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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-08 Human Relations Commission Agenda Packet HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, May 08, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 6:00 PM AMENDED AGENDA Amended agenda items appear below in red Human Relations Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participate from home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending in person. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamed to Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org. Commissioner names, biographies, and archived agendas and reports are available at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/City-Hall/Boards-Commissions/Human- Relations-Commission. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/91994548701) Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone: 1(669)900-6833 PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to HRC@paloalto.gov and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject line. PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to HRC@paloalto.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted. Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS The Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of March 13, 2025 Human Relations Commission Draft Action Minutes. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Early Childhood Education (ECE) Learning Session: Hearing from ECE providers and professionals on the current childcare landscape locally and regionally. – Adhoc Subcommittee Barr, Causey, and Stimmler – Discussion – 60 minutes 2. Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant Funding Allocations and Review of the Draft Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Action Plan and 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan.- Staff – Action – 40 minutes Staff Report and Attachments A and B were corrected and posted on 5/5/25 3. Staff update on the public art program King Artist Residency and invitation to collaborate on an opening event on King Plaza. – Staff – Discussion – 15 minutes 4. Review of the 2024-2025 Human Relations Commission workplan and subcommittees. – Stimmler – Discussion – 15 minutes CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) Commissioner Reports Council Liaison Report Staff Liaison Report COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT PUBLIC DOCUMENTS Public Letters PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. Written public comments may be submitted by email to hrc@paloalto.gov Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom-based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in- browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID below. Please follow the instructions B-E above. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone:1-669-900-6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329-2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@paloalto.gov. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. (ADA) of 1990, may contact 650-329-2550 (voice), or e-mail ada@cityofpaloalto.org . This agenda is posted in accordance with government code section 54954.2(a) or section 54956. Members of the public are welcome to attend this public meeting. DRAFT HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ACTION MINUTES Thursday, March 13, 2025 6:00 PM Commissioners Present: Barr, Causey, Eberle, Kraus, Smith, Stimmler Absent: Hsieh Council Liaison: Council Member Stone Staff: Minka Van Der Zwaag, Alayna Cruz I)ROLL CALL II)PUBLIC COMMENT III)AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS IV)APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 18, 2025 MOTION: Vice Chair Kraus moved, seconded by Commissioner Causey to approve the minutes of February 18, 2025. MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (1 absent) V)BUSINESS ITEMS 1.Recognition of Service for Commissioner Smith. – Stimmler – Discussion 2.Recommendation from reviewers to the HRC for Human Services Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) Funding for Fiscal Years 2026/2027. - Kraus – Action MOTION: Commissioner Smith moved, seconded by Vice Chair Kraus, that the Human Relations Commission forwards the following recommendation to the City Council Finance Committee to accept the HRC’s HSRAP recommendations. MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (1 absent) 3.Review and approval of revised 2024-2025 Human Relations Commission workplan. – Stimmler – Action MOTION: Commissioner Smith moved, seconded by Commissioner Eberle, to accept the updated HRC workplan. MOTION PASSED: 6-0 (1 absent) ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations, auxiliary aids or services to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn about the City's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act VI)REPORTS FROM OFFICIALS {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 5     ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations, auxiliary aids or services to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn about the City's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact 650-329-2550 (voice), or e-mail ada@cityofpaloalto.org . This agenda is posted in accordance with government code section 54954.2(a) or section 54956. Members of the public are welcome to attend this public meeting. VII)ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:20 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 6     Human Relations Commission Staff Report From: Robert Feign, Housing Planner Meeting Date: May 8, 2025 Report #: 2503-4249 TITLE Recommendations for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant Funding Allocations and Review of the Draft Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Action Plan and 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan RECOMMENDATION Staff and the Human Relations Commission Selection Committee recommend that the Human Relations Commission (HRC): 1. Provide funding recommendations for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program; 2. Provide direction on a funding contingency plan if the City CDBG Program allocation amount is less than or greater than the staff estimated amount; and 3. Recommend City Council approve the draft Fiscal Year 2025-26 Annual Action Plan and 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan, as amended to reflect the HRC’s funding recommendations. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On March 19, 2025, the HRC Selection Committee1 developed funding recommendations for the CDBG Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 funding cycle. Additionally, the Selection Committee recommended a contingency plan to accommodate the actual CDBG allocation amount in the event the actual allocation falls short of or exceeds the staff estimated amount. The City is anticipating receiving formal notification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of the City’s CDBG funding allocations in mid-May. The HRC is asked to consider the Selection Committee’s recommendations and provide feedback and formal recommendations for FY 2025-26 CDBG funding for City Council review that is anticipated in June. The City is preparing for a single-year CDBG funding cycle for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 which will culminate in the preparation of an FY 2025-26 Annual Action Plan (AAP) containing all the 1 The HRC Selection Committee was comprised of HRC Commissioner Don Barr and Commissioner Katie Causey. 2     Packet Pg. 7     projects, programs, and activities the City plans to fund through CDBG funds allocated by HUD. This year will also include the preparation of the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan (ConPlan). The City released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) on Monday, November 26, 2024, requesting applications for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 funding cycle. During this application cycle, the NOFA specified that the City would be accepting applications for projects in the CDBG Economic Development, Public Services, Public Facilities and Improvements, and Housing Rehabilitation categories. The City received a total of eight CDBG applications in these categories. Staff prepared draft CDBG funding allocation recommendations for nine projects/activities, totaling approximately $600,000. It is not possible to fund all applications at the requested amounts due to the limitations of available funds. However, the proposed recommendations do: •Allocate all available CDBG program funds; •Are consistent with the City’s CDBG Consolidated Plan; •Are consistent with the City’s 6th Cycle Housing Element goals and programs as they pertain to CDBG, and •Would result in funding key services and projects that benefit many low and very low- income Palo Alto residents. BACKGROUND The CDBG program, administered by HUD, provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate- income persons. The HUD regulations require all CDBG-funded activities to meet one of the three national objectives: 1. Benefit low-and very-low-income persons; 2. Aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight; or 3. Meet other community development needs having a particular urgency or posing a serious and immediate threat to the health or welfare of the community. Palo Alto's CDBG program has primarily been focused on meeting the first objective of benefiting low-and very-low-income persons. For general information on the CDBG program, please visit: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-entitlement/. Consolidated Plan & Annual Action Plan HUD requires preparation of a five-year strategic plan, referred to as a Consolidated Plan (ConPlan). The ConPlan must address priority housing and community development needs and set goals related to those needs. The CDBG program is currently guided by the 2020-2025 Consolidated Plan adopted by Council on June 15, 2020. HUD also requires the submittal of an Annual Action Plan, which must identify the specific projects to be funded to implement strategies identified in the ConPlan. 2     Packet Pg. 8     Planning and Development Services staff coordinated with the County of Santa Clara and other entitlement jurisdictions to select a consulting firm to prepare these plans. The plans became available for a public review period beginning May 5, 2025 through June 4, 2025. This constitutes the required 30-day public review period. Once adopted by City Council, the Consolidated Plan will be effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030. Projects funded through the City by the CDBG program must be consistent with the goals outlined in the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan (Attachment B). The projects identified for funding are consistent with the goals outlined in the draft Consolidated Plan. Following the City Council's final approval of funding allocations, the specific programs and projects will be reported to HUD in the FY 2025-26 AAP. Citizen Participation for the Annual Action Plan and Consolidated Plan Per HUD's regulations and the City's adopted "Citizen Participation Plan2" the City must ensure adequate citizen participation in the CDBG funding process. Prior to the submission of the AAP and ConPlan to HUD, the City must hold two public hearings. This HRC meeting will serve as the first public hearing, and the City Council meeting, targeted for June 9, 2025, will serve as the second public hearing. Annual Action Plan Allocation Process CDBG funding applications were made available on November 26, 2024, with completed applications due January 10, 2025. A notice of CDBG funding availability was published in the Daily Post on November 26, 2024. The City hosted a pre-proposal conference on December 4, 2024. Additionally, staff provided technical assistance to applicants during the open application time window regarding program regulations and project eligibility questions. HRC Selection Committee Review On March 19, 2025, staff and the Selection Committee met to review and recommend funding allocations. The recommendations are listed in Table 3 and reflected in Attachment A. Additionally, the Selection Committee recommended the following funding contingency plan to account for any excess or shortfall in the actual funding (when compared to the staff’s estimated funding): •If more funds are received than estimated: o Ensure funding caps are met for Public Services and Planning & Administration categories; o With remaining funds, increase funding proportionate to the current share of recommended funding for all other Public Services application that are not fully funded; and o Allocate any remaining un-capped funds to the Affordable Housing project(s). 2 Adopted Citizen Participation Plan: https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/planning-amp-development-services/cdbg-general- information/plans-and-reports/amended-citizen-participation-plan-2022-approved-by-city-council-9-12-22- final.pdf 2     Packet Pg. 9     •If less funds are received than estimated: o Ensure funding caps are met for Public Services and Planning & Administration categories; o Decrease funding across each of the Public Services applications proportionate to the overall decrease in funding; o If possible, maintain full funding for Housing Rehabilitation and Economic Development projects; and o Decrease un-capped funds from the Public Facilities project(s). ANALYSIS This section provides a description of the CDBG funds available for allocation and recommendations for the FY2025-26 funding cycle. It also describes the ConPlan development process. Draft 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan Per HUD requirements, the City is required to prepare a ConPlan every five years (Attachment B). The five specific goals outlined in the draft ConPlan are fully described in Attachment D. The ConPlan is designed to support CDBG entitlement grantees assess affordable housing and community development needs. Public participation plays a central role in the development of the ConPlan. In 2024, a consortium including Santa Clara County and participating jurisdictions launched an in-depth, collaborative regional effort consulting with community stakeholders to identify housing and community development needs. This represented a comprehensive outreach process. The process goals were to enhance coordination and discuss new approaches to working with social service providers that utilize funding for eligible activities, projects, and programs. Comments received through this outreach effort, in addition to Palo Alto’s specifically identified needs, informed the five-year strategic plan. Funds Available for Allocation in FY 2025-26 HUD has not yet determined the final CDBG federal appropriations for FY2025-26. For budgeting purposes for the allocation process, staff estimated that the City would receive $500,000, which is a decrease of approximately 2.5 percent from last year’s grant amount. The City anticipates learning its HUD entitlement grant amount in May 2025 and is actively monitoring federal activities related to the program. Program Income Program Income (PI) comes from Palo Alto Housing Corporation (Alta Housing) for loan repayments and rental income in excess of expenses on specific properties acquired or rehabilitated with CDBG funds. Cities are required to estimate anticipated program income for the activity budget for the upcoming year. Based on past years, PI for FY 2025-26 is estimated to be $100,000. Table 1. FY 2025-26 CDBG Estimated Funds Available 2     Packet Pg. 10     CDBG Funds Available Available for Funding FY 2024-25 Entitlement Grant (Estimated)$500,000.00 Program Income in FY 2025-26 (Estimated) $100,000.00 Estimated Total CDBG Funds Available for Allocation $600,000.00 CDBG Funding Categories and Funding Caps The CDBG program has five primary activity areas in which to allocate funds: Public Services, Economic Development, Housing Rehabilitation, Public Facilities & Improvement, and Planning & Administration. Federal regulations cap the amount that can be spent on Public Services and Planning & Administration as follows (Table 2): •Public Services (15% Cap) - The amount of any CDBG funds that may be obligated toward Public Services during a program year is capped at 15% of the sum of the grant allocation plus the total amount of program income received during the prior program year. •Planning & Administration (20% Cap) - The amount of any CDBG funds that may be obligated toward Planning & Administration during a program year is capped at 20% of the sum of the grant allocation plus the total amount of program income received during the current program year. Table 2. FY 2025-26 Breakdown of Capped/Un-Capped Estimated Funds CDBG Amount Estimated Public Services 15% Maximum 15% x [anticipated grant allocation ($500,000) + prior year FY 2024-25 program income ($129,950)] $94,492.50 Estimated Planning and Administration 20% Maximum 20% x [estimated grant allocation ($500,000) + current year FY 2025-26 program income ($100,000)] $120,000.00 Estimated Un-capped Funds $385,507.50 Estimated Total Available for CDBG Allocation $600,000.00 Application Descriptions and Recommended Funding Allocations The CDBG applications for FY 2025-26 are described below and listed in Table 3. Attachment A includes more detailed information on each application, such as potential risks of each application/program and mid-year performance reporting notes. Note that the goals/numbers of beneficiaries are associated with the requested funding amount specified in the respective submitted applications. It is anticipated that the goals/number of beneficiaries will be adjusted based on the City Council approved funding allocations; an increase or decrease in funding could result in a corresponding change in goals. Public Service (15% Cap) 2     Packet Pg. 11     1.LifeMoves - Requested $69,919/Recommend $39,154.64. LifeMoves project activities include case management services to Opportunity Services Center and Hotel De Zink clients in locating housing and/or employment and be connected to benefits. Additionally, activities include provision of services at the Opportunity Services Center, such as showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, benefits enrollment assistance, transportation vouchers, and referrals for medical and dental care for residents of Palo Alto and surrounding areas who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Goal: assist 350 individuals. 2.Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) - Requested $37,290/Recommend $19,500.00. Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) project activities assist very low-income Palo Alto residents with disabilities and their families with their housing search for affordable, accessible housing. Goal: assist 25 individuals. 3.Project Sentinel – Requested $36,393/Recommend $21,437.86. Project Sentinel’s project activities include fair housing counseling and investigative services for Palo Alto residents through casework, increase knowledge of fair housing laws and individual counseling on the fair housing laws to improve understanding of residents' and housing providers' rights or obligations. Goal: assist 12 individuals. 4.Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence – Requested $10,000/Recommend $7,200.00. Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence's project activities provide Palo Alto residents identifying as victims/survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence (DV) with receive client-centered services through Community Support Advocacy: crisis intervention counseling, risk assessment, safety planning, legal advocacy and attorneys, restraining order assistance, case management, other support services through walk-in or virtual. Goal: assist 20 individuals. 5.Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County – Requested $12,908/Recommend $7,200.00. Catholic Charities’ Long-Term Care Ombudman Program (LTCOP) project activities include regular contact with Palo Alto Residential Care Facilities to observe and monitor conditions of care and handle and resolve issues regarding residents’ rights, unmet needs, allegations of abuse, and complaints effectively, thus promoting resident well-being. Goal: assist 37 individuals. Economic Development (No Cap) 6.WeeCare/Upwards - Requested $120,000/Recommend $120,000. WeeCare/Upwards is a for-profit organization. Project activities would support their specific BOOST program for low-income Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers in Palo Alto. The BOOST program provides specialized technical assistance and business support for income qualifying FCCH’s. Training includes the utilization of the Child Management System (CCMS), aimed at helping providers create work plans, set goals, enhance capacity, and generate revenue to achieve service and operational objectives. The BOOST 2     Packet Pg. 12     program addresses various aspects such as family matching, children's program enrollment, tuition collection, weekly curriculum, licensing regulations, program expansion, and staff recruitment. The intent is to assist small businesses in implementing best practices for organizational growth and sustainability, ultimately supporting low to moderate-income families served by FCCH. Goal: assist 15 microenterprises (FCCH providers). Housing Rehabilitation (No Cap) 7.Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) - Requested $73,585/Recommend $73,585. RTP project activities include the provision of critical health and safety-related home repair needs for low-income Palo Alto homeowners. Goal: assist 5 households. 8.Community Working Group/Abode [additional funds] – Requested N/A/Recommend $121,922.50. Community Work Group/Abode’s project activities include rehabilitating rental housing units in Alma Garden, an affordable multi-family housing complex for extremely low- income households, to address existing health and safety concerns. Specifically, funds will be spent on a project manager, laundry room upgrades, exterior repairs, and electrical and water utility upgrades. All units will remain affordable to extremely low-income households. Goal: assist 10 households. Public Facilities and Improvements (No Cap) 9.Homekey – Playground Project – Recommend $70,000.00. In the previous program year, the City awarded Homekey Palo Alto – Recreation Project with $185,000 in funding to provide an on-site play structure at the Homekey Palo Alto. Upon further research it was determined that additional funding was necessary to complete the required environmental review for the project. This award will supplement the existing award to the project as required in consideration of the costs of the additional review. Goal: assist 104 households. Planning & Administration (20% Cap) 10.City of Palo Alto for CDBG Administration - Recommend $120,000 As of November 2021, the City has been primarily relying on consultant services to administer the CDBG program. The City retains a CDBG consultant, Michael Baker International, for full program management with oversight by staff from Long Range Planning. With the use of consultants, a sufficient CDBG budget must be set aside to cover the program administration, and therefore, all available Planning & Administration funds are recommended to be allocated to the City for CDBG Administration. Table 3: Fiscal Year 2025-26 CDBG Budget Applicant Agency Requested Funding Recommended Allocation 2     Packet Pg. 13     CDBG Applicants Public Services (15% Cap = $94,492.50) LifeMoves – Case Management at Opportunity Center $69,919.00 $39,154.64 Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) – Case Management Services $37,290.00 $19,500.00 Project Sentinel – Fair Housing Services $35,835.00 $21,437.86 Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence $10,000.00 $7,200.00 Catholic Charities Long Term Care Ombudsman Program $12,908.00 $7,200.00 Subtotal $94,492.50 Economic Development (No Cap) WeeCare / Upwards – Training for Family Child Care Home $120,000.00 $120,000.00 Subtotal $120,000.00 Housing Rehabilitation (No Cap) Rebuilding Together Peninsula – Safe at Home $73,585.00 $73,585.00 Community Working Group/Abode – Alma Garden N/A $121,922.50 Subtotal $195,507.50 Public Facilities & Improvements (No Cap) Homekey Palo Alto – Recreation Project N/A $70,000.00 Subtotal $70,000.00 Planning & Administration (20% Cap = $120,000) City of Palo Alto Administration N/A $120,000.00 Subtotal $120,000.00 Grand Total for CDBG Budget $600,000.00 Contingency Plan The Selection Committee recommended a contingency plan for funding adjustments to respond to the forthcoming HUD CDBG FY 2025-26 allocation. The details of this plan are listed on in the HRC Selection Committee Review section of this report. The HRC can support the Selection Committee’s recommendations or provide additional direction on a contingency plan. Once the City receives the CDBG grant amount, staff will follow the contingency plan to adjust funding allocations and forward the draft AAP to the Council for review and approval. TIMELINE HRC recommendations will be incorporated into the draft 2025-2030 ConPlan and FY 2025-26 AAP that is forwarded to City Council. The draft AAP will be circulated for a 30-day public review 2     Packet Pg. 14     and comment period. Upon conclusion of the public review period, staff will present the HRC's funding recommendations, public comments, and the draft 2025-2030 ConPlan and FY 2025-26 AAP to the City Council, tentatively scheduled for June 2025. Subsequently, the 2025-2030 ConPlan and FY 2025-26 AAP adopted by City Council will be submitted to HUD by the deadline, typically in mid-August. FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT City staff costs for CDBG administration are covered by the City’s General Fund. CDBG funds allocated to Planning & Administration are used for program consultant services, as well as liability insurance. As HUD provides CDBG funding, there is no resource impact associated with the HRC making recommendations to City Council for FY 2025-26 funding allocations. The exception would be if the HRC recommended a reduction in the amount of funds allocated to Planning & Administration. