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2025-08-18 City Council Emails
DOCUMENTS IN THIS PACKET INCLUDE: LETTERS FROM CITIZENS TO THE MAYOR OR CITY COUNCIL RESPONSES FROM STAFF TO LETTERS FROM CITIZENS ITEMS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ITEMS FROM OTHER COMMITTEES AND AGENCIES ITEMS FROM CITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND REGIONAL AGENCIES Prepared for: 8/18/2025 Document dates: 8/11/2025 - 8/18/2025 Note: Documents for every category may not have been received for packet reproduction in a given week. 701-32 From:Dennise Dalma Weiszhausz To:Council, City Cc:City Mgr; PWD; OES Subject:Urgent Request for Assistance with Rodent Infestation in Miranda Green Neighborhood Date:Monday, August 18, 2025 11:17:35 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To the City of Palo Alto Council Members and Relevant Departments, We are writing to you today as concerned residents of the Miranda Green neighborhood to urgently request your assistance in addressing a severe and widespread rodentinfestation that is impacting our entire community. This issue has escalated beyond individual property concerns and is posing significant health and safety risks, along withcausing substantial financial burdens to residents. Evidence of the infestation is pervasive, with rat droppings found frequently throughout common areas, parks, and even on individual properties. Beyond the unsanitaryconditions, the financial toll on residents has been considerable, with many experiencing thousands of dollars in damages due to rats gnawing through car wiring,leading to costly repairs. The presence of these rodents in our neighborhood is deeply unsettling and creates an unsafe living environment for all residents, particularlyfamilies with children and pets. While we understand that residents have a role to play in managing rodent populations on their own properties, the scope and severity of this infestation require acomprehensive, coordinated effort from the City. We are seeking to understand what assistance the City of Palo Alto can provide to help our neighborhood eradicate thisrodent problem. Specifically, we would appreciate information on: City-wide rodent control programs: Are there any initiatives or strategies the City is implementing to address large-scale rodent problems in neighborhoods? Vector control services: Can the Santa Clara County Vector Control District, whichhandles nuisance animals like rats, opossums, and raccoons, be involved in this situation? What is the process for engaging their services, potentially as a neighborhood-wide effort, considering the scale of the issue? Santa Clara County Vector Control District (.gov) Public health measures: What resources are available from the Palo Alto Public HealthDepartment to mitigate the health risks associated with rodent infestations? Education and outreach: Can the city offer guidance and information on effective rodent prevention and management strategies for residents to implement on their properties,perhaps through workshops or educational materials? We are eager to collaborate with the City in finding a lasting solution to this problem and restoring the safety and well-being of the Miranda Green neighborhood. We believe thatby working together, we can address this challenge effectively. Thank you for your time and consideration of this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and guidance on how we can move forward in eradicating this rodentinfestation. Sincerely, The Residents of Miranda Green Neighborhood Dennise Dalma-Weiszhausz (4351 Miranda Ave, Palo Alto) From:Magrissa Funnie To:Council, City; City Mgr Subject:Re: RV ban impact: San Francisco restriction on RV parking across city sparks concern from neighboring communities - ABC7 San Francisco Date:Monday, August 18, 2025 9:39:42 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, my name is Magrissa Funnie. I live on Fabian Way. I read the article newspaper aboutIV conflicts. There are 20 RVs on one city block no trash pick up no human ways pick up no street lighting unconscionable two schools on the block a senior citizen on a block of youthing on the block. If the people in the Arby’s are Palo Alto residence I totally agree. Let’s find them a place most of these people are not Palo Alto residence but when a Palo Altoaddress you cannot give up your our city streets to recreational and I’m used the term loose vehicles most of them run. Muslim don’t have license plate. Muslim aren’t registered Secondof all you will not give up our baseball field for people who do not live in the neighborhood our kids deserve a place to play. You’re not giving them the city streets because you’re givingit to the RVs so where do you want them to play? Bad idea ideas come up with some new ones no city no RV parking and city limits can’t be you don’t have a space. You don’t have thecapacity to clean up after people nor do you have the capacity to dispose of the vehicles you are creating harm on environment children businesses schools the impact is so great. You haveno idea what you have created. 72 hours is the limit and yet you have done nothing to enforce it And competent is the word I’m looking for if you need to call me back my number is 650-283-6250. I got no response from you guys. The last time I sent you an email except for a newspaper article. I said you will get back to us if you haven’t gotten back to me in 2 1/2 yearsof me waiting why am I thinking you’re gonna get back to me nowthese are your dollars these are your citizens that you’re watching out for and get you are doing none of it andcompetency. Can’t wait for the next city council meeting. Have a great day. Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 29, 2025, at 9:48 AM, Magrissa Funnie <mikkifunnie@yahoo.com> wrote:> > > I have ask on multiple emails to city council and parking enforcement to cite RVs on Fabian way, it is causing trash, rodents and there are 20 RVs that has not moved for about one year.There are two schools and senior citizen home and the JCC on this block. We want our blocks back. I have talked to the parking enforcement officer (chief) and they said it a humane thing.I say it not your job to make my block the UN! Do you job! Also she said it cost about 5,000.00 to store an RV. None of this is my problem. 72 hours or tow, come and look atFabian way from the sidewalk, don’t just drive by and miss the rats and trash on the sidewalk and tell me that what palo city council wants me to live as a shut in senior citizen. I imploreyou to come to see what we see everyday. > > > And please fire your new parking enforcement person in charge. She was rude and hastytalking to me. I have rights to live in a safe environment without bike riders racing up the street at night. My next email will go viral, tired of no results.> > Thank you, please feel free to contact me at 650-283-6250> Magrissa Funnie > https://abc7news.com/post/rv-ban-impact-san-francisco-restriction-parking-city-sparks-concern-neighboring-communities/17266520/ > > Sent from my iPhone Xenia Czisch Vice President of Operationsphone: (650) 858-2491mobile: (650) 804-4225 fax: (650) 858-2494 4047 Transport StPalo Alto, CA 94303www.qualitymetalspinning.us From:Patrick KellyTo:Marguerite PoyatosCc:Osbaldo R; Xenia Czisch; Bill McLane; Ramon Moreno; Lester Wong; Maor Greenberg; Dave Stellman; Gaines, Chantal; Manu Kumar; Becchetti, Benjamin; Cathi Lerch; Dave Stellman; City Mgr; Moffatt, Pete; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley; McDonough, Melissa; Reifschneider, James; Transportation; John Lerch; Binder, Andrew; Jade Jin; City Attorney; Lauing, Ed; Lydia Kou; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Staceytomson@qmsshields.comSubject:Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial SafetyDate:Monday, August 18, 2025 6:38:12 AMAttachments:image011.pngimage015.pngimage016.pngimage017.pngimage018.pngimage019.pngimage020.pngimage021.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hasn’t moved in a month. Visibility non existent for pedestrians. Safety issues are on your shoulders when something happens. Patrick Kelly From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Friday, August 15, 2025 8:39:37 AMTo: Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>Cc: Osbaldo R <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; CathiLerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council<city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.com <Staceytomson@qmsshields.com>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety CAUTION: External Sender. Please do not click on links or open attachments from senders you do not trust. I would also like to note that the propane tank I mentioned a couple weeks ago is still sitting in the street. Is this not a safety hazard? From what I have read, they shouldn't be allowed to be kept in the street for multiple reasons. On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com> wrote:The safety on this street keeps getting worse. No visibility, no concern for environmental issues. Please help. Patrick Kelly From: Osbaldo R <osbaldo@or-builders.com>Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:57:53 PMTo: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>;James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt<pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.com <Staceytomson@qmsshields.com>Subject: RE: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety CAUTION: External Sender. Please do not click on links or open attachments from senders you do not trust. O.R. Builders Inc.Osbaldo RomeroPresident 939 Industrial AvePalo Alto, Ca. 94303Phone: 650.938.2222Fax: 650.938.2224Cell: 415.215.6788 From: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:53 PMTo: 'Bill McLane' <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: 'Marguerite Poyatos' <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; 'Ramon Moreno' <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; 'Lester Wong' <LWong@wongelectric.com>; 'Maor Greenberg' <maor@greenberg.construction>; 'Dave Stellman' <davestellman@gmail.com>; 'Patrick Kelly' <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; 'Manu Kumar' <manu@k9ventures.com>; 'Benjamin Becchetti' <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Cathi Lerch'<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; 'Dave Stellman' <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; 'City Mgr' <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Pete Moffatt' <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; 'Steve Wong' <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; 'Dan McKinley' <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; 'Melissa McDonough' <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'James Reifschneider' <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Transportation'<transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'John Lerch' <john@lerchconstruction.com>; 'Andrew Binder' <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Jade Jin' <JJin@wongelectric.com>; 'City Attorney' <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Ed Lauing' <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Lydia Kou' <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Vicki Veenker' <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'City Council' <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Patrick Burt' <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Greer Stone'<Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Julie Lythcott-Haims' <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.comSubject: RE: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety + Staceytomson@qmsshields.com From: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:48 PMTo: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>Cc: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation<transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>;Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety I didn’t get my tape measure out, but I’d be willing to bet this is more than 18 inches from the curb. I believe that’s a violation of California parking laws. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com> wrote: + staceytomson@qmsshields.com Xenia Czisch Vice President of Operationsphone: (650) 858-2491mobile: (650) 804-4225 fax: (650) 858-2494 4047 Transport StPalo Alto, CA 94303www.qualitymetalspinning.us From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:13 PMTo: Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>Cc: Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder<Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims<Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety Chantal, Please see the attached images. An enforcement officer went around this morning and gave out the 72 hour tow notices. I watched the gentleman with the Raiders RV (in attached image) remove all tow notices from his vehicles and will not move them. I will be taking pictures of his vehicles in the next coming days to show that he will be in violation of the notices. Also, he has a propane tank (also in attached image) that has been sitting in the street for a few months now. Can that be addressed? The other picture shows a tow notice sitting in the gutter, which is where many of these end up. Can there be any enforcement for littering? As others are stating, I would also hope something can be done for the safety of pedestrians. As I was walking to my car today, I was almost hit by a car because there is no visibility for cars coming down the street or pedestrians. Thank you. On Mon, Jul 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City of Palo Alto, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing issues caused by the RV encampments in Palo Alto, which are directly impacting my business and the safety of my students and their families. As the owner of the Ramon Moreno School of Ballet, I am dedicated to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for our students and their families. However, recent circumstances are making that increasingly difficult. One of the most pressing issues is illegal dumping. Individuals from the RV encampments have been using my business’s garbage disposal for their personal waste, resulting in contamination. Because of this, the city has refused to collect the trash, and I have now been left to clean and dispose of everything myself—at my own expense. If I don’t, I’ve been informed that I may face additional charges. This is unacceptable and places an unfair financial andoperational burden on my business. I understand that I am not alone—many neighboring businesses are facing similar challenges. Additionally, the presence of these encampments has created ongoing safety concerns. Several families have shared their discomfort and hesitation about bringing their children to class, due to the unpredictable and sometimes unsafe conditions surrounding my studio. This is not just an inconvenience; it poses a direct risk to the well-being of the children, their families, my staff, and the reputation of our school. I would like to know what specific actions the city is taking to address these challenges. While I understand that this is a complex issue, local businesses should not be expected to shoulder the consequences alone. The safety of our community and the ability for small businesses to operate without disruption should be a priority. I urge the City of Palo Alto to present a clear and immediate plan of action that includes: Proper and reliable waste management enforcementIncreased monitoring and enforcement of local ordinancesMeasures to ensure public safety for local families and business owners Attached to this email are photos documenting the contamination of my garbage disposal and the resulting conditions. I hope these images convey the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for intervention. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing meaningful steps taken to support the well-being of our local business community. Sincerely, Ramon Moreno Owner & Director Ramon Moreno School of Ballet Please feel free to text or call: 650-304-1909 Thank you, Ramon Moreno www.ramonmorenoballet.com www.facebook.com/pg/RamonMorenoSchool On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com> wrote: Commercial St. was cleared last night. Thank you for your efforts! Lester Wong | Vice PresidentO: 650.813.9999 ext. 22 | C: 650.720.84554067 Transport Street | Palo Alto | CA 94303Celebrating Our 46th Anniversary 1978 – 2024 A Proud Member of the U.S. Green Building Council From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2025 12:37:47 PMTo: Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>Cc: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman<dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker<vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety The wooden RV seems to be a severe safety issue. A former coworker spoke to the man living in it a couple years ago and was told there is a wood burning oven/stove inside the RV, which he uses. Seems like that could be a severe safety hazard not only for the man residing in it, as well as for the surrounding RV's/vehicles & businesses if it were ever to catch fire. We have had to face a number of safety hazards on this street. It is unsafe for pedestrians. We have had attempted break ins at night. We have been harassed by people associated with these RV's, as well as loose dogs, just to name a couple issues. Luckily, police officers do respond and try to help but there will be a time when they will be too late to prevent injury. The community officers coming through and putting notices on vehicles is nowhere near the solution needed for this area. The notices are thrown away and the vehicles rarely move. I believe this email string started in 2023 and we have had minimal progress with the actual issues at hand. On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction> wrote: City of palo alto!! please let me know how this is Legal for driving also come and clean the street as it’s not safe see attached Maor Greenberg CEO maor@greenberg.construction | 650-610-7711 Greenberg.Construction | 650-600-9536 x101 | Fax 925-269-2325 908 Industrial Ave, Palo Alto 94303 From: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 10:56:09 AMTo: Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>Cc: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; Marguerite Poyatos <MARGUERITE@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>;James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council<city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety What is it going to take for the city of Palo Alto to catch up to the rest of the country? A lawsuit when someone in our neighborhood is injured because of the unsafe conditions that exist here? This email chain alone would be enough evidence to show the city’s knowledge of the problem and inaction. With newly enacted laws giving cities the legal right to clean up our public spaces, local cities like Mountain View, Santa Clara and San Jose have already begun the process of relocating and housing these people that need it. Why not Palo Alto? Its not a money issue here, and even if it was, wouldn’t it be less costly to tow some vehicles and help relocate them to a safer area than to pay the cost of litigation? We are asking the city to stop ignoring this issue before it becomes an even bigger problem. On Mar 12, 2025, at 9:17 AM, Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com> wrote: Hi Ben, Please take action. The safety of our employees and locals is critical. Anyone walking or driving on Industrial/Transport/Commercial is constantly at risk. Every crosswalk and entry is a major risk for anyone walking the sidewalks or pulling into any of these facilities where illegally parked abandoned vehicles are encamped. The visibility is very poor and the reason there are height and length restrictions for these types of streets; There are There are illegally running generators with unsafe live electrical lines oftentimes in the sidewalk or even running across entryways There are collections of volatile liquids like gasoline and oil (environmental issues aside) that pose additional hazards to anyone in the vicinity Please let us know what you need from us to support your team in enforcing our city regulations in order to make our workplaces safer for our employees. Respectfully, Patrick Kelly | CIODMD Systems Recovery, LLC.C: 650.492.9003patrick.kelly@dmdsystems.com | www.dmdsystems.com <Outlook-DMD Logo.png> <Outlook-larpkod1.png>Book time to meet with me From: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 12:39 PMTo: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt<pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <James.Reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <Transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing<Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <Vicki.Veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Maor <maor@greenberg.construction>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial concerns A citation for double parking and expired tags is what is needed here. I’m positive that’s what the police would do to me if I did the same. That is unless there are two separate sets of laws that gov sophospsmartbannerend A citation for double parking and expired tags is what is needed here. I’m positive that’s what the police would do to me if I did the same. That is unless there are two separate sets of laws that govern the city of Palo Alto and the state of California. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Please see the attached image. The pictured RV & associated white truck pulled up over night. As pictured, they disregarded marked parking spots, which is one of the things that exacerbates our parking issue. A small car or motorcycle may fit there but in a commercial area where most vehicles are trucks, this does not help. Can you please send a community officer to leave notices on the RVs? I hope this doesn't come across as petty, but every spot really does matter on this block. Employees of some businesses have to park in lots that belong to other businesses, which can create tension amongst neighbors. Thank you. On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 9:19 PM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: The police also responded and were very helpful. Initially the people involved denied everything, but when I sent the videos to the officer and he showed it to them they admitted to dumping their RV waste. They were cited for misdemeanor illegal waste dumping and will be going to court. They were then told to leave the area - and freed up two parking spaces. Thank you Palo Alto Police and Fire. Apparently reporting violations of everykind is what is going to have to be done on a regular basis if we want our streets cleaned up. On Dec 21, 2024, at 3:39 PM, Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Thank you, Dave! Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 8:22 AM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: I just called the hotline for Palo Alto for hazardous waste dumping and gave them all of this information including license numbers. These vehicles are still parked there.They are sending the fire department out to flush the street and these people better be held accountable. On Dec 21, 2024, at 7:56 AM, Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: License plate of the accomplice <IMG_0142.jpeg> Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 5:13 AM Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Still parked right across from my building. Note, NO rear license plate. I do think that is against the law. I do also have video of them driving up, proof of the vehicle operating on city streets. Do you think they have insurance? <image.png> Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 4:54 AM Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Here, they are emptying their waste in front of my building. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 9:18 PM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: Chantal, It looks like somehow most of the city council members, Vice Mayor and Mayor must have inadvertently been deleted from your last email response. I have added them back in to make sure they stay apprised of the situation. I hope it doesn't take the legal channels mentioned to start cleaning up our neighborhood immediately; this has gotten out of control and kicking the problem back and forth to different members of your city staff is not going to make it go away. Dave Stellman Transport St. On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 8:16 AM Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction> wrote: Dear Chantal, Your response, while detailed, fails to address the critical and ongoing violations of law, public safety, and business rights in the area. The City of Palo Alto has both the authority and obligation to take immediate and decisive action to protect its residents, businesses, and public spaces. Allowing illegally parked, unsafe, and hazardous RVs to persist is unacceptable and directly violates state and local regulations. Below are specific legal and factual challenges tothe City’s approach, along with demands for corrective action: 1. Illegally Parked and Unsafe RVs California Vehicle Code § 4000(a)(1) and Palo Alto Municipal Code § 10.48.010 clearly require all vehicles parked on public streets to display valid registration. Many of the RVs in question lack valid registration, making their presence illegal. Further, under California Vehicle Code § 22651(o) and PAMC § 10.48.120, any vehicle unregistered for six months or more may be towed immediately. Additionally, vehicles with exposed sewage tanks, missing wheels, or other structural hazards are in direct violation of California Vehicle Code § 24002, which prohibits parking or operating vehicles in unsafe conditions. These RVs also create a public health hazard under California Health and Safety Code § 117490, which prohibits improper disposal of waste and sewage. **2. Clarification Requested Regarding Unregistered Vehicles In light of your response, please confirm whether the City of Palo Alto allows unregistered vehicles to be driven on its streets. - I have some fun vehicles I would love to order from Alibaba and drive them around Palo Alto... • California Vehicle Code § 4000(a)(1) expressly prohibits the operation of unregistered vehicles. If these RVs are being moved every 72 hours as claimed, and they lack proper registration, their operation is illegal under state law. • Allowing unregistered vehicles to remain or operate within city limits undermines traffic safety and compliance standards. This point must be clarified explicitly: Does the City of Palo Alto condone the operation of unregistered vehicles? 3. Abuse of the 72-Hour Rule The City’s reliance on PAMC § 10.36.060 to justify the continued presence of these RVs is flawed. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts confirm that many RVs are circumventing the 72-hour rule by wiping off chalk markings rather than physically moving. This is blatant non-compliance and undermines the intent of the ordinance. Furthermore, California Vehicle Code § 22669 explicitly allows for the removal of vehicles that are “wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative,” even if they are moved every 72 hours. The City has the authority to act, and failing to do so jeopardizes public safety and traffic flow. 4. Public Safety and Sanitation Violations The exposed sewage tanks, illegal dumping, and general neglect by these RV occupants pose significant health and environmental risks. The City’s failure to enforce sanitation laws, such as California Health and Safety Code § 117490 and PAMC § 16.09.100, endangers residents, workers, and the environment. Additionally, blocking roadways and driveways is a clear violation of California Vehicle Code § 22500, which prohibits parking that obstructs trafficflow or access. 5. Impact on Businesses and Traffic Flow Businesses in the area are suffering due to blocked roadways, limited parking for customers, and safety concerns. Under California Vehicle Code § 21101(c) and PAMC § 10.48.120, the City has the authority to regulate parking to ensure the safety of businesses and residents. The City’s failure to allocate parking for business deliveries, customers, or even emergency services is a gross dereliction of duty. Blocking roadways for long periods creates safety hazards, violates municipal code, and disrupts commerce. Conclusion and Final Demands The City of Palo Alto has the legal authority and responsibility to act under the following regulations: • PAMC § 10.48.120: Authorizes the removal of unregistered vehicles. • California Vehicle Code § 22651(o): Allows towing of unregistered vehicles. • California Vehicle Code § 22669: Mandates removal of inoperative vehicles. • California Health and Safety Code § 117490: Prohibits illegal waste disposal. • California Vehicle Code § 21101(c): Permits parking restrictions to ensure safety. We demand the immediate implementation of the following measures: 1. Impound all unregistered, unsafe, or inoperative RVs within two weeks. 2. Establish designated loading zones and 2-hour parking areas near businesses. 3. Conduct regular sanitation inspections and impose penalties for violations. 4. Provide a clear timeline for resolution and enforcement updates. The continued failure to act exposes the City to liability for neglecting public health and safety under California Government Code § 815.6, which requires municipalities to perform mandatory duties. We expect a formal response with a clear action plan within 14 days. If no satisfactory action is taken, we reserve the right to escalate this matter through legal channels to protect our businesses, employees, and the community. Maor Greenberg <email-signture_87b8d7a2-c4f4-4cbf-b474-af2f32118dd2.png> CEO maor@greenberg.construction | 650-610-7711 Greenberg.Construction | 650-600-9536 x101 | Fax 925-269-2325 908 Industrial Ave, Palo Alto 94303 <F_1bc77f31-68bf-4143-80ea-3f34f539ea07.png> <insta_26696304-1b39-4259-9776-9f137454bed9.png> <yelp_e821c57e-caea-4e87-a5dd-5905e7ca4fb1.png> <Houzz_7abe75ad-d6ee-48ac-943b-592713e31957.png> <P_aece63f3-754b-4dca-a0a9-e93b94de4930.png> <google_04352117-2fb4-4963-bb3e-cc5317269360.png> From: Gaines, Chantal <Chantal.Gaines@CityofPaloAlto.org>Date: Friday, December 20, 2024 at 7:12 AMTo: Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>, Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>, osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>Cc: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>, Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>, Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>, Becchetti, Benjamin <Benjamin.Becchetti@CityofPaloAlto.org>, Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>, Cathi Lerch < -- Marguerite Poyatos Palo Alto Glass, Inc. 4085 Transport Street Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 494-7000 (650) 494-7087 (FAX) -- Marguerite PoyatosPalo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto CA 94303(650) 494-7000(650) 494-7087 (FAX) From:Nicole from DreamCatchers To:Council, City Subject:Exciting news about DreamCatchers Date:Sunday, August 17, 2025 5:34:07 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. ! Thank you so very much for your support, partnership, and collaboration over the years. I have some news to share: With nearly two decades under our belt serving Palo Alto middle-schoolers and their families, DreamCatchers is changing our name (as well as sprucing up our brand). DreamCatchers will soon be Pathwise, and our tagline will be “Belong, believe,become.” After much consideration (and tons of input from students, families, alumni, and partners - thank you!), we felt it was time to align our brand more closely with our core values, especially our commitment to equity. You’ll also see us step up our look-and-feel as well as our messaging to represent our program’s evolution—a greater focus on social-emotional learning, community, and advocacy for students and their families. One important reason for this change is our commitment to cultural sensitivityand respect. By changing our name, we are moving away from language that could unintentionally appropriate or exploit culture. Pathwise represents ourdedication to creating safe, inclusive spaces where all students can thrive. Our mission hasn’t changed—we remain committed to promoting educationalequity for all students in our community—but our new name reflects the future we’re working toward, not just a dream. Here are a few things to note: ������Mark your calendar for our back-to-school Pathwise ribbon cuttingand ice cream celebration on 8/19 (RSVP) ������Bookmark our new website: pathwise.org (you’ll see it come to life over the next couple weeks) ������Share our news with your colleagues - we could use the word of mouth to ensure everyone knows This message could be suspicious The sender's email address couldn't be verified. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast I’m so looking forward to this year, and to bringing our new brand over the finish line in the coming months. Thank you again for all your support, and for all the work you do for our community. I look forward to collaborating with you in the coming school year, and beyond. In community, Nicole Chiu-Wang -- Nicole Chiu-Wang Executive Director | Pathwise Belong, believe, become. Nicole@pathwise.org (650) 468-0083 From:Jeff Levinsky To:Council, City Subject:Item 16: Appeal of Director’s Interpretation regarding 3886 Magnolia Drive Date:Sunday, August 17, 2025 4:28:00 PM Dear City Council Members: Here’s a different way to evaluate this situation. In essence, the appellant proposes to remove floor area on their second floor and expand the first floor, ending up with 11 fewer square feet of floor area, which is still in excess of the current legal amount on their lot. Let’s think about the order of these two steps. If they first remove the second floor portion and then seek to expand their first floor, that’s clearly not allowed. The removal of the second floor portion would decrease their non- compliance with their floor area limit and then the later expansion would increase their non- compliance and thus be disallowed. If they instead plan to first expand their first floor and then seal off their second floor space, that too would not be allowed. Again, that’s because the first floor expansion would increase their non-compliance. No two actions of this complexity can actually be simultaneous, even if they overlap. So under both practical scenarios, the appellant’s proposal does not comply with the municipal code. That’s it in a nutshell. The appellant doesn’t address this way of thinking about their proposal. The appellant also somewhat incorrectly claims that “the term ‘relocation’ appears nowhere in the text of Section [18.70.]100.” While the word “relocation” itself doesn’t appear, the concept of relocation is in 18.70.100(c), which allows excess floor area to be relocated in a building in specific zones but not R-1. As staff note, why would such a rule exist if the section already allowed relocation, as the applicant claims? However, staff’s argument about reconfiguration of non-compliant space being disallowed by 18.70.080 is also not compelling. Staff doesn’t seem to explain what actual non-compliant aspect would increase due to the proposed reconfiguration. Staff talks about “form, massing, and presentation,” but the proposed remodel would not be out of compliance with any of those. So the appellant appears to be correct that their proposed remodel would not increase by any measure their degree of non-compliance according to the staff's logic. But it doesn't matter. I recommend you uphold staff’s position for the reason that in whatever order the remodel occurs, it will at some point increase non-compliance and thus isn't legal. That said, clearly our laws could be improved. But we should do it the right way. Staff recommends a new rule that would include the terms “consider”, “de-minimis”, “minor,” “not impactful,” and “public realm.” Such subjective notions muddy rather than clear up the law. The staff recommendation also doesn’t address which zones would be affected and relies on individual discretionary approval rather than impersonal application of the law. It’s better to have crisp rules that spell out exactly what you want. So I recommend you reword the staff recommendation to request the amendment allow for relocated floor area in specific circumstances that are determined objectively, not subjectively. Thank you, Jeff Levinsky From:pennyellson12@gmail.com To:Council, City Cc:Improve Cubberley Subject:Cubberley Concept Comments 8/17 Date:Sunday, August 17, 2025 3:22:35 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Honorable City Council, I just made my fourth attempt to fill out the Cubberley survey. Four times I wrote my comments into the survey format, pushed share and everything stopped. I give up. I’m writing to City Council because the web site doesn’t list a specific staff contact, and I want to make sure this is read by elected decision-makers. After decades of watching accumulative impacts of Cubberley facilities neglect and countless volunteer hours spent participating in various committees and processes, citizens want and need substantive improvements given to Cubberley in time to meet the needs of a growing population. A functional community center will meet increased demand for services when new SARAP, Ventura, ECR and Fabian housing is built— mostly in south PA. Balanced distribution of accessible community services, homes and schools that are well-connected by multi-modal transportation has defined quality of life in Palo Alto and elsewhere. We cannot afford further delay to renovation or construction. At the outset of this project, City Council directed staff not to include housing and to keep the project conservative in scope to enable passage of a bond measure. Let’s make sure it meets real needs that can be communicated simply, avoiding any controversy that might undermine efforts to capture majority support, a task that is hard even when the economy is good. Uses/Programming Community Service needs change over time. Facilities like this have to be designed with flexibility for future uses. Our population demographics are shifting. A lot of high density housing has been and is being built in this area, but much of our existing housing stock still is designed to serve families. Programming: Substantive work on programming hasn’t begun yet, but questions about programming are what I hear most often. I look forward to the upcoming September Cubberley meeting on this subject. The three-year delay in repairing gym floors created inexcusable long-term programming cancellation for residents, forcing gym users to travel to other cities. Failure to do basic maintenance that could have prevented water intrusion was also inexcusable. Palo Alto needs local gyms for indoor recreation for all ages. This is a glaring gap in the city’s current community facilities, citywide. The art, music and maker spaces are important to a community that values creativity, learning and innovation. Existing spaces for people of all ages for dance, orchestra, choruses, and other music groups to learn and practice are important. These spaces are in high demand, and Cubberley traditionally has been the venue for it. Affordable childcare is important in a community with so many dual-income families. Flex spaces for emergency services and people to shelter safely during catastrophic events will be critical in new high density areas. There is no longer a warm water therapy pool in Palo Alto with physical therapy programming for people of all ages with injuries, arthritis, disabilities, complex pregnancies. People regularly drive to San Jose and other communities for these services. The C.A.R. pool isn’t going to reopen soon, if ever. A public therapeutic pool with programming would be a blessing for folks who need this kind of programming. These are things Cubberley can offer. I am (personally) leaning in the direction of Concept 1 partial renovation and underground parking if it is feasible and affordable. Which gets me to Layout… Layout Of the layouts provided, I generally prefer the Concept 1, but all of the options raise questions about circulation. I see what may be an error in the slides. On the Concept 2: Grid it says “ 3 medium outdoor spaces” However I count 4 of these marked on the drawings plus courtyard space. RE: Renovation vs. New Construction-I don’t know what the trade-offs for Renovation vs. New Construction are. We need more information about relative costs and feasibility of these options. Without that, Council and voters won’t understand what they need to know to decide. Parking & Circulation I wonder about the Promenade facility (which looks like it may be a two-way bike/pedestrian facility). What is the intent here? A two-way or one-way cycle track? A multi-use path? In the concept drawings, the unknown facility type appears to extend along the northbound (NB) side of Middlefield beyond the Cubberley property frontage in both directions. How will the new facility connect to the rest of Middlefield and its bike facilities? Such a facility might encourage wrong-way bicycling which is extremely dangerous at intersections and driveways, especially on a fast, busy multi-lane residential arterials (because drivers look left, not right, for oncoming bike traffic). Defensive bicyclists position themselves where drivers legally and habitually expect to see them. If it is a two-way facility, how will this facility be designed to mitigate risk to wrong- way riders at critical locations on Middlefield (driveways, intersections, especially nearby larger multi-lane intersections like Charleston/ Middlefield? This is important for children and youth and other inexperienced bicyclists who may not have experience as drivers and don’t understand this risk. Alternatively, if the intent is to have a continuous bike lane on the east (northbound side of) Middlefield plus a one-way cycle track and/or multi-use path that is limited to the Cubberley frontage, that might work, but it will require careful design to make sure people aren’t incentivized to bike wrong way across busy shopping center driveways and nearby intersections. These are concerns and questions I will be asking city Transportation staff. Intersections of internal campus walkways and the Promenade will need special design attention to minimize risk of bike/pedestrian conflicts. The spaces for each travel mode should be carefully delineated, but I think this is feasible. The north and south parcel boundaries show bike/pedestrian facilities of smaller scale connecting Middlefield and the shopping center to the existing fire lanes, so it appears bike/walk connections to Cubberley, the shopping center, and Middlefield crossings will be retained. Will these car-free, important emergency access/bike-ped connections be retained all the way to Nelson Drive at both ends of the playing fields as they are today? We need much better clarity in the concepts on motor vehicle circulation and parking. When a driver and passengers leave a car, they become pedestrians. How will these pedestrians get to playing fields and other parts of the facility from parking? This is unclear in every concept. If people have to carry a lot of heavy equipment for programming, how will they move these things from an underground or above- ground garage? Structured auto parking is VERY expensive. It’s hard for me to evaluate what kind of auto facility I prefer when I don’t know the cost of the options. Cost, and feasibility (I wonder about high water tables at this location) will be key factors in decision-making with regard to auto parking options. What is the total number of existing auto parking spaces at Cubberley and what is the planned number of spaces? How did the consultant arrive at the planned number of spaces? It seems like a lot of space is dedicated to storing cars in these concepts. It looks like existing surface parking will be retained near the playing fields in all options. Is that correct? This existing parking lot is not marked for any specific use. What is planned use for that space? Please label it. Option for above ground parking garage--Structured, above-ground parking looks taller than most of the campus buildings. It might be placed be closer to multi-lane Middlefield, a wide road that won’t be overwhelmed by the mass of the garage structure, rather than next to a single-story preschool and the playing fields. Placement closer to Middlefield would also reduce the volume of cars at grade on campus, improving safety and reducing emissions and noise for all. The greatest safety risk to users of any campus is automobile traffic. Car circulation must be managed at a safe speed with excellent sight lines for bikes and pedestrians and clear, safe crossings where their paths intersect. Bike parking should be as carefully planned as auto parking. Secure bike parking racks should be generously available throughout the campus in highly visible locations people visit for programming—reminding every visitor every time they pass parked bikes that bicycling to Cubberley is an easy option. Again, what are the costs of above-ground structured parking vs. below ground parking options vs. surface parking? Is below ground parking feasible, given high water tables in this area? Massing: Taller structures, especially parking, should be centrally located on the Middlefield frontage to minimize privacy impacts on nearby single-story Eichler homes with glass walls facing the Cubberley site and to provide a structure that could be designed to create a real facility presence on the busy road. This will have the advantage of reducing the amount of campus space that would otherwise have to be paved for at- grade motor vehicle circulation. It also will reduce potential conflicts between autos and foot-powered people on campus. Larger buildings on the Middlefield side will provide a more visible presence for the facility. When we build it, they will come. While perusing the Capital Budget, I noticed the Infrastructure Inventory– Summary of Buildings & Facilities (p. 66 of proposed 2026 Capital Budget). This reveals that the total square footage city’s parking garages (1,245,786sf) is more than double the total square footage of the city’s Civic Center & Municipal Services Center, Community Centers, Libraries, and Fire Stations combined (totaling 512,783sf). If a community can be judged by what they build, what does this say? In an era of climate change, we contemplate building another parking garage, yet require a bond measure to pay for improvements to a neglected community center to meet our growing population’s needs. And, somehow, we cannot fully staff a fire engine to address increased fire risk that comes with higher density construction. How do we determine how much structured auto parking we really need overall at Cubberley? Those are my preliminary thoughts re: Cubberley concepts. Thank you for considering them. Penny Ellson (Speaking as an individual resident of Greenmeadow) Virus-free.www.avg.com From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Lauing, Ed; Sean Allen; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; JessicaSpeiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky;Jeff Rosen; h.etzko@gmail.com; Palo Alto Renters" Association; Gerry Gras; Daniel Barton; Emily Mibach; HumanRelations Commission; board@pausd.org; PD Kristina Bell; Nash, Betsy; Raymond Goins; Braden Cartwright;Gardener, Liz; cotton.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; Lotus Fong; Yusra Hussain; Lythcott-Haims, Julie;citycouncil@mountainview.gov; CityCouncil; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Binder, Andrew; Barberini, Christopher;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Reckdahl, Keith; Angel, David; Daniel Kottke;Dan Okonkwo; Roberta Ahlquist; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Council, City; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers;frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Friends of Cubberley; Rowena Chiu; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Enberg, Nicholas;board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Jeff Hayden; Dennis Upton; Rose Lynn; Gennady Sheyner; sharonjackson; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Baker, Rob; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; james pitkin; Pat M;Palo Alto Free Press; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Supervisor Betty Duong; Supervisor Otto Lee; YolandaConaway; Seher Awan; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; DuJuan Green; Tom DuBois; Carla Torres; Bill Newell; JoseValle; Dana St. George; Kaloma Smith; Salem Ajluni; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Bryan Gobin; BrandonPho; Brian Good; Michelle Bigelow Cc:WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Donna Wallach; Donna Wallach Subject:Ex-Israeli intelligence chief said 50 Palestinians must die for every 7 October victim Date:Sunday, August 17, 2025 2:37:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Ex-Israeli intelligence chief said 50 Palestinians must die for every 7 October victim Source:The Guardian https://share.newsbreak.com/ekt0tpi6?s=i0 From:isabel97taylor@gmail.com To:Council, City Subject:Let RVs Stay Date:Sunday, August 17, 2025 11:17:26 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi all, My name is Isabel, and I live on 3390 park boulevard. I was recently made aware of the efforts to ban RVs from parking on public streets, and I am embarrassed and ashamed of my neighbors who are advocating for this short- sighted and selfish policy. Many people want RVs gone because the people who live in them are poor. Having poor neighbors makes people scared. But there is nothing wrong with being poor, especially as housing costs soar. It is cruel to force people who cannot afford one of the most expensive ZIP codes in america, away from their homes and resources. The people living in RVs are human too, and they need homes just like anyone else. RVs are a great way to bridge the gap between the cost of housing and people’s real needs. Please know there are many of us who share this view. People living in RVs deserve to stay. If we must move them, we need to provide adequate places for them to park continuously, assistance with sewage removal and trash disposal, and education for the public on why making RVs “go somewhere else” is bad public policy. Homelessness and poverty will always exist, it is morally unconscionable to prioritize people who feel “uncomfortable” over people whose lives and wellbeing are at stake. I urge you to - allowed RVs to stay. If we must move them, ensure there is adequate space near resources for them to park more permanently BEFORE enforcing this ordinance. Thank you for your time, Isabel From:Aram James To:h.etzko@gmail.com; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Sean Allen; Jeff Conrad; Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie;Shikada, Ed; Gerry Gras; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Palo Alto Renters" Association; JoshBecker; CityCouncil; Council, City; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Clerk, City; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Human Relations Commission; EPA Today;DuJuan Green; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Rowena Chiu; Seher Awan;Palo Alto Free Press; Burt, Patrick; Michael Pati; Pat M; Vara Ramakrishnan; Roberta Ahlquist; Raymond Goins Subject:Watch "The Fall of the Israel Lobby Has Begun — And This Is Just the Start | Denzel Washington speech" on YouTube Date:Sunday, August 17, 2025 1:08:20 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://youtu.be/TBtQMeLdCQc?si=Dr7OjYWeX8JPNLOL From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Gennady Sheyner; Reifschneider, James; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; CityCouncil;Raymond Goins; Sean Allen; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Perron, Zachary; DuJuan Green; dennisburns; Jeff Conrad; Jay Boyarsky; Richard Konda; Rick Callender; Braden Cartwright;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Brandon Pho; Brian Good; Gerry Gras; Bill Newell; Shankar Ramamoorthy; DougMinkler; Kaloma Smith; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; BoardOperations; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg;Supervisor Betty Duong; Supervisor Otto Lee; Rowena Chiu; Emily Mibach; Baker, Rob; Robert Salonga; RobertaAhlquist; Rose Lynn; Salem Ajluni; Bryan Gobin; Brad Imamura; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; Burt, Patrick;gstone22@gmail.com; Palo Alto Free Press; EPA Today; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan;District3@sanjoseca.gov; District4@sanjoseca.gov; District5@sanjoseca.gov; District9@sanjoseca.gov;Councilmember Chappie Jones; Diana Diamond; Rodriguez, Miguel; editor@paweekly.com;eddie.aubrey@sanjoseca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto;Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Afanasiev, Alex; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission;Zelkha, Mila; Foley, Michael; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; josh@joshsalcman.com;ladoris cordell; Donna Wallach; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Nash, Betsy; james pitkin; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky;Melissa.Kiniyalocts@cco.sccgov.org; Robert Handa; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org;Adam.Oberdorfer@shf.sccgov.org; Sterling Larnerd; Steve Wagstaffe; Stump, Molly; Alex Etzkowitz; chuckjagoda; Dennis Upton; Dana St. George; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; Cribbs, Anne; Don Austin; YolandaConaway Subject:This cop trusted the Taser—until it nearly killed his son Date:Saturday, August 16, 2025 10:41:36 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The Truth About Deadly Tasers Reveal: 8/16/2025 Must listen or read before you decide on Tasers What Police Weren’t Told About Tasers - Reveal https://revealnews.org/podcast/tasers-police- injuries-deaths-axon/ From:Aram James To:Shikada, Ed; Binder, Andrew; james pitkin; Reifschneider, James; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; GennadySheyner; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; Kaloma Smith; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Nash,Betsy; Raymond Goins; Salem Ajluni; board@pausd.org; Rick Callender; Palo Alto Free Press; Diana Diamond;EPA Today; Pat M; Barberini, Christopher; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Enberg, Nicholas;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Human Relations Commission; Michael Pati;Yolanda Conaway Cc:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Veenker, Vicki; Gerry Gras; Lu, George; Ed Lauing; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Linda Jolley; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Sean Allen Subject:Article: “Take Back Our Criminal Justice System, Use Jury Nullification” (May 8, 2012) Aram Byer James authoreda compelling piece titled “Take Back Our Criminal Justice System, Use Jury Nullification”, published under theAlbert Cobarrubias Justice Pr... Date:Saturday, August 16, 2025 8:35:44 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Take Back Our Criminal Justice System, Use Jury Nullification MAY 8, 2012 / ACJPDEBUG By Aram James — On April 19, 2012 New York federal Judge Kimba Wood dismissed an indictment against 80-year old Julian P. Heicklen for alleged jury tampering in the case against him for handing out materials to members of the public regarding the right of jurors to apply the historic doctrine of jury nullification. Nullification is the right of jurors to come back with a verdict of not-guilty even if the jurors believe that the defendant in fact technically violated the law, but the jurors conclude that the law in question is an immoral or bad law or a reasonable law applied in a discriminatory fashion. In dismissing the case Judge Wood commented that a person violates the jury tampering law only when they try to influence a juror in a specific case pending before those same jurors– but not for merely handing out informational materials (protected First Amendment activity) to members of the public who come to the courthouse for a variety of reasons–not necessarily related to jury duty. The right of jurors to veto or nullify an unjust law—or a law that may be fair on its face but is being applied in a discriminatory fashion–is critical to our democracy and to our ability to serve as citizen jurors while being fully informed of our rights and options as decision makers. These rights are essential when our government calls us to sit in judgment regarding the guilt or innocence of our fellow citizens and community members In an era where our government is increasingly cracking down on dissent (consider the response of the government to the occupy movement or to high profile whistle blowers such as Bradley Manning or Julian Assange) the decision by a federal judge to toss out an indictment against an 80-year-old citizen advocate for handing out materials to members of the public in front of a courthouse is a powerful rebuff to the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to intimidate and steal from its citizens the right to think and speak freely and to exercise their independent judgment in the context of their jury service. The judge’s decision to toss the indictment goes a long way to prevent—or at least to mitigate– jury tampering activity by judges and or prosecutors who – on occasion — purposely attempt to leave jurors with the wrong and intimidating impression: that to do anything other than to convict the person on trial is itself a criminal act. Historically brave and courageous jurors refused to convict those charged with violating the Fugitive Slave Act and other immoral laws despite the best efforts of prosecutors and judges to steer jurors towards a conviction. In the contemporary setting, if more jurors were fully informed of their right to disregard immoral or discriminatorily enforced laws—such as California’s “Jim Crow Drug Laws” and the racially motivated three-strike law—they would undoubtedly refuse to convict many defendants charged under these morally repugnant and frequently discriminatory laws. The bottom line is that any grassroots organization attempting to reform or rebuild the criminal justice system from the ground up must understand and be willing to educate members of the public regarding their basic rights as jurors—including the right to veto or nullify bad laws. Failure to educate the public in this regard is to assist and aid the state in wrongfully convicting members of our own communities. Knowledge is power and it’s time we go out into our communities and spread the word—we can just say no to bad laws. Judge Kimba Wood’s action in dismissing the indictment in the Julian Heicklen case is cause for wide celebration-since we now know we are on solid legal ground when we decide to organize our communities around fundamental concepts of justice and our desire to take back our criminal justice system. We can take back our criminal justice system from the forces that would prefer that justice be administered and understood for the benefit of the few to the detriment of the majority of people. The majority of people who must interact daily with the intentionally maintained mysterious and often baffling criminal justice system. In California –pursuant to the holding in People v. Williams 25 Cal. 4th 441 (2001), jurors are explicitly precluded from exercising the doctrine of jury nullification—in fact if a judge discovers that a juror is refusing to apply the law to a case–he or she may be discharged from the jury. On the other hand, if the judge is unaware that the jury has engaged in nullifying what they perceive to be an unfair or bad law—the double jeopardy clause would prohibit retrial of an acquitted defendant. In Sparf v. U.S. 156 U.S. 51 (1894) the U.S. Supreme Court—in a 5 to 4 decision—held that federal judges are not required to instruct jurors on their right to nullify bad laws. Understanding the power of jury nullification is one way to even the odds of obtaining justice of all. To learn more about the power of jury nullification check out the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA). Aram James is a retired Santa Clara County deputy public defender—and a cofounder of the Albert Cobarrubias Justice Project (ACJP) –a grassroots legal advocacy organization—located in San Jose, CA. *In a future article the author intends to discuss the provocative and controversial use of race- based jury nullification. The doctrine of race-based jury nullification has been popularized by Law Professor Paul Butler. Take Back Our Criminal Justice System, Use Jury Nullification From:Aram James To:Shikada, Ed; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Dave Price; Reckdahl, Keith; Sean Allen; Binder, Andrew; BillNewell; Gerry Gras; EPA Today; Stump, Molly; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; h.etzko@gmail.com; RobertaAhlquist; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Gennady Sheyner; DianaDiamond; Kaloma Smith; james pitkin; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Vicki Veenker; Jeff Rosen;Baker, Rob; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Human Relations Commission; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden;Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; board@pausd.org; Roberta Ahlquist; Rowena Chiu; board@valleywater.org;bos@smcgov.org; BoardOperations; Holman, Karen (external); Lauing, Ed; gstone22@gmail.com; Lu, George;Dana St. George; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Damon Silver; Figueroa, Eric; Henry Etzkowitz; RaymondGoins; Pat M; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan;District3@sanjoseca.gov; District4@sanjoseca.gov; District5@sanjoseca.gov; Councilmember Chappie Jones;District9@sanjoseca.gov; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; Council, City; Bains, Paul; Rodriguez, Miguel;Friends of Cubberley; Michael Ybarra; Zelkha, Mila Cc:PD Kristina Bell Subject:Just Say No To Banning RVs on The streets of Palo Alto without a well-thought-out back up Plan Date:Saturday, August 16, 2025 6:34:53 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Here’s a comprehensive, well-sourced overview of Aram James’s role and the broadertimeline surrounding the vehicle‑dwelling (RV/living-in-car) ban in Palo Alto: 1. Aram James’s Letter (July 20, 2011) Aram James submitted a letter to the City Attorney of Palo Alto on July 20, 2011, raising legaland moral concerns about the proposed vehicle-dwelling ordinance: He warned that prosecutions under the ordinance would involve lengthy, costly trials,especially if defendants invoked the “defense of necessity,” often misapplied by judges,potentially triggering appeals and habeas corpus petitions. He argued that juries historically refuse to convict under unjust laws, and would likelyview bans criminalizing sleeping in vehicles as morally indefensible. James also noted that even if courts restrict necessity defenses, the unspoken backupremains jury nullification—when a jury acquits against the letter of the law because theyfind it unjust. 2. City Council’s Response & the Ban’s Passage (2013) The City Council voted 7–2 to enact the vehicle-dwelling ban on August 5, 2013,framing it as a necessary tool amid growing lodging in vehicles and neighborhood safety concerns. Violations could result in citations, and in some cases, misdemeanorswith up to a $1,000 fine. The decision came after two years of debate, outreach, and failed attempts to launchalternative safe-parking programs with faith-based organizations. 3. Legal Pushback & Enforcement Delay (Late 2013–Early 2014) In November 2013, a group of attorneys threatened to sue, arguing that the bancriminalized homelessness and violated residents’ rights by depriving them of essentialshelter. In December 2013, the City Council agreed to delay enforcement for up to a year, citinga pending Ninth Circuit decision in Desertrain v. Los Angeles which could influence thelegality of such bans. 4. Ban Repealed (November 2014) Finally, on November 24, 2014, the Council repealed the ban in a 7–1 vote, largely influenced by the Desertrain case, which found similar restrictions unconstitutional anddiscriminatory under due process law. The vehicle-dwelling ban had not been enforced during the delay. The repeal occurred alongside continued funding (about $250,000 annually) for broader homelessness solutions, though the ban was dropped. Here’s a comprehensive, well-sourced overview of Aram James’s role and the broader timeline surrounding the vehicle‑dwelling (RV/living-in-car) ban in Palo Alto: 1. Aram James’s Letter (July 20, 2011) Aram James submitted a letter to the City Attorney of Palo Alto on July 20, 2011,raising legal and moral concerns about the proposed vehicle-dwelling ordinance: He warned that prosecutions under the ordinance would involve lengthy, costly trials, especially if defendants invoked the “defense of necessity,” oftenmisapplied by judges, potentially triggering appeals and habeas corpus petitions. He argued that juries historically refuse to convict under unjust laws, and wouldlikely view bans criminalizing sleeping in vehicles as morally indefensible. James also noted that even if courts restrict necessity defenses, the unspokenbackup remains jury nullification—when a jury acquits against the letter of thelaw because they find it unjust. 2. City Council’s Response & the Ban’s Passage (2013) The City Council voted 7–2 to enact the vehicle-dwelling ban on August 5, 2013, framing it as a necessary tool amid growing lodging in vehicles and neighborhoodsafety concerns. Violations could result in citations, and in some cases, misdemeanors with up to a $1,000 fine. The decision came after two years of debate, outreach, and failed attempts to launch alternative safe-parking programs with faith-based organizations. 3. Legal Pushback & Enforcement Delay (Late 2013– Early 2014) In November 2013, a group of attorneys threatened to sue, arguing that the bancriminalized homelessness and violated residents’ rights by depriving them ofessential shelter. In December 2013, the City Council agreed to delay enforcement for up to a year,citing a pending Ninth Circuit decision in Desertrain v. Los Angeles which couldinfluence the legality of such bans. 4. Ban Repealed (November 2014) Finally, on November 24, 2014, the Council repealed the ban in a 7–1 vote,largely influenced by the Desertrain case, which found similar restrictions unconstitutional and discriminatory under due process law. The vehicle-dwellingban had not been enforced during the delay. The repeal occurred alongside continued funding (about $250,000 annually) forbroader homelessness solutions, though the ban was dropped. Final Thoughts Aram James’s 2011 letter catalyzed legal and ethical debate by spotlighting theordinance’s potential unintended consequences—financial burden, constitutionalchallenges, and juror resistance. His advocacy prefaced a broader unfolding of the issue,eventually culminating in legal scrutiny and policy reversal. Context & Significance Aram James’s letter was prompted by how the city was handling the debate— highlighting concerns around free speech. He urged the City Attorney to publiclyclarify the city’s stance to avoid discouraging future public testimony. He acknowledged that, based on legal precedent, officials do have the FirstAmendment right to not listen (or walk out) on speakers—even if the speech is distasteful to them. But he also emphasized that such conduct could nonethelessdiscourage civic participation. He also hinted at political accountability, saying he could choose not to vote foror even initiate a recall campaign against those council members whose actions he found objectionable. In his postscript, he specifically invited Chief Attorney Molly Stump to weigh in with her legal perspective on the issues he highlighted. Why It Matters This letter provides a window into Aram James’s broader concerns—beyond just thevehicle-dwelling issue—to how local government engages with dissent. He was drawingattention not only to the substance of the discussion (the proposed ban), but also to howthe process itself (public comment, legal discourse, civic feedback) was being shaped. Palo Alto indeed delayed the debate in the wake of such public pushback, which alignswith James’s broader message about the importance of open civic discourse. From:Eileen Stolee To:ctraboard@googlegroups.com Cc:Council, City; City Mgr; ctraboard@googlegroups.com; ctraboard Subject:Re: [CTRA B2B] Stanford Terrace Inn Date:Saturday, August 16, 2025 5:01:17 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Thank you for writing this letter. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 15, 2025, at 4:08 PM, 'Ann Balin' via CTRA Board to Board<ctraboard@googlegroups.com> wrote:Thank you Richard for writing to the council and city manager. Sent from my iPhone On 15 Aug 2025, at 15:57, Richard Stolee <rstolee@gmail.com>wrote:Dear City Council and City Manager, It has come to the CTRA Board's attention that the deterioratingStanford Inn at 531 Stanford Ave has become an eyesore and agrowing fire and health hazard in our College Terrace community.Members of our community are especially concerned about the healthhazards posed by this property, including the potential forrodent infestation that might impact neighboring properties. Inaddition, it appears that the property could also pose a fire hazard.These problems have been getting worse over the last year withoutadequate intervention by the City of Palo Alto. We would like to seethe building demolished to eliminate the existing hazards. It isextremely important to have this matter addressed by the CityManager and Code enforcement until the matter is resolved. Shouldn't the City, at least, impose fines on a property owner who is This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast blatantly neglecting the responsibilities of their ownership of thisproperty? We would appreciate receiving an update on any progress you are making to eliminate this hazard to our neighborhood. We will passthat information along to our community members. Thank you for your consideration. Richard M Stolee College Terrace Neighborhood Association President -- -- To post to this group, send email to ctraboard@googlegroups.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CTRA Board to Board" group.To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ctraboard+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ctraboard/CABq0965touDJ31OHqiz%3DKr-5ZJ9W49eN6Yqi5171uBx7Xod2YQ%40mail.gmail.com. -- -- To post to this group, send email to ctraboard@googlegroups.