is August 13. What has been done to address the glaring safety issues in Utilities that I have been flagging since February? What progress has there been on the list below? I submitted a Public Records Request and the City was unable to provide any maintenance schedule for the City's electrical system or progress on that schedule. I was told the City complies with CPUC regulations, however, the City was unable to provide evidence of that - so is it safe to assume the City does not, in fact, comply? That is very dangerous!! And totally NOT in line with industry standards (again). Why not let the CPUC auditors in to investigate, given the safety dangers this presents to Palo Altans? The outage yesterday and botched response to fix it, is evidence of these glaring safety issues. Obviously the notification system needs A LOT OF HELP - what will happen in an emergency? Given what yesterday demonstrated, are you addressing those shortcomings? I invite you to read the comments in the linked article, which reflect the disarray in Utilities that I have experienced first-hand since my lights started flickering in January - City Council, these are your constituents who NEED HELP. Please see, for example, below. <image012.png> Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fix these health and safety issues? Trish Tamrazi Palo Alto Homeowner On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 8:56 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, As you know from my previous email this morning, I continue to experience poor power supply at my house (first reported to CPAU on January 24 - today is August 2). I'm now following up on my email below from July 3, since I never received an answer. Could the City Manager's office please provide an update? Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES / SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? <!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lack knowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, in April, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training and oversight needed. <!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - boots on the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understand problems (this is per CPAU's own employees). <!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is per CPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). EDITED TO ADD: Public Records Requests suggest there are also no proper maintenance schedules for overhead electrical lines (City said there were, as is industry standard, but was unable to provide, so is it correct to assume they do not exist?). <!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - training and oversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hi there, I do not know who I am communicating with - the email directly below is sent from the email address of Tomm Marshall, but is signed with Kaylee Burton's signature. This is of course important because Mr. Marshall would be, I believe, presenting technical information, while Ms. Burton would not. Thank you for sending the data from the newest transformer from Thursday, June 27, starting around noon when it was installed. This illustrates exactly my point about CPAU's negligence: there is no need to put a load logger up on the line and spend weeks evaluating the voltage swings, as you say you have been doing - there should be testing in real time, right away, as soon as work is being done, and any dangerous conditions should be addressed then and there. This perfectly illustrates the fact here: that CPAU left known dangerous conditions (voltage swings) up on the electrical line, unfixed, since at least mid-March (likely February) until June 27. This is not in line with minimum maintenance and safety standards in the industry (as many of CPAU's employees and contractors have told me). Your troubleshooting efforts were only "persistent," as you are now trying to spin it, because I - a resident and customer - have been persistent. This is no way to run a utility - this is dangerous. Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES / SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lack knowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, in April, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training and oversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - boots on the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understand problems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is per CPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - training and oversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 4:09 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Ms. Tamarazi, The city is prepared to cover the costs of an electrician to conduct a thorough inspection of your home. Should the electrician discover any damages that might have been caused by the city, you have the option to file a claim through the city's website at Submit a Claim Against the City – City of Palo Alto, CA, to seek reimbursement for those damages. Regrettably, this issue was not a simple repair but rather a complex matter that required extensive troubleshooting and time to resolve. Enclosed are the latest readings from the newly installed transformer as of Thursday, July 28, confirming that there are currently no issues detected. Due to the complexity of the situation, the solution did not unfold as originally anticipated. Through persistent troubleshooting efforts, however, we successfully identified and resolved the underlying cause. At present, CPAU (City of Palo Alto Utilities) has not been informed of any additional electrical concerns associated with transformer malfunctions. I trust that I have sufficiently addressed all of your inquiries in the preceding email. Thank you, <image013.png>Kaylee Burton Utilities Administrative AssistantCity of Palo Alto Utilities Department Phone: 650.329.2326 | Cell: 650.444.5305 E-mail: kaylee.burton@CityofPaloAlto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org <image014.png><image015.png><image016.png><image017.png><image018.png> From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:53 AM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. Dear Tomm, Thank you for your email. In response: 1. Will the City commit to paying for all damage to my house? I am waiting to get an electrician in because I am waiting for an answer to the question I have asked multiple times: will the City commit to paying for any damage found within my home? My house is newly rewired and had no damage when assessed back in late January when our flickering lights were first reported to CPAU. These flickering lights were later attributed to being caused by severe brownouts due to the City's poor power supply, however the City denied all possible responsibility for over a week prior to putting a smart meter on my house, so, trusting that, I consulted multiple electricians during that time. Thereafter, voltage fluctuations were measured. Therefore, if the power supply to my house is safe and reliable now and I am still experiencing issues, it is due to the damage the City's poor power supply has caused to my house. Will the City commit to paying for all damage? 2. Shouldn't it be up to CPAU - not me - to determine what a "proper fix" is? I have been told that, in fact, back in February, the loose leg was tightened and the power supply got worse, not better, but that the supervisor did not want to pay overtime for the proper fix, so they just left it. This is per your own employees - multiple of them told me to advocate for something better than a "Band-aid fix." I know you have denied that being the case, but you have not provided any data illustrating that your employees who told me to advocate for myself were wrong (and what would their motivation be to lie to me??). What a "proper fix" means, I do not know, nor should I, as I am simply a resident and customer. If you replaced the transformer only upon my request, as you are now saying - wow, that is incredibly scary and this whole situation is even worse than I thought. 3. Could you please provide data showing the issue is fixed? Do you have data showing that the fourth transformer fixed the ongoing issue? 4. Why is the fix only at the repeated request of a resident? If I didn't push and push and push, would you have just left the defective transformers? With the latest swap (which you say now fixed the poor power supply, right?), Utilities sent my neighbors notification of power shut down only after I requested the California State regulators be let in to inspect, and even then it was not treated as an emergency! 5. Are faulty transformers a problem throughout the City of Palo Alto? If yes, what is being done to fix this issue to protect the health and safety of residents? Please see one resident's account below. I have also connected with other homeowners whose appliances were blown out by poor power supply to their houses. <image020.jpg> Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:50 AM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: The voltage fluctuations observed in the network supplied by the transformer located at 3480 Thomas Drivewere not due to a loose neutral wire but rather stemmed from a manufacturing defect in the transformerssupplied to the City of Palo Alto. Initially, the issue at your property was identified as a loose Hot Leg on the transformer. The voltagefluctuation on your service was resolved upon repairing this connection. However, following this repair,you reported persistent voltage fluctuations. Although we did not observe any issues with your service, weproceeded with replacing the transformer upon your request. After replacement, we observed unexpectedvoltage deviations causing intermittent flickering on the new transformer. Subsequent replacement withanother unit from the same manufacturer revealed that the issue lay in a defect inherent to thesetransformers. The transformer was then replaced a third time, this time with a unit from a different manufacturer, whicheffectively resolved the unexpected voltage fluctuations in the secondary system. As mentioned previously, if you continue to experience flickering lights or any related issues, we remaincommitted to assisting you by facilitating an investigation with an electrician of your choosing to identifyand address the root cause. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 9:06 AM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. Hi Tomm, I hope this email finds you well. Following up on my email from May 31, since I have not heard back from you yet and since Kurt Williams told me yesterday to contact you regarding my questions on the known and unfixed loose neutral. Could you please provide an update on fixing the loose neutral measured up on the pole at 3480 Thomas Drive, in at least March? It looks like they switched out the transformer again last week. I believe that this is the third time the transformer has been switched. Why was it switched again? Has the loose neutral been fixed? Trish Tamrazi On Fri, May 31, 2024 at 8:13 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm - Following up on my email from Tuesday, since you have not replied. When will the loose neutral in my neighborhood be fixed? As you know, utility companies treat this as an emergency, and ours was identified at least back in March (I believe, in talking with CPAU employees, February). https://www.luminsmart.com/blog/the-dangers-of-floating-neutral-2262 On Tue, May 28, 2024 at 11:25 AM Patricia Judge <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Thanks, Tomm. My understanding is that the crews would know right away by testing if they fixed the loose neutral, so is it correct to assume that your email means that they did not fix the neutral issue? When will you be doing that? I’m sure you can understand my being worried about this since it’s a serious electrical danger (risk of surge and fire). From what I have pieced together, there was a neutral issue with the old transformer and a neutral issue with the new transformer, so wouldn’t that suggest that the issue is NOT with the transformer? Is there maybe a damaged or loose wire somewhere that needs to be found? I understand that would take much more time to find and fix versus switching out the transformer again, and I do appreciate the crews’ time. 2 City employees now - one back on February and one last week (May) - have expressed to me how worried they are about overgrown trees around the overhead wires in my neighborhood. Could that be contributing to my poor power supply? When will the trees around the wires be trimmed? I’m looping in Councilmember Lauing, since he has been actively working on this. I’m here to help. I want nothing more than to get this resolved so that I can just live in peace - with safe and reliable power - and never have to contact you again. I want to be clear, that is my goal. Thank you, Trish 650-208-4802 Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2024, at 10:13 AM, Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  The transformer was replaced, new wire connections were installed and meters were installed to record data. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2024 10:26 AM To: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, What happened yesterday - did they find the loose neutral (identified in early March) and tighten it? Trish Patricia Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 10:10 AM Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have attached a screenshot of the neutral issue. <image001.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:27 AM To: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. My understanding is that when my house was on the new transformer, there was a "neutral issue" that was picked up by the load logger. Could you please send me screen shots of that data, showing the "neutral issue"? On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 8:20 AM Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have reviewed the data from April 25th – May 1st and have attached a screenshot below. On 4/29 at about 6AM, there was a temporary dip of the high side voltage, causing the secondary voltage to drop below 114V. Besides this anomaly, the secondary voltage stayed between the required 5% tolerance (126V -114V) and the PST value was below 1, indicating that no flicker likely occurred expect on the morning on 4/29 where the PST value was above 1. <image003.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 4:21 PM To: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. Has the data been reviewed yet that was taken from the last time the load logger was on the house? On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I spoke with Tomm and the meter technicians will be out tomorrow morning, 5/16, between 9AM and 10AM to install the load logger. Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 8:57 AM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, My lights are flickering again - at 11:15am on Sunday 5/12 and in the evening of Monday 5/13. The flickering was on different circuits. I can send video if you'd like. I don't know whether the load logger is on or not? I think maybe it is not, since I did see my gate closed differently after it was installed. I don't receive notification of the work - but I would like that, please, since I am having to be so involved. A couple of questions: 1. Is it possible there are loose connections from Utilities on my panel? There was a torque test on everything my electrician did - how about what Utilities has done? It seemed like the flickering stopped when the load logger was on (if it is indeed off) - so I thought maybe it was a loose connection related to that - especially since you had told me previously that you found a LOOSE CONNECTION on the load logger. This is quite concerning, of course, and should be an easy fix? It seems like the load logger was taken off, and the flickering returned. 2. You said previously there was a "neutral issue" when connected to the NEW transformer, so you took us off that and put us on the OLD transformer next to it. Can you just fix the "neutral issue" and put me on the NEW transformer? Will this solve my flickering lights? What does "neutral issue" mean? This flickering was first reported to CPAU January 24, so this is quite frustrating that it is still going on. Could you please fix it? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 2:47 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Here are more files. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 2:16 PM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, Load logger. Having a meter reset - does that mean coming out to put a load logger back on my house? My understanding is that the smart meter will not pick up most poor power supply issues - I need a load logger on there, and it needs to be the correct one (I have been told there was a "wrong" one on, for quite a while). I was told that it was only because my brownouts were so severe that the smart meter picked them up - generally, it would not. Video. The video showed the light - when the light switch is turned off - it takes a long time to go out, gets very bright, then turns off. This is on a dumb switch. It was flickering severely the day before this odd behavior (I do have video of the flickering). Then this odd behavior. Then back to normal. Please note that this is different than the flickering, which occurs when the lights are on. This is odd behavior when we try to turn the light off. Flickering. Flickering occurs on fixtures with lightbulbs throughout the house - many have dumb switches, some have dimmers. Since this flickering is consistent across different switch devices and happens intermittently, it seems unlikely that the flickering is due to dimmers. It seems flickering is more pronouced on fixtures with bulbs than integrated LEDs - I have been told that may indicate low voltage - what do you think? Records request. I do not believe that any original datasets came through to me in response to my records request. There are many, many items missing in the records request, which I only submitted because I've asked for the data many times, and I have never received it. I have been told that Utilities does not want to provide it (folks refer to "my supervisor") - which is why I put in the records request - as a matter of law, it is to be provided. I'm attaching the load logger data that I have seen - but I would like Some people who received this message don't often get email frompatricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important the full data set, please. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 1:36 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: I am having the charts printed out so that I can forward them to you . The original datasets were included in the Public Records Request but they appear to require the meter manufacturers software to decode the data. When I have more time I will see if the files can be exported in a data file that can be read by something like EXCEL. The PDF files of the data from your house should be ready by the end of the week. I have asked the engineer to request the meter to be reset on your house and it should be done this week. The video showed the light flickering and going out. A couple of questions since I don’t know the setup in your house. Was this the only light experiencing the flickering? Is the light connected to a dimmer switch? Thanks for you patience. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:43 PM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, Following up from our phone discussion on Thursday, April 18, since I have not heard from anyone yet - Could you send all data from the load loggers associated with the power to my house, please? When will load loggers be put back on my house, please? I have more video of my lights flickering on Saturday, April 20. Could you please let me know if you'd like to see it? My understanding from our discussion Thursday is that you measured the following: (1) brownouts initially (first reported January 24 and recorded via smart meter February 8 - these issues are also in the data from the load loggers?), (2) power to house from new transformer around February 12, then continuing flickering lights due to a problem with the neutral (is that a loose neutral?), then (3) did not fix those neutral issues, instead moved the house to an old transformer on the secondary pole (which also had loose connections - so if the "proper fix" on the other pole was a new transformer, why not on this pole too?), and continuing flickering lights. Did you have a chance to review the video I sent on April 17, video recorded April 14? I've never seen a light do this - could you please tell me what is going on? Is this dangerous? Is this a surge due to ongoing issues? The light did go back to normal - so the only thing that could have changed is the power supply to my house. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 11:55 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm, I look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your call on the afternoon of Thursday, April 4. I'm sorry for missing it - I am dealing with some health issues and could not answer the phone. My understanding is that many City employees do not work on Fridays, so I intended to call you on Monday, April 8. However, upon walking out my door to take my son to school on that morning, I came upon the City's contractor replacing my water meter (no notice) - I asked him to follow specific City procedures laid out to my elderly neighbor whose water was grossly contaminated by the techniques used by the contractor, with the assurance those procedures would be followed, but they were not, and my water was contaminated with yard dirt. I have been dealing with that since. I just left you a voicemail. Attached please find the video I referenced in that voicemail, of the weird issue with the light in my daughter's room. This was last Thursday, April 11. The day before, April 10, the lights were severely flickering. The light went back to normal as of Sunday, April 14. The only thing that possibly could have changed is the power supply to the house. By way of background which may be helpful, this light fixture was new last year - it uses lightbulbs. Could you please provide all load logger data related to the power supply to my house? If you think this issue is resolved, could you please put a load logger back on to measure these issues? I have never seen a light act like in the video - neither have electricians that I have consulted. I am very worried that this is dangerous and could start a fire. Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 10:31 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Tomm, It's nice to hear from you. I am free to discuss by phone at any time. I want to start with a baseline: I am here to help and I am open to working with you. While I am very upset with the dysfunction in Palo Alto, my anger and frustration is not directed toward employees like you (as a general statement, with exceptions for those who have been threatening to me and/or lied to me). A quick Google search suggests that you probably understand the reality of what I am going through. My lights seem to flicker evenings and weekends - but not long holiday weekends or, it seems, during this week which is spring break for Palo Alto public schools. The "EIT" (which I assume is "Engineer in Training"), who I have been told is the point person for my issues (an illustration of how seriously it's been taken, that we don't even have a licensed engineer in charge), suggested my flickering lights are due to some sort of machine at a hypothetical construction site nearby, which is, of course, silly. I think it's more likely that it's the 2 EVs charging in many driveways in my neighborhood. It's been insinuated to me that CPAU is covering up issues voiced by citizens like me, who are only trying to get safe and reliable power to our houses. Maybe it's that with the City Council's obsession with electrification, no one dares admit what's actually going on. Yes, my primary transformer was upgraded, but how about the lines? I've been in contact with a bunch of folks with flickering lights who are PG&E customers - PG&E comes right out, diagnoses the problem, and fixes it. Here in Palo Alto is different - in a bad way. I have been told that cutting costs is the number 1 priority - not providing safe and reliable power to homes or empowering linemen to diagnose and fix problems. Do you know that another customer called in flickering lights and 2 failed appliances (at least) and it took 10 days plus another follow-up call plus 1 more day to get a lineman out to just check for a loose neutral?! How unsafe!!!! They put a load logger on, but now she's getting the runaround from CPAU for someone to come out to pull the data. It's exactly what happened to me. This is too much to ask from citizens. This is no way to run a utility. Please let me know when a good time for a discussion is. Again, my anger is toward this dysfunctional city, not toward you. Thank you for reaching out to me, and I look forward to working together. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:24 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: If you have time tomorrow or sometime next week I would like to havea conversation with you regarding you concerns with the electric serviceat your house. I am the Assistant Director of Electric Engineering andOperations and I hope that I can find a way to address your concerns.My staff has updated me on your situation and I am familiar with theevents and the visits to your house. In addition, I have reviewed thevoltage and current recordings that have been take at your house and inthe adjacent homes. Please let me know when you have time to discuss either on the phoneor in person at your home. Thanks From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 9:02 PMTo: Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Stump, Molly<Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick<Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Kou, Lydia<Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lythcott-Haims, Julie Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Tanaka, Greg<Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Clerk, City<city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Dear City Council, I last wrote to you on March 27 and still have not received an answer. The only time I received a substantive answer was when I expressed mydispleasure at not being able to purchase an EV (being afraid that myneighborhood would burn down or that my young children were indanger didn't strike a chord with you). So, here's more about that EV: Here are photographs of the two places in my garage where I hadplanned for EV chargers: <image004.png> <image005.png> Last week, I purchased a gas powered car to replace the old car whichwas totaled after being stolen from in front of my house here in PaloAlto. Attached please find video of my lights flickering on the evening ofMarch 28. This is visual evidence of why I cannot have an EV: CPAUfails to provide safe and reliable electricity to my home. My flickering lights were first reported to CPAU on January 24. Afterstruggling with CPAU for over 2 weeks, I first reached out to youregarding this issue on February 9, after I was told by CPAU's ownemployees that I needed to advocate for a "proper fix" to our issues andwas met with a threatening environment when I did so in person toCPAU's supervising employee. I truly thought you would help me, butI am still waiting. Our flickering continues. We now have multiple problems with the electronics in our home, all ofwhich are new since we just finished renovating in late 2023. Forexample (and this is not all-inclusive), our bathroom fans act up (turn onand off randomly and unexpectedly) and the ice in our Sub-zero is stucktogether (suggesting that it is not regulating its temperature properly). My family is suffering because of your unresponsiveness. I spendcountless hours trying to navigate how to get my city government torespond to me so that I can get safe and reliable power to my house. My business is suffering, my young children are suffering, and I havedeveloped health issues. It is your responsibility to oversee CPAU, isn't it? Your constituents aredepending on you. I close this 8th email to you as I have most of the emails that camebefore it: I welcome any thoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Mar 27, 2024 at 9:27 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City Council, I have not heard from Dean, nor from Ed, since being told by Ed onMarch 5 that Dean will be calling me and that Ed would join ifneeded. That was over 3 weeks ago. Episode 1 of The Invisible Shield premiered on PBS last night. Irecommend you watch it. I found it inspiring to see the amazingimpact properly funded and functioning public health systems canhave, as well as the negative effects that flow from cutting fundingand letting those systems fall into disrepair. A lesson, perhaps, foryour management of the Utilities Department? I'm sure by now you have heard of the contamination of some houses'drinking water that was caused by the contractor the city hired toswap out water meters. When are you planning on warning residentsof the error and helping them to clean up the mess? This is a publichealth issue!!! As you remain silent, citizens have been drinkingcontaminated water! In the same vein, I am still waiting on you to notify my neighbors ofthe damage your poor power supply has done to their homes. I firstsuggested you do this in my email below on February 21. By the way, I have connected with a woman across town - a momwith your children and a lot on her plate - who has had flickeringlights as well as a dishwasher and refrigerator that have gone out. Myunderstanding is that she is patiently waiting for someone to come outto her house to check it out. I imagine I do not need to state this toyou, as you are the regulators of the Utility and must know - but justin case: utilities companies generally treat flickering lights as anemergency! Another thing is that, after following up, the city's response to myPublic Records Request is still woefully unresponsive. I am simplytrying to gather information to fix the power supply to my house! Itis the city's legal duty to respond fully. The city did, however,produce 2 emails which are sickening: 1. Prior to anyone providing me any real assistance or response, Dean forwarded my desperate email pleading for help and expressing my general displeasure with the mismanagement in Palo Alto to Catherine Elvert, who I gather from a Google search is a PR professional, with the note “Here you go !!!” Were you getting your talking points in order, rather than focusing on helping your citizens?? 2. 1 hour AFTER my THIRD desperate email pleading for help (email stamp on my email shows, "date: Feb 12, 2024, 2:05 PM"), Ed sent an email (email stamp on Ed's email shows: "Sent: Monday, February 12, 2024 3:16 PM") to multiple City of Palo Alto email addresses stating that Dean has spoken to me a couple times (NOT TRUE!!!!!) and “No need for further prompting. Thanks all!” NOTHING HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. I close this 7th email to you as I have most of the emails that camebefore it: I welcome any thoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 4:50 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Ed, Thank you for your note, however, I must be very clear: Iwould much rather have a responsive, caring, and ethical citygovernment, than bring any thieves to justice. The stress from having our car stolen from in front of our housepales in comparison to the stress and anguish we have experiencedas a family in getting the run around from CPAU and then beingignored by City Hall, as I try to get safe and reliable powerdelivered to the houses in my neighborhood. Regarding the electrical issue: I should never have been thisinvolved or have had to push so hard. This is too much to ask fromcitizens. It is no way to run a utility. But, to continue down thatpath: logically, shouldn't the transformer also be replaced on the"secondary pole," where loose connections were also found? If thatwas the "proper fix" on the first pole climbed (i.e. PG&E minimummaintenance standards), wouldn't it also be the "proper fix" on thesecond? This is, of course, putting aside that perhaps this is a long-standingissue, not unique to my block, which has harmed many along theway. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 12:28 PM Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Dear Ms. Tamrazi, I am so sorry to hear about your car being stolen. I can onlyimagine how this has impacted you and your family. Whileunderstanding nothing can make up for such a violation, I hopethe thieves are quickly brought to justice. Regarding your electrical issue, I have spoken to DirectorBatchelor and understand he will be calling you to follow up. I’m sorry to hear that their replacement of the electricaltransformer did not resolve the problem. I will stay in touch withhim and happy to join a call as he works with you on next steps. Sincerely, --Ed <image006.png>Ed Shikada, City Manager ICMA Credentialed Manager (650) 329-2280 | ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org <image007.png> From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 9:27 AMTo: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Stump,Molly <Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burt, Patrick<Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Kou, Lydia<Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Tanaka, Greg<Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Clerk, City<city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of theorganization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links. Good morning, City Council, On Thursday night, our car got stolen from in front of our househere in Palo Alto. It looks like it's totaled. When we completelyrewired the house last year, we future proofed toaccommodate an EV charger - 2 actually. However, CPAU isunable to provide safe and reliable power to our house. Becauseof this, to our great disappointment, we cannot replace our gaspowered car with an EV. My husband is a physician - if he gets a call in the middle of thenight that someone is bleeding to death and needs anintervention, and his EV didn't charge - well, that's a bigproblem! City Council - I see your talking points on electrification (I'm allfor electrification). You know that your electrical infrastructurecan't support it. This is the real world effect of your decisions: a family thatwanted to go electric cannot. You remain silent, as I plead for your help, dating back to myfirst email to you on February 9. We are now on March 4. As for my flickering lights here at 3409 Greer Rd. - the latestworking theory from CPAU is that it is caused by an aircompressor at a theoretical construction site nearby. (1) That's alaughable theory. (2) My lights flicker evenings and weekends -which CPAU engineers have been told. Is the cause the 2 EVscharging in every driveway + an outdated electrical infrastructurethat cannot support it? I put in a Public Records Request related to my power issues. (a)The response was a day late. (b) The response was blatantlyincomplete. I believe the public policy reasoning behind municipal utilitiesfalling outside of regulation is (i) elected officials, who serve asthe utlity's oversight, will be responsive (mine - you - are silent)and (ii) there are protections such as the Public Records Request(my city obviously disregards its legal duties). In speaking with utilities attorneys last week, one stated: Whenmunicipal utilities are good, they're really great. But whenthey're bad, it's abysmal. I understand that you let Tesla jump ahead of the rest of the cityin the grid update. Maybe Elon Musk's words will resonate withyou then - he said that the world will face supply crunches inelectricity and transformers next year. What does that result in? Flickering lights. City Council - Could you please take steps to make ourmunicipal utility "really great," instead of "abysmal"? Yourconstituents are depending on you. I welcome your thoughts. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 9:24 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, The lights continue to flicker here at 3409 Greer Rd. I stillhave not heard anything substantive from anyone except forDean. City Manager Shikada and City Council - you are theregulators of the Utilities Department, correct? Why have Istill not heard back from any of you with anythingsubstantive? (The vast majority of you, I have not heardanything at all.) I still have not received any answer - is this a fire risk? I amworried - I have 2 small children - I have expressed this and noone seems to care! The transformer that I have been told supplies power to myhouse was switched out on February 15. On February 14, theUtilities Department climbed another pole nearby (described tome as my "secondary pole") and found loose connections,which I've been told were tightened. That's 2 out of 2 poleswith loose connections. Is routine maintenance being done? Are there loose connections all over the city? My lightscontinue to flicker - are other loose connections causing this? The "secondary pole" with loose connections would explainthe problems the neighbors have experienced on that side ofmy house: (1) one neighbor's refrigerator went out and she hadto go buy a new one last weekend, (2) another neighbor hadflickering lights (I discovered this by overhearing him over thefence speaking to someone about his panel), (3) a thirdneighbor had an outdoor light that was malfunctioning (shedescribed it as "acting weird"). These are the things that Ihave heard only in passing - surprisingly, everyone hascomplete trust in Palo Alto Utilities and does not blame thepoor power supply they are receiving. These 3 houses are inaddition to the 6 houses experiencing poor power supply issuesfrom the other pole (one of which went through 3 refrigeratorsin January). So that's 9 houses total with issues - and Iimagine there are more! As an aside, shouldn't you disclose to your citizens theseissues after you discover them? Shouldn't you inform themthat they have been receiving poor power supply and educatethem on the damage that has possibly (or likely) been done tothe appliances and electronics within their home? I thoughtCPAU is supposed to do better than PG&E? On February 14, I received a call from an engineer to get mystory to analyze the data collected by the load logger on myhouse. He was unaware that mine was not the only house withflickering lights! How is communication that bad?! As areminder, the morning of February 9 was when I first emailedall of you to escalate this issue - at that time we had 5 housestotal with confirmed flickering lights. The engineer was notinformed that it was not just my house with flickering lights - Ihad to explain to him then send him notes! On February 14, I was told that the wrong load logger hadbeen on my house since February 7. It was switched for thecorrect one, which I was told would get better data. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 2:05 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello again, everyone, As an update since my emails on Friday: My lights continueto flicker after Thursday's "Band-Aid fix," as described byCPAU employees. Over the weekend, I discovered a 6thneighboring house with flickering lights. My understanding is that flickering lights are a sign ofpossible fire risk, as they are often caused by looseconnections that may arc. Since I did not receive an answer from any of you on Fridayregarding whether my neighbors and I are at risk for fire,despite my desperate plea, I called the Fire Department thismorning to ask. I have been told that they are looking intoit. I talked with Dean this morning, after I spoke with the FireDepartment, and he is looking into the issue. I do appreciatehis call. I still do not understand why CPAU's standard practice fallsbelow PG&E standards or how that is acceptable? The Metering Department has been out to pull the loadlogger from my house and put a new one. I understandthey're analyzing the data. Why not just change out thetransformer, as PG&E would do? Further, there seems to be no effective regulation of CPAU. I think you all (with the exception of Dean and perhaps theCity Attorney) are responsible for oversight, but I have notheard anything substantive from any of you. Quite honestly, I now feel incredibly unsafe here in PaloAlto. Does maintenance of the gas infrastructure also fall belowPG&E standards? There is something up on the pole on Greer as I walk mychildren to school that makes a lot of noise. Is it atransformer? Does the noise mean it's old and in disrepair? I know if a transformer explodes, my children and I shouldnot be under it, as we will be harmed by the oil inside fallingon us. Do I have to reroute our walk to keep us safe? Itrusted CPAU, and although I noted the sound every time Iwalked under it, I didn't think twice about walking under it. Now, I do think twice. The problems aren't just with the Utilities Department. OnDecember 19, the garbage cans were not collected in mycul-de-sac. My elderly neighbor phoned daily, and the canswere not collected until December 23, after my secondelderly neighbor in the cul-de-sac called on December 22(so it took 3 days of calling, plus it seems like it wasn't takenseriously until there was a second household calling). Aftermy experience with Utilities, I was sure to apologize to myneighbor for not calling as well - I had never heard ofanything like this! Recology always comes out the next day,whenever there is an issue. We just spent 2 years lovingly renovating our Eichler - it'sour dream house and we intended for it to be our "foreverhome." We moved here from Redwood City for the schoolsand also to be surrounded by a community of safety-orientedindividuals (something that became especially important inthe pandemic). I am devastated to learn that CPAUstandards fall below PG&E standards. We are nowconsidering moving, but it would be very difficult for us todo so financially. I appreciate hearing any thoughts you may have? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 1:30 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello everyone, I know you're all busy and it's Friday, but I really do thinkthis is urgent. Can someone please get back to me? I have 2 small children in my home, and I am worriedabout the safety of the electricity being supplied to myhome and the homes around me. Am I at risk for fire? I've asked this to CPAU multiple times, with no answer. Am I safe to stay in my home over the weekend? I am lucky enough to have a very close family friend whois a retired PG&E lineman. His partner has been in thehospital, I have just found out, so we were only just ableto reach him late morning today. He said that PG&Ewould have changed out that transformer - that's what Titosaid he is opting not to do and the 2 other employees atCPAU told me I should "plead my case" for. I had noidea what the standard is, until now. I am new to Palo Alto, having only owned my home for alittle over 2 years, but my understanding from fellowresidents is that CPAU is better than PG&E. Then whyisn't CPAU doing the minimum that PG&E would do? As you can tell from my email below, I had already lostfaith - given prior interactions - that CPAU was fixing ourproblems. I wasn't sure, though - maybe not replacing atransformer was a fix, which is why I emailed you. Now,I have an opinion from a knowledgeable source that thetransformer should have been replaced. After learning that CPAU is possibly not meetingstandard practice - and having not heard back fromanyone with higher authority - I contacted the CaliforniaPublic Utilities Commission and was disheartened (to sayit lightly) to hear that they only advocate for customers ofshareholder owned utilities - i.e., not CPAU. I wasadvised that I need to appeal to the City - which, I think,is all you. Is there anyone else, or any other entity, to protect CPAUcustomers when there is evidence that a standard is notbeing met? Am I reaching out to the wrong people forhelp? Am I at risk for fire? Should I call the Fire Departmentand ask? What does a "Band-Aid fix" versus a "real fix"mean, in terms of safety? Should I leave my home? Aremy neighbors safe? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 6:46 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, Dean, I'm at my wit's end and writing to you, copying the CityManager, City Attorney, and City Council, asking youto please ensure that my ongoing and severe electricalissues at 3409 Greer Road are fixed by CPAU. At least4 of my neighbors are experiencing these same issues(5 houses total). I have been told by 2 CPAUemployees that we are receiving a "Band-Aid fix," not areal fix. I am considering filing a lawsuit, given how grosslynegligent and, frankly, abusive, my interactions withCPAU have been. But - at this time - my focus is ongetting the electrical service to my house and myneighbors' houses properly fixed. Attached please find results from my smart meter,pulled yesterday, February 8, showing severebrownouts to my home at 3409 Greer Rd. This smartmeter was put on my house on February 7. As you'llsee, one brownout lasted 1 hour 9 minutes, which Ihave been told is "insane." For those on the emailwithout an electrical background, here is a quick primeron the seriousness of brownouts. I'm also attaching a video of one light fixture at myhouse, illustrating the severity of the flickering lightsthat I first reported to CPAU on January 24. (Pleaseexcuse the paint job - we just finished completelyrenovating the inside and don't have the nice weatheryet to paint the outside. That is a new light fixture,installed last year.) As reported to CPAU, this has beenhappening throughout my entire house, and we alsoheard exhaust fans throughout the house slowing downand speeding up. My next door neighbor had the sameexperience. From January 24 to the time this data was looked at byCPAU yesterday, February 8, CPAU employees havedenied that there are any issues on CPAU's side. Shockingly, they continued to deny this, even afterbeing formally informed of 4 more houses withflickering lights. Until yesterday afternoon whenthey finally looked at the smart meter data from myhouse, various CPAU employees kept telling me to callan electrician, which I did (multiple, in fact). As an aside, 1 week into my ordeal, one neighbor calledCPAU dispatch reporting flickering lights and was toldto call back when the flickering got worse. Every knowledgeable person I have talked to - with theexception of one CPAU employee - has thought thatwas absolutely reckless, most laughing in disbelief. Linemen came out yesterday to rectify the situation, butI was told by 2 individuals within CPAU that they weredoing a "Band-Aid fix," not a real fix. I was told byone well-meaning CPAU employee that I should walkaround the corner to where the linemen were workingand find a big guy with a bald head named Tito to"plead my case" for a real fix. That in itself is one ofthe craziest things I've ever heard! Tito did not seem very receptive to this (rightfully sobecause who am I as a homeowner to tell him how todo his job?), so, shaken up, I went home and called theCity Manager's office, pleading for an advocate. Ingrid, the administrative assistant, took down my storyand my information, and I have received attempted helpfrom Alex Gonzalez, Utilities Supervisor. Alex evenworked on my issue into the evening. However, Alex isnot in charge of the correct division of CPAU toaddress my issue. This illustrates a continued lack ofunderstanding of my issue, at best, and perhaps acontinued lack of willingness to rectify my issue. Thatis why I'm reaching out to you. Can you help? With best regards, Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 From:Jo Ann Mandinach To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Fires, Priorities and Urgency: Crying FIRE IN A SLEEPING THEATER Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 4:39:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Leaders, I read with amazement that y that you're planning on holding a "study session" on fires after recent discussions at your council retreat. I also see that you're FINALLY bringing the approval of a construction contract for a TEMPORARY Fire Station 4 that's been useless all these years since the pandemic. You may not realize that PA residents are upset, neighborhood meetings are being held, petitions are being circulated, social media are buzzing ... so it would be great for you to set the record straight and reassure the community. Some question if 431responses to an online survey with pre-determined priority choices is the best wayto set priorities for a community of 66,000. Providing basic services is the obvious top choice and fire protection is obviously a basic service. Please explain what's taken you so long and why you think other "discretionary"projects are more important than our safety while you quibble that the $3M needed for the fire station contributes to our budget deficit! " “We are looking at deficit spending already,” Assistant City Manager Kiely Nosesaid during the November discussion. “This will make the hole larger.”" “I think we need to be focused on increased medical calls,” Mayor Ed Lauing, whoat the time served on the Finance Committee, said. “What medical calls need is anEMT, not a fire truck.” (Anecdotally, several of us have refused to make medical calls after badexperiences. "Don't call 911. Just drive me to the urgent care.") Please give us a timeline estimate of when we can reasonably expect to see our fire houses -- both temporary and permanent -- fully staffed, fully operational with fire trucks and water (which we hear is useful during fires and the lack of which hasbeen newsworthy as other cities get sued for having short-changed their fire services to divert the funds to their pet projects. Thanks. We eagerly await your reply. Perhaps we need a dedicated session for you to respond to our questions? Respectfully, Jo Ann Mandinach ⏰ From:Robert Schulte To:Council, City Cc:McDonough, Melissa; City Mgr; Perron, Zachary; leah.budu@dot.ca.gov; Chambers, Cheryl@DOT; Ambuehl, David@DOT; Wilkenfeld, Sean@CHP; Sherman III, Earl R@DOT; John King Subject:Re: Upcoming City Council Study Session on Housing & Homelessness – Feb. 10, 2025 Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 4:38:50 PM Attachments:image001.pngimage002.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council, I think the generosity and compassion of the City and our community institutions arecommendable and I support them. I see the definition of homeless implicitly includes living in a mobile/trailer home on State and City streets; however, I still think that aspect should besubject to State and City required living conditions/parking codes. As a homeowner in a complex along the El Camino Real, I am glad that Caltrans finally repaved the El Camino and is now striping it for safety. I heard about bike lanes being addedfor students to safely get to school. I hope CalTrans is not striping El Camino to accommodate the large mobile/trailer homes that lined El Camino the City manages forparking rules. I have no idea why the City had authority from CalTrans over parking rules. Apparently, this included allowing free storage of hoarder junk in not being lived-inconveyances along the El Camino. I could tell day and night when occasionally walking by and given the 2-day-max parking notices Palo Alto Police Parking Enforcement placed onthem until moved or towed. I spoke with Palo Alto Police Captain Zach Perrone about the situation years ago as he was in charge of parking enforcement along El Camino among his many more important duties. Hetold me those in the mobile/trailer homes are people working in Palo Alto, including of all places Stanford University and their Hospital. If he is not mistaken, maybe Stanford shouldfind lots on their campus for this type of mobile/trailer home living arrangement for their employees. One of the studies I read below talks about people living in "vehicles" givingthe impression of living in cars. I have not seen homeless people living in cars around here. Neither many tents nor people laying on the sidewalks except some downtown and onCalifornia Ave. Do the homeless counts include those who find shelter to sleep at some hour of night/early morning? When and where are the counts done? I am wholeheartedly formoving people out of homelessness including from dilapidated mobile/trailer homes into shelters. However, I think they should have to park their mobile/trailer homes where I wouldbe able to park under law if they cannot afford to rent a spot in a privately owned mobile/trailer home park. Before the CalTrans' repaving project we had become a neighborhood with a majorthoroughfare street filled sometimes even directly in front with free mobile/trailer home parking. It would look better if the State or City built tiny homes that fit along the El Camino.curbs. I suppose cars may crash into them which may have already happened with those mobile/trailer homes. If you want to have El Camino Real parking spots for affordable tinyhome housing, please allow that instead with CalTrans approval. They will have the public sidewalk in front for their personal pleasure too. Many had one side of their mobile/trailerhome's wheels up on the sidewalk anyway so that cars hopefully don't hit them on the other side. Before CalTrans cleared the El Camino for the paving project, I routinely walked by anunusually well-maintained small RV with a couple pulling out their camp chairs most days onto the sidewalk inconveniencing those who wanted to walk by. Other times I noticed withtheir trailer door wide open, they worked on their laptops. Might as well call El Camino Real in Palo Alto a State Park with free parking along the curb as some seem to be takingadvantage. I hope CalTrans takes full control of El Camino for parking rules as at least pertaining to the City of Palo Alto (maybe Stanford needs say with game days) and eliminates the City's 2-dayfree parking of practically anything law before required to move elsewhere/anywhere -- a block away is allowed Captain Perrone told me and then they can move back to their favoritespot in 2 days. I saw the rule intermittently enforced as I doubt the Police Department's Parking Enforcement group has time to monitor such a strange rule. Whatever agreementCalTrans had with the City over its controlling parking rules should be in my opinion rescinded immediately. I am copying CalTrans officials so that they hopefully will considersuch and take action. I suggest you should invite State/CalTrans and Stanford officials to your meeting and/or the one that involves your decisions to be made. Regards,Robert Schulte Palo AltoBarron Park On Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM McDonough, Melissa <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: I am reaching out because you have previously engaged in discussions about housing and homelessness in Palo Alto—whether through direct conversations with me, public forums,or other avenues. As you may be aware, the Palo Alto City Council will be holding a StudySession on Housing and Homelessness on Monday, February 10, 2025. This meeting will provide an opportunity to review current efforts, including findings from the 2024 Palo Alto Gap Analysis, data from the Understanding the Unhoused Communityin Palo Alto report, updates on local enforcement work, and an overview of an upcoming community engagement framework aimed at developing an Implementation Plan to AddressHomelessness. Key discussion areas include: Homelessness prevention programs – Evaluating whether current programs are effective in reducing the number of people becoming homeless.Homelessness support services – Identifying what support and resources the City can commit to assist the unhoused population.Enforcement efforts – Exploring strategies to promote health and safety in the community. This session is an important opportunity to hear updates, share perspectives, and help shape next steps on this complex issue. Public comment is encouraged and can be provided: In person at the City Council meetingVirtually via ZoomIn writing by emailing comments to city.council@cityofpaloalto.org prior to the meeting Your voice is valuable in these discussions. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. I hope you will consider participatingin this important conversation. Best regards, Melissa Melissa McDonough, MPP Assistant to the City Manager pronouns: she/her 650.329.2533 (desk) | 650.586.1557 (mobile) Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Council, City; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; JayBoyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Bill Newell; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Braden Cartwright; EPA Today; DianaDiamond; Doug Minkler; Gerry Gras; Palo Alto Free Press; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; PatM; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Dave Price; dennis burns; Marty Wasserman; h.etzko@gmail.com; HumanRelations Commission; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; Tim James; Templeton, Cari; CaitJames; Lewis james; Marina Lopez; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Cecilia Taylor; The Office of Mayor MattMahan; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Michelle; Foley, Michael;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Mickie Winkler; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto;planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Daniel Kottke;kamhialison@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; Vicki Veenker; Raymond Goins; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov;qy2103@columbia.edu; Jack Ajluni; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Sandy Perry-HCA; San José Spotlight; JenniferMorrow San José Spotlight; Jessica Speiser; Vara Ramakrishnan; Steve Wagstaffe; Lotus Fong; Friends ofCubberley; Gennady Sheyner; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Barberini, Christopher; Stump, Molly Subject:Re: Israel Escalates West Bank Military Assault, Invading Areas Across the North Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 2:51:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Israel Escalates West Bank MilitaryAssault, Invading Areas Across theNorth Israel’s defense minister says troops will remain in Jenin refugee campindefinitely MARIAM BARGHOUTI JAN 31 ∙GUEST POST READ IN APP The funeral ceremony of 10 Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack on Tamoun, a village in Tubas, West Bank on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu via Getty Images) JENIN AND TULKAREM—An Israeli airstrike on a crowded neighborhood in the village of Tamoun in the northern West Bank on Wednesday killed at least 10 Palestinians, one of the single deadliest strikes in the West Bank in months. Minutes later, Israeli forces raided the city of Qalqilya and surrounding areas, escalating the military assault. Israeli troops backed by drones and fighter jets have now taken hold of all of the major districts in the north of the occupied territory. Barely 48 hours after the “ceasefire” in Gaza came into effect on January 19, Israel announced “Operation Iron Wall,” a large-scale military operation to “defeat terrorism in Jenin.” What began in the Jenin refugee camp has expanded to Tulkarem, Tubas, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Jericho. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and thousands of families have been forcibly displaced. In the span of 10 days, at least 37 Palestinians have been killed, including a two-year-old who was shot with a bullet to the head at home in Jenin. A group of UN special rapporteurs released a statement this week saying the Israeli military operation in the West Bank “marks a dangerous escalation against Palestinians.” “We are dismayed by the escalation of deadly violence sweeping through Jenin and the rest of the occupied West Bank,” the UN experts said. “Israel's repression seems to have no end in sight…The heightened assault on the occupied West Bank is part of an overall process of Palestinian forced displacement and replacement and the territorial expansion of Israel.” In a publicized visit to the Jenin camp on Wednesday, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz, declared that troops would maintain a permanent presence there once the military operation was over. “We have declared war on Palestinian terror in the West Bank,” he said. “After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return.” Drop Site News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid Depopulating Jenin refugee camp Within the first few hours of Operation Iron Wall, the Israeli army killed at least 11 Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp, the vast majority of them civilians. Over the next three days, Israeli forces began systematically depopulating the camp— bombing neighborhoods, firing live ammunition, and bulldozing streets and homes. “All we heard from the drones was ‘get out of your homes or we will kill you.’ We got afraid, and we left with only the clothes we had on,” said Haniyeh Dabayah, a 73-year-old resident who says she escaped the camp while being shot at by the Israeli army. Within days, the camp had been largely emptied, with thousands of families forced to take refuge in neighboring villages, staying either with relatives or friends, not knowing if or when they could return. While Israeli military raids on the Jenin refugee camp have become common in the last three years, Operation Iron Wall set a new precedent by attacking the entire governorate of Jenin—which includes Jenin city and refugee camp and surrounding villages and towns—placing it on lockdown for days, with families unable to leave their homes as Israeli warplanes bombed sites across the area. Dubbing it the “Wasps Nest,” Israeli military and intelligence have long targeted Jenin as a stronghold of armed resistance. Although relatively small and impoverished, Jenin refugee camp has been one of the few areas in the West Bank that has managed to organize armed groups across factional lines into the Jenin Brigade. However, according to residents from the camp and other sources, most of the fighters in the Jenin Brigade left the camp early on in the Israeli operation. Only a handful opted to remain and confront the Israeli military. A day before the latest Israeli invasion, Palestinian Authority security forces had concluded their own large-scale offensive on the camp dubbed Operation Home, one of the longest and most lethal assaults by Palestinian security forces in recent memory. At least 11 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians, including one child. Security forces also arbitrarily detained dozens of residents and subjected them to torture and abuse. The Israeli army invaded while Palestinian Authority armored vehicles and soldiers were still in the camp. “[The security forces] chose to withdraw from the camp in order to avoid direct confrontation with the Israeli army,” the Palestinian Authority security forces’ spokesperson, Gen. Brig. Anwar Rajab, said in a statement. As the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Jenin refugee camp, the Palestinian Authority detained several prominent Jenin Brigade fighters, including their spokesperson Abu Issam, as they were escaping. With most of the fighters relocated outside the camp, the Israeli military began a campaign of “mowing the lawn,” in which residential buildings were bombed, bulldozed, and set ablaze. While journalists were again denied entry, the sounds of explosions and the sight of smoke from inside the camp were continuous. By the seventh day, the majority of the camp had been destroyed. According to the Israeli military, more than 60 houses in Jenin were demolished and at least 3,000 families have been displaced, according to the UN. At the same time, Israel attacked neighboring towns and villages with drone strikes and ground troops. “The sound of drones was so loud and close I thought they were in the house,” said Sameeh Hazza, a resident of Muthalath Shuhada, a small town southwest of Jenin. His two-year-old niece Laila Khateeb was shot in the head and killed on Saturday while in her home. “What did she do wrong?” Hazza says standing by her grave moments after the burial. “We were preparing to eat dinner and all we saw were red and green lasers in the house, then the bullets poured in.” An elderly Palestinian man stands in the middle of a destroyed market during an Israeli military raid on the city of Tulkarem and Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Assault on Tulkarem By the second week, the operation had expanded to the governorate of Tulkarem, southwest of Jenin. On the morning of January 27, an airstrike on a car outside the Nour Shams refugee camp, located just outside the city of Tulkarem, killed two Palestinian fighters. Moments later, another airstrike hit Tulkarem refugee camp. Within hours, Israeli bulldozers and soldiers were deployed deep into the city of Tulkarem. The main market was quickly emptied while the public hospital was encircled and put under siege. Similar to the operation in Jenin, the Israeli army began by targeting critical infrastructure in the city—destroying telecommunication networks and water mains. “We were forced out of our home at gunpoint while explosions continued in the camp,” said Azza Kahle, 35. A mother of five, Kahle told Drop Site that she had never before witnessed this level of violence. “We weren’t allowed to take anything except our phones and the clothes we were wearing,” she said. “Now we’re displaced, with nowhere to go and my children are cold.” Some families managed to reach the homes of relatives on the outskirts of Tulkarem, but dozens had nowhere to go and were forced to take shelter in the local mosque. The Israeli military continued to escalate its attack, bulldozing streets and displacing dozens of families in the city itself. Many families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint as soldiers stationed snipers inside them and turned residential buildings into makeshift military posts. “The Israeli army is besieging the entire city with an unprecedented number of soldiers sprawled across the area,” said Tariq Hishme, a journalism student from Tulkarem. “This did not even happen in this way during the Second Intifada, and the targeting of the city itself marks a terrifying and new escalation,” he said. The Israeli military also obstructed medical personnel and journalists from accessing certain areas. As the army besieged the hospital, patients were unable to receive proper medical care. “I need to give birth,” said a pregnant woman as she stood several meters away from the hospital in the cold. It took medics hours to be able to coordinate her entry into the hospital. “The goal of the Israeli forces besieging hospitals is to obstruct medics from reaching the wounded,” Ahmad Zahran, the deputy chief of emergency care in Thabit public hospital, told Drop Site. “They take hours in their security check,” he said. “The time they take in checking medics and verifying patients takes away from the patient's time." According to Zahran, the level of violence in Tulkarem is like no other he has witnessed before. “I’ve been obstructed before, and they’ve invaded Tulkarem before, but this time it’s a different type of aggression.” As medics were detained while on duty, journalists were targeted with stun grenades, teargas, and live ammunition. At least one journalist, Nagham Al-Zayet was injured with shrapnel in Tulkarem. From Gaza to the West Bank In the first three weeks of the new year, Israeli forces killed 26 Palestinians, including four children. In the last ten days—since the Gaza ceasefire and the launch of Operation Iron Wall—the Israeli military has killed 37 Palestinians in the West Bank, including four children. “This is not random,” Roshdi Al-Norsi, a 43-year-old resident of Jenin refugee camp, told Drop Site. “This assault comes amid the release of Palestinian detainees and the suspension of bombs on Gaza. What Israel is telling us, is that we are not allowed to celebrate anything, not the release of the detainees, not the resistance, nothing.” Israeli battalions that served in Gaza—including members of the Kfir brigades and the Skylark unit—have been deployed in Jenin as part of Operation Iron Wall. “Look, over there in the distance. That smoke you see, that’s my home,” Abu Nizar, 63, told Drop Site. Standing on a hill overlooking Jenin refugee camp, he struggled to contain his grief. “Israel is vengeful, they see Jenin as Gaza, so as they leave Gaza with the ceasefire they’re coming here. After here, it’s the rest of the West Bank.” Leave a comment Upgrade to paid A guest post by Mariam Barghouti Mariam Barghouti is a writer and a journalist based in the West Bank. She is a member of the Marie Colvin Journalist Network. Subscribe to Mariam Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: Subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Council, City; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; JayBoyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Bill Newell; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Braden Cartwright; EPA Today; DianaDiamond; Doug Minkler; Gerry Gras; Palo Alto Free Press; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; PatM; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Dave Price; dennis burns; Marty Wasserman; h.etzko@gmail.com; HumanRelations Commission; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; Tim James; Templeton, Cari; CaitJames; Lewis james; Marina Lopez; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Cecilia Taylor; The Office of Mayor MattMahan; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Michelle; Foley, Michael;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Mickie Winkler; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto;planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Daniel Kottke;kamhialison@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; Vicki Veenker; Raymond Goins; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov;qy2103@columbia.edu Subject:Israel Escalates West Bank Military Assault, Invading Areas Across the North Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 2:20:12 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Israel Escalates West Bank MilitaryAssault, Invading Areas Across theNorth Israel’s defense minister says troops will remain in Jenin refugee campindefinitely MARIAM BARGHOUTI JAN 31 ∙GUEST POST READ IN APP The funeral ceremony of 10 Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack on Tamoun, a village in Tubas, West Bank on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Nedal Eshtayah/Anadolu via Getty Images) JENIN AND TULKAREM—An Israeli airstrike on a crowded neighborhood in the village of Tamoun in the northern West Bank on Wednesday killed at least 10 Palestinians, one of the single deadliest strikes in the West Bank in months. Minutes later, Israeli forces raided the city of Qalqilya and surrounding areas, escalating the military assault. Israeli troops backed by drones and fighter jets have now taken hold of all of the major districts in the north of the occupied territory. Barely 48 hours after the “ceasefire” in Gaza came into effect on January 19, Israel announced “Operation Iron Wall,” a large-scale military operation to “defeat terrorism in Jenin.” What began in the Jenin refugee camp has expanded to Tulkarem, Tubas, Qalqilya, Nablus, and Jericho. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and thousands of families have been forcibly displaced. In the span of 10 days, at least 37 Palestinians have been killed, including a two-year-old who was shot with a bullet to the head at home in Jenin. A group of UN special rapporteurs released a statement this week saying the Israeli military operation in the West Bank “marks a dangerous escalation against Palestinians.” “We are dismayed by the escalation of deadly violence sweeping through Jenin and the rest of the occupied West Bank,” the UN experts said. “Israel's repression seems to have no end in sight…The heightened assault on the occupied West Bank is part of an overall process of Palestinian forced displacement and replacement and the territorial expansion of Israel.” In a publicized visit to the Jenin camp on Wednesday, Israeli defense minister Israel Katz, declared that troops would maintain a permanent presence there once the military operation was over. “We have declared war on Palestinian terror in the West Bank,” he said. “After the operation is completed, IDF forces will remain in the camp to ensure that terror does not return.” Drop Site News is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Upgrade to paid Depopulating Jenin refugee camp Within the first few hours of Operation Iron Wall, the Israeli army killed at least 11 Palestinians in the Jenin refugee camp, the vast majority of them civilians. Over the next three days, Israeli forces began systematically depopulating the camp— bombing neighborhoods, firing live ammunition, and bulldozing streets and homes. “All we heard from the drones was ‘get out of your homes or we will kill you.’ We got afraid, and we left with only the clothes we had on,” said Haniyeh Dabayah, a 73-year-old resident who says she escaped the camp while being shot at by the Israeli army. Within days, the camp had been largely emptied, with thousands of families forced to take refuge in neighboring villages, staying either with relatives or friends, not knowing if or when they could return. While Israeli military raids on the Jenin refugee camp have become common in the last three years, Operation Iron Wall set a new precedent by attacking the entire governorate of Jenin—which includes Jenin city and refugee camp and surrounding villages and towns—placing it on lockdown for days, with families unable to leave their homes as Israeli warplanes bombed sites across the area. Dubbing it the “Wasps Nest,” Israeli military and intelligence have long targeted Jenin as a stronghold of armed resistance. Although relatively small and impoverished, Jenin refugee camp has been one of the few areas in the West Bank that has managed to organize armed groups across factional lines into the Jenin Brigade. However, according to residents from the camp and other sources, most of the fighters in the Jenin Brigade left the camp early on in the Israeli operation. Only a handful opted to remain and confront the Israeli military. A day before the latest Israeli invasion, Palestinian Authority security forces had concluded their own large-scale offensive on the camp dubbed Operation Home, one of the longest and most lethal assaults by Palestinian security forces in recent memory. At least 11 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians, including one child. Security forces also arbitrarily detained dozens of residents and subjected them to torture and abuse. The Israeli army invaded while Palestinian Authority armored vehicles and soldiers were still in the camp. “[The security forces] chose to withdraw from the camp in order to avoid direct confrontation with the Israeli army,” the Palestinian Authority security forces’ spokesperson, Gen. Brig. Anwar Rajab, said in a statement. As the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on Jenin refugee camp, the Palestinian Authority detained several prominent Jenin Brigade fighters, including their spokesperson Abu Issam, as they were escaping. With most of the fighters relocated outside the camp, the Israeli military began a campaign of “mowing the lawn,” in which residential buildings were bombed, bulldozed, and set ablaze. While journalists were again denied entry, the sounds of explosions and the sight of smoke from inside the camp were continuous. By the seventh day, the majority of the camp had been destroyed. According to the Israeli military, more than 60 houses in Jenin were demolished and at least 3,000 families have been displaced, according to the UN. At the same time, Israel attacked neighboring towns and villages with drone strikes and ground troops. “The sound of drones was so loud and close I thought they were in the house,” said Sameeh Hazza, a resident of Muthalath Shuhada, a small town southwest of Jenin. His two-year-old niece Laila Khateeb was shot in the head and killed on Saturday while in her home. “What did she do wrong?” Hazza says standing by her grave moments after the burial. “We were preparing to eat dinner and all we saw were red and green lasers in the house, then the bullets poured in.” An elderly Palestinian man stands in the middle of a destroyed market during an Israeli military raid on the city of Tulkarem and Tulkarem refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. (Photo by Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Assault on Tulkarem By the second week, the operation had expanded to the governorate of Tulkarem, southwest of Jenin. On the morning of January 27, an airstrike on a car outside the Nour Shams refugee camp, located just outside the city of Tulkarem, killed two Palestinian fighters. Moments later, another airstrike hit Tulkarem refugee camp. Within hours, Israeli bulldozers and soldiers were deployed deep into the city of Tulkarem. The main market was quickly emptied while the public hospital was encircled and put under siege. Similar to the operation in Jenin, the Israeli army began by targeting critical infrastructure in the city—destroying telecommunication networks and water mains. “We were forced out of our home at gunpoint while explosions continued in the camp,” said Azza Kahle, 35. A mother of five, Kahle told Drop Site that she had never before witnessed this level of violence. “We weren’t allowed to take anything except our phones and the clothes we were wearing,” she said. “Now we’re displaced, with nowhere to go and my children are cold.” Some families managed to reach the homes of relatives on the outskirts of Tulkarem, but dozens had nowhere to go and were forced to take shelter in the local mosque. The Israeli military continued to escalate its attack, bulldozing streets and displacing dozens of families in the city itself. Many families were forced out of their homes at gunpoint as soldiers stationed snipers inside them and turned residential buildings into makeshift military posts. “The Israeli army is besieging the entire city with an unprecedented number of soldiers sprawled across the area,” said Tariq Hishme, a journalism student from Tulkarem. “This did not even happen in this way during the Second Intifada, and the targeting of the city itself marks a terrifying and new escalation,” he said. The Israeli military also obstructed medical personnel and journalists from accessing certain areas. As the army besieged the hospital, patients were unable to receive proper medical care. “I need to give birth,” said a pregnant woman as she stood several meters away from the hospital in the cold. It took medics hours to be able to coordinate her entry into the hospital. “The goal of the Israeli forces besieging hospitals is to obstruct medics from reaching the wounded,” Ahmad Zahran, the deputy chief of emergency care in Thabit public hospital, told Drop Site. “They take hours in their security check,” he said. “The time they take in checking medics and verifying patients takes away from the patient's time." According to Zahran, the level of violence in Tulkarem is like no other he has witnessed before. “I’ve been obstructed before, and they’ve invaded Tulkarem before, but this time it’s a different type of aggression.” As medics were detained while on duty, journalists were targeted with stun grenades, teargas, and live ammunition. At least one journalist, Nagham Al-Zayet was injured with shrapnel in Tulkarem. From Gaza to the West Bank In the first three weeks of the new year, Israeli forces killed 26 Palestinians, including four children. In the last ten days—since the Gaza ceasefire and the launch of Operation Iron Wall—the Israeli military has killed 37 Palestinians in the West Bank, including four children. “This is not random,” Roshdi Al-Norsi, a 43-year-old resident of Jenin refugee camp, told Drop Site. “This assault comes amid the release of Palestinian detainees and the suspension of bombs on Gaza. What Israel is telling us, is that we are not allowed to celebrate anything, not the release of the detainees, not the resistance, nothing.” Israeli battalions that served in Gaza—including members of the Kfir brigades and the Skylark unit—have been deployed in Jenin as part of Operation Iron Wall. “Look, over there in the distance. That smoke you see, that’s my home,” Abu Nizar, 63, told Drop Site. Standing on a hill overlooking Jenin refugee camp, he struggled to contain his grief. “Israel is vengeful, they see Jenin as Gaza, so as they leave Gaza with the ceasefire they’re coming here. After here, it’s the rest of the West Bank.” Leave a comment Upgrade to paid A guest post by Mariam Barghouti Mariam Barghouti is a writer and a journalist based in the West Bank. She is a member of the Marie Colvin Journalist Network. Subscribe to Mariam Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: Subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe From:Elvert, Catherine To:Patricia Judge Tamrazi; Council, City Cc:City Attorney; UAC; City Mgr; Marshall, Tomm; Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed; Fire Subject:RE: 2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 1:58:12 PM Attachments:image013.pngimage014.pngimage015.pngimage016.png image017.pngimage018.pngimage004.pngimage006.pngimage010.pngimage012.png Dear Trish, Thank you for your message and consideration about safety for your family and neighbors. We take safety very seriously and have looked into these issues. The City of Palo Alto Fire Department is investigating the electrical fires you referenced. Reports show that the electrical fires were caused inside resident’s homes, on the customer’s side of the electrical meter. In reviewing our systems, we were able to verify the causes were not due to issues with the City of Palo Alto Utilities electrical lines or equipment. If you would like details on the Fire Department’s investigations, you may file a Public Records Request and provide the incident date, address, and any other information you would like to request. The City’s Public Records Request portal is available online at: https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/Departments/City-Clerk/Clerk-Services/Public-Records-Request Regarding electric utility safety at your home, the City has investigated your concerns and addressed the equipment serving the area. You have received all records of maintenance the City of Palo Alto Utilities has performed on electrical equipment for your property. The City of Palo Alto Utilities repaired and/or replaced the electrical equipment and transformer serving your property in February 2024. To reassure you, the City of Palo Alto Utilities follows industry safety practices for electrical equipment construction, operations, and maintenance. This includes the California Public Utilities Commission General Orders (GO) 95 and 128 for overhead and underground electrical lines and equipment. https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Home/Proceedings-and-Rulemaking/CPUC-general-orders Sincerely, Catherine CATHERINE ELVERT (she/her/hers) Utilities Communications Manager (650) 329-2417 | Cell (650) 833-9433 Catherine.Elvert@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org/utilities From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <tamrazi.law@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, January 31, 2025 10:11 AM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: City Attorney <city.attorney@CityofPaloAlto.org>; UAC <UAC@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Stump, Molly <Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Fire <fire@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: 2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Following up on my email below from 3 days ago. Can someone please respond to my concerns? Mr. Shikada - I know that last year you told the Fire Department to ignore my call and have Head of Utilities call me instead - now that there is no Head of Utilities, nor a Head of Electric (per the autoreply I received from Mr. Mashall's email address) - who will you have respond? As many of you know, I had a KNOWN LOOSE NEUTRAL (fire risk) on the City's electrical wires going into my house between January and August of 2024, which Utilities CHOSE TO IGNORE. It was only due to your own employees putting their neck on the line - and getting fired for it in at least 1 instance - did I know to keep pushing and get it fixed. The electrical system to my house is likely the same age, receiving the same maintenance of my neighbors' with the fires on Janice and Kenneth (or lack of maintenance - although how would you know with no maintenance schedules?). Has Utilities been out to put load loggers up, to see if there are surges causing these fires? I've been told one resident saw SPARKS overhead prior to the fire on Janice. Has anyone followed up on that? Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <tamrazi.law@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City Council (in your capacity as regulator of City of Palo Alto Utilities), There have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood near Palo Verde in the last 2 weeks. Is this being investigated to determine whether this is connected to Utilities' lack of safety protocols, including an apparent lack of maintenance schedules? Am I safe to remain in my home in the neighborhood? I have small children. My neighbor next door is elderly and not very mobile. Are we safe? This email also follows up on my email below from August, which I never received a response to, asking the City to competently address glaring safety shortcomings in Utilities, especially with regards to the electrical grid. As you know (and can see below, for those of you who are new), I first reached out to you in February 2024 for help with flickering lights in my neighborhood (later discovered to be caused by a LOOSE NEUTRAL, which Utilities knew about and decided NOT to properly fix, although industry standard is that a loose neutral is a "climb the pole in the middle of the night" electrical emergency, due to FIRE RISK). Through City employees, acting as kind of whistleblowers in asking me personally to advocate for changes out of fear someone would get seriously injured, and follow-up Public Records Requests for more information (which, although incomplete in response, were revealing), a number of very serious safety shortcomings have been uncovered, detailed in part below. I have asked you repeatedly to address these shortcomings. Now, there have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood, I believe in the span of 1 week: one on Kenneth Drive on or around January 16 (believed to be in relation to an electric heated towel bar) and one on Janice Way on or around January 23 (believed to be in relation to an electric car charger). The danger of these fires is compounded, of course, by the fact that these are flammable Eichlers, in a tree-heavy neighborhood, and that we are a fire engine short down here in South Palo Alto, due to budget decisions leaving firehouses short staffed. Could you please update me on what steps are being taken to bring the safety practices of City of Palo Alto Utilities in line with industry standards? Are the electrical fires being investigated? Trish Tamrazi Increasingly Concerned Palo Alto Homeowner On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 8:59 AM Subject: Re: FW: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org>, <molly.stump@cityofpaloalto.org>, Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org>, Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@cityofpaloalto.org>, Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@cityofpaloalto.org>, Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>, City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Good morning, Mr. Shikada - Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fix the glaring health and safety issues within Utilities? Following up on my email below from August 2, since I have not heard back from any of you. Today is August 13. What has been done to address the glaring safety issues in Utilities that I have been flagging since February? What progress has there been on the list below? I submitted a Public Records Request and the City was unable to provide any maintenance schedule for the City's electrical system or progress on that schedule. I was told the City complies with CPUC regulations, however, the City was unable to provide evidence of that - so is it safe to assume the City does not, in fact, comply? That is very dangerous!! And totally NOT in line with industry standards (again). Why not let the CPUC auditors in to investigate, given the safety dangers this presents to Palo Altans? The outage yesterday and botched response to fix it, is evidence of these glaring safety issues. Obviously the notification system needs A LOT OF HELP - what will happen in an emergency? Given what yesterday demonstrated, are you addressing those shortcomings? I invite you to read the comments in the linked article, which reflect the disarray in Utilities that I have experienced first-hand since my lights started flickering in January - City Council, these are your constituents who NEED HELP. Please see, for example, below. Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fix these health and safety issues? Trish Tamrazi Palo Alto Homeowner On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 8:56 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, As you know from my previous email this morning, I continue to experience poor power supply at my house (first reported to CPAU on January 24 - today is August 2). I'm now following up on my email below from July 3, since I never received an answer. Could the City Manager's office please provide an update? Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES / SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lack knowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, in April, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training and oversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - boots on the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understand problems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is per CPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). EDITED TO ADD: Public Records Requests suggest there are also no proper maintenance schedules for overhead electrical lines (City said there were, as is industry standard, but was unable to provide, so is it correct to assume they do not exist?). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - training and oversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hi there, I do not know who I am communicating with - the email directly below is sent from the email address of Tomm Marshall, but is signed with Kaylee Burton's signature. This is of course important because Mr. Marshall would be, I believe, presenting technical information, while Ms. Burton would not. Thank you for sending the data from the newest transformer from Thursday, June 27, starting around noon when it was installed. This illustrates exactly my point about CPAU's negligence: there is no need to put a load logger up on the line and spend weeks evaluating the voltage swings, as you say you have been doing - there should be testing in real time, right away, as soon as work is being done, and any dangerous conditions should be addressed then and there. This perfectly illustrates the fact here: that CPAU left known dangerous conditions (voltage swings) up on the electrical line, unfixed, since at least mid- March (likely February) until June 27. This is not in line with minimum maintenance and safety standards in the industry (as many of CPAU's employees and contractors have told me). Your troubleshooting efforts were only "persistent," as you are now trying to spin it, because I - a resident and customer - have been persistent. This is no way to run a utility - this is dangerous. Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES / SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lack knowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, in April, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training and oversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - boots on the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understand problems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is per CPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - training and oversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 4:09 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Ms. Tamarazi, The city is prepared to cover the costs of an electrician to conduct a thorough inspection of your home. Should the electrician discover any damages that might have been caused by the city, you have the option to file a claim through the city's website at Submit a Claim Against the City – City of Palo Alto, CA, to seek reimbursement for those damages. Regrettably, this issue was not a simple repair but rather a complex matter that required extensive troubleshooting and time to resolve. Enclosed are the latest readings from the newly installed transformer as of Thursday, July 28, confirming that there are currently no issues detected. Due to the complexity of the situation, the solution did not unfold as originally anticipated. Through persistent troubleshooting efforts, however, we successfully identified and resolved the underlying cause. At present, CPAU (City of Palo Alto Utilities) has not been informed of any additional electrical concerns associated with transformer malfunctions. I trust that I have sufficiently addressed all of your inquiries in the preceding email. Thank you, Kaylee Burton Utilities Administrative Assistant City of Palo Alto Utilities Department Phone: 650.329.2326 | Cell: 650.444.5305 E-mail: kaylee.burton@CityofPaloAlto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:53 AM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Becautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Tomm, Thank you for your email. In response: 1. Will the City commit to paying for all damage to my house? I am waiting to get an electrician in because I am waiting for an answer to the question I have asked multiple times: will the City commit to paying for any damage found within my home? My house is newly rewired and had no damage when assessed back in late January when our flickering lights were first reported to CPAU. These flickering lights were later attributed to being caused by severe brownouts due to the City's poor power supply, however the City denied all possible responsibility for over a week prior to putting a smart meter on my house, so, trusting that, I consulted multiple electricians during that time. Thereafter, voltage fluctuations were measured. Therefore, if the power supply to my house is safe and reliable now and I am still experiencing issues, it is due to the damage the City's poor power supply has caused to my house. Will the City commit to paying for all damage? 2. Shouldn't it be up to CPAU - not me - to determine what a "proper fix" is? I have been told that, in fact, back in February, the loose leg was tightened and the power supply got worse, not better, but that the supervisor did not want to pay overtime for the proper fix, so they just left it. This is per your own employees - multiple of them told me to advocate for something better than a "Band-aid fix." I know you have denied that being the case, but you have not provided any data illustrating that your employees who told me to advocate for myself were wrong (and what would their motivation be to lie to me??). What a "proper fix" means, I do not know, nor should I, as I am simply a resident and customer. If you replaced the transformer only upon my request, as you are now saying - wow, that is incredibly scary and this whole situation is even worse than I thought. 3. Could you please provide data showing the issue is fixed? Do you have data showing that the fourth transformer fixed the ongoing issue? 4. Why is the fix only at the repeated request of a resident? If I didn't push and push and push, would you have just left the defective transformers? With the latest swap (which you say now fixed the poor power supply, right?), Utilities sent my neighbors notification of power shut down only after I requested the California State regulators be let in to inspect, and even then it was not treated as an emergency! 5. Are faulty transformers a problem throughout the City of Palo Alto? If yes, what is being done to fix this issue to protect the health and safety of residents? Please see one resident's account below. I have also connected with other homeowners whose appliances were blown out by poor power supply to their houses. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:50 AM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: The voltage fluctuations observed in the network supplied by the transformerlocated at 3480 Thomas Drive were not due to a loose neutral wire but ratherstemmed from a manufacturing defect in the transformers supplied to the City ofPalo Alto. Initially, the issue at your property was identified as a loose Hot Leg on thetransformer. The voltage fluctuation on your service was resolved upon repairingthis connection. However, following this repair, you reported persistent voltagefluctuations. Although we did not observe any issues with your service, weproceeded with replacing the transformer upon your request. After replacement,we observed unexpected voltage deviations causing intermittent flickering on thenew transformer. Subsequent replacement with another unit from the samemanufacturer revealed that the issue lay in a defect inherent to these transformers. The transformer was then replaced a third time, this time with a unit from adifferent manufacturer, which effectively resolved the unexpected voltagefluctuations in the secondary system. As mentioned previously, if you continue to experience flickering lights or anyrelated issues, we remain committed to assisting you by facilitating aninvestigation with an electrician of your choosing to identify and address the rootcause. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 9:06 AM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Becautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Tomm, I hope this email finds you well. Following up on my email from May 31, since I have not heard back from you yet and since Kurt Williams told me yesterday to contact you regarding my questions on the known and unfixed loose neutral. Could you please provide an update on fixing the loose neutral measured up on the pole at 3480 Thomas Drive, in at least March? It looks like they switched out the transformer again last week. I believe that this is the third time the transformer has been switched. Why was it switched again? Has the loose neutral been fixed? Trish Tamrazi On Fri, May 31, 2024 at 8:13 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm - Following up on my email from Tuesday, since you have not replied. When will the loose neutral in my neighborhood be fixed? As you know, utility companies treat this as an emergency, and ours was identified at least back in March (I believe, in talking with CPAU employees, February). https://www.luminsmart.com/blog/the-dangers-of-floating-neutral-2262 On Tue, May 28, 2024 at 11:25 AM Patricia Judge <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Thanks, Tomm. My understanding is that the crews would know right away by testing if they fixed the loose neutral, so is it correct to assume that your email means that they did not fix the neutral issue? When will you be doing that? I’m sure you can understand my being worried about this since it’s a serious electrical danger (risk of surge and fire). From what I have pieced together, there was a neutral issue with the old transformer and a neutral issue with the new transformer, so wouldn’t that suggest that the issue is NOT with the transformer? Is there maybe a damaged or loose wire somewhere that needs to be found? I understand that would take much more time to find and fix versus switching out the transformer again, and I do appreciate the crews’ time. 2 City employees now - one back on February and one last week (May) - have expressed to me how worried they are about overgrown trees around the overhead wires in my neighborhood. Could that be contributing to my poor power supply? When will the trees around the wires be trimmed? I’m looping in Councilmember Lauing, since he has been actively working on this. I’m here to help. I want nothing more than to get this resolved so that I can just live in peace - with safe and reliable power - and never have to contact you again. I want to be clear, that is my goal. Thank you, Trish 650-208-4802 Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2024, at 10:13 AM, Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  The transformer was replaced, new wire connections were installed and meters were installed to record data. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2024 10:26 AM To: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, What happened yesterday - did they find the loose neutral (identified in early March) and tighten it? Trish Patricia Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 10:10 AM Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have attached a screenshot of the neutral issue. <image001.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:27 AM To: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. My understanding is that when my house was on the new transformer, there was a "neutral issue" that was picked up by the load logger. Could you please send me screen shots of that data, showing the "neutral issue"? On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 8:20 AM Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have reviewed the data from April 25th – May 1st and have attached a screenshot below. On 4/29 at about 6AM, there was a temporary dip of the high side voltage, causing the secondary voltage to drop below 114V. Besides this anomaly, the secondary voltage stayed between the required 5% tolerance (126V -114V) and the PST value was below 1, indicating that no flicker likely occurred expect on the morning on 4/29 where the PST value was above 1. <image003.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 4:21 PM To: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. Has the data been reviewed yet that was taken from the last time the load logger was on the house? On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I spoke with Tomm and the meter technicians will be out tomorrow morning, 5/16, between 9AM and 10AM to install the load logger. Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 8:57 AM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, My lights are flickering again - at 11:15am on Sunday 5/12 and in the evening of Monday 5/13. The flickering was on different circuits. I can send video if you'd like. I don't know whether the load logger is on or not? I think maybe it is not, since I did see my gate closed differently after it was installed. I don't receive notification of the work - but I would like that, please, since I am having to be so involved. A couple of questions: 1. Is it possible there are loose connections from Utilities on my panel? There was a torque test on everything my electrician did - how about what Utilities has done? It seemed like the flickering stopped when the load logger was on (if it is indeed off) - so I thought maybe it was a loose connection related to that - especially since you had told me previously that you found a LOOSE CONNECTION on the load logger. This is quite concerning, of course, and should be an easy fix? It seems like the load logger was taken off, and the flickering returned. 2. You said previously there was a "neutral issue" when connected to the NEW transformer, so you took us off that and put us on the OLD transformer next to it. Can you just fix the "neutral issue" and put me on the NEW transformer? Will this solve my flickering lights? What does "neutral issue" mean? This flickering was first reported to CPAU January 24, so this is quite frustrating that it is still going on. Could you please fix it? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 2:47 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Here are more files. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 2:16 PM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, Load logger. Having a meter reset - does that mean coming out to put a load logger back on my house? My understanding is that the smart meter will not pick up most poor power supply issues - I need a load logger on there, and it needs to be the correct one (I have been told there was a "wrong" one on, for quite a while). I was told that it was only because my brownouts were so severe that the smart meter picked them up - generally, it would not. Video. The video showed the light - when the light switch is turned off - it takes a long time to go out, gets very bright, then turns off. This is on a dumb switch. It was flickering severely the day before this odd behavior (I do have video of the flickering). Then this odd behavior. Then back to normal. Please note that this is different than the flickering, which occurs when the lights are on. This is odd behavior when we try to turn the light off. Flickering. Flickering occurs on fixtures with lightbulbs throughout the house - many have dumb switches, some have dimmers. Since this flickering is consistent across different switch devices and happens intermittently, it seems unlikely that the flickering is due to dimmers. It seems flickering is more pronouced on fixtures with bulbs than integrated LEDs - I have been told that may indicate low voltage - what do you think? Records request. I do not believe that any original datasets came through to me in response to my records request. There are many, many items missing in the records request, which I only submitted because I've asked for the data many times, and I have never received it. I have been told that Utilities does not want to provide it (folks refer to "my supervisor") - which is why I put in the records request - as a matter of law, it is to be provided. I'm attaching the load logger data that I have seen - but I would like the full data set, please. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 1:36 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: I am having the charts printed out so that I can forward them to you . The original datasets were included in the Public Records Request but they appear to require the meter manufacturers software to decode the data. When I have more time I will see if the files can be exported in a data file that can be read by something like EXCEL. The PDF files of the data from your house should be ready by the end of the week. I have asked the engineer to request the meter to be reset on your house and it should be done this week. The video showed the light flickering and going out. A couple of questions since I don’t know the setup in your house. Was this the only light experiencing the flickering? Is the light connected to a dimmer switch? Some people who received this message don't often getemail from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this isimportant Thanks for you patience. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:43 PM To: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org> Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, Following up from our phone discussion on Thursday, April 18, since I have not heard from anyone yet - Could you send all data from the load loggers associated with the power to my house, please? When will load loggers be put back on my house, please? I have more video of my lights flickering on Saturday, April 20. Could you please let me know if you'd like to see it? My understanding from our discussion Thursday is that you measured the following: (1) brownouts initially (first reported January 24 and recorded via smart meter February 8 - these issues are also in the data from the load loggers?), (2) power to house from new transformer around February 12, then continuing flickering lights due to a problem with the neutral (is that a loose neutral?), then (3) did not fix those neutral issues, instead moved the house to an old transformer on the secondary pole (which also had loose connections - so if the "proper fix" on the other pole was a new transformer, why not on this pole too?), and continuing flickering lights. Did you have a chance to review the video I sent on April 17, video recorded April 14? I've never seen a light do this - could you please tell me what is going on? Is this dangerous? Is this a surge due to ongoing issues? The light did go back to normal - so the only thing that could have changed is the power supply to my house. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 11:55 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm, I look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your call on the afternoon of Thursday, April 4. I'm sorry for missing it - I am dealing with some health issues and could not answer the phone. My understanding is that many City employees do not work on Fridays, so I intended to call you on Monday, April 8. However, upon walking out my door to take my son to school on that morning, I came upon the City's contractor replacing my water meter (no notice) - I asked him to follow specific City procedures laid out to my elderly neighbor whose water was grossly contaminated by the techniques used by the contractor, with the assurance those procedures would be followed, but they were not, and my water was contaminated with yard dirt. I have been dealing with that since. I just left you a voicemail. Attached please find the video I referenced in that voicemail, of the weird issue with the light in my daughter's room. This was last Thursday, April 11. The day before, April 10, the lights were severely flickering. The light went back to normal as of Sunday, April 14. The only thing that possibly could have changed is the power supply to the house. By way of background which may be helpful, this light fixture was new last year - it uses lightbulbs. Could you please provide all load logger data related to the power supply to my house? If you think this issue is resolved, could you please put a load logger back on to measure these issues? I have never seen a light act like in the video - neither have electricians that I have consulted. I am very worried that this is dangerous and could start a fire. Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 10:31 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Tomm, It's nice to hear from you. I am free to discuss by phone at any time. I want to start with a baseline: I am here to help and I am open to working with you. While I am very upset with the dysfunction in Palo Alto, my anger and frustration is not directed toward employees like you (as a general statement, with exceptions for those who have been threatening to me and/or lied to me). A quick Google search suggests that you probably understand the reality of what I am going through. My lights seem to flicker evenings and weekends - but not long holiday weekends or, it seems, during this week which is spring break for Palo Alto public schools. The "EIT" (which I assume is "Engineer in Training"), who I have been told is the point person for my issues (an illustration of how seriously it's been taken, that we don't even have a licensed engineer in charge), suggested my flickering lights are due to some sort of machine at a hypothetical construction site nearby, which is, of course, silly. I think it's more likely that it's the 2 EVs charging in many driveways in my neighborhood. It's been insinuated to me that CPAU is covering up issues voiced by citizens like me, who are only trying to get safe and reliable power to our houses. Maybe it's that with the City Council's obsession with electrification, no one dares admit what's actually going on. Yes, my primary transformer was upgraded, but how about the lines? I've been in contact with a bunch of folks with flickering lights who are PG&E customers - PG&E comes right out, diagnoses the problem, and fixes it. Here in Palo Alto is different - in a bad way. I have been told that cutting costs is the number 1 priority - not providing safe and reliable power to homes or empowering linemen to diagnose and fix problems. Do you know that another customer called in flickering lights and 2 failed appliances (at least) and it took 10 days plus another follow-up call plus 1 more day to get a lineman out to just check for a loose neutral?! How unsafe!!!! They put a load logger on, but now she's getting the runaround from CPAU for someone to come out to pull the data. It's exactly what happened to me. This is too much to ask from citizens. This is no way to run a utility. Please let me know when a good time for a discussion is. Again, my anger is toward this dysfunctional city, not toward you. Thank you for reaching out to me, and I look forward to working together. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:24 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: If you have time tomorrow or sometime nextweek I would like to have a conversation withyou regarding you concerns with the electricservice at your house. I am the AssistantDirector of Electric Engineering andOperations and I hope that I can find a way toaddress your concerns. My staff has updatedme on your situation and I am familiar withthe events and the visits to your house. Inaddition, I have reviewed the voltage andcurrent recordings that have been take at yourhouse and in the adjacent homes. Please let me know when you have time todiscuss either on the phone or in person atyour home. Thanks From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 9:02 PMTo: Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; CityMgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Stump,Molly <Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Kou, Lydia<Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing,Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Tanaka,Greg <Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Clerk,City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issuescausing brownouts Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important Dear City Council, I last wrote to you on March 27 and still havenot received an answer. The only time Ireceived a substantive answer was when Iexpressed my displeasure at not being able topurchase an EV (being afraid that myneighborhood would burn down or that myyoung children were in danger didn't strike achord with you). So, here's more about thatEV: Here are photographs of the two places in mygarage where I had planned for EV chargers: <image004.png> <image005.png> Last week, I purchased a gas powered car toreplace the old car which was totaled afterbeing stolen from in front of my house here inPalo Alto. Attached please find video of my lightsflickering on the evening of March 28. This isvisual evidence of why I cannot have an EV:CPAU fails to provide safe and reliableelectricity to my home. My flickering lights were first reported toCPAU on January 24. After struggling withCPAU for over 2 weeks, I first reached out toyou regarding this issue on February 9, after Iwas told by CPAU's own employees that Ineeded to advocate for a "proper fix" to ourissues and was met with a threateningenvironment when I did so in person to CPAU's supervising employee. I trulythought you would help me, but I am stillwaiting. Our flickering continues. We now have multiple problems with theelectronics in our home, all of which are newsince we just finished renovating in late 2023. For example (and this is not all-inclusive), ourbathroom fans act up (turn on and offrandomly and unexpectedly) and the ice in ourSub-zero is stuck together (suggesting that itis not regulating its temperature properly). My family is suffering because ofyour unresponsiveness. I spend countlesshours trying to navigate how to get my citygovernment to respond to me so that I can getsafe and reliable power to my house. Mybusiness is suffering, my young children aresuffering, and I have developed health issues. It is your responsibility to oversee CPAU, isn'tit? Your constituents are depending on you. I close this 8th email to you as I have most ofthe emails that came before it: I welcome anythoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Mar 27, 2024 at 9:27 AM PatriciaJudge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City Council, I have not heard from Dean, nor from Ed,since being told by Ed on March 5 thatDean will be calling me and that Edwould join if needed. That was over 3weeks ago. Episode 1 of The Invisible Shield premieredon PBS last night. I recommend you watchit. I found it inspiring to see the amazingimpact properly funded and functioningpublic health systems can have, as well asthe negative effects that flow from cuttingfunding and letting those systems fall intodisrepair. A lesson, perhaps, for yourmanagement of the Utilities Department? I'm sure by now you have heard of thecontamination of some houses' drinkingwater that was caused by the contractor thecity hired to swap out water meters. Whenare you planning on warning residents ofthe error and helping them to clean up themess? This is a public health issue!!! Asyou remain silent, citizens have beendrinking contaminated water! In the same vein, I am still waiting on youto notify my neighbors of the damage yourpoor power supply has done to their homes. I first suggested you do this in my emailbelow on February 21. By the way, I have connected with a womanacross town - a mom with your children anda lot on her plate - who has had flickeringlights as well as a dishwasher andrefrigerator that have gone out. Myunderstanding is that she is patiently waiting for someone to come outto her house to check it out. I imagine I donot need to state this to you, as you are theregulators of the Utility and must know -but just in case: utilities companiesgenerally treat flickering lights as anemergency! Another thing is that, after following up, thecity's response to my Public RecordsRequest is still woefully unresponsive. Iam simply trying to gather information tofix the power supply to my house! It is thecity's legal duty to respond fully. The citydid, however, produce 2 emails which aresickening: 1. Prior to anyone providing me any real assistance or response, Dean forwarded my desperate email pleading for help and expressing my general displeasure with the mismanagement in Palo Alto to Catherine Elvert, who I gather from a Google search is a PR professional, with the note “Here you go !!!” Were you getting your talking points in order, rather than focusing on helping your citizens?? 2. 1 hour AFTER my THIRD desperate email pleading for help (email stamp on my email shows, "date: Feb 12, 2024, 2:05 PM"), Ed sent an email (email stamp on Ed's email shows: "Sent: Monday, February 12, 2024 3:16 PM") to multiple City of Palo Alto email addresses stating that Dean has spoken to me a couple times (NOT TRUE!!!!!) and “No need for further prompting. Thanks all!” NOTHING HAD BEEN ADDRESSED. I close this 7th email to you as I have mostof the emails that came before it: I welcomeany thoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 4:50 PM PatriciaJudge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Ed, Thank you for your note, however, I mustbe very clear: I would much rather havea responsive, caring, and ethical citygovernment, than bring any thieves tojustice. The stress from having our car stolenfrom in front of our house pales incomparison to the stress and anguish wehave experienced as a family in gettingthe run around from CPAU and thenbeing ignored by City Hall, as I try to getsafe and reliable power delivered to thehouses in my neighborhood. Regarding the electrical issue: I shouldnever have been this involved or havehad to push so hard. This is too much toask from citizens. It is no way to run autility. But, to continue down that path:logically, shouldn't the transformer alsobe replaced on the "secondary pole,"where loose connections were alsofound? If that was the "proper fix" on thefirst pole climbed (i.e. PG&E minimummaintenance standards), wouldn't it alsobe the "proper fix" on the second? This is, of course, putting aside thatperhaps this is a long-standing issue, notunique to my block, which has harmed many along the way. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 12:28 PMShikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Dear Ms. Tamrazi, I am so sorry to hear about your carbeing stolen. I can only imagine howthis has impacted you and your family. While understanding nothing can makeup for such a violation, I hope thethieves are quickly brought to justice. Regarding your electrical issue, I havespoken to Director Batchelor andunderstand he will be calling you tofollow up. I’m sorry to hear that theirreplacement of the electricaltransformer did not resolve theproblem. I will stay in touch with himand happy to join a call as he workswith you on next steps. Sincerely, --Ed <image006.png>Ed Shikada, City Manager ICMA Credentialed Manager (650) 329-2280 | ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org Some people who received this messagedon't often get email frompatricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important www.cityofpaloalto.org <image007.png> From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 9:27AMTo: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stump, Molly<Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burt, Patrick<Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Kou,Lydia<Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Tanaka, Greg<Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>;City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Clerk,City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fixissues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originatedfrom outside of theorganization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clickingon links. Good morning, City Council, On Thursday night, our car got stolenfrom in front of our house here in PaloAlto. It looks like it's totaled. Whenwe completely rewired the house lastyear, we future proofed toaccommodate an EV charger - 2actually. However, CPAU is unable toprovide safe and reliable power to ourhouse. Because of this, to our greatdisappointment, we cannot replace ourgas powered car with an EV. My husband is a physician - if he gets acall in the middle of the night thatsomeone is bleeding to death and needsan intervention, and his EV didn'tcharge - well, that's a big problem! City Council - I see your talking pointson electrification (I'm all forelectrification). You know that yourelectrical infrastructure can't support it. This is the real world effect of yourdecisions: a family that wanted to goelectric cannot. You remain silent, as I plead foryour help, dating back to my firstemail to you on February 9. We arenow on March 4. As for my flickering lights here at 3409Greer Rd. - the latest working theoryfrom CPAU is that it is caused by anair compressor at a theoreticalconstruction site nearby. (1) That's alaughable theory. (2) My lights flicker evenings and weekends - which CPAUengineers have been told. Is the causethe 2 EVs charging in everydriveway + an outdated electricalinfrastructure that cannot support it? I put in a Public Records Requestrelated to my power issues. (a) Theresponse was a day late. (b) Theresponse was blatantly incomplete. I believe the public policy reasoningbehind municipal utilities fallingoutside of regulation is (i) electedofficials, who serve as the utlity'soversight, will be responsive (mine -you - are silent) and (ii) there areprotections such as the Public RecordsRequest (my city obviously disregardsits legal duties). In speaking with utilities attorneys lastweek, one stated: When municipalutilities are good, they're really great. But when they're bad, it's abysmal. I understand that you let Tesla jumpahead of the rest of the city in the gridupdate. Maybe Elon Musk's wordswill resonate with you then - he saidthat the world will face supplycrunches in electricity and transformersnext year. What does that result in? Flickering lights. City Council - Could you please takesteps to make our municipalutility "really great," instead of"abysmal"? Your constituents aredepending on you. I welcome your thoughts. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 9:24 AMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, The lights continue to flicker here at3409 Greer Rd. I still have not heardanything substantive from anyoneexcept for Dean. City Manager Shikada and CityCouncil - you are the regulators ofthe Utilities Department, correct? Why have I still not heard back fromany of you with anythingsubstantive? (The vast majority ofyou, I have not heard anything atall.) I still have not received any answer -is this a fire risk? I am worried - Ihave 2 small children - I haveexpressed this and no one seems tocare! The transformer that I have been toldsupplies power to my house wasswitched out on February 15. OnFebruary 14, the UtilitiesDepartment climbed another polenearby (described to me as my"secondary pole") and found loose connections, which I've been toldwere tightened. That's 2 out of 2poles with loose connections. Isroutine maintenance being done? Are there loose connections all overthe city? My lights continue toflicker - are other loose connectionscausing this? The "secondary pole" with looseconnections would explain theproblems the neighbors haveexperienced on that side of myhouse: (1) one neighbor's refrigeratorwent out and she had to go buy anew one last weekend, (2) anotherneighbor had flickering lights (Idiscovered this by overhearing himover the fence speaking to someoneabout his panel), (3) a third neighborhad an outdoor light that wasmalfunctioning (she described it as"acting weird"). These are the thingsthat I have heard only in passing -surprisingly, everyone has completetrust in Palo Alto Utilities and doesnot blame the poor power supplythey are receiving. These 3 housesare in addition to the 6 housesexperiencing poor power supplyissues from the other pole (one ofwhich went through 3 refrigeratorsin January). So that's 9 houses totalwith issues - and I imagine there aremore! As an aside, shouldn't you discloseto your citizens these issues afteryou discover them? Shouldn't youinform them that they have beenreceiving poor power supply andeducate them on the damage that haspossibly (or likely) been done to theappliances and electronics withintheir home? I thought CPAU issupposed to do better than PG&E? On February 14, I received a callfrom an engineer to get my story toanalyze the data collected by theload logger on my house. He wasunaware that mine was not the onlyhouse with flickering lights! How iscommunication that bad?! As areminder, the morning of February 9was when I first emailed all of youto escalate this issue - at that time wehad 5 houses total with confirmedflickering lights. The engineer wasnot informed that it was not just myhouse with flickering lights - I had toexplain to him then send him notes! On February 14, I was told that thewrong load logger had been on myhouse since February 7. It wasswitched for the correct one, which Iwas told would get better data. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 2:05 PMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello again, everyone, As an update since my emails onFriday: My lights continue toflicker after Thursday's "Band-Aidfix," as described by CPAUemployees. Over the weekend, Idiscovered a 6th neighboringhouse with flickering lights. My understanding is thatflickering lights are a sign ofpossible fire risk, as they are oftencaused by loose connections thatmay arc. Since I did not receive an answerfrom any of you on Fridayregarding whether my neighborsand I are at risk for fire, despitemy desperate plea, I called theFire Department this morning toask. I have been told that they arelooking into it. I talked with Dean this morning,after I spoke with the FireDepartment, and he is looking intothe issue. I do appreciate his call. I still do not understand whyCPAU's standard practice fallsbelow PG&E standards or howthat is acceptable? The Metering Department hasbeen out to pull the load loggerfrom my house and put a newone. I understand they'reanalyzing the data. Why not justchange out the transformer, asPG&E would do? Further, there seems to be noeffective regulation of CPAU. Ithink you all (with the exceptionof Dean and perhaps the CityAttorney) are responsible foroversight, but I have not heardanything substantive from any ofyou. Quite honestly, I now feelincredibly unsafe here in PaloAlto. Does maintenance of the gasinfrastructure also fall belowPG&E standards? There is something up on the poleon Greer as I walk my children toschool that makes a lot of noise. Is it a transformer? Does the noisemean it's old and in disrepair? Iknow if a transformer explodes,my children and I should not beunder it, as we will be harmed bythe oil inside falling on us. Do Ihave to reroute our walk to keepus safe? I trusted CPAU, andalthough I noted the sound everytime I walked under it, I didn'tthink twice about walking underit. Now, I do think twice. The problems aren't just with theUtilities Department. OnDecember 19, the garbage canswere not collected in my cul-de-sac. My elderly neighbor phoneddaily, and the cans were notcollected until December 23, aftermy second elderly neighbor in thecul-de-sac called on December 22(so it took 3 days of calling, plus itseems like it wasn't takenseriously until there was a secondhousehold calling). After myexperience with Utilities, I wassure to apologize to my neighborfor not calling as well - I hadnever heard of anything like this! Recology always comes out thenext day, whenever there is anissue. We just spent 2 years lovinglyrenovating our Eichler - it's ourdream house and we intended forit to be our "forever home." Wemoved here from Redwood Cityfor the schools and also to besurrounded by a community ofsafety-oriented individuals(something that became especiallyimportant in the pandemic). I amdevastated to learn that CPAUstandards fall below PG&Estandards. We are nowconsidering moving, but it wouldbe very difficult for us to do sofinancially. I appreciate hearing any thoughtsyou may have? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 1:30 PMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Hello everyone, I know you're all busy and it'sFriday, but I really do think thisis urgent. Can someone pleaseget back to me? I have 2 small children in myhome, and I am worried about the safety of the electricitybeing supplied to my home andthe homes around me. Am I atrisk for fire? I've asked this toCPAU multiple times, with noanswer. Am I safe to stay in myhome over the weekend? I am lucky enough to have avery close family friend who isa retired PG&E lineman. Hispartner has been in the hospital,I have just found out, so wewere only just able to reach himlate morning today. He saidthat PG&E would have changedout that transformer - that's whatTito said he is opting not to doand the 2 other employees atCPAU told me I should "pleadmy case" for. I had no ideawhat the standard is, until now. I am new to Palo Alto, havingonly owned my home for a littleover 2 years, but myunderstanding from fellowresidents is that CPAU is betterthan PG&E. Then why isn'tCPAU doing the minimum thatPG&E would do? As you can tell from my emailbelow, I had already lost faith -given prior interactions - thatCPAU was fixing ourproblems. I wasn't sure, though- maybe not replacing atransformer was a fix, which iswhy I emailed you. Now, Ihave an opinion from aknowledgeable source that thetransformer should have beenreplaced. After learning that CPAU ispossibly not meeting standardpractice - and having not heardback from anyone with higherauthority - I contacted theCalifornia Public UtilitiesCommission and wasdisheartened (to say it lightly) tohear that they only advocate forcustomers of shareholder ownedutilities - i.e., not CPAU. I wasadvised that I need to appeal tothe City - which, I think, is allyou. Is there anyone else, or anyother entity, to protect CPAUcustomers when there isevidence that a standard is notbeing met? Am I reaching outto the wrong people for help? Am I at risk for fire? Should Icall the Fire Department andask? What does a "Band-Aidfix" versus a "real fix" mean, interms of safety? Should I leavemy home? Are my neighborssafe? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 6:46 AMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Good morning, Dean, I'm at my wit's end andwriting to you, copying theCity Manager, City Attorney,and City Council, asking youto please ensure that myongoing and severe electricalissues at 3409 Greer Road arefixed by CPAU. At least 4 ofmy neighbors areexperiencing these sameissues (5 houses total). I havebeen told by 2 CPAUemployees that we arereceiving a "Band-Aid fix,"not a real fix. I am considering filing alawsuit, given how grosslynegligent and, frankly,abusive, my interactions withCPAU have been. But - atthis time - my focus is ongetting the electrical serviceto my house and myneighbors'houses properly fixed. Attached please find resultsfrom my smart meter, pulledyesterday, February 8,showing severe brownouts tomy home at 3409 Greer Rd. This smart meter was put onmy house on February 7. Asyou'll see, one brownoutlasted 1 hour 9 minutes,which I have been told is"insane." For those on theemail without an electricalbackground, here is a quickprimer on the seriousness ofbrownouts. I'm also attaching a video of one light fixture at my house,illustrating the severity of theflickering lights that I firstreported to CPAU on January24. (Please excuse the paintjob - we just finishedcompletely renovatingthe inside and don't have thenice weather yet to paint theoutside. That is a new lightfixture, installed last year.) As reported to CPAU, thishas been happeningthroughout my entire house,and we also heard exhaustfans throughout the houseslowing down and speedingup. My next door neighborhad the same experience. From January 24 to the timethis data was looked at byCPAU yesterday, February 8,CPAU employees havedenied that there are anyissues on CPAU's side. Shockingly, they continued todeny this, even after beingformally informed of 4 morehouses with flickering lights. Until yesterday afternoonwhen they finally looked atthe smart meter data from myhouse, various CPAUemployees kept telling me tocall an electrician, which I did(multiple, in fact). As an aside, 1 week into myordeal, one neighbor calledCPAU dispatch reportingflickering lights and was toldto call back when theflickering got worse. Everyknowledgeable person I havetalked to - with the exceptionof one CPAU employee - hasthought that was absolutely reckless, most laughing indisbelief. Linemen came out yesterdayto rectify the situation, but Iwas told by 2 individualswithin CPAU that they weredoing a "Band-Aid fix," not areal fix. I was told by onewell-meaning CPAUemployee that I should walkaround the corner to wherethe linemen were workingand find a big guy with a baldhead named Tito to "plead mycase" for a real fix. That initself is one of the craziestthings I've ever heard! Tito did not seem veryreceptive to this (rightfully sobecause who am I as ahomeowner to tell him how todo his job?), so, shaken up, Iwent home and called theCity Manager's office,pleading for an advocate. Ingrid, the administrativeassistant, took down my storyand my information, and Ihave received attempted helpfrom Alex Gonzalez, UtilitiesSupervisor. Alex evenworked on my issue into theevening. However, Alex isnot in charge of the correctdivision of CPAU to addressmy issue. This illustrates acontinued lack ofunderstanding of my issue, atbest, and perhaps a continuedlack of willingness to rectifymy issue. That is why I'mreaching out to you. Can you help? With best regards, Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 From:Patricia Judge Tamrazi To:Council, City Cc:City Attorney; UAC; City Mgr; Marshall, Tomm; Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed; Fire Subject:Re: 2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 1:11:09 PM Attachments:image001.pngimage002.png image003.pngimage004.pngimage005.pngimage006.pngimage007.pngimage.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Following up on my email below from 3 days ago. Can someone please respond to myconcerns? Mr. Shikada - I know that last year you told the Fire Department to ignore my call andhave Head of Utilities call me instead - now that there is no Head of Utilities, nor a Head ofElectric (per the autoreply I received from Mr. Mashall's email address) - who will you haverespond? As many of you know, I had a KNOWN LOOSE NEUTRAL (fire risk) on the City's electricalwires going into my house between January and August of 2024, which Utilities CHOSE TOIGNORE. It was only due to your own employees putting their neck on the line - and gettingfired for it in at least 1 instance - did I know to keep pushing and get it fixed. The electrical system to my house is likely the same age, receiving the same maintenance of myneighbors' with the fires on Janice and Kenneth (or lack of maintenance - although how wouldyou know with no maintenance schedules?). Has Utilities been out to put load loggers up, to see if there are surges causing these fires? I've been told one resident saw SPARKS overhead prior to the fire on Janice. Has anyonefollowed up on that? Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jan 28, 2025 at 2:03 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <tamrazi.law@gmail.com> wrote:Dear City Council (in your capacity as regulator of City of Palo Alto Utilities), There have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood near Palo Verde in thelast 2 weeks. Is this being investigated to determine whether this is connected to Utilities' lack of safetyprotocols, including an apparent lack of maintenance schedules? Am I safe to remain in my home in the neighborhood? I have small children. Myneighbor next door is elderly and not very mobile. Are we safe? This email also follows up on my email below from August, which I never received a responseto, asking the City to competently address glaring safety shortcomings in Utilities, especiallywith regards to the electrical grid. As you know (and can see below, for those of you who are new), I first reached out to you inFebruary 2024 for help with flickering lights in my neighborhood (later discovered to becaused by a LOOSE NEUTRAL, which Utilities knew about and decided NOT to properlyfix, although industry standard is that a loose neutral is a "climb the pole in the middle ofthe night" electrical emergency, due to FIRE RISK). Through City employees, acting as kind of whistleblowers in asking me personally to advocatefor changes out of fear someone would get seriously injured, and follow-up Public RecordsRequests for more information (which, although incomplete in response, were revealing), anumber of very serious safety shortcomings have been uncovered, detailed in part below. I have asked you repeatedly to address these shortcomings. Now, there have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood, I believe in the spanof 1 week: one on Kenneth Drive on or around January 16 (believed to be in relation to anelectric heated towel bar) and one on Janice Way on or around January 23 (believed to be inrelation to an electric car charger). The danger of these fires is compounded, of course, by the fact that these are flammableEichlers, in a tree-heavy neighborhood, and that we are a fire engine short down here in SouthPalo Alto, due to budget decisions leaving firehouses short staffed. Could you please update me on what steps are being taken to bring the safety practices ofCity of Palo Alto Utilities in line with industry standards? Are the electrical fires being investigated? Trish TamraziIncreasingly Concerned Palo Alto Homeowner On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 8:59 AMSubject: Re: FW: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownoutsTo: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org>,<molly.stump@cityofpaloalto.org>, Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org>, Council,City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@cityofpaloalto.org>, Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@cityofpaloalto.org>, Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>, CityMgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Good morning, Mr. Shikada - Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fixthe glaring health and safety issues within Utilities? Following up on my email below from August 2, since I have not heard back from any ofyou. Today is August 13. What has been done to address the glaring safety issues in Utilities that I have been flagging since February? What progress has there been on the list below? I submitted a Public Records Request and the City was unable to provide any maintenanceschedule for the City's electrical system or progress on that schedule. I was told the Citycomplies with CPUC regulations, however, the City was unable to provide evidence of that -so is it safe to assume the City does not, in fact, comply? That is very dangerous!! Andtotally NOT in line with industry standards (again). Why not let the CPUC auditors in to investigate, given the safety dangers this presents toPalo Altans? The outage yesterday and botched response to fix it, is evidence of these glaring safetyissues. Obviously the notification system needs A LOT OF HELP - what will happen in anemergency? Given what yesterday demonstrated, are you addressing those shortcomings? I invite you to read the comments in the linked article, which reflect the disarray in Utilitiesthat I have experienced first-hand since my lights started flickering in January - CityCouncil, these are your constituents who NEED HELP. Please see, for example, below. Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fix these health andsafety issues? Trish TamraziPalo Alto Homeowner On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 8:56 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote:Good morning, As you know from my previous email this morning, I continue to experience poor powersupply at my house (first reported to CPAU on January 24 - today is August 2). I'm now following up on my email below from July 3, since I never received an answer. Could the City Manager's office please provide an update? Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES/ SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lackknowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, in April, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training andoversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - bootson the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understandproblems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is perCPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). EDITEDTO ADD: Public Records Requests suggest there are also no proper maintenanceschedules for overhead electrical lines (City said there were, as is industrystandard, but was unable to provide, so is it correct to assume they do not exist?). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - trainingand oversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote:Hi there, I do not know who I am communicating with - the email directly below is sent from theemail address of Tomm Marshall, but is signed with Kaylee Burton's signature. This isof course important because Mr. Marshall would be, I believe, presenting technicalinformation, while Ms. Burton would not. Thank you for sending the data from the newest transformer from Thursday, June 27,starting around noon when it was installed. This illustrates exactly my point aboutCPAU's negligence: there is no need to put a load logger up on the line and spend weeksevaluating the voltage swings, as you say you have been doing - there should be testingin real time, right away, as soon as work is being done, and any dangerous conditionsshould be addressed then and there. This perfectly illustrates the fact here: that CPAUleft known dangerous conditions (voltage swings) up on the electrical line, unfixed, sinceat least mid-March (likely February) until June 27. This is not in line with minimummaintenance and safety standards in the industry (as many of CPAU's employees andcontractors have told me). Your troubleshooting efforts were only "persistent," as you are now trying to spin it,because I - a resident and customer - have been persistent. This is no way to run a utility- this is dangerous. Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETYISSUES / SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lackknowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, inApril, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training and oversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - bootson the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understandproblems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is perCPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - training andoversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 4:09 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org>wrote: Ms. Tamarazi, The city is prepared to cover the costs of an electrician to conduct a thoroughinspection of your home. Should the electrician discover any damages that might havebeen caused by the city, you have the option to file a claim through the city's website atSubmit a Claim Against the City – City of Palo Alto, CA, to seek reimbursement forthose damages. Regrettably, this issue was not a simple repair but rather a complex matter that requiredextensive troubleshooting and time to resolve. Enclosed are the latest readings from the newly installed transformer as of Thursday,July 28, confirming that there are currently no issues detected. Due to the complexity of the situation, the solution did not unfold as originallyanticipated. Through persistent troubleshooting efforts, however, we successfullyidentified and resolved the underlying cause. At present, CPAU (City of Palo Alto Utilities) has not been informed of any additionalelectrical concerns associated with transformer malfunctions. I trust that I have sufficiently addressed all of your inquiries in the preceding email. Thank you, Kaylee Burton Utilities Administrative Assistant City of Palo Alto Utilities Department Phone: 650.329.2326 | Cell: 650.444.5305 E-mail: kaylee.burton@CityofPaloAlto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:53 AMTo: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Becautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Tomm, Thank you for your email. In response: 1. Will the City commit to paying for all damage to my house? I am waiting to getan electrician in because I am waiting for an answer to the question I have askedmultiple times: will the City commit to paying for any damage found within myhome? My house is newly rewired and had no damage when assessed back in late January when our flickering lights were first reported to CPAU. Theseflickering lights were later attributed to being caused by severe brownouts due tothe City's poor power supply, however the City denied all possible responsibilityfor over a week prior to putting a smart meter on my house, so, trusting that, Iconsulted multiple electricians during that time. Thereafter, voltage fluctuationswere measured. Therefore, if the power supply to my house is safe and reliablenow and I am still experiencing issues, it is due to the damage the City's poorpower supply has caused to my house. Will the City commit to paying for alldamage? 2. Shouldn't it be up to CPAU - not me - to determine what a "proper fix" is? Ihave been told that, in fact, back in February, the loose leg was tightened and thepower supply got worse, not better, but that the supervisor did not want to payovertime for the proper fix, so they just left it. This is per your own employees -multiple of them told me to advocate for something better than a "Band-aid fix." I know you have denied that being the case, but you have not provided any dataillustrating that your employees who told me to advocate for myself were wrong(and what would their motivation be to lie to me??). What a "proper fix" means,I do not know, nor should I, as I am simply a resident and customer. If youreplaced the transformer only upon my request, as you are now saying - wow,that is incredibly scary and this whole situation is even worse than I thought. 3. Could you please provide data showing the issue is fixed? Do you have datashowing that the fourth transformer fixed the ongoing issue? 4. Why is the fix only at the repeated request of a resident? If I didn't push andpush and push, would you have just left the defective transformers? With thelatest swap (which you say now fixed the poor power supply, right?), Utilitiessent my neighbors notification of power shut down only after I requested theCalifornia State regulators be let in to inspect, and even then it was not treated asan emergency! 5. Are faulty transformers a problem throughout the City of Palo Alto? If yes, whatis being done to fix this issue to protect the health and safety of residents? Pleasesee one resident's account below. I have also connected with other homeownerswhose appliances were blown out by poor power supply to their houses. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:50 AM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: The voltage fluctuations observed in the network supplied by the transformer locatedat 3480 Thomas Drive were not due to a loose neutral wire but rather stemmed froma manufacturing defect in the transformers supplied to the City of Palo Alto. Initially, the issue at your property was identified as a loose Hot Leg on thetransformer. The voltage fluctuation on your service was resolved upon repairing thisconnection. However, following this repair, you reported persistent voltagefluctuations. Although we did not observe any issues with your service, weproceeded with replacing the transformer upon your request. After replacement, weobserved unexpected voltage deviations causing intermittent flickering on the newtransformer. Subsequent replacement with another unit from the same manufacturerrevealed that the issue lay in a defect inherent to these transformers. The transformer was then replaced a third time, this time with a unit from a differentmanufacturer, which effectively resolved the unexpected voltage fluctuations in thesecondary system. As mentioned previously, if you continue to experience flickering lights or anyrelated issues, we remain committed to assisting you by facilitating an investigationwith an electrician of your choosing to identify and address the root cause. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 9:06 AMTo: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City<city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Becautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Tomm, I hope this email finds you well. Following up on my email from May 31, since Ihave not heard back from you yet and since Kurt Williams told me yesterday tocontact you regarding my questions on the known and unfixed loose neutral. Could you please provide an update on fixing the loose neutral measured up on thepole at 3480 Thomas Drive, in at least March? It looks like they switched out the transformer again last week. I believe that this isthe third time the transformer has been switched. Why was it switched again? Has the loose neutral been fixed? Trish Tamrazi On Fri, May 31, 2024 at 8:13 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm - Following up on my email from Tuesday, since you have notreplied. When will the loose neutral in my neighborhood be fixed? As youknow, utility companies treat this as an emergency, and ours was identified at leastback in March (I believe, in talking with CPAU employees,February). https://www.luminsmart.com/blog/the-dangers-of-floating-neutral-2262 On Tue, May 28, 2024 at 11:25 AM Patricia Judge <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Thanks, Tomm. My understanding is that the crews would know right away bytesting if they fixed the loose neutral, so is it correct to assume that your emailmeans that they did not fix the neutral issue? When will you be doing that? I’msure you can understand my being worried about this since it’s a seriouselectrical danger (risk of surge and fire). From what I have pieced together, there was a neutral issue with the oldtransformer and a neutral issue with the new transformer, so wouldn’t thatsuggest that the issue is NOT with the transformer? Is there maybe a damagedor loose wire somewhere that needs to be found? I understand that would takemuch more time to find and fix versus switching out the transformer again, and Ido appreciate the crews’ time. 2 City employees now - one back on February and one last week (May) - haveexpressed to me how worried they are about overgrown trees around theoverhead wires in my neighborhood. Could that be contributing to my poorpower supply? When will the trees around the wires be trimmed? I’m looping in Councilmember Lauing, since he has been actively working onthis. I’m here to help. I want nothing more than to get this resolved so that I can justlive in peace - with safe and reliable power - and never have to contact youagain. I want to be clear, that is my goal. Thank you, Trish 650-208-4802 Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2024, at 10:13 AM, Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  The transformer was replaced, new wire connections were installedand meters were installed to record data. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2024 10:26 AMTo: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton,Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, What happened yesterday - did they find the loose neutral(identified in early March) and tighten it? Trish Patricia Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 10:10 AM Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have attached a screenshot of the neutral issue. <image001.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:27 AMTo: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton,Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. My understanding is that when my house wason the new transformer, there was a "neutral issue" that waspicked up by the load logger. Could you please send me screenshots of that data, showing the "neutral issue"? On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 8:20 AM Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have reviewed the data from April 25th – May 1st and haveattached a screenshot below. On 4/29 at about 6AM, there wasa temporary dip of the high side voltage, causing the secondaryvoltage to drop below 114V. Besides this anomaly, thesecondary voltage stayed between the required 5% tolerance(126V -114V) and the PST value was below 1, indicating thatno flicker likely occurred expect on the morning on 4/29 wherethe PST value was above 1. <image003.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 4:21 PMTo: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. Has the data been reviewed yet that wastaken from the last time the load logger was on the house? On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I spoke with Tomm and the meter technicians will be outtomorrow morning, 5/16, between 9AM and 10AM toinstall the load logger. Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 8:57 AMTo: Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org> Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causingbrownouts Hi Tomm, My lights are flickering again - at 11:15am on Sunday 5/12and in the evening of Monday 5/13. The flickering was ondifferent circuits. I can send video if you'd like. I don't know whether the load logger is on or not? I thinkmaybe it is not, since I did see my gate closed differentlyafter it was installed. I don't receive notification of the work- but I would like that, please, since I am having to beso involved. A couple of questions: 1. Is it possible there are loose connections from Utilitieson my panel? There was a torque test on everythingmy electrician did - how about what Utilities hasdone? It seemed like the flickering stopped when theload logger was on (if it is indeed off) - so I thoughtmaybe it was a loose connection related to that -especially since you had told me previously that youfound a LOOSE CONNECTION on the load logger. This is quite concerning, of course, and should be aneasy fix? It seems like the load logger was taken off,and the flickering returned. 2. You said previously there was a "neutral issue" whenconnected to the NEW transformer, so you took us offthat and put us on the OLD transformer next to it. Canyou just fix the "neutral issue" and put me on theNEW transformer? Will this solve my flickeringlights? What does "neutral issue" mean? This flickering was first reported to CPAU January 24, sothis is quite frustrating that it is still going on. Could you please fix it? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 2:47 PM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Here are more files. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 2:16 PMTo: Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causingbrownouts Hi Tomm, Load logger. Having a meter reset - does that meancoming out to put a load logger back on my house? Myunderstanding is that the smart meter will not pick up mostpoor power supply issues - I need a load logger on there,and it needs to be the correct one (I have been told therewas a "wrong" one on, for quite a while). I was told that itwas only because my brownouts were so severe that thesmart meter picked them up - generally, it would not. Video. The video showed the light - when the light switchis turned off - it takes a long time to go out, gets verybright, then turns off. This is on a dumb switch. It wasflickering severely the day before this odd behavior (I dohave video of the flickering). Then this odd behavior. Then back to normal. Please note that this isdifferent than the flickering, which occurs when the lights are on. This is odd behavior when we try to turn the lightoff. Flickering. Flickering occurs on fixtures with lightbulbsthroughout the house - many have dumb switches, somehave dimmers. Since this flickering is consistent acrossdifferent switch devices and happens intermittently, itseems unlikely that the flickering is due to dimmers. Itseems flickering is more pronouced on fixtures with bulbsthan integrated LEDs - I have been told that mayindicate low voltage - what do you think? Records request. I do not believe that any originaldatasets came through to me in response to my recordsrequest. There are many, many items missing in therecords request, which I only submitted because I've askedfor the data many times, and I have never received it. Ihave been told that Utilities does not want to provide it(folks refer to "my supervisor") - which is why I put in therecords request - as a matter of law, it is to be provided. I'm attaching the load logger data that I have seen - but Iwould like the full data set, please. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 1:36 PM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: I am having the charts printed out so that I can forwardthem to you . The original datasets were included in thePublic Records Request but they appear to require themeter manufacturers software to decode the data. WhenI have more time I will see if the files can be exportedin a data file that can be read by something likeEXCEL. The PDF files of the data from your houseshould be ready by the end of the week. Some people who received this message don't often get emailfrom patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important I have asked the engineer to request the meter to bereset on your house and it should be done this week. The video showed the light flickering and going out. Acouple of questions since I don’t know the setup in yourhouse. Was this the only light experiencing theflickering? Is the light connected to a dimmer switch? Thanks for you patience. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:43 PMTo: Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton,Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causingbrownouts Hi Tomm, Following up from our phone discussion on Thursday,April 18, since I have not heard from anyone yet - Could you send all data from the load loggersassociated with the power to my house, please? Whenwill load loggers be put back on my house, please? I have more video of my lights flickering on Saturday,April 20. Could you please let me know if you'd like to see it? My understanding from our discussion Thursday is thatyou measured the following: (1) brownouts initially(first reported January 24 and recorded via smart meterFebruary 8 - these issues are also in the data from theload loggers?), (2) power to house from newtransformer around February 12, then continuingflickering lights due to a problem with the neutral (isthat a loose neutral?), then (3) did not fix those neutralissues, instead moved the house to an old transformeron the secondary pole (which also had looseconnections - so if the "proper fix" on the other polewas a new transformer, why not on this pole too?), andcontinuing flickering lights. Did you have a chance to review the video I sent onApril 17, video recorded April 14? I've never seen alight do this - could you please tell me what is goingon? Is this dangerous? Is this a surge due to ongoingissues? The light did go back to normal - so the onlything that could have changed is the power supply to myhouse. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 11:55 AM Patricia JudgeTamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm, I look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your call on the afternoon of Thursday,April 4. I'm sorry for missing it - I am dealing withsome health issues and could not answer the phone. My understanding is that many City employees donot work on Fridays, so I intended to call you onMonday, April 8. However, upon walking out mydoor to take my son to school on that morning, I cameupon the City's contractor replacing my water meter(no notice) - I asked him to follow specific Cityprocedures laid out to my elderly neighbor whosewater was grossly contaminated by the techniquesused by the contractor, with the assurance thoseprocedures would be followed, but they were not, andmy water was contaminated with yard dirt. I havebeen dealing with that since. I just left you a voicemail. Attached please find thevideo I referenced in that voicemail, of the weirdissue with the light in my daughter's room. This waslast Thursday, April 11. The day before, April 10, thelights were severely flickering. The light went backto normal as of Sunday, April 14. The only thing thatpossibly could have changed is the power supply tothe house. By way of background which may behelpful, this light fixture was new last year - it useslightbulbs. Could you please provide all load logger data relatedto the power supply to my house? If you think this issue is resolved, could you pleaseput a load logger back on to measure these issues? Ihave never seen a light act like in the video - neitherhave electricians that I have consulted. I am very worried that this is dangerous and couldstart a fire. Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 10:31 AM Patricia JudgeTamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Tomm, It's nice to hear from you. I am free to discuss byphone at any time. I want to start with a baseline: Iam here to help and I am open to working withyou. While I am very upset with the dysfunction inPalo Alto, my anger and frustration is not directedtoward employees like you (as a general statement,with exceptions for those who have beenthreatening to me and/or lied to me). A quick Google search suggests that you probablyunderstand the reality of what I am going through. My lights seem to flicker evenings and weekends -but not long holiday weekends or, it seems, duringthis week which is spring break for Palo Altopublic schools. The "EIT" (which I assume is "Engineer inTraining"), who I have been told is the point personfor my issues (an illustration of how seriously it'sbeen taken, that we don't even have a licensedengineer in charge), suggested my flickering lightsare due to some sort of machine at a hypotheticalconstruction site nearby, which is, of course, silly. I think it's more likely that it's the 2 EVs chargingin many driveways in my neighborhood. It's been insinuated to me that CPAU is coveringup issues voiced by citizens like me, who are onlytrying to get safe and reliable power to our houses. Maybe it's that with the City Council's obsessionwith electrification, no one dares admit what'sactually going on. Yes, my primary transformer was upgraded, buthow about the lines? I've been in contact with a bunch of folks withflickering lights who are PG&E customers - PG&Ecomes right out, diagnoses the problem, and fixesit. Here in Palo Alto is different - in a bad way. Ihave been told that cutting costs is the number 1priority - not providing safe and reliable power tohomes or empowering linemen to diagnose and fixproblems. Do you know that another customer called inflickering lights and 2 failed appliances (at least)and it took 10 days plus another follow-up call plus1 more day to get a lineman out to just check for aloose neutral?! How unsafe!!!! They put a loadlogger on, but now she's getting the runaroundfrom CPAU for someone to come out to pull thedata. It's exactly what happened to me. This is too much to ask from citizens. This is noway to run a utility. Please let me know when a good time for adiscussion is. Again, my anger is toward this dysfunctional city,not toward you. Thank you for reaching out to me, and I lookforward to working together. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:24 PM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: If you have time tomorrow or sometime nextweek I would like to have a conversation withyou regarding you concerns with the electricservice at your house. I am the Assistant Directorof Electric Engineering and Operations and Ihope that I can find a way to address yourconcerns. My staff has updated me on yoursituation and I am familiar with the events andthe visits to your house. In addition, I havereviewed the voltage and current recordings thathave been take at your house and in the adjacenthomes. Please let me know when you have time todiscuss either on the phone or in person at yourhome. Thanks From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 9:02 PMTo: Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; CityMgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Stump,Molly <Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Kou, Lydia <Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Tanaka,Greg <Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Clerk,City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issuescausing brownouts Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important Dear City Council, I last wrote to you on March 27 and still have notreceived an answer. The only time I received asubstantive answer was when I expressed mydispleasure at not being able to purchase an EV(being afraid that my neighborhood would burndown or that my young children were in dangerdidn't strike a chord with you). So, here's moreabout that EV: Here are photographs of the two places in mygarage where I had planned for EV chargers: <image004.png> <image005.png> Last week, I purchased a gas powered car toreplace the old car which was totaled after beingstolen from in front of my house here in PaloAlto. Attached please find video of my lightsflickering on the evening of March 28. This isvisual evidence of why I cannot have an EV:CPAU fails to provide safe and reliableelectricity to my home. My flickering lights were first reported to CPAUon January 24. After struggling with CPAU forover 2 weeks, I first reached out to you regardingthis issue on February 9, after I was told byCPAU's own employees that I needed toadvocate for a "proper fix" to our issues and wasmet with a threatening environment when I did so in person to CPAU's supervising employee. Itruly thought you would help me, but I am stillwaiting. Our flickering continues. We now have multiple problems with theelectronics in our home, all of which are newsince we just finished renovating in late 2023. For example (and this is not all-inclusive), ourbathroom fans act up (turn on and off randomlyand unexpectedly) and the ice in our Sub-zero isstuck together (suggesting that it is not regulatingits temperature properly). My family is suffering because ofyour unresponsiveness. I spend countless hourstrying to navigate how to get my citygovernment to respond to me so that I can getsafe and reliable power to my house. Mybusiness is suffering, my young children aresuffering, and I have developed health issues. It is your responsibility to oversee CPAU, isn'tit? Your constituents are depending on you. I close this 8th email to you as I have most of theemails that came before it: I welcome anythoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Mar 27, 2024 at 9:27 AM PatriciaJudge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Dear City Council, I have not heard from Dean, nor from Ed,since being told by Ed on March 5 that Deanwill be calling me and that Ed would join ifneeded. That was over 3 weeks ago. Episode 1 of The Invisible Shield premieredon PBS last night. I recommend you watch it. I found it inspiring to see the amazing impactproperly funded and functioning public healthsystems can have, as well as the negativeeffects that flow from cutting funding andletting those systems fall into disrepair. Alesson, perhaps, for your management of theUtilities Department? I'm sure by now you have heard of thecontamination of some houses' drinking waterthat was caused by the contractor the city hiredto swap out water meters. When are youplanning on warning residents of the error andhelping them to clean up the mess? This is apublic health issue!!! As you remain silent,citizens have been drinking contaminatedwater! In the same vein, I am still waiting on you tonotify my neighbors of the damage your poorpower supply has done to their homes. I firstsuggested you do this in my email below onFebruary 21. By the way, I have connected with a womanacross town - a mom with your children and alot on her plate - who has had flickering lightsas well as a dishwasher and refrigerator thathave gone out. My understanding is that she ispatiently waiting for someone to come out toher house to check it out. I imagine I do notneed to state this to you, as you are theregulators of the Utility and must know - butjust in case: utilities companies generally treat flickering lights as an emergency! Another thing is that, after following up, thecity's response to my Public Records Requestis still woefully unresponsive. I am simplytrying to gather information to fix the powersupply to my house! It is the city's legal dutyto respond fully. The city did, however,produce 2 emails which are sickening: 1. Prior to anyone providing me any realassistance or response, Dean forwardedmy desperate email pleading for helpand expressing my general displeasurewith the mismanagement in Palo Alto toCatherine Elvert, who I gather from aGoogle search is a PR professional, withthe note “Here you go !!!” Were yougetting your talking points in order,rather than focusing on helping yourcitizens??2. 1 hour AFTER my THIRD desperateemail pleading for help (email stamp onmy email shows, "date: Feb 12, 2024,2:05 PM"), Ed sent an email (emailstamp on Ed's email shows: "Sent:Monday, February 12, 2024 3:16 PM")to multiple City of Palo Alto emailaddresses stating that Dean has spokento me a couple times (NOT TRUE!!!!!)and “No need for further prompting.Thanks all!” NOTHING HAD BEENADDRESSED. I close this 7th email to you as I have most ofthe emails that came before it: I welcome anythoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 4:50 PM PatriciaJudge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Dear Ed, Thank you for your note, however, I mustbe very clear: I would much rather have aresponsive, caring, and ethical citygovernment, than bring any thieves tojustice. The stress from having our car stolen fromin front of our house pales in comparison tothe stress and anguish we have experiencedas a family in getting the run around fromCPAU and then being ignored by City Hall,as I try to get safe and reliable powerdelivered to the houses in myneighborhood. Regarding the electrical issue: I shouldnever have been this involved or have had topush so hard. This is too much to ask fromcitizens. It is no way to run a utility. But, tocontinue down that path: logically, shouldn'tthe transformer also be replaced on the"secondary pole," where loose connectionswere also found? If that was the "properfix" on the first pole climbed (i.e. PG&Eminimum maintenance standards), wouldn'tit also be the "proper fix" on the second? This is, of course, putting aside that perhapsthis is a long-standing issue, not unique tomy block, which has harmed many alongthe way. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 12:28 PM Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Dear Ms. Tamrazi, I am so sorry to hear about your car beingstolen. I can only imagine how this hasimpacted you and your family. Whileunderstanding nothing can make up forsuch a violation, I hope the thieves arequickly brought to justice. Regarding your electrical issue, I havespoken to Director Batchelor andunderstand he will be calling you tofollow up. I’m sorry to hear that theirreplacement of the electrical transformerdid not resolve the problem. I will stay intouch with him and happy to join a call ashe works with you on next steps. Sincerely, --Ed <image006.png>Ed Shikada, City Manager ICMA Credentialed Manager (650) 329-2280 | ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org <image007.png> From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 9:27 AMTo: Batchelor, Dean Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stump, Molly<Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burt, Patrick<Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Kou,Lydia <Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Tanaka, Greg<Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>;City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>;Clerk, City<city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fixissues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originatedfrom outside of the organization.Be cautious of opening attachmentsand clicking on links. Good morning, City Council, On Thursday night, our car got stolenfrom in front of our house here in PaloAlto. It looks like it's totaled. When wecompletely rewired the house last year,we future proofed to accommodate an EVcharger - 2 actually. However, CPAU isunable to provide safe and reliable powerto our house. Because of this, to our greatdisappointment, we cannot replace ourgas powered car with an EV. My husband is a physician - if he gets a call in the middle of the night thatsomeone is bleeding to death and needsan intervention, and his EV didn't charge -well, that's a big problem! City Council - I see your talking points onelectrification (I'm all for electrification). You know that your electricalinfrastructure can't support it. This is the real world effect of yourdecisions: a family that wanted to goelectric cannot. You remain silent, as I plead for yourhelp, dating back to my first email to youon February 9. We are now on March 4. As for my flickering lights here at 3409Greer Rd. - the latest working theory fromCPAU is that it is caused by an aircompressor at a theoretical constructionsite nearby. (1) That's a laughabletheory. (2) My lights flicker evenings andweekends - which CPAU engineers havebeen told. Is the cause the 2 EVscharging in every driveway + an outdatedelectrical infrastructure that cannotsupport it? I put in a Public Records Request relatedto my power issues. (a) The response wasa day late. (b) The response was blatantlyincomplete. I believe the public policy reasoningbehind municipal utilities falling outsideof regulation is (i) elected officials, whoserve as the utlity's oversight, will beresponsive (mine - you - are silent) and (ii) there are protections such as thePublic Records Request (my cityobviously disregards its legal duties). In speaking with utilities attorneys lastweek, one stated: When municipalutilities are good, they're really great. Butwhen they're bad, it's abysmal. I understand that you let Tesla jumpahead of the rest of the city in the gridupdate. Maybe Elon Musk's words willresonate with you then - he said that theworld will face supply crunches inelectricity and transformers next year. What does that result in? Flickeringlights. City Council - Could you please takesteps to make our municipal utility "reallygreat," instead of "abysmal"? Yourconstituents are depending on you. I welcome your thoughts. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 9:24 AMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, The lights continue to flicker here at3409 Greer Rd. I still have not heardanything substantive from anyone except for Dean. City Manager Shikada and CityCouncil - you are the regulators of theUtilities Department, correct? Whyhave I still not heard back from any ofyou with anything substantive? (Thevast majority of you, I have not heardanything at all.) I still have not received any answer - isthis a fire risk? I am worried - I have 2small children - I have expressed thisand no one seems to care! The transformer that I have been toldsupplies power to my house wasswitched out on February 15. OnFebruary 14, the Utilities Departmentclimbed another pole nearby (describedto me as my "secondary pole") andfound loose connections, which I'vebeen told were tightened. That's 2 outof 2 poles with loose connections. Isroutine maintenance being done? Arethere loose connections all over thecity? My lights continue to flicker - areother loose connections causing this? The "secondary pole" with looseconnections would explain theproblems the neighbors haveexperienced on that side of my house:(1) one neighbor's refrigerator went outand she had to go buy a new one lastweekend, (2) another neighbor hadflickering lights (I discovered this byoverhearing him over the fencespeaking to someone about his panel),(3) a third neighbor had an outdoorlight that was malfunctioning (shedescribed it as "acting weird"). Theseare the things that I have heard only inpassing - surprisingly, everyone hascomplete trust in Palo Alto Utilities and does not blame the poor power supplythey are receiving. These 3 houses arein addition to the 6 houses experiencingpoor power supply issues from theother pole (one of which went through3 refrigerators in January). So that's 9houses total with issues - and I imaginethere are more! As an aside, shouldn't you disclose toyour citizens these issues after youdiscover them? Shouldn't you informthem that they have been receiving poorpower supply and educate them on thedamage that has possibly (or likely)been done to the appliances andelectronics within their home? Ithought CPAU is supposed to do betterthan PG&E? On February 14, I received a call froman engineer to get my story to analyzethe data collected by the load logger onmy house. He was unaware that minewas not the only house with flickeringlights! How is communication thatbad?! As a reminder, the morning ofFebruary 9 was when I first emailed allof you to escalate this issue - at thattime we had 5 houses total withconfirmed flickering lights. Theengineer was not informed that it wasnot just my house with flickering lights- I had to explain to him then send himnotes! On February 14, I was told that thewrong load logger had been on myhouse since February 7. It wasswitched for the correct one, which Iwas told would get better data. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 2:05 PMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello again, everyone, As an update since my emails onFriday: My lights continue to flickerafter Thursday's "Band-Aid fix," asdescribed by CPAU employees. Over the weekend, I discovered a 6thneighboring house with flickeringlights. My understanding is that flickeringlights are a sign of possible fire risk,as they are often caused by looseconnections that may arc. Since I did not receive an answerfrom any of you on Friday regardingwhether my neighbors and I are atrisk for fire, despite my desperateplea, I called the Fire Departmentthis morning to ask. I have been toldthat they are looking into it. I talked with Dean this morning, afterI spoke with the Fire Department,and he is looking into the issue. I doappreciate his call. I still do not understand why CPAU'sstandard practice falls below PG&Estandards or how that is acceptable? The Metering Department has been out to pull the load logger from myhouse and put a new one. Iunderstand they're analyzing thedata. Why not just change out thetransformer, as PG&E would do? Further, there seems to be noeffective regulation of CPAU. Ithink you all (with the exception ofDean and perhaps the City Attorney)are responsible for oversight, but Ihave not heard anything substantivefrom any of you. Quite honestly, I now feel incrediblyunsafe here in Palo Alto. Does maintenance of the gasinfrastructure also fall below PG&Estandards? There is something up on the pole onGreer as I walk my children to schoolthat makes a lot of noise. Is it atransformer? Does the noise meanit's old and in disrepair? I know if atransformer explodes, my childrenand I should not be under it, as wewill be harmed by the oil insidefalling on us. Do I have to rerouteour walk to keep us safe? I trustedCPAU, and although I noted thesound every time I walked under it, Ididn't think twice about walkingunder it. Now, I do think twice. The problems aren't just with theUtilities Department. On December19, the garbage cans were notcollected in my cul-de-sac. Myelderly neighbor phoned daily, andthe cans were not collected untilDecember 23, after my second elderly neighbor in the cul-de-saccalled on December 22 (so it took 3days of calling, plus it seems like itwasn't taken seriously until there wasa second household calling). Aftermy experience with Utilities, I wassure to apologize to my neighbor fornot calling as well - I had never heardof anything like this! Recologyalways comes out the next day,whenever there is an issue. We just spent 2 years lovinglyrenovating our Eichler - it's ourdream house and we intended for itto be our "forever home." We movedhere from Redwood City for theschools and also to be surrounded bya community of safety-orientedindividuals (something that becameespecially important in thepandemic). I am devastated to learnthat CPAU standards fall belowPG&E standards. We are nowconsidering moving, but it would bevery difficult for us to do sofinancially. I appreciate hearing any thoughts youmay have? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 1:30 PMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello everyone, I know you're all busy and it'sFriday, but I really do think this isurgent. Can someone please getback to me? I have 2 small children in myhome, and I am worried about thesafety of the electricity beingsupplied to my home and thehomes around me. Am I at risk forfire? I've asked this to CPAUmultiple times, with no answer. Am I safe to stay in my home overthe weekend? I am lucky enough to have a veryclose family friend who is a retiredPG&E lineman. His partner hasbeen in the hospital, I have justfound out, so we were only justable to reach him late morningtoday. He said that PG&Ewould have changed out thattransformer - that's what Tito saidhe is opting not to do and the 2other employees at CPAU told meI should "plead my case" for. I hadno idea what the standard is, untilnow. I am new to Palo Alto, having onlyowned my home for a little over 2years, but my understanding fromfellow residents is that CPAU isbetter than PG&E. Then why isn'tCPAU doing the minimum thatPG&E would do? As you can tell from my emailbelow, I had already lost faith -given prior interactions - thatCPAU was fixing our problems. Iwasn't sure, though - maybe notreplacing a transformer was a fix,which is why I emailed you. Now, I have an opinion from aknowledgeable source that thetransformer should have beenreplaced. After learning that CPAU ispossibly not meeting standardpractice - and having not heardback from anyone with higherauthority - I contacted theCalifornia Public UtilitiesCommission and was disheartened(to say it lightly) to hear that theyonly advocate for customers ofshareholder owned utilities - i.e.,not CPAU. I was advised that Ineed to appeal to the City - which,I think, is all you. Is there anyone else, or any otherentity, to protect CPAU customerswhen there is evidence that astandard is not being met? Am Ireaching out to the wrong peoplefor help? Am I at risk for fire? Should I callthe Fire Department and ask? What does a "Band-Aid fix" versusa "real fix" mean, in terms ofsafety? Should I leave my home? Are my neighbors safe? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 6:46 AMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Good morning, Dean, I'm at my wit's end and writingto you, copying the CityManager, City Attorney, andCity Council, asking you toplease ensure that my ongoingand severe electrical issues at3409 Greer Road are fixed byCPAU. At least 4 of myneighbors are experiencing thesesame issues (5 houses total). Ihave been told by 2 CPAUemployees that we are receivinga "Band-Aid fix," not a real fix. I am considering filing a lawsuit,given how grossly negligent and,frankly, abusive, my interactionswith CPAU have been. But - atthis time - my focus is on gettingthe electrical service to myhouse and my neighbors'houses properly fixed. Attached please find resultsfrom my smart meter, pulledyesterday, February 8, showingsevere brownouts to my home at3409 Greer Rd. This smartmeter was put on my house onFebruary 7. As you'll see, onebrownout lasted 1 hour 9minutes, which I have been toldis "insane." For those on theemail without an electricalbackground, here is a quickprimer on the seriousness ofbrownouts. I'm also attaching a video of onelight fixture at my house,illustrating the severity of theflickering lights that I first reported to CPAU on January24. (Please excuse the paint job- we just finished completelyrenovating the inside and don'thave the nice weather yet topaint the outside. That is anew light fixture, installed lastyear.) As reported to CPAU,this has been happeningthroughout my entire house, andwe also heard exhaust fansthroughout the house slowingdown and speeding up. My nextdoor neighbor had the sameexperience. From January 24 to the time thisdata was looked at by CPAUyesterday, February 8, CPAUemployees have denied thatthere are any issues on CPAU'sside. Shockingly, theycontinued to deny this, evenafter being formally informed of4 more houses with flickeringlights. Until yesterday afternoonwhen they finally looked at thesmart meter data from my house,various CPAU employees kepttelling me to call an electrician,which I did (multiple, in fact). As an aside, 1 week into myordeal, one neighbor calledCPAU dispatch reportingflickering lights and was told tocall back when the flickering gotworse. Every knowledgeableperson I have talked to - with theexception of one CPAUemployee - has thought that wasabsolutely reckless, mostlaughing in disbelief. Linemen came out yesterday torectify the situation, but I was told by 2 individuals withinCPAU that they were doing a"Band-Aid fix," not a real fix. Iwas told by one well-meaningCPAU employee that I shouldwalk around the corner to wherethe linemen were working andfind a big guy with a bald headnamed Tito to "plead my case"for a real fix. That in itself isone of the craziest things I'veever heard! Tito did not seem very receptiveto this (rightfully so becausewho am I as a homeowner to tellhim how to do his job?), so,shaken up, I went home andcalled the City Manager's office,pleading for an advocate. Ingrid, the administrativeassistant, took down my storyand my information, and I havereceived attempted help fromAlex Gonzalez, UtilitiesSupervisor. Alex even workedon my issue into the evening. However, Alex is not in chargeof the correct division of CPAUto address my issue. Thisillustrates a continued lack ofunderstanding of my issue, atbest, and perhaps a continuedlack of willingness to rectify myissue. That is why I'm reachingout to you. Can you help? With best regards, Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 From:Hong Quan To:Amie Ashton Cc:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; ptc@cityofpaloalto.org; Frank Viggiano; Nordman, Eric; David Coale Subject:Re: SVBC Member Party 2/6 & Hong Intro Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 11:47:01 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Thanks Amie! I look forward to meeting all of our esteemed City leaders, and catching upwith our local team again at SRP. Cheers, Hong On Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 11:05 AM Amie Ashton <aashton@gmail.com> wrote:Mayor Lauing, Honorable Council Members, Commissioners, and Review Board Members, I wanted to invite you all to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition's (SVBC) annualmember party! This year it is on Thursday, February 6th from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. atThe Hub at Stanford Research Park. You can RSVP here. The active-transportation movement is energized and excited. Our Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is finally moving forward. The new El Camino Real protected bike lanes areabout to go live (watch for an invite to SVBC' community bike ride of El Camino Real in May). As I step down as board chair of SVBC, I want to introduce our new board chair - HongQuan. He is also a proud Palo Alto resident, thus continuing our city's leadership in the active-transportation movement in the Bay Area. Thank you and we look forward to a great 2025 for bicycling, health, the environment, andactive transportation. Amie Ashton From:Amie Ashton To:Council, City; Architectural Review Board; ptc@cityofpaloalto.org Cc:Hong Quan; Frank Viggiano; Nordman, Eric; David Coale Subject:SVBC Member Party 2/6 & Hong Intro Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 11:05:46 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mayor Lauing, Honorable Council Members, Commissioners, and Review Board Members, I wanted to invite you all to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition's (SVBC) annualmember party! This year it is on Thursday, February 6th from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at The Hub at Stanford Research Park. You can RSVP here. The active-transportation movement is energized and excited. Our Bicycle and PedestrianMaster Plan is finally moving forward. The new El Camino Real protected bike lanes are about to go live (watch for an invite to SVBC' community bike ride of El Camino Real inMay). As I step down as board chair of SVBC, I want to introduce our new board chair - Hong Quan. He is also a proud Palo Alto resident, thus continuing our city's leadership in the active-transportation movement in the Bay Area. Thank you and we look forward to a great 2025 for bicycling, health, the environment, and active transportation. Amie Ashton From:Star Teachout To:Council, City Subject:News stands, traffic pattern, bicycle use Date:Friday, January 31, 2025 9:57:48 AM Dear Palo Alto city council members, In reading the dec-9-2024-packet.pdf I found a few issues for you to please consider: 1. P8, P20 Newsracks o In September 2024, 62 broken or unused news racks along University Avenue were removedand staff is coordinating with publishers/vendors on the remaining 119 racks with anticipated completion in spring 2025. o Staff to contact publishers/vendors regarding restoring, replacing or removing boxes o Staff will also be working on consolidation of these news racks. For the longer-termstreetscape project, staff will work with stakeholders on optimal news rack locations. Comment: Please consider the idea that local news reporting/readership should beencouraged and access should be increased, not decreased. Without yet surveying the downtown news stand placements firsthand, please seek to balance the redesigned streetscapewith the need and desire for our community to easily access the local printed news. What with the ongoing difficulties in finding trustworthy news—and with the value of local issuesincreasing as a vehicle to influence the national government—these local news journals are extremely important. Additionally, such publications as The Palo Alto Daily Post and ThePalo Alto Weekly are more than ever increasingly important as pathways for connection within our community. 2. P15 Attachment A Project Vision and Goals [for University Ave] Maintain vital 2-way vehicular access Comment: Please consider high visibility parking signage to encourage westboundtraffic to also turn R/L at Middlefield, routing some traffic to Lytton and Hamilton parking lots. With further development of outdoor restaurant “parklets” we want tominimize exhaust for diners and pedestrians. No doubt you are already knowledgeable of the importance of traffic light synchronization to safely maximize the flow throughthis section of University, perhaps with side streets waiting a bit longer than University lights. Maintain bicycle use Comment: If not already discussed, it is very desirable to have clear signage whichalerts auto drivers that they should expect to share auto lanes with bicycles. Although many cyclists might prefer to be in the buffer zone (or on Hamilton/Lytton streets)—depending on the parallel parking frequency—but bikes may prefer to simply take the lane while traveling the short blocks to their destinations/turns. Since this is a low speedzone, the presence of people on bicycles (rather than in cars) between High and Cowper should not be a hindrance to traffic flow. Regards,Star Teachout Whitsell AvenuePalo Alto From:Aram James To:Rowena Chiu Cc:Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; board@pausd.org; Council, City; Sean Allen Subject:Rowena asked to resign now!! Date:Thursday, January 30, 2025 10:00:39 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://search.app/qK52QWT2UzH7c5259 https://search.app/qK52QWT2UzH7c5259 From:Humphrey, Sonia Cc:LAFCO Subject:LAFCO Agenda Packet Now Available - 2/5/25 Meeting Date:Thursday, January 30, 2025 4:05:22 PM Attachments:February 2025 Meeting Agenda Packet..pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The agenda packet for the February 5, 2025 LAFCO Meeting is now available on the LAFCO website: https://santaclaralafco.org/meetings/commission-meeting-2025-02-05-211500. Best regards, Sonia Humphrey, LAFCO Clerk LAFCO of Santa Clara County 777 North First Street, Suite 410 San Jose, CA 95112 (408) 993-4709 From:Sean To:Council, City Subject:Parking Permits Date:Thursday, January 30, 2025 11:37:46 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. I recently purchased a permit for $25, only to learn that it will expire in just two months due to a standardized start and expiration date policy. While I understand the intent behindstandardization, this policy results in an unfair pricing structure for those who purchase permits later in the cycle. A pro-rated fee should reflect the actual duration of use. Charging the same rate for a significantly shorter period penalizes customers who purchase permits mid-year. Thisapproach lacks transparency and fairness. I would appreciate further clarification on why this policy is structured this way and whetheradjustments can be made to ensure equitable pricing. If annual permits must adhere to a fixed expiration date, a genuinely proportional pricing model should be implemented. I look forward to your response. Best, Sean 519 Addison Ave. From:Aram James To:Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; Rose Lynn; Kaloma Smith; Pat M; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; ladoris cordell;h.etzko@gmail.com; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Doug Minkler; Gerry Gras; Gardener, Liz; Lotus Fong; CaitJames; Tim James; Marina Lopez Subject:Biden gave Trump the blueprint to lock up 30,000 migrants in a private ICE jail at Guantánamo Bay Date:Thursday, January 30, 2025 10:05:22 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Biden gave Trump the blueprint to lock up 30,000 migrants in a private ICE jail at Guantánamo Bay https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/trump-guantanamo-immigration-cuba-detention?publication_id=2510348&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email- share&isFreemail=true&triedRedirect=true From:E Nigenda To:Council, City; Shikada, Ed Subject:DHS Releases Playbook for Public-Sector AI Deployment Date:Thursday, January 30, 2025 7:42:35 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, City Manager, As our City uses AI, I encourage our City to use the best practices and otherresources from the DHS mentioned in this article: DHS Releases Playbook for Public-Sector AI Deployment, https://www.govtech.com/artificial-intelligence/dhs-releases-playbook-for-public-sector-ai-deployment Thank you for your service to our community, Esther NigendaPalo Alto resident From:Loran Harding To:Loran Harding; alumnipresident@stanford.edu; antonia.tinoco@hsr.ca.gov; David Balakian; beachrides;bearwithme1016@att.net; Leodies Buchanan; bballpod; fred beyerlein; boardmembers;carloslawnservice14@gmail.com; Cathy Lewis; Council, City; Doug Vagim; dennisbalakian;dallen1212@gmail.com; eappel@stanford.edu; kdeem.electriclab@gmail.com; Scott Wilkinson;Gabriel.Ramirez@fresno.gov; George.Rutherford@ucsf.edu; huidentalsanmateo; hennessy; Irv Weissman; SallyThiessen; jerry ruopoli; karkazianjewelers@gmail.com; kfsndesk; MY77FJ@gmail.com; Mayor; margaret-sasaki@live.com; maverickbruno@sbcglobal.net; merazroofinginc@att.net; Mark Standriff; newsdesk; nickyovino; news@fresnobee.com; russ@topperjewelers.com; Steve Wayte; Joel Stiner; terry; tsheehan;vallesR1969@att.net; yicui@stanford.edu Subject:Fwd: Stanford: What know re Wildfire Smoke Date:Wednesday, January 29, 2025 5:29:46 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: Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 5:06 PM Subject: Fwd: Stanford: What know re Wildfire SmokeTo: Loran Harding <loran.harding@stanfordalumni.org> Wednesday 29, 2025 To all- Wildfire smoke. Nothing good about it for your health, says Stanford. BTW. Dr. John La Pok on CBS Evening News said about five years ago that wildfire smoke contains 5,000 compounds. Could there be any carcinogens among them? You knowthere are. What we know about the health effects of wildfire | Stanford Report Stanford '09 grad, Red Cross Disaster Director in California: Much of value here: What to Do After (and Before) a Fire | STANFORD magazine Los Angeles wildfires spark insurance anxiety among victims" 10:02 Climate expert atStanford: (522) Los Angeles wildfires spark insurance anxiety among victims • FRANCE 24 English - YouTube DON'T MISS THIS! "How crews are cleaning up hazardous materials from thePalisades Fire." 3:26 EPA cleans up the Haz Mats and then the US Army Corp ofEngineers clears your lot. All for free, unless you tell them no. I am surprised thatTrump did not take credit for this. He must have sent them. But ABC, CBS and NBC have not said a word about his having done that!! The local NBC affliate in Fresno and CBSNetwork News are not reporting this either. When he does something right, they won'treport it!!!!!!!!!!!! How crews are cleaning up the hazardous materials from the Palisades Fire And "EPA oversees Hazmat cleanup of hazardous debris in Malibu after" 16:29 Worthseeing. EPA Oversees Hazmat Cleanup of Hazardous Debris in Malibu After Palisades Fire Devastation Notice here that household chemicals and esp. Li-ion batteries are hazardous. The damaged batts can re-ignite! You do not want to do this yourself. Mercury, asbestos, heavy metals arethings to avoid too. Recall that at the roundtable at the Palisades fire station last Friday, Trump said that he was not so sure about hazardous waste being a reason for keeping people awayfrom their burnt homes. Watch that vid. Karen Bass then said they would be allowed to go onto their lots in a week due to hazardous waste. Trump said a week is a long time. Now wesee that the EPA is removing the hazardous waste and then the US Army Corp ofEngineers will clear your lot, all for free. So Trump saw sense re the hazardous waste. Rebuild? People keep saying "rebuild". What, the same homes?? You have to be kidding!.Newsom said that new building codes were adopted in 1989 so homes built since then fared better in the LA fires. Did they? Let's see some homes built since then that survived. Most homeowners in the LA fires were underinsured. How much they get from theirinsurance may be a shock. The cost to build new, far more fire resistant homes may be a shock too, and they will be required to do that if they want to rebuild. So I just plain do not get allthis talk about early rebulding of the burnt homes. WTF? I think many suspect by now that Altadena and Pacific Palasades are in a wildfire zone. Mayor Bass said yesterday that they willset up a center where residents can deal with nine City agencies in one place, like get building permits maybe. If so, that just seems bizarre to me. Let us hear from a group of insurancecompanies about what they would need to see to insure a rebuilt home in these fire zones. If you have a mortgage, you must have, and prove you have every year, casualty insurance onthe property. Here is an LA developer discussing the Los Angeles bureauracy he knows well: Developer Explains What Los Angeles Bureaucracy Looks Like | Mott Smith Building Code in the fire zone: Not one word so far from the Co. of LA about new building codes re fire resistance. Let's hear something about the new codes that just have to becoming before any homes in LA are rebuilt. And let's hear from the insurance industry about the minimum fire resistance standards that they will have to see in order to insure arebuilt home in the fire zone. The insurance industry can't write building codes, but they can say, as new codes are adopted, what new homes have to have to be insurable. I cannot speakfor the insurance industry, but YOU CAN BE SURE they won't insure homes build even to the 1989 code in the fire zone. See the now-famous home designed by architect Greg Chasenwhich survived the fire when everything around it burned. Architects like him can provide input. Two homes that survived the fires. Mr. Chasen designed one of them: Lessons From Two Surviving LA Fire Homes California's fire resistant homes: Building homes that can withstand wildfires Water: LA gets its water from four main sources: Rain, the California Aquiduct, the LosAngeles Aquiduct from the Owens Valley, and the Colorado River Aquiduct. It is clear that just having pretty good water levels in five lakes around LA cannot and did not save the city from a wild fire like this one. Some officials pointed to those as an alibi. Ifyou are going to have 4 million people living in the City of LA and 10 million in the LA Basin, with horrific Santa Ana winds blowing periodially, you will need a totally re-designedwater system. Water in each neighborhood. Above ground water tanks or ones under ground. A fire hydrant in front of every fourth home, and a permanent fire hose running from thehomes out to the hydrants. More water available rapidly all over this fire zone must be arranged for. You don't have days to start moving water around in a fire like this one. I suggest that a second, wider California Aquiduct be built parallel to the existing one. Thiswould increase the water available to farms on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and provide the big increase in water the LA Basin is going to need for its re-designed watersystem. Trump referred to "Billions of gallons of water being sent out to the ocean" He is correct, it has been. Where? Water comes our of the Sierra and flows north in the San JoaquinRiver to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, from there through the Carquinez Strait to Upper San Pablo Bay, the north part of SF Bay, and then out of the Golden Gate to the Pacific. TheSacramento River puts water into the Delta from the north. California must build a LOT of new reservoirs at the foot of the Sierras. Seven were funded, and environmentalists stoppedthem all. It is remarked during wet years how many billions of gallons of fresh water is flowing out to the Pacific because California does not have enough reservoirs. Noah Diffenbaugh at Stanford says that by 2070, all precip in the Sierras will be raininstead of snow. That is a vision of hell with massive flooding every year. The SF Bay Area is fortunate in that we can control rising sea levels with the "Golden Gate Dam", estimated tocost $2 billion several years ago. See "The Earth Under Water" on YouTube. They show how it would be built, and it for sure will be built. But we'll also need all of those big newreservoirs along the Sierras to prevent biblical flooding from rain, and only rain, landing in the Sierras. Just as a tiny side-note: as time goes by more and more of the precip in the Rockies, theAlps, the Himalayas and the Andes will also be falling as rain instead of snow. Think of the chaos that will cause for India, China and South America. Flooding in coastal areas due to sealevel rise, and biblical floods inland below the mountain ranges. Don't miss this: This morning, Wednesday, January 29, 2025 at 8 AM PT, LA officials held this update. Note the RUSH to get permits issued to rebuild. In all of this, NOT ONCEdid anyone mention insurance!! Maybe the federal government has announced that theywill provide fire insurance in perpetuity to any homeowner who builds anything as areplacement home, or maybe if the home at least meets the 1989 building code in LACounty. Maybe the State of California has made that announcement and I just missed it.I believe that either I am hallucinating or these officials are when they take utterly no notice of the fact that any home with a mortgage MUST be insured. Maybe the insurance companieshave announced that they will insure any home that is rebuilt in the fire zone if itcomplies with the 1989 building code. Officials in LA should announce any suchdevelopment so people won't think they are hallucinating. LA County update on rebuilding, recovery efforts L. William Harding Fresno, Ca. From:sharon Elliot To:Council, City Subject:Fire engine at Station 4 Date:Wednesday, January 29, 2025 4:44:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, As residents of Adobe Meadow, we are very concerned that Fire Station 4 be a fully equipped station when it is rebuilt. We urge you to make sure there is sufficient funding for a fullyfunctioning 24/7 station which includes a fire engine, an ambulance and the required personnel. Thank you for your consideration, Sharon and Grant Elliot3712 Ortega Ct Palo Alto, CAWe're all in this together From:Aram James To:h.etzko@gmail.com; Gerry Gras; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; Vara Ramakrishnan; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; BradenCartwright; Emily Mibach; Dave Price; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Cait James; Jay Boyarsky; MarinaLopez; Doug Minkler; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Diana Diamond; dennis burns;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; EPA Today; Cribbs, Anne; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; editor@paweekly.com;Stump, Molly; Sarah Wright; Jax Ajluni; Bill Newell; Templeton, Cari; Tom DuBois; Kaloma Smith; DuJuan Green;GRP-City Council; board@pausd.org; John Burt; Lewis james; Tim James; Salem Ajluni; Marty Wasserman;George for Palo Alto; Keith Reckdahl; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Gardener,Liz; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Palo Alto Free Press; Steve Wagstaffe;citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Nicole Chiu-Wang;Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda; Chris Colohan Subject:Trump would turn Gaza into beachfront property. Date:Wednesday, January 29, 2025 12:34:54 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Trump would turn Gaza into beachfront property. http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/2025/01/29/trump-would-turn-gaza-into-beachfront-property/?utm_source=wire&utm_medium=email&sourceid=1001761&emci=426fd481-62de- ef11-88f8-0022482a9579&emdi=882fa3de-6ade-ef11-88f8-0022482a9579&ceid=433458 From:Liz Price To:Council, City Date:Wednesday, January 29, 2025 8:56:06 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council members,I hope you are doing everything in your power to support the Cambridge Street Post Office. The post office is one of the essential services of our local and national governments. Just likeschools, libraries, a commitment to safe roads and the betterment of all, the post office should be protected and supported. Allowing it to languish without support and potentially close upshop to give way to commercial ventures would be a failure on the part of our government. Regards, Liz PricePalo Alto resident View this email in your browser Visit us on www.lwvpaloalto.org, Facebook, and Instagram From:LWV Palo Alto (Eblast)To:Council, CitySubject:Final Reminder: Join LWVPA Program Planning this Saturday, February 1Date:Wednesday, January 29, 2025 8:15:18 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Join LWV of Palo Alto Program Planning Is Your Voice Saturday, February 1, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Peninsula Conservation Center 3921 E. Bayshore Rd., Palo Alto The 2025 LWV Palo Alto Program Planning Meeting is your opportunity to decide what is most important for LWVC and LWV Palo Alto to focus on and where you want to invest your energy. We’ll have social time from 9 to 9:30 am, discuss our focus areas from 9:30 to 11:30 am, then have short meetings with leaders from issue committees and the voter services team (based on what you are interested in) from 11:30 am to 12 pm. Program Planning meeting objectives: 1. Review the purpose of annual program planning, our past year’s work (program highlights & voter services). 2. Review State issues currently on LWVC’s agenda for California and choose three state priority issues for 2025-2027, in addition to Making Democracy Work, for adoption at the LWVC convention in June 2025. 3. Review our current local priority issues and choose local issues for 2025- 2026. 4. Meet, brainstorm with, and get to know our committees (Housing & Transportation, Climate/Natural Resources, Gun Violence Prevention, Local Campaign Finance Reform, Voter Services). Join us and let us know as we look forward to 2025: - What issues are our biggest priorities? - Where should LWVC and LWV Palo Alto focus their energy to maximize impact? - How much time and effort can be devoted to this work? Who will do the work? We look forward to seeing you there! Stay Informed! Sign Up for LWV California & LWVUS News & Alerts Click here to sign up for Email News and Action Alerts from LWVUS Register Now Facebook Website Instagram Copyright © 2025 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 unsubscribe from this list. From:Henry Etzkowitz To:Gerry Gras; Office of the Provost; Jim Hersh; Jeanne Fleming; Arthur Millman; Janice Ovadiah; Shikada, Ed; MarkGranovetter Cc:Martin Wasserman; Aram James; Sean Allen; dennis burns; snug.bug@hotmail.com; Linda Jolley; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Mickie Winkler; michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com; Zelkha, Mila; Don Austin; board@pausd.org; Yolanda Conaway; Raymond Goins; Council, City; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lotus Fong; ladoris cordell; Bill Newell; Sarah Wright; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Doug Minkler; John Burt; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Rowena Chiu; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Chris Colohan; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Hayden; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; Michelle; Stump, Molly; District1@bos.sccgov.org; Perron, Zachary; Friends of Cubberley; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Holman, Karen (external); Josh Becker; board@valleywater.org; Roberta Ahlquist; Rob Baker; Robert. Jonsen; Cribbs, Anne; Templeton, Cari; Anna Griffin; Binder, Andrew; Cait James; Vara Ramakrishnan; Today EPA; Dave Price; Kallas, Emily; jason.green@bayareanewsgroup.com; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; Foley, Michael; Marina Lopez; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; George for Palo Alto; Wagner, April; Lewis james; bos@smcgov.org; Salem Ajluni; Jax Ajluni; Steve Wagstaffe; editor@paweekly.com; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Rob Baker; Binder, Andrew; Today EPA; Burt, Patrick Subject:Re: Silicon Valley NAACP - Our Stance Against the Exclusion of Ethnic Studies from the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict Curriculum Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 8:55:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Beyond the presentation of opposing viewpoints hopefully would be the consideration of waysout of a seemingly intractable dilemma. South Africa, US Civil war and other seemingly intractable conflicts have been, more or less, resolved. I would hope that any course would notend based on extending present realities indefinitey. Human history is subject to change vide Athens and Sparta. Russian and Ukraine locked in conflict will become relatively peacefulneighbors again. So will Israel and Palestine. Both have much in common especially in technological expertise, reflected in the draft Clinton eratreaty. I refuse to dispair! shalom/salaam aleikunHenry aka Hillel HenryEtzkowitz.org Sent from my iPhone On Jan 28, 2025, at 4:35 PM, Gerry Gras <gerrygras@earthlink.net> wrote:After reading this lengthy email, I need to summarize my understanding of theimportant points and then provide a response. Summary of important points, roughly in chronological order: [from the NAACP portion] - The NAACP has received more complaints about racial (and ethnic) bias in thePAUSD than in any other school district in Santa Clara County. - The NAACP is strongly against the PAUSD excluding ethnic studies. - Ethnic studies are an academic requirement. - [my paraphrase] Ethnic studies are essential for a cohesive and informedcitizenry. - Neighboring school districts do have ethnic studies programs. [from Aram and confirmed by the NAACP] - The state has an unfunded mandate for ethnic studies. [from Aram] - Aram opposes the genocide against Palestinians and US support for it. - Aram thinks that the opposition to ethnic studies is motivated by fears about what might be included. [from Martin] - Martin strongly disputes Aram's statement. - Martin has concerns about what ethnic studies may look like. - It is unclear whether Martin completely opposes ethnic studies, or is justconcerned about motives. [from Aram] - Aram expresses his opinion about the Israel / Palestine conflict and ethnic studies. [from Martin] - Martin expresses his opinion about the Israel / Palestine conflict and ethnicstudies and asks 2 questions. My response: - It seems to me that the PAUSD needs to have ethnic studies, - for a better school environment for the students and teachers, and - a healthy democracy requires an informed citizenry. - It seems to me that the ethnic studies should include the Israel / Palestineconflict, - it is a major problem for the Middle East, the US, and the world, - it is at least 77 years old, - it is likely to continue indefinitely, no matter what happens with the ceasefire. - How should the Israel / Palestine conflict be address in ethics studies? - I do not know, I do not consider myself an expert in this area. - A possible idea, do something like what the Secretary of State does with ballot initiatives. For each initiative, the election guide provides the pro and conarguments, plus rebuttals. Good luck. Gerry (resident of Palo Alto for about 15 years, and I have no children, but i didgo to public schools back east) On 1/26/25 19:21, Martin Wasserman wrote: Avram, I have no fear of people learning the truth. What I object to is teaching students lies for the purpose of furthering one's twistedpolitical objectives. If Israel has a history of genocide against the Palestinian Arabs, as you accuse it of having, how do you explain thefact that there are so many more of them in Israel today than there were when the nation was founded in 1948? You also use the phrase "brown skin Palestinians" to insinuate thatIsrael has a racist motive in its treatment of the Palestinians. But surely you must know that about half of Israel's Jews are brownskinned themselves due to their ancestors having lived for many generations in Middle Eastern countries. Your claim that the Palestinians had "less than zero" involvement inthe Holocaust is another falsehood. The leader of the Palestinians in those days, Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem, spent mostof the war years in Germany as Hitler's personal guest. He made weekly radio broadcasts on Radio Berlin, aimed at the Middle Eastand in the Arabic language, urging all the Arabs in the region to rise up and kill every Jew they could find. After that, he traveled toBosnia and recruited an all-Muslim division of the German SS in order to aid in the extermination of Jews in the Balkans. When thewar was over, he was hailed as a hero by much of the Arab and Muslim world, including the Palestinian Arabs. Your reference to mandatory ethnic studies in Palo Alto schools as avehicle to teach students that Israel is a terrorist, apartheid and racist state confirms my concerns about the dangers of such ethnic studiesprograms. For you, evidently, the highest goal of ethnic studies is to stir up hatred against one particular nation, the State of Israel, andanyone who supports that nation, which is the vast majority of Jews, and probably a large majority of Americans as well. Your hatred of Israel and your explicit calls for its destruction, eventhough you’re Jewish yourself, seems to me to border on the pathological. To get a better understanding of your mindset, I'll askyou a couple of questions that I asked you once before and that you refused to answer: 1. Are you opposed to any Jewish state as a matter of principle or justthe particular characteristics of the current Jewish state? 