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: HRC Selection Committee FY 2025-26 CDBG Funding Allocation Recommendations Attachment B: Draft CDBG 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan and 2025-26 Annual Action Plan, dated April 29, 2025 Attachment C: 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan Goals Summary Attachment D: Criteria for Funding Consideration 2     Packet Pg. 15     ATTACHMENT A – FY 2024-25 CDGB and CDBG-CV Funding Allocation Recommendations Awarded PENDING 2024 Awarded 2025 Recommendation 2025Beneficiaries Recommended Past Performance (FY 2023-2024 or most recent FY) Notes: Individuals 1 LifeMoves LifeMoves project activities include case management services to Opportunity Services Center and Hotel De Zink clients in locating housing and/or employment and be connected to benefits. Additionally, activities include provision of services at the Opportunity Services Center, such as showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, benefits enrollment assistance, transportation vouchers, and referrals for medical and dental care for residents of Palo Alto and surrounding areas who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. $30,123.00 $39,154.64 350 LifeMoves exceeded their FY 2023-24 goal of 27 LMI and or homeless individuals. LifeMoves case management services, at their Opportunity Services Center, included assistance with housing and job searches, referrals, and mentoring to 193 homeless and/or very low-income Palo Alto residents. 2 Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) project activities assist very low income Palo Alto residents with disabilities and their families with their housing search for affordable, accessible housing. Funding would support the Housing and Emergency Services for Persons with Disabilities Program and case management services. The Program provides education & training on all aspects of how to conduct a housing search to transition from homelessness, health care facilities, or unstable, temporary housing into safe, long-term community-based housing. It includes group workshops, one-on-one service training, and access to IL (Independent Living) services, including emergency food assistance, security deposits/rent (as funding allows), information & referral to ensure the long-term sustainability of housing. $16,500.00 $19,500.00 25 SVILC fell just short of their FY 2023-24 goal of 25 LMI individuals. SVILC's case management and housing search education and training efforts assisted 24 Palo Alto residents. 3 Project Sentinel Project Sentinel’s project activities include fair housing counseling and investigative services for Palo Alto residents through casework, increase knowledge of fair housing laws and individual counseling on the fair housing laws to improve understanding of residents' and housing providers' rights or obligations. Funding would provide operating expenses for these fair housing services. $18,000.00 $21,437.86 12 Project Sentinel exceeded their FY 2023-24 goal of 12 LMI individuals. Case managers actually served 19 LMI individuals and 12 Palo Alto family households as well as provided fair housing education and outreach efforts to 821 Palo Alto residents. 4 Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence's project activies provide Palo Alto residents identifying as victims/survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence (DV) with receive client-centered services through Community Support Advocacy: crisis intervention counseling, risk assessment, safety planning, legal advocacy and attorneys, restraining order assistance, case management, other support services through walk-in or virtual. N/A $7,200.00 20 Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence has not previously received CDBG funds. 5 Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County Catholic Charities' Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) project activities include regular contact with Palo Alto Residential Care Facilities to observe and monitor conditions of care and handle and resolve issues regarding residents' rights, unmet needs, allegations of abuse, and complaints effectively, thus promoting resident well-being. Funding would support program services. $7,575.00 $7,200.00 37 Catholic Charities met their FY 2023-24 goal of 50 LMI elderly individuals assisted at Palo Alto long-term care facilities. Subtotal $72,198.00 $94,492.50 444 Microenterprises 6 WeeCare / Upwards WeeCare/Upwards isa for-profit organization.Projectactivitieswouldsupport theirspecific BOOSTprogram forlow-incomeFamilyChildCareHome(FCCH)providers in Palo Alto.The BOOST program provides specialized technical assistance andbusinesssupportforincomequalifyingFCCH’s.Training includes the utilization ofthe Child Management System (CCMS),aimed at helping providerscreate work plans,set goals,enhance capacity,and generate revenue to achieve service and operationalobjectives.TheBOOSTprogramaddressesvarious aspectssuchasfamilymatching,children's programenrollment, tuitioncollection,weekly curriculum,licensing regulations,program expansion,and staff recruitment.Theintent isto assist small businesses in implementing bestpractices for organizationalgrowth andsustainability,ultimately supporting low to moderate-income families served by FCCH. $120,000.00 $120,000.00 15 Low-Med Risk. This economic development activity offers business improvement services to childcare microenterprises. Job creation/retention is a HUD requirement. Funding is for program staff administration. WeeCare's FY 2023-24 goal was to serve 19 childcare microenterprises. The program will potentially create 2 jobs, as noted in the application. WeeCare achieved their 2023-24 goal by assisting 19 microenterprises. Subtotal $120,000.00 $120,000.00 15 Households Public Services Economic Development Housing Rehabilitation City of Palo Alto FY 2025-26 CDGB Funding Allocation Recommendations Funding Applications Received (FY2025-26) - Project Descriptions, Estimated Goals, Recommendations and Risks Project #Agency/Organization Project Description 2     Packet Pg. 16     ATTACHMENT A – FY 2024-25 CDGB and CDBG-CV Funding Allocation Recommendations 7 Rebuilding Together Peninsula The projectactivities include the provisionof critical health and safety-relatedhomerepair needs for low-income Palo Altohomeowners.Funding would include covering the costs of home repair,such as construction materials and payment of subcontractors. $73,585.00 $73,585.00 5 Low-Medium Risk. RTP did reach their contracted FY 2023-25 goal of 5 LMI owner-occupied housing rehab cases. RTP completed 6 rehabbed units. It should be noted, in previous program years RTP has struggled to spend their annual allocation because of the lack of program participation. However, RTP is currently working on several cases that should spend the remainder of their FY 2024-25 funds. 8 Community Working Group/Abode CommunityWorkingGroup/Abode projectactivitiesincluderehabilitating rentalhousingunitsinAlmaGaden,an affordablemulti-familyhousing complex for extremelylow-income households to address exsiting helathand safty concerns.Fundingwould be spent on a project manager, laundry room upgrades, and interior and exterior repairs.$404,800.00 $121,922.50 10 Low-Medium Risk. Alma Garden was funded in the previous program year and is currently under construction. This additional funding would enable them to conduct additional repairs in the laundy room and across the property. Subtotal 195507.5 15 8 Project Homekey - Playground Project In the previous program year, the City awarded Homekey Palo Alto – Recreation Project with $185,000 in funding to provide an on-site play structure at the Homekey Palo Alto. Upon further research it was determined that additional funding was necessary to complete the required environmental review for the project. This award will supplement the existing award to the project as required in consideration of the costs of the additional review. $185,000 $70,000.00 104 9 Public Facility Project(s)The City is exploring project options with the various City departments needing funding for vital public facilities projects. The project(s) activities would include upgrades and or renovations, including but not limited to street or infrastructure, recreation facilities, homeless facilities, and accessibility improvements. N/A $0.00 TBD The City is exploring project options with the various City departments needing funding for vital public facilities projects. Subtotal $70,000.00 10 City Admin Funding for the City's CDBG program planning and administration needs for CDBG projects.$114,000 $120,000.00 Subtotal $114,000 $120,000.00$600,000.00 Program Income (PI) prior year (PY 2024-25)$129,950.00 Program Income (PI) anticipated for (PY 2025-26)$100,000.00 HUD Allocation anticipated for (PY 2025-26)$500,000.00 Prior Years' unspent Funds $0.00 CDBG CITY TOTAL ESTIMATED $600,000.00 anticipated PY2025 Program Income + anticipated HUD Allcocation + Prior Year unspent Funds CDBG Funding Categories CDBG Total AllocationsPublic Services (15% cap) PS $94,492.50 $94,492.50 cap amount: Total Subject to PS CAP (Entitlement Grant + PRIOR year (PY 2024) Program income) Economic Development $120,000.00 Housing Rehabilitation $195,507.50 Public Facilities & Improvements $70,000.00 Planning and Administration (20% cap) PA $120,000.00 $120,000.00 cap amount: Total Subject to PA CAP (Entitlement Grant + anticipated PY2025 Program income) CDBG Total Funds Allocated $600,000.00 $600,000.00 CDBG Total Funds Allocated Public Facilities & Improvements Planning and Administration $385,508.25 Total Allocated Un-capped Funds. Capped/Un-Capped Estimated Funds Total Funds $385,508 Un-capped Funds. 2     Packet Pg. 17     Consolidated Plan 2025-2030 & Annual Action Plan 2025-2026 DRAFT (May 2, 2025) for Human Relations Commission Meeting: May 8, 2025 ADMINISTERED BY: PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES 2     Packet Pg. 18     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan ii Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ 4 ES-05 Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b) .......................................................................... 4 The Process ........................................................................................................................................ 7 PR-05 Lead & Responsible Agencies 24 CFR 91.200(b) ............................................................................. 7 PR-10 Consultation - 91.100, 91.200(b), 91.215(l) .................................................................................... 8 PR-15 Citizen Participation ...................................................................................................................... 22 Needs Assessment............................................................................................................................ 25 NA-05 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 25 NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs – 91.215 (f) ........................................................ 33 Housing Market Analysis .................................................................................................................. 38 MA-05 Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 38 MA-45 Non-Housing Community Development Assets – 91.215 (f) ....................................................... 51 MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis Discussion ........................................................................................ 58 MA-60 Broadband Needs of Housing Occupied by Low- and Moderate-Income Households - 91.210(a)(4), 91.310(a)(2) ..................................................................................... 61 MA-65 Hazard Mitigation - 91.210(a)(5), 91.310(a)(3) ............................................................................ 62 Strategic Plan ................................................................................................................................... 64 SP-05 Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 64 SP-10 Geographic Priorities – 91.215 (a)(1) ............................................................................................ 65 SP-25 Priority Needs - 91.215(a)(2) ......................................................................................................... 66 SP-30 Influence of Market Conditions – 91.215 (b) ................................................................................. 70 SP-35 Anticipated Resources - 91.215(a)(4), 91.220(c)(1,2) .................................................................... 71 SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure – 91.215(k) .................................................................................. 74 SP-45 Goals Summary – 91.215(a)(4) ...................................................................................................... 82 SP-60 Homelessness Strategy – 91.215(d) .............................................................................................. 84 SP-65 Lead based paint Hazards – 91.215(i) ............................................................................................ 88 SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy – 91.215(j) .................................................................................................. 89 SP-80 Monitoring – 91.230 ...................................................................................................................... 90 Annual Action Plan ........................................................................................................................... 91 AP-15 Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 91 AP-20 Geographic Priorities – 91.215 (a)(1) ............................................................................................ 94 AP-35 Priority Needs - 91.215(a)(2) ......................................................................................................... 96 2     Packet Pg. 19     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan iii AP-38 Influence of Market Conditions – 91.215 (b) ................................................................................ 97 AP-50 Anticipated Resources - 91.215(a)(4), 91.220(c)(1,2) ................................................................. 102 AP-85 Institutional Delivery Structure – 91.215(k) ................................................................................ 103 AP-90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.215(a)(4) .......................................................................... 107 Appendix A: Citizen Participation and Stakeholder Consultation Appendix B: Survey Findings 2     Packet Pg. 20     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 1 Executive Summary ES-05 Executive Summary - 24 CFR 91.200(c), 91.220(b) Introduction The City of Palo Alto annually receives Community Development Block Grant Funds (CDBG) from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). As an “entitlement jurisdiction” receiving these block grant funds, the City is required to prepare a Consolidated Plan (Con Plan) every five years, which identifies the City’s priority housing and community development needs and goals. Based on the 2024 funding levels, the City expects to receive $500,000 annually in CDBG, or $2.5 million over the five years covered by this plan. Entitlement community grantees are eligible to use CDBG funds for the provision of public services, public facility and infrastructure projects, housing rehabilitation, downpayment and tenant based rental assistance, and job creation and retention activities.1 These eligible activities are principally focused on addressing the needs of the HUD defined low- and moderate-income (“LMI”) households in the community. LMI are households are those whose income do not exceed 80% of the area median family income (AMI), with adjustments for household size and eligible census block groups are typically those where 51% of households are LMI. HUD allows exceptions to the 51% requirement in higher income jurisdictions (“exception grantees”) that do not have a sufficient number of census block groups meeting this threshold. Per HUD, Palo Alto is an exception grantee and therefore has a lower census block group eligibility threshold of 25.66% LMI for CDBG activities as of 2024 based on 2020 American Community Survey (ACS) data. HUD defines LMI households to include the following three income tiers below: • Extremely Low-Income: households earning 30% or less than the AMI • Very Low-Income: households earning 50% or less than the AMI • Low-Income: households earning 80% or less than the AMI The median income (100% AMI) for Santa Clara County in 2024 is $183,400. Within Palo Alto, 7,375 or 28% of households are defined as low income, with the following breakdown: • 11% (2,944 households) are extremely low income; • 7% (1,783 households) are very low income; and • 10% (2,647 households) are low income The Consolidated Plan was developed through analysis of current housing market data; an assessment of the housing and supportive service needs of low and moderate income populations; stakeholder and resident consultations through focus groups and community meetings; and a resident survey. The City collaborated with Santa Clara County and other local governments receiving HUD block grants (“entitlement jurisdictions”) in the development of this 2025-29 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is implemented through the City’s Annual Action Plans (“Annual Action Plan”), which 1 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “CDBG Entitlement Program Eligibility Requirements.” https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-entitlement/cdbg-entitlement-program- eligibility-requirements/ 2     Packet Pg. 21     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 2 identifies how annual funding allocations are invested to achieve the City’s priorities and goals. Progress in advancing these goals is also evaluated annually in the City’s Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER). The 2025-2030 Con Plan covers the time frame from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030, a period of five program years. The Annual Action Plan covers the time frame from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. How to Read this Consolidated Plan The Consolidated Plan, as required by HUD has five main sections and associated sub-sections. Each section of the Consolidated Plan has a HUD required alphanumeric identifier, for example ES-# (Executive Summary), PR- # (Process), NA-# (Needs Assessment), MA-# (Housing Market Analysis), and SP-# (Strategic Plan). These sections are followed by the first year Action Plan (AP-#). The City of Palo Alto participates in the Santa Clara County HOME Consortium and receives HOME Investment Partnership funding through the County. As such, Palo Alto completes an abridged plan that does not include the full set of components related to housing. The entire plan follows the format prescribed by HUD, with bold lettering denoting the HUD prescribed topic areas and questions. Sections include: 1. Executive Summary (ES)—a brief summary of the primary housing and community development needs identified in the Consolidated Plan; an evaluation of past performance of funds; and an overview of the community engagement activities that informed the plan. 2. Process (PR)—a description of the stakeholder consultation and resident engagement that informed the priority housing and community development needs. Detailed engagement findings are presented in a Consolidated Plan appendix. 3. Needs Assessment (NA)— assesses the needs of households at-risk of or experiencing homelessness, low to moderate income families and individuals, elderly residents, victims of domestic violence, persons living with HIV/AIDS, and persons with disabilities. 4. Housing Market Analysis (MA)— provides an overview of the housing market; identifies which households face challenges finding affordable housing; and assesses the business climate and economic development needs. 5. Strategic Plan (SP)— provides five-year priority needs and Goals which will guide investments over the Consolidated Planning period. 6. Annual Action Plan—specifies how the jurisdiction plans to allocate its HUD block grants during the program year. Introduction. Primary Needs The City of Palo Alto is a small Bay Area city and is known as the birthplace of the booming high tech area of Silicon Valley. It is the corporate headquarters for many world-class companies and research facilities such as VMware, Hewlett-Packard, and is also home to Stanford University. The City has a population of approximately 67,231 according to 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, and is not as densely populated at around 25 square miles compared to peer entitlement jurisdictions. The City exists in a region of high income diversity, including some of the nation’s highest-earning 2     Packet Pg. 22     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 3 households. The regional economy is also supported by a workforce spanning a range of income levels, including many lower-wage earners who contribute to essential services and industries. Many lower-income residents face significant challenges related to housing costs, which are influenced by a tight and competitive market that reflects strong demand from higher-income households. Of the 25,486 households in the City, 43% of renter households and 24% of owner households experience some level of housing cost burden across all income groups (i.e., paying more than 30% of their gross income towards housing costs, some paying more than 50%). Housing costs have risen much faster than incomes in recent years, with home value increases being particularly extreme. Between 2010 and 2023, the median household income grew by 83% from $120,670 to $220,408. The median property value tripled during this timeframe from approximately $1.2 million to $3.3 million based on Zillow data, and median rent more than doubled to $3,328. These increases, coupled with rising interest rates, and inflationary pressure on everyday necessities including food and energy, have contributed to ongoing housing affordability challenges and an increased likelihood of experiencing cost burden for many households in Palo Alto. Stakeholders throughout the consultation efforts for this plan emphasized the negative impact of unaffordable housing on staffing for critical roles including public safety, education, and service positions in communities across the counties. Summary of the objectives and outcomes identified in the Plan Needs Assessment Overview Priority needs identified in this Consolidated Plan include: • Housing: Increasing the supply of affordable housing and improve the condition of existing units. • Homelessness: Stabilizing persons at-risk of and experiencing homelessness through housing solutions, and facilitation of supportive services including mental health and addiction recovery services. • Community development: Enhance neighborhood safety and quality through cleanups, improved street lighting and park improvements, bolster/create public space for senior activities, and food pantries. • Economic Development: Provide more opportunities for resident workforce development and/or build outreach campaign for existing programs, create community partnerships to address childcare access as a component of workforce participation. • Fair Housing: Improve navigation and case management services for residents needing housing, legal services (related to housing), and basic services documentation assistance. Palo Alto has therefore identified the following goals for the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan through extensive data analysis and community outreach: 1. Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing for households with incomes ranging from 0-80% AMI. 2. Respond to homelessness and risk of homelessness through housing stabilization, supportive services, mental health services and economic resiliency programs. 3. Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building. 4. Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development. 2     Packet Pg. 23     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 4 5. Provide supportive services to low-income households through bolstering case management and navigation of services including legal assistance, and tenant/landlord resolution. Evaluation of past performance The City is responsible for ensuring compliance with all rules and regulations associated with the CDBG entitlement grant program. The City’s Annual Action Plans and CAPERs have provided many details about the goals, projects and programs completed by the City over the past five years. A review of past CAPERs reveals a strong record of performance in the use of CDBG funds. Palo Alto has been strategic about leveraging federal dollars and identifying partnerships in the community to maximize their use. For instance, a review of the 2020-2024 CAPERs reveal: • LMI elderly assisted: 640 • Residents who received counseling services: 625 • Homeless individuals who received shelter or assistance: 341 • Individuals that received housing complaint services: 75 • Persons with disabilities that received assistance: 90 • LMI homeowners that received home improvements: 17 • Workforce development program assistance: 36 2     Packet Pg. 24     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 5 Summary of citizen participation process and consultation process Palo Alto coordinated closely with Santa Clara County and other entitlement jurisdictions in stakeholder consultation and resident engagement to leverage opportunities and minimize duplication. Engagement that was done in coordination with the County included: • A Consolidated Plan website—www.letstalkhousingscc.org—with information about the Planning process including a short video and presentation; a link to the resident survey and activities to prioritize housing and community development needs; and community resources. The website contains a translation feature for easy conversion into multiple languages. • A community survey, available between October and December 2024, and promoted through supportive service and public agencies that work with low and moderate income residents, city social media, and the Consolidated Plan website. A summary of survey findings is below. • Two virtual regional workshops open to all residents living in and stakeholders serving residents in the county. The workshops included a brief overview about the Planning process, simple activities to express priority needs, and in-depth discussions about needs in breakout rooms. Interpretation was available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin. • Three focus groups with stakeholders in housing, supportive services, and community development serving residents throughout the county. After a brief presentation about the Consolidated Plan process—including information on how to circulate the survey and letstalkhousingscc.org website to clients—stakeholders participated in in-depth discussion about priority needs and solutions to needs. Attendees represented affordable housing providers. Service providers serving special needs populations, people with lived experience, legal advocates, childcare service providers, public health agencies, mental health service providers, and others. • One-on-one interviews with the Continuum of Care and coordination with the City of San Jose, who receives HOPWA and ESG funding and distributes that funding to the County’s public service departments. • Public Hearings: Two public hearings were held to solicit community feedback and review funding recommendations and plan content. One hearing was conducted with the City’s Human Relations Commission, and the second with the Palo Alto City Council. Summary of public comments A summary of all comments received and city staff responses to those comments can be found in the community engagement appendix, as well as PR sections. Summary of comments or views not accepted and the reasons for not accepting them Not applicable. All comments were accepted. The City attempted to incorporate feedback received from outreach efforts throughout the Consolidated Plan process. Summary This 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan combines resident feedback, demographic data and analysis, community 2     Packet Pg. 25     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 6 stakeholder input, and consideration of city resources, goals, other relevant plans, and policies. The results of this combined effort and analysis results in this five-year Strategic Plan for the allocation of CDBG and HOME funds and activities. These funds will focus on affordable housing, community services, and facilities that serve priority populations, and homelessness. 2     Packet Pg. 26     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 7 The Process PR-05 Lead & Responsible Agencies 24 CFR 91.200(b) Describe agency/entity responsible for preparing the Consolidated Plan and those responsible for administration of each grant program and funding source The City of Palo Alto Department of Planning and Development Services is the agency responsible for preparing the Con Plan and administering the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, as shown in Table 1. Table 1. Responsible Agencies Agency Role Name Department/Agency CDBG Administrator Palo Alto City of Palo Alto Department of Planning and Development Services Narrative Lead and Responsible Agency The City is the Lead and Responsible Agency for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) entitlement programs in Palo Alto. The Department of Planning and Development Services is responsible for administering the City’s CDBG program. The City joined the HOME Consortium in 2015 and receives federal HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) funds through the County. Entitlement jurisdictions receive entitlement funding (i.e., non-competitive, formula funds) from HUD. HUD requires the City to submit a five-year Con Plan and Annual Action Plan to HUD listing priorities and strategies for the use of its federal funds. The Con Plan helps local jurisdictions to assess their affordable housing and community development needs and market conditions to meet the housing and community development needs of its populations. As a part of the Con Plan process for 2025-2030, the City has collaborated with the County of Santa Clara (County) as the Urban County representing the Cities of Campbell, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga; the Cities of Cupertino, Gilroy, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, San José, and Santa Clara; and the Santa Clara County Housing Authority (SCCHA) to identify and prioritize housing and community development needs across the region, and to develop strategies to meet those needs. Consolidated Plan Public Contact Information Robert Feign, Housing Planner City of Palo Alto Department of Planning and Development Services 250 Hamilton Avenue, 5th Floor Palo Alto, CA 94301 Phone: (650) 329-2660 Email: Robert.Feign@PaloAlto.Gov Website: Community Development Block Grant – City of Palo Alto, CA 2     Packet Pg. 27     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 8 PR-10 Consultation - 91.100, 91.200(b), 91.215(l) Introduction Public participation plays a central role in the development of the Consolidated Plan. Palo Alto coordinated closely with Santa Clara County and other entitlement jurisdictions in stakeholder consultation and resident engagement to leverage opportunities and minimize duplication. Community outreach included the following: • A Consolidated Plan website—www.letstalkhousingscc.org—with information about the Planning process including a short video and presentation; a link to the resident survey and activities to prioritize housing and community development needs; and community resources. The website contains a translation feature for easy conversion into multiple languages. • A community survey, available between October and December 2024, and promoted through supportive service and public agencies that work with low and moderate income residents, city social media, and the Consolidated Plan website. A summary of survey findings is below. • Two virtual regional workshops open to all residents living in and stakeholders serving residents in the county. The workshops included a brief overview about the Planning process, simple activities to express priority needs, and in-depth discussions about needs in breakout rooms. Interpretation was available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin. • Three focus groups with stakeholders in housing, supportive services, and community development serving residents throughout the county. After a brief presentation about the Consolidated Plan process— including information on how to circulate the survey and letstalkhousingscc.org website to clients— stakeholders participated in in-depth discussion about priority needs and solutions to needs. Attendees represented affordable housing developers, nonprofit housing rehabilitation providers, unhoused service providers, community organizations and advocates for special needs populations, people with lived experience, legal advocates, child care service providers, and public housing staff.. • One-on-one interviews with the Continuum of Care and coordination with the City of San Jose, who receives HOPWA and ESG funding and distributes that funding to the County’s public service departments. • A complete survey analysis and overview of engagement is provided in the appendix of this plan. Engagement Promotion. City Staff promoted the Consolidated Plan engagement opportunities through a multi-channel outreach strategy. This included targeted email announcements, updates posted on the City’s website and official social media platforms, and in-person outreach at community events such as local festivals and farmers’ markets. Provide a concise summary of the jurisdiction’s activities to enhance coordination between public and assisted housing providers and private and governmental health, mental health and service agencies (91.215(I)). During the development of its Consolidated and Annual Plans and as a general practice, the City coordinated 2     Packet Pg. 28     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 9 with a variety of housing, public and mental health agencies, and service providers to discuss community needs. These discussions provided an opportunity for these entities to network and learn more about one another’s services and programs. Moreover, their collective feedback was especially valuable in gathering information and shaping priorities for this Plan as it relates to special needs populations, general health, and mental health services in the City and Santa Clara County. In addition, the City participates in the County’s quarterly CDBG Coordinator’s Group meetings, in which entitlement jurisdictions throughout the region gather to discuss proposed use of federal funds for the upcoming year. The City also participates in the County’s Regional Housing Working Group, which is a forum for entitlement and non-entitlement jurisdictions to develop coordinated responses to regional housing challenges. The City is represented on the Continuum of Care (CoC) by its Human Services Manager. The CoC is a broad group of stakeholders dedicated to ending and preventing homelessness in Santa Clara County. The key CoC responsibilities are ensuring community-wide implementation of efforts to end homelessness, as well as ensuring programmatic and systemic effectiveness. The City coordinates with the City’s human services funding efforts to comprehensively address its community needs. Describe coordination with the Continuum of Care and efforts to address the needs of homeless persons (particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth) and persons at risk of homelessness The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing is the administrator of the regional CoC. The City continuously coordinates with the Santa Clara County CoC to end and prevent homelessness in the County. City staff attends monthly meetings. The Santa Clara County CoC includes a wide range of stakeholders, including governmental agencies, homeless service and shelter providers, individuals with lived experience of homelessness, housing advocates, affordable housing developers, and representatives from the private and philanthropic sectors. The City's Human Services Manager serves as it's representation on the CoC Board. Members of the CoC meet monthly to plan programs, identify gaps in homeless services, establish funding priorities, and pursue a systematic approach to addressing homelessness. City staff meet and consult with the County’s CoC staff and peers from other jurisdictions regularly during the quarterly countywide “CDBG Coordinators Group” meetings, and communicate more frequently via email and/or phone on joint efforts. The CoC is governed by the CoC Board, which takes a systems-change approach to preventing and ending homelessness. The CoC Board is comprised of the same individuals who serve on the Destination: Home Leadership Board. Destination Home is a public-private partnership that is committed to collective impact strategies to end chronic homelessness. Destination Home is the governing body for the CoC and is responsible for implementing by-laws and operational protocols of the CoC. Regional efforts of the CoC include the development of The Community Plan to End Homelessness, which identifies strategies to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness in the County, including chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth. The plan also addresses the needs of persons at risk of homelessness. The CoC is currently updating its five-year strategic plan, and the City will participate in this regional planning effort. 2     Packet Pg. 29     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 10 During the development of this Consolidated Plan, the City consulted with the CoC and County Office of Supportive Housing to inform the identification of community needs. Service providers and organizations that provide services to homeless populations and persons at risk of homelessness were also contacted by the City to attend the Consolidated and Annual Action Plan engagement meetings. This includes Abode Services which administers tenant-based rental assistance; Destination Home, the policy group that works on homeless prevention and strategies to end homelessness; and Life Moves, a shelter and homeless provider in San José and Palo Alto. Destination Home was consulted via a phone interview to obtain feedback on homeless and at-risk population needs. Describe consultation with the Continuum(s) of Care that serves the jurisdiction's area in determining how to allocate ESG funds, develop performance standards and evaluate outcomes, and develop funding, policies and procedures for the administration of HMIS The City is not an ESG entitlement jurisdiction and therefore does not receive ESG funds. However, the City does administer federal grant programs that provide assistance to homeless and low-income families in Santa Clara County. The City also helps fund and conduct the Point in Time (PIT) count, the biennial regional collaborative effort to count and survey people experiencing homelessness. The latest count and survey were conducted in January 2024. The data from the 2024 County of Santa Clara PIT count (2024 County PIT) is used to plan, fund, and implement actions for reducing chronic homelessness and circumstances that bring about homelessness. The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Services takes the role of Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) administration. The County, and its consultant Bitfocus, work jointly to operate and oversee HMIS. Both software and HMIS system administration are now provided by Bitfocus. Funding for HMIS in Santa Clara County comes from HUD, the County of Santa Clara, and the City of San José. The County’s HMIS is used by many City service providers across the region to record information and report outcomes. Describe Agencies, groups, organizations and others who participated in the process and describe the jurisdictions consultations with housing, social service agencies and other entities Table 2. Stakeholder Consultation 1 Agency/Group/Organization Abode Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://abode.org/ 2 Agency/Group/Organization Affirmed Housing Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for Stakeholder focus group 2     Packet Pg. 30     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 11 improved coordination? Website https://affirmedhousing.com/completed/vela/ 3 Agency/Group/Organization Alta Housing Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://altahousing.org/ 4 Agency/Group/Organization Bay Area Legal Aid Agency/Group/Organization Type Fair housing and legal services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://baylegal.org/ 5 Agency/Group/Organization BHSD The Harm Reduction Project Agency/Group/Organization Type County Government What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website The Q Corner, Behavioral Health Services 6 Agency/Group/Organization Bill Wilson Center Agency/Group/Organization Type Services for Families and Children What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.billwilsoncenter.org/ 7 Agency/Group/Organization Bridge Housing Agency/Group/Organization Type City Government (San Jose) / Housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated Stakeholder focus group 2     Packet Pg. 31     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 12 outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Website Q&A for Original Bridge Housing Program | City of San José 8 Agency/Group/Organization Caminar LGBTQ Agency/Group/Organization Type What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.caminar.org/ 9 Agency/Group/Organization CARAS Agency/Group/Organization Type County government What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS) | Overdose Prevention Resources | County of Santa Clara 10 Agency/Group/Organization CASA Agency/Group/Organization Type What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://childadvocatessv.org/ 11 Agency/Group/Organization Catholic Charities Agency/Group/Organization Type Faith based supportive services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.ccscc.org/?locale=en 12 Agency/Group/Organization City of Los Altos Agency/Group/Organization Type City Government What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis 2     Packet Pg. 32     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 13 How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.losaltosca.gov/ 13 Agency/Group/Organization City Team Agency/Group/Organization Type Homelessness Services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.cityteam.org/ 14 Agency/Group/Organization County Office of LGBTQ Affairs Agency/Group/Organization Type County government What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website Office of LGBTQ Affairs | Division of Equity and Social Justice | County of Santa Clara 15 Agency/Group/Organization Destination Home Agency/Group/Organization Type Homeless prevention What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://destinationhomesv.org/ 16 Agency/Group/Organization Downtown Streets Team Agency/Group/Organization Type Homeless prevention What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.streetsteam.org/ 17 Agency/Group/Organization Eden Housing Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Needs Assessment 2     Packet Pg. 33     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 14 Consultation? Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://edenhousing.org/ 18 Agency/Group/Organization Golden State Manufactured Homes Owners League Agency/Group/Organization Type Nonprofit advocacy What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.gsmol.org/ 19 Agency/Group/Organization Housing Trust Silicon Valley Agency/Group/Organization Type CDFI What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://housingtrustsv.org/ 20 Agency/Group/Organization Jamboree Housing Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.jamboreehousing.com/ 21 Agency/Group/Organization Lived Experience Advisory Board Agency/Group/Organization Type What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website 22 Agency/Group/Organization Life Moves Agency/Group/Organization Type Supportive Housing 2     Packet Pg. 34     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 15 What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.lifemoves.org/ 23 Agency/Group/Organization Mountain View Chamber of Commerce Agency/Group/Organization Type Civic Leadership What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Individual stakeholder interview Website https://www.chambermv.org/ 24 Agency/Group/Organization Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence Agency/Group/Organization Type Domestic Violence Survivor Resources What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.nextdoorsolutions.org/ 25 Agency/Group/Organization Path Ventures Agency/Group/Organization Type Homelessness services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://epath.org/path-ventures/ 26 Agency/Group/Organization Pride Social Agency/Group/Organization Type LGBTQ Advocacy What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.pridesocialsouthcounty.com/#OurMission 27 Agency/Group/Organization Project Sentinel Agency/Group/Organization Type Fair Housing Legal Services 2     Packet Pg. 35     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 16 What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.housing.org/ 28 Agency/Group/Organization Rebuilding Together Peninsula & Silicon Valley Agency/Group/Organization Type Home Rehabilitation What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org/, https://rebuildingtogethersv.org/ 29 Agency/Group/Organization Resources for Community Development Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://rcdhousing.org/ 30 Agency/Group/Organization San Andreas Regional Center Agency/Group/Organization Type Supportive Services for Residents with Disabilities What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.sanandreasregional.org/ 31 Agency/Group/Organization Santa Clara County Housing Authority Agency/Group/Organization Type Public housing authority What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.scchousingauthority.org/ 32 Agency/Group/Organization Satellite Affordable Housing Associates 2     Packet Pg. 36     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 17 Agency/Group/Organization Type Affordable housing What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.sahahomes.org/ 33 Agency/Group/Organization Senior Adults Legal Assistance Agency/Group/Organization Type Fair Housing Legal Services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.mightycause.com/organization/Senior-Adults-Legal-Assistance 34 Agency/Group/Organization Silicon Valley Independent Living Center Agency/Group/Organization Type Services for people with disabilities What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://svilc.org/ 35 Agency/Group/Organization SOMOS Mayfair Agency/Group/Organization Type Community Advocacy / Families What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://www.somosmayfair.org/ 36 Agency/Group/Organization Sourcewise Agency/Group/Organization Type Services for older adults and people with disabilities What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://mysourcewise.com/ 2     Packet Pg. 37     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 18 37 Agency/Group/Organization The LGBTQ Youth Space Agency/Group/Organization Type Community advocacy organization What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://youthspace.org/ 38 Agency/Group/Organization United Way Bay Area Agency/Group/Organization Type Supportive services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://uwba.org/ 39 Agency/Group/Organization Upwards Agency/Group/Organization Type Childcare services What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://upwards.com/ 40 Agency/Group/Organization Vista Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Agency/Group/Organization Type Services for people with disabilities What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment Market Analysis How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://vistacenter.org/ 41 Agency/Group/Organization YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley Agency/Group/Organization Type Supportive services for domestic violence survivors What section of the Plan was addressed by Consultation? Needs Assessment How was the Agency/Group/ Organization consulted and what are the anticipated outcomes of the consultation or areas for improved coordination? Stakeholder focus group Website https://yourywca.org/ 2     Packet Pg. 38     City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan 19 Identify any Agency Types not consulted and provide rationale for not consulting Not applicable. No agency types were intentionally left out of the consultation process. Over 20 agency types were contacted during the consultation process. 