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CTRA Board to Board" group.To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ctraboard+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ctraboard/7EC5359E-1690-4C33-AC7C-5B5ADFAAFF0E%40mac.com. From:Melissa Anderson To:Eric Holm Cc:Courtney.Carlomagno@pausd.org; board; lailijavid1@gmail.com; nancymoss@gmail.com; shangwoodca@msn.com; Council, City; Michael Poole Subject:Re: Urgent Safety Risk to Greene Middle School Students from Construction Truck Parking on Middlefield Rd Date:Saturday, August 16, 2025 9:51:56 AM Attachments:Screen Shot 2025-08-16 at 9.43.16 AM.pngScreen Shot 2025-08-16 at 9.43.30 AM.pngScreen Shot 2025-08-16 at 9.43.40 AM.pngWhatsApp Video 2025-08-16 at 09.00.57.mp4 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Director Holm, Superintendent Austin, PAUSD Board Members, and Principal Carlomagno, As school began last Thursday, I must report that the parking situation along Middlefield has not improved. Director Holm stated that “only small, personal vehicles of contractors and workers will be allowed to park along Middlefield” — however, my attached photos from last Thursday, takenfrom my own driveway, show large construction trucks continuing to park there. These vehicles create dangerous blindspots for drivers and bicyclists, dramatically increasing thelikelihood of an accident. To make matters worse, a construction worker has posted on social media (attached) ridiculingour neighborhood as “rich people who don’t want contractors to park in front of their houses”, while disregarding our primary and legitimate concern: the safety of Greene students.This attitude is disrespectful and undermines constructive collaboration on a serious safety matter. Ensuring student safety must be at least as important as ensuring teachers arrive to class on time. The current situation poses a real danger of students being hit by cars or trucks. Pleasedo not wait until a child is injured before acting. Since contractors are not allowed to park in Greene’s lot, we request that Swinerton provideoff-site parking for their workers and arrange shuttle or bus transfers to the school. This is a reasonable and proven solution used in other school construction projects. Please also inform us how long this construction project is expected to continue so we can understand the duration of this hazard. We look forward to your immediate written response with a concrete plan to eliminate this safety risk to our students. Sincerely, Melissa AndersonLaili Javid Lu LiuNancy Moss (Homeowners on the same block as Greene’s Middlefield parking lot — high student bike and foot traffic zone) On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 3:41 PM Eric Holm <eholm@pausd.org> wrote:Dear Greene Neighbors,Thank you for bringing the traffic situation to our attention. Sorry I have not replied sooner.We have been working with our contractor on the issue but I have not had a chance to replyas we are furiously finishing projects across most of our campuses as we get readyfor students to return. At Greene, in part, we had focused our attention on our own driveway along MIddlefieldwhere more vehicles are entering and exiting and we had not been looking further down thestreet. Here is how we are addressing the situation: We met with both the contractor and a police sergeant from PAPD You correctly cite that construction vehicles are not allowed to park in staff lots sothat the staff is capable of getting to their classes to focus on their primary purpose ofeducating our students. The large trucks will begin parking on the job site monday after we repave a sectionof driveway that should finish tomorrow.Only small, personal vehicles of contractors and workers will be allowed to parkalong middlefield. As it is public parking, other cars may still park there that we arenot able to control other public vehicles. We do have parking challenges around the site so we will continue to monitor the impactsand appreciate you bringing the issue to our attention.If there are any construction issues that you notice, also please don't hesitate to reach out toour construction manager, Michael Poole at Telacu ConstructionManagement: mpoole@telacu.com Thank you, Eric Holm Eric Holm Director of Facilities and Construction Palo Alto Unified School District 25 Churchill Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306 eholm@pausd.org | 650-759-9447 ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Vicky Lao <vlao@pausd.org>Date: Mon, Aug 4, 2025 at 11:12 AMSubject: Fwd: Urgent Safety Risk to Greene Middle School Students from ConstructionTruck Parking on Middlefield RdTo: Eric Holm <eholm@pausd.org> ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Melissa Anderson <m09anderson@gmail.com>Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2025 at 1:55 PMSubject: Urgent Safety Risk to Greene Middle School Students from Construction TruckParking on Middlefield RdTo: <City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org>, <board@pausd.org>,<Courtney.Carlomagno@pausd.org>Cc: Laili Javid <lailijavid1@gmail.com>, Nancy Moss <nancymoss@gmail.com>, MelissaAnderson <m09anderson@gmail.com>, <shangwoodca@msn.com> Dear Council Members, PAUSD Board, Superintendent Austin, and Principal Carlomagno, We are writing as residents at 2303 & 2311 & 2321 Middlefield Rd, and 701 GarlandDr (Middlefield side), to raise an urgent safety hazard threatening Greene Middle Schoolstudents. Large construction vehicles associated with the ongoing school project have been parkingalong Middlefield Road—directly in front of our driveways, obstructing visibility as weenter and exit (please see attached photos). Middlefield Rd is a major bike route used dailyby Greene students. Over the past weeks, we have narrowly avoided collisions with studentson bicycles due to these blind spots and felt no time to react. We’re gravely concerned that, unless this is addressed now, a collision—possibly severe— could occur. This is entirely preventable. Despite Greene’s school parking lot being largely unused during summer, we were told contractors are forbidden from parking there. That policy mustbe immediately reevaluated. We respectfully demand immediate action: 1. Ban construction trucks from parking on Middlefield Rd adjacent to GreeneMiddle School, especially near student bike routes and residential driveways. 2. Require contractors to use Greene’s on-site parking lot or a designated off-street location, not endangering students or reducing visibility for residents. Please act before a preventable tragedy occurs. The safety of our children and communitycomes before any logistical inconvenience. Thank you for your urgent attention. Sincerely,Melissa AndersonLaili JavidLu LiuNancy Moss(Homeowners near Greene Middle School) From:Gail Price To:David Page Cc:Council, City Subject:Re: public health education Date:Friday, August 15, 2025 9:45:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Mayor Lauing and Palo Alto City Council Members, I completely concur with every statement in David Page’s letter of August 13th about theimportance of an ongoing vigorous public health education campaign which emphasizes current and intensifying impacts of greenhouse gases and air pollution among other toxicactivities. Credible scientists, a range of academics, and environmental activists have long and urgently identified these issues. It’s up to politicians and community members to make sure ourpolicies and services are designed to address climate change. In our mid-urban/suburban community even more awareness and behavior change is required (and a challenge) to truly achieve our environmental goals. Clearly the campaign shouldidentify actions community members could take and how it would help. As David Page eloquently states “No one will want to bother changing their behavior unlessthey understand there’s a problem AND a way they can contribute to a solution. I’ve often thought that if each of us even occasionally used alternative transportation options (walking, biking, shuttle, transit) instead of autos it would help . We would be settingexamples for each other, including our friends and families. Sincerely, Gail A. Price On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 8:39 PM David Page <dalpage5@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City Council members, I've written to you about an anti-pollution public health campaign in the past (a couple of times since 2020), but have gotten little response. Now a new paper from Stanford (& other) researchers has confirmed the benefits of what I've been proposing: This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast "Climate literacy interventions can help individuals optimize their personal lifestyle choices in ways that align with climate mitigation efforts." Published by the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests how greenhouse pollution can be dramatically reduced simply by giving the public factual information - which they otherwise are not receiving - from a credible source. "The best way to combat the human tendency to miscalculate climate-related decisions is with more readily available information." Academics working for the U.N. have written about this: "Targeted information (energy efficiency information, carbon labelling) can also shift consumer decision-making towards more efficient and low-carbon products." The City of Palo Alto has been talking about the moral urgency of pollution reduction at least as far back as the Green Ribbon Task Force of 2006. Yet after the low-hanging fruit was plucked, there's been little progress here. Given the track record, and the relatively low priority of this issue for residents, I don't expect much to change. However, rather than continuing to spend money for meager results, perhaps you'll consider an inexpensive proposal to complement what is already being tried: a public health education campaign. You already have 1/2 page inserts sent out with the utility bills. You could include an insert (plus an op-ed for the Merc, as well as other media efforts) which would spell out the biggest ways Palo Altans, on average, create GHG pollution: with airplane-trips, beef-eating, oil'n'gasoline automobiles, and home methane/gas usage (see links, above). Palo Altans, per capita, create well-above median levels of pollution. Within the insert you could also spell out how such pollution is causing human suffering today (local pollution), and will do in the future (extreme weather). No one will want to bother changing their behavior unless they understand there's a problem AND a way they can contribute to a solution. Current Palo Alto marketing efforts go to great lengths to avoid mentioning the nature of the problem, and its (avoidable) causes - a big messaging mistake, in my opinion ... for example, saying the big reason to get an electric heat pump is to "save money" rather than to save lives. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss this proposal further. Thank you very much, David Page Midtown dalpage5@gmail.com From:Ann Balin To:ctraboard@googlegroups.com Cc:Council, City; City Mgr; ctraboard Subject:Re: [CTRA B2B] Stanford Terrace Inn Date:Friday, August 15, 2025 4:18:10 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Thank you Richard for writing to the council and city manager. Sent from my iPhone On 15 Aug 2025, at 15:57, Richard Stolee <rstolee@gmail.com> wrote:Dear City Council and City Manager, It has come to the CTRA Board's attention that the deteriorating Stanford Inn at 531 Stanford Ave has become an eyesore and a growing fire and health hazard inour College Terrace community. Members of our community are especially concerned about the health hazards posed by this property, including the potentialfor rodent infestation that might impact neighboring properties. In addition, it appears that the property could also pose a fire hazard. These problems have beengetting worse over the last year without adequate intervention by the City of Palo Alto. We would like to see the building demolished to eliminate the existinghazards. It is extremely important to have this matter addressed by the City Manager and Code enforcement until the matter is resolved. Shouldn't the City, atleast, impose fines on a property owner who is blatantly neglecting the responsibilities of their ownership of this property? We would appreciate receiving an update on any progress you are making toeliminate this hazard to our neighborhood. We will pass that information along to our community members. Thank you for your consideration. Richard M StoleeCollege Terrace Neighborhood Association President This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast -- -- To post to this group, send email to ctraboard@googlegroups.com --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups"CTRA Board to Board" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an emailto ctraboard+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion visithttps://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ctraboard/CABq0965touDJ31OHqiz%3DKr- 5ZJ9W49eN6Yqi5171uBx7Xod2YQ%40mail.gmail.com. From:Richard Stolee To:Council, City; City Mgr Cc:ctraboard Subject:Stanford Terrace Inn Date:Friday, August 15, 2025 3:58:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear City Council and City Manager, It has come to the CTRA Board's attention that the deteriorating Stanford Inn at 531 Stanford Ave has become an eyesore and a growing fire and health hazard in our College Terracecommunity. Members of our community are especially concerned about the health hazards posed by this property, including the potential for rodent infestation that might impactneighboring properties. In addition, it appears that the property could also pose a fire hazard. These problems have been getting worse over the last year without adequate intervention bythe City of Palo Alto. We would like to see the building demolished to eliminate the existing hazards. It is extremely important to have this matter addressed by the City Manager andCode enforcement until the matter is resolved. Shouldn't the City, at least, impose fines on a property owner who is blatantly neglecting the responsibilities of their ownership of thisproperty? We would appreciate receiving an update on any progress you are making to eliminate this hazard to our neighborhood. We will pass that information along to our community members. Thank you for your consideration. Richard M StoleeCollege Terrace Neighborhood Association President This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Aram James To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Council, City; h.etzko@gmail.com; Binder, Andrew; Gerry Gras; DuJuan Green; dennisburns; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; GRP-City Council; PD Kristina Bell; Bill Newell;cromero@cityofepa.org; Steve Wagstaffe; Jeff Rosen; jsylva@scscourt.org; Jay Boyarsky; Gardener, Liz; HumanRelations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Figueroa, Eric;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Daniel Barton; Yolanda Conaway; james pitkin;Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Veenker, Vicki; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Jensen, Eric; SalemAjluni; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Brandon Pho; Sean Allen; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; Reckdahl, Keith;Stone, Greer; Greg Tanaka; Tom DuBois; Hans-Peter Tiemann; Drekmeier, Peter; Dana St. George; Lotus Fong;Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Henry Etzkowitz; Roberta Ahlquist; Donna Wallach; Friends ofCubberley; Brian Good; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Kaloma Smith; Zahra Billoo; EPA Today; Liz Kniss; BradenCartwright; Afanasiev, Alex; Enberg, Nicholas; Rick Callender; Jeff Hayden; Holman, Karen (external); The Officeof Mayor Matt Mahan; District3@sanjoseca.gov; Councilmember Chappie Jones; District4@sanjoseca.gov;District5@sanjoseca.gov; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Robert Salonga; DennisUpton; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Robert Handa; Perron, Zachary; Lee,Craig; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy Subject:CJA ALA Public Records Request 8-15-25 Date:Friday, August 15, 2025 3:13:33 PM Attachments:CJA ALA Public Records Request 8-15-25.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Taser Deployment in our main jail 1 C/o ALA 991 West Hedding Street, Suite 202 San Jose, CA 95126 (408) 287-9710 rkonda@asianlawalliance.org abjpd1@gmail.com August 15, 2025 Office of the County Counsel Melissa Kiniyalocts 70 West Hedding Street San Jose, CA 95110 Dear Ms. Kiniyalocts: California Public Records Act Request Background of Incident Based on information received by members of The Coalition for Justice & Accountability (CJA) an incident is alleged to have occurred on August 7, 2025, on the 6th floor of the Main Jail. Santa Clara County Sheriff Deputy Downing is alleged to have been involved in an incident that resulted in the pepper-spraying and subsequent Tasing of an inmate. It is our understanding that Deputy Downing gassed or pepper-sprayed a yet unidentified inmate who it is alleged was engaged in a mutual combat situation with another inmate. In addition, based on the information we received the inmate who was gassed and subsequently Tased had already complied with Deputy Downing orders and the pepper spraying and tasering of the inmate was alleged to have been unnecessary. Policy Considerations CJA is a broad-based racially, culturally, and inclusive Santa Clara County Coalition that has worked for the last two decades to warn members of our community and members of the law enforcement of the extreme dangers that Tasers pose. We have advocated repeatedly that Taser use by Law Enforcement should be banned in Santa Clara County. Tasers injury and kill human beings with regularity. We believe that with the current crisis in our jails regarding health and safety issues, including the death of 10 male inmates in 2024, the most in two decades, that the decision to introduce Tasers in our jails is both reckless and unwise. Pursuant to the CPRA, we are requesting the following 1. All incident reports prepared regarding this incident involving a pepper-spray and a Taser deployment occurring on or about August 7, 2025. We are requesting Deputy Downing’s incident report and all other incident 2 reports prepared by other sheriff deputies, or employees of the sheriff’s department, related to this incident. To protect any legally mandated privacy concerns, please consider necessary redactions. 2. All medical reports related to the incident that were prepared by Santa Clara County Valley Health Care (Custody Health Services). To see the protocol and necessary procedures that must be followed after a Taser deployment, information regarding on call doctors, etc., See the extensive seven page (Custody Health Services) protocol on Taser probe removal and related detailed medical protocol, that must be followed after each Taser deployment, including the comprehensive medical and psychological follow-up for inmates Tasered while in custody. Note: This seven-page Custody Health Services protocol was given to us by your office (County Counsel) in response to our initial public records request, related to the ongoing Taser Pilot Project, submitted to your office on May 30, 2025. (Documents received June 10, 2025). 3. All documents related to the cost to the county of providing medical, psychological and related services, by Custody Health Services, or other health/medical providers, each time a Taser is deployed. 4. All documents related to cost of medical service re the Taser incident that is alleged to have occurred in the Santa Clara County Main Jail, 6th floor, on or about August 7, 2025. 3. All Body-Worn Camera Footage, and Taser Camera footage, and surveillance camera footage maintained in area of the jail where this incident occurred. Note: If necessary, use appropriate computer software to blur the faces of those entitled to privacy regarding this gassing and Tasering incident. See: Castañares v Superior Court (2023) 98 Cal. App. 5th 295 Additional case law and code sections to consider 1. The CPRA is to be construed broadly in favor of disclosure with exemptions to be narrowly construed. In addition, agencies bear the burden to justify withholding records under the CPRA. CBS v. Block 42 Cal. 3rd 646, (1968). 2. Despite the existence of an exception, an agency may generally disclose records unless law prohibits disclosure. Gov’t Code section 9721.505. 3. Also, if an agency has intentionally disclosed the information sought it may have waived the right to claim an exemption. Gov’t Code section 9721.505 (b). 4. From the vantage point of the harried public servant, exposure to public scrutiny and criticism may hamper and upset the day-to-day operation of the government agency. Thus, the bureaucrat is often sorely tempted to preclude public disclosure by invoking the privilege of confidentiality. .“ NY Times Company v. Superior Court Santa Barbara County 52 Cal. App 4th 97, (1997) Assistance requested in carrying out the intent of the CPRA As you are aware, Gov’t Code section 7922.600(a), requires government agencies to proactively assist members of the public and others in locating the appropriate records and to provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the records or the information sought. We are hereby requesting that we receive all of the assistance legally required by Gov’t Code section 7922.600 (a). (Emphasis added) We are also requesting in order to carry out the mandate of Gov’t Code 7922.600 (a) that, you agree to meet and confer with us in a zoom or in person meeting at your earliest convenience. 3 Final Comments by authors of this CPRA request The CPRA should not be treated as an adversarial contest between warring parties. County Counsel and the Sherriff’s department should embrace the opportunity to collaborate with members of CJA to ensure that there is adequate public impute and trust developed before any decision is made by our board of supervisors on whether to permanently place dangerous and deadly Tasers in our jails. Richard Konda Aram James CJA 4 From:Sheryl Klein To:Council, City; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed Subject:Thank you for providing bike parking near the Downtown Palo Alto Farmers Market Date:Friday, August 15, 2025 12:03:05 PM Attachments:image.png Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day!.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto City Council members and City staff, On behalf of the Board of the Downtown Farmers' Market, thank you for installing permanentbike parking near the Hamilton Avenue Post Office. It’s a much-needed improvement that makes a great difference! This location not only supports everyday errands but also serves the many people who bike to the Farmers' market. We’re grateful for the City’s continued support of safe, convenient, andsustainable transportation options. Here is the photo of the new bike parking included in this week’s newsletter (attached), soothers can see and appreciate the upgrade as well. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast Sincerely,Sheryl Klein Board member of the Downtown Farmers' Market ------------------------------------- Sheryl Kleinc: 650-255-2671 From:Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo To:Council, City Subject:Animal Spotlight: The JMZ"s Flamingo Chick Date:Friday, August 15, 2025 11:08:29 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Flamingo Flock News August 15, 2025 Hello Friends, Exciting updates continue this month at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. TheJMZ welcomed two ring-tailed lemurs, Val and Shug, the zoo’s very first primate residents. Shug was rescued from the exotic pet trade before her time at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Shug's story is a great reminder that wild animals belong in the wild— not in our homes. Lemurs, like all wild creatures, have special needs that can only be met in natural or carefully managed environments. Whether they’re sunbathing orexploring their new home, I hope you’ll stop by soon to meet these curious newcomers! For this month’s newsletter, we take a closer look at the zoo’s flamingo chick—which hatched this summer to everyone’s surprise and delight. In celebration of this amazing new bird, the JMZ is hosting a Baby Flamingo Storytime incollaboration with the Palo Alto Library on Tuesday, August 19 at 12:30 p.m. This event is free with admission to the JMZ. To purchase your tickets, visit the JMZ's website. With gratitude, Lauren Angelo View this email in your browser Every Saturday Morning 8 am to Noon Rain or Shine We're located on Gilman Street – between Hamilton and Forest – in Palo Alto. August 16, 2025 Sheryl Klein <sheryl.klein@gmail.com> Customer Appreciation Day! 1 message Palo Alto Farmers Market <info@pafarmersmarket.org>Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM Reply-To: Palo Alto Farmers Market <info@pafarmersmarket.org> To: sheryl.klein@gmail.com 8/15/25, 11:50 AM Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c648597b7e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1840548127622805625&simpl=msg-f:1840548127622805625 1/6 Vendors at the Market This Week Allied Arts Apiary (Honey) Angel's Farm (Veggies & Mushrooms!) Blue Heron Farms C Farm Cabrillo Farms Cache Creek Lavender Farm Kashiwase Larse Leafy Veda (Microgreens) Little Sky Bakery Market Delices Mellow's Nursery & Farms Miramonte Farms 8/15/25, 11:50 AM Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c648597b7e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1840548127622805625&simpl=msg-f:1840548127622805625 2/6 Cairns Ranch Choco del Mar (Chocolate & Coffee!) Contreras Flowers Crepes Divine Full Belly Farm F/V Annie B (Fish & Seafood) G&S Corn (Last summer week!) Gibson Farms Guisti Farms Grumpy Goats Farm K & J Orchards Molino Creek Farm Obour Foods (Hummus) Panorama Bakery RHJ Organics Roti Schletewitz Family Farm Smit Farms Wind Dancer (Meats) Wise Sons Deli Zaida's Oaxacan Kitchen The Season of Us Sings at 9:30 a.m. Ride Your Bike to the Market! 8/15/25, 11:50 AM Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c648597b7e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1840548127622805625&simpl=msg-f:1840548127622805625 3/6 You asked for it, you got it. New bike parking area has been installed at the corner of Gilman and Hamilton! Did you know that the Downtown Palo Alto Farmers' Market is entirely run by a dedicated group of volunteers? We have many opportunities for you to join us -- as a volunteer or as a board member. Come by the green information booth on Saturday mornings or visit our website to learn more. 8/15/25, 11:50 AM Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c648597b7e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1840548127622805625&simpl=msg-f:1840548127622805625 4/6 Use EBT at the Market The Market helps families stretch food dollars through the use of CalFresh (also known as SNAP, Electronic Benefits Transfer/EBT, or food stamps). In Santa Clara County, people receiving CalFresh benefits can buy food by using their EBT card at our Market. Visit the information booth to purchase tokens to shop at our Market. 8/15/25, 11:50 AM Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c648597b7e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1840548127622805625&simpl=msg-f:1840548127622805625 5/6 The Guide, available as an app, is a great resource to plan your farmers' market shopping list! Copyright © 2025 Palo Alto Farmers' Market, All rights reserved. You subscribed through our website or through our newsletter signup at the the Market. Our mailing address is: Palo Alto Farmers' Market PO Box 512 Palo Alto, CA 94302 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. View the Guide 8/15/25, 11:50 AM Gmail - Customer Appreciation Day! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=c648597b7e&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-f:1840548127622805625&simpl=msg-f:1840548127622805625 6/6 President, Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Animal Spotlight: The JMZ's Flamingo Chick The JMZ’s flamingo chick hatched on June 22—the same night as a Super Family Sunday event. At just under two months old, the flamingo chick has grown rapidly,which is typical for birds compared to many other animals. The public feedings are currently paused because the chick needs continuous access to food. The JMZ's zookeepers are still in the Wildlife Circle daily at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. with a photo album that documents the chick's growth. Below are just some of the photos that you can see in the album during your next visit to the JMZ. Photo courtesy of Lee Harper. Flamingos usually require a larger flock to successfully lay and hatch eggs. With only six adult flamingos at the JMZ, the animal care team was surprised when parents Ruby and Sal had an egg. For the first few days after the chick hatched, Ruby and Sal traded places tending tothe small chick by keeping it warm and feeding it crop milk—a nutrient-rich substance produced in the crop (a pouch in the throat) of some birds, both male and female. Adult flamingos feed their chicks by dripping bright red crop milk from their beaks into the baby’s. Photo courtesy of Lee Harper. Flamingo chicks are white and fuzzy with a straight beak when they first hatch. Pretty quickly, their feathers begin to turn gray. This is an adaptation that allowsyoung flamingos to hide in the shadows of adult members of the flock. Gradually, flamingos turn a distinctive pink color from their carotenoid-rich diet—just like the adults in the flock. The animal care team estimates the chick will turn pinkwithin the next two to three years. Photo courtesy of Lee Harper. As the chick has grown taller, its feathers continue to turn a darker gray. Its straight beak also begins to curve, more closely mirroring the appearance of adult flamingos in the flock. All of this change happened within five weeks of hatching. Photo courtesy of Anoek Grosmann. It's hard to believe that the chick is only two months old. Even as it becomes more independent, the flamingo chick still stops Ruby and Sal to ask for crop milk, despite their encouragement for it to eat on its own. The young flamingo has already brought so much excitement to the JMZcommunity, and its rapid growth continues to amaze both visitors and staff alike. We can’t wait to watch as it gradually turns pink over the next two to three years. We hope you can visit soon and see this special chapter of the JMZ’s story in person! Photo courtesy of Lee Harper. DONATE NOW Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo1451 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301 Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo | 1451 Middlefield Road | Palo Alto, CA 94301US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Xenia Czisch Vice President of Operationsphone: (650) 858-2491mobile: (650) 804-4225 fax: (650) 858-2494 4047 Transport StPalo Alto, CA 94303 www.qualitymetalspinning.us From:Marguerite PoyatosTo:Patrick KellyCc:Osbaldo R; Xenia Czisch; Bill McLane; Ramon Moreno; Lester Wong; Maor Greenberg; Dave Stellman; Gaines, Chantal; Manu Kumar; Becchetti, Benjamin; Cathi Lerch; Dave Stellman; City Mgr; Moffatt, Pete; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley; McDonough, Melissa; Reifschneider, James; Transportation; John Lerch; Binder, Andrew; Jade Jin; City Attorney; Lauing, Ed; Lydia Kou; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Staceytomson@qmsshields.comSubject:Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial SafetyDate:Friday, August 15, 2025 8:40:31 AMAttachments:image011.pngimage015.pngimage016.pngimage017.pngimage018.pngimage019.pngimage020.pngimage021.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. I would also like to note that the propane tank I mentioned a couple weeks ago is still sitting in the street. Is this not a safety hazard? From what I have read, they shouldn't be allowed to be kept in the street for multiple reasons. On Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 8:34 AM Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com> wrote:The safety on this street keeps getting worse. No visibility, no concern for environmental issues. Please help. Patrick Kelly From: Osbaldo R <osbaldo@or-builders.com>Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:57:53 PMTo: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>;James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt<pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.com <Staceytomson@qmsshields.com>Subject: RE: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety CAUTION: External Sender. Please do not click on links or open attachments from senders you do not trust. O.R. Builders Inc.Osbaldo RomeroPresident 939 Industrial AvePalo Alto, Ca. 94303Phone: 650.938.2222Fax: 650.938.2224Cell: 415.215.6788 From: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:53 PMTo: 'Bill McLane' <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: 'Marguerite Poyatos' <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; 'Ramon Moreno' <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; 'Lester Wong' <LWong@wongelectric.com>; 'Maor Greenberg' <maor@greenberg.construction>; 'Dave Stellman' <davestellman@gmail.com>; 'Patrick Kelly' <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; 'Manu Kumar' <manu@k9ventures.com>; 'Benjamin Becchetti' <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Cathi Lerch'<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; 'Dave Stellman' <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; 'City Mgr' <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Pete Moffatt' <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; 'Steve Wong' <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; 'Dan McKinley' <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; 'Melissa McDonough' <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'James Reifschneider' <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Transportation'<transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'John Lerch' <john@lerchconstruction.com>; 'Andrew Binder' <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Jade Jin' <JJin@wongelectric.com>; 'City Attorney' <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Ed Lauing' <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Lydia Kou' <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Vicki Veenker' <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'City Council' <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Patrick Burt' <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Greer Stone'<Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Julie Lythcott-Haims' <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.comSubject: RE: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety + Staceytomson@qmsshields.com From: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:48 PMTo: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>Cc: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation<transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>;Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety I didn’t get my tape measure out, but I’d be willing to bet this is more than 18 inches from the curb. I believe that’s a violation of California parking laws. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com> wrote: + staceytomson@qmsshields.com Xenia Czisch Vice President of Operationsphone: (650) 858-2491mobile: (650) 804-4225 fax: (650) 858-2494 4047 Transport StPalo Alto, CA 94303www.qualitymetalspinning.us From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:13 PMTo: Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>Cc: Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder<Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims<Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety Chantal, Please see the attached images. An enforcement officer went around this morning and gave out the 72 hour tow notices. I watched the gentleman with the Raiders RV (in attached image) remove all tow notices from his vehicles and will not move them. I will be taking pictures of his vehicles in the next coming days to show that he will be in violation of the notices. Also, he has a propane tank (also in attached image) that has been sitting in the street for a few months now. Can that be addressed? The other picture shows a tow notice sitting in the gutter, which is where many of these end up. Can there be any enforcement for littering? As others are stating, I would also hope something can be done for the safety of pedestrians. As I was walking to my car today, I was almost hit by a car because there is no visibility for cars coming down the street or pedestrians. Thank you. On Mon, Jul 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City of Palo Alto, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing issues caused by the RV encampments in Palo Alto, which are directly impacting my business and the safety of my students and their families. As the owner of the Ramon Moreno School of Ballet, I am dedicated to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for our students and their families. However, recent circumstances are making that increasingly difficult. One of the most pressing issues is illegal dumping. Individuals from the RV encampments have been using my business’s garbage disposal for their personal waste, resulting in contamination. Because of this, the city has refused to collect the trash, and I have now been left to clean and dispose of everything myself—at my own expense. If I don’t, I’ve been informed that I may face additional charges. This is unacceptable and places an unfair financial andoperational burden on my business. I understand that I am not alone—many neighboring businesses are facing similar challenges. Additionally, the presence of these encampments has created ongoing safety concerns. Several families have shared their discomfort and hesitation about bringing their children to class, due to the unpredictable and sometimes unsafe conditions surrounding my studio. This is not just an inconvenience; it poses a direct risk to the well-being of the children, their families, my staff, and the reputation of our school. I would like to know what specific actions the city is taking to address these challenges. While I understand that this is a complex issue, local businesses should not be expected to shoulder the consequences alone. The safety of our community and the ability for small businesses to operate without disruption should be a priority. I urge the City of Palo Alto to present a clear and immediate plan of action that includes: Proper and reliable waste management enforcementIncreased monitoring and enforcement of local ordinancesMeasures to ensure public safety for local families and business owners Attached to this email are photos documenting the contamination of my garbage disposal and the resulting conditions. I hope these images convey the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for intervention. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing meaningful steps taken to support the well-being of our local business community. Sincerely, Ramon Moreno Owner & Director Ramon Moreno School of Ballet Please feel free to text or call: 650-304-1909 Thank you, Ramon Moreno www.ramonmorenoballet.com www.facebook.com/pg/RamonMorenoSchool On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com> wrote: Commercial St. was cleared last night. Thank you for your efforts! Lester Wong | Vice PresidentO: 650.813.9999 ext. 22 | C: 650.720.84554067 Transport Street | Palo Alto | CA 94303Celebrating Our 46th Anniversary 1978 – 2024 A Proud Member of the U.S. Green Building Council From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2025 12:37:47 PMTo: Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>Cc: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman<dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker<vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety The wooden RV seems to be a severe safety issue. A former coworker spoke to the man living in it a couple years ago and was told there is a wood burning oven/stove inside the RV, which he uses. Seems like that could be a severe safety hazard not only for the man residing in it, as well as for the surrounding RV's/vehicles & businesses if it were ever to catch fire. We have had to face a number of safety hazards on this street. It is unsafe for pedestrians. We have had attempted break ins at night. We have been harassed by people associated with these RV's, as well as loose dogs, just to name a couple issues. Luckily, police officers do respond and try to help but there will be a time when they will be too late to prevent injury. The community officers coming through and putting notices on vehicles is nowhere near the solution needed for this area. The notices are thrown away and the vehicles rarely move. I believe this email string started in 2023 and we have had minimal progress with the actual issues at hand. On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction> wrote: City of palo alto!! please let me know how this is Legal for driving also come and clean the street as it’s not safe see attached Maor Greenberg CEO maor@greenberg.construction | 650-610-7711 Greenberg.Construction | 650-600-9536 x101 | Fax 925-269-2325 908 Industrial Ave, Palo Alto 94303 From: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 10:56:09 AMTo: Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>Cc: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; Marguerite Poyatos <MARGUERITE@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>;James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council<city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety What is it going to take for the city of Palo Alto to catch up to the rest of the country? A lawsuit when someone in our neighborhood is injured because of the unsafe conditions that exist here? This email chain alone would be enough evidence to show the city’s knowledge of the problem and inaction. With newly enacted laws giving cities the legal right to clean up our public spaces, local cities like Mountain View, Santa Clara and San Jose have already begun the process of relocating and housing these people that need it. Why not Palo Alto? Its not a money issue here, and even if it was, wouldn’t it be less costly to tow some vehicles and help relocate them to a safer area than to pay the cost of litigation? We are asking the city to stop ignoring this issue before it becomes an even bigger problem. On Mar 12, 2025, at 9:17 AM, Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com> wrote: Hi Ben, Please take action. The safety of our employees and locals is critical. Anyone walking or driving on Industrial/Transport/Commercial is constantly at risk. Every crosswalk and entry is a major risk for anyone walking the sidewalks or pulling into any of these facilities where illegally parked abandoned vehicles are encamped. The visibility is very poor and the reason there are height and length restrictions for these types of streets; There are There are illegally running generators with unsafe live electrical lines oftentimes in the sidewalk or even running across entryways There are collections of volatile liquids like gasoline and oil (environmental issues aside) that pose additional hazards to anyone in the vicinity Please let us know what you need from us to support your team in enforcing our city regulations in order to make our workplaces safer for our employees. Respectfully, Patrick Kelly | CIODMD Systems Recovery, LLC.C: 650.492.9003patrick.kelly@dmdsystems.com | www.dmdsystems.com <Outlook-DMD Logo.png> <Outlook-larpkod1.png>Book time to meet with me From: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 12:39 PMTo: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt<pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <James.Reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <Transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing<Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <Vicki.Veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Maor <maor@greenberg.construction>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial concerns A citation for double parking and expired tags is what is needed here. I’m positive that’s what the police would do to me if I did the same. That is unless there are two separate sets of laws that gov sophospsmartbannerend A citation for double parking and expired tags is what is needed here. I’m positive that’s what the police would do to me if I did the same. That is unless there are two separate sets of laws that govern the city of Palo Alto and the state of California. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Please see the attached image. The pictured RV & associated white truck pulled up over night. As pictured, they disregarded marked parking spots, which is one of the things that exacerbates our parking issue. A small car or motorcycle may fit there but in a commercial area where most vehicles are trucks, this does not help. Can you please send a community officer to leave notices on the RVs? I hope this doesn't come across as petty, but every spot really does matter on this block. Employees of some businesses have to park in lots that belong to other businesses, which can create tension amongst neighbors. Thank you. On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 9:19 PM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: The police also responded and were very helpful. Initially the people involved denied everything, but when I sent the videos to the officer and he showed it to them they admitted to dumping their RV waste. They were cited for misdemeanor illegal waste dumping and will be going to court. They were then told to leave the area - and freed up two parking spaces. Thank you Palo Alto Police and Fire. Apparently reporting violations of everykind is what is going to have to be done on a regular basis if we want our streets cleaned up. On Dec 21, 2024, at 3:39 PM, Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Thank you, Dave! Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 8:22 AM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: I just called the hotline for Palo Alto for hazardous waste dumping and gave them all of this information including license numbers. These vehicles are still parked there.They are sending the fire department out to flush the street and these people better be held accountable. On Dec 21, 2024, at 7:56 AM, Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: License plate of the accomplice <IMG_0142.jpeg> Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 5:13 AM Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Still parked right across from my building. Note, NO rear license plate. I do think that is against the law. I do also have video of them driving up, proof of the vehicle operating on city streets. Do you think they have insurance? <image.png> Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 4:54 AM Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Here, they are emptying their waste in front of my building. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 9:18 PM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: Chantal, It looks like somehow most of the city council members, Vice Mayor and Mayor must have inadvertently been deleted from your last email response. I have added them back in to make sure they stay apprised of the situation. I hope it doesn't take the legal channels mentioned to start cleaning up our neighborhood immediately; this has gotten out of control and kicking the problem back and forth to different members of your city staff is not going to make it go away. Dave Stellman Transport St. On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 8:16 AM Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction> wrote: Dear Chantal, Your response, while detailed, fails to address the critical and ongoing violations of law, public safety, and business rights in the area. The City of Palo Alto has both the authority and obligation to take immediate and decisive action to protect its residents, businesses, and public spaces. Allowing illegally parked, unsafe, and hazardous RVs to persist is unacceptable and directly violates state and local regulations. Below are specific legal and factual challenges tothe City’s approach, along with demands for corrective action: 1. Illegally Parked and Unsafe RVs California Vehicle Code § 4000(a)(1) and Palo Alto Municipal Code § 10.48.010 clearly require all vehicles parked on public streets to display valid registration. Many of the RVs in question lack valid registration, making their presence illegal. Further, under California Vehicle Code § 22651(o) and PAMC § 10.48.120, any vehicle unregistered for six months or more may be towed immediately. Additionally, vehicles with exposed sewage tanks, missing wheels, or other structural hazards are in direct violation of California Vehicle Code § 24002, which prohibits parking or operating vehicles in unsafe conditions. These RVs also create a public health hazard under California Health and Safety Code § 117490, which prohibits improper disposal of waste and sewage. **2. Clarification Requested Regarding Unregistered Vehicles In light of your response, please confirm whether the City of Palo Alto allows unregistered vehicles to be driven on its streets. - I have some fun vehicles I would love to order from Alibaba and drive them around Palo Alto... • California Vehicle Code § 4000(a)(1) expressly prohibits the operation of unregistered vehicles. If these RVs are being moved every 72 hours as claimed, and they lack proper registration, their operation is illegal under state law. • Allowing unregistered vehicles to remain or operate within city limits undermines traffic safety and compliance standards. This point must be clarified explicitly: Does the City of Palo Alto condone the operation of unregistered vehicles? 3. Abuse of the 72-Hour Rule The City’s reliance on PAMC § 10.36.060 to justify the continued presence of these RVs is flawed. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts confirm that many RVs are circumventing the 72-hour rule by wiping off chalk markings rather than physically moving. This is blatant non-compliance and undermines the intent of the ordinance. Furthermore, California Vehicle Code § 22669 explicitly allows for the removal of vehicles that are “wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative,” even if they are moved every 72 hours. The City has the authority to act, and failing to do so jeopardizes public safety and traffic flow. 4. Public Safety and Sanitation Violations The exposed sewage tanks, illegal dumping, and general neglect by these RV occupants pose significant health and environmental risks. The City’s failure to enforce sanitation laws, such as California Health and Safety Code § 117490 and PAMC § 16.09.100, endangers residents, workers, and the environment. Additionally, blocking roadways and driveways is a clear violation of California Vehicle Code § 22500, which prohibits parking that obstructs trafficflow or access. 5. Impact on Businesses and Traffic Flow Businesses in the area are suffering due to blocked roadways, limited parking for customers, and safety concerns. Under California Vehicle Code § 21101(c) and PAMC § 10.48.120, the City has the authority to regulate parking to ensure the safety of businesses and residents. The City’s failure to allocate parking for business deliveries, customers, or even emergency services is a gross dereliction of duty. Blocking roadways for long periods creates safety hazards, violates municipal code, and disrupts commerce. Conclusion and Final Demands The City of Palo Alto has the legal authority and responsibility to act under the following regulations: • PAMC § 10.48.120: Authorizes the removal of unregistered vehicles. • California Vehicle Code § 22651(o): Allows towing of unregistered vehicles. • California Vehicle Code § 22669: Mandates removal of inoperative vehicles. • California Health and Safety Code § 117490: Prohibits illegal waste disposal. • California Vehicle Code § 21101(c): Permits parking restrictions to ensure safety. We demand the immediate implementation of the following measures: 1. Impound all unregistered, unsafe, or inoperative RVs within two weeks. 2. Establish designated loading zones and 2-hour parking areas near businesses. 3. Conduct regular sanitation inspections and impose penalties for violations. 4. Provide a clear timeline for resolution and enforcement updates. The continued failure to act exposes the City to liability for neglecting public health and safety under California Government Code § 815.6, which requires municipalities to perform mandatory duties. We expect a formal response with a clear action plan within 14 days. If no satisfactory action is taken, we reserve the right to escalate this matter through legal channels to protect our businesses, employees, and the community. Maor Greenberg <email-signture_87b8d7a2-c4f4-4cbf-b474-af2f32118dd2.png> CEO maor@greenberg.construction | 650-610-7711 Greenberg.Construction | 650-600-9536 x101 | Fax 925-269-2325 908 Industrial Ave, Palo Alto 94303 <F_1bc77f31-68bf-4143-80ea-3f34f539ea07.png> <insta_26696304-1b39-4259-9776-9f137454bed9.png> <yelp_e821c57e-caea-4e87-a5dd-5905e7ca4fb1.png> <Houzz_7abe75ad-d6ee-48ac-943b-592713e31957.png> <P_aece63f3-754b-4dca-a0a9-e93b94de4930.png> <google_04352117-2fb4-4963-bb3e-cc5317269360.png> From: Gaines, Chantal <Chantal.Gaines@CityofPaloAlto.org>Date: Friday, December 20, 2024 at 7:12 AMTo: Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>, Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>, osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>Cc: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>, Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>, Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>, Becchetti, Benjamin <Benjamin.Becchetti@CityofPaloAlto.org>, Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>, Cathi Lerch < -- Marguerite Poyatos Palo Alto Glass, Inc. 4085 Transport Street Palo Alto CA 94303 (650) 494-7000 (650) 494-7087 (FAX) -- Marguerite PoyatosPalo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto CA 94303(650) 494-7000(650) 494-7087 (FAX) Xenia CzischVice President ofOperations phone: (650) 858-2491mobile: (650) 804-4225fax: (650) 858-2494 4047 Transport StPalo Alto, CA 94303 www.qualitymetalspinning.us From:Patrick KellyTo:Osbaldo R; Xenia Czisch; Bill McLaneCc:Marguerite Poyatos; Ramon Moreno; Lester Wong; Maor Greenberg; Dave Stellman; Gaines, Chantal; Manu Kumar; Becchetti, Benjamin; Cathi Lerch; Dave Stellman; City Mgr; Moffatt, Pete; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley; McDonough, Melissa; Reifschneider, James; Transportation; John Lerch; Binder, Andrew; Jade Jin; City Attorney; Lauing, Ed; Lydia Kou; Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Stone, Greer; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Staceytomson@qmsshields.comSubject:Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial SafetyDate:Friday, August 15, 2025 8:35:28 AMAttachments:image011.pngimage015.pngimage016.pngimage017.pngimage018.pngimage019.pngimage020.pngimage021.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. The safety on this street keeps getting worse. No visibility, no concern for environmental issues. Please help. Patrick Kelly From: Osbaldo R <osbaldo@or-builders.com>Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:57:53 PMTo: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>;James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt<pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.com <Staceytomson@qmsshields.com>Subject: RE: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety CAUTION: External Sender. Please do not click on links or open attachments from senders you do not trust. O.R. Builders Inc.Osbaldo RomeroPresident 939 Industrial AvePalo Alto, Ca. 94303Phone: 650.938.2222Fax: 650.938.2224Cell: 415.215.6788 From: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:53 PMTo: 'Bill McLane' <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: 'Marguerite Poyatos' <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; 'Ramon Moreno' <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; 'Lester Wong' <LWong@wongelectric.com>; 'Maor Greenberg' <maor@greenberg.construction>; 'Dave Stellman' <davestellman@gmail.com>; 'Patrick Kelly' <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; 'Manu Kumar' <manu@k9ventures.com>; 'Benjamin Becchetti' <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Cathi Lerch'<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; 'Dave Stellman' <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; 'City Mgr' <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Pete Moffatt' <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; 'Steve Wong' <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; 'Dan McKinley' <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; 'Melissa McDonough' <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'James Reifschneider' <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Transportation'<transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'John Lerch' <john@lerchconstruction.com>; 'Andrew Binder' <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Jade Jin' <JJin@wongelectric.com>; 'City Attorney' <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Ed Lauing' <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Lydia Kou' <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Vicki Veenker' <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'City Council' <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Patrick Burt' <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Greer Stone'<Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; 'Julie Lythcott-Haims' <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Staceytomson@qmsshields.comSubject: RE: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety + Staceytomson@qmsshields.com From: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:48 PMTo: Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com>Cc: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>; Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch<cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation<transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>;Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety I didn’t get my tape measure out, but I’d be willing to bet this is more than 18 inches from the curb. I believe that’s a violation of California parking laws. Xenia CzischVice President ofOperations phone: (650) 858-2491mobile: (650) 804-4225 4047 Transport StPalo Alto, CA 94303 Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Wed, Jul 23, 2025 at 1:25 PM Xenia Czisch <xenia@qmsshields.com> wrote: + staceytomson@qmsshields.com fax: (650) 858-2494 www.qualitymetalspinning.us From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 23, 2025 1:13 PMTo: Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com>Cc: Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>; Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org; osbaldo@or-builders.com; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com; david@paloaltoconcrete.com; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder<Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims<Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety Chantal, Please see the attached images. An enforcement officer went around this morning and gave out the 72 hour tow notices. I watched the gentleman with the Raiders RV (in attached image) remove all tow notices from his vehicles and will not move them. I will be taking pictures of his vehicles in the next coming days to show that he will be in violation of the notices. Also, he has a propane tank (also in attached image) that has been sitting in the street for a few months now. Can that be addressed? The other picture shows a tow notice sitting in the gutter, which is where many of these end up. Can there be any enforcement for littering? As others are stating, I would also hope something can be done for the safety of pedestrians. As I was walking to my car today, I was almost hit by a car because there is no visibility for cars coming down the street or pedestrians. Thank you. On Mon, Jul 21, 2025 at 12:12 PM Ramon Moreno <ramonmorenoschool@gmail.com> wrote: Dear City of Palo Alto, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the ongoing issues caused by the RV encampments in Palo Alto, which are directly impacting my business and the safety of my students and their families. As the owner of the Ramon Moreno School of Ballet, I am dedicated to maintaining a safe, clean, and welcoming environment for our students and their families. However, recent circumstances are making that increasingly difficult. One of the most pressing issues is illegal dumping. Individuals from the RV encampments have been using my business’s garbage disposal for their personal waste, resulting in contamination. Because of this, the city has refused to collect the trash, and I have now been left to clean and dispose of everything myself—at my own expense. If I don’t, I’ve been informed that I may face additional charges. This is unacceptable and places an unfair financial andoperational burden on my business. I understand that I am not alone—many neighboring businesses are facing similar challenges. Additionally, the presence of these encampments has created ongoing safety concerns. Several families have shared their discomfort and hesitation about bringing their children to class, due to the unpredictable and sometimes unsafe conditions surrounding my studio. This is not just an inconvenience; it poses a direct risk to the well-being of the children, their families, my staff, and the reputation of our school. I would like to know what specific actions the city is taking to address these challenges. While I understand that this is a complex issue, local businesses should not be expected to shoulder the consequences alone. The safety of our community and the ability for small businesses to operate without disruption should be a priority. I urge the City of Palo Alto to present a clear and immediate plan of action that includes: Proper and reliable waste management enforcementIncreased monitoring and enforcement of local ordinancesMeasures to ensure public safety for local families and business owners Attached to this email are photos documenting the contamination of my garbage disposal and the resulting conditions. I hope these images convey the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for intervention. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and to seeing meaningful steps taken to support the well-being of our local business community. Sincerely, Ramon Moreno Owner & Director Ramon Moreno School of Ballet Please feel free to text or call:650-304-1909 Thank you, Ramon Moreno www.ramonmorenoballet.comwww.facebook.com/pg/RamonMorenoSchool On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:43 PM Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com> wrote: Commercial St. was cleared last night. Thank you for your efforts! Lester Wong | Vice PresidentO: 650.813.9999 ext. 22 | C: 650.720.84554067 Transport Street | Palo Alto | CA 94303Celebrating Our 46th Anniversary 1978 – 2024 A Proud Member of the U.S. Green Building Council From: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2025 12:37:47 PMTo: Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>Cc: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <LWong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman<dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <SWong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker<vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety The wooden RV seems to be a severe safety issue. A former coworker spoke to the man living in it a couple years ago and was told there is a wood burning oven/stove inside the RV, which he uses. Seems like that could be a severe safety hazard not only for the man residing in it, as well as for the surrounding RV's/vehicles & businesses if it were ever to catch fire. We have had to face a number of safety hazards on this street. It is unsafe for pedestrians. We have had attempted break ins at night. We have been harassed by people associated with these RV's, as well as loose dogs, just to name a couple issues. Luckily, police officers do respond and try to help but there will be a time when they will be too late to prevent injury. The community officers coming through and putting notices on vehicles is nowhere near the solution needed for this area. The notices are thrown away and the vehicles rarely move. I believe this email string started in 2023 and we have had minimal progress with the actual issues at hand. On Thu, Mar 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction> wrote: City of palo alto!! please let me know how this is Legal for driving also come and clean the street as it’s not safe see attached Maor Greenberg CEO maor@greenberg.construction | 650-610-7711Greenberg.Construction | 650-600-9536 x101 | Fax 925-269-2325 908 Industrial Ave, Palo Alto 94303 From: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2025 10:56:09 AMTo: Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>Cc: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>; Marguerite Poyatos <MARGUERITE@paloaltoglass.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr<CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt <pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough <Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>;James Reifschneider <james.reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing <Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <vicki.veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council<city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <pat.burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial Safety What is it going to take for the city of Palo Alto to catch up to the rest of the country? A lawsuit when someone in our neighborhood is injured because of the unsafe conditions that exist here? This email chain alone would be enough evidence to show the city’s knowledge of the problem and inaction. With newly enacted laws giving cities the legal right to clean up our public spaces, local cities like Mountain View, Santa Clara and San Jose have already begun the process of relocating and housing these people that need it. Why not Palo Alto? Its not a money issue here, and even if it was, wouldn’t it be less costly to tow some vehicles and help relocate them to a safer area than to pay the cost of litigation? We are asking the city to stop ignoring this issue before it becomes an even bigger problem. On Mar 12, 2025, at 9:17 AM, Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com> wrote: Hi Ben,Please take action. The safety of our employees and locals is critical. Anyone walking or driving on Industrial/Transport/Commercial is constantly at risk. Every crosswalk and entry is a major risk for anyone walking the sidewalks or pulling into any of these facilities where illegally parked abandoned vehicles are encamped. The visibility is very poor and the reason there are height and length restrictions for these types of streets; There are There are illegally running generators with unsafe live electrical lines oftentimes in the sidewalk or even running across entryways There are collections of volatile liquids like gasoline and oil (environmental issues aside) that pose additional hazards to anyone in the vicinity Please let us know what you need from us to support your team in enforcing our city regulations in order to make our workplaces safer for our employees. Respectfully, Patrick Kelly | CIODMD Systems Recovery, LLC.C: 650.492.9003patrick.kelly@dmdsystems.com | www.dmdsystems.com<Outlook-DMD Logo.png> <Outlook-larpkod1.png> Book time to meet with me From: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>Sent: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 12:39 PMTo: Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>Cc: Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>; chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org <chantal.gaines@cityofpaloalto.org>; osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>; Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>; Benjamin Becchetti <Benjamin.Becchetti@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>; Cathi Lerch <cathi@lerchconstruction.com>; Dave Stellman <dave@paloaltoglass.com>; City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Pete Moffatt<pete@petemoffat.com>; Jacob@onemovemovers.com <Jacob@onemovemovers.com>; david@paloaltoconcrete.com <david@paloaltoconcrete.com>; Steve Wong <swong@wongelectric.com>; RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com <RamonMorenoSchool@gmail.com>; nancy@drewmaran.com <nancy@drewmaran.com>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; Dan McKinley <danmck@scientific-equipment.com>; Melissa McDonough<Melissa.McDonough@cityofpaloalto.org>; James Reifschneider <James.Reifschneider@cityofpaloalto.org>; Transportation <Transportation@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Kelly <Patrick.Kelly@dmdsystems.com>; John Lerch <john@lerchconstruction.com>; Andrew Binder <Andrew.Binder@cityofpaloalto.org>; Jade Jin <JJin@wongelectric.com>; Xenia Czisch <Xenia@qmsshields.com>; City Attorney <city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org>; Ed Lauing<Ed.Lauing@cityofpaloalto.org>; Lydia Kou <Lydia.Kou@cityofpaloalto.org>; Vicki Veenker <Vicki.Veenker@cityofpaloalto.org>; City Council <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org>; Patrick Burt <Pat.Burt@cityofpaloalto.org>; Greer Stone <Greer.Stone@cityofpaloalto.org>; Julie Lythcott-Haims <Julie.LythcottHaims@cityofpaloalto.org>; Maor <maor@greenberg.construction>Subject: Re: Industrial/Transport/Commercial concernsA citation for double parking and expired tags is what is needed here. I’m positive that’s what the police would do to me if I did the same. That is unless there are two separate sets of laws that govsophospsmartbannerendA citation for double parking and expired tags is what is needed here. I’m positive that’s what the police would do to me if I did the same. That is unless there are two separate sets of laws that govern the city of Palo Alto and the state of California. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Wed, Feb 5, 2025 at 10:13 AM Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Please see the attached image. The pictured RV & associated white truck pulled up over night. As pictured, they disregarded marked parking spots, which is one of the things that exacerbates our parking issue. A small car or motorcycle may fit there but in a commercial area where most vehicles are trucks, this does not help. Can you please send a community officer to leave notices on the RVs? I hope this doesn't come across as petty, but every spot really does matter on this block. Employees of some businesses have to park in lots that belong to other businesses, which can create tension amongst neighbors. Thank you. On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 9:19 PM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: The police also responded and were very helpful. Initially the people involved denied everything, but when I sent the videos to the officer and he showed it to them they admitted to dumping their RV waste. They were cited for misdemeanor illegal waste dumping and will be going to court. They were then told to leave the area - and freed up two parking spaces. Thank you Palo Alto Police and Fire. Apparently reportingviolations of every kind is what is going to have to be done on a regular basis if we want our streets cleaned up. On Dec 21, 2024, at 3:39 PM, Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Thank you, Dave! Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 8:22 AM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: I just called the hotline for Palo Alto for hazardous waste dumping and gave them all of this information including license numbers. These vehicles are still parked there.They are sending the fire department out to flush the street and these people better be held accountable. On Dec 21, 2024, at 7:56 AM, Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: License plate of the accomplice<IMG_0142.jpeg> Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 5:13 AM Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Still parked right across from my building. Note, NO rear license plate. I do think that is against the law. I do also have video of them driving up, proof of the vehicle operating on city streets. Do you think they have insurance? <image.png> Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 4:54 AM Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com> wrote: Here, they are emptying their waste in front of my building. Bill McLane---------------------------------Palo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto, CA 94303650-494-7000 Officewww.paloaltoglass.com On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 9:18 PM Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com> wrote: Chantal, It looks like somehow most of the city council members, Vice Mayor and Mayor must have inadvertently been deleted from your last email response. I have added them back in to make sure they stay apprised of the situation. I hope it doesn't take the legal channels mentioned to start cleaning up our neighborhood immediately; this has gotten out of control and kicking the problem back and forth to different members of your city staff is not going to make it go away. Dave StellmanTransport St. On Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 8:16 AM Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction> wrote:Dear Chantal, Your response, while detailed, fails to address the critical and ongoing violations of law, public safety, and business rights in the area. The City of Palo Alto has both the authority and obligation to take immediate and decisive action to protect its residents, businesses, and public spaces. Allowing illegally parked, unsafe, and hazardous RVs to persist is unacceptable and directly violates state and local regulations. Below are specific legal and factual challenges tothe City’s approach, along with demands for corrective action: 1. Illegally Parked and Unsafe RVs California Vehicle Code § 4000(a)(1) and Palo Alto Municipal Code § 10.48.010 clearly require all vehicles parked on public streets to display valid registration. Many of the RVs in question lack valid registration, making their presence illegal. Further, under California Vehicle Code § 22651(o) and PAMC § 10.48.120, any vehicle unregistered for six months or more may be towed immediately. Additionally, vehicles with exposed sewage tanks, missing wheels, or other structural hazards are in direct violation of California Vehicle Code § 24002, which prohibits parking or operating vehicles in unsafe conditions. These RVs also create a public health hazard under California Health and Safety Code § 117490, which prohibits improper disposal of waste and sewage. **2. Clarification Requested Regarding Unregistered Vehicles In light of your response, please confirm whether the City of Palo Alto allows unregistered vehicles to be driven on its streets. - I have some fun vehicles I would love to order from Alibaba and drive them around Palo Alto... • California Vehicle Code § 4000(a)(1) expressly prohibits the operation of unregistered vehicles. If these RVs are being moved every 72 hours as claimed, and they lack proper registration, their operation is illegal under state law. • Allowing unregistered vehicles to remain or operate within city limits undermines traffic safety and compliance standards. This point must be clarified explicitly: Does the City of Palo Alto condone the operation of unregistered vehicles? 3. Abuse of the 72-Hour Rule The City’s reliance on PAMC § 10.36.060 to justify the continued presence of these RVs is flawed. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts confirm that many RVs are circumventing the 72-hour rule by wiping off chalk markings rather than physically moving. This is blatant non-compliance and undermines the intent of the ordinance. Furthermore, California Vehicle Code § 22669 explicitly allows for the removal of vehicles that are “wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative,” even if they are moved every 72 hours. The City has the authority to act, and failing to do so jeopardizes public safety and traffic flow. 4. Public Safety and Sanitation Violations The exposed sewage tanks, illegal dumping, and general neglect by these RV occupants pose significant health and environmental risks. The City’s failure to enforce sanitation laws, such as California Health and Safety Code § 117490 and PAMC § 16.09.100, endangers residents, workers, and the environment. Additionally, blocking roadways and driveways is a clear violation of California Vehicle Code § 22500, which prohibits parking that obstructs trafficflow or access. 5. Impact on Businesses and Traffic Flow Businesses in the area are suffering due to blocked roadways, limited parking for customers, and safety concerns. Under California Vehicle Code § 21101(c) and PAMC § 10.48.120, the City has the authority to regulate parking to ensure the safety of businesses and residents. The City’s failure to allocate parking for business deliveries, customers, or even emergency services is a gross dereliction of duty. Blocking roadways for long periods creates safety hazards, violates municipal code, and disrupts commerce. Conclusion and Final Demands The City of Palo Alto has the legal authority and responsibility to act under the following regulations: • PAMC § 10.48.120: Authorizes the removal of unregistered vehicles. • California Vehicle Code § 22651(o): Allows towing of unregistered vehicles. • California Vehicle Code § 22669: Mandates removal of inoperative vehicles. • California Health and Safety Code § 117490: Prohibits illegal waste disposal. • California Vehicle Code § 21101(c): Permits parking restrictions to ensure safety. We demand the immediate implementation of the following measures: 1. Impound all unregistered, unsafe, or inoperative RVs within two weeks. 2. Establish designated loading zones and 2-hour parking areas near businesses. 3. Conduct regular sanitation inspections and impose penalties for violations. 4. Provide a clear timeline for resolution and enforcement updates. The continued failure to act exposes the City to liability for neglecting public health and safety under California Government Code § 815.6, which requires municipalities to perform mandatory duties. We expect a formal response with a clear action plan within 14 days. If no satisfactory action is taken, we reserve the right to escalate this matter through legal channels to protect our businesses, employees, and the community. <email-signture_87b8d7a2-c4f4-4cbf-b474-af2f32118dd2.png> Maor Greenberg CEOmaor@greenberg.construction | 650-610-7711 Greenberg.Construction | 650-600-9536 x101 | Fax 925-269-2325 908 Industrial Ave, Palo Alto 94303 <F_1bc77f31-68bf-4143-80ea-3f34f539ea07.png> <insta_26696304-1b39-4259-9776-9f137454bed9.png> <yelp_e821c57e-caea-4e87-a5dd-5905e7ca4fb1.png> <Houzz_7abe75ad-d6ee-48ac-943b-592713e31957.png> <P_aece63f3-754b-4dca-a0a9-e93b94de4930.png> <google_04352117-2fb4-4963-bb3e-cc5317269360.png> From: Gaines, Chantal <Chantal.Gaines@CityofPaloAlto.org>Date: Friday, December 20, 2024 at 7:12 AMTo: Maor Greenberg <maor@greenberg.construction>, Marguerite Poyatos <marguerite@paloaltoglass.com>, osbaldo@or-builders.com <osbaldo@or-builders.com>Cc: Bill McLane <bill@paloaltoglass.com>, Dave Stellman <davestellman@gmail.com>, Manu Kumar <manu@k9ventures.com>, Becchetti, Benjamin <Benjamin.Becchetti@CityofPaloAlto.org>, Lester Wong <lwong@wongelectric.com>, Cathi Lerch < --Marguerite PoyatosPalo Alto Glass, Inc.4085 Transport StreetPalo Alto CA 94303(650) 494-7000(650) 494-7087 (FAX) From:Aram James To:Donna Wallach Cc:Martin Wasserman; h.etzko@gmail.com; Justin Zalkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Pnina Abir-am; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug Minkler; Salem Ajluni; Yusra Hussain; Donna Wallach; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Betsy Nash; dcombs@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; editor@paweekly.com; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; editor@almanacnews.com; Ed Lauing; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Rob Baker; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Clerk, City; CityCouncil; Michael Ybarra; Seher Awan; Greg Tanaka; Carla Torres; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Human Relations Commission; ParkRec Commission; Diana Diamond; Today EPA; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Renters" Association Palo Alto; Palo Alto Weekly; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Henry Etzkowitz; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg Subject:Re: Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What"s Happening In Gaza A"Genocide" Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 7:32:46 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. A person to whom I showed Donna’s response to Martin last night offered these thoughts: Your claim that Zionism preaches hatred of non-Jews is utter nonsense. Perhaps true. It’s not that non-Zionists are worthless; they’re just worth less than Zionists. The truth is that Israel has always desired to live in peace with the Arabs, but it was the Arabs who refused to live in peace with Israel. Seems to me Jews and Arabs got along fine for centuries until the Euro types started showing up in the 1870s intent on taking Arab land. The historic restoration of the ancient Jewish nation in the land of its birth, an event Jews aspired to for nearly 2 millennia, has finally been achieved, and Israel will do whatever it takes to preserve that achievement. Anyone who tries to destroy the Jewish state will likely pay a heavy price, as many of Israel's enemies have found out the hard way. Ho Le Phuc … Manifest Destiny! Or at least Eretz Yisrael. Hate your next-door neighbor, but don’t forget to say grace. You focus on the suffering of the Palestinians, but say nothing about the Palestinians own actions that brought that suffering upon themselves. By resisting the taking of their land? But if you believe that the ancient Jewish nation has no right to be restored in the land of its birth, that Jews have no right of self-determination in their historic homeland, and that Jewish history and historical aspirations mean nothing, please say so so everyone can know exactly where you stand. Does this apply to all people? If so, there should be no objection to Native Americans running Whitey out of Dodge—resorting to whatever mass extermination might prove necessary. I think the Kool Aid drank Martin. On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 10:42 PM Donna Wallach <donnaisanactivist@gmail.com> wrote: Martin You do not know what you are talking about. You are the one who NEVER states facts, justbogus stuff you have heard from other like-minded racist Jewish supremacists. Your ears, mind and heart are totally closed, you have no compassion for any other people in the world,just Jews. However Judaism does not preach hatred of non-Jews, Zionism preaches that, and VERY sadly Jews like you have swallowed the racist kool-aid. You disgust me beyondwords. Even B'Tselem, an Israeli Human Rights organization, has acknowledged that Israel is committing genocide. Hundreds of Palestinians have died from famine. Israel is blockingall the aid from entering. I lived in Gaza for 4 months in 2008 and already then, because of the Blockade on Gaza there was already a problem of malnourished children! The Israeligovt then acknowledged that they were putting the Palestinians on a diet, letting just enough food in so the Palestinians wouldn't die of hunger. At the same time the Israeli soldiers would come in through into Gaza through gates in the Apartheid Wall driving big bulldozersand destroy the crops, destroy irrigation pipes, and also sit in their towers and drive in jeeps and shoot at Palestian farmers trying to plant crops. Denying Palestinians their human Rightto feed themselves and have a livelihood. I was there and witnessed it. Donna "Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them."Assata Shakur Books you must read: "Against Our Better Judgement: The hidden history of how the U.S. was used to createIsrael" by Alison Weir http://www.againstourbetterjudgment.com/ "State of Terror: How Terrorism Created Modern Israel" by Thomas Suarezhttp://thomassuarez.com/SoT.html "The Hundred Years War on Palestine"by Rashid Khalidi "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine"by Illan Pappé Free Palestine!Right of Return to Palestine for all Palestinians! Free all political prisoners! Mumia Abu-Jamal @mumiafreedomtour The Holy Land Five: Shukri Abu Baker Ghassan Elashi Mufid Abdulqader Abdulrahman Odeh Mohammad Elmezain https://www.mintpressnews.com/the-trial-and-conviction-of-the-holy-land-foundation-five/237440/ and thousands more End Solitary Confinement https://prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.wordpress.com California Prison Focus http://newest.prisons.org/our_story End United $tates of Amerikkka invasions and occupationsU.S. Government and UN Occupation Force Soldiers - Hands off Haiti! http://www.haitisolidarity.net/ Syria Solidarity Movement, Solidarity with the Syrian peoplehttps://syriasupportmovement.org On Wed, Aug 13, 2025, 22:21 Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Aram, You're the one who refuses to deal with facts. The only party to the Gaza conflict that has explicitly called for a war of extermination is Hamas, the group that you ludicrously describe as "freedom fighters.” Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 9:47 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, You don't hardly speak in facts -as I said a moment’s ago, you traffic exclusively in unadulterated worn-out pro-Israel lobby talking points. As myvery Jewish dad used to say: “some folks don't want to be disturbed by the facts.” Sadly, Martin, you suffer from an apparently incurable case of the don't bother me with the facts, syndrome. Avram “End The Mass Extermination In Palestine Now” Finkelstein On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Aram, I notice that you never try to dispute my arguments with actualfacts, obviously because you have no facts to dispute them with! Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 9:02 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Another tired PRO-Israeli lobby talking point, AIPAC, talking point! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:How quickly the blood libel spreads!! If Israel waswaging a war of extermination, most of the Gazans would be long gone by now. Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 6:48 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Henry, I hope Julie surprises us all and finally does theright thing. It is past time for her to break hersilence. Avram Agreed upon a united front: surprise if Julie goesMarjorie. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 13, 2025, at 5:49 PM,Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 8/13/2025 Hi Henry, I'm hoping that when JulieLythcott-Haims returns to herduties on the Palo Alto CityCouncil that she will match theextremely white wing MarjorieTaylor Green and call out for allthe world to hear: End TheGenocide Now. Avram Finkelstein P.S. All seven of our city council members claim to be Democrats.But not one of them has been willing to call out the ongoingHolocast in Palestine either in their private citizen’s role or intheir official capacities as members of the city council. Eachone who remains silent is complicit in the daily war crimesand genocide in Palestine. Will they each eventually be triedfor their complicity in Genocide? Only time will tell! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at4:54 PM Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 millionpeople Open APP Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" BuzzFeed Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" Source: BuzzFeed Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Stephanie, Wansek To:Council, City Cc:City Mgr; Clerk, City Subject:Subject: Written Public Comment – Agenda Item 7 – Ramona Street Outdoor Dining Hours Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 3:25:36 PM Attachments:Cardinal Hotel Letter – Agenda Item 7 – Ramona Street Outdoor Dining Hours – Aug 2025 (1).pdfLetter to Palo Alto City Council - Cardinal Hotel _ Ramona Street Closure Nov 2021 (1).pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. ! Dear Mayor Lauing and Councilmembers, Please find attached my written public comment regarding Agenda Item 7 on the August 18City Council agenda, addressing the proposed operating hours for outdoor dining on Ramona Street. I have included two attachments: 1. Cardinal Hotel Letter – Agenda Item 7 – Ramona Street Outdoor Dining Hours –Aug 2025 (current letter) 2. Cardinal Hotel Letter – Ramona Street Closure – Nov 2021 (previouscorrespondence on the same issue for reference) Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Stephanie WansekGeneral Manager, Cardinal Hotel -- Stephanie Wansek| General Manager THE CARDINAL HOTEL 235 Hamilton Ave | Palo Alto, CA | 94301 | www.cardinalhotel.com p: (650) 323-5101 f: (650) 325-60856 | stephanie@cardinalhotel.com This message could be suspicious Similar name as someone you've contacted. The sender's email address couldn't be verified. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast Notice of Confidentiality: This communication is intended ONLY for the recipient(s) identified in the message, and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, or otherwise protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, please disregard this communication and notify the sender. August 14, 2025 Mayor Ed Lauing and Members of the Palo Alto City Council Palo Alto City Hall 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Via Email: city.council@PaloAlto.gov Cc: Ed Shikada, City Manager – CityMgr@PaloAlto.gov City Clerk – City.Clerk@PaloAlto.gov Subject: Codify 10 PM Closing Time for Ramona Street Parklets – Separate from CUP Hours Dear Mayor Lauing and Councilmembers, I am requesting that the City codify a 10:00 PM closing time for all parklets and other outdoor dining areas on Ramona Street, separate from Conditional Use Permit (CUP) hours. This request is in reference to Agenda Item 7 (Attachment A, June 18 Retail Committee Staff Report). As General Manager of the Cardinal Hotel, a business that has operated in downtown Palo Alto for over 100 years, I know firsthand the impact late-night outdoor activity has on surrounding businesses. Twenty-five percent of our guest rooms face directly onto Ramona Street. Even low-level conversation from small groups carries clearly into these rooms, leading to guest complaints, refunds, and loss of repeat business — all of which create ongoing operational challenges for a century-old hotel. When hotel operations are disrupted, it diminishes the appeal of downtown for overnight visitors, which in turn affects restaurants, shops, and other local businesses. Under the current draft Outdoor Activation Standards, Section 11.2 (Packet page 41; Staff Report page 18) ties outdoor activation hours to the same hours allowed under a business’s CUP. This means any business with a late-night CUP — such as Nola, The Wine Room, or the recently reviewed application for 541 Ramona (Old Pro) — could legally operate a parklet until 1:00 AM. While Planning staff have confirmed that the current CUP at 541 Ramona does not authorize outdoor alcohol service and that any such request would require a new CUP, the hours provision still leaves the door open for late-night outdoor use without safeguards. I have raised this same concern with City Council before, including in November 2021 when Ramona Street’s closure to cars was under review. At that time, I requested that parklet operations end at 10:00 PM to protect hotel operations. For your reference, I have attached that 2021 communication, which reflects the same request I am making today. The consistency of this request underscores that this is not a new issue, but an ongoing operational need to sustain a balanced downtown business environment. When the hotel was closed in 2022, Ramona Street briefly became a late-night venue. Reversing that trend when we reopened required significant effort from all stakeholders. Without clear, codified limits, the same pattern could repeat — not from bad intentions, but because the code would allow it. The original purpose for closing Ramona Street to cars was to create a vibrant, outdoor dining, pedestrian-friendly destination — not a late-night entertainment zone. Parklets were a pandemic-era solution for outdoor dining, and their hours should reflect that purpose. Restaurants on Ramona already honor a voluntary 10:00 PM closure for outdoor dining. This successful practice should now be formalized in the Municipal Code to ensure consistency over time, protect hospitality and retail operations, and maintain a balanced, sustainable downtown economy — regardless of future changes in ownership or management. I respectfully request that Section 11.2 be amended to read: “Parklets and other outdoor dining areas on Ramona Street must close for use and operation by 10:00 PM every night, and this limitation shall apply regardless of the hours permitted under any associated Conditional Use Permit (CUP) or the business’s indoor hours of operation.” This adjustment would create a clear, enforceable standard separate from CUP hours, preserve the balance between vibrancy and livability, safeguard hotel operations, and ensure Ramona Street remains a destination that supports a healthy mix of dining, retail, hospitality, and other businesses. Thank you for considering this straightforward change that preserves the balance between outdoor dining and the needs of nearby hospitality operations. Sincerely, Stephanie Wansek General Manager, Cardinal Hotel 4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289…1/4 Stephanie, Wansek <stephanie@cardinalhotel.com> Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure 3 messages Stephanie, Wansek <Stephanie@cardinalhotel.com>Mon, Nov 15, 2021 at 1:56 PM To: City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org Cc: CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org, Kara Apple <kara.apple@cityofpaloalto.org> Dear City Council Members, I appreciate the ongoing consideration and deliberation about whether to keep certain streets in Palo Alto closed to traffic and open to outdoor dining. As the owner of Bistro Maxine, a restaurant on Ramona St, I am pleased to have half of Ramona street remain closed to traffic through June 2022. As the GM of the Cardinal Hotel, located on the corner of Ramona and Hamilton and currently closed for renovation, I want to ensure that (1) any potential noise impacts of this street closure which would negatively impact the hotel guest experience and (2) the loss of two commercial loading zone parking spaces are being considered as these discussions about Ramona street remaining closed continue. 1. Permitted hours for Parklet operation: Hours of operation for permitted parklets should be limited to 10 pm. 2. Additional noise concerns: No additional noise be permitted in parklets or from restaurants into the streets to reach patrons dining in parklets. Concerns include, but are not limited to: volume for televisions in parklets, music playing into the street from restaurants with open windows or exterior speakers and live music (except special permitted events with end time of event clearly defined and enforced) 3. Commercial Loading Zone: replace the two commercial loading zone spaces on Ramona with the two remaining parking spaces in front of the Osteria / Cardinal Hotel on Hamilton St. Make these two spots Commercial Loading Zone 8am-6pm and Loading Zone only after 6pm to accommodate guests arriving at the hotel (similar to Nobu with all parking spots on either facade of the hotel dedicated to the hotel for commercial loading and passenger loading and unloading. Additional information: Over the 20 + years, having two restaurants / bars on Ramona street has posed the biggest challenge to the hotel when it comes to late night noise and its negative impact on the guest experience. Over ten years ago, The Old Pro was renovated with large open windows, and ledge tables attached to the building on the sidewalk side and seating on the sidewalk. After I reached out on behalf of the hotel, the City reviewed the CUP and restricted the hours the windows could be open and did not allow the tables / seating on the sidewalk. Over the years hotel employees call regularly (both Old Pro directly and PAPD) to request that the windows be closed per their CUP and it is important there is something to refer to to enforce. In 2018 we had issues with both the Old Pro and NOLA with speakers attached to the exterior of the building playing music later in the night. The City was involved with helping to resolve that at the time. 4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289…2/4 If Ramona street is to remain closed to traffic beyond June 2022, I would like to request that the parklets be permitted for outdoor dining only and the hours that restaurants / bars are allowed to use the street for business are limited to 10pm. The “Uplift Local” effort has been discussed as “outdoor dining”. I would like to request that this is formalized and that bars can not serve customers on the street after 10pm. If bars are allowed to serve alcohol out on the street until 2am this will make accommodating guests on our Ramona side impossible. After our renovation, each room night should generate at a minimum $50 per night in Transient Occupancy Tax for the City so it is important for both the Cardinal Hotel and the City that a “pedestrian only” Ramona street supports a successful hotel operation and is not an option for outdoor bar business from 10pm -2am. Ramona is the hotel’s most favorable side with views to Roxy Rapp’s beautifully renovated building and City Hall Plaza. In our renovation we plan to have our largest rooms that will command higher rates located on Ramona. We project that on certain dates we will regularly be able to generate upwards of $100 per night in TOT for the City from these rooms on Ramona St. As a hotel GM, I want to be able to provide an extraordinary guest experience in the renovated Cardinal Hotel, a Palo Alto business of almost 100 years. The Cardinal needs the support of the City Council and the City Manager’s Office to remain a viable and popular hotel in the community. The owners are poised to invest over 10 million dollars in this renovation. For this reason,we want to take this opportunity to clarify how important the downtown environment -noise, streetscape and cleanliness - is to the future success of the Cardinal Hotel. Let me end by saying that I believe, if done properly, having a closed Historic Ramona Street could be beneficial to all, including the hotel. Thank you for your time and consideration, Stephanie GM, Cardinal Hotel -- Stephanie Wansek| General Manager THE CARDINAL HOTEL 235 Hamilton Ave | Palo Alto, CA | 94301 | www.cardinalhotel.com p: (650) 323-5101 f: (650) 325-60856 | stephanie@cardinalhotel.com 4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289…3/4 Stephanie, Wansek <Stephanie@cardinalhotel.com>Mon, Feb 7, 2022 at 5:01 PM To: city.council@cityofpaloalto.org Cc: CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org, Kara Apple <kara.apple@cityofpaloalto.org> Dear City Council Members, I am forwarding this email sent on Nov 15, 2021 as a reminder of additional information to consider when evaluating the street closure on Ramona St. I am including three recent videos (see Vimeo link below) that show the activity on Ramona after 10 pm which would be disruptive to guests at the Cardinal Hotel. These are amateur videos taken with a cell from a guest room facing Ramona St. to show the activity on Ramona St late into the evening / early morning. https://cardinalhotel.com/video/ Friday Jan 28 11:30pm ( 51 second video) Friday Feb 4 11:30 pm (24 second video) Sat Feb 5 12:30am (29 second video) I am in favor of the street remaining closed to traffic and open for outdoor dining. I am requesting that Council put enforceable hours of operations for the parklets that correspond with dining hour so that noise after 10pm will not negatively impact the operation of the Cardinal Hotel. Thank you, Stephanie Cardinal Hotel, GM [Quoted text hidden] Cormack, Alison <Alison.Cormack@cityofpaloalto.org>Mon, Feb 14, 2022 at 3:16 PM To: "Stephanie, Wansek" <Stephanie@cardinalhotel.com> Thanks for le ng us know and sharing the videos, Stephanie. For my part, I do not read any emails sent a er our mee ng starts at 5 pm, so did not receive this un l a erwards. Sincerely, Alison Cormack From: Stephanie, Wansek <Stephanie@cardinalhotel.com> Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 5:01 PM To: Council, City <city.council@cityofpaloalto.org> 4/15/24, 6:02 PM Cardinal Hotel Mail - Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ik=ff74a7e72a&view=pt&search=all&permthid=thread-a:r4972141515747115230&simpl=msg-a:r688557806573289…4/4 Cc: City Mgr <CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org>; Apple, Kara <kara.apple@cityofpaloalto.org> Subject: Fwd: Cardinal Hotel / Ramona Street Closure Some people who received this message don't often get email from stephanie@cardinalhotel.com. Learn why this is important CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. [Quoted text hidden] Notice of Confidentiality: This communication is intended ONLY for the recipient(s) identified in the message, and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, or otherwise protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, please disregard this communication and notify the sender. From:K E To:Council, City Subject:King Zuck Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 2:53:28 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i I dare the council to do anything about Zuckerberg and all the other tech overlords whoobviously are in charge of the city. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/us/mark-zuckerberg- palo-alto.html This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Gerry Gras To:Martin Wasserman; Aram James Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Justin Zalkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Pnina Abir-am; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug Minkler; Salem Ajluni; Yusra Hussain; Donna Wallach; Donna Wallach; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Betsy Nash; dcombs@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; editor@paweekly.com; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; editor@almanacnews.com; Ed Lauing; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Rob Baker; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Gardener, Liz; Dana St. George; Clerk, City; CityCouncil; Michael Ybarra; Seher Awan; Greg Tanaka; Carla Torres; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Human Relations Commission; ParkRec Commission; Diana Diamond; Today EPA; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Renters" Association Palo Alto; Palo Alto Weekly; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex Subject:Re: Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What"s Happening In Gaza A"Genocide" Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 12:59:19 PM here is a lot of information provided by another member of the humanist community: ================================= That the emaciated child in one recently-circulated photo has other health problems besidesmalnourishment does not disprove that the child is malnourished and starving due to denial of food, water, and medical supplies, and treatment of those health problems by the Israelis. https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-aid-groups-contradict-israeli-gaza-claims/a-73456462 https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-starvation-children-malnutrition-baby-baf865b861c9a2fd9c75068936062146 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-31/controversy-over-image-of-a-skeletal-one-year-old- gazan-boy/105596198 There is plenty of evidence of mass starvation and Israel’s restriction of the supplies reachingthe civilians in Gaza well below that needed to maintain their health. There might be more if Israel allowed journalists into the area, instead of killing the ones who try to report from Gaza. https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/07/1165517 https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/07/gaza-evidence-points-to-israels-continued-use-of-starvation-to-inflict-genocide-against-palestinians/ https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-182-situation-gaza-strip-and- west-bank-including-east-jerusalem The U.S. private force involved in food distribution is complicit in this as well. https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/08/01/gaza-israeli-killings-of-palestinians-seeking-food-are-war-crimes Do you deny that Israel is systematically starving the people of Gaza while after killing and injuring a substantial proportion of the civilian population, as well as destroying their homes,businesses, medical facilities, and schools, and continuing to do so? Here, the U.S. is also complicit in supplying many of the military weapons used in this destruction. Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and Israel actions against the civilian population andmedical facilities include violations of international law and morality. Israel’s disproportionate escalation policy does not allow a mutually acceptable resolution of theconflict, but only exile or extermination of the Palestinians. Do you deny that Israeli officials have expressed the intent to remove or kill all of the people of Gaza? https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/06/hamas-israel-hunger-war-in-gaza https://www.btselem.org/publications/202507_our_genocide https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/05/15/gaza-latest-israeli-plan-inches-closer-extermination The Arab League has announced their condemnation of Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack onIsrael and demanded that HAMAS disarm as part of a UN initiative to discuss a two-state solution. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-862893 What evidence is there that Israel will support a Palestinian state with characteristics sufficientto eliminate popular support for Hamas and violence against Israel? Regarding your second link and issue: The comparisons in that post seem cherry picked and the claims questionable. What evidence do we have that Hamas still controls territory in Gaza or that they are stillhaving any impact on the Israeli occupying force or Israeli civilians? I have seen news of continuing destruction and killing of Palestinian civilians by Israel (and by Americanmercenaries), but nothing about Hamas continuing to kill or destroy Israeli forces or civilians. I have seen claims that Hamas still has some soldiers hiding in tunnels with some Israelihostages, but that does not seem to justify Israel starving the civilian population. The article credits Israel providing aid to the occupied civilians, but I have seen reports that the aid hasbeen much below that needed to prevent malnutrition and death from starvation and that the aid is being used as bait to lure and execute civilians. Is Israel really willing to strive only for such a low bar as treating civilians in an occupationbetter than the Nazis did or would they prefer to be appreciated for treating them as well as the Americans treated the Germans and Japanese under occupation? Which approach had thebetter outcome? Will Israel have a Marshall Plan for the Palestinians, allowing them to re- establish self-rule, or will they divest the Palestinians of their remaining land and continuetheir extermination? What has Israel done to cause Palestinians to think that an unconditional surrender would not mean complete loss of what remains of their homeland? What solutions will respect the human rights and aspirations of all the parties in this conflict and remove the motivation for further conflict? ================================= gerry On 8/13/25 22:21, Martin Wasserman wrote: Aram, You're the one who refuses to deal with facts. The only party to the Gazaconflict that has explicitly called for a war of extermination is Hamas, the group that you ludicrously describe as "freedom fighters.” Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 9:47 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: Martin, You don't hardly speak in facts -as I said a moment’s ago, you traffic exclusively in unadulterated worn-out pro-Israel lobby talking points.As my very Jewish dad used to say: “some folks don't want to be disturbed by the facts.” Sadly, Martin, you suffer from an apparently incurable case of the don't bother me with the facts, syndrome. Avram “End The Mass Extermination In Palestine Now” Finkelstein On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Aram, I notice that you never try to dispute my arguments withactual facts, obviously because you have no facts to dispute them with! Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 9:02 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Another tired PRO-Israeli lobby talking point, AIPAC,talking point! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:How quickly the blood libel spreads!! If Israel was waging a war of extermination, most of the Gazans would be long gone by now. Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 6:48 PM, AramJames <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Henry, I hope Julie surprises us all and finallydoes the right thing. It is past time forher to break her silence. Avram Agreed upon a united front: surprise ifJulie goes Marjorie. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 13, 2025, at5:49 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: 8/13/2025 Hi Henry, I'm hoping that whenJulie Lythcott-Haims returns to her duties onthe Palo Alto City Council that she willmatch the extremely white wing MarjorieTaylor Green and call out for all the world to hear:End The Genocide Now. Avram Finkelstein P.S. All seven of our city council members claim tobe Democrats. But not one of them has beenwilling to call out the ongoing Holocast in Palestine either in their private citizen’s role or intheir official capacities as members of the citycouncil. Each one who remains silent is complicitin the daily war crimes and genocide in Palestine. Will they each eventuallybe tried for their complicity in Genocide?Only time will tell! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM Henry Etzkowitz<h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 millionpeople Open APP Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" BuzzFeed Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" Source: BuzzFeed Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:h.etzko@gmail.com Cc:Trudy Willis; Council, City; Charles Spanhook; Mark Granovetter; Office of the Provost; Mariza Almeida; Arthur Millman; Marty Wasserman; Guilherme Ary Plonski; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Justin Zalkin; Brian Good; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto Subject:Re: St Jose Civil Court upcoming re Matadero Creek toxic pour, Stanford Research Park Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 11:25:49 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Henry, Excellent picture! Thanks for doing the heavy legal lifting in your attempt to hold Muskaccountable for his alleged illegal acts. Please keep us updated. Aram On Thu, Aug 14, 2025 at 9:12 AM Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: Checking date for structured/supervised meet with Tesla/Elon one October #20Judge “default judgement if no show” Monahan Sent from my iPhone Sent from my iPhone From:Teceta Tormala To:Council, City Subject:More needed to prevent suicide on our train tracks Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 11:24:15 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hello- I just heard from a friend about the suicide by a Gunn student on the train tracks. What an immense tragedy. Coupled with the recent deaths of Palo Alto teens who took their lives on the train tracks, it is clear that more needs to be done to block the structural access to the tracks as a method of suicide. Mental health issues and our high pressure environment make a toxic mix for our youth, and we need to do better. We all know the research showing that restricting access to lethal means reduces suicide rates, and this is an avenue that we can and need to change. Best, Teceta Tormala This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:STEVE GILBERT To:ashtradebiz@yahoo.com; Bulatao, Eric Cc:City Mgr; Council, City Subject:Re: Homeless RVs parked on Greer and West Bayshore Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 11:08:01 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Glad to hear you also noticed the oil spill/fluids next to the storm drain, along with the debris left behind (cloths folding table etc.) we've also had people drinking in public and urinatingalong the sidewalk mediums. No solution is no solution everybody has to have a participatory role in a civil society, City should look into a monitored lot where you pay based on your income.Keep in mind not all these folks are poor one of the guys down there had an F-350 that's like an $80,000 truck I've never owned an $80,000 truck, another guy had an expensive quaddesert runner in the back of his trailer. Evading paying property taxes, homeowner insurance, sewage/trash, flood property insurance is probably about 40K a year. Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Debbie Mukamal To:Council, City Subject:Re: We have to do more for our young people. Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 9:53:49 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Last night my daughter and I marked her getting ready for the start of her senior year by having another (solo) mom and daughter over for dinner, friends we met when my daughter started kindergarten atOhlone. We enjoyed tasty Zareen's, heard about our friend's freshman orientation at UCLA, andreminisced about swim practice and other gatherings. Later in the evening, a friend shared the tragicnews of another Gunn teen taking their life on the train tracks. I didn't want to share the information withmy daughter before she went to bed because I desperately wanted to shield her from having her first daymarred by such devastating news. She has heard this kind of news too many times since she's been aPAUSD student. Despite my attempts, she woke to her social media feed filled with the news and so shestarted her first day of her senior year at Gunn feeling deeply sad. I don't know the circumstances relatedto this young person's decision to take their life. And frankly it doesn't matter. The common denominatorin all of these suicides is the easy access to our train tracks. I ask (again, see email chain below) andplead with you: what are we doing to remove the most lethal and accessible means of suicidefrom our community? How many times do I have to write to the City Council begging you to dosomething about the train tracks? Best, Debbie Mukamal718 938 8450 On Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at 03:27:06 PM PST, Debbie Mukamal <ailahm@yahoo.com> wrote: A year ago exactly today, I sent the message below. It could have been written today. Given thismorning's tragic news, I hope you will reconsider how the City can do more to prevent another tragedyfrom happening. While mental health supports are important, they are insufficient. More needs to be doneto eliminate the risk of the trains. Best, Debbie Mukamal718 938 8450 ----- Forwarded Message -----From: Debbie Mukamal <ailahm@yahoo.com>To: City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org <City.Council@cityofpaloalto.org>Sent: Monday, March 4, 2024 at 08:45:26 AM PSTSubject: We have to do more for our young people. Dear Palo Alto City Council: This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast First, thank you all for your service to our community. I am writing to strongly urge/beg you to do more to help our young people. I am the mother of asophomore at Gunn HS and in the last two weeks two young women have tried to take their life, one wassuccessful and the other was not. I am heartbroken for both of these families and for all of the students atGunn who are mourning loss and worried about their friends. My own cousin's 16 year old daughter diedby suicide about 6 years ago so I have seen first hand the impact that such a loss has on a family and acommunity. What are we doing to make the train tracks less of a risk and allure for them? In the past, we hadhuman watchers at the train tracks. Can we bring them back? Research shows that removing the lethalmeans of suicide can make a big difference: Hope for Suicide Prevention The relevant line for us here in Palo Alto is this: "It turns out that blocking access to a single lethal means — if it is the right one — can make a huge difference." I look forward to hearing what we're doing here in PA for our young people. Best, Debbie Mukamal From:Neilson Buchanan To:Shikada, Ed; Horrigan-Taylor, Meghan; Pat Markevitch; Council, City Cc:Irv Brenner; Mary Dimit; J T Guislin; Ray Dempsey; Michael Hodos; KJ Chang; Kathy Segura; Tim Knuth; Malcolm Roy Beasley; Fred Kohler; Jeff Levinsky; Glanckopf, Annette; Doria Summa; Reckdahl, Keith; Pat Burt; Marion Odell; Filseth, Eric (external); Leslie Caine; gstone22@gmail.com; Judith Dodson; Patricia L. Devaney; Tricia Dolkas; Geetha Sirkantan; Mary Gallagher; Jo Ann Mandinach; Vita Gorbunova; Helen Kim; Neeraj Pendse; Tim Lindholm Subject:Neighborhood Listening Meeting Aug 20 City Council Chambers Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 9:25:57 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Please address this question during the meeting next week. I am not asking you to adress the current legal dispute being resolved in court. I am asking you to reveal the substance of any and all previous agreements between stakeholders in the Parking Assessment District and City of Palo Alto. Here is my post today to the article in Palo Alto Online. Their (PAD) position appears to be: I am pleased to learn the position of the downtown plantiffs, presumbably landlord stakeholders in the University Avenue Parking Assessment District(PAD). “This action was brought simply to seek a judicial determination of the City’s obligations under the law to maintain certain parking facilities in downtown Palo Alto – which were indisputably funded and maintained over many years by assessments on certain private properties in the downtown area – based on the City’s commitment toacquire and maintain those facilities for the purpose of providing off-street parking to serve the needs of the downtown community,” Lanferman’s team wrote in its Aug. 5 response.” Let’s see what the court ordered “to meet and confer” will reveal. Apparently the CityCouncil and Attorney did not initally a strong legal case. This is no surprise to me. For over 10 years I have urged City Councils and City Attorneys to clarify what is the basis of these long ago entitlements claimed by PAD and participating landlords who may have a legitimate, time restricted interests in certain parking lots and garages. Are the “PAD” claims about this parking lot valid in perpituity or are they time limited such as the life of PAD bonds which financed some of the garages and parking lots This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast (perhaps time extended by bond refinancing?) I have no expertise in real estage or bond financing law, but I am sincerely asking a legit question on behalf of University Avenue neighborhoods and those of us who support housing downtown in the commercial core. PS A copy of the latest newspaper coverage is attached. Neilson Buchanan 155 Bryant Street Palo Alto, CA 94301 650 537-9611 cell cnsbuchanan@yahoo.com View this email in your browser Sunday, August 17: County League Event From:League of Women Voters of Palo AltoTo:Council, CitySubject:LWVPA Invites You & Yours! Meet Rep. Sam Liccardo (8/17) and Dive into Executive Power (9/9)Date:Thursday, August 14, 2025 7:29:07 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. Meet our very own REP. SAM LICCARDO, who's coming home to listen to YOU - his constituents. Sunday, August 17 | 2-4pm Mitchell Park Community Center | 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303 FREE | REGISTER HERE - submit your question for Rep. Liccardo when you sign up. Tuesday, September 9: County League Event Are there any limits to the president's powers? Come find out! Tuesday, September 9 | 7-9pm Quinlan Community Center | 10185 N Stelling, Cupertino FREE | REGISTER HERE and submit your question for our panelists We envision a democracy where every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. We welcome not only women, but anyone who supports democracy and voting rights for all. Join today, and you will make connections, build lasting friendships, explore new interests, build skills, learn about important local issues - and give back to your community! Give or join today! Your support empowers voters and protects democracy. Thank you! We'd love to hear from you! Our mailing address is LWVPA, 3921 E Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303 Email to communications@lwvpaloalto.org Subscribe to our newsletters: sign up using the subscription form Want to change how you receive these emails?You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. From:Ash B To:Bulatao, Eric Cc:City Mgr; Council, City; STEVE GILBERT Subject:Re: Homeless RVs parked on Greer and West Bayshore Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 10:07:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. There is absolutely no action taken to address the concerns. What is the issue to at leastimplement the 72 hour parking rule that the city of Palo Alto has? Now the RV occupants are emboldened by the city inaction and putting cones around their RVs to take up more parking spots. There is a huge oil spill on the road and garbage is strewn. Who in the Palo Alto city department responsible to address this issue? Children get dropped/picked up at Greer park and this is a traffic hazard. Who will be accountable if there is a mishap? I believe Gov Newsom has an executive order to cities to address encroachments and illegalRV parking. Why is that not getting enforced here? If there is no action taken, some of the residents around the neighborhood will have to resort to approach the courts to get some answers. It's unfortunate that a affluent and adequate city of ours with competent elected representativesand city officials are unable to do absolutely anything. It's a shame Next election we will look for the right candidates. Thank you On Jul 17, 2025, at 8:50 PM, Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> wrote:Dear Eric et al.Since my last note to you there are 2 more RVs that got added and additional cones added to take up further parking space. We hope and pray that there are no traffic mishaps given the density of cars crossing the road and children getting picked/dropped off. It's disheartening to see the lack of any action on the part of the city officials. Ash On Jul 13, 2025, at 9:40 PM, Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> wrote:Dear Eric,Thank you for your detailed response. Appreciate you laying out the current scenario and constraints you have in dealing with the issues. Per my point, I have a few observations and possible suggestions regarding this particular situation. 1. I have not seen a Community service officer patrolling Greer Park area on Colorado Ave in a very long time. I doubt if there are any citations written to the vehicles especially RVsparked here for months now. If there is a place to view these public records, I would certainly be keen to review. 2. The RVs are exacerbating the traffic and hygiene situation. Colorado Ave is a high traffic area and there have been several near miss traffic accidents where kids are being continuouslybeen dropped/picked up. The street parking becomes a challenge especially since a new townhome complex has come up and cars are being parked even on West Bayshore ( which isa designated No parking road) 3. The RVs are permanently parked and they also put orange cones around them to usurp morespace so other cars cannot be parked. 4. These violations, along with the parking on West Bayshore is done with impunity andostensibly no action is taken. 5. Very recently, I observed that an entire colony of RVs were cleared overnight and markedwith no parking signs in Milpitas around Ranch Drive. Palo Alto is a safe and orderly city and we want to be compassionate to the folks who are underprivileged but these encroachments are becoming a big challenge for residents andpotentially causing law and order issues. I'm very sure there are legal remedies for your team to handle this situation. If there are any other authorities or legal avenues we need to explore to help you, pls do let meknow. Happy to oblige and thank you for your service! Ash On Jul 10, 2025, at 3:35 PM, Bulatao, Eric <Eric.Bulatao@paloalto.gov> wrote:Dear Ash, Thank you for your continued engagement and for raising these concerns. As the supervisor of the Palo Alto Police Department’s Special Problems Detail (SPD), I want to provide some clarity on what our team does and how we’ve been addressing the RV situation near Greer Park. SPD is responsible for responding to quality-of-life concerns, crime trends, including issues related to vehicle dwellings, and unhoused individuals. Over the past several weeks, we have conducted regular checks in this area, issued citations, and towed several vehicles that were eligible under the law. Additionally, we’ve made multiple referrals to LifeMoves, a local outreach agency that works directly with the unhoused to connect them with services and permanent housing options. We understand the frustration many residents feel when it seems like enforcement is limited. However, towing inhabited RVs poses significant challenges, including locating available tow companies willing and equipped to remove and store these types of vehicles, legal limitations on removing occupied dwellings, and the high cost of towing and storage. Even though the municipal code in Palo Alto does not require outreach before towing the vehicle, this has been the practice for many years to avoid potential constitutional violations, especially when the RV is inhabited. That said, we are not ignoring the problem. We will continue monitoring the area, issuing citations when violations occur, towing when legally and logistically feasible, and referring individuals to outreach services to balance enforcement with compassion and long-term solutions. We appreciate your patience as we work within these constraints and remain committed to addressing the safety, hygiene, and traffic impacts affecting the community. Respectfully, Sergeant Eric Bulatao Palo Alto Police Department Special Problems Detail275 Forest Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Office: (650) 838-2866 From: Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> Sent: Friday, June 27, 2025 6:48 PM To: Lu, George <George.Lu@paloalto.gov>; City Mgr <CityMgr@paloalto.gov>; Council, City <city.council@PaloAlto.gov> Cc: Ashish Bhattacharya <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Homeless RVs parked on Greer and West Bayshore CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Thank you George for your response. Hopefully you folks will come up with a solution. Meanwhile the situation is getting bad to worse due to lack of enforcement. Now we see a lot of trash piling up on the sidewalk. The RV residents are putting cones to block off additional parking and a few more RVs have come in since you responded. There is absolutely NO Community service officer. Greer Park is a very busy park with a lot of kids playing and parents are driving and picking/dropping. Traffic is an absolute nightmare and the number of RVs are exacerbating the situation. Please do something about this. I'm copying the city manager for visibility and action. Thank you Ash On Jun 21, 2025, at 11:44 AM, Lu, George <George.Lu@paloalto.gov> wrote: Hi Ash, Thank you for writing in. I was speaking with the city manager on Wednesday about these kind of RVs. The city is revisiting its approach for noticing, ticketing, and towing RVs, with an emphasis for public health risks. I don't have a lot of details, particularly those that I can share right now, but there will be some enforcement changes over the near future. In August, the Council's Policy and Services Committee will also discuss overall homeless / RV policies before more discussion in the full council. I'd welcome more public comment and any updates you observe. I appreciate the patience. We can do better for both RV residents, and the environment, businesses, homes, etc.. Best, George Lu Council Member, City of Palo Alto Cell Phone: 650-307-7143 Book an Appointment From: Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 6:43 AM To: Lauing, Ed <Ed.Lauing@paloalto.gov> Cc: Lu, George <George.Lu@paloalto.gov>; Burt, Patrick <Pat.Burt@PaloAlto.gov>; Lythcott-Haims, Julie <Julie.LythcottHaims@PaloAlto.gov> Subject: Re: Homeless RVs parked on Greer and West Bayshore CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Council members, Can I get an update or at least an acknowledgement to my numerous requests? I have reached out to the PA police department also. Is there any other way to officially submit a call to action? Twitter or press? Thank you On Jun 16, 2025, at 9:20 PM, Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> wrote: Dear Council members ( Pat, George and Julie) I'm having a hard time reaching our esteemed mayor since the last couple of weeks, so reaching out to you folks. As you see in my communication below, I'm highlighting the issue of homeless RVs being parked ( growing in numbers by the day) on Colorado Ave and West Bayshore. This is a very busy road and the traffic and driving hazards exacerbates especially during the weekend when there are soccer matches. There are a lot of small children getting dropped and picked around and the big RVs ( some even have orange cones that take up more parking space) This is a traffic hazard and a hygiene issue. I'm requesting implementation of the 72 hour parking rule at the very least. Haven't seen a community service officer around in months! We have personally voted for some of you to be in office and I hope you will kindly take action. Thank you Ashish On Jun 11, 2025, at 6:31 PM, Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> wrote: Dear Mr Mayor, Could you please acknowledge and let us know what we are doing or able to do about the situation? Should I visit the City council office? I spoke with the PD and they also suggested the same. I'm genuinely worried about citizen traffic safety and hygiene around the area. Thank you On Jun 8, 2025, at 12:52 AM, Ash B <ashtradebiz@yahoo.com> wrote: Dear Mr.Mayor, I have tried to raise this issue with the abandoned vehicles hotline several times but to no avail. I believe there are no community service officers that come to the Greer park area ever. We are alluding to the growing number of Homeless RVs parked on Colorado Ave opposite Greer Park. While we are sympathetic to the unhoused population, the problem of the RVs parked at this location is exarcebating the traffic and parking snarls due to the large number of soccer games during the weekend and also the construction workers who park there during weekdays. There have been several near miss accidents due to views being blocked by the RVs. Additionally there is a hygiene issue also around these vehicles and is unsafe for pedestrians. Could you pls take a look at the issue and resolve it before we run into bigger problems? Thank you Residents around Greer Park. From:Aram James To:Martin Wasserman Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Justin Zalkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Pnina Abir-am; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug Minkler; Salem Ajluni; Yusra Hussain; Donna Wallach; Donna Wallach; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Betsy Nash; dcombs@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; editor@paweekly.com; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; editor@almanacnews.com; Ed Lauing; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Rob Baker; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Clerk, City; Perron, Zachary; CityCouncil; Michael Ybarra; Seher Awan; Greg Tanaka; Carla Torres; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Human Relations Commission; ParkRec Commission; Diana Diamond; Today EPA; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Renters" Association Palo Alto; Palo Alto Weekly; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex Subject:Re: Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What"s Happening In Gaza A"Genocide" Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9:47:35 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Martin, You don't hardly speak in facts -as I said a moment’s ago, you traffic exclusively inunadulterated worn-out pro-Israel lobby talking points. As my very Jewish dad used to say: “some folks don't want to be disturbed by the facts.” Sadly, Martin, you suffer from an apparently incurable case of the don't bother me with the facts, syndrome. Avram “End The Mass Extermination In Palestine Now” Finkelstein On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Aram, I notice that you never try to dispute my arguments with actual facts, obviously because you have no facts to dispute them with! Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 9:02 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Another tired PRO-Israeli lobby talking point, AIPAC, talking point! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com>wrote:How quickly the blood libel spreads!! If Israel was waging a war of extermination, most of the Gazans would be long gone by now. Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 6:48 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Henry, I hope Julie surprises us all and finally does the right thing. It is past time for her to break her silence. Avram Agreed upon a united front: surprise if Julie goes Marjorie. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 13, 2025, at 5:49 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 8/13/2025 Hi Henry, I'm hoping that when Julie Lythcott-Haims returnsto her duties on the Palo Alto City Council that shewill match the extremely white wing MarjorieTaylor Green and call out for all the world to hear:End The Genocide Now. Avram Finkelstein P.S. All seven of our city council members claimto be Democrats. But not one of them has beenwilling to call out the ongoing Holocast in Palestine either in their private citizen’s role or intheir official capacities as members of the citycouncil. Each one who remains silent is complicitin the daily war crimes and genocide in Palestine.Will they each eventually be tried for theircomplicity in Genocide? Only time will tell! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM HenryEtzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 million people Open APP Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" BuzzFeed Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" Source: BuzzFeed Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Martin Wasserman Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Justin Zalkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Pnina Abir-am; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug Minkler; Salem Ajluni; Yusra Hussain; Donna Wallach; Donna Wallach; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Betsy Nash; dcombs@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; editor@paweekly.com; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; editor@almanacnews.com; Ed Lauing; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Rob Baker; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Clerk, City; Perron, Zachary; CityCouncil; Michael Ybarra; Seher Awan; Greg Tanaka; Carla Torres; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Human Relations Commission; ParkRec Commission; Diana Diamond; Today EPA; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Renters" Association Palo Alto; Palo Alto Weekly; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex Subject:Re: Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What"s Happening In Gaza A"Genocide" Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9:02:48 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Another tired PRO-Israeli lobby talking point, AIPAC, talking point! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:How quickly the blood libel spreads!! If Israel was waging a war of extermination, most of the Gazans would be long gone by now. Martin Wasserman On Aug 13, 2025, at 6:48 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Henry, I hope Julie surprises us all and finally does the right thing. It is past time for her to break her silence. Avram Agreed upon a united front: surprise if Julie goes Marjorie. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 13, 2025, at 5:49 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 8/13/2025 Hi Henry, I'm hoping that when Julie Lythcott-Haims returns to her duties on the Palo Alto City Council that she will match the extremelywhite wing Marjorie Taylor Green and call out for all the world to hear: End The Genocide Now. Avram Finkelstein P.S. All seven of our city council members claim to beDemocrats. But not one of them has been willing to call out the ongoing Holocast in Palestine either in their private citizen’srole or in their official capacities as members of the city council. Each one who remains silent is complicit in the daily war crimesand genocide in Palestine. Will they each eventually be tried for their complicity inGenocide? Only time will tell! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 million people Open APP Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" BuzzFeed Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" Source: BuzzFeed Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Justin Zalkin; h.etzko@gmail.com; Marty Wasserman; Council, City; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; GerryGras; Gennady Sheyner; Lu, George; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org;BoardOperations; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Bill Newell; city.council@menlopark.gov; CityCouncil; Sean Allen Subject:Watch "New Zealand MP Chloe Swarbrick Removed from Parliament Following Comments In Palestinian Debate" on YouTube Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 8:59:39 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://youtu.be/wLgImC1nNCM?si=XX2auYNEtLBxGAAF From:David Page To:Council, City Subject:public health education Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 8:39:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear City Council members, I've written to you about an anti-pollution public health campaign in the past (a couple of times since 2020), but have gotten little response. Now a new paper from Stanford (& other) researchers has confirmed the benefits of what I've been proposing: "Climate literacy interventions can help individuals optimize their personal lifestyle choices in ways that align with climate mitigation efforts." Published by the National Academy of Sciences, the study suggests how greenhouse pollution can be dramatically reduced simply by giving the public factual information - which they otherwise are not receiving - from a credible source. "The best way to combat the human tendency to miscalculate climate-related decisions is with more readily available information." Academics working for the U.N. have written about this: "Targeted information (energy efficiency information, carbon labelling) can also shift consumer decision- making towards more efficient and low-carbon products." The City of Palo Alto has been talking about the moral urgency of pollution reduction at least as far back as the Green Ribbon Task Force of 2006. Yet after the low-hanging fruit was plucked, there's been little progress here. Given the track record, and the relatively low priority of this issue for residents, I don't expect much to change. However, rather than continuing to spend money for meager results, perhaps you'll consider an inexpensive proposal to complement what is already being tried: a public health education campaign. You already have 1/2 page inserts sent out with the utility bills. You could include an insert (plus an op-ed for the Merc, as well as other media efforts) which would spell out the biggest ways Palo Altans, on average, create GHG pollution: with airplane- trips, beef-eating, oil'n'gasoline automobiles, and home methane/gas usage (see links, above). Palo Altans, per capita, create well-above median levels of pollution. Within the insert you could also spell out how such pollution is causing human suffering today (local pollution), and will do in the future (extreme weather). No one will want to bother changing their behavior unless they understand there's a problem AND a way they can contribute to a solution. Current Palo Alto marketing efforts go to great lengths to avoid mentioning the nature of the problem, and its (avoidable) causes - a big messaging mistake, in my opinion ... for example, saying the big reason to get an electric heat pump is to "save money" rather than to save lives. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss this proposal further. Thank you very much, David Page Midtown dalpage5@gmail.com From:Aram James To:h.etzko@gmail.com Cc:Justin Zalkin; Marty Wasserman; Roberta Ahlquist; Pnina Abir-am; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug Minkler; Salem Ajluni; Yusra Hussain; Donna Wallach; Donna Wallach; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Betsy Nash; dcombs@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; editor@paweekly.com; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; editor@almanacnews.com; Ed Lauing; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Rob Baker; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Clerk, City; Perron, Zachary; CityCouncil; Michael Ybarra; Seher Awan; Greg Tanaka; Carla Torres; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Diana Diamond; Today EPA; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Renters" Association Palo Alto; Palo Alto Weekly; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex Subject:Re: Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What"s Happening In Gaza A"Genocide" Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 6:48:51 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Henry, I hope Julie surprises us all and finally does the right thing. It is past time for her to break hersilence. Avram Agreed upon a united front: surprise if Julie goes Marjorie. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 13, 2025, at 5:49 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 8/13/2025 Hi Henry, I'm hoping that when Julie Lythcott-Haims returns to her duties on the PaloAlto City Council that she will match the extremely white wing Marjorie TaylorGreen and call out for all the world to hear: End The Genocide Now. Avram Finkelstein P.S. All seven of our city council members claim to be Democrats. But not oneof them has been willing to call out the ongoing Holocast in Palestine eitherin their private citizen’s role or in their official capacities as members of the city council. Each one who remains silent is complicit in the daily war crimes andgenocide in Palestine. Will they each eventually be tried for their complicity in Genocide? Only timewill tell! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 million people Open APP Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" BuzzFeed Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" Source: BuzzFeed Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:h.etzko@gmail.com Cc:Justin Zalkin; Marty Wasserman; Roberta Ahlquist; Pnina Abir-am; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug Minkler; Salem Ajluni; Yusra Hussain; Donna Wallach; Donna Wallach; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Raymond Goins; editor@paweekly.com; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; editor@almanacnews.com; Ed Lauing; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Baker, Rob; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Clerk, City; Perron, Zachary; CityCouncil; Michael Ybarra; Seher Awan; Greg Tanaka; Carla Torres; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Pat M; Burt, Patrick; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Palo Alto Renters" Association; Palo Alto Weekly; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex Subject:Re: Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What"s Happening In Gaza A"Genocide" Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 5:49:49 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. 