2. Is there any country in the world that you dislike more than the State of Israel? If so, please name it. I eagerly await your response,Martin On Jan 26, 2025, at 3:37 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 1/26/2025 Hi Sean, Well done! And Then Some!! Martin says it all about Marxists, but all he is terrified of is the students learningabout Israel’s genocidal history from its birth in 1948—the genocidal history of Zionist Jews exterminating brown skinPalestinians. The Palestinians had less than zero involvement in the Holocaust. Equally scary for Martin is the long-timepolitical affiliation between the black liberation movement in the U.S. and African nations and the Palestinian liberationmovement, all of which young Jewish students will now be learning about in the soon-to-be mandatory ethnic studiesclasses in Palo Alto schools. Like the rest of us, when young Jewish students are subjected to the truth and facts about theterrorist, apartheid, and racist state of Israel, many, if not most, will turn their back on vile Israel. Avram Finkelstein, aka Aram James-an anti-Zionist-Jew-to- the bone On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 10:42 PM Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: The accusation that Israel is committing genocideagainst the Palestinian Arabs is a flat out lie perpetrated solely for the purpose of demonizing theJewish state. The only party in the Israel-Hamas war that has an explicit policy of genocide is Hamas itself,which Avram Finkelstein evidently supports. The issue of ethnic studies is not that people fear mild criticismof Israel. The issue is that this is an organized attempt by anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel extremiststo turn our schools into places not of learning, but of political indoctrination, into an ideology which isprofoundly alien to the culture that has made this country, the USA, the best and most successful in theworld. Sincerely, Martin Wasserman On Jan 23, 2025, at 9:20 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 1/23/2025 Hello everyone, I want to address the ongoing genocide being perpetrated by the state of Israelagainst the Palestinian people, which is happening with the full support of the U.S.government and the Israeli Jewish lobby. My fellow Jews should be deeplyconcerned and feel a sense of fear if we do not actively speak out against thisinjustice. The major issue here is that much of the opposition to ethnic studies is driven bythe influential Jewish lobby in Palo Alto. This lobby is concerned that, during theethnic studies courses, Israel might be criticized, even in a mild manner. They will go to great lengths to suppress anyperceived criticism of Israel, regardless of the impact this has on marginalizedgroups. As a result, the three newest members of the school board seem determined to denyhigh school students in Palo Alto the opportunity to take a mandated ethnicstudies course. It feels like there is an unspoken issue that no one wants toaddress. Sincerely, Avram Finkelstein (also known as Aram James) On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM SeanAllen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: It is. James just just told me. SeanSent from my iPhone On Jan 23, 2025, at 5:46 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:  Excellent! As I understandthe state has in factmandated ethnic studies butnot provided state fundingfor its full guaranteedimplementation in eachdistrict. I hope this isaccurate. On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at5:35 PM Sean Allen<sallen6444@yahoo.com>wrote: To: Board of Education, Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict and the community From: Sean Allen President- San Jose/Silicon ValleyNAACP I am writing to express the strong stance of theSan Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP against theexclusion of ethnic studies from thecurriculum of the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict. The discussions surrounding the potentialremoval of this important requirement areconcerning and starkly contrast the values ofinclusivity and equity that our community strives touphold. Our organization has received an alarmingnumber of complaints regarding racial biaswithin the Palo Alto Unified School District—more than any other school district in SantaClara County. These complaints highlight apattern of systemic issues that cannot be ignored.Black students have reported being called the“N” word, subjected to comments about beingowned in the past, and faced derogatory remarksabout their hair and lips. Latino students haveencountered racial slurs, while Pacific Islanderchildren have faced discrimination. Asian,Palestinian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, andLGBTQI+ students have all reported experiencesof bias and harassment. This pervasive culture ofdiscrimination underscores the urgentneed for ethnic studies courses, which serve as avital tool for education, understanding, andhealing in our schools. Ethnic studies courses are not merely an academicrequirement; they are an essential component of awell-rounded education that promotes awarenessand appreciation of diverse cultures andhistories. These courses empower students toengage critically with societal issues, fosteringempathy, understanding, and respect for oneanother. The failure to implement ethnic studiesin this district, particularly given theconcerning pattern of discrimination andracism, highlights the level of implicit andexplicit bias supported by those in power. While thestate of California has rejected the mandate andlegislation for ethnic studies, this should not beinterpreted as permission to disregard theimplementation of such a critical piece ofcurriculum. In fact, ethnic studies are vital forshaping how students perceive others who maybe different from themselves, influencinghow they interact with their peers and navigatetheir professional lives, ultimately impactingthemselves and others in meaningful ways. It is important to note that several surroundingdistricts, including the Fremont Union HighSchool District, East Side Union High SchoolDistrict, and San Jose Unified School District,have successfully implemented ethnicstudies courses despite the lack of legislativerequirements. These districts recognize thevalue of ethnic studies in promoting a moreinclusive and equitable educational environment,setting a precedent that Palo Alto should follow. The recent decision topause the adoption of the ethnic studies requirementis a step backward in our efforts to create aninclusive environment for all students. We mustadvocate for the reinstatement of thisrequirement, not to comply with statemandates, but to fulfill our moral obligation toour students and community. In the wordsof civil rights leader Angela Davis, “It is notenough to be non-racist; we must be anti-racist.”We must actively work to dismantle the structuresthat perpetuate inequity and promote a curriculumthat reflects the richness and diversity of oursociety. The San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP standsready to support the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict in this endeavor. We urge the Board ofEducation to reconsider the importance of ethnicstudies and to recognize the profound impact itwill have on our students and community. Byprioritizing these courses, we can begin to addressthe racial biases that have plagued our district andcreate a more equitable educational environmentfor every student. Thank you for your attention to this crucialmatter. We look forward to working together toensure that all students in the Palo Alto UnifiedSchool District feel valued, respected, andempowered. Sincerely, Sean Allen President San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP Cc. NAACP StateSan Jose/Silicon Valley NAACPExecutive Committee Monterey County BranchSan Mateo County BranchAlameda County BranchesSan Francisco City/County Branch File From:Martin J Sommer To:Council, City Cc:Pamela L Sommer Subject:Re: Parking lot Q Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 7:14:27 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Please see attached, more homeless issues. Please promise me that you are locking down LotQ at night! Martin On January 25, 2025 4:40:13 PM PST, Martin J Sommer <martin@sommer.net> wrote:Please see attached, and enforce this law. Thank you, Martin -- Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity. From:Gerry Gras To:Martin Wasserman; Aram James Cc:Sean Allen; dennis burns; snug.bug@hotmail.com; Linda Jolley; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Mickie Winkler; michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com; Zelkha, Mila; Don Austin; board@pausd.org; Yolanda Conaway; Raymond Goins; Council, City; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lotus Fong; ladoris cordell; Bill Newell; Sarah Wright; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Doug Minkler; John Burt; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Rowena Chiu; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Chris Colohan; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Hayden; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; Michelle; Stump, Molly; district1@bos.sccgov.org; Perron, Zachary; Friends of Cubberley; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Holman, Karen (external); Josh Becker; board@valleywater.org; Roberta Ahlquist; Baker, Rob; Robert. Jonsen; Cribbs, Anne; Templeton, Cari; Anna Griffin; Binder, Andrew; Cait James; Vara Ramakrishnan; EPA Today; Dave Price; Kallas, Emily; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; Foley, Michael; Marina Lopez; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; George for Palo Alto; Wagner, April; Lewis james; bos@smcgov.org; Salem Ajluni; Jax Ajluni; Steve Wagstaffe; editor@paweekly.com; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith Subject:Re: Silicon Valley NAACP - Our Stance Against the Exclusion of Ethnic Studies from the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict Curriculum Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 4:36:22 PM Some people who received this message don't often get email from gerrygras@earthlink.net. Learn why this isimportant After reading this lengthy email, I need to summarize my understanding of the importantpoints and then provide a response. Summary of important points, roughly in chronological order: [from the NAACP portion] - The NAACP has received more complaints about racial (and ethnic) bias in the PAUSD thanin any other school district in Santa Clara County. - The NAACP is strongly against the PAUSD excluding ethnic studies. - Ethnic studies are an academic requirement. - [my paraphrase] Ethnic studies are essential for a cohesive and informed citizenry. - Neighboring school districts do have ethnic studies programs. [from Aram and confirmed by the NAACP] - The state has an unfunded mandate for ethnic studies. [from Aram] - Aram opposes the genocide against Palestinians and US support for it. - Aram thinks that the opposition to ethnic studies is motivated by fears about what might be included. [from Martin] - Martin strongly disputes Aram's statement. - Martin has concerns about what ethnic studies may look like. - It is unclear whether Martin completely opposes ethnic studies, or is just concerned aboutmotives. [from Aram] - Aram expresses his opinion about the Israel / Palestine conflict and ethnic studies. [from Martin] - Martin expresses his opinion about the Israel / Palestine conflict and ethnic studies and asks 2 questions. My response: - It seems to me that the PAUSD needs to have ethnic studies, - for a better school environment for the students and teachers, and - a healthy democracy requires an informed citizenry. - It seems to me that the ethnic studies should include the Israel / Palestine conflict, - it is a major problem for the Middle East, the US, and the world, - it is at least 77 years old, - it is likely to continue indefinitely, no matter what happens with the ceasefire. - How should the Israel / Palestine conflict be address in ethics studies? - I do not know, I do not consider myself an expert in this area. - A possible idea, do something like what the Secretary of State does with ballot initiatives. For each initiative, the election guide provides the pro and con arguments, plus rebuttals. Good luck. Gerry (resident of Palo Alto for about 15 years, and I have no children, but i did go to public schools back east) On 1/26/25 19:21, Martin Wasserman wrote: Avram, I have no fear of people learning the truth. What I object to is teaching studentslies for the purpose of furthering one's twisted political objectives. If Israel has a history of genocide against the Palestinian Arabs, as you accuse it of having, howdo you explain the fact that there are so many more of them in Israel today than there were when the nation was founded in 1948? You also use the phrase "brown skin Palestinians" to insinuate that Israel has aracist motive in its treatment of the Palestinians. But surely you must know that about half of Israel's Jews are brown skinned themselves due to their ancestorshaving lived for many generations in Middle Eastern countries. Your claim that the Palestinians had "less than zero" involvement in the Holocaust is another falsehood. The leader of the Palestinians in those days, HajAmin al-Husseini, the Mufti of Jerusalem, spent most of the war years in Germany as Hitler's personal guest. He made weekly radio broadcasts on RadioBerlin, aimed at the Middle East and in the Arabic language, urging all the Arabs in the region to rise up and kill every Jew they could find. After that, he traveledto Bosnia and recruited an all-Muslim division of the German SS in order to aid in the extermination of Jews in the Balkans. When the war was over, he was hailedas a hero by much of the Arab and Muslim world, including the Palestinian Arabs. Your reference to mandatory ethnic studies in Palo Alto schools as a vehicle to teach students that Israel is a terrorist, apartheid and racist state confirms myconcerns about the dangers of such ethnic studies programs. For you, evidently, the highest goal of ethnic studies is to stir up hatred against one particular nation,the State of Israel, and anyone who supports that nation, which is the vast majority of Jews, and probably a large majority of Americans as well. Your hatred of Israel and your explicit calls for its destruction, even thoughyou’re Jewish yourself, seems to me to border on the pathological. To get a better understanding of your mindset, I'll ask you a couple of questions that I asked youonce before and that you refused to answer: 1. Are you opposed to any Jewish state as a matter of principle or just the particular characteristics of the current Jewish state? 2. Is there any country in the world that you dislike more than the State of Israel?If so, please name it. I eagerly await your response, Martin On Jan 26, 2025, at 3:37 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 1/26/2025 Hi Sean, Well done! And Then Some!! Martin says it all aboutMarxists, but all he is terrified of is the students learning about Israel’s genocidal history from its birth in 1948—thegenocidal history of Zionist Jews exterminating brown skin Palestinians. The Palestinians had less than zero involvementin the Holocaust. Equally scary for Martin is the long-time political affiliation between the black liberation movement inthe U.S. and African nations and the Palestinian liberation movement, all of which young Jewish students will now belearning about in the soon-to-be mandatory ethnic studies classes in Palo Alto schools. Like the rest of us, when youngJewish students are subjected to the truth and facts about the terrorist, apartheid, and racist state of Israel, many, if notmost, will turn their back on vile Israel. Avram Finkelstein, aka Aram James-an anti-Zionist-Jew-to- the bone On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 10:42 PM Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: The accusation that Israel is committing genocide against thePalestinian Arabs is a flat out lie perpetrated solely for the purpose of demonizing the Jewish state. The only party in the Israel-Hamaswar that has an explicit policy of genocide is Hamas itself, which Avram Finkelstein evidently supports. The issue of ethnic studies isnot that people fear mild criticism of Israel. The issue is that this is an organized attempt by anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israelextremists to turn our schools into places not of learning, but of political indoctrination, into an ideology which is profoundly aliento the culture that has made this country, the USA, the best and most successful in the world. Sincerely,Martin Wasserman On Jan 23, 2025, at 9:20 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 1/23/2025 Hello everyone, I want to address the ongoing genocide being perpetrated by the state of Israel against the Palestinianpeople, which is happening with the full support of the U.S. government and the Israeli Jewish lobby. Myfellow Jews should be deeply concerned and feel a sense of fear if we do not actively speak out againstthis injustice. The major issue here is that much of the opposition to ethnic studies is driven by the influential Jewish lobbyin Palo Alto. This lobby is concerned that, during the ethnic studies courses, Israel might be criticized, evenin a mild manner. They will go to great lengths to suppress any perceived criticism of Israel, regardlessof the impact this has on marginalized groups. As a result, the three newest members of the school board seem determined to deny high school students inPalo Alto the opportunity to take a mandated ethnic studies course. It feels like there is an unspoken issuethat no one wants to address. Sincerely, Avram Finkelstein (also known as Aram James) On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: It is. James just just told me. Sean Sent from my iPhone On Jan 23, 2025, at 5:46 PM, AramJames <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:  Excellent! As I understand the state hasin fact mandated ethnic studies but notprovided state funding for its fullguaranteed implementation in eachdistrict. I hope this is accurate. On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 5:35 PM SeanAllen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: To: Board of Education, Palo Alto Unified School District and thecommunity From: Sean Allen President- San Jose/Silicon ValleyNAACP I am writing to express the strong stance of the San Jose/Silicon ValleyNAACP against the exclusion of ethnic studies from the curriculum ofthe Palo Alto Unified School District. The discussions surrounding thepotential removal of this important requirement are concerning andstarkly contrast the values of inclusivity and equity that ourcommunity strives to uphold. Our organization has received an alarming number of complaintsregarding racial bias within the Palo Alto Unified School District—morethan any other school district in Santa Clara County. These complaintshighlight a pattern of systemic issues that cannot be ignored. Black studentshave reported being called the “N” word, subjected to comments aboutbeing owned in the past, and faced derogatory remarks about their hairand lips. Latino students have encountered racial slurs, while PacificIslander children have faced discrimination. Asian, Palestinian,Middle Eastern, Jewish, and LGBTQI+ students have all reportedexperiences of bias and harassment. This pervasive culture ofdiscrimination underscores the urgent need for ethnic studies courses, whichserve as a vital tool for education, understanding, and healing in ourschools. Ethnic studies courses are not merely an academic requirement; they are anessential component of a well-rounded education that promotes awarenessand appreciation of diverse cultures and histories. These courses empowerstudents to engage critically with societal issues, fostering empathy,understanding, and respect for one another. The failure to implementethnic studies in this district, particularly given the concerningpattern of discrimination and racism, highlights the level of implicit andexplicit bias supported by those in power. While the state of Californiahas rejected the mandate and legislation for ethnic studies, thisshould not be interpreted as permission to disregard theimplementation of such a critical piece of curriculum. In fact, ethnic studiesare vital for shaping how students perceive others who may be differentfrom themselves, influencing how they interact with their peers andnavigate their professional lives, ultimately impacting themselves andothers in meaningful ways. It is important to note that severalsurrounding districts, including the Fremont Union High School District,East Side Union High School District, and San Jose Unified School District,have successfully implemented ethnic studies courses despite the lack oflegislative requirements. These districts recognize the value of ethnicstudies in promoting a more inclusive and equitable educationalenvironment, setting a precedent that Palo Alto should follow. The recent decision to pause theadoption of the ethnic studies requirement is a step backward in ourefforts to create an inclusive environment for all students. We mustadvocate for the reinstatement of this requirement, not to comply with statemandates, but to fulfill our moral obligation to our students andcommunity. In the words of civil rights leader Angela Davis, “It is notenough to be non-racist; we must be anti-racist.” We must actively work todismantle the structures that perpetuate inequity and promote acurriculum that reflects the richness and diversity of our society. The San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACPstands ready to support the Palo Alto Unified School District in thisendeavor. We urge the Board of Education to reconsider theimportance of ethnic studies and to recognize the profound impact it willhave on our students and community. By prioritizing these courses, we canbegin to address the racial biases that have plagued our district and create amore equitable educational environment for every student. Thank you for your attention to thiscrucial matter. We look forward to working together to ensure that allstudents in the Palo Alto Unified School District feel valued, respected,and empowered. Sincerely, Sean Allen President San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP Cc. NAACP State San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACPExecutive Committee Monterey County BranchSan Mateo County Branch Alameda County BranchesSan Francisco City/County Branch File From:Patricia Judge Tamrazi To:Council, City Cc:City Attorney; UAC; City Mgr; Marshall, Tomm; Stump, Molly; Shikada, Ed; Fire Subject:2 Electrical Fires within the Past 2 Weeks- Palo Verde Neighborhood Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 2:04:04 PM Attachments:image001.pngimage002.pngimage003.pngimage004.pngimage005.pngimage006.png image007.png image.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council (in your capacity as regulator of City of Palo Alto Utilities), There have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood near Palo Verde in thelast 2 weeks. Is this being investigated to determine whether this is connected to Utilities' lack of safetyprotocols, including an apparent lack of maintenance schedules? Am I safe to remain in my home in the neighborhood? I have small children. Myneighbor next door is elderly and not very mobile. Are we safe? This email also follows up on my email below from August, which I never received a responseto, asking the City to competently address glaring safety shortcomings in Utilities, especiallywith regards to the electrical grid. As you know (and can see below, for those of you who are new), I first reached out to you inFebruary 2024 for help with flickering lights in my neighborhood (later discovered to becaused by a LOOSE NEUTRAL, which Utilities knew about and decided NOT to properlyfix, although industry standard is that a loose neutral is a "climb the pole in the middle ofthe night" electrical emergency, due to FIRE RISK). Through City employees, acting as kind of whistleblowers in asking me personally to advocatefor changes out of fear someone would get seriously injured, and follow-up Public RecordsRequests for more information (which, although incomplete in response, were revealing), anumber of very serious safety shortcomings have been uncovered, detailed in part below. I have asked you repeatedly to address these shortcomings. Now, there have been 2 electrical fires in my immediate neighborhood, I believe in the spanof 1 week: one on Kenneth Drive on or around January 16 (believed to be in relation to anelectric heated towel bar) and one on Janice Way on or around January 23 (believed to be inrelation to an electric car charger). The danger of these fires is compounded, of course, by the fact that these are flammableEichlers, in a tree-heavy neighborhood, and that we are a fire engine short down here in SouthPalo Alto, due to budget decisions leaving firehouses short staffed. Could you please update me on what steps are being taken to bring the safety practices ofCity of Palo Alto Utilities in line with industry standards? Are the electrical fires being investigated? Trish TamraziIncreasingly Concerned Palo Alto Homeowner On Tue, Jan 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 8:59 AMSubject: Re: FW: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownoutsTo: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org>,<molly.stump@cityofpaloalto.org>, Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org>, Council,City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@cityofpaloalto.org>, Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@cityofpaloalto.org>, Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>, CityMgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org> Good morning, Mr. Shikada - Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fixthe glaring health and safety issues within Utilities? Following up on my email below from August 2, since I have not heard back from any ofyou. Today is August 13. What has been done to address the glaring safety issues in Utilitiesthat I have been flagging since February? What progress has there been on the list below? I submitted a Public Records Request and the City was unable to provide any maintenanceschedule for the City's electrical system or progress on that schedule. I was told the Citycomplies with CPUC regulations, however, the City was unable to provide evidence of that -so is it safe to assume the City does not, in fact, comply? That is very dangerous!! Andtotally NOT in line with industry standards (again). Why not let the CPUC auditors in to investigate, given the safety dangers this presents toPalo Altans? The outage yesterday and botched response to fix it, is evidence of these glaring safetyissues. Obviously the notification system needs A LOT OF HELP - what will happen in anemergency? Given what yesterday demonstrated, are you addressing those shortcomings? I invite you to read the comments in the linked article, which reflect the disarray in Utilitiesthat I have experienced first-hand since my lights started flickering in January - CityCouncil, these are your constituents who NEED HELP. Please see, for example, below. Please let me know, will you let the CPUC regulators in to help you fix these health andsafety issues? Trish TamraziPalo Alto Homeowner On Fri, Aug 2, 2024 at 8:56 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote:Good morning, As you know from my previous email this morning, I continue to experience poor powersupply at my house (first reported to CPAU on January 24 - today is August 2). I'm now following up on my email below from July 3, since I never received an answer. Could the City Manager's office please provide an update? Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES/ SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lackknowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, inApril, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training andoversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - bootson the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understandproblems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is perCPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). EDITEDTO ADD: Public Records Requests suggest there are also no proper maintenanceschedules for overhead electrical lines (City said there were, as is industrystandard, but was unable to provide, so is it correct to assume they do not exist?). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - trainingand oversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Wed, Jul 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote:Hi there, I do not know who I am communicating with - the email directly below is sent from theemail address of Tomm Marshall, but is signed with Kaylee Burton's signature. This isof course important because Mr. Marshall would be, I believe, presenting technicalinformation, while Ms. Burton would not. Thank you for sending the data from the newest transformer from Thursday, June 27,starting around noon when it was installed. This illustrates exactly my point aboutCPAU's negligence: there is no need to put a load logger up on the line and spend weeksevaluating the voltage swings, as you say you have been doing - there should be testingin real time, right away, as soon as work is being done, and any dangerous conditionsshould be addressed then and there. This perfectly illustrates the fact here: that CPAUleft known dangerous conditions (voltage swings) up on the electrical line, unfixed, sinceat least mid-March (likely February) until June 27. This is not in line with minimummaintenance and safety standards in the industry (as many of CPAU's employees andcontractors have told me). Your troubleshooting efforts were only "persistent," as you are now trying to spin it,because I - a resident and customer - have been persistent. This is no way to run a utility- this is dangerous. Could you please provide an update on the overarching HEALTH AND SAFETYISSUES / SOLUTIONS, which I have inquired about repeatedly? 1. Emergency line and customer service not properly staffed / trained (lack knowledge to do their jobs; Dean Batchelor, in February, and Tomm Marshall, inApril, both agreed with me on the phone that this is a real issue) - training andoversight needed. 2. Employees not empowered to diagnose and fix problems when identified - bootson the ground should be empowered, not supervisors who do not understandproblems (this is per CPAU's own employees). 3. CPAU maintenance standards fall below PG&E's / industry standards (this is perCPAU's own employees - see above and overgrown tree issues above). 4. Contractors must abide by the City's own stated steps of performance - training andoversight needed. (This is the dirty water / water meter swap lawsuit.) What actions are being taken to address these issues? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 4:09 PM Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org>wrote: Ms. Tamarazi, The city is prepared to cover the costs of an electrician to conduct a thoroughinspection of your home. Should the electrician discover any damages that might havebeen caused by the city, you have the option to file a claim through the city's website atSubmit a Claim Against the City – City of Palo Alto, CA, to seek reimbursement forthose damages. Regrettably, this issue was not a simple repair but rather a complex matter that requiredextensive troubleshooting and time to resolve. Enclosed are the latest readings from the newly installed transformer as of Thursday,July 28, confirming that there are currently no issues detected. Due to the complexity of the situation, the solution did not unfold as originallyanticipated. Through persistent troubleshooting efforts, however, we successfullyidentified and resolved the underlying cause. At present, CPAU (City of Palo Alto Utilities) has not been informed of any additionalelectrical concerns associated with transformer malfunctions. I trust that I have sufficiently addressed all of your inquiries in the preceding email. Thank you, Kaylee Burton Utilities Administrative Assistant City of Palo Alto Utilities Department Phone: 650.329.2326 | Cell: 650.444.5305 E-mail: kaylee.burton@CityofPaloAlto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 10:53 AMTo: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Becautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Tomm, Thank you for your email. In response: 1. Will the City commit to paying for all damage to my house? I am waiting to getan electrician in because I am waiting for an answer to the question I have askedmultiple times: will the City commit to paying for any damage found within myhome? My house is newly rewired and had no damage when assessed back inlate January when our flickering lights were first reported to CPAU. Theseflickering lights were later attributed to being caused by severe brownouts due tothe City's poor power supply, however the City denied all possible responsibilityfor over a week prior to putting a smart meter on my house, so, trusting that, Iconsulted multiple electricians during that time. Thereafter, voltage fluctuationswere measured. Therefore, if the power supply to my house is safe and reliablenow and I am still experiencing issues, it is due to the damage the City's poorpower supply has caused to my house. Will the City commit to paying for alldamage? 2. Shouldn't it be up to CPAU - not me - to determine what a "proper fix" is? Ihave been told that, in fact, back in February, the loose leg was tightened and thepower supply got worse, not better, but that the supervisor did not want to payovertime for the proper fix, so they just left it. This is per your own employees - multiple of them told me to advocate for something better than a "Band-aid fix." I know you have denied that being the case, but you have not provided any dataillustrating that your employees who told me to advocate for myself were wrong(and what would their motivation be to lie to me??). What a "proper fix" means,I do not know, nor should I, as I am simply a resident and customer. If youreplaced the transformer only upon my request, as you are now saying - wow,that is incredibly scary and this whole situation is even worse than I thought. 3. Could you please provide data showing the issue is fixed? Do you have datashowing that the fourth transformer fixed the ongoing issue? 4. Why is the fix only at the repeated request of a resident? If I didn't push andpush and push, would you have just left the defective transformers? With thelatest swap (which you say now fixed the poor power supply, right?), Utilitiessent my neighbors notification of power shut down only after I requested theCalifornia State regulators be let in to inspect, and even then it was not treated asan emergency! 5. Are faulty transformers a problem throughout the City of Palo Alto? If yes, whatis being done to fix this issue to protect the health and safety of residents? Pleasesee one resident's account below. I have also connected with other homeownerswhose appliances were blown out by poor power supply to their houses. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi On Tue, Jul 2, 2024 at 9:50 AM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: The voltage fluctuations observed in the network supplied by the transformer locatedat 3480 Thomas Drive were not due to a loose neutral wire but rather stemmed froma manufacturing defect in the transformers supplied to the City of Palo Alto. Initially, the issue at your property was identified as a loose Hot Leg on thetransformer. The voltage fluctuation on your service was resolved upon repairing thisconnection. However, following this repair, you reported persistent voltagefluctuations. Although we did not observe any issues with your service, weproceeded with replacing the transformer upon your request. After replacement, weobserved unexpected voltage deviations causing intermittent flickering on the newtransformer. Subsequent replacement with another unit from the same manufacturerrevealed that the issue lay in a defect inherent to these transformers. The transformer was then replaced a third time, this time with a unit from a differentmanufacturer, which effectively resolved the unexpected voltage fluctuations in thesecondary system. As mentioned previously, if you continue to experience flickering lights or anyrelated issues, we remain committed to assisting you by facilitating an investigationwith an electrician of your choosing to identify and address the root cause. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 2, 2024 9:06 AMTo: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Council, City<city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Becautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Tomm, I hope this email finds you well. Following up on my email from May 31, since Ihave not heard back from you yet and since Kurt Williams told me yesterday tocontact you regarding my questions on the known and unfixed loose neutral. Could you please provide an update on fixing the loose neutral measured up on thepole at 3480 Thomas Drive, in at least March? It looks like they switched out the transformer again last week. I believe that this isthe third time the transformer has been switched. Why was it switched again? Has the loose neutral been fixed? Trish Tamrazi On Fri, May 31, 2024 at 8:13 AM Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm - Following up on my email from Tuesday, since you have notreplied. When will the loose neutral in my neighborhood be fixed? As youknow, utility companies treat this as an emergency, and ours was identified at leastback in March (I believe, in talking with CPAU employees,February). https://www.luminsmart.com/blog/the-dangers-of-floating-neutral-2262 On Tue, May 28, 2024 at 11:25 AM Patricia Judge <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Thanks, Tomm. My understanding is that the crews would know right away bytesting if they fixed the loose neutral, so is it correct to assume that your emailmeans that they did not fix the neutral issue? When will you be doing that? I’msure you can understand my being worried about this since it’s a seriouselectrical danger (risk of surge and fire). From what I have pieced together, there was a neutral issue with the oldtransformer and a neutral issue with the new transformer, so wouldn’t thatsuggest that the issue is NOT with the transformer? Is there maybe a damagedor loose wire somewhere that needs to be found? I understand that would take much more time to find and fix versus switching out the transformer again, and Ido appreciate the crews’ time. 2 City employees now - one back on February and one last week (May) - haveexpressed to me how worried they are about overgrown trees around theoverhead wires in my neighborhood. Could that be contributing to my poor power supply? When will the trees around the wires be trimmed? I’m looping in Councilmember Lauing, since he has been actively working onthis. I’m here to help. I want nothing more than to get this resolved so that I can justlive in peace - with safe and reliable power - and never have to contact youagain. I want to be clear, that is my goal. Thank you, Trish 650-208-4802 Sent from my iPhone On May 28, 2024, at 10:13 AM, Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote:  The transformer was replaced, new wire connections were installedand meters were installed to record data. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2024 10:26 AMTo: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton,Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Hi Tomm, What happened yesterday - did they find the loose neutral(identified in early March) and tighten it? Trish Patricia Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 10:10 AM Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have attached a screenshot of the neutral issue. <image001.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 9:27 AMTo: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton,Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. My understanding is that when my house wason the new transformer, there was a "neutral issue" that waspicked up by the load logger. Could you please send me screenshots of that data, showing the "neutral issue"? On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 8:20 AM Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I have reviewed the data from April 25th – May 1st and haveattached a screenshot below. On 4/29 at about 6AM, there was a temporary dip of the high side voltage, causing the secondaryvoltage to drop below 114V. Besides this anomaly, thesecondary voltage stayed between the required 5% tolerance(126V -114V) and the PST value was below 1, indicating thatno flicker likely occurred expect on the morning on 4/29 wherethe PST value was above 1. <image003.png> Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 4:21 PMTo: Williams, Kurt <Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Marshall, Tomm <Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Batchelor, Dean <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burton, Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causing brownouts Thank you, Kurt. Has the data been reviewed yet that wastaken from the last time the load logger was on the house? On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Hi Patricia, I spoke with Tomm and the meter technicians will be outtomorrow morning, 5/16, between 9AM and 10AM toinstall the load logger. Best, <image002.png> Kurt Williams. Associate Power Engineer, EIT. City of Palo Alto | Utilities Department 1007 Elwell Court | Palo Alto, CA 94303 O: 650-329-2445 | C: | E: kurt.williams@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 8:57 AMTo: Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Williams, Kurt<Kurt.Williams@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causingbrownouts Hi Tomm, My lights are flickering again - at 11:15am on Sunday 5/12and in the evening of Monday 5/13. The flickering was ondifferent circuits. I can send video if you'd like. I don't know whether the load logger is on or not? I thinkmaybe it is not, since I did see my gate closed differentlyafter it was installed. I don't receive notification of the work- but I would like that, please, since I am having to beso involved. A couple of questions: 1. Is it possible there are loose connections from Utilitieson my panel? There was a torque test on everythingmy electrician did - how about what Utilities hasdone? It seemed like the flickering stopped when theload logger was on (if it is indeed off) - so I thoughtmaybe it was a loose connection related to that -especially since you had told me previously that youfound a LOOSE CONNECTION on the load logger. This is quite concerning, of course, and should be aneasy fix? It seems like the load logger was taken off,and the flickering returned. 2. You said previously there was a "neutral issue" whenconnected to the NEW transformer, so you took us offthat and put us on the OLD transformer next to it. Canyou just fix the "neutral issue" and put me on theNEW transformer? Will this solve my flickeringlights? What does "neutral issue" mean? This flickering was first reported to CPAU January 24, sothis is quite frustrating that it is still going on. Could you please fix it? Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 25, 2024 at 2:47 PM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Here are more files. From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 2:16 PMTo: Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton, Kaylee<Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causingbrownouts Hi Tomm, Load logger. Having a meter reset - does that meancoming out to put a load logger back on my house? Myunderstanding is that the smart meter will not pick up mostpoor power supply issues - I need a load logger on there,and it needs to be the correct one (I have been told therewas a "wrong" one on, for quite a while). I was told that itwas only because my brownouts were so severe that thesmart meter picked them up - generally, it would not. Video. The video showed the light - when the light switchis turned off - it takes a long time to go out, gets verybright, then turns off. This is on a dumb switch. It wasflickering severely the day before this odd behavior (I dohave video of the flickering). Then this odd behavior. Then back to normal. Please note that this isdifferent than the flickering, which occurs when the lightsare on. This is odd behavior when we try to turn the lightoff. Flickering. Flickering occurs on fixtures with lightbulbsthroughout the house - many have dumb switches, somehave dimmers. Since this flickering is consistent acrossdifferent switch devices and happens intermittently, itseems unlikely that the flickering is due to dimmers. Itseems flickering is more pronouced on fixtures with bulbsthan integrated LEDs - I have been told that mayindicate low voltage - what do you think? Records request. I do not believe that any original datasets came through to me in response to my recordsrequest. There are many, many items missing in therecords request, which I only submitted because I've askedfor the data many times, and I have never received it. Ihave been told that Utilities does not want to provide it(folks refer to "my supervisor") - which is why I put in therecords request - as a matter of law, it is to be provided. I'm attaching the load logger data that I have seen - but Iwould like the full data set, please. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Tue, Apr 23, 2024 at 1:36 PM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: I am having the charts printed out so that I can forwardthem to you . The original datasets were included in thePublic Records Request but they appear to require themeter manufacturers software to decode the data. WhenI have more time I will see if the files can be exportedin a data file that can be read by something likeEXCEL. The PDF files of the data from your houseshould be ready by the end of the week. I have asked the engineer to request the meter to bereset on your house and it should be done this week. The video showed the light flickering and going out. Acouple of questions since I don’t know the setup in yourhouse. Was this the only light experiencing theflickering? Is the light connected to a dimmer switch? Thanks for you patience. Some people who received this message don't often get emailfrom patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2024 12:43 PMTo: Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Burton,Kaylee <Kaylee.Burton@CityofPaloAlto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issues causingbrownouts Hi Tomm, Following up from our phone discussion on Thursday,April 18, since I have not heard from anyone yet - Could you send all data from the load loggersassociated with the power to my house, please? Whenwill load loggers be put back on my house, please? I have more video of my lights flickering on Saturday,April 20. Could you please let me know if you'd like tosee it? My understanding from our discussion Thursday is thatyou measured the following: (1) brownouts initially(first reported January 24 and recorded via smart meterFebruary 8 - these issues are also in the data from theload loggers?), (2) power to house from newtransformer around February 12, then continuingflickering lights due to a problem with the neutral (isthat a loose neutral?), then (3) did not fix those neutralissues, instead moved the house to an old transformer on the secondary pole (which also had loose connections - so if the "proper fix" on the other polewas a new transformer, why not on this pole too?), andcontinuing flickering lights. Did you have a chance to review the video I sent onApril 17, video recorded April 14? I've never seen alight do this - could you please tell me what is goingon? Is this dangerous? Is this a surge due to ongoingissues? The light did go back to normal - so the onlything that could have changed is the power supply to myhouse. Thank you, Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 11:55 AM Patricia JudgeTamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Dear Tomm, I look forward to speaking with you soon. Thank you for your call on the afternoon of Thursday,April 4. I'm sorry for missing it - I am dealing withsome health issues and could not answer the phone. My understanding is that many City employees donot work on Fridays, so I intended to call you onMonday, April 8. However, upon walking out mydoor to take my son to school on that morning, I cameupon the City's contractor replacing my water meter(no notice) - I asked him to follow specific Cityprocedures laid out to my elderly neighbor whosewater was grossly contaminated by the techniquesused by the contractor, with the assurance thoseprocedures would be followed, but they were not, andmy water was contaminated with yard dirt. I havebeen dealing with that since. I just left you a voicemail. Attached please find thevideo I referenced in that voicemail, of the weirdissue with the light in my daughter's room. This waslast Thursday, April 11. The day before, April 10, thelights were severely flickering. The light went backto normal as of Sunday, April 14. The only thing thatpossibly could have changed is the power supply tothe house. By way of background which may behelpful, this light fixture was new last year - it useslightbulbs. Could you please provide all load logger data relatedto the power supply to my house? If you think this issue is resolved, could you pleaseput a load logger back on to measure these issues? Ihave never seen a light act like in the video - neitherhave electricians that I have consulted. I am very worried that this is dangerous and couldstart a fire. Trish Tamrazi 650-208-4802 On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 10:31 AM Patricia JudgeTamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Tomm, It's nice to hear from you. I am free to discuss byphone at any time. I want to start with a baseline: Iam here to help and I am open to working withyou. While I am very upset with the dysfunction inPalo Alto, my anger and frustration is not directedtoward employees like you (as a general statement,with exceptions for those who have been threatening to me and/or lied to me). A quick Google search suggests that you probablyunderstand the reality of what I am going through. My lights seem to flicker evenings and weekends -but not long holiday weekends or, it seems, duringthis week which is spring break for Palo Altopublic schools. The "EIT" (which I assume is "Engineer inTraining"), who I have been told is the point personfor my issues (an illustration of how seriously it'sbeen taken, that we don't even have a licensedengineer in charge), suggested my flickering lightsare due to some sort of machine at a hypotheticalconstruction site nearby, which is, of course, silly. I think it's more likely that it's the 2 EVs chargingin many driveways in my neighborhood. It's been insinuated to me that CPAU is coveringup issues voiced by citizens like me, who are onlytrying to get safe and reliable power to our houses. Maybe it's that with the City Council's obsessionwith electrification, no one dares admit what'sactually going on. Yes, my primary transformer was upgraded, buthow about the lines? I've been in contact with a bunch of folks withflickering lights who are PG&E customers - PG&Ecomes right out, diagnoses the problem, and fixesit. Here in Palo Alto is different - in a bad way. Ihave been told that cutting costs is the number 1priority - not providing safe and reliable power to homes or empowering linemen to diagnose and fixproblems. Do you know that another customer called inflickering lights and 2 failed appliances (at least)and it took 10 days plus another follow-up call plus1 more day to get a lineman out to just check for aloose neutral?! How unsafe!!!! They put a loadlogger on, but now she's getting the runaroundfrom CPAU for someone to come out to pull thedata. It's exactly what happened to me. This is too much to ask from citizens. This is noway to run a utility. Please let me know when a good time for adiscussion is. Again, my anger is toward this dysfunctional city,not toward you. Thank you for reaching out to me, and I lookforward to working together. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:24 PM Marshall, Tomm<Tomm.Marshall@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: If you have time tomorrow or sometime nextweek I would like to have a conversation withyou regarding you concerns with the electricservice at your house. I am the Assistant Directorof Electric Engineering and Operations and I Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important hope that I can find a way to address yourconcerns. My staff has updated me on yoursituation and I am familiar with the events andthe visits to your house. In addition, I havereviewed the voltage and current recordings thathave been take at your house and in the adjacenthomes. Please let me know when you have time todiscuss either on the phone or in person at yourhome. Thanks From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 9:02 PMTo: Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Batchelor, Dean<Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>; CityMgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Stump,Molly <Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Kou, Lydia <Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Tanaka,Greg <Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Clerk,City <city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fix issuescausing brownouts Dear City Council, I last wrote to you on March 27 and still have notreceived an answer. The only time I received asubstantive answer was when I expressed mydispleasure at not being able to purchase an EV(being afraid that my neighborhood would burndown or that my young children were in dangerdidn't strike a chord with you). So, here's moreabout that EV: Here are photographs of the two places in mygarage where I had planned for EV chargers: <image004.png> <image005.png> Last week, I purchased a gas powered car toreplace the old car which was totaled after beingstolen from in front of my house here in PaloAlto. Attached please find video of my lightsflickering on the evening of March 28. This isvisual evidence of why I cannot have an EV:CPAU fails to provide safe and reliableelectricity to my home. My flickering lights were first reported to CPAUon January 24. After struggling with CPAU forover 2 weeks, I first reached out to you regardingthis issue on February 9, after I was told byCPAU's own employees that I needed toadvocate for a "proper fix" to our issues and wasmet with a threatening environment when I didso in person to CPAU's supervising employee. Itruly thought you would help me, but I am stillwaiting. Our flickering continues. We now have multiple problems with theelectronics in our home, all of which are newsince we just finished renovating in late 2023. For example (and this is not all-inclusive), ourbathroom fans act up (turn on and off randomlyand unexpectedly) and the ice in our Sub-zero isstuck together (suggesting that it is not regulatingits temperature properly). My family is suffering because ofyour unresponsiveness. I spend countless hourstrying to navigate how to get my citygovernment to respond to me so that I can getsafe and reliable power to my house. Mybusiness is suffering, my young children aresuffering, and I have developed health issues. It is your responsibility to oversee CPAU, isn'tit? Your constituents are depending on you. I close this 8th email to you as I have most of theemails that came before it: I welcome anythoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Mar 27, 2024 at 9:27 AM PatriciaJudge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Dear City Council, I have not heard from Dean, nor from Ed, since being told by Ed on March 5 that Deanwill be calling me and that Ed would join ifneeded. That was over 3 weeks ago. Episode 1 of The Invisible Shield premieredon PBS last night. I recommend you watch it. I found it inspiring to see the amazing impactproperly funded and functioning public healthsystems can have, as well as the negativeeffects that flow from cutting funding andletting those systems fall into disrepair. Alesson, perhaps, for your management of theUtilities Department? I'm sure by now you have heard of thecontamination of some houses' drinking waterthat was caused by the contractor the city hiredto swap out water meters. When are youplanning on warning residents of the error andhelping them to clean up the mess? This is apublic health issue!!! As you remain silent,citizens have been drinking contaminatedwater! In the same vein, I am still waiting on you tonotify my neighbors of the damage your poorpower supply has done to their homes. I firstsuggested you do this in my email below onFebruary 21. By the way, I have connected with a womanacross town - a mom with your children and alot on her plate - who has had flickering lightsas well as a dishwasher and refrigerator thathave gone out. My understanding is that she ispatiently waiting for someone to come out toher house to check it out. I imagine I do notneed to state this to you, as you are theregulators of the Utility and must know - butjust in case: utilities companies generally treatflickering lights as an emergency! Another thing is that, after following up, thecity's response to my Public Records Requestis still woefully unresponsive. I am simplytrying to gather information to fix the powersupply to my house! It is the city's legal dutyto respond fully. The city did, however,produce 2 emails which are sickening: 1. Prior to anyone providing me any realassistance or response, Dean forwardedmy desperate email pleading for helpand expressing my general displeasurewith the mismanagement in Palo Alto toCatherine Elvert, who I gather from aGoogle search is a PR professional, withthe note “Here you go !!!” Were yougetting your talking points in order,rather than focusing on helping yourcitizens??2. 1 hour AFTER my THIRD desperateemail pleading for help (email stamp onmy email shows, "date: Feb 12, 2024,2:05 PM"), Ed sent an email (emailstamp on Ed's email shows: "Sent:Monday, February 12, 2024 3:16 PM")to multiple City of Palo Alto emailaddresses stating that Dean has spokento me a couple times (NOT TRUE!!!!!)and “No need for further prompting.Thanks all!” NOTHING HAD BEENADDRESSED. I close this 7th email to you as I have most ofthe emails that came before it: I welcome anythoughts you have on this matter. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 4:50 PM PatriciaJudge Tamrazi <patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Dear Ed, Thank you for your note, however, I mustbe very clear: I would much rather have aresponsive, caring, and ethical citygovernment, than bring any thieves tojustice. The stress from having our car stolen fromin front of our house pales in comparison tothe stress and anguish we have experiencedas a family in getting the run around fromCPAU and then being ignored by City Hall,as I try to get safe and reliable powerdelivered to the houses in myneighborhood. Regarding the electrical issue: I shouldnever have been this involved or have had topush so hard. This is too much to ask fromcitizens. It is no way to run a utility. But, tocontinue down that path: logically, shouldn'tthe transformer also be replaced on the"secondary pole," where loose connectionswere also found? If that was the "properfix" on the first pole climbed (i.e. PG&Eminimum maintenance standards), wouldn'tit also be the "proper fix" on the second? This is, of course, putting aside that perhapsthis is a long-standing issue, not unique tomy block, which has harmed many alongthe way. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Tue, Mar 5, 2024 at 12:28 PM Shikada,Ed <Ed.Shikada@cityofpaloalto.org> wrote: Dear Ms. Tamrazi, I am so sorry to hear about your car beingstolen. I can only imagine how this hasimpacted you and your family. Whileunderstanding nothing can make up forsuch a violation, I hope the thieves arequickly brought to justice. Regarding your electrical issue, I havespoken to Director Batchelor andunderstand he will be calling you tofollow up. I’m sorry to hear that theirreplacement of the electrical transformerdid not resolve the problem. I will stay intouch with him and happy to join a call ashe works with you on next steps. Sincerely, --Ed <image006.png>Ed Shikada, City Manager ICMA Credentialed Manager (650) 329-2280 | ed.shikada@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org <image007.png> From: Patricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 9:27 AMTo: Batchelor, Dean Some people who received this message don't often get email from patricia.judge@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <Dean.Batchelor@CityofPaloAlto.org>Cc: Shikada, Ed<Ed.Shikada@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stump, Molly<Molly.Stump@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Burt, Patrick<Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org>; Kou,Lydia <Lydia.Kou@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Lythcott-Haims, Julie<Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Stone, Greer<Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Tanaka, Greg<Greg.Tanaka@CityofPaloAlto.org>;Veenker, Vicki<Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org>;City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>;Clerk, City<city.clerk@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Plea to PROPERLY fixissues causing brownouts CAUTION: This email originatedfrom outside of the organization.Be cautious of opening attachmentsand clicking on links. Good morning, City Council, On Thursday night, our car got stolenfrom in front of our house here in PaloAlto. It looks like it's totaled. When wecompletely rewired the house last year,we future proofed to accommodate an EVcharger - 2 actually. However, CPAU is unable to provide safe and reliable powerto our house. Because of this, to our greatdisappointment, we cannot replace ourgas powered car with an EV. My husband is a physician - if he gets acall in the middle of the night thatsomeone is bleeding to death and needsan intervention, and his EV didn't charge -well, that's a big problem! City Council - I see your talking points onelectrification (I'm all for electrification). You know that your electricalinfrastructure can't support it. This is the real world effect of yourdecisions: a family that wanted to goelectric cannot. You remain silent, as I plead for yourhelp, dating back to my first email to youon February 9. We are now on March 4. As for my flickering lights here at 3409Greer Rd. - the latest working theory fromCPAU is that it is caused by an aircompressor at a theoretical constructionsite nearby. (1) That's a laughabletheory. (2) My lights flicker evenings andweekends - which CPAU engineers havebeen told. Is the cause the 2 EVscharging in every driveway + an outdatedelectrical infrastructure that cannotsupport it? I put in a Public Records Request relatedto my power issues. (a) The response wasa day late. (b) The response was blatantlyincomplete. I believe the public policy reasoningbehind municipal utilities falling outsideof regulation is (i) elected officials, who serve as the utlity's oversight, will beresponsive (mine - you - are silent) and(ii) there are protections such as thePublic Records Request (my cityobviously disregards its legal duties). In speaking with utilities attorneys lastweek, one stated: When municipalutilities are good, they're really great. Butwhen they're bad, it's abysmal. I understand that you let Tesla jumpahead of the rest of the city in the gridupdate. Maybe Elon Musk's words willresonate with you then - he said that theworld will face supply crunches inelectricity and transformers next year. What does that result in? Flickeringlights. City Council - Could you please takesteps to make our municipal utility "reallygreat," instead of "abysmal"? Yourconstituents are depending on you. I welcome your thoughts. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 9:24 AMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Good morning, The lights continue to flicker here at3409 Greer Rd. I still have not heardanything substantive from anyoneexcept for Dean. City Manager Shikada and CityCouncil - you are the regulators of theUtilities Department, correct? Whyhave I still not heard back from any ofyou with anything substantive? (Thevast majority of you, I have not heardanything at all.) I still have not received any answer - isthis a fire risk? I am worried - I have 2small children - I have expressed thisand no one seems to care! The transformer that I have been toldsupplies power to my house wasswitched out on February 15. OnFebruary 14, the Utilities Departmentclimbed another pole nearby (describedto me as my "secondary pole") andfound loose connections, which I'vebeen told were tightened. That's 2 outof 2 poles with loose connections. Isroutine maintenance being done? Arethere loose connections all over thecity? My lights continue to flicker - areother loose connections causing this? The "secondary pole" with looseconnections would explain theproblems the neighbors haveexperienced on that side of my house:(1) one neighbor's refrigerator went outand she had to go buy a new one lastweekend, (2) another neighbor hadflickering lights (I discovered this byoverhearing him over the fencespeaking to someone about his panel),(3) a third neighbor had an outdoorlight that was malfunctioning (she described it as "acting weird"). Theseare the things that I have heard only inpassing - surprisingly, everyone hascomplete trust in Palo Alto Utilities anddoes not blame the poor power supplythey are receiving. These 3 houses arein addition to the 6 houses experiencingpoor power supply issues from theother pole (one of which went through3 refrigerators in January). So that's 9houses total with issues - and I imaginethere are more! As an aside, shouldn't you disclose toyour citizens these issues after youdiscover them? Shouldn't you informthem that they have been receiving poorpower supply and educate them on thedamage that has possibly (or likely)been done to the appliances andelectronics within their home? Ithought CPAU is supposed to do betterthan PG&E? On February 14, I received a call froman engineer to get my story to analyzethe data collected by the load logger onmy house. He was unaware that minewas not the only house with flickeringlights! How is communication thatbad?! As a reminder, the morning ofFebruary 9 was when I first emailed allof you to escalate this issue - at thattime we had 5 houses total withconfirmed flickering lights. Theengineer was not informed that it wasnot just my house with flickering lights- I had to explain to him then send himnotes! On February 14, I was told that thewrong load logger had been on myhouse since February 7. It wasswitched for the correct one, which Iwas told would get better data. Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Mon, Feb 12, 2024 at 2:05 PMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello again, everyone, As an update since my emails onFriday: My lights continue to flickerafter Thursday's "Band-Aid fix," asdescribed by CPAU employees. Over the weekend, I discovered a 6thneighboring house with flickeringlights. My understanding is that flickeringlights are a sign of possible fire risk,as they are often caused by looseconnections that may arc. Since I did not receive an answerfrom any of you on Friday regardingwhether my neighbors and I are atrisk for fire, despite my desperateplea, I called the Fire Departmentthis morning to ask. I have been toldthat they are looking into it. I talked with Dean this morning, afterI spoke with the Fire Department,and he is looking into the issue. I doappreciate his call. I still do not understand why CPAU'sstandard practice falls below PG&Estandards or how that is acceptable? The Metering Department has beenout to pull the load logger from myhouse and put a new one. Iunderstand they're analyzing thedata. Why not just change out thetransformer, as PG&E would do? Further, there seems to be noeffective regulation of CPAU. Ithink you all (with the exception ofDean and perhaps the City Attorney)are responsible for oversight, but Ihave not heard anything substantivefrom any of you. Quite honestly, I now feel incrediblyunsafe here in Palo Alto. Does maintenance of the gasinfrastructure also fall below PG&Estandards? There is something up on the pole onGreer as I walk my children to schoolthat makes a lot of noise. Is it atransformer? Does the noise meanit's old and in disrepair? I know if atransformer explodes, my childrenand I should not be under it, as wewill be harmed by the oil insidefalling on us. Do I have to rerouteour walk to keep us safe? I trustedCPAU, and although I noted thesound every time I walked under it, Ididn't think twice about walkingunder it. Now, I do think twice. The problems aren't just with theUtilities Department. On December19, the garbage cans were notcollected in my cul-de-sac. Myelderly neighbor phoned daily, andthe cans were not collected untilDecember 23, after my secondelderly neighbor in the cul-de-saccalled on December 22 (so it took 3days of calling, plus it seems like itwasn't taken seriously until there wasa second household calling). Aftermy experience with Utilities, I wassure to apologize to my neighbor fornot calling as well - I had never heardof anything like this! Recologyalways comes out the next day,whenever there is an issue. We just spent 2 years lovinglyrenovating our Eichler - it's ourdream house and we intended for itto be our "forever home." We movedhere from Redwood City for theschools and also to be surrounded bya community of safety-orientedindividuals (something that becameespecially important in thepandemic). I am devastated to learnthat CPAU standards fall belowPG&E standards. We are nowconsidering moving, but it would bevery difficult for us to do sofinancially. I appreciate hearing any thoughts youmay have? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 1:30 PMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com> wrote: Hello everyone, I know you're all busy and it'sFriday, but I really do think this isurgent. Can someone please getback to me? I have 2 small children in myhome, and I am worried about thesafety of the electricity beingsupplied to my home and thehomes around me. Am I at risk forfire? I've asked this to CPAUmultiple times, with no answer. Am I safe to stay in my home overthe weekend? I am lucky enough to have a veryclose family friend who is a retiredPG&E lineman. His partner hasbeen in the hospital, I have justfound out, so we were only justable to reach him late morningtoday. He said that PG&Ewould have changed out thattransformer - that's what Tito saidhe is opting not to do and the 2other employees at CPAU told meI should "plead my case" for. I hadno idea what the standard is, untilnow. I am new to Palo Alto, having onlyowned my home for a little over 2years, but my understanding fromfellow residents is that CPAU isbetter than PG&E. Then why isn'tCPAU doing the minimum thatPG&E would do? As you can tell from my emailbelow, I had already lost faith -given prior interactions - thatCPAU was fixing our problems. Iwasn't sure, though - maybe notreplacing a transformer was a fix,which is why I emailed you. Now,I have an opinion from aknowledgeable source that thetransformer should have beenreplaced. After learning that CPAU ispossibly not meeting standardpractice - and having not heardback from anyone with higherauthority - I contacted theCalifornia Public UtilitiesCommission and was disheartened(to say it lightly) to hear that theyonly advocate for customers ofshareholder owned utilities - i.e.,not CPAU. I was advised that Ineed to appeal to the City - which,I think, is all you. Is there anyone else, or any otherentity, to protect CPAU customerswhen there is evidence that astandard is not being met? Am Ireaching out to the wrong peoplefor help? Am I at risk for fire? Should I callthe Fire Department and ask? What does a "Band-Aid fix" versusa "real fix" mean, in terms ofsafety? Should I leave my home? Are my neighbors safe? Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 On Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 6:46 AMPatricia Judge Tamrazi<patricia.judge@gmail.com>wrote: Good morning, Dean, I'm at my wit's end and writingto you, copying the CityManager, City Attorney, andCity Council, asking you toplease ensure that my ongoingand severe electrical issues at3409 Greer Road are fixed byCPAU. At least 4 of myneighbors are experiencing thesesame issues (5 houses total). Ihave been told by 2 CPAUemployees that we are receivinga "Band-Aid fix," not a real fix. I am considering filing a lawsuit,given how grossly negligent and,frankly, abusive, my interactionswith CPAU have been. But - atthis time - my focus is on gettingthe electrical service to myhouse and my neighbors'houses properly fixed. Attached please find resultsfrom my smart meter, pulledyesterday, February 8, showingsevere brownouts to my home at3409 Greer Rd. This smartmeter was put on my house onFebruary 7. As you'll see, onebrownout lasted 1 hour 9minutes, which I have been toldis "insane." For those on the email without an electricalbackground, here is a quickprimer on the seriousness ofbrownouts. I'm also attaching a video of onelight fixture at my house,illustrating the severity of theflickering lights that I firstreported to CPAU on January24. (Please excuse the paint job- we just finished completelyrenovating the inside and don'thave the nice weather yet topaint the outside. That is anew light fixture, installed lastyear.) As reported to CPAU,this has been happeningthroughout my entire house, andwe also heard exhaust fansthroughout the house slowingdown and speeding up. My nextdoor neighbor had the sameexperience. From January 24 to the time thisdata was looked at by CPAUyesterday, February 8, CPAUemployees have denied thatthere are any issues on CPAU'sside. Shockingly, theycontinued to deny this, evenafter being formally informed of4 more houses with flickeringlights. Until yesterday afternoonwhen they finally looked at thesmart meter data from my house,various CPAU employees kepttelling me to call an electrician,which I did (multiple, in fact). As an aside, 1 week into myordeal, one neighbor calledCPAU dispatch reportingflickering lights and was told to call back when the flickering gotworse. Every knowledgeableperson I have talked to - with theexception of one CPAUemployee - has thought that wasabsolutely reckless, mostlaughing in disbelief. Linemen came out yesterday torectify the situation, but I wastold by 2 individuals withinCPAU that they were doing a"Band-Aid fix," not a real fix. Iwas told by one well-meaningCPAU employee that I shouldwalk around the corner to wherethe linemen were working andfind a big guy with a bald headnamed Tito to "plead my case"for a real fix. That in itself isone of the craziest things I'veever heard! Tito did not seem very receptiveto this (rightfully so becausewho am I as a homeowner to tellhim how to do his job?), so,shaken up, I went home andcalled the City Manager's office,pleading for an advocate. Ingrid, the administrativeassistant, took down my storyand my information, and I havereceived attempted help fromAlex Gonzalez, UtilitiesSupervisor. Alex even workedon my issue into the evening. However, Alex is not in chargeof the correct division of CPAUto address my issue. Thisillustrates a continued lack ofunderstanding of my issue, atbest, and perhaps a continuedlack of willingness to rectify my issue. That is why I'm reachingout to you. Can you help? With best regards, Trish Tamrazi 3409 Greer Rd. 650-208-4802 From:Winter Dellenbach To:Horrigan-Taylor, Meghan Cc:Council, City Subject:Tesla spill update requested Date:Tuesday, January 28, 2025 9:35:01 AM Hi Meghan - I don't see a further update on the City website RE the mid Oct Tesla spill into Matadero Creek. Surely the investigation is complete by now? It's important the public is updated on the spill before the Feb 6 Stream Corridor Community Meeting is held since itmay influence thinking about creek setbacks. Would you please update me as to --Cause of spill?-Confirm amts of what was spilled?-Has any more harm from this spill become known?-Where is the map I requested of the City and SRP private storm drain systems that poses a potential path for futuretoxic spills into the creek?-What is the City's updated plan for spill prevention in Matadero Creek and bypass in light of the Tesla spill?-What fees or fines were imposed on Tesla/SRP?-Other relevant information about this spill that the public would want to know? When will I/the public be updated on the above, Meghan? Thank you as always for working for our City and its residents.Winter Dellenbach From:Jason Matlof To:Hayden Kantor Cc:Council, City Subject:Re: support for 3265 El Camino Real (Teacher Housing Project) Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 7:01:45 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. You make doing good look so easy. ;-) THank you !!! Regards, Jason MatlofHalf Dome Capital LLC jrm@halfdomecap.com650-206-8396 On Jan 27, 2025, at 5:18 PM, Hayden Kantor <haydenkantor@gmail.com> wrote:Dear Palo Alto City Council, I am writing to express my strong support for the Teacher Housing Project at 3265 El Camino Real. I am a Palo Alto resident and a parent of two children, the oldest of whom will become a PAUSD student this year. This project provides infill on a vacant lot, is located on transit that runs close to many schools, and provides housing for our teachers at a price they can afford. I read in the newspaper that the owner of a neighboring lot objected to this project. That is utterly without basis, to my mind. If the owner wants to control the future of this lot, he should buy and develop it himself. Through that logic, no one would live near anyone else. This is a reasonable project that will enhance a blighted corridor and provide access for teachers who educate our community. This project is as close to a win-win-win as we can get. When my children attend school or are sick at the hospital, the staff and administrators frequently lament the long commutes and how difficult it is to retain talented teachers and nurses. Staff turnover is a major challenge here due to housing costs. Making it so difficult to build housing harms Palo Alto and our local institutions. This project will eliminate long commutes, reducing emissions. As a teacher myself, I know that a long commute saps your energy and ultimately reduces involvement in the school. It isn't sustainable for the environment, the institution, or the teacher. More generally, we also need the City Council to approve market-rate housing that will add to our tax base, provide customers for local businesses, add enrollment for our schools, and boost our community. The long development timeline and onerous hurdles amount to costly foot-dragging that is harming our community. Please approve the Teaching Housing Project at 3265 El Camino Real without further modification or delay! Best, Hayden Kantor Palo Alto, CA From:Hayden Kantor To:Council, City Subject:support for 3265 El Camino Real (Teacher Housing Project) Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 5:18:58 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Palo Alto City Council, I am writing to express my strong support for the Teacher Housing Project at 3265 El Camino Real. I am a Palo Alto resident and a parent of two children, the oldest of whom will become a PAUSD student this year. This project provides infill on a vacant lot, is located on transit that runs close to many schools, and provides housing for our teachers at a price they can afford. I read in the newspaper that the owner of a neighboring lot objected to this project. That is utterly without basis, to my mind. If the owner wants to control the future of this lot, he should buy and develop it himself. Through that logic, no one would live near anyone else. This is a reasonable project that will enhance a blighted corridor and provide access for teachers who educate our community. This project is as close to a win-win-win as we can get. When my children attend school or are sick at the hospital, the staff and administrators frequently lament the long commutes and how difficult it is to retain talented teachers and nurses. Staff turnover is a major challenge here due to housing costs. Making it so difficult to build housing harms Palo Alto and our local institutions. This project will eliminate long commutes, reducing emissions. As a teacher myself, I know that a long commute saps your energy and ultimately reduces involvement in the school. It isn't sustainable for the environment, the institution, or the teacher. More generally, we also need the City Council to approve market-rate housing that will add to our tax base, provide customers for local businesses, add enrollment for our schools, and boost our community. The long development timeline and onerous hurdles amount to costly foot-dragging that is harming our community. Please approve the Teaching Housing Project at 3265 El Camino Real without further modification or delay! Best, Hayden Kantor Palo Alto, CA From:Aram James To:Sean Allen Cc:Martin Wasserman; Carla; Sharon Jackson; Pat M; Sarah Wright; lasha heard; Raymond Goins; James Staten; William Armaline; Habtegabriel Mulugeta; Rose Lynn; DAVID 4X; Raj Jayadev; Richard Konda; Jose Valle; Sameena Usman; Don Austin; board@pausd.org; Yolanda Conaway; Council, City; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott- Haims, Julie; Lotus Fong; ladoris cordell; Bill Newell; Sarah Wright; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Doug Minkler; Mickie Winkler; John Burt; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Rowena Chiu; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Chris Colohan; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Hayden; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; Michelle; Stump, Molly; Jack Ajluni; Cait James; Templeton, Cari; Zelkha, Mila; Jax Ajluni; Salem Ajluni; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Perron, Zachary; Clerk, City; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; EPA Today; Daniel Kottke; Dave Price; Wagner, April; Enberg, Nicholas; Palo Alto Free Press; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Kaloma Smith; dennis burns; Lewis james; Senator Becker; Reifschneider, James; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; DuJuan Green; Gerry Gras; Steve Wagstaffe; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external) Subject:Re: Silicon Valley NAACP - Our Stance Against the Exclusion of Ethnic Studies from the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict Curriculum Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 5:17:16 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. **Date: January 27, 2025** Dear All, As we continue our examination of the genocidal and apartheid nature of the state of Israel, Iwould like to share an important report for us to read and reflect upon. Please feel free to add your own insights and comments on this topic. I hope that this report will inspire manyquestions and further discussion. Best, Avram Finkelstein Amnesty International’s report re Israel’s Apartheid against the Palestinians people. Source: Amnesty International Q&A: Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime against Humanity - Amnesty International https://search.app/SgrjmjHC3zvwieeV8 On Sun, Jan 26, 2025 at 12:26 PM Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: The Choice for American History to Shine While Ethnic Studies Is Left in the Dark =Explicit Bias Defined! Dear Mr. Wasserman, Your position seems to uphold the status quo, where dominant narratives overshadow the diverse experiences that make up our collective history. It appears your concern is not in fostering a comprehensive understanding of history, but rather in perpetuating a version thataligns with your perspective while minimizing or excluding the histories of others. Ethnic studies programs are designed to offer an inclusive curriculum that recognizes the contributions, struggles, and achievements of all groups. This approach is not about vilifyingany particular group or creating divisions; instead, it aims to empower students by providing a complete picture of our nation’s history. Understanding both the triumphs and injustices ofthe past enables students to engage with the present in a more critical and thoughtful manner. Moreover, it raises important questions about why some individuals seek to downplay orerase the histories of others. Traditional American history often prioritizes European contributions while overlooking the effects on Indigenous peoples, the enslavement ofAfricans, and the annexation of territories like California. Education should adopt a more inclusive perspective that acknowledges this legacy. Recognizing the significantcontributions of various groups, particularly immigrants like the Chinese workers who faced prejudice, is crucial. Their vital role in completing the Transcontinental Railroad not onlyconnected the nation but also transformed travel and commerce, underscoring the importance of teaching students about the diverse contributions that have shaped our society. The ideological influences embedded in education are fundamental to the learning process.The most impactful lessons for our youth—the very strength of our future—are learned at home and through their educators. These lessons become imprinted in the minds of youngergenerations, shaping who they ultimately become. It is essential to recognize that our state has the largest prison system in the world, and the reality is that incarceration tends tobenefit those who are not incarcerated. Three common factors associated with incarceration include a lack of affluence, a lack of impulse control, and a lack of education. Consequently,the perspective of the incarcerated is often narrow and limited. By implementing ethnic studies programs, we can engage, inform, and motivate our youth, ensuring they feel connected to their history. This connection not only fosters a sense ofidentity but can also help diminish the troubling statistics surrounding incarceration. Unfortunately, there are those who resist such initiatives because they do not align with theirown narratives, often rooted in racism. Promoting a singular narrative risks denying students the opportunity to learn about thediverse experiences that have shaped our society. This issue transcends individual identities; it speaks to the collective identity of our nation. By acknowledging and celebrating all facetsof history, we can foster a more cohesive and equitable society where every individual can see themselves reflected and valued. The divide we see is often rooted in the inaccuracies and omissions in the narratives being presented. Let me be candid: the environment you describe exists alongside the harshrealities faced by communities of color. In my experience patrolling neighborhoods, I’ve witnessed the elite evade consequences for violent acts while people of color are arrested forminor offenses. I recall responding to a burglary call only to be met with racial slurs demanding the presence of a non-Black officer. Additionally, I have seen a Black childsubjected to violence at the direction of a teacher. The fears of separation you express may stem from unchecked racism that continues to permeate our society. Children of color, like all children, should be able to embrace theircountry with the confidence that their history is acknowledged and celebrated, allowing them to see themselves as equals. What you propose could inadvertently obscure thishistory, leaving them vulnerable to losing their identity and assimilating into a narrow perspective. America is indeed a powerful and influential country, but we did not achievethis status without facing significant challenges and injustices. For our children to embrace the future, they must understand the complexities of how we arrived here. In conclusion, while it is valid to be cautious about ideological influences in education, it isequally important to recognize the potential of ethnic studies programs to promote empathy, critical thinking, and social responsibility. By engaging with these subjects, we can worktowards a more informed and cohesive society, where all individuals are empowered to contribute positively, rather than being pitted against one another. Best regards, Sean On Jan 26, 2025, at 9:49 AM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:  Dear Sean, Thank you for your thoughtful message, which I hope will be the beginning of aproductive dialogue. The motivation behind many ethnic studies programs seems to be to advance anideology that divides humanity into two classes, oppressors and their victims,and demands that people always side with the victims against their allegedoppressors, who are often defined by characteristics such as race, religion orsocial class. These programs are aimed not at healing social divisions, but exacerbatingthem. Instead of teaching disadvantaged students that they are active agentswho can improve their circumstances through their own efforts, they teach themthat they are mere victims who can never improve their lives as long as theiroppressors are in power, so they're only recourse is to launch a revolutionagainst those they believe are keeping them down. I believe that Marxist revolutionaries, though they may not entirely dominatethe ethnic studies movement, certainly have a substantial influence on it and areworking hard to increase that influence. Their goal is to stoke social grievances,deepen social divisions and turn different groups against each other in order toweaken us from within and make their revolution easier to accomplish. Marxistideology is profoundly alien to the principles that made America great, and inplaces where it's been tried, it's usually caused much more harm than good. Its adherents have deluded themselves into thinking that their path will ultimatelylead to a utopian society, and that they are justified in using any means necessary, no matter how devious or deceitful, to advance it. In my view,allowing these people any influence whatever over the minds of our schoolchildren creates a major risk to the future of our society that must bepushed back upon resolutely. Best regards, Martin WassermanConcerned citizen On Jan 24, 2025, at 2:39 PM, Sean Allen<sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Subject of the Original Email] Dear Martin, Thank you for your response and for sharing your perspective on such a complex and sensitive issue. I believe it is essential toengage in constructive dialogue, even when we have differing views. I appreciate your concerns regarding anti-Israel, anti-Western, andanti-American sentiments. However, it is vital to recognize that criticism of any government, including Israel, does not equate toanimosity toward a nation or its people. Engaging in critical discussions about policies and practices can often lead to greaterunderstanding and reconciliation. Labeling the criticism of Israel as mere political indoctrination overlooks the genuine struggles faced by marginalizedcommunities. Discussions about ethnic studies, particularly in relation to Israel and Palestine, aim to educate students abouthistorical injustices and encourage empathy for all people involved. This educational approach is not about demonizing any group, butrather about fostering understanding and promoting justice. You mentioned that America is the most powerful country, and I agree that this strength is significant. However, it's crucial torecognize that this power does not solely derive from the elite or those in positions of privilege. Instead, it is built upon the hardwork, resilience, and contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from marginalized communitieswho have served this nation in various capacities. It is worth noting that the majority—and almost all—of the elite politicians in ourgovernment have managed to escape military service, as have many from their legacies. This reality raises important questions about whose sacrifices are acknowledged and how power dynamics shapeour national narrative. As a veteran and a person who has spent over three decades serving and protecting this community, I recognize that the best way tohonor the sacrifices made by those who served—many of whom lost their lives—is to not minimize the reasons for their service.Their commitment was to ensure that all individuals are protected by our country's Constitution, which includes the rights of thosewho choose to kneel or stand in the presence of our national flag. Furthermore, calling someone "anti-American" because they areredressing government bias and oppression is a response that highlights explicit bias. It dismisses legitimate grievances andignores the foundational principles of our democracy, which include the right to dissent and advocate for justice. Throughout history, it has been the laborers, activists, educators,and everyday citizens—those often overlooked by the narratives of power—who have shaped America's identity and values. Theirdedication and sacrifices have been fundamental in advancing civil rights and social justice, ensuring that the principles of freedom andequality are upheld for all. This collective strength is what has truly propelled America forward, highlighting the importance ofinclusivity and recognition of all voices. The collaboration between Black and Jewish communities, as exemplified by the founding of the NAACP, underscores theimportance of solidarity in the fight against oppression. We must recognize that the struggles for justice faced by differentcommunities are interconnected. By standing together against all forms of injustice, we strengthen our collective ability to advocatefor a more equitable society. As we move forward, I encourage us to engage in dialogue that honors the contributions of all communities and seeks to addressinjustices wherever they may arise. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to these important discussions. Best regards, Sean Allen President San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP Sent from my iPhone On Jan 23, 2025, at 10:42 PM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: The accusation that Israel is committing genocideagainst the Palestinian Arabs is a flat out lie perpetrated solely for the purpose of demonizing theJewish state. The only party in the Israel-Hamas war that has an explicit policy of genocide is Hamas itself,which Avram Finkelstein evidently supports. The issue of ethnic studies is not that people fear mild criticismof Israel. The issue is that this is an organized attempt by anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israel extremiststo turn our schools into places not of learning, but of political indoctrination, into an ideology which isprofoundly alien to the culture that has made this country, the USA, the best and most successful in theworld. Sincerely, Martin Wasserman On Jan 23, 2025, at 9:20 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 1/23/2025 Hello everyone, I want to address the ongoing genocide being perpetrated by the state of Israelagainst the Palestinian people, which is happening with the full support of the U.S.government and the Israeli Jewish lobby. My fellow Jews should be deeplyconcerned and feel a sense of fear if we do not actively speak out against thisinjustice. The major issue here is that much of the opposition to ethnic studies is driven bythe influential Jewish lobby in Palo Alto. This lobby is concerned that, during theethnic studies courses, Israel might be criticized, even in a mild manner. Theywill go to great lengths to suppress any perceived criticism of Israel, regardless ofthe impact this has on marginalized groups. As a result, the three newest members of the school board seem determined to denyhigh school students in Palo Alto the opportunity to take a mandated ethnicstudies course. It feels like there is an unspoken issue that no one wants toaddress. Sincerely, Avram Finkelstein (also known as Aram James) On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 8:19 PM SeanAllen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: It is. James just just told me. SeanSent from my iPhone On Jan 23, 2025, at 5:46 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:  Excellent! As I understandthe state has in factmandated ethnic studies butnot provided state fundingfor its full guaranteedimplementation in eachdistrict. I hope this isaccurate. On Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at5:35 PM Sean Allen<sallen6444@yahoo.com>wrote: To: Board of Education, Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict and the community From: Sean Allen President- San Jose/Silicon ValleyNAACP I am writing to express the strong stance of theSan Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP against theexclusion of ethnic studies from thecurriculum of the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict. The discussions surrounding the potentialremoval of this important requirement areconcerning and starkly contrast the values ofinclusivity and equity that our community strives touphold. Our organization has received an alarmingnumber of complaints regarding racial biaswithin the Palo Alto Unified School District—more than any other school district in SantaClara County. These complaints highlight apattern of systemic issues that cannot be ignored.Black students have reported being called the“N” word, subjected to comments about beingowned in the past, and faced derogatory remarksabout their hair and lips. Latino students haveencountered racial slurs, while Pacific Islanderchildren have faced discrimination. Asian,Palestinian, Middle Eastern, Jewish, andLGBTQI+ students have all reported experiencesof bias and harassment. This pervasive culture ofdiscrimination underscores the urgentneed for ethnic studies courses, which serve as avital tool for education, understanding, andhealing in our schools. Ethnic studies courses are not merely an academicrequirement; they are an essential component of awell-rounded education that promotes awarenessand appreciation of diverse cultures andhistories. These courses empower students toengage critically with societal issues, fosteringempathy, understanding, and respect for oneanother. The failure to implement ethnic studiesin this district, particularly given theconcerning pattern of discrimination andracism, highlights the level of implicit andexplicit bias supported by those in power. While thestate of California has rejected the mandate andlegislation for ethnic studies, this should not beinterpreted as permission to disregard theimplementation of such a critical piece ofcurriculum. In fact, ethnic studies are vital forshaping how students perceive others who maybe different from themselves, influencinghow they interact with their peers and navigatetheir professional lives, ultimately impactingthemselves and others in meaningful ways. It is important to note that several surroundingdistricts, including the Fremont Union HighSchool District, East Side Union High SchoolDistrict, and San Jose Unified School District,have successfully implemented ethnicstudies courses despite the lack of legislativerequirements. These districts recognize thevalue of ethnic studies in promoting a moreinclusive and equitable educational environment,setting a precedent that Palo Alto should follow. The recent decision topause the adoption of the ethnic studies requirementis a step backward in our efforts to create aninclusive environment for all students. We mustadvocate for the reinstatement of thisrequirement, not to comply with statemandates, but to fulfill our moral obligation toour students and community. In the wordsof civil rights leader Angela Davis, “It is notenough to be non-racist; we must be anti-racist.”We must actively work to dismantle the structuresthat perpetuate inequity and promote a curriculumthat reflects the richness and diversity of oursociety. The San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP standsready to support the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict in this endeavor. We urge the Board ofEducation to reconsider the importance of ethnicstudies and to recognize the profound impact itwill have on our students and community. Byprioritizing these courses, we can begin to addressthe racial biases that have plagued our district andcreate a more equitable educational environmentfor every student. Thank you for your attention to this crucialmatter. We look forward to working together toensure that all students in the Palo Alto UnifiedSchool District feel valued, respected, andempowered. Sincerely, Sean Allen President San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP Cc. NAACP StateSan Jose/Silicon Valley NAACPExecutive Committee Monterey County BranchSan Mateo County BranchAlameda County BranchesSan Francisco City/County Branch File From:Michelle Rosengaus To:Council, City Cc:Sharon Elliot; george Greenwald Subject:Fire Truck for Fire Station 4 in South Palo Alto Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 5:12:05 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council Members, I urge you to keep a fully staffed fire truck permanently at FireStation 4 in South Palo Alto at Middlefield and East Meadow. This areahas grown tremendously in density, with more construction scheduled tostart soon. There are many schools, senior centers and communitycenters. This density needs fire protection. Thank you for your consideration, Michelle Rosengaus 3704 Ortega CT, Palo Alto, 94303 From:Judy Rock To:Council, City Subject:Please keep a fire truck at the S. Palo Alto station at Meadow/Middlefield Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 3:06:44 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear city council, We in South Palo Alto need a fire truck in our station. As we see from the Los Angeles fires, the danger is real, and with more high-density housing planned the danger is increasing. We deserve the same protection as the other neighborhoods, even though we no doubt house way fewer (if any) tech bros/billionaires. thank you for protecting us and our homes, Judy Rock3872 Nathan Way From:Susan Hartenbaum To:Council, City Subject:3997 Fabian Way project"s adverse effect on Moldaw Residences Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 1:28:30 PM Attachments:Hartenbaum letter- Fabian Way - Final.docx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. January 24, 2025 Dear Mayor and Council Members: I am a 4-year resident of 899 Charleston Rd (Moldaw). As an EducationalGerontologist, I thoroughly understand the implications of the Fabian project’s effecton our community and the risks to our physical, emotional, and most importantly,financial stability all affecting our Health and Safety. If the proposed oversized 7-storyapartment is built facing Fabian, next door, right up against our property, and onlyone driveway’s width in front of and towering over our resident’s apartments, it willdo irreparable damage not only to the resident's quality of life facing the apartmentbut to all residents and the financial stability and longevity of the entire community. Additional problems involve a physical risk to those moving around outside of ourbuildings due to the large increase in population that an additional 300 or soapartments will create. Those with vision loss, hearing loss, and mobility issues willbe especially affected by the congestion and traffic. There will also be detrimental physical challenges to those facing this building thatare needed for our resident's mental well-being (sunlight, increased fumes fromtraffic, etc.) But, most importantly, Moldaw’s financial stability and long-term survival as acontinuing care community is at risk thus putting residents under great emotionalstress that will have physical implications. It may not be readily apparent, but themajority of residents have put their life savings into Moldaw to ensure they will bewell taken care of as long as they live. The financial risk is as follows: 1) Primarily one entire side of the complex will be difficult, if impossible torent.2) Moldaw is dependent upon those large initial fees and monthly rents tosurvive.3) Moldaw has an obligation to refund 85-90% of the initial fees when theapartments’ are re-rented in the future.4) Many of us have invested our life savings in Moldaw.5) Moldaw’s current unwritten policy is that residents will be taken care of ifthey run out of money. This policy will fall apart if we become financiallyinsecure.6) Those in BMR rentals will likely be thrown onto MediCal if Moldaw collapses financially. A final word: This building, as proposed, has the potential to destroy Moldaw as a viable continuingcare community. I hope this letter helps you to truly understand the danger to ourcommunity and the risk you are taking to our health and even our lives. Regards, Sue HartenbaumApartment M-308Moldaw: 310-721-1562 SueHartenbaum@gmail.com From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Council, City; Gerry Gras; Reifschneider, James;Binder, Andrew; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary; Stump, Molly; Dave Price; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; BradenCartwright; Emily Mibach; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations Subject:San Jose, Oakland fire departments understaffed like L.A. Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 1:17:46 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. San Jose, Oakland fire departments understaffed like L.A. https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/27/san-jose-oakland-fire-department-understaffed/ From:Stephen Rock To:Council, City Subject:Fire Truck in South Palo Alto Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 1:02:15 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Please keep a firetruck at the Meadow Middlefield Fire Station. Los Angeles fires have shown that fires are a terrible danger. Our fire insurance cost has doubled. The danger is real. Many new dwellings are planned for S. Palo Alto. S. Palo Alto deserves the same protection as other neighblorhoods even though we are not as rich or powerful. From:Martin Wasserman To:Sean Allen Cc:Carla; Sharon Jackson; Pat M; Sarah Wright; lasha heard; Raymond Goins; James Staten; William Armaline; Habtegabriel Mulugeta; Rose Lynn; DAVID 4X; Raj Jayadev; Richard Konda; Jose Valle; Sameena Usman; Aram James; Don Austin; board@pausd.org; Yolanda Conaway; Council, City; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lotus Fong; ladoris cordell; Bill Newell; Sarah Wright; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Doug Minkler; Mickie Winkler; John Burt; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Rowena Chiu; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Chris Colohan; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Hayden; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; Michelle; Stump, Molly; Ellen Fox Subject:Re: Silicon Valley NAACP - Our Stance Against the Exclusion of Ethnic Studies from the Palo Alto Unified SchoolDistrict Curriculum Date:Monday, January 27, 2025 12:50:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Sean, Even though we come from different places, I think we have a lot in common in the way weapproach certain issues, such as preferring reconciliation to conflict, and valuing truth over any specific ideology. I'm a longtime pro-Israel activist, and am very sensitive to efforts toslander or defame the Jewish state or the Jewish people, because I know where that can lead. But I have no problem with honest criticism, which often leads to greater self knowledge andunderstanding. But if someone is twisting the truth, I'll be there to point it out. If you'd like to know more about my views on Israel and other Jewish issues, I invite you to inspect my blog. In the US Constitution, there is a mandate to "establish justice." But justice can sometimes behard to define. After all, life is largely a competition where each person strives for his own advantage, and the fact that some people fall behind others is not necessarily proof ofinjustice. There are also questions of what we expect the government to do for people and what we expect people to do for themselves, and how we balance the rights of the individualwith the interests of the collective. There are no easy answers to these questions, but if we deal with them honestly and openly in a spirit of reconciliation I believe we’ll get the best results. There is also a constitutional mandate to "ensure domestic tranquility." There are many deepdifferences in society that are not easily bridged, but in order to keep these differences from turning into violent conflicts, we need to pay heed to how we conduct our debates. We shouldalways respect the personhood of the other, avoid personal attacks, not use inflammatory or accusatory rhetoric, and not be too quick to judge or condemn the views of others. Honestyand goodwill on all sides are essential to success, and as Americans and members of a civil society, we ought to be able to summon these traits and not be pushed into dead end conflictsthat benefit no one. Sean, I think this conversation we're having is turning out to be very productive and I look forward to continuing it! All the best, Martin Wasserman Concerned citizen On Jan 26, 2025, at 6:57 PM, Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: Dear Martin, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on ethnic studies. I appreciate yourperspective and the emphasis you place on a balanced view of America's virtues and faults. I wholeheartedly agree that education should reflect a comprehensiveunderstanding of our history, one that includes both our achievements and our shortcomings. As someone who was born at Stanford and grew up in various places—includingEast Palo Alto, Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, Detroit, and St. Louis —I’ve experienced firsthand the complexities of our society. I was also a memberof the Black Student Union in high school, where we learned about ethnic studies and the importance of understanding diverse histories. My journey led me toenlist in the Army, after which I served in law enforcement for 34 years. However, my path has not been without challenges; I was arrested andincarcerated for something I did not do, which led to being denied several opportunities. Throughout my career, I experienced profile stops and faceddiscrimination and harassment, including being referred to as "O.J. Simpson" by a supervisor due to that arrest while I was serving as a cop. I even took the step tosue my department for retaliation, discrimination and a hostile work environment. Despite these experiences, I still recognize the greatness of my country even with it faults. Nonetheless, I remain committed to fighting for equality for everyone,including myself. I understand your concerns about the potential divisiveness of some ethnic studies programs, but I believe that when approached thoughtfully,they can foster understanding and empathy among diverse groups. My hope is that we can work toward a society where we see the humanity in each other,regardless of the color of our skin. Thank you once again for engaging in this important conversation. I value, respect and appreciate your input and look forward to further dialogue. Best regards, Sean Sent from my iPhone On Jan 26, 2025, at 6:03 PM, Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Dear Sean, I’m not opposed to ethnic studies per se. The question is, what is theideological message that a particular ethnic studies program is attempting to convey? America, like any country, has its virtues and its faults. Teaching only about its virtues while ignoring its faultswould be wrong in my opinion, but it would be equally wrong to emphasize only the faults while ignoring the virtues. Based on whatI’ve seen of some of the ethnic studies programs, they emphasize the faults over the virtues, leading students to believe that America ismuch more evil than good, and therefore not worth protecting or defending. It would be good if people of different racial, ethnic, and socialbackgrounds could see the humanity in each other without making judgments based on superficial characteristics. But I'm not convincedthat ethnic studies programs, especially given the ideological bent of many of the people who are pushing hardest for these programs,would achieve that objective. I believe they're more likely to turn different groups against each other by portraying some groups asperpetrators of oppression, while portraying others as victims of oppression, amplifying grievances and focusing more on whatseparates us than on what unites us, which I believe is the actual intended goal of many of the people who are pushing for theseprograms. Best regards, Martin On Jan 26, 2025, at 12:26 PM, Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com> wrote: The Choice for American History to Shine WhileEthnic Studies Is Left in the Dark = Explicit BiasDefined! Dear Mr. Wasserman, Your position seems to uphold the status quo, wheredominant narratives overshadow the diverse experiences that make up our collective history. It appears yourconcern is not in fostering a comprehensive understanding of history, but rather in perpetuating aversion that aligns with your perspective while minimizing or excluding the histories of others. Ethnic studies programs are designed to offer aninclusive curriculum that recognizes the contributions, struggles, and achievements of all groups. This approachis not about vilifying any particular group or creating divisions; instead, it aims to empower students by providing a complete picture of our nation’s history.Understanding both the triumphs and injustices of the past enables students to engage with the present in amore critical and thoughtful manner. Moreover, it raises important questions about why some individuals seek to downplay or erase the histories ofothers. Traditional American history often prioritizes European contributions while overlooking the effects onIndigenous peoples, the enslavement of Africans, and the annexation of territories like California. Educationshould adopt a more inclusive perspective that acknowledges this legacy. Recognizing the significantcontributions of various groups, particularly immigrants like the Chinese workers who faced prejudice, is crucial.Their vital role in completing the Transcontinental Railroad not only connected the nation but alsotransformed travel and commerce, underscoring the importance of teaching students about the diversecontributions that have shaped our society. The ideological influences embedded in education are fundamental to the learning process. The most impactfullessons for our youth—the very strength of our future— are learned at home and through their educators. Theselessons become imprinted in the minds of younger generations, shaping who they ultimately become. It isessential to recognize that our state has the largest prison system in the world, and the reality is that incarcerationtends to benefit those who are not incarcerated. Three common factors associated with incarceration include alack of affluence, a lack of impulse control, and a lack of education. Consequently, the perspective of theincarcerated is often narrow and limited. By implementing ethnic studies programs, we can engage, inform, and motivate our youth, ensuring theyfeel connected to their history. This connection not only fosters a sense of identity but can also help diminish thetroubling statistics surrounding incarceration. Unfortunately, there are those who resist such initiativesbecause they do not align with their own narratives, often rooted in racism. Promoting a singular narrative risks denying students the opportunity to learn about the diverse experiences thathave shaped our society. This issue transcends individual identities; it speaks to the collective identity of ournation. By acknowledging and celebrating all facets of history, we can foster a more cohesive and equitablesociety where every individual can see themselves reflected and valued. The divide we see is often rooted in the inaccuracies and omissions in the narratives being presented. Let me becandid: the environment you describe exists alongside the harsh realities faced by communities of color. In myexperience patrolling neighborhoods, I’ve witnessed the elite evade consequences for violent acts while people ofcolor are arrested for minor offenses. I recall responding to a burglary call only to be met with racial slursdemanding the presence of a non-Black officer. Additionally, I have seen a Black child subjected toviolence at the direction of a teacher. The fears of separation you express may stem from unchecked racism that continues to permeate our society.Children of color, like all children, should be able to embrace their country with the confidence that theirhistory is acknowledged and celebrated, allowing them to see themselves as equals. What you propose couldinadvertently obscure this history, leaving them vulnerable to losing their identity and assimilating into anarrow perspective. America is indeed a powerful and influential country, but we did not achieve this statuswithout facing significant challenges and injustices. For our children to embrace the future, they must understandthe complexities of how we arrived here. In conclusion, while it is valid to be cautious about ideological influences in education, it is equallyimportant to recognize the potential of ethnic studies programs to promote empathy, critical thinking, andsocial responsibility. By engaging with these subjects, we can work towards a more informed and cohesivesociety, where all individuals are empowered to contribute positively, rather than being pitted against oneanother. Best regards, Sean On Jan 26, 2025, at 9:49 AM, MartinWasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Dear Sean, Thank you for your thoughtful message,which I hope will be the beginning of a productive dialogue. The motivation behind many ethnic studiesprograms seems to be to advance an ideology that divides humanity into twoclasses, oppressors and their victims, and demands that people always side with thevictims against their alleged oppressors, who are often defined by characteristics such asrace, religion or social class. These programs are aimed not at healing social divisions, but exacerbating them.Instead of teaching disadvantaged students that they are active agents who can improvetheir circumstances through their own efforts, they teach them that they are merevictims who can never improve their lives as long as their oppressors are in power, sothey're only recourse is to launch a revolution against those they believe arekeeping them down. I believe that Marxist revolutionaries, though they may not entirely dominate theethnic studies movement, certainly have a substantial influence on it and are workinghard to increase that influence. Their goal is to stoke social grievances, deepen socialdivisions and turn different groups against each other in order to weaken us from withinand make their revolution easier to accomplish. Marxist ideology is profoundlyalien to the principles that made America great, and in places where it's been tried, it'susually caused much more harm than good. Its adherents have deluded themselves intothinking that their path will ultimately lead to a utopian society, and that they arejustified in using any means necessary, no matter how devious or deceitful, to advanceit. In my view, allowing these people any influence whatever over the minds of ourschoolchildren creates a major risk to the future of our society that must be pushedback upon resolutely. Best regards, Martin WassermanConcerned citizen On Jan 24, 2025, at 2:39 PM,Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com>wrote: Subject: Re: [Subject of the Original Email] Dear Martin, Thank you for your responseand for sharing your perspective on such a complex and sensitiveissue. I believe it is essential to engage in constructive dialogue,even when we have differing views. I appreciate your concernsregarding anti-Israel, anti- Western, and anti-Americansentiments. However, it is vital to recognize that criticism ofany government, including Israel, does not equate toanimosity toward a nation or its people. Engaging in criticaldiscussions about policies and practices can often lead togreater understanding and reconciliation. Labeling the criticism of Israelas mere political indoctrination overlooks the genuine strugglesfaced by marginalized communities. Discussions aboutethnic studies, particularly in relation to Israel and Palestine,aim to educate students about historical injustices andencourage empathy for all people involved. Thiseducational approach is not about demonizing any group,but rather about fostering understanding and promotingjustice. You mentioned that America is the most powerful country, andI agree that this strength is significant. However, it's crucialto recognize that this power does not solely derive from theelite or those in positions of privilege. Instead, it is builtupon the hard work, resilience, and contributions of individualsfrom diverse backgrounds, particularly those frommarginalized communities who have served this nation invarious capacities. It is worth noting that the majority—andalmost all—of the elite politicians in our governmenthave managed to escape military service, as have manyfrom their legacies. This reality raises important questions aboutwhose sacrifices are acknowledged and how powerdynamics shape our national narrative. As a veteran and a person whohas spent over three decades serving and protecting thiscommunity, I recognize that the best way to honor the sacrificesmade by those who served— many of whom lost their lives—is to not minimize the reasons for their service. Theircommitment was to ensure that all individuals are protected byour country's Constitution, which includes the rights ofthose who choose to kneel or stand in the presence of ournational flag. Furthermore, calling someone "anti-American" because they are redressing government bias andoppression is a response that highlights explicit bias. Itdismisses legitimate grievances and ignores the foundationalprinciples of our democracy, which include the right todissent and advocate for justice. Throughout history, it has been the laborers, activists,educators, and everyday citizens —those often overlooked by thenarratives of power—who have shaped America's identity andvalues. Their dedication and sacrifices have beenfundamental in advancing civil rights and social justice,ensuring that the principles of freedom and equality are upheldfor all. This collective strength is what has truly propelledAmerica forward, highlighting the importance of inclusivityand recognition of all voices. The collaboration between Black and Jewish communities,as exemplified by the founding of the NAACP, underscores theimportance of solidarity in the fight against oppression. Wemust recognize that the struggles for justice faced bydifferent communities are interconnected. By standingtogether against all forms of injustice, we strengthen ourcollective ability to advocate for a more equitable society. As we move forward, Iencourage us to engage in dialogue that honors thecontributions of all communities and seeks toaddress injustices wherever they may arise. Thank you for yourongoing commitment to these important discussions. Best regards, Sean Allen President San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP Sent from my iPhone On Jan 23, 2025, at10:42 PM, Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.c om> wrote:The accusation thatIsrael is committinggenocide againstthe PalestinianArabs is a flat outlie perpetratedsolely for thepurpose ofdemonizing theJewish state. Theonly party in theIsrael-Hamas warthat has an explicitpolicy of genocideis Hamas itself,which AvramFinkelsteinevidently supports.The issue of ethnicstudies is not thatpeople fear mildcriticism of Israel.The issue is thatthis is an organizedattempt by anti-American, anti-Western, anti-Israelextremists to turnour schools intoplaces not oflearning, but ofpolitical indoctrination, intoan ideology which is profoundly aliento the culture that has made thiscountry, the USA, the best and mostsuccessful in the world. Sincerely,Martin Wasserman On Jan23, 2025,at 9:20 PM, AramJames <abjpd1@gm ail.com> wrote: 1/23/2025 Helloeveryo ne, I wantto addressthe ongoing genocide beingperpetr ated bythe state of Israelagainst thePalesti nianpeople, whichis happening withthe full supportof the U.S.govern mentand the IsraeliJewish lobby.My fellowJews shouldbe deeplyconcer nedand feel asense of fearif we do notactivel yspeak outagainst thisinjustic e. Themajor issuehere is thatmuch of theopposit ion toethnic studiesis drivenby the influential Jewishlobby in PaloAlto. Thislobby isconcer nedthat, duringthe ethnicstudies courses, Israel mightbe criticized, even ina mild manner. They will goto greatlengths tosuppre ss anyperceiv edcriticis m ofIsrael, regardless of theimpact thishas on marginalized groups. As aresult, thethree newestmembe rs ofthe schoolboard seemdeterm ined todeny highschool students in PaloAlto theopport unityto take amandat edethnic studiescourse. It feelslike there isan unspoken issuethat no onewants toaddress . Sincerely, Avram Finkelstein (alsoknown asAram James) OnThu, Jan 23,2025 at 8:19 PM SeanAllen <sallen6444@ yahoo.com> wrote: It is. James just justtold me. SeanSent frommy iPhone O nJ an 23 ,2 0 25 ,a t5 :4 6  PM ,A ra mJ am es <a bj pd 1@ gm ai l. co m> wr ot e:  Ex ce ll en t! As Iu nd er st an dt he st at eh as in fa ct ma nd at ed et hn ic st ud ie sb ut no tp ro vi de ds ta te fu nd in gf or it sf ul lg ua ra nt ee di mp le me nt at io ni ne ac hd is tr ic t. Ih op et hi si sa cc ur at e. O nT hu ,J an 23 ,2 02 5a t5 :3 5  PM Se an Al le n< sa ll en 64 44 @y ah oo .c om >w ro te : To :B oa rd of Ed uc at io n, Pa lo Al to Un if ie dS ch oo lD is tr ic ta nd th ec om mu ni ty F ro m: Se an Al le nP re si de nt -S an Jo se /S il ic on Va ll ey NA AC P Ia mw ri ti ng to ex pr es st he st ro ng st an ce of th eS an Jo se /S il ic on Va ll ey NA AC Pa ga in st th ee xc lu si on of et hn ic st ud ie sf ro mt he cu rr ic ul um of th eP al oA lt oU ni fi ed Sc ho ol Di st ri ct .T he di sc us si on ss ur ro un di ng th ep ot en ti al re mo va lo ft hi si mp or ta nt re qu ir em en ta re co nc er ni ng an ds ta rk ly co nt ra st th ev al ue so fi nc lu si vi ty an de qu it yt ha to ur co mm un it ys tr iv es to up ho ld . Ou ro rg an iz at io nh as re ce iv ed an al ar mi ng nu mb er of co mp la in ts re ga rd in gr ac ia lb ia sw it hi nt he Pa lo Al to Un if ie dS ch oo lD is tr ic t— mo re th an an yo th er sc ho ol di st ri ct in Sa nt aC la ra Co un ty .T he se co mp la in ts hi gh li gh ta pa tt er no fs ys te mi ci ss ue st ha tc an no tb ei gn or ed .B la ck st ud en ts ha ve re po rt ed be in gc al le dt he “N ”w or d, su bj ec te dt oc om me nt sa bo ut be in go wn ed in th ep as t, an df ac ed de ro ga to ry re ma rk sa bo ut th ei rh ai ra nd li ps .L at in os tu de nt sh av ee nc ou nt er ed ra ci al sl ur s, wh il eP ac if ic Is la nd er ch il dr en ha ve fa ce dd is cr im in at io n. As ia n, Pa le st in ia n, Mi dd le Ea st er n, Je wi sh ,a nd LG BT QI +s tu de nt sh av ea ll re po rt ed ex pe ri en ce so fb ia sa nd ha ra ss me nt .T hi sp er va si ve cu lt ur eo fd is cr im in at io nu nd er sc or es th eu rg en tn ee df or et hn ic st ud ie sc ou rs es ,w hi ch se rv ea sa vi ta lt oo lf or ed uc at io n, un de rs ta nd in g, an dh ea li ng in ou rs ch oo ls . Et hn ic st ud ie sc ou rs es ar en ot me re ly an ac ad em ic re qu ir em en t; th ey ar ea ne ss en ti al co mp on en to fa we ll -r ou nd ed ed uc at io nt ha tp ro mo te sa wa re ne ss an da pp re ci at io no fd iv er se cu lt ur es an dh is to ri es .T he se co ur se se mp ow er st ud en ts to en ga ge cr it ic al ly wi th so ci et al is su es ,f os te ri ng em pa th y, un de rs ta nd in g, an dr es pe ct fo ro ne an ot he r. Th ef ai lu re to im pl em en te th ni cs tu di es in th is di st ri ct ,p ar ti cu la rl yg iv en th ec on ce rn in gp at te rn of di sc ri mi na ti on an dr ac is m, hi gh li gh ts th el ev el of im pl ic it an de xp li ci tb ia ss up po rt ed by th os ei np ow er .W hi le th es ta te of Ca li fo rn ia ha sr ej ec te dt he ma nd at ea nd le gi sl at io nf or et hn ic st ud ie s, th is sh ou ld no tb ei nt er pr et ed as pe rm is si on to di sr eg ar dt he im pl em en ta ti on of su ch ac ri ti ca lp ie ce of cu rr ic ul um .I nf ac t, et hn ic st ud ie sa re vi ta lf or sh ap in gh ow st ud en ts pe rc ei ve ot he rs wh om ay be di ff er en tf ro mt he ms el ve s, in fl ue nc in gh ow th ey in te ra ct wi th th ei rp ee rs an dn av ig at et he ir pr of es si on al li ve s, ul ti ma te ly im pa ct in gt he ms el ve sa nd ot he rs in me an in gf ul wa ys . I ti si mp or ta nt to no te th at se ve ra ls ur ro un di ng di st ri ct s, in cl ud in gt he Fr em on tU ni on Hi gh Sc ho ol Di st ri ct ,E as tS id eU ni on Hi gh Sc ho ol Di st ri ct ,a nd Sa nJ os eU ni fi ed Sc ho ol Di st ri ct ,h av es uc ce ss fu ll yi mp le me nt ed et hn ic st ud ie sc ou rs es de sp it et he la ck of le gi sl at iv er eq ui re me nt s. Th es ed is tr ic ts re co gn iz et he va lu eo fe th ni cs tu di es in pr om ot in ga mo re in cl us iv ea nd eq ui ta bl ee du ca ti on al en vi ro nm en t, se tt in ga pr ec ed en tt ha tP al oA lt os ho ul df ol lo w. T he re ce nt de ci si on to pa us et he ad op ti on of th ee th ni cs tu di es re qu ir em en ti sa st ep ba ck wa rd in ou re ff or ts to cr ea te an in cl us iv ee nv ir on me nt fo ra ll st ud en ts .W em us ta dv oc at ef or th er ei ns ta te me nt of th is re qu ir em en t, no tt oc om pl yw it hs ta te ma nd at es ,b ut to fu lf il lo ur mo ra lo bl ig at io nt oo ur st ud en ts an dc om mu ni ty .I nt he wo rd so fc iv il ri gh ts le ad er An ge la Da vi s, “I ti sn ot en ou gh to be no n- ra ci st ;w em us tb ea nt i- ra ci st .” We mu st ac ti ve ly wo rk to di sm an tl et he st ru ct ur es th at pe rp et ua te in eq ui ty an dp ro mo te ac ur ri cu lu mt ha tr ef le ct st he ri ch ne ss an dd iv er si ty of ou rs oc ie ty . Th eS an Jo se /S il ic on Va ll ey NA AC Ps ta nd sr ea dy to su pp or tt he Pa lo Al to Un if ie dS ch oo lD is tr ic ti nt hi se nd ea vo r. We ur ge th eB oa rd of Ed uc at io nt or ec on si de rt he im po rt an ce of et hn ic st ud ie sa nd to re co gn iz et he pr of ou nd im pa ct it wi ll ha ve on ou rs tu de nt sa nd co mm un it y. By pr io ri ti zi ng th es ec ou rs es ,w ec an be gi nt oa dd re ss th er ac ia lb ia se st ha th av ep la gu ed ou rd is tr ic ta nd cr ea te am or ee qu it ab le ed uc at io na le nv ir on me nt fo re ve ry st ud en t. T ha nk yo uf or yo ur at te nt io nt ot hi sc ru ci al ma tt er .W el oo kf or wa rd to wo rk in gt og et he rt oe ns ur et ha ta ll st ud en ts in th eP al oA lt oU ni fi ed Sc ho ol Di st ri ct fe el va lu ed ,r es pe ct ed ,a nd em po we re d. S in ce re ly , Se an Al le nP re si de nt Sa nJ os e/ Si li co nV al le yN AA CP C c. N AA CP St at eS an Jo se /S il ic on Va ll ey NA AC PE xe cu ti ve Co mm it te eM on te re yC ou nt yB ra nc hS an Ma te oC ou nt yB ra nc hA la me da Co un ty Br an ch es Sa nF ra nc is co Ci ty /C ou nt yB ra nc h F il e