2     Packet Pg. 39     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 20 Other local/regional/state/federal planning efforts considered when preparing the Plan Table 3. Other local / regional / federal planning efforts Name of Plan Lead Organization How do the goals of your Strategic Plan overlap with the goals of each plan? Continuum of Care (Community Plan to End Homelessness in Santa Clara County 2020-2025) Regional Continuum of Care Council, Destination: Home Identifies housing inventory count to facilitate the provision of housing services to those experiencing homelessness. City of Palo Alto Housing Element (2023-2031) City of Palo Alto Identifies barriers to affordable housing, such as land-use controls, inefficiencies of the development review process, and strategies to alleviate such barriers. Regional Housing Need Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area Association of Bay Area Governments Analyzes total regional housing needs, i.e., determine number of units needed to be built per income category. Palo Alto’s Infrastructure: Catching Up, Keeping Up, and Moving Ahead City of Palo Alto Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Plan Analyzes the state of the City’s infrastructure and plans for its needs into the future. City of Palo Alto Comprehensive Plan (2030) City of Palo Alto Plans for land uses and housing throughout the City. City of Palo Alto Economic Development Strategy 2023 City of Palo Alto Economic development strategies and initiatives connected to housing and increased business activity SCCHA Moving to Work Annual Plan Santa Clara County Housing Authority Addresses housing authority updates and strategies pertaining to public housing and vouchers. Describe cooperation and coordination with other public entities, including the State and any adjacent units of general local government, in the implementation of the Consolidated Plan (91.215(l)) The Consolidated Plan was developed with close coordination with jurisdictional partners in Santa Clara County. The Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing (OSH) initiated the collaborative effort by bringing together all entitlement jurisdictions in spring 2024. The jurisdictions issued a joint RFP to hire a consultant team to complete the plans. The entitlement grantee jurisdictions involved in the collaborative effort included: Cupertino, Gilroy, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, City of Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale, as well as the urban county, Collaboration on stakeholder engagement and resident participation to inform the plan began with a meeting to discuss a proposed engagement plan. The jurisdictions provided lists of priority stakeholders and organizations for engagement, to avoid duplication in outreach efforts. Collaborative engagement consisted of two regional open houses held in the evening and virtually to enable both residents and stakeholders to 2     Packet Pg. 40     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 21 attend; three stakeholder consultation workshops held on varying days and times in December; and a joint community survey, which was promoted widely by the jurisdictions. The jurisdictions also prepared a joint regional housing market assessment, with jurisdiction-level market data, to enable jurisdictions to compare housing needs and provide uniform market data in the plans. The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) was invited to participate in a meeting to discuss housing and community development needs. ABAG shared relevant reports for incorporation into the Consolidated Plans. In addition, the County hosts and jurisdictions attend CDBG Coordinators and Regional Housing Working Group meetings. During these meetings, projects benefitting the homeless and special needs housing are discussed as is pending legislation and local initiatives that impact affordable housing and services for lower income households. Jurisdiction staff also support the countywide biennial Homeless Census. Results from the Census are used to identify homeless populations throughout the County and to implement strategies and service priorities to address their needs. Narrative (optional): 2     Packet Pg. 41     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 22 PR-15 Citizen Participation Summary of citizen participation process/Efforts made to broaden citizen participation Engagement that was done in coordination with the County and was targeted to residents included: • A Consolidated Plan website—www.letstalkhousingscc.org—with information about the Planning process including a short video and presentation; a link to the resident survey and activities to prioritize housing and community development needs; and community resources. The website contains a translation feature for easy conversion into multiple languages. • A community survey, available between October and December 2024, and promoted through supportive service and public agencies that work with low and moderate income residents, city social media, and the Consolidated Plan website. • Two virtual regional workshops open to all residents living in Santa Clara County and stakeholders serving residents in the county. The workshops included a brief overview about the Planning process, simple activities to express priority needs, and in-depth discussions about needs in breakout rooms. Interpretation was available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin. • Public hearings: Two public hearings were held to solicit community feedback and review funding recommendations and plan content. One hearing was conducted with the City’s Human Relations Commission, and the second with the Palo Alto City Council. • Public comment on the 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan was open from May 5, 2025 through June 4, 2025. A link to the Consolidated Plan draft document was provided on the Letstalkhousingscc.org website and on the City of Palo Alto website. A complete survey analysis and overview of resident engagement is provided in the appendix of this plan. The survey was distributed through entitlement jurisdictions and was available on the Let’s Talk Housing website, city websites, and printed copies were provided in English and Spanish at community events. From North County, 876 residents responded, 79 of whom are also stakeholders working in a variety of roles and organizations related to housing and community development. Survey respondents were asked to identify priority housing, community development, and economic development outcomes with the following results ranked by frequency of selection for Palo Alto respondents only: • The top housing outcomes were more affordable rental housing and supportive housing for the unhoused (both at 35%), followed by more affordable homeownership (29%), increased shelter capacity (26%), and security deposit assistance for low to moderate income renter households (24%); • The top community development outcome in Palo Alto was affordable childcare (41%), followed by supportive services for the unhoused (38%), access to reliable public transit (35%), supportive services for low-income residents, persons living with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people (32%), and mental health services (26%); 2     Packet Pg. 42     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 23 • The top economic development outcome selected by respondents in Palo Alto was job training programs (62%), followed by revitalization of neighborhood businesses/commercial areas (47%), improved transportation to areas with job opportunities (41%), more opportunities for small or start- up businesses 41%), and center for seasonal and day laborers (35%). Table 4. Citizen Participation Outreach Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of response and attendance Summary of Comments Received Summary of comments not accepted and Reason URL (If Applicable) Consolidated Plan website Countywide Website provided information on the Consolidated Plan process and ways for community residents and stakeholders to be engaged through taking the survey and participating in events. N/A N/A, all comments accepted. Letstalkhousin gscc.org Community Survey open from October to December 2024 (online and printed version) Countywide residents and stakeholders 1634 total responses countywide including 279 stakeholders. 166 responses for Mountain View including 13 stakeholders. Provided in community engagement summary in appendix and referenced in relevant sections through the report. N/A, all comments accepted. Surveymonke y.com/r/Santa ClaraCommun ity 2     Packet Pg. 43     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 24 Table 4. Citizen Participation Outreach (cont’d) Mode of Outreach Target of Outreach Summary of response and attendance Summar y of Comments Received Summary of comments not accepted and Reason URL (If Applicable) 2 Virtual Community Workshops on November 14 and November 20, 2024 Countywide residents 55 total participants between the 2 sessions provided Provided in community engagement summary in appendix and referenced in relevant sections through the report. N/A, all comments accepted. 3 Virtual Stakeholder Workshops / Focus Groups on December 5, December 11 and December 17, 2024 Countywide stakeholders (who are also residents) representing a diversity of organizations involved in housing, social services and community development 72 total stakeholder participants across the 3 sessions provided. Provided in community engagement summary in appendix and referenced in relevant sections through the report. N/A, all comments accepted. 2     Packet Pg. 44     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 25 Needs Assessment NA-05 Overview Needs Assessment Overview Palo Alto is a member of the Santa Clara County HOME Consortium, and as such, completes an abridged Consolidated Plan that has a streamlined analysis of housing needs omitting the NA-10 through NA-45 elements of the plan. This overview, nonetheless, retains key components of these sections including a summary of housing needs, publicly supported housing in the city, characteristics of Palo Alto’s homeless community, and housing needs for special populations as these components are critical to understanding the breadth of lower income residents’ needs, and the City and County efforts to address them. Although Palo Alto is a high-income community, there are notable housing needs among specific groups, including households with fixed incomes (such as seniors relying on Social Security), public service employees, and households whose primary income is from lower-wage sectors like retail and hospitality. The quality and variety of services available to Palo Alto residents, particularly in the downtown area, are impacted by the limited supply of affordable housing options for these households, many of whom commute significant distances to reach employment opportunities in Palo Alto. As shown in the table below, Palo Alto’s population has grown at a faster rate than the number of households, suggesting a trend toward larger households. Additionally, median income has increased by nearly 83% and is now significantly above the Santa Clara County median of $154,954. Table 5. Total Population, Households and Income, 2010 to 2023 Source: 2010 and 2023 ACS 5-year estimates. Palo Alto Housing Needs While the median income in Palo Alto is significantly higher than regional and national averages, 7,375 or 28% of Palo Alto households earn less than 80% of the median income. These lower-income households are more likely to experience housing challenges such as cost burden (spending more than 30% of income on housing costs), overcrowding, and substandard housing conditions due to the area’s high cost of living. The existence of housing problems at different income levels by household types is useful in determining where housing resources and funding should be directed for maximum impact. HUD employs the following definitions when analyzing a jurisdiction’s need for specific types of housing at different price points. Definitions Housing Problem(s) or Condition(s): Substandard Housing - Lacking complete plumbing or kitchen facilities. This includes households without hot and cold piped water, a flush toilet and a bathtub or shower; or kitchen facilities that lack a sink with piped water, a range or stove, or a refrigerator. Demographics 2010 2023 % Change Population 64,403 67,231 7.6% Households 26,677 26,054 2.2% Median Income 120,670 220,408 82.7% 2     Packet Pg. 45     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 26 Overcrowded - Households having complete kitchens and bathrooms but housing more than 1.01 to 1.5 persons per room excluding bathrooms, porches, foyers, halls, or half-rooms. Severely Overcrowded - Households having complete kitchens and bathrooms but housing more than 1.51 persons per room excluding bathrooms, porches, foyers, halls, or half-rooms. Housing Cost Burden - This is represented by the fraction of a household’s total gross income spent on housing costs. For renters, housing costs include rent paid by the tenant plus utilities. For owners, housing costs include mortgage payment, taxes, insurance, and utilities. - A household is considered to be cost burdened if the household is spending more than 30 percent of its monthly income on housing costs. - A household is considered severely cost burdened if the household is spending more than 50 percent of its monthly income on housing costs. Family Type(s): Small Related - The number of family households with two to four related members. Large Related - The number of family households with five or more related members. Elderly - A household whose head, spouse, or sole member is a person who is at least 62 years of age. Income: HUD Area Median Family Income (HAMFI) - This is the median family income calculated by HUD for each jurisdiction, in order to determine Fair Market Rents (FMRs) and income limits for HUD programs. Santa Clara County’s HAMFI for 2024 is $184,300.  Extremely low-income - Households earning below 30 % ($55,290) of the AMI/HAMFI  Very low-income - Households earning 31-50% ($92,150) of the AMI/HAMFI  Low-income - Households earning 51-80% ($147,440) of the AMI/HAMFI. Supplemental Table 1, below, presents projected housing needs in Palo Alto for low-income households in Palo Alto – defined as those earning less than 80% AMI, or $146,720 annually. As shown in the figure below, approximately 70% of low-income households are anticipated to experience some form of housing need. Over the next five years, more than 5,000 low-income households are projected to face housing challenges. 2     Packet Pg. 46     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 27 Supplemental Figure 1. Future housing need for low-income households Source: 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, and CHAS 2016-2020 . Across jurisdictions in Santa Clara County, cost burden and severe cost burden are the most common housing problems. This is an expected outcome given the region’s high housing costs. Overcrowding is also often observed with households that earn too much to qualify for housing subsidies, yet not enough to afford market-rate rents without experiencing at least a moderate level of cost burden. This is particularly seen with households whose incomes fall between 50% and 80% of the AMI. The tables below show the percentage of Palo Alto households experiencing moderate and severe cost burden based on 2010 and 2023 5-year American Community Survey estimates. Supplemental Figure 2. Palo Alto Cost Burden by Tenure, 2010-2023 Supplemental Figure 3. Palo Alto Cost Burden by Income Source: 2010 and 2023 ACS 5-year estimates . Publicly Assisted Housing in Palo Alto The Santa Clara County Housing Authority administers a variety of federal rental assistance programs serving Future Total HH # HH With Hsg Need % with Need (based on regional data) Hsg Need in 5 Yr All Low Income Households (<80% AMI)7,375 5,154 70%5,107 By Income Extremely low income households (<30% AM 2,944 2,519 86%2,496 Very low income households (30-50% AMI)1,783 1,229 69%1,218 Low income households (50-80% AMI)2,647 1,395 53%1,382 By Tenure Low Income Renters (<80% AMI)4,517 3,348 74%3,318 Low Income Owners (<80% AMI)2,858 1,685 59%1,669 Current Household Type Cost Burden >= 30%2010 2023 Renter Households 37%43% Owner Households 26%24% All Households 31%32% Cost Burden >= 50%2010 2023 Renter Households 16%20% Owner Households 11%13% All Households 13%16% % of All Households with Cost Burden >= 30% by HH income 2023 Less than $20,000 91% $20,000 to $34,999 87% $35,000 to $49,999 73% $50,000 to $74,999 67% $75,000 or more 23% 2     Packet Pg. 47     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 28 residents throughout the County of Santa Clara. These programs are targeted toward low-, very low-, and extremely low-income households, more than 80% of which are extremely low-income families, seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, and formerly homeless individuals.2 In Santa Clara County, the vast majority of federal publicly supported housing is provided through the Section 8 voucher program. Following SCCHA’s conversion of its public housing portfolio under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program, only four traditional public housing units remain in the County, all of which are located in the City of Santa Clara. Housing voucher programs include: 1) Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program which allows households to find a privately owned unit on their own paying approximately 30% of their monthly income towards rent and SCCHA paying the balance to the property owner; and 2) Project Based Vouchers (PBV) Program Project that are attached to individual units in the publicly assisted housing inventory managed by SCCHA. SCCHA also manages special purpose voucher programs that serve other targeted populations including the Veteran’s Affairs program, Family Unification and Disability programs. Some SCCHA special programs combine housing assistance with savings incentives and other include case management services provided in collaboration with community service agencies. As of January 2025, there were approximately 18,000 voucher holders across the County. In Palo Alto, as of January 2025, there were 272 vouchers in use, including 67 Project-Based Vouchers at the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park. The County’s voucher waiting list for all vouchers remains open and currently includes 42,872 households, encompassing both HCV and PBV applicants. Because households may apply to both lists, some entries are duplicative. Additionally, eligibility is not verified until the household is selected, therefore the total waiting list number is considerably larger than the actual unduplicated number of households actively seeking a housing voucher. The waiting list household characteristics include 41% families with children, 20% elderly, 18% with disabilities and 2% veterans. The waiting list is operated on a lottery basis, with a preference for households who have lived and worked in the County for the past five years and veterans. For PBV units, accessibility features are tracked, and a lottery is used to match households based on specific accessibility needs. In 2008, the SCCHA was designated a Moving to Work (MTW) agency. MTW is a federal demonstration program that allows greater flexibility to design and implement more innovative approaches for providing housing assistance.3 The Moving to Work program includes 60 initiatives designed to improve outcomes and experiences for both residents and landlords. These initiatives aim to streamline administrative processes and inspections to accelerate the placement of households into housing. These efficiencies have also supported landlord engagement by offering more predictable and timely rental payments, contributing to broader participation in the voucher program. Homeless Needs 2 Santa Clara County Housing Authority. “About SCCHA.” https://www.scchousingauthority.org/about-SCCHA/ 3 SSCHA. “Moving to Work FY2020 Annual Plan.” October 16, 2019. 2     Packet Pg. 48     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 29 Jurisdictions across Santa Clara County are struggling with adequately responding to homeless residents’ needs with inadequate funding and systems for sufficient prevention and provision of support services including mental health, addiction treatment, low barrier transitional and supportive housing and emergency shelter for different types of households experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Understanding the characteristics of people experiencing homelessness is critical to identifying effective strategies for prevention and determining the appropriate types of housing, resources, and services most needed in the City. According to 2022 HMIS data for Palo Alto:  Homelessness affects residents across all age groups in Palo Alto. However, the largest share is among adults ages 25 to 44, who comprise 41% of the homeless population. This is followed by individuals aged 45 to 64 (38%), those 65 and older (13%), and young adults aged 18 to 24 (8%).  White residents (51%) comprised the largest share of homeless households followed by individuals who identify as Hispanic/Latinx (33%), Black or African American (27%), multi-racial (6%), Asian or Asian American (5%), American Indian or Alaska Native (3%), and/or Pacific Islander (3%).  