8/13/2025 Hi Henry, I'm hoping that when Julie Lythcott-Haims returns to her duties on the Palo Alto City Council that she will match the extremely white wing Marjorie Taylor Green and call out for all theworld to hear: End The Genocide Now. Avram Finkelstein P.S. All seven of our city council members claim to be Democrats. But not one of them has been willing to call out the ongoing Holocast in Palestine either in their private citizen’srole or in their official capacities as members of the city council. Each one who remains silent is complicit in the daily war crimes and genocide in Palestine.Will they each eventually be tried for their complicity in Genocide? Only time will tell! On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote: NewsBreak Used by over 45 million people Open APP Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" BuzzFeed Marjorie Taylor Greene Is Now The First GOP Congress Member To Call What's Happening In Gaza A "Genocide" Source: BuzzFeed Click to read the full story Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:O"Kane, Kristen Cc:Shikada, Ed; Council, City Subject:Re: Sprinklers need adjustment? Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 9:34:29 AM Attachments:image001.pngimage002.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. August 13, 2025 Hi Kristen O’Kane, Thanks so much for your quick action in having Park staff members respond to Hoover Park to adjust errant lawn sprinklers. Best regards, Aram James P.S. Friday afternoon August 15, 2025-I will be happy to discuss Hoover Park maintenance issues with you or a staff member. 415-370-5056 On Wed, Aug 13, 2025 at 9:02 AM O'Kane, Kristen <Kristen.O'Kane@paloalto.gov> wrote: Mr. James, Thank you for letting us know about the sprinklers at Hoover Park. I am responding on behalf of the City Manager. Parks staff visited the park this morning and adjusted the sprinklers, so they are directed toward the park. I or my staff would be glad to talk with you about your additional observations about the maintenance of the park. Please let me know when you’d like to talk. Thank you. Kristen KRISTEN O’KANE Community Services Director (650) 463-4908 | Kristen.O’Kane@paloalto.gov www.paloalto.gov From: Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:58 PMTo: Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@paloalto.gov>Subject: Re: Sprinklers need adjustment? CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Ed, I hope your summer is going well. I walk most days with one of my sons at HooverPark. In the evenings, to avoid getting soaked, I have to take a detour onto the streets (Cowper Street side). Not only is water being wasted, but I also see other seniors and people walking on thebusy street to avoid being drenched. I have a few additional observations about themaintenance of the park that I would like to discuss with you at some point. Let me know what you think is the best solution to the immediate issue with thesprinklers. Looking forward to hearing from you. Regard, Aram 415-370-5056 From:Lauren Angelo To:Council, City Subject:JMZ Staffing Cut Undermines City Revenue Date:Wednesday, August 13, 2025 7:27:06 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Council Member Burt, Council Member Lythcott-Haims, and Council Member Reckdahl, The Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (Friends) and our many supporters understand that the City needs to make difficult financial decisions. However, we strongly oppose the Community Services Department’s proposal to eliminate the JMZ’s Program Assistant I position. Staff proposed to substitute the loss of this critical FTE with 50% of a recent hire based offsite at Lucie Stern Community Center, which would greatly diminish their ability to provide critical support to the JMZ, such as membership services and reservation booking. This role is not expendable—it is essential to generating new revenue and fulfilling the City’s own consultant recommendations. It must remain full-time and physically located onsite at the JMZ. Background: A Position the City’s Own Study Called “Critical” In 2023, the City Council commissioned an operational and business analysis of the JMZ by AECOM, released in March 2024. Among its key findings: JMZ guest services is “severely understaffed” and “increased staffing [is] of critical importance to leveraging the capital investment made in the JMZ.” “There is additional demand in the market for many additional earned revenue sources, including birthday parties, summer camps, educational and public programming, upcharge experiences, and special events. For example, we estimate that the number of birthday parties could double assuming sufficient staff capacity to both facilitate birthday parties and manage the marketing, booking, and planning requirements associated with each event.” The Friends was pleased when Council added this full-time guest services position during the FY25 mid-year budget review, precisely because it supports one of the study’s top recommendations that This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast the City “add staff capacity to guest services.” Eliminating it now would undermine both the report’s guidance and the City’s prior decision. Why This Position Matters for Revenue While the JMZ’s admission fees and educational programs are robust revenue sources, further growth of these revenue streams is limited by capacity—both in terms of square footage and available time during operating hours. Raising ticket prices even further risks creating barriers for families, especially those from underserved communities. Our recent visitor survey highlights these constraints: only 2% of families surveyed were from East Palo Alto, and 20% of respondents described the JMZ as crowded and congested. In contrast, facility rentals and hosted events—such as birthday parties and corporate gatherings— remain an underdeveloped revenue source with substantial room for growth. With strategic planning and a full-time, dedicated JMZ staff member, the JMZ could significantly expand these offerings, particularly during after-hours and on Mondays when the museum is otherwise closed. This approach would allow the City to fully utilize the JMZ without interfering with programming or staff responsibilities during normal business hours. One after-hours rental can generate over $5,000; hosting just two per month would add more than $100,000 annually. A full-time, onsite staff member dedicated to the JMZ could: Develop, promote, and sustain a dynamic, mission-aligned events program Actively market to families, corporations, and community partners Attract new visitors, engage returning families, and strengthen community relationships through events Strategically grow an events program, tailor it to what families, corporations and other institutions are seeking in private event experiences, and ensure consistency in both execution and follow-up in an events program Ensure seamless coordination with JMZ staff by collaborating with them to understand the JMZ’s full capabilities and ensure that events align with the JMZ’s mission and operational realities Create consistent, high-quality event experiences that foster repeat business Without a fulltime JMZ staff member dedicated to this role, the JMZ will continue to leave money on the table. The elimination of this position will grossly affect the JMZ’s ability to generate new business, connect meaningfully with families and businesses, and sustain the momentum of its public programming. The Bottom Line This position is not a cost burden—it’s an investment in financial sustainability. Eliminating it now is short-sighted and would forfeit the very revenue opportunities the City needs. The Friends of the JMZ strongly urges the Council to retain this position and fully leverage the JMZ’s potential. Sincerely, The Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Board From:Sherry Listgarten To:Council, City Subject:Thank you for approving the water contracts Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 4:16:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear City Council, Thank you for your sensible vote to approve the water contracts, and for being a good partnerto Mountain View and other BAWSCA members. Understanding water demand and supply in drought years will continue to be an important challenge. I hope that Palo Alto will consider moving to a 3-tier or 4-tier rate structure like allof our neighbors to better ensure equitable access and encourage conservation as climate change exacerbates our droughts. Thanks again for your sensible vote on this, Sherry. This message needs your attention This is their first email to you. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Aram James To:Shikada, Ed Subject:Re: Sprinklers need adjustment? Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 3:58:20 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Thu, Aug 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Ed, I hope your summer is going well. I walk most days with one of my sons at Hoover Park. Inthe evenings, to avoid getting soaked, I have to take a detour onto the streets ( Cowper Street side). Not only is water being wasted, but I also see other seniors and people walking on the busystreet to avoid being drenched. I have a few additional observations about the maintenance of the park that I would like to discuss with you at some point. Let me know what you think is the best solution to the immediate issue with the sprinklers. Looking forward to hearing from you. Regard, Aram 415-370-5056 From:Dashiell Leeds To:Council, City Cc:James Eggers; Mike Ferreira; Gita Dev; debbie.mytels@gmail.com; brian@menlospark.org; Dylan Plummer; Hodge, Bruce; hglann@gmail.com Subject:Re: Joint Letter to Palo Alto in Support of AC to Heat Pump Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 2:22:36 PM Attachments:August 12, 2025 Joint Letter to Palo Alto in Support of AC to Heat Pump.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To the office of the Palo Alto City Clerk, Yesterday we sent an outdated version of our joint letter addressed to the Palo Alto City Council. I have attached to this email the correct version of the letter, titled "August 12, 2025Joint Letter to Palo Alto in Support of AC to Heat Pump". Please circulate this updated letter to the Palo Alto City Council, and replace the old letter with this updated letter in the publicrecord. Thanks, Dashiell LeedsConservation Coordinator Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter On Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM Dashiell Leeds <dashiell.leeds@sierraclub.org> wrote: Dear Mayor Lauing and Members of the Palo Alto City Council, The undersigned organizations are writing to voice our strong support for the City of Palo Alto to adopt the 2025 CALGreen standards to encourage that all air conditioning (AC) replacements in single-family homes be upgraded to high efficiency heat pumps in order to reduce climate pollution and lower energy costs. Our communities are already directly experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis, and the time for bold action is now. Please read the attached letter for our full comments. Sincerely, Dashiell Leeds, Conservation Coordinator Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Ben Stapleton, Executive Director USGBC California Lauren Weston, Executive Director Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet Bruce Hodge, Chair Carbon Free Palo Alto Andrea Gara and Hilary Glann, Co-Leaders 350 Silicon Valley, Palo Alto Climate Action Brian Schmidt, Executive Director Menlo Spark Matt Vespa, Senior Attorney Earthjustice Debbie Mytels, Chair Peninsula Interfaith Climate Action Cc: James Eggers, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter August 12, 2025 Dear Mayor Lauing and Members of the Palo Alto City Council, The undersigned organizations are writing to voice our strong support for the City of Palo Alto to adopt the 2025 CALGreen standards to encourage that all air conditioning (AC) replacements in single-family homes be upgraded to high efficiency heat pumps in order to reduce climate pollution and lower energy costs. Our communities are already directly experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis, and the time for bold action is now. The policy, often referred to as an air conditioner to heat pump replacement policy or “AC2HP” code, is in line with Palo Alto’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP) Goals to reduce emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.1 AC2HP policies are compatible with the following S/CAP Key Actions: ● E1. Reduce all or nearly all greenhouse gas emissions in single-family appliances and equipment, including water heating, space heating, cooking, clothes drying, and other appliances that use natural gas, ● E2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in non-residential equipment, including mixed-fuel rooftop packaged HVAC units, cooking equipment, and small nonresidential gas appliances, and ● E7. Use codes and ordinances - such as the energy reach code, green building ordinance, zoning code, or other mandates - to facilitate electrification in both existing buildings and new-construction projects where feasible. Heat pumps reduce emissions, air pollution and energy use AC2HP policies not only incentivize more efficient alternatives to conventional air conditioning units, they also help to offset or completely eliminate the future use and replacement of fossil fuel powered furnaces due to the ability of heat pumps to both heat and cool homes. Additionally, unlike most furnaces on the market that are powered by fossil fuels, e.g. methane gas (so-called “natural” gas), propane, and oil, heat pumps are electrically powered. This means that heat pumps do not burn dirty fuels inside homes to be breathed or released into the atmosphere. 1 City of Palo Alto, “2022 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan,” June 5, 2023 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/sustainability/reports/2022-scap-report_final.pdf https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/housing-megaprojects-stalled-20812460.php?utm_content=cta& sid=665889a32f0cca6f850694c3&ss=A&st_rid=60462aa5-08a1-4a50-ac54-d6f365c6273f&utm_source=n ewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=headlines&utm_campaign=sfc_morningfix For the average US home, installing electric heat pumps in place of a gas furnace and gas water heater would reduce heating greenhouse gas emissions by more than 45 percent during the next 10 years.2 That is the equivalent of cutting a gas-powered car’s carbon pollution by more than half. In Palo Alto, these GHG savings will be even higher because of the City of Palo Alto Utility’s (CPAU) current ability to provide 100% carbon neutral electricity.3 Beyond just greenhouse reductions, heat pumps also eliminate harmful indoor and outdoor NOx pollution as well. Palo Alto’s 2022 Citywide Greenhouse Gas Emission by Sector attributes 35.4% of Citywide emissions to methane gas use in buildings.4 Outdoor air pollution disproportionately impacts low income and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, as non-white racial and ethnic groups are disproportionately exposed to ozone and other criteria pollutants such as NOx, PM2.5, and CO.5 By adopting AC2HP policy, Palo Alto would take meaningful steps to reduce this pollution, and ensure clean air quality. In addition to being all electric, heat pumps are also extremely efficient, generally 3 - 4 times more efficient than conventional heaters and air conditioning units. Therefore, when households switch to heat pumps, they reduce emissions and reduce their monthly energy consumption and energy bills. Highly efficient electric appliances that use less energy will help cut electricity demand, and make sure residents have access to enough power. If Palo Alto is to achieve its ambitious goals to transition from natural gas in existing buildings to carbon-free electricity by 2045,6 the City must move quickly to enact policies to support the widespread adoption of heat pumps in homes and businesses. That’s where this clean heating and cooling policy applies. By adopting locally the California Energy Commission approved air conditioner to heat pump replacement policy, Palo Alto can support its residents to begin the transition to high efficiency heat pumps for clean heating and cooling. AC2HP policies can reduce energy bills and avoid expensive gas furnace replacements Upgrading existing homes with highly-efficient heat pump systems can also reduce families’ energy costs, which is especially important as Palo Alto residents struggle with rising energy prices. While the upfront cost of installing heat pumps is higher than conventional air conditioning, the long-term efficiency savings, along with significant financial incentives in place at the state level and through CPAU, can make 6 City of Palo Alto, “2022 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan,” June 5, 2023 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/sustainability/reports/2022-scap-report_final.pdf 5 Timothy Q. Donaghy et al., “Fossil fuel racism in the United States: How phasing out coal, oil, and gas can protect communities," Energy Research & Social Science 100:103104, June 2023. 4City of Palo Alto, “Citywide Greenhouse Gas Inventory,” 2022 https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/sustainability/reports/cy2022-citywide-ghg-inventory.pdf 3 City of Palo Alto Utilities, “Utilities At A Glance,” 2023 https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/5/utilities/utilities-at-a-glance-fy-2023_final.pdf 2 The Sierra Club, New Analysis: Heat Pumps Slow Climate Change in Every Corner of the Country, April 2020 https://www.sierraclub.org/articles/2020/04/new-analysis-heat-pumps-slow-climate-change-every-corner-country these appliances more cost effective and affordable than the fossil fuel alternatives.7 Furthermore, residents will no longer need to replace a gas furnace, saving them the cost of that replacement. The best time for households to switch to a heat pump is when they need to replace their air conditioner (AC), not their furnace. Air conditioners and heat pumps are similar in price, but heat pumps can also easily replace central AC units without requiring electrical upgrades or other expenses that might come with replacing only a gas furnace. Heat pumps come with the added benefit of providing both heating and cooling, negating the necessity to replace a gas furnace down the line. Critically, an air conditioner to heat pump replacement policy can save households the hassle of potentially costly heat pump replacements for gas furnaces after 2029, when gas furnaces will no longer be sold as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) rule 9-4 on polluting furnaces goes into effect.8 Palo Alto should act quickly to get the reach code approved before October 1st California Assembly Bill 130 has established a moratorium effective on October 1st that could prevent cities from adopting reach codes. AB 130 could therefore render Palo Alto unable to adopt its own residential building electrification standards. Therefore, it is prudent for Palo Alto to accelerate progress on creating and adopting its building code, so that code can be submitted to the Building Standards Commission and approved before the October 1st cutoff. Please move quickly and adopt the AC2HP policy in order to support Palo Alto residents to reduce emissions, air pollution and energy use, and save money. Thank you for your consideration. Dashiell Leeds, Conservation Coordinator Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Ben Stapleton, Executive Director USGBC California Lauren Weston, Executive Director Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet Bruce Hodge, Chair Carbon Free Palo Alto Cc: James Eggers, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Andrea Gara and Hilary Glann, Co-Leaders 350 Silicon Valley, Palo Alto Climate Action Brian Schmidt, Executive Director Menlo Spark Matt Vespa, Senior Attorney Earthjustice Debbie Mytels, Chair Peninsula Interfaith Climate Action 8 Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Regulation 9 Rule 4: Nitrogen Oxides from Natural Gas-Fired Furnaces - 2023 Amendment (Current), https://www.baaqmd.gov/rules-and-compliance/rules/reg-9-rule-4-nitrogen-oxides-from-fan-type-residential-central-fur naces 7 Supra note 1 From:Curtis, Caitlin A. To:Lauing, Ed; Council, City Subject:White Cane Day Request October 9th Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 1:15:49 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Good afternoon, My name is Caitlin Curtis. I am a supervisor at the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) at the VA Palo Alto Medical Center. WBRC is a 32-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility designed to support independence and quality of life for Veteran with visual impairments. I am also the chair of WBRC’s annual White Cane Awareness Day/Blind American Equality event, a national day to recognize the achievements of individuals with visual impairments and to highlight the role of the white cane in advancing self-sufficiency and advocacy for this population. On October 9, 2025, the WBRC and the VISTA Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired are planning a collaborative event in downtown Palo Alto, to include Veterans with visual impairments, WBRC staff, and staff and clients of the VISTA Center. This event will include a short walk, which will start and end at Palo Alto City Hall. At the conclusion of the walk, at approximately 11:30am, we will have a meet and greet to share community resources and some brief remarks from the VISTA Center and WBRC participants. We would be honored if the Palo Alto mayor or another member of the Palo Alto City Council could be available to make a proclamation and/or say a few words to help commemorate this event. Please let us know if this is possible, and if so, what the next steps would be. Respectfully,Caitlin Curtis Visual Skills Supervisor, COMS & CLVT Western Blind Rehabilitation Center, Palo Alto U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office: 650-493-5000 x63127 VA Cell: (650) 788- 6235 This message needs your attention This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Sven Thesen Subject:Bay Area: Sexy Advanced Framing Material Open House Wednesday 13th; 10-noon, Palo Alto {Apologies: OffTopic} Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:47:18 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Friends & Colleagues, You & yours are cordially invited to an "open house" on our ADU tosee a sexy advanced framing technology, this Wednesday the 13th from 10am-noon. 314 Stanford Ave, Palo Alto.For those interested in building, this is an accelerated way of erecting the wooden frame around the house (in this case an ADU). We are using Bamcore.com and there are othersimilar providers. Attached are two photos, one from ~10a this morning & ~3p this afternoon whichillustrate how fast this framing can be built. Our builder, Josh Moore will be present to answer questions, etc. (It also reduces waste, enables more insulation, etc than your standard 2x4 construction... ) Please note this is an active construction site, AKA wear closed toed shoes, power tools will be in operation, the ground will be uneven etc so please-please be careful! Further/way off topic: Camping bonus: We now have room for a couple more families for this weekend's intro/ family backpacking trip to Shealor Lakes - details.. -- Sven Thesen, 415-225-7645 EV Consultant & Co-Founder, EVPlugBox.com, ProjectGreenHome.org andBeniSolSolar.com; Wonder Junkie __________________________________________________How California Is Keeping Electric Vehicles Out Of Reach For Apartment-Dwellers From:Aram James To:Sean Allen Subject:“Slide Towards Fascism”: Khalil Gibran Muhammad on Racist Roots of Trump D.C. Takeover Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 9:28:04 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Sean, Good piece! Check it out! Aram https://www.democracynow.org/2025/8/12/khalil_gibran_muhammad From:Aram James To:Lauing, Ed; Reckdahl, Keith Cc:Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lu, George; gstone22@gmail.com; pat@patburt.org; Shikada, Ed; h.etzko@gmail.com; Donna Wallach; Justin Zalkin; Gennady Sheyner; Emily Mibach; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Brandon Pho; Braden Cartwright; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Jeff Conrad; Liz Kniss; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; Council, City; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; Kaloma Smith; ParkRec Commission; Seher Awan; Pat M; Yusra Hussain; Bill Newell; BoardOperations; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Tom DuBois; Drekmeier, Peter; Holman, Karen (external); Palo Alto Free Press; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; james pitkin; Dana St. George; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; CityCouncil; Michelle Bigelow; Michael Ybarra; Yolanda Conaway; yolanda Subject:Israel Has “Deliberate Strategy” of Killing Palestinian Journalists Like Anas al-Sharif: U.N. Expert Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 8:51:12 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://www.democracynow.org/2025/8/12/irene_khan_gaza_journalist_killings From:Jennifer Gregory To:Council, City Subject:332 Forest Ave Proposal Date:Tuesday, August 12, 2025 6:25:49 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Council Members, I oppose the proposed structure at 332 Forest Ave. A building of that size would dwarf itsneighbors (in one of which, 707 Bryant, I live and own my home), dramatically change the feel of the neighborhood, and significantly diminish the area's charm. In addition, whenoccupied, it could create a strain on local resources. Street parking in the area is already difficult in the area and would likely be made worse by this proposed project. Please consider all the negative impacts of this proposed project. Sincerely, Jennifer Gregory This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Sonia Wong To:Council, City Subject:Re: 332 Forest Ave [25PLN-00130] Feedback Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 10:18:33 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i I just realized this is for rental units not home ownership, but it still appears to me to be forhigh end rentals. Sent from my iPhone On Aug 11, 2025, at 8:29 PM, Sonia Wong <soniasw@yahoo.com> wrote:Palo Alto City Council: I attended yesterday's city council meeting (8/11/25). I was very surprised nobody on the council raised the question on the pricing of the units. Based on the building design and the savvy presentation, I'm quite confident that this is going to be a luxury development likely in the range of $1M-$3M++ per unit, effectively pricing at ~$1M per bedroom. While it provides 20% affordable units, the remaining units will likely be purchased by those who can already afford housing in the Peninsula - be it rental or purchase. In addition, this is likely a $100++ million development; a huge return for the owners. Even a more reasonable project would be a massive return for the owners. I recognize the super eagerness of this city council for this project given it's ability to meet housing targets, but I request that you ask more rigorous questions as this goes forward to ensure it's providing housing for the citizens that you are prioritizing housing for. To be clear, I am supportive of a development on this property, I just had expected better questions from the council last night rather than everyone effectively giving a directional thumbs up and gushing over it. Best, Sonia Wong Owner at 365 Forest Ave & someone who could afford this new development / is a big-tech worker This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Aerin Kim To:Council, City Subject:Concerns About Proposed 8-Story Development at 332 Forest Avenue Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 9:40:45 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto City Planning Team, I hope this message finds you well, and thank you for all the work you do to keep our city thriving and livable. I’m writing as a resident of Forest Street to share my heartfelt concerns about the proposal to rezone the property at 332 Forest Avenue to allow the construction of an 8-story, 82-unitapartment complex directly across the fence from many of our homes. I understand the importance of new housing, but this particular project would bring lasting negative impacts toour neighborhood’s character, safety, and quality of life. Here are some of the specific issues I and many of my neighbors are worried about: 1. Loss of Neighborhood Character & Scale Our block is known for its peaceful, small-scale charm, where neighbors greet eachother, children play on the sidewalks, and the evenings are quiet except for birdsong. An 8-story building would tower over our homes, block sunlight, and fundamentally alterthe welcoming, human-scale environment we chose to live in. 2. Traffic Congestion & Safety HazardsAn additional 82 units—plus visitors, service vehicles, and deliveries—could add well over 100 more cars daily. This will make it more dangerous for children biking toAddison Elementary or seniors walking to nearby parks. 3. Severe Parking ShortageParking is already scarce. Today, guests often have to park many blocks away. This development would overwhelm available parking, pushing overflow onto surroundingstreets and making it difficult for current residents and their visitors to find a spot. 4. Noise & Privacy LossThe construction phase will bring months of heavy noise, dust, and disruption. Once occupied, the building’s height and density will mean constant noise from traffic,HVAC systems, and residents’ activities—directly overlooking our backyards and bedroom windows. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast 5. Sunlight & Green Space Impact The proposed height will cast long shadows, blocking morning light for east-facinghomes and afternoon light for gardens and yards. 6. Strain on Schools & InfrastructureAddison Elementary and Palo Alto High are already near capacity. Adding dozens of new families could increase class sizes and strain resources. Our aging water, sewage,and electrical systems may also be pushed beyond their limits, leading to costly upgrades or outages. 7. Precedent for Overdevelopment Approving such a out-of-scale project in a low-rise neighborhood sets a dangerousprecedent, inviting more oversized developments that would erode the unique character of Palo Alto’s residential areas. 8. Shared Community Concern This is not just my opinion. The letter circulated by our neighbors at 707 Bryant reflectsa broad and genuine anxiety that this project will permanently harm the peaceful, livable quality of our community. I respectfully ask that you consider these points and work toward a solution that meets housing needs without sacrificing the character, safety, and livability of our neighborhood. A smaller-scale building, more green space, and reduced height could provide housing while preserving what makes this area special. Thank you for listening to the voices of the residents who love this city. I appreciate your service and thoughtful consideration. Warm regards, Aerin Kim From:Varsha Ramakrishnan To:Council, City Subject:New Parking Regulation Causes Massive Inconvenience Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 9:24:53 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. i Dear City Council of Palo Alto, I’m writing to request that the previous law stating that “On a 12 feet wide bike and parking lane, parking isallowed at all times,” should be reinstated. This law seems to have been modified extremely recently and is causing a massive inconvenience for theresidents of Driscoll Place. There are not enough parking spaces for all of us, let alone visitors to our home.In the case that a visitor arrives, or that a resident wishes to park an extra car temporarily, they have alwaysparked outside the street, on the wide bike lane on El Camino Real— but this is no longer possible with thenew rule. There is a simple solution. Please reinstate the abovementioned rule so that we can park freely whileallowing bikers to still use the lane. This solution would benefit all involved parties. Here is an archived version of the city council website demonstrating the previous existence of the rule:https://web.archive.org/web/20250726002747/https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/Transportation/Parking Best,Varsha Ramakrishnan This message needs your attention This is a personal email address.This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Sonia Wong To:Council, City Subject:332 Forest Ave [25PLN-00130] Feedback Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 8:29:41 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Palo Alto City Council: I attended yesterday's city council meeting (8/11/25). I was very surprised nobody on the council raisedthe question on the pricing of the units. Based on the building design and the savvy presentation, I'mquite confident that this is going to be a luxury development likely in the range of $1M-$3M++ per unit,effectively pricing at ~$1M per bedroom. While it provides 20% affordable units, the remaining units will likely be purchased by those who canalready afford housing in the Peninsula - be it rental or purchase. In addition, this is likely a $100++million development; a huge return for the owners. Even a more reasonable project would be a massivereturn for the owners. I recognize the super eagerness of this city council for this project given it's ability to meet housingtargets, but I request that you ask more rigorous questions as this goes forward to ensure it's providinghousing for the citizens that you are prioritizing housing for. To be clear, I am supportive of a development on this property, I just had expected better questions fromthe council last night rather than everyone effectively giving a directional thumbs up and gushing over it. Best,Sonia WongOwner at 365 Forest Ave & someone who could afford this new development / is a big-tech worker This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast From:Deborah GoldeenTo:Council, CitySubject:Look at that!Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 8:23:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. The barricades ARE gone. From:Dashiell Leeds To:Council, City Cc:James Eggers; Mike Ferreira; Gita Dev; debbie.mytels@gmail.com; brian@menlospark.org; Dylan Plummer; Hodge, Bruce; hglann@gmail.com Subject:Joint Letter to Palo Alto in Support of AC to Heat Pump Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 6:16:11 PM Attachments:Joint Letter to Palo Alto Supporting AC to Heat Pump.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Mayor Lauing and Members of the Palo Alto City Council, The undersigned organizations are writing to voice our strong support for the City of Palo Alto to adopt the 2025 CALGreen standards to encourage that all air conditioning (AC) replacements in single-family homes be upgraded to high efficiency heat pumps in order to reduce climate pollution and lower energy costs. Our communities are already directly experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis, and the time for bold action is now. Please read the attached letter for our full comments. Sincerely, Dashiell Leeds, Conservation Coordinator Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Ben Stapleton, Executive Director USGBC California Lauren Weston, Executive Director Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet Bruce Hodge, Chair Carbon Free Palo Alto Andrea Gara and Hilary Glann, Co-Leaders 350 Silicon Valley, Palo Alto Climate Action Brian Schmidt, Executive Director Menlo Spark Matt Vespa, Senior Attorney Earthjustice Debbie Mytels, Chair Peninsula Interfaith Climate Action Cc: James Eggers, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter From:Rob Levitsky To:Council, City Subject:oak cut down at 332 Forest Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 5:54:20 PM Attachments:image0.png image1.