Men were more likely to experience homelessness, with 60% of individuals self-identifying as male, 40% as female, and less than 1% identifying as a gender other than exclusively female or male. According to an analysis of Palo Alto households who took the VI-SPDAT assessment between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, the factors and characteristics linked with instability and homelessness include mental health (55%), substance use disorder (32%), chronic health condition (30%), and/or a learning/developmental disability (27%). Other characteristics linked with households that accessed services during the 2022 reporting period included: experience with domestic violence (29%), recent incarceration (18%), and/or experience in the foster care system (16%). Household composition appears to be a contributing factor to housing instability and an increased risk of homelessness in Palo Alto. In 2022, single adult households comprised 75% of all households experiencing homelessness in the City, representing 207 single adult households. Notably, compared to other jurisdictions where homelessness is more prevalent among households without children, Palo Alto has a relatively higher proportion of homeless households with children (16%), compared to 9% for those without children. Palo Alto’s Housing Element also identifies several factors that may contribute to housing instability, including high housing cost burden, job loss, salary reductions, or martial separations. Residents who participated in the Housing Element community engagement activities emphasized the high cost of living in the City. Many reported that lower housing and utility costs would improve their housing stability and overall sense of security. Additionally, the CoC cites research (and PIT surveys) showing bad credit, chronic health conditions, mental illness, criminal justice involvement, and low or no income as contributing factors. For example, according to the findings from the 2023 PIT survey, individuals self-identified the factors that contributed to them becoming homeless which included: job loss (24%), alcohol or drug use (11%), divorce/separation/break up (9%), eviction (8%), fleeing domestic violence (8%), and/or other reason (8%). When asked what is preventing them from getting permanent and stable housing, survey participants identified factors including: cannot afford rent, no job/not enough income, no money for moving costs, bad credit, no housing available, and/or criminal record. 2     Packet Pg. 49     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 30 The City of Palo Alto has made significant efforts to address unsheltered homelessness in the city including increasing shelter capacity and development safe parking with supportive services. Over the last year, homelessness in Santa Clara County and Palo Alto has declined while other jurisdictions have experienced increases in overall homelessness. In the City of Palo Alto, the total number of persons experiencing homelessness declined by 25%, or 68 individuals in 2023. This compares to Santa Clara County overall which experienced a much more modest decrease at only 1% (or 125 fewer individuals). These findings are shown in the figure below. While unsheltered homelessness in Palo Alto has declined over the past year—by 76 individuals, or 29%—a significant portion of individuals experiencing homelessness remain without access to shelter. According to the City’s 2023 Report on Housing and Services for the Unhoused, a much larger share of unhoused residents in Palo Alto sleep outdoors or in vehicles, compared to those in shelters or transitional housing programs. According to the 2023 update, one third (33%) sleep outdoors and 29% sleep in a vehicle compared to only 14% staying in a shelter and 3% in transitional housing.4 Detail on Palo Alto’s current inventory of emergency/transitional housing, and efforts to increase shelter capacity and unhoused supportive services is provided in the Market Analysis section of this plan. Supplemental Figure 4. Unsheltered and Sheltered Homelessness, Santa Clara County, 2022-2023 Source: 2022 and 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) data. Non-Homeless Special Needs: Households at risk of homelessness In 2023, there were a total of 9,197 single person households in Palo Alto (33% of total households), according to 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates. Single person households are at significant risk of displacement and homelessness in the City of Palo Alto and in the County of Santa Clara as these households have drastically lower incomes than other households in the city and households in surrounding cities. The median household income for single person households was only $77,260 per year compared to $184,068 per year for overall households and over $250,000 per year for households of larger sizes. As housing prices continue to increase, these households will likely struggle to remain in their homes and communities without additional assistance. 4 City of Palo Alto, “Housing and Services for Unhoused Residents 2023 Update,” City of Palo Alto, 2023. Cupertino 102 48 0 0 102 48 -54 -53% Gilroy 606 817 208 231 814 1,048 234 29% Milpitas 249 142 25 0 274 142 -132 -48% Mountain View 206 424 140 138 346 562 216 62% Palo Alto 263 187 11 19 274 206 -68 -25% Santa Clara City 375 417 65 44 440 461 21 5% Sunnyvale 279 320 106 151 385 471 86 22% Santa Clara County 7,708 7,401 2,320 2,502 10,028 9,903 -125 -1% Pct.2022 2023 2022 2023 2022 2023 Num. Unsheltered Sheltered Total 2     Packet Pg. 50     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 31 Expanding rental and other housing assistance to support these households is especially important to prevent homelessness given the large share of single person households accessing homeless services and housing in Palo Alto. Between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, single adults comprised 75% of the total households who took the VI-SPDAT assessment (207 single adult households). This compares to only 9% of households without children and 16% of households with children. Special populations needing housing assistance in Palo Alto Residents with disabilities. According to 2023 1-year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates, there were a total of 5,759 persons with disabilities in Palo Alto (or 9% of the City’s total resident population). Persons with disabilities and their families may face an elevated risk of homelessness, and often require enhanced access to housing assistance to avoid housing instability. Data from local rapid re-housing (RRH) programs further illustrates this need. During the 2023-2024 reporting period, nearly half of single adult households enrolling in RRH reported a chronic health condition. Many households also reported disabilities when accessing services. According to 2022 data for the City of Palo Alto, of the households who took the VI-SPDAT assessment to receive services, 55% reported having a mental health condition, 32% reported a substance use disorder, 30% reported a chronic health condition, and 27% reported a learning or developmental dsiability. These data demonstrate the need to provide these households with access to RRH programs, which include rental housing subsidies, case management, and connections to supportive services. Findings from the 2023 PIT survey demonstrate the need for assistance even further. According to the survey findings, a total of 522 homeless persons self-reported having at least one disabling condition (or 52% of survey participants). Psychiatric or emotional conditions are common challenges with 31% reporting that they experience these challenges, followed by 29% with post-traumatic stress disorder, 26% with drug or alcohol addictions, 25% with a chronical health problem or medical condition, 21% with a physical disability, 9% with an intellectual or developmental disability, and 3% with an HIV/AIDS-related illness. Higher rates of homelessness among persons with disabilities and other health challenges indicates that these individuals and households have a greater need for housing assistance and supportive services to avoid long-term housing instability and homelessness. Survivors of domestic violence. Survivors of domestic violence have complex housing and service needs and often require access to affordable housing and supportive services to remain stably housed and self-sufficient. Experience with domestic violence is one of the leading causes of housing instability, financial insecurity, and homelessness. This is evidenced by the large share of Palo Alto households who took the VI-SPDAT assessment between January 2022 and December 2022 that reported having experienced domestic violence. Of the 276 homeless Palo Alto households who accessed services during the reporting period, almost one-third (29%) reported that they had experienced domestic violence (79 domestic violence survivors). Additionally, findings from the PIT survey conducted to support the findings from the 2023 PIT count show that 8% of those surveyed had entered homelessness because they were fleeing domestic violence. Elderly persons/households. Elderly persons are defined by HUD and the City as individuals age 62 and older, and elderly households as households that include an individual age 62 and older. According to 2023 1-year American Community Survey (ACS) estimates, 23% of City residents are 62 years and older (15,247 elderly persons). Many elderly households have unique housing and service needs, particularly due to fixed incomes that may limit their ability to afford housing, healthcare, and specialized care. These challenges are further compounded by the high cost of living and limited availability of affordable housing in Palo Alto. Because many elderly persons and senior households are retired and rely on fixed incomes, they may face an 2     Packet Pg. 51     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 32 increased risk of housing instability and homelessness, especially as housing costs and living expenses continue to rise. In addition, elderly persons and seniors are more likely to need access to public transportation, as may no longer be able to drive. Access to transit is especially important for reaching essential destinations such as medical appointments, grocery stores, and other critical services. Large households. Large households are defined by the Census Bureau as a household with five or more persons. According to 2023 1-year data, the City of Palo Alto has an average household size of 2.35 people with large households comprising 5% of total households (1,475 large households). Large households (especially families) often have special housing needs due to a lack of adequately sized affordable housing available to them in Palo Alto. The higher costs required to rent units or own homes with multiple bedrooms can cause larger families to experience cost burdens at a disproportionately higher rate than the City’s total population, increasing the risk of housing instability and homelessness. Female-headed households. In 2023, there were a total of 2,171 female-headed households in the City of Palo Alto which represented nearly 8% of total households at the time. The majority of single female householders have children (under 18 years) with a total of 1,323 total single mother households. Female householders have lower incomes than total households in the City, placing them at a greater risk of financial insecurity and/or housing instability. In 2023, for example, the median household income for female-headed households was $133,210 per year compared to the median household income for family households at over $250,000 per year. Persons with addictions and/or mental illness. In the City of Palo Alto, and in Santa Clara County, persons with addictions and persons with a mental illness are at an increased risk of homelessness and housing instability as many individuals lack access to the supportive housing and services they need to remain stably housed. According to the PIT survey, for example, 143 homeless persons (14%) reported that the primary reason or condition that led to them becoming homeless was “alcohol or drug use” and 64 people (6%) reported that “mental health issues” led to them becoming homeless. When asked what might have prevented them from becoming homeless, 256 homeless persons (25%) said “mental health services” and 183 people (18%) said “alcohol/drug counseling.” While the need for housing and services among this population is high, results from the 2023 PIT survey show low utilization rates among homeless persons in Santa Clara County with only 88 people (9%) accessing mental health services. This compares to 219 homeless persons (22%) who are not using any services. 2     Packet Pg. 52     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 33 NA-50 Non-Housing Community Development Needs – 91.215 (f) Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Facilities: This section assesses non-housing community development needs, largely informed by stakeholder consultation, resident workshops, and the community survey. The community survey also included responses from 269 stakeholders working across jurisdictions. A complete regional survey analysis and overview of community engagement including stakeholder consultation is provided in the Appendix. The table below shows the frequency of responses from Palo Alto residents on most critical community and economic development needs. 2     Packet Pg. 53     Supplemental Figure 5: Critical Community Development Needs, Palo Alto Respondents Source: Santa Clara County Housing and Community Development Resident / Stakeholder Survey 2024. Note: n=34 0% 6% 9% 9% 9% 12% 12% 12% 15% 15% 15% 15% 18% 18% 18% 18% 18% 21% 21% 26% 26% 26% 32% 35% 38% 41% Access to internet Documentation assistance (getting an ID or driver’s license) Community centers Legal and/or housing assistance for formerly incarcerated or residents with criminal… Food pantries Developed parks/playgrounds Environmental hazard mitigation Job training programs Financial counseling Youth activities Help for small businesses (for example, business plan development, accounting and… Neighborhood cleanups Housing counseling for tenant-landlord issues Public resource navigation assistance (health insurance, SNAP, TANF, housing… Local renewable energy generation Help for non-profits (for example, identifying loan/ grant opportunities, capacity… Sidewalks, streetlights, and/or other similar neighborhood improvements Climate resilience-focused planning and implementation Senior center/senior services (including community building opportunities) Transportation services for seniors "Streets for people" or "complete streets" that are walkable and bikeable Mental health services Supportive services for low-income residents, persons living with disabilities,… Access to reliable public transportation Services for persons who are currently unhoused Affordable childcare 2     Packet Pg. 54     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 35 Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Facilities: Survey respondents were asked to select the most critical community and economic development needs that included public facilities, public improvement, and public services. Public facilities related options were selected less frequently than public service related options and ranked as follows among the 26 choices provided for Palo Alto respondents only: #8: Senior centers #21: Developed parks and playgrounds #12: Food pantries #24: Community Centers Although survey respondents from Palo Alto placed a lower priority on community centers, in regional community meetings and stakeholder focus groups, stakeholders emphasized the need countywide for nonprofit facilities, community centers, and youth centers, which were frequently mentioned as essential for fostering social connections and providing key services. Participants highlighted the importance of improving childcare infrastructure consistent with survey responses, including affordable and accessible childcare options, as well as creating community space for seniors and youth. Enhancements to public spaces, such as improved trails, parks, and ecological design were also prioritized with calls for improved walkability, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and ADA-compliant facilities. Stakeholder feedback through virtual workshops and individual interviews highlighted the critical need for emergency shelter across the North County jurisdictions. A need for increased coordination and sharing of best practice approaches to addressing homelessness between jurisdictions and collaboration with nonprofits was also referenced. How were these needs determined? Survey respondents were asked to identify the City’s most critical community and economic development needs, as well as housing and development outcomes they would like to see achieved through HUD funding. During community and stakeholder workshops held to support the Consolidated Plan process, attendees shared their perceptions on the top needs through facilitated discussions and interactive activities. Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Improvements: Similar to public facilities options, public improvements were ranked less frequently than public services by survey respondents when identifying the most critical community and economic development needs in Palo Alto, as shown in the previous table. The top 5 public improvement related options for Palo Alto respondents among the 26 choices offered were: #3: Access to public transportation #6: Streets for people, walkable and bikeable #10: Sidewalk improvements including lighting #12: Local renewable energy generation #15: Neighborhood cleanups Stakeholders interviewed indicated a need for increased efforts to attract residents to downtown Palo Alto. 2     Packet Pg. 55     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 36 Many residents noted that they are choosing to shop in the Stanford Shopping Center area instead, citing concerns related to the presence of unhoused individuals and the need for investments and updated to the downtown area. How were these needs determined? Survey respondents were asked to identify the City’s most critical community and economic development needs, as well as housing and development outcomes they would like to see achieved through HUD funding. During community and stakeholder workshops held to support the Consolidated Plan process, attendees shared their perceptions on the top needs through facilitated discussions and interactive activities. Describe the jurisdiction’s need for Public Services: Among Palo Alto respondents, public services related options ranked highest in response to community and economic development needs and outcomes that residents would like to see achieved through HUD CDBG funding. As shown in the figure above, public services were ranked among the highest of 26 community and economic development options, with the following selected most frequently: #1: Childcare #2: Services for the unhoused #4: Supportive services for low income households, people with disabilities, vulnerable populations #5: Mental health services #7. Transportation services for seniors Stakeholders participating in regional workshops frequently emphasized the importance of mental health services, legal assistance, and homelessness prevention, particularly for seniors, transition-age youth, and unhoused families. Attendees noted the need to expand domestic violence services, including shelters and education programs, and support immigrants through language services, citizenship classes, and navigation assistance for new arrivals. Case management, housing navigation, and rental assistance were also mentioned as critical tools to keep vulnerable populations housed. There was also a focus on senior and youth services. Broader calls included improving access to multi-language services, addressing tenant-landlord issues, and ensuring support systems special populations. Stakeholders also indicated that limited dental and vision screening services exist across the North County area for low income residents is having an impact on children’s ability to succeed in school. Regional workshop attendees also highlighted the need for robust support in education access, job training, and skill development, with calls for programs that enhance economic mobility and create better job opportunities. A strong emphasis was placed on small business development, including access to microbusiness assistance, business grants, and loans, particularly for minority-owned and start-up enterprises. This aligns well with Palo Alto’s 2023 Economic Development Strategies report which prioritizes smaller, unique, neighborhood business development and intentional efforts to bringing more tourists into the city with the goal of bolstering the hospitality industry. Community Development Block Grant funds could be used to address this need through rehabilitation of retail space, or infrastructure improvements to support different types of small business for low to moderate income entrepreneurial projects and/or incubators. 2     Packet Pg. 56     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 37 Participants also advocated for expanding resources like adult education, financial literacy, and professional development, with targeted support for underserved communities, such as Spanish-speaking programs and services for LGBTQ+ individuals and immigrants. Consideration of hours that programs are offered to accommodate full time workers wishing to upskill was also referenced as a barrier to accessing workforce development programs in the county. Lastly, throughout the engagement process, a greater need for regional collaboration and sharing of best practices between local jurisdiction staff and nonprofit service providers was repeatedly referenced as critical to effectively targeting public improvement and service needs. With limited resources and significant need, stakeholders indicated that increased opportunities for convening to share information, and investigating collaborative projects would maximize opportunities and result in greater impact directed where it is most needed across the region. How were these needs determined? Survey respondents were asked to identify the City’s most critical community and economic development needs, as well as housing and development outcomes they would like to see achieved through HUD funding. During community and stakeholder workshops held to support the Consolidated Plan process, attendees shared their perceptions on the top needs through facilitated discussions and interactive activities. 2     Packet Pg. 57     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 38 Housing Market Analysis MA-05 Overview Housing Market Analysis Overview: To support Palo Alto’s Consolidated Plan, a regional and jurisdictional housing market analysis was conducted. That study is appended to the Plan, and primary findings are summarized here. As previously indicated, Palo Alto participates in the HOME Consortium and completes an abridged Consolidated Plan that omits the MA-10 through MA-35 sections of the full Consolidated Plan, however, some of the data for these sections has still been included in shortened form for reference. The balance of this section reviews affordable housing inventory, emergency / supportive /transitional housing facilities, housing for special populations, non-housing development community development assets, needs for broadband service and displacement risks caused by natural hazards. Primary findings from the regional housing market analysis and non-housing community development overview include: • Palo Alto households have some of the highest incomes in the county. The median household income is $220,408, compared with $154,954 for the county overall and $95,521 for California. Both owners (median $250,000) and renters (median $161,642) have median incomes higher than the county overall. • 39% of Palo Alto households have 2 or more workers. Palo Alto has the highest share of households with no workers among the entitlement jurisdictions in Santa Clara County at 25%. Palo Alto also has a high share of residents who either work from home (33%) and 48% work outside of the city. • Palo Alto has had a slow rate of housing production compared to other jurisdictions in the county: housing units grew by only 5% between 2013 and 2023 with the majority of the production occurring between 2018 and 2023. Palo Alto also has less diversity of housing stock compared to other jurisdictions with 59% of housing stock comprised of single family detached homes. The city’s inventory of multifamily 20+ unit buildings, however, comprises 19% of the housing stock and is average among entitlement jurisdictions. • The median rent in Palo Alto was $3,328 per month in 2023, an increase of 35% since 2018. This figure is significantly higher than the countywide median of$2,781 and ranks as the second highest among entitlement jurisdictions, following Cupertino. • Palo Alto’s median home value is approximately $3.4 million, making homeownership unattainable for the majority of households—particularly those earning low or moderate incomes. In summary, Palo Alto’s housing market primarily serves high-income households and presents limited options for the City’s essential workforce. Continued prioritization of affordable housing production is critical to addressing the shortage of workforce housing and unmet demand. Stakeholders who engaged through workshops and interviews identified priority needs in Palo Alto and the region as: • Support for home-based, microenterprise childcare, which is a huge need across the county and significantly underfunded. • Supportive services in general; most services are concentrated in San Jose. 2     Packet Pg. 58     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 39 • Rental and utility assistance and/or one time emergency assistance to avoid eviction. • Increased low barrier shelter for people experiencing homelessness. • Improved navigation of housing and resources available and more individualized case management especially for seniors with limited digital access and ability. • Supportive services and transitional/safehouse beds for residents fleeing domestic violence. • Financial and credit counseling Recommended priority activities to respond to needs include: • Assisting very low income households with supportive services, including childcare and rental assistance to help maintain housing stability. • Supporting the creation of new affordable rental housing, including transitional housing for residents experiencing or at-risk of homelessness and those fleeing domestic violence. • Supporting housing rehabilitation programs for low-income homeowners especially for seniors and residents with disabilities living in RVs. • More workforce development opportunities for lower income resident to upskill and receive certifications and/or launch entrepreneurial projects. Rental Market The median rent in Palo Alto, as of 2023, was $3,328 per month according to the American Community Survey (ACS). Costar, which tracks rents for larger multifamily properties, reports a lower median of $2,752. Median gross rent increased by 101% between 2010 and 2023, according to 2023 5-year ACS estimates. As previously referenced in the Needs Assessment Overview, a significant number of Palo Alto residents, especially renters, experience some level of cost burden due to the extremely high cost of housing. Based on American Community Survey 5 year estimates for 2018 and 2023, 43% of renters in Palo Alto are cost burdened, slightly increased from 2018 as shown below. Homeowners cost burden impacts approximately a quarter of households and has remained mostly unchanged from 2018 to 2023. Supplemental Figure 6. Cost Burden in Palo Alto Source: 2018 ACS 5 year estimates, 2023 ACS 5 year estimates. 2     Packet Pg. 59     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 40 Rental gaps—which occur when demand from renter households outweighs the supply of affordable rental units—exists for renters until they have incomes of $75,000 and higher (approximately 40% AMI). Palo Alto needs 1,117 rental units or subsidies affordable to renters with incomes of less than $75,000: there are 3,223 renters with incomes under $75,000 and 2,106 units affordable to them. Households earning up to $75,000/year must often rent higher priced units, becoming cost burdened and putting pressure on the supply of units at higher price points. Cumulatively, shortages in affordable rental units affect households earning up to and more than $75,000. North County respondents to the resident survey who reported being displaced within the past 5 years indicated that high and increasing rents were the primary reason for displacement followed by eviction for being behind on rent signaling a critical need for more affordable rental opportunities and rental assistance to prevent eviction. Twenty-four percent of North Santa Clara County resident respondents indicated they had been displaced within the past 5 years. Supplemental Figure 7. Rental Affordability Gap, Palo Alto 2023 Source: 2023 5-year ACS and Root Policy Research. For Sale Market In 2024, the median for sale home price in Palo Alto was nearly $3.5 million based on Zillow data. As shown in the figure below, Palo Alto has by far the highest median home prices in the County. Rental Gaps Income Range Maximum Affordable Gross Rent # of Renter Household s # of Rental Units Affordable Rental Gap Cumulative Gap Less than $5,000 $125 439 27 -412 -412 $5,000 to $9,999 $250 100 74 -26 -438 $10,000 to $14,999 $375 429 274 -155 -594 $15,000 to $19,999 $500 220 212 -8 -602 $20,000 to $24,999 $625 205 193 -12 -614 $25,000 to $34,999 $875 385 229 -156 -769 $35,000 to $49,999 $1,250 527 363 -164 -933 $50,000 to $74,999 $1,875 918 734 -184 -1,117 $75,000 to $99,999 $2,500 833 1,615 782 -335 $100,000 or more 7,883 9,492 1,609 1,274 2     Packet Pg. 60     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 41 Supplemental Figure 8. Typical Home Price Trends, Santa Clara County and Jurisdictions, 2004 through 2024 Source: Zillow Research and Root Policy Research. Losses in purchase affordability due to rising prices and interest rates in the past five years have significantly limited accessibility of homeownership for the county’s workforce as the income required to afford a home in Palo Alto is several times the median income. Palo Alto’s high-income levels present limitations for typical affordability gap models that use American Community Survey data, which may not fully capture mismatches at the upper end of the income spectrum. As shown in the table below, purchase affordability gaps—which occur when demand from potential first-time homebuyers outweighs the supply of affordable homes for sale—exist for renters earning less than $150,000 annually. An estimated 48% of Palo Alto’s potential first-time homebuyers earn less than $150,000, yet fewer than 3% of owner-occupied units are valued within their affordable price range. Supplemental Figure 9. Renter Purchase Affordability Gap, Palo Alto, 2023 Renter Purchase Gaps Income Range Maximum Affordable Price % of Renter Household s % of Homes Affordable Renter Purchase Gap Cumulativ e Gap Less than $5,000 $14,023 4% 1%-3% -3% $5,000 to $9,999 $28,043 1% 0%-1% -4% $10,000 to $14,999 $42,066 4% 0%-4% -7% $15,000 to $19,999 $56,089 2% 0%-2% -9% $20,000 to $24,999 $70,112 2% 0%-2% -11% $25,000 to $34,999 $98,158 3% 0%-3% -14% $35,000 to $49,999 $140,227 4% 0%-4% -18% $50,000 to $74,999 $210,342 8% 0%-7% -25% $75,000 to $99,999 $280,458 7% 1%-6% -32% $100,000 to $149,999 $420,688 14% 1%-13% -45% $150,000 or more 52% 97% 45% 2     Packet Pg. 61     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 42 Source: 2023 5-year ACS and Root Policy Research. Lastly, as shown in supplemental figure x below, median renter income growth has slightly exceeded rent growth, however, when considering increases in housing adjacent costs between 2018 and 2023 such as utilities, and everyday necessities due to inflation, households are generally struggling to keep up with rising housing costs. Supplemental Figure 10. Median Income and Housing Costs 2018-2023 Source: 2018 and 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, Zillow Research. Preservation and Development of Affordable Housing in Palo Alto The City of Palo Alto's Housing Element outlines plans to significantly increase the number of affordable housing units as the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) for 2023-2031 mandates the city to plan for 6,086 total units, a substantial increase from the previous cycle. A significant portion of this allocation is for affordable housing. Units by income range are as follows: • Extremely Low-Income: 778 units (30% or less of County AMI) • Very Low-Income: 778 units (31 to 50% of County AMI) • Low-Income: 896 units (51 to 80% of County AMI) • Moderate-Income: 1,013 units (81% to 120% of County AMI) • Above Moderate-Income: 2,621 units (Over 120% of County AMI) The Housing Element details various strategies to meet these needs, including: • Crediting entitled developments since June 30, 2022, and units currently in process. • Projected Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): It is assumed that a significant portion of the projected 512 ADUs will be affordable, with 153 projected for Very Low-Income, 153 for Low-Income, and 153 for Moderate-Income households. • Potential housing in existing residential zoning. • Potential housing in commercial zoning districts that could accommodate mixed-use development. • Potential housing on sites that will be rezoned to allow for high-density residential use. 2     Packet Pg. 62     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 43 After accounting for credits from entitled projects and anticipated ADUs, there is a remaining RHNA of 4,792 units to be accommodated through identified opportunity sites. This includes a remaining need for 1,254 Very Low-Income units, 601 Low-Income units, and 831 Moderate-Income units. Palo Alto has identified numerous opportunity sites and strategies to achieve this, including rezoning efforts, development on City-owned parking lots, and engaging with faith-based institutions. The total realistic capacity through RHNA credits and opportunity sites is estimated to be 6,813 units, exceeding the RHNA target which includes a surplus for lower-income categories. The City has also set quantified housing objectives for the planning period including: New Construction: 2,452 lower-income units (Very Low and Low income combined) and 1,013 moderate- income units ADU Construction: A projected 306 lower-income units and 153 moderate-income units Preservation of At-Risk Units: 103 units Some examples of Palo Alto’s commitment to increasing affordable housing includes the contribution of $20.5 million to the 59 affordable housing unit Wilton Court Apartments (opened in 2022), hosting the first affordable housing resource fair, and establishing a temporary Housing Ad Hoc Committee in 2023. In 2024, the City received Housing Element certification and worked to advance the development plan to maintain affordability and improve conditions at the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park as affordable housing. As shown in the figures below from the Regional Housing Market Analysis, 59% of Palo Alto’s housing inventory consists of single-family homes—one of the highest proportions among entitlement jurisdictions. The City ranks near the middle in terms of its share of high-density multifamily housing (20 or more units), which affects the availability of affordable housing options. Housing growth in Palo Alto has been limited over the past decade, with a total increase of 5% in the number of housing units—most of which has occurred after 2018. Supplemental Figure 11: Distribution of Housing Types by Jurisdiction Source: 2023 ACS 5-year estimates. 2     Packet Pg. 63     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 44 Supplemental Figure 12: Housing Unit Change by Jurisdiction, 2013-2023 Source: 2023 ACS 5-year estimates. Affordable Housing Inventory and Units at Risk of Expiring Palo Alto has identified publicly assisted affordable housing units that are at risk of converting to market-rate during the 2023-2031 planning period. This risk can arise from the termination of subsidy contracts, mortgage prepayment, or expiring use restrictions. The Housing Element includes an inventory of these "at-risk" units, primarily drawing from the California Housing Partnership’s Preservation Database and verified with City records. There are 21 affordable housing projects in Palo Alto, providing a total of 1,446 assisted units. Of these, 5% are considered at High Risk or Very High Risk of conversion. Specifically, 72 units at the Terman Apartments are identified as being at higher risk of conversion because their HUD contract is set to expire in March 2027. These units serve families and the elderly and are subsidized with Section 8 project-based rental assistance. Preservation of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing. Through CDBG funding allocated to Rebuilding Together, Palo Alto allows significant rehabilitation projects to preserve affordable housing. The City has also funded rehab of existing affordable housing development to improve their livability and extend the affordability of those units. As shown in the table below, around one quarter of owner-occupied homes report one negative housing condition, whereas 46% of renter occupied homes have one or two conditions indicating a need for rental housing rehabilitation and preservation. Rebuilding Together is the region’s primary nonprofit provider of rehabilitation services and indicated that waiting lists consistently exist for their services in Palo Alto as demand exceeds the availability of funding. As RV’s have increasingly become an affordable option for seniors on a fixed income, considerable improvements are needed to extend the life and habitability of these units to ensure safety for residents who have limited Jurisdiction 2013-2023 2018-2023 Santa Clara County 642,654 678,530 703,922 10% 4% San José 319,700 334,350 343,058 7%3% Participating Cities Cupertino 21,473 21,788 22,341 4%3% Gilroy 15,024 16,585 17,732 18% 7% Milpitas 20,744 23,574 25,763 24% 9% Mountain View 33,468 35,903 38,770 16% 8% Palo Alto 27,789 27,753 29,104 5%5% Santa Clara (city)44,632 46,485 51,886 16% 12% Sunnyvale 56,168 58,915 61,808 10% 5% Urban County Program 97,192 100,012 103,747 7%4% Campbell 16,616 17,819 17,950 8%1% Los Altos 11,493 11,040 11,620 1%5% Los Altos Hills 3,052 3,356 3,430 12% 2% Los Gatos 13,102 12,925 13,901 6%8% Monte Sereno 1,259 1,251 1,439 14% 15% Morgan Hill 13,133 15,070 15,025 14% 0% Saratoga 11,324 11,417 11,404 1%0% Unincorporated 27,213 27,134 28,978 6%7% California 13,791,262 14,277,867 14,762,527 7%3% United States 132,808,137 138,539,906 145,333,462 9%5% Unit Change ChartTotal Housing Units Housing Unit Change 2013 2018 2023 0%10%20%30% 2013-2023 2018-2023 2     Packet Pg. 64     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 45 mobility. Table 6. Condition of Units 2023 ACS 5-year estimates Palo Alto Homeless Services and Facilities Overview Although the abridged Consolidated Plan does not require an analysis of facilities and services available for preventing and remediating homelessness, it is included here to demonstrate Palo Alto’s commitment to increasing its capacity to address the complex issues surrounding homelessness. Recent projects to address homelessness prevention and provision of shelter in Palo Alto include: • Safe parking with supportive services through Move MV. • Palo Alto Homekey: A new interim shelter is currently under construction and will include individual units with en suite bathroom. The facility will include areas for single adults and for families. Funded in part by a $26 million California Homekey grant, the project also received private donations, land contributed by the City, and has secured seven years of operating funding. Originating from the state’s Project Homekey initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic—which aimed to rapidly expand shelter and housing capacity through motel conversions—the project includes on-site amenities such as a playground and has partnered with local animal services to allow pets. • Mitchell Park Place: Partnership to develop 50 affordable rental apartments and 2,750 square feet of service space for AbilityPath. The project broke ground in March 2024 and is currently under construction. • Rental protection: In 2021, the City adopted a renter protection policy that limits security deposits and requires landlords to offer tenants a one-year lease. The City also provides a free mediation program to help tenants and landlords resolve disputes and avoid eviction. • As part of its Housing Element, Palo Alto has committed to facilitating affordable housing development on City-owned sites, including parking lots. At least 25% of the units on these sites will be designated for formerly homeless or unhoused individuals. Supplemental Figure 13 below shows the current inventory of homeless facilities available to homeless residents in Palo Alto. Supplemental Figure 13. Homeless Facilities in the City of Palo Alto Number %Number % With one selected Condition 3,258 23% 4,744 40% With two selected Conditions 20 0%658 6% With three selected Conditions 4 0%0 0% With four selected Conditions 0 0%0 0% No selected Conditions 10,833 77% 6,537 55% Total 14,115 100% 11,939 100% Condition of Units Owner-Occupied Renter-Occupied 2     Packet Pg. 65     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 46 Source: City of Palo Alto Housing Element and Santa Clara County 2-1-1. Below is a comprehensive list of services and facilities that are available to Palo Alto residents who are precariously housed, or currently homeless: • The Opportunity Service Center (OSC)—which is operated by LifeMoves—is the primary service provider for homeless persons and families in Palo Alto. The OSC coordinates the provision of supportive services, counseling, job labor referral, transportation vouchers, shower passes, mental health services, and maintains a message and mails system. The center serves between 100 and 125 persons daily—however, given the drop-in center’s proximity to a major inter- County transit terminal, the City can reasonably assume that some clients have connections to other communities and do not solely represent Palo Alto households. Additionally, the OSC coordinates the provision of groceries for individuals through the Food Closet which is located at All Saints Episcopal Church in downtown Palo Alto and serves over 200 persons on a weekly basis. • The OSC operates the “Hotel de Zink” emergency shelter program in 12 churches across Palo Alto. The OSC uses a different church each month of the year and serves a maximum of 15 adults each night. Emergency shelter and meals are provided as part of the program. The center also serves as a comprehensive one-stop, drop-in center that provides critical services for homeless persons in Palo Alto including access to shower and laundry facilities, clothing, snacks, case management services, shelter, and housing referral services. The center also connects homeless persons and families to housing opportunities including emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing. • The City has two transitional housing facilities to meet the needs of homeless persons with disabilities for a total capacity of 133 transitional housing units. Both facilities are operated by Alta Housing. Additionally, the OSC provides 88 single room occupancy permanent and transitional units for individuals and families. • The Heart and Home Collaborative (H+H) began a seasonal shelter for women in Palo Alto in 2011 to provide shelter housing; dinner and breakfast; storage facilitates; case management; on-site programming; and assistance with needs such as transportation, medical care, and employment for a maximum of eight women. The shelter is hosted at rotating places of worship throughout Palo Alto and operates from November to April. • LifeMoves’ Homekey Initiative in Palo Alto provides supportive housing with intensive services to over 200 unsheltered homeless persons per year and provides bus passes to meet the transportation and employment needs of homeless persons and families in the city. Homeless persons with a mental illness and/or who are recovering from substance use may also access Organization/Facility Alta Housing Transitional Housing Persons with Disabilities 26 units Alta Housing Transitional Housing Persons with Disabilities 107 units Heart + Home Collaborative Seasonal Shelter Women and Children n/a LifeMoves Supportive Housing General 200 persons Hotel de Zink Emergency Shelter Single Adults 15 adults CapacityTarget PopulationFacility Type 2     Packet Pg. 66     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 47 supportive housing services via Momentum for Health. • The Veterans Affairs (VA) Department provides homeless veterans (including those at risk) with immediate food and shelter, residential rehabilitation, job training and education, system navigation and community re-entry from jail, financial support to prevent cycles of homelessness, mental health and substance use treatment, and health and dental care. • The Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) is a pilot program launched by Momentum for Health, Pacific Clinics, HomeFirst, and Santa Clara County to respond to service calls when homeless persons are experiencing behavioral health challenges and calls from concerned community members. The team then links individuals with emergency medical services and psychiatric care. • The City of Palo Alto participates in the Santa Clara County Continuum of Care (CoC) which is responsible for coordinating efforts to prevent and end homelessness in Santa Clara County and jurisdictions. To advance these efforts, non-profit agencies coordinate human and social services through the Human Services Resource Allocation Program which allocates CDBG funds to coordinate the City’s approach to addressing low income and homeless needs. The City supplements CDBG public service funds with $500,000 from the General Fund which is distributed to local non-profits to provide access to mainstream human services. • Residents who are underinsured or uninsured have access to the Ravenswood Family Health Network which provides comprehensive primary care, behavioral health care, optometry care, and dental services. • Peninsula Healthcare Connection provides integrated primary and mental healthcare and intensive case management for homeless persons or those at-risk of becoming homeless in Santa Clara County. • Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc. (EHRSI) manages Alma and provides a range of supportive services and enrichment programs to residents of 801 Alma. EHRSI’s resident services coordinators are onsite to provide key information and referral services and to implement programs including youth summary and after-school activities, an innovative computer-assisted learning program, a scholarship program for eligible resident families, financial literacy training, and community-building activities. • The Palo Alto Housing Corporation (PAHC) provides counseling and supportive case management services for low income residents of single room occupancy facilities to help them maintain housing stability. Activities include financial counseling, health maintenance, information and referral services, problem solving, employment assistance, crisis intervention, and other supportive services. • The City’s Workforce Development Program (administered by Downtown Streets, Inc.) provides services and programming to support the transition from unemployment and homelessness to regular employment and housing through case management, job training, mentoring, housing, and transportation assistance. The City also partners with NOVA which provides job seekers with resume and job search assistance, assessments, and referrals to specialized trainings and educational programs. The Downtown Streets Team also screens and prepares applicants and uses their community connections to provide training and job opportunities. 2     Packet Pg. 67     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 48 • The Palo Alto Community Child Care Agency provides child care subsidies for low income families and administers contracts for the provision of afterschool childcare at 12 PAUSD elementary school sites. The Office of Human Services also provides support to the Palo Alto Early Care and Education Committee which reports to the City Manager on childcare and early learning issues. The City provides in-depth information and resources on how providers can open facilities within Palo Alto. While the City has the capacity to meet the emergency housing needs of homeless persons and families, the City’s 2024 Housing Element notes that the high cost of real estate in Palo Alto has prevented the construction of new emergency shelters by non-profits. This has caused many homeless persons and families to leave the city to receive emergency shelter outside Palo Alto limits (in either Santa Clara County or San Mateo County), which likely contributes to the City’s relatively low number of homeless persons compared to surrounding communities. Palo Alto Housing for Residents with Special Needs Elderly/Seniors. Elderly households and seniors in Palo Alto have unique housing needs as many live on fixed incomes and need access to affordable housing units (if they can live independently) or affordable residential care facilities (for those who can no longer live independently). To support independent living, and to prevent displacement and homelessness, the City offers an affordable housing community (Alma Place) for individuals with extremely low to very low incomes. The community includes 107 units, over 50% of which are designated for individuals between 50 years and 85 years. Supportive living facilities for Palo Alto’s elderly population that cannot live independently include nursing care facilities and non-profit and for-profit residential care facilities which provide living options for lower income elderly households and range from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care. Palo Alto’s residential care facilities serve persons 60 years and over (and those under 60 years under certain circumstances) and has a total of 1,875 beds available. Additionally, Catholic Charities assists elderly households (including the frail elderly and persons with chronic health conditions) in problem resolution and advocates for the rights of residents in long-term care facilities in Palo Alto. The City supports the organizations’ Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) through CDBG funds which provides activities including regular contact with Palo Alto residential care facilities to observe and monitor conditions of care; handle and resolve issues regarding residents’ rights and unmet needs; address allegations and complaints of abuse; and to promote resident well- being. (The City allocated approximately $10,000 in CDBG funding for the 2024 program year to provide services to 50 elderly residents in Palo Alto’s long-term care facilities.) 2     Packet Pg. 68     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 49 Supplemental Figure 14. Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Population in Palo Alto, 2021 Source: City of Palo Housing Element. Persons with disabilities. Many persons with disabilities face housing access, safety challenges, and are at an increased risk of homelessness as many have limited incomes and rely on family members for care. In Palo Alto, the need for accessible and affordable housing outweighs the supply, placing them at a high risk for housing insecurity, homelessness, and/or institutionalization. The City currently has two transitional housing facilities to meet the needs of homeless persons with disabilities for a total capacity of 133 transitional housing units. Both facilities are operated by Alta Housing. The City consistently funds the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) which assists very low income residents with disabilities and their families in Palo Alto with their housing search for affordable and accessible housing. During the 2024 program year, the City allocated approximately $16,500 in CDBG funds to support SVILC’s Housing and Emergency Services for Persons with Disabilities Program and to provide case management services to persons with disabilities. The program provides education and training on how to transition from homelessness to permanent housing or the transition from temporary housing to long-term community-based housing. It also offers access to group workshops; one-on-one service training; and access to independent living services including emergency food assistance, security deposit/rent assistance, information and referral services to ensure long-term housing stability. Persons with addictions and/or a mental illness. Persons with addictions and persons with a mental illness are at an increased risk of homelessness and housing instability as many individuals lack access to the supportive housing and services they need to remain stably housed. To address these gaps, and to support the housing and service needs of persons with addictions and/or a mental illness, Palo Alto residents are served by Momentum for Health which offers supportive housing services in the City of Palo Facility Name Type of Facility Channing House Nursing Facility 21 Channing House Residential Care Facility 285 Lytton Gardens Community Care Residential Care Facility 55 Lytton Gardens Nursing Facility 145 Moldaw Family Residences Assisted Living and Dementia Care 23 Palo Alo Sub-Acute and Rehab Center Residential Care Facility 63 Palo Alto Commons Residential Care Facility 150 Pine Shadow Residential Care Facility 6 Shady Oak Place Residential Care Facility 6 The Wright Place Residential Care Facility 6 Sweet Little Home Residential Care Facility 6 Sunrise Assisted Living of Palo Alto Residential Care Facility 97 Vi At Palo Alto Residential Care Facility 876 Webster House Residential Care Facility 54 Capacity (people) 2     Packet Pg. 69     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 50 Alto. Supportive housing and services provided by the organization are targeted and tailored to homeless persons with a mental illness or homeless persons recovering from substance use. Additionally, residents with addictions and/or a mental illness in Palo Alto have access to Behavioral Health Services in Santa Clara County which provides mental health services and programming to low income residents and homeless persons, as well as substance use treatment services for adults and older adults with substance use and mental health needs (including persons experiencing homelessness). Services include: withdrawal management services (including residential detoxification), residential treatment services that includes group, individual, and family counseling; recovery services such as coaching, relapse prevention, and referrals to housing, transportation, job training, and education; and transitional housing for clients engaged in outpatient treatment and need a safe space to stay/temporary housing. 2     Packet Pg. 70     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 51 MA-45 Non-Housing Community Development Assets - 91.410, 91.210(f) Introduction The City of Palo Alto is a highly educated city with education/ healthcare, professional, scientific, and management and information sectors dominating the share of jobs largely due to Stanford University’s research facility and hospital within Palo Alto city limits, and its location in Silicon Valley, the hub for the tech industry with the highest paying salaries in the nation. Based on data from 2022 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics, these industries have more jobs than workers to fill them. Conversely, there is a slight surplus of workers in lower paid industries such as manufacturing, arts/entertainment/accommodations and construction indicating a potential opportunity for workforce development programs to provide upskilling and technical training to fill positions in higher paid industries requiring specialized certifications locally. As shown below, 61% of Palo Alto households either don’t work or have 1 household income, highlighting the high incomes present in the community to afford Palo Alto’s housing on 1 or less incomes. A significant portion of households that are not working could be attributed, however, to the presence of students attending Stanford University, but living within Palo Alto city limits. Jobs in information (technology) have the highest wages and account at least partially for Palo Alto’s high income. Although education/healthcare typically have lower wages, these jobs in the context of Stanford as a top private university, likely have substantially higher than typical salaries for the industry. 2     Packet Pg. 71     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 52 Supplemental Figure 15: Percent of workers per household. Source: 2023 ACS 5-year estimates Economic Development Market Analysis Table 7. Business Activity Business by Sector Number of Workers Number of Jobs Share of Workers % Share of Jobs % Jobs less workers % Agriculture, Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction 118 6 0.4% 0.0% -0.4% Arts, Entertainment, Accommodations 1,501 4,677 5.4% 4.5% -0.9% Construction 685 837 2.4% 0.8% -1.6% Education and Health Care Services 6,510 31,792 23.3% 30.6% 7.3% Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate 1,504 5,515 5.4% 5.3% -0.1% Information 4,530 18,296 16.2% 17.6% 1.4% Manufacturing 2,844 5,104 10.2% 4.9% -5.3% Other Services 572 2,052 2.0% 2.0% -0.1% Professional, Scientific, Management Services 5,586 26,001 20.0% 25.0% 5.1% Public Administration 1,213 1,757 4.3% 1.7% -2.6% 2     Packet Pg. 72     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 53 Retail Trade 393 715 1.4% 0.7% -0.7% Transportation and Warehousing 1,238 3,690 4.4% 3.6% -0.9% Wholesale Trade 589 2,460 2.1% 2.4% 0.3% Total 677 948 2.4% 0.9% -1.5% Data Source: 2022 Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics Supplemental Figure 16. Total employment and average wage by industry Table 8. Labor Force Labor Force Population Total Total Population in the Civilian Labor Force 34,123 Civilian Employed Population 16 years and over 32,865 Unemployment Rate 3.69% Unemployment Rate for Ages 16-24 6.11% Unemployment Rate for Ages 25-65 3.59% Data Source: 2023 5-year ACS 2     Packet Pg. 73     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 54 Table 9. Occupations by Sector Occupations by Sector Number of People Management, business and financial 8,770 Farming, fisheries and forestry occupations 13 Service 2,332 Sales and office 2,657 Construction, extraction, maintenance and repair 479 Production, transportation and material moving 920 Data Source: 2023 5-year ACS Table 10. Travel Time Travel Time Number Percentage < 30 Minutes 15,855 73% 30-59 Minutes 4,747 22% 60 or More Minutes 1,042 5% Total 21,644 100% Data Source: 2023 5-year ACS Table 11. Educational Attainment by Employment Status Educational Attainment In Labor Force Civilian Employed Unemployed Not in Labor Force Less than high school graduate 711 1 229 High school graduate (includes equivalency) 847 94 264 Some college or Associate degree 1,693 126 1,001 Bachelor’s degree or higher 24,427 815 4,931 Data Source: 2023 5-year ACS Table 12. Educational Attainment by Age Age 18–24 yrs. 25–34 yrs. 35–44 yrs. 45–65 yrs. 65+ yrs. Less than 9th grade 27 3 122 386 271 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 372 59 227 144 226 High school graduate, GED, or alternative 1,007 395 242 568 1,251 Some college, no degree 1,191 471 305 1,246 1,173 Associate degree 52 220 94 484 605 Bachelor's degree 1,288 2,530 2,202 4,873 3,475 Graduate or professional degree 95 4,214 5,238 11,154 5,990 Data Source: 2023 5-year ACS 2     Packet Pg. 74     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 55 Table 13. Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months Educational Attainment Median Earnings in the Past 12 Months Less than high school graduate $40,481 High school graduate (includes equivalency) $47,103 Some college or Associate’s degree $64,833 Bachelor's degree $133,241 Graduate or professional degree $178,555 Data Source: 2023 5-year ACS Based on the Business Activity table above, what are the major employment sectors within your jurisdiction? The largest business sector in Palo Alto is Education and Health Care Services (31% of jobs), Professional, Scientific, and Management Services (25% of jobs), and the third is Information (18% of jobs). Describe the workforce and infrastructure needs of the business community: The largest employment sector within the City is for Education and Healthcare due to the presence of Stanford University. Professional, scientific, and management services jobs also hold a significant share of Palo Alto’s jobs. Jobs in these sectors would require at least a bachelor’s degree and typically a graduate degree. A community’s infrastructure is important for the growth and development of businesses, including ongoing maintenance and expansion. To meet growing needs, the City’s General Plan identifies areas of potential development for residents, commercial, mixed use, industrial, quasi-public spaces, and transportation resources. Describe any major changes that may have an economic impact, such as planned local or regional public or private sector investments or initiatives that have affected or may affect job and business growth opportunities during the planning period. Describe any needs for workforce development, business support or infrastructure these changes may create. Palo Alto through its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is continuing to focus on infrastructure improvements and is prioritizing initiatives that will improve the diversity and quality of retail and hospitality services. This aligns with workforce development feedback received in stakeholder meetings with an interest in more opportunities to gain skills leading to entrepreneurial projects. Palo Alto has also recognized the need for workforce housing and is in the early stages of developing a strategy which would positively contribute to Palo Alto’s ability to infuse more vibrancy and diversity of services into downtown. How do the skills and education of the current workforce correspond to employment opportunities in the jurisdiction? The residents of Palo Alto are highly educated, with 79% of the labor force having a bachelor’s degree or higher, although this has decreased from 86% in the last plan. As discussed above, a majority of jobs within the City are professional, scientific, management, education, health care, or information related, and gaps in the ability to adequately fill these positions exist and present an opportunity for additional workforce initiatives. Stakeholders involved in County workforce development programs noted a shift in technology sector job demand driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI). According to these stakeholders, workers who are able to integrate AI into their skillsets are becoming increasingly valuable, while those unable to adapt may face a heightened risk of job displacement. In addition, the tech industry experienced significant layoffs in 2023—approximately 12,000 jobs—following over-hiring in previous years. Stakeholders described a 2     Packet Pg. 75     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 56 current mismatch in the labor market: some employers are struggling to fill certain positions, while many job seekers continue to face barriers to employment, suggesting a disconnect between available jobs and job seeker skillsets. They also pointed to a divide in the job market, characterized by many high-paying, high-skill position and low-paying, lower-skill jobs with relatively few opportunities in the middle. Describe any current workforce training initiatives, including those supported by Workforce Investment Boards, community colleges and other organizations. Describe how these efforts will support the jurisdiction's Consolidated Plan. In Palo Alto, more conversations are occurring between universities and the tech industry around partnering on better accessibility to complete certifications for specific functions. The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce works with Foothill College on these types of initiatives. The Workforce Development Program, operated by Downtown Streets Inc., and previously funded in part by CDBG funds, provides a transition from unemployment and homelessness to regular employment and housing through case management, job training, mentoring, housing, and transportation assistance. The North Valley Job Training Consortium (NOVA), a local workforce development board, is a nonprofit, federally funded employment and training agency that provides customer-focused workforce development services to San Mateo County and parts of Santa Clara County, including the City of Palo Alto. NOVA provides:  Digital literacy training  Career pathway support for youth  Navigation tools for the job market  Skill building to match market demand  Labor market information Does your jurisdiction participate in a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)? Palo Alto has an Economic Development plan with similar components to a CEDS. If so, what economic development initiatives are you undertaking that may be coordinated with the Consolidated Plan? If not, describe other local/regional plans or initiatives that impact economic growth. The Palo Alto City Council approved an economic development strategy in fall of 2023. The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy is built on the following guiding principles: 1. Reinforce each district’s distinct scale and offerings by stabilizing and reinforcing Downtown as a destination, embracing California Avenue as a community and neighborhood serving place, and supporting existing Neighborhood Centers. 2. Improve accessibility by embracing walking and biking solutions to /from/within all of the City’s commercial districts and addressing parking policies and systems 3. Adopt policies that reflect changing market conditions by easing the regulatory burden for businesses, removing outdated restrictions that create hurdles to tenancy, and focus retail and retail-like uses in places where they are market supported. Prior to the pandemic, Palo Alto was a job positive location, importing jobs especially to the Stanford Research 2     Packet Pg. 76     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 57 Park. Post pandemic, with the transition to virtual work, Palo Alto has become a donut city. Palo Alto has a number of service jobs in retail and hospitality and through the Economic Development Strategy is looking to bolster development in downtown Palo Alto with more retail vibrancy and restaurants focusing on quality of life improvements for Palo Alto residents. Stakeholders participating in the regional workshops, indicated a growing interest in microbusiness development and small business and entrepreneurial training and counseling. While CDBG funding is limited in allocation to services, infrastructure improvements / updates to support different types of small business owned and/or operated by LMI residents could align well with the goals of Palo Alto’s economic development plans. Discussion The City is highly educated with a large professional scientific job sector. The City has adopted an economic development policy that provides guiding principles for the growth of the City. Additionally, job training opportunities exist for those without immediately applicable skills. Furthermore, community engagement identified that creating higher paying job opportunities including entrepreneurial projects for low-income residents through more workforce development programs that are accessible in different languages and during more flexible times should be a priority countywide. 2     Packet Pg. 77     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 58 MA-50 Needs and Market Analysis Discussion Are there areas where households with multiple housing problems are concentrated? (include a definition of "concentration") As moderate and severe cost burden are the most common housing problems regionally, the map below shows census tracts in Palo Alto where cost burden is the highest. Supplemental Figure 17. Renter Cost Burden by Census Tract. Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development. Are there any areas in the jurisdiction where racial or ethnic minorities or low-income families are concentrated? (include a definition of "concentration") A minority concentration is defined as a census tract where the percentage of individuals of racial or ethnic minority groups is at least 20% higher than the city average. According to 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, Palo Alto’s population is 2% Black/African American, 36% Asian and 7% Hispanic. Based on this definition, only census tract 5046.01 has a concentration of Hispanic households at 32%. An LMI concentration is defined as a census tract in which 51% of households have incomes less than 80% of the State-wide median family income. The map provided below shows census tracts in Palo Alto who meet this traditional criteria for LMI. As previously indicated, however, Palo Alto is an exception grantee which lowers the 51% threshold to 25.66% due to its affluence so that more census tracts are eligible for CDBG projects. Based on Palo Alto’s exception grantee status, there are 12 census tracts containing census block groups that meet this parameter including: 5093, 5094.01, 5106, 5107, 5108, 5109, 5110, 5113.02, 5115.01, 5116, 5117, and 5130. Percentage of low moderate income households in many of these census block groups, however, have large Margins of Error, and therefore, staff analysis of need in these areas is critical to determining eligibility for funding. What are the characteristics of the market in these areas/neighborhoods? According to the 2023 5-year ACS estimates, the median household income of census tract 5046.01 (the 2     Packet Pg. 78     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 59 only minority concentration census tract) is $93,707, which is approximately 50% AMI for the County. Are there any community assets in these areas/neighborhoods? The City’s portion of the LMI census tract contains the Palo Alto Golf Course, the Palo Alto Airport, the Palo Alto Wastewater Treatment Plant, the International School of the Peninsula, Palo Alto Animal Services, an FBI field office, a Honda and Audi dealership, the Stanford University Department of Ophthalmology, several industrial and commercial buildings, and a large natural area. The City’s portion of the minority concentration census tract contains commercial buildings, a Toyota dealership, Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, and a single multi-family apartment complex. Are there other strategic opportunities in any of these areas? Not applicable. The City has not established specific target areas to focus the investment of CDBG funds. 2     Packet Pg. 79     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 60 Supplemental Figure 15 – Areas of Low- and Moderate-Income Concentration CITY OF PALO AL.TO Areas of Low and Moderate Income Concentration Figure Legend The trac!'s federal poverty rate i!I The tract's medran lamily income Is than cw equal to SO pelC8flt of the State--wide median r..1m1ty hicome; 04' The ttaet iSin a me1roo,olitatl &1ea or #11!' rnetropoli'!an :;ire,ti, mei.li:;in f.amltylnooma lesa. lhan OJ equal Co,BO pcrc:snt 2     Packet Pg. 80     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 61 MA-60 Broadband Needs of Housing Occupied by Low- and Moderate-Income Households - 91.210(a)(4), 91.310(a)(2 Describe the need for broadband wiring and connections for households, including low- and moderate-income households and neighborhoods. According to the California Interactive Broadband Map, most of the City is served by fixed-service broadband and most unserved areas are nonresidential.21 Affordable broadband is largely available throughout Palo Alto, and stakeholders at regional workshops have indicated that digital equity is a more significant barrier for lower income residents in the county to be connected with services and opportunities including access to devices and adequate skills to navigate programs online, especially for seniors. Describe the need for increased competition by having more than one broadband Internet service provider serve the jurisdiction. Viasat, Space Exploration Technologies, Comcast (Xfinity), Hughes and AT&T are the primary fixed-service internet service providers (ISPs) operating in Palo Alto. As shown in the FCC Broadband map below, 100% of Palo Alto has at least 3 broadband service provides, while the majority has many more. As the Affordable Connectivity Program ended in 2024, lower income households have fewer options for discounted broadband service. Xfinity, Cox, AT&T, Spectrum and Frontier, however, all offer internet services ranging from $9.95 to $31.99 per month, with Xfinity offering the least expensive and fastest connection speed. Supplemental Figure 16. Broadband Providers Palo Alto. Source: Federal Communications Commission Broadband Provider Map, accessed March 2025. 21 California Interactive Broadband Map. Accessed March 2025.. http://www.broadbandmap.ca.gov/ 2     Packet Pg. 81     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 62 MA-65 Hazard Mitigation - 91.210(a)(5), 91.310(a)(3) Describe the jurisdiction’s increased natural hazard risks associated with climate change. Per HUD guidance, all Consolidated Plans submitted after January 1, 2018, must assess risks of natural hazard associated with climate change to low-and moderate-income residents. As part of the 2024 County of Santa Clara’s Operational Area Hazard Mitigation Plan Update – a county wide plan that identifies risks from natural and manmade disasters and how to minimize damage – the City of Palo Alto developed a city specific annex to this plan through which it has reviewed and evaluated its critical infrastructure listed below: • Essential Facilities: Palo Alto has 49 essential facilities. These typically include public safety stations, schools, department operation centers, and emergency operations centers. • Transportation: This includes roads and bridges that provide ingress and egress, allowing emergency vehicle access. Palo Alto has 42 transportation-related critical infrastructure elements. Highway bridges in Palo Alto are at risk of potential tsunami impacts, and Arterial roads and highways critical to transportation in wildfire-prone areas include Junipero Serra Blvd/Foothill Expressway and Page Mill Road, which are located in or near Palo Alto. • Utilities: systems providing water, electricity, and communication services. Palo Alto has 4 hazardous materials facilities, 26 community assets, and 46 utilities-related critical infrastructure elements. • Hazardous Materials: Palo Alto has 4 hazardous materials sites. • Community Assets: Palo Alto has 26 listed community assets. Examples of community assets can include city halls, community centers, and other county facilities. Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning. Santa Clara County faces growing risks from natural hazards as a direct result of climate change. The Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) identifies climate change as a key factor contributing to worsening year-round wildfire seasons, rising temperatures, and shifting precipitation patterns, all of which heighten the risks of drought, flash flooding, and infrastructure failure. As climate-driven hazards intensify, they require a coordinated response to mitigate their long-term impacts on communities across the county. These hazards, including wildfires, deteriorating air quality, extreme heat, drought, and flooding, are increasing in frequency and severity, threatening public safety, infrastructure, and economic stability. Wildfires pose an escalating threat, particularly in areas where dense vegetation meets urban development. Rising temperatures, prolonged dry conditions, and increased fuel loads are intensifying wildfire frequency, spread, and destructiveness. Without proactive mitigation efforts, these conditions can continue to drive more frequent and severe wildfires. While not all residents may be directly exposed to wildfire, secondary impacts, such as smoke and deteriorating air quality, will affect a much larger portion of the population. Vulnerable groups—including older adults, low-income residents, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions—are at the highest risk of experiencing respiratory complications and other long-term public health effects. As wildfire events become more frequent and severe, these secondary impacts will become an increasing concern for the county’s public health and emergency response efforts. Extreme heat events affect public health, infrastructure, and energy demand. In high-density urban areas, particularly those with limited green space and inadequate cooling infrastructure, the urban heat island effect exacerbates already high temperatures, placing vulnerable populations at increased risk. Without proper mitigation, heat waves can lead to heat-related illnesses, increased strain on healthcare systems, and disruptions to energy infrastructure Flooding remains a persistent concern, particularly in low-lying areas and neighborhoods near major 2     Packet Pg. 82     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 63 waterways. Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme storm events. Recognizing the growing impact of climate change on natural hazards, Santa Clara County incorporates climate adaptation into its emergency planning efforts. By aligning infrastructure investments, emergency preparedness programs, and land-use policies with climate change projections and community vulnerability assessments, the county is proactively enhancing resilience and protecting communities from future disasters. Describe the vulnerability to these risks of housing occupied by low- and moderate-income households based on an analysis of data, findings, and methods. LMI households and those with special needs without the means to evacuate would be more vulnerable during natural disasters caused by climate change. It would be difficult for households to acquire transportation and housing accommodations during an emergency. Additionally, housing destroyed by natural disasters would be difficult to replace in the already constrained housing market. Vulnerability to specific risks in Palo Alto include the following: Sea Level Rise: The City of Palo Alto is expected to experience some of the most significant impacts from sea level rise within the Santa Clara County Operational Area (OA). An estimated 9,373 people, representing 13.68% of Palo Alto's population, are estimated to reside in areas subject to sea level rise impacts, based on an assumption of 48 inches of sea level rise above current mean higher high water. These individuals would be vulnerable to both permanent and temporary inundation. Flooding: While the source doesn't provide a specific breakdown of how climate change will uniquely impact flood vulnerability for Palo Alto's population, it does indicate that climate change may cause an increase in intense rainfall events, leading to increased flood risk. Data from the existing flood hazard areas shows that in Palo Alto: • 617 people live in the 10-percent annual chance flood hazard area. • 629 people live in the 1-percent annual chance flood hazard area. • 4,534 people live in the 0.2-percent annual chance flood hazard area. Climate change could potentially increase the frequency and extent of flooding, making these populations more vulnerable. Extreme Heat: Climate change is expected to bring longer, more frequent, and more severe extreme heat events to the region. While specific data on vulnerable populations in Palo Alto to extreme heat isn't provided, the general vulnerable populations identified in the OA would also apply to Palo Alto residents. These include the elderly, children, and people with pre-existing conditions. Additionally, inequities such as the distribution of minority populations in areas more exposed to the urban heat island effect can be exacerbated by extreme heat conditions. It is important to note that while Palo Alto is not highlighted as having a high percentage of its population in high wildfire risk areas, residents would still be vulnerable to secondary impacts of wildfires, such as smoke and poor air quality, which are likely to increase with climate change and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. 2     Packet Pg. 83     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 64 Strategic Plan SP-05 Overview Strategic Plan Overview The Strategic Plan identifies the five-year goals that the City of Palo Alto expects to achieve during the 2025– 2030 Consolidated Plan Cycle. These goals are aligned with HUD’s objectives and outcomes and are achieved through the Annual Action Plan, which divides up the five-year goals into annual targets. The City has identified five high-need categories through the Needs Assessment, Market Analysis, and Community Outreach portions of the Consolidated Plan. The Strategic Plan then identifies goals that are aligned to address most of those needs. Not every need identified in the Consolidated Plan can be met and sufficiently addressed in the next five years. Some of the needs are not feasible, some require much more funding than the City currently receives, and some are simply too large to be addressed in just five years. The Strategic Plan includes goals to address affordable housing, homelessness, fair housing, economic development, community services and public improvements. 2     Packet Pg. 84     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 65 SP-10 Geographic Priorities – 91.215 (a)(1) Geographic Area Table 14. Geographic Priority Areas 1 Area Name No Local Target Area Other Target Area Description: N/A HUD Approval Data: N/A % of Low/Mod: N/A Revital Type: N/A Other Revital Type: N/A Identify the neighborhood boundaries for this target area. N/A Include specific housing and commercial characteristics of this target area. N/A How did your consultation and citizen participation process help you to identify this neighborhood as a target area? N/A Identify the needs in this target area. N/A What are the opportunities for improvement in this target area? N/A Are there barriers to improvement in this target area? N/A General Allocation Priorities The City allocates CDBG funds to benefit LMI households and does not have target areas. Instead, the City focuses its services and capital improvements across the City as a whole. 2     Packet Pg. 85     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 66 SP-25 Priority Needs - 91.215(a)(2) Table 15. Priority Needs 1 Priority Need Name Affordable Housing Priority Level High Population Extremely Low Low Moderate Large Families Families with Children Chronic Homelessness Individuals Mentally Ill Chronic Substance Abuse Veterans Persons with HIV/AIDS Unaccompanied Youth Elderly Frail Elderly Persons with Mental Disabilities Persons with Physical Disabilities Persons with Developmental Disabilities Persons with Alcohol or Other Addictions Persons with HIV/AIDS and their Families Victims of Domestic Violence Geographic Areas Affected Associated Goals Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing Description Assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing for low income and special needs households Basis for Relative Priority As discussed in the Needs Assessment, there is a gap of affordable housing units for households earning between 0%-30% AMI. Additionally, community engagement efforts identified a high need for affordable housing. 2 Priority Need Name Homelessness Priority Level High Population Chronic Homeless Individuals Families with Children Mentally Ill 2     Packet Pg. 86     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 67 Chronic Substance Abuse Veterans Persons with HIV/AIDS Victims of Domestic Violence Geographic Areas Affected Associated Goals Respond to homelessness and the risk of homelessness Description Support activities to prevent and end homelessness. Basis for Relative Priority As discussed in the Needs Assessment, 206 persons are experiencing homelessness in the City of Palo Alto and 9,703 persons county-wide based on 2023 data. 3 Priority Need Name Community Services and Public Improvements Priority Level High Population Extremely Low Low Moderate Middle Large Families Families with Children Elderly Frail Persons with Mental Disabilities Persons with Physical Disabilities Persons with Developmental Disabilities Persons with Alcohol or Other Addictions Persons with HIV/AIDS and their Families Victims of Domestic Violence Non-housing Community Development Geographic Areas Affected Associated Goals Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Description Support provision of essential human services, particularly for special needs populations and maintain/expand community facilities and infrastructure. Basis for Relative Priority As identified during community engagement efforts, LMI and special needs households are in need of supportive services and public improvements. 2     Packet Pg. 87     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 68 4 Priority Need Name Fair Housing Priority Level High Population Extremely Low Low Moderate Large Families Families with Children Public Housing Residents Chronically Homelessness Individuals Mentally Ill Chronic Substance Abuse Veterans Persons with HIV/AIDS Unaccompanied Youth Elderly Frail Elderly Persons with Mental Disabilities Persons with Physical Disabilities Persons with Alcohol or Other Addictions Persons with HIV/AIDS and their Families Victims of Domestic Violence Geographic Areas Affected Associated Goals Provide supportive services to low-income households Description Promote fair housing choice. Basis for Relative Priority Housing discrimination continues to occur within the City as identified by community-based organizations, including Project Sentinel. 5 Priority Need Name Economic Development Priority Level High Population Extremely Low Low Moderate Large Families Families with Children Chronic Homelessness Individuals Mentally Ill Chronic Substance Abuse 2     Packet Pg. 88     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 69 Veterans Persons with HIV/AIDS Unaccompanied Youth Elderly Frail Elderly Persons with Mental Disabilities Persons with Physical Disabilities Persons with Alcohol or Other Addictions Persons with HIV/AIDS and their Families Victims of Domestic Violence Geographic Areas Affected Associated Goals Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development Description Support economic development activities that promote employment growth and help lower income people secure and maintain jobs Basis for Relative Priority As identified through community engagement efforts, economic development is a high priority to residents of Palo Alto. 2     Packet Pg. 89     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 70 SP-30 Influence of Market Conditions – 91.215 (b) Table 16: Influence of Market Conditions Affordable Housing Type Market Characteristics that will influence the use of funds available for housing type Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) As discussed in the Needs Assessment, 43% of renter households and 24% of owner households experience some level of housing cost burden across all income groups paying more than 30 % of their income toward housing costs based on 2023 ACS 5-year estimates. TBRA for Non- Homeless Special Needs As discussed in the Needs Assessment, special needs population require affordable housing to meet the needs of disabilities, low households incomes, rising healthcare costs, and children. New Unit Production As discussed in the Market Assessment, according to 2023 ACS 5-year estimates, there is a gap of 1,117 housing units for those earning less than $75,000 AMI. With a lack of developable land, acquisition is an important tool for providing affordable housing to this population. Rehabilitation As discussed in the Market Assessment, there are 20-30 code violations reported annually, and a waiting list for LMI owner-occupied units that need rehabilitation. Acquisition, including preservation With a lack of vacant land, acquisition and preservation is an important tool for providing affordable units to LMI households. 2     Packet Pg. 90     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 71 SP-35 Anticipated Resources - 91.215(a)(4), 91.220(c)(1,2) Introduction The following section discusses the anticipated resources available during the next five years for community development activities. Table 17. Anticipated Resources Program Source of Funds Uses of Funds Expected Amount Available Year 1 Expected Amount Available Remainder of ConPlan $ Narrative Description Annual Allocation: $ Allocation From CARES Act – CDBG CV $ Program Income: $ Prior Year Resources: $ Total: $ CDBG Public- Federal Acquisition Admin and Planning Economic Development Housing Public Improvements Public Services 500,000 0 100,000 0 600,000 2,000,000 CDBG funds will be used for the creation and preservation of affordable rental units, improvements in low-income neighborhoods, and public services that benefit low-income and special needs households. Table 57 - Anticipated Resources Explain how federal funds will leverage those additional resources (private, state and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements will be satisfied Entitlement Funds Leverage means to combine funding sources, such as local, state, or other federal financial resources, with HUD funding (e.g. CDBG and HOME) in order to increase project efficiencies and benefit from economies of scale. The City continually seeks to leverage local funding sources to utilize federal grant funding more efficiently. 2     Packet Pg. 91     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 72 Other State and Federal Grant Programs Additional federal programs that fund community development and affordable housing activities include:  Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program;  Section 202;  Section 811; and  Affordable Housing Program (AHP) through the Federal Home Loan Bank. These programs would not be provided to the City but rather to the Santa Clara County Housing Authority (SCCHA) and affordable housing developers. County and Local Housing and Community Development Sources HOME funds can be used to fund eligible affordable housing projects for acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation. The City joined the Santa Clara County HOME Consortium in 2015 and does not receive federal HOME funds on an entitlement basis from HUD. The HOME Consortia consists of the cities of Cupertino, Gilroy, Palo Alto, and the Urban County. Developers of affordable housing projects are eligible to competitively apply through an annual request for proposal process directly to the County for HOME funds to help subsidize affordable housing projects in Palo Alto. If the City receives HOME dollars from this process, the City is required to provide a 25 percent match, which will be provided from the City’s Affordable Housing Fund. Certain non-profit organizations known as Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) may also apply for funding from the State Department of Housing and Community Development for housing projects located within Palo Alto. Other local resources that support housing and community development programs include: • Palo Alto Commercial Housing Fund, which is for the development of workforce units and paid by mitigation fees on commercial and industrial projects; and • Palo Alto Residential Housing Fund, which is for the development of below market rate (BMR) housing units and paid by miscellaneous funding sources. The City will continue to seek opportunities for projects that meet local bond requirements in order to bring additional resources to help the City’s affordable housing shortage. If appropriate, describe publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that may be used to address the needs identified in the plan The City of Palo Alto's 2023–2031 Housing Element includes a strategic initiative to redevelop city-owned surface parking lots, particularly in the downtown area, to support affordable housing development. This approach aims to utilize underutilized public land to meet the city's housing goals. The City plans to issue requests for information (RFIs) to explore public-private partnerships for redevelopment, conduct parking studies to assess current usage, and evaluate opportunities for reconfiguring or replacing parking as needed. A schedule of actions will be developed to guide implementation, with clear milestones to ensure accountability and progress toward the City's RHNA goals. In 2019, the Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N- 06-19 that ordered the California Department of General Services (DGS) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to identify and prioritize excess state-owned property aggressively pursue sustainable, innovative, cost- effective housing projects. There is no excess state property in the City of Palo Alto. 2     Packet Pg. 92     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 73 Discussion HUD allocations are critical to overcoming barriers; however, they are not sufficient to address all the needs of LMI households. Therefore, the City will continue to leverage other funding sources to provide services to populations in need. Currently, the City is not eligible to receive direct funding under the HOME Investment Partnership Act, Emergency Solutions Grant, or Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. 2     Packet Pg. 93     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 74 SP-40 Institutional Delivery Structure – 91.215(k) Explain the institutional structure through which the jurisdiction will carry out its ConPlan including private industry, nonprofit organizations, and public institutions. Table 18. Institutional Delivery Structure Responsible Entity Responsible Entity Type Role Geographic Area Served City of Palo Alto Government Economic Development Homelessness Non- homeless special needs Ownership Planning Public Housing Rental neighborhood improvements public facilities Jurisdiction City of Palo Alto – City Council Government Planning Jurisdiction County of Santa Clara – Office of Supportive Housing Continuum of Care Homelessness Region Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara PHA Affordable Housing – rental Affordable Housing – ownership Public Housing Region Assess of Strengths and Gaps in the Institutional Delivery System Implementation of CDBG funds is carried out by the City of Palo Alto’s Department of Planning and Development Services. Nonprofit agencies coordinate human and social services through the Human Services Resource Allocation Program (HSRAP). CDBG and HSRAP work together to provide a more coordinated approach to addressing the City’s human service needs. 2     Packet Pg. 94     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 75 Availability of services targeted to homeless persons and persons with HIV and mainstream services Table 19. Homeless Prevention Services Summary Homelessness Prevention Services Available in the Community Targeted to Homeless Targeted to People with HIV Homelessness Prevention Services Counseling/Advocacy X Legal Assistance X X Mortgage Assistance X Rental Assistance X X Utilities Assistance X Street Outreach Services Law Enforcement X X Mobile Clinics X X Other Street Outreach Services X X Supportive Services Alcohol & Drug Abuse X Child Care X Education X Employment and Employment Training X Healthcare X X HIV/AIDS Life Skills X X Mental Health Counseling X Transportation X Other Other Describe how the service delivery system including, but not limited to, the services listed above meet the needs of homeless persons (particularly chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) The City participates in the Santa Clara County CoC, which has the primary responsibilities of coordinating efforts to prevent and end homelessness. A wide range of services are available through the County, as well as within Palo Alto. A complete list of services available by category is provided below. Housing Assistance—General Santa Clara County, Office of Supportive Housing (OSH). OSH administers CDBG Program funding to unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. Additionally, OSH is the County Continuum of Care (CoC). OSH presides over the Coordinated Entry system, conducts outreach throughout the County, and administers Vulnerability Index-Service Prioritization Decision Assessment Tools (VI-SPDAT) that assesses the best type of housing intervention for households and adds them to community queue for housing programs. Housing programs to address homelessness run by OSH include: Permanent Supportive Housing. Program houses chronically homeless with barriers such as mental health issues or disabilities. On-site supportive services include case management, behavioral health care, and streamlined benefits access. There are 4,056 permanent supportive housing units with another 545 in the 2     Packet Pg. 95     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 76 pipeline, according to OSH’s State of the Supportive Housing System 2023. Interim Housing Solutions. Emergency shelters and transitional housing provided through OSH exist throughout the county. Additionally, the Pedro Street interim housing program assists homeless men and women who are waiting for supportive housing units under construction. Pedro Street assists 80 people. OSH manages cold weather shelters in Gilroy, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale. 19,575 people were placed in temporary housing and shelter in 2023. Special Initiatives. Project Welcome Home serves 150-200 homeless individuals who are the most frequent users of emergency services, mental health facilities, and jails. The County utilizes Palantir, a software company, to identify the highest need utilizers. These individuals receive intensive support in partnership with OSH and Adobe Services. OSH also oversees the Santa Clara County Employment Initiative that connects eligible low-income individuals with high growth industries and job training. City of Palo Alto Below