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. this healthy oak tree at 332 Forest was cut down without permit or notice in 2021. Urban Forestry was notified, but did notfollow through. Sent from my iPhone From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims Cc:Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Human Relations Commission Subject:Re: Just fyi Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 5:01:44 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 4:36 PM ladoris cordell <ladoris@judgecordell.com> wrote: What Happened When Mark Zuckerberg Moved In Next Door nytimes.com LaDoris Hazzard Cordell LaDoris@judgecordell.com twitter.com/judgecordell From:Utsav Gupta To:Council, City Cc:Clerk, City Subject:Re: Public Comment: Information needed from BAWSCA and SFPUC for sound planning Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 4:48:02 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Written Public Statement for the Palo Alto City Council Submitted by Utsav Gupta, Utilities Advisory Commissioner (personal capacity) August 11, 2025 Subject: Water Agreement Amendments Thank you for the opportunity to place the following on the public record. These remarks build on my earlier requests that BAWSCA and the SFPUC release critical water‑supplyplanning data. The agreement amendments on today’s agenda deal directly with alternative water‑supply planning, so having that information is essential. During the June UAC meeting, because essential analysis was missing, I requested aone‑month continuance so commissioners could secure answers before offering any recommendation. The extra month would not have delayed approval of this agreement:staff had slated Finance Committee review for August (so UAC could have reviewed the issue again in July), Council review for September, and the overall agreement still faces aDecember 2025 deadline. Instead, the Chair introduced a substitute motion that forced an immediate up‑or‑down vote; it failed on a 3‑3 tie, leaving the Council without the UAC’s advice. Today, therefore, the agreement has arrived on your agenda withouthaving been vetted by either the UAC or the Finance Committee — exactly the situation we sought to avoid while safeguarding ratepayer interests and evaluating fundamentalchanges to our regional water‑purchase framework with the SFPUC. 1. The amendments are explicitly tied to large “alternative water” investments These amendments are designed to support alternative water supply investments,which may not be needed, as SFPUC has not provided adequate or accurate droughtplanning forecasts — despite requests from Palo Alto made months ago. The staff report states that the Regional Water System “remains vulnerable to severedroughts, prompting the SFPUC to invest in alternative water supplies” and that theamendments “may reduce a perceived existing disincentive to improve efficiency anddevelop alternative supplies.” Recital II of the amendments notes that the SFPUC has budgeted $298.3 million over the next ten years for water‑supply projects. Multiple recitals highlight variousalternative water supply projects undertaken by our regional partners that theseamendments are designed to support: Alameda County Water District’s plan to spend more than $300 million on brackish‑groundwater desalination and groundwater banking. Mountain View’s pursuit of an advanced water‑purification system and expanded recycled‑water distribution. Sunnyvale’s planned expansion of its recycled‑water network, including a2.5‑million‑gallon storage tank. Palo Alto’s own recent history underscores the risk of acting without adequate data. The City invested more than $500,000 in a One Water study that assumed a fifty‑percent SFPUC cutback scenario — an assumption the UAC found unsupported during its March meeting. The Commission unanimously declined to recommend that plan and explainedwhy in detail to the Council, which will appear before Council in a future meeting. Without a credible drought‑planning forecast from the SFPUC — information the UACand Council have already requested — we cannot determine whether the proposed investments are necessary or prudent. 2. Key financial questions remain unanswered Rate impacts. Staff could not provide a forward‑looking analysis of long‑termcosts to Palo Alto residents. When pressed, staff cited only a broad cost range, which does not reflect a sensitivity analysis of what costs may look like if alternative water projects from our regional partners are pursued and completed,reducing water purchases from the SFPUC. BAWSCA’s CEO confirmed during the UAC meeting that costs for every participant depend on “the whim of the othertwenty‑one agencies” because the Regional Water System is largely fixed‑cost. Data gap. To date, we do not have the basic technical inputs — such as an updated design‑drought model or system‑wide demand scenarios — that wouldlet all member agencies rigorously assess water‑supply risk. This omission is concerning given Palo Alto’s track record of water‑rate increases well above inflation, a trend expected to continue. Risk of a cost spiral. If other agencies build their own supplies and reduce SFPUCpurchases, Palo Alto must shoulder a larger share of fixed system costs while those agencies spend heavily on projects that may not be needed. Allocation of the $298.3 million in SFPUC spending. Neither BAWSCA nor City staff could explain how the money is allocated or what share Palo Alto would pay. 3. San Diego’s experience shows how these risks play out in real life After a near‑crisis in the early 1990s, the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) and its member agencies built a portfolio of local and imported “alternative watersupply” projects, including the Carlsbad seawater‑desalination plant and long‑term transfers from the Imperial Irrigation District. Those projects created large fixed costs.When conservation and wet winters cut demand, sales fell to about 75 % of 2021 levels, leaving the agency with more than $2 billion in debt and a negative credit‑rating outlook from S&P Global Ratings. In June 2024 staff sought an 18 % wholesale‑rate hike; after a very public battle led by the Mayor of San Diego, the board approved a still‑steep 14 % increase that does not fully close the revenue gap.[1] San Diego’s situation illustrates two lessons that apply directly to the Bay Area: 1. Fixed‑cost systems are vulnerable when demand falls. Local alternativesupplies reduce purchases from the regional wholesaler, pushing up unit costs for everyone who remains. 2. Large debts and “take‑or‑pay” contracts limit flexibility. Once committed,ratepayers are locked in even if outlooks improve or cheaper options emerge. Palo Alto and our region should avoid repeating this pattern by insisting on sound demand forecasts and full cost modeling before endorsing new supply commitments. 4. Ongoing efforts Commissioners who supported additional review have since worked with BAWSCA tosecure the missing information. BAWSCA has now sent a letter to SFPUC requesting thedrought‑design data. SFPUC has promised some additional information, though it isunclear what they have promised to provide. We will keep pushing for the analysisrequired to make sound decisions for Palo Alto and the region. Requested Council actions 1. Return the item to the UAC once the SFPUC drought forecast and a comprehensive rate‑impact study are available. 2. Direct staff to prepare a clear, forward‑looking financial model showing how costallocations would change for Palo Alto under different purchase‑volume scenarios. 3. Incorporate lessons from San Diego by requiring that any agreement include safeguards against cost shifting when member agencies reduce SFPUC purchases. 4. Ensure transparent public review of any future “alternative water” commitmentsso the Council can evaluate both necessity and affordability before approving them. Palo Alto must take the lead to ensure transparent, data‑driven regional planning. Thank you for your attention to these concerns and for your commitment to fiscally responsiblegovernance. I am available to answer any questions. Respectfully submitted, Utsav GuptaUtilities Advisory Commissioner (speaking in personal capacity) [1] https://voiceofsandiego.org/2024/06/26/san-diegos-water-prices-face-doomsday- increase/;https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2024/07/25/wholesale-water-rates-to-rise-but-less-sharply- after-water-authority-board-vote/ On Jun 16, 2025, at 3:52 PM, Utsav Gupta <utsav@filarion.com> wrote: Palo Alto City Council Comments: BAWSCA AND SFPUC June 16, 2025 Utsav Gupta & Chris Tucher Subject: Information needed from BAWSCA and SFPUC forsound planning To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the Palo Alto City Council, While we currently serve as commissioners on the Palo Alto Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC), the views expressed here are our personal commentsand do not reflect the position or opinions of the Commission. We are writing to express a significant concern regarding access to data that is essential forsound regional water supply planning and for upholding the financial interests of the Palo Alto ratepayers we represent. On March 5, 2025, the UAC submitted a formal request to the Bay AreaWater Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) for fundamental planning data. This request was appropriately channeled through our city’sdesignated BAWSCA representative, Council member Greer Stone, and included the following essential questions: 1. What is the return period of the design drought and the calculations behind it? Please also provide sensitivity analyses evaluating the impacts of twoless severe design droughts on the return period, the water supply deficit, and associated financial impacts (costs). The first alternative design droughtwould simply remove the final year from the current design drought. The second would replace the 1976-1977 drought in the current design droughtwith the average water supply deficit during the 1987-1992 drought. 2. What is the impact of using lower demand projections (including theSFPUC's Finance Bureau assumptions and projections informed by BAWSCA’s 2022 demand study low scenario) on the potential watersupply deficit? How would these lower demand projections influence the SFPUC’s Alternative Water Supply Plan and associated revenuerequirements and cost/acre foot to wholesale customers? 3. How would the combination of the two less conservative design droughtsand lower demand projections influence potential water rationing and the need to pursue alternative water supplies?4. Using current demand and the three droughts presented in the Long-Term Vulnerability Assessment, what would the low point of the SFPUC’s totalsystem storage have been had the Bay Delta Plan been in affect at the time of those droughts? On May 12, 2025, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)declined this request, stating, "Though we appreciate your questions, the SFPUC cannot effectively undertake water supply planning through responseto individual wholesale customers, elected or appointed officials." We believe this response misinterprets the nature of our inquiry. A requestfrom a designated BAWSCA representative is the established channel for regional collaboration, not an "individual" query. This refusal has placedseveral UAC Commissioners in a position where they cannot support the proposed amendments to the Water Supply Agreement, as a vote in favorwould be inconsistent with our duties without the data to substantiate it. The recent discussion at our June meeting resulted in a split 3-3 vote. The consequences of this information gap are tangible for our city. Palo Altohas already invested over $500,000 in its local One Water plan—an initiative based on a 50% cutback scenario that the SFPUC has advanced but seemshighly unlikely and must be validated. The UAC chose not to accept this plan given this deficiency, resulting in a waste of ratepayer funds. This issue extends beyond Palo Alto, previewing a challenge for all BAWSCAmember agencies. We all rely on the same SFPUC data to guide our multi- million-dollar water supply investments. If these foundational assumptionsare flawed, every agency risks wasting significant ratepayer money. Before our communities collectively invest potentially billions of dollars in newinfrastructure, it is imperative that we have access to the data that justifies such a massive expense. Accurate and transparent forecasts are thebedrock of sound public investment and are essential to fulfilling our responsibility to our constituents, who deserve assurance that rising waterrates are based on robust and verifiable information. Therefore, we request that the Palo Alto City Council take a leading role in pressing BAWSCA to secure this necessary data from the SFPUC. By usingour city’s influence, we can help ensure that our shared path to a secure and affordable water future for the entire region is built on a foundation oftransparency and accountability. This collaborative effort is in the best interest of all member agencies and the Palo Alto ratepayers we serve. Thank you for your service to our community. Respectfully Submitted, Utsav Gupta, Palo Alto UAC Commissioner (speaking in personal capacity) Chris Tucher, Palo Alto UAC Commissioner (speaking in personal capacity) <2025-06-16_Palo Alto City Council Comments re BAWCA and SFPUC.pdf> From:James Lloyd To:Council, City; Burt, Patrick; Lauing, Ed; Lu, George; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Stone, Greer;Veenker, Vicki Cc:Clerk, City; City Attorney; City Mgr; PlannerOnDuty; Kallas, Emily Subject:public comment re item 13, 3150 El Camino Real, for tonight"s Council meeting Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 4:08:34 PM Attachments:Palo Alto - 3150 El Camino Real - HAA Letter - CC.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Dear Palo Alto City Council, The California Housing Defense Fund (“CalHDF”) submits the attached public comment regarding item 13 for tonight's Council meeting, the proposed 368-unit housing development project at 3150 El Camino Real, which includes 74 units affordable to low-income households. Sincerely, James M. LloydDirector of Planning and Investigations California Housing Defense Fundjames@calhdf.org CalHDF is grant & donation funded Donate today - https://calhdf.org/donate/ Aug 11, 2025 City of Palo Alto 250 Hamilton Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94301 Re: Proposed Housing Development Project at 3150 El Camino Real By email: city.council@cityofpaloalto.org; Pat.Burt@CityofPaloAlto.org; Ed.Lauing@CityofPaloAlto.org; George.Lu@CityofPaloAlto.org; Julie.LythcottHaims@CityofPaloAlto.org; Keith.Reckdahl@CityofPaloAlto.org; Greer.Stone@CityofPaloAlto.org; Vicki.Veenker@CityofPaloAlto.org Cc: city.clerk@CityofPaloAlto.org; city.attorney@cityofpaloalto.org; CityMgr@cityofpaloalto.org; Planner@CityofPaloAlto.org; Emily.Kallas@CityofPaloAlto.org Dear Palo Alto City Council, The California Housing Defense Fund (“CalHDF”) submits this letter to remind the City of its obligation to abide by the Housing Accountability Act (“HAA”) and California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Guidelines when evaluating the proposed 368-unit housing development project at 3150 El Camino Real, which includes 74 units affordable to low-income households. The HAA provides the project legal protections. It requires approval of zoning and general plan compliant housing development projects unless findings can be made regarding specific, objective, written health and safety hazards. (Gov. Code, § 65589.5, subds. (d), (j).) The HAA also bars cities from imposing conditions on the approval of such projects that would render the project infeasible (id. at subd. (d)) or reduce the project’s density (id. at subd. (j)) unless, again, such written findings are made. As a development with at least two-thirds of its area devoted to residential uses, the project falls within the HAA’s ambit, and it complies with local zoning code (with the Special Development Permit) and the City’s general plan. The HAA’s protections therefore apply, and the City may not reject the project except based on health and safety standards, as outlined above. Furthermore, if the City rejects the project or impairs its feasibility, it must conduct “a thorough analysis of the economic, social, and environmental effects of the action.” (Id. at subd. (b).) 2201 Broadway, PH1, Oakland, CA 94612 www.calhdf.org Furthermore, the project is eligible for a statutory exemption from CEQA review pursuant to section 15183 of the CEQA guidelines and may also be eligible for the newly enacted CEQA exemption under AB 130 (Pub. Res. Code, § 21080.66), which was signed into law on June 30, 2025 and was effective immediately (Assembly Bill No. 130, 2025-2026 Regular Session, Sec. 74, available here). Caselaw from the California Court of Appeal affirms that local governments err, and may be sued, when they improperly refuse to grant a project a CEQA exemption or streamlined CEQA review to which it is entitled. (Hilltop Group, Inc. v. County of San Diego (2024) 99 Cal.App.5th 890, 911.) As you are well aware, California remains in the throes of a statewide crisis-level housing shortage. New housing such as this is a public benefit: it will provide badly-needed affordable housing; it will bring new customers to local businesses; it will increase the city’s tax revenue; and it will reduce displacement of existing residents by reducing competition for existing housing. It will also help cut down on transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by providing housing in denser, more urban areas, as opposed to farther-flung regions in the state (and out of state). While no one project will solve the statewide housing crisis, the proposed development is a step in the right direction. CalHDF urges the City to approve it, consistent with its obligations under state law. CalHDF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission includes advocating for increased access to housing for Californians at all income levels, including low-income households. You may learn more about CalHDF at www.calhdf.org. Sincerely, Dylan Casey CalHDF Executive Director James M. Lloyd CalHDF Director of Planning and Investigations 2 of 2 From:Aram James To:Gennady Sheyner; editor@paweekly.com Subject:CJA ALA response to County Counsel Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 3:40:50 PM Attachments:CJA ALA response to County Counsel.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. FYI: Re: Taser Pilot Project In Santa Clara County Jails C/o ALA 991 West Hedding Street, Suite 202 San Jose, CA 95126 (408) 287-9710 rkonda@asianlawalliance.org abjpd1@gmail.com CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST August 11, 2025 Office of the County Counsel Melissa Kiniyalocts 70 West Hedding Street San Jose, CA 95110 Dear Ms. Kiniyalocts: Thank you for the information you have provided to us regarding our May 30, 2025 Public Records Request that included: 1. The seven pages from the Santa Clara County Custody Health Services, 2. Approximately thirty pages from the Sheriff’s use of force manual and 3. Approximately eighty-six pages of the Taser 10 purchase contract between Axon and the County of Santa Clara. *Total pages provided total 123. CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST Part Two We previously requested Body worn camera and Taser digital footage. We are now making a new and separate request for that footage based upon our subsequent legal research. In your June 10, 2025 response, you cited Castañares v. Superior Court (2023) 98 Cal. App. 5th 295. This case involved a request from a journalist for digital footage from a “drone” pilot project. Our reading of the case suggests that the Castañares case mandates the release of the body worn camera footage and Taser digital footage from the Taser Pilot Project. As you are aware, pursuant to Gov’t Code section 7922.600(a). This code section requires government agencies to proactively assist members of the public and others in locating the appropriate records and to provide suggestions for overcoming any practical basis for denying access to the records or the information sought. We are hereby requesting that we receive all of the assistance legally required by Gov’t Code section 7922.600 (a). (emphasis added) We are asking for your assistance pursuant to Gov’t Code 7922.600 (a) to include all of the other items your initial public records request declined to provide us. We are also requesting in order to carry out the mandate of Gov’t Code 7922.600 (a) that, you agree to meet and confer with us in a zoom or in person meeting at your earliest convenience. Public policy considerations As you may know, in a statement by the Sheriff on September 2024, he stated, "The pilot program is designed to actively involve the community, building trust and providing reassurance that appropriate protections and oversight are in place. We aim to foster confidence in using CEDS in Santa Clara County through transparent operations and continuous feedback. Collaboration with OCLEM, Federal use monitors, and established review processes will ensure rigorous oversight and community involvement. All CED deployments will be evaluated monthly throughout the pilot program...” (emphasis added) Additional case law and code sections to consider 1. The CPRA is construed broadly in favor of disclosure with exemptions to be narrowly construed. In addition, agencies bear the burden to justify withholding records under the CPRA. See CBS v. Block 42 Cal. 3rd 646, (1968). 2. Despite the existence of an exception, an agency may generally disclose records unless disclosure is prohibited by law. Gov’t Code section 9721.505. 3. Also, if an agency has intentionally disclosed the information sought it may have waived the right to claim an exemption. Gov’t Code section 9721.505 (b). 4. From the vantage point of the harried public servant, exposure to public scrutiny and criticism may hamper and upset the day-to-day operation of the government agency. Thus, the bureaucrat is often sorely tempted to preclude public disclosure by invoking the privilege of confidentiality . . . “ NY Times Company v. Superior Court Santa Barbara County 52 Cal. App 4th 97, (1997) Richard Konda Aram James CJA From:Ariana To:Council, City Subject:Hearing today: 332 Forest Ave Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 3:07:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hi City Council, I am writing to you as a concerned resident of 332 Forest Avenue and constituent in Palo Alto.I have occupied housing at this residence for 3 years now and worked as an educator in low- income areas for 2 of those years. A core tenet of community-based projects like Teach ForAmerica, where I taught, was assessing community needs. For example, many organizations can assume low-income residents need XX, but prior to diagnosis, holding space for thecommunity to voice their priorities often reveals a much more nuanced and complex reality. The community members who live at 332 Forest Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, were notified of the project proposal by a poster being propped up in the corner of the front yard. You canimagine the feelings that can be conjured if you've just renewed your lease, built a home and a life in your apartment, only to find out publicly that they are aiming to tear down yourbuilding. This method of communication was crass and careless. Continuing on with the lived experience of the residents this project is supposedly hoping to improve, you might scan the QR code to find out the project is described as aiming to"develop this vacant parcel." With families, children, and community members working tirelessly to afford their increased rent this year, I am shocked to find out that what we callhome can be reduced to a "century-old apartment" that is "vacant." I wondered and wondered if residents would ever be contacted to solicit our opinions or ameliorate our concerns aboutbeing displaced, but there was no communication of this sort. In fact, residents were only directly addressed, en masse, when notified of this hearing on Thursday, August 7th, via apaper posted with scotch tape on the front door of the main building. In conclusion, I contend that this project has taken little care to: 1. Assess the community's needs, instead merely assuming them in pursuit of a larger profit narrative;2. Communicate in a thoughtful manner about the displacement of its current residents. I question their sincere pitch to improve and expand housing for residents in our unit when This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast there has been zero effort to concern themselves with their current residents. If my testimony is read aloud or cited in the hearing today, I ask that you maintain myprivacy and complete anonymity, as I seek to avoid retaliation from the agency thataffords me housing. Best,— "Tenant from 332 Forest Ave." From:Ignacio de Mingo To:Council, City Cc:Switzer, Steven Subject:Opposition to Proposed 332–350 Forest Avenue Development Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 2:39:28 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Re: Opposition to Proposed 332–350 Forest Avenue Development Dear Mayor, Councilmembers, and Planning Staff: I write as a resident in downtown Palo Alto with my wife and three young children to formally oppose the proposed development at 332–350 Forest Avenue. While I support thoughtful growth that aligns with our city’s values, this project as currently proposed is incompatible with our zoning standards, neighborhood character, and the long-term health of our community. Please find below a summary of the reasons: Contradiction of City General Plan Goals – The project’s size and location conflict with General Plan objectives to protect neighborhood character and focus higher-density development near major transit corridors. Bypassing CEQA Review – Labeling the project “Not a Project” under CEQA denies the public and decision-makers a thorough review of environmental, traffic, and livability impacts, reducing transparency and accountability Zoning Standards Bypassed – The project seeks exemptions from existing RM-40 zoning standards on height, density, and daylight planes, unlike other recent downtown projects that have complied. Violation of “Transition Zones” Principle – Good urban planning calls for gradual changes in building height; placing an eight-story structure next to small-scale residences is an abrupt and disruptive shift. Adjacent Property Impacts Not Properly Analyzed – The project directly adjoins 315 Homer and 707 Bryant, yet setback and daylight plane analyses for these buildings have not been conducted. Excessive Height and Massing – At approximately 85 feet and 82 units, the proposed building is dramatically larger than surrounding two- and three-story structures, creating an This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast overwhelming “wall effect” and clashing with the neighborhood’s low-rise scale. Loss of Light, Privacy, and Views – The building will significantly reduce sunlight, obstruct views, and intrude on privacy for adjacent residences, particularly at the Weatherly and 707 Bryant buildings. Shadow and Wind Effects – Increased building height will cause extended shadows and potentially intensify wind patterns, reducing comfort and usability of nearby outdoor spaces. Unbalanced Housing Growth – Expanding a site from 8 units to 82 units (more than a 10× increase) concentrates too much density in a single parcel, creating disproportionate negative impacts. Precedent for Future High-Rises – Approval would set a precedent for similarly large developments in other low-rise areas, undermining long-standing height and density protections citywide. Traffic and Parking Impacts – The development will generate substantial new vehicle trips, increasing congestion in an already busy downtown core and creating competition for limited street parking. Overflow Parking Risk – The proposed parking supply assumes unusually low vehicle ownership despite inadequate public transit options, likely leading to spillover parking in nearby residential streets. Lack of Affordable Housing Commitments – The project has not provided clear, enforceable commitments regarding the number and type of affordable units, raising concerns about producing luxury units with low occupancy. Mismatch with Neighborhood Character – The scale, density, and modern design are inconsistent with the historic and architectural character of downtown Palo Alto. Emotional and Cultural Impact – Long-time residents stress that the neighborhood’s charm, walkability, and sense of community are key to its identity, and this proposal undermines those values. For these reasons, I respectfully urge the City to reject the current proposal in its entirety and instead require a project that complies with existing zoning, respects neighborhood scale, and provides clear, enforceable community benefits. Thank you for your consideration of these concerns. Respectfully submitted, Ignacio de Mingo 10+ yrs Downtown Resident From:Henry Etzkowitz To:h.etzko@gmail.com Cc:Moacir de Miranda Oliveira Júnior; Aram James; Rabii Outamha; Jeanne Fleming; Hannah Lu; Roberta Ahlquist; Rebecca Eisenberg; Laleh Raeisy; Brian Good; Roseline Rasolovoahangy; Ellen Fox; Avroh Shah; Christiane Gebhardt; Marty Wasserman; Winter Dellenbach; Joe Penko; Christopher M Kwong; Devrim Göktepe Hultén; Jim Hersh; Josep Miquel Piqué Huerta; mickie winkler; Lotus Fong; Bette Kiernan; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; annika steiber; Charlie Weidanz; Mark Granovetter; Mariza Almeida; Guilherme Ary Plonski; Gizem Sivri; Palo Post; Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Helen Lawton Lawton-Smith; Stephen Adams; Bette Kiernan; Michelle Baker; Willie Pearson; Grace Alele-williams; Sarfraz Mian; Carol Kiparsky; Richard Horning; Riccardo Viale; Carol Kemelgor; Dorien Detombe; Online Palo Alto; Sergio Gustavo Silveira da Costa; Ekaterina Albats; Lana Sabelfeld; Anna Uvarova; David Charles; Lewis james Subject:Re: Why aram would eliminate Israel Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 2:35:32 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.Hi Avram All too much time; although ever hopeful that positive elements in Israeli society, from retiredMossad to kibbutzniks will retire the Netenyahu Knesset coalition. Yours,In the Buber spirit Sent from my iPhone On Aug 11, 2025, at 9:23 AM, Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote:Ps ironically, there is an outward migration for family and other reasons includingthe pressure of living in an “anxiety society,” evidenced by reservists guilt andsuicide. Of course, the ultimate cause is the cycle of violence that can only becured by negotiation and an eventual peace, realizing the prayer. Once obstaclesare overcome, there is much for Palestinians and Israelis, two innovation adeptpeoples, to collaborate on. The Clinton draft treaty read like an innovationagenda, attempting to attract engineer Arafat while the Eisenhower eraLowdermilk plan attempted to build mutual confidence by focusing on projects toenhance limited water resources From our side, the International Triple Helix Innovation, Entrepreneurship andSustainability community, the dream has long been a jointly led conference,leading to joint projects. I call upon the Association’s leadership to convenerelevant persons, starting with Dr Morrer from the Palestinian AuthorityInnovation Initiative and Professor Plonski, USP Brazil and Technion BoardMember to initiate an organizing committee and start planning for an iconicevent BestHenryFounding President Triple Helix Association and President Triple Helix Institute 644 Menlo Avenue Menlo Park CA 94205 Www.triple helix.net Sent from my iPhone On Aug 11, 2025, at 2:43 AM, Henry Etzkowitz <h.etzko@gmail.com> wrote:Shalom Aram, Re your hypothetical migration thesis, you will recall inviting me toyour home where,at your initiative , we drafted a graphic design ofthe prayer for Peace between Israel and Palestine that I had mootedat Congregation Etz Chayim Shabbos service that concluded, “Maythe two sister states live in peace. “ Aleikun SalaamHenry aka Hillel “Cease Fire Now” Palo Alto City Council Candidate, 2024Neighbors for Environmental and Social Justice Www.triple helix.net From:Sheil Tamboli To:Council, City; Switzer, Steven Subject:Palo Alto Council Meeting - 332 Forest Avenue Project Date:Monday, August 11, 2025 2:01:48 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear Palo Alto Council Members - I am writing to express grave concerns about the 332 Forest Avenue proposed project. I have lived inthe Palo Alto downtown area for over a decade and currently live on the same block as 332 ForestAvenue. We strongly urge you to deny the PHZ prescreen request for the following reasons: Does not meet current zoning standards that are in place around density, height and daylightplanes and biking parking. These standards are in place to preserve and protect the neighborhood andshould be maintained. Negative impact on residents. Residents in the community will be negatively impacted with a lossof light, views and privacy. There will be an increase in noise and air pollution for residents, many ofthem who have been living here for a while and are invested long-term in Palo Alto. As resident, I feel the attractiveness of living downtown goes down with this proposal long-term. Increases downtown congestion. This project will increase traffic directly in the downtown area,hurting the quaint but lively ambience unique to Palo Alto. Also, with lower vehicle ownershipassumptions leading to less onsite parking, parking will likely overflow onto the streets. The impacton the local businesses is not clear as while there may be more renters in the area, limited parkingand congestion can be a reason for non-locals to stop coming to our downtown for dining andshopping. Pressure on broader community / services. The downtown area has great public services like theschool, parks, library, etc. and the excess demand can negatively impact the experience and value ofthese services. Additionally, it will increase demand for water, sewer, and emergency response; thisincrease demand will need to be considered and supported by the government/community. Withoutbringing more support to these services, there is potential of deterioration of Palo Alto’s downtowncommunity again reducing the attractiveness to live here. Mismatch to iconic neighborhood. While the proposal highlights a couple of older buildings in thearea being tall, it doesn’t recognize that the vast majority are significantly lower. I believe any futurebuilding in this area should align to the majority of buildings in the area, not the very few This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast exceptions. A large modern-looking building is not a match to our surroundings, impacting the lookand feel that helps make Palo Alto downtown special. Precedent for tall high rises across Downtown Palo Alto. This decision will set a precedent for future development of high rises in the downtown area. With the downtown area being acornerstone of Palo Alto, increased high-rises I feel could change our image from a beautiful,quintessential town to a busy center with tall residential high-rises. This project is asking to convert a 8-unit building into an 80 plus unit building. This is more than a10x increase in one plot of land! It is the size of this project that concerns me. While it addshousing for Palo Alto, I feel it is too much for one location so central in Palo Alto (and likely alreadythe densest). I feel the impact is huge and negative to the residents, community and visitors significantly outweigh any benefits. This is the neighborhood I first lived with my husband, where we bought our first place, and nowwhere we are raising our three young children here. I love living in this neighborhood and feel this project takes away from what makes it so special. We urge you to think deeply about the impact ofthis large proposal and do what is right for the residents and community. Sincerely a concerned resident, Sheil Tamboli Classification: Schwab Internal Classification: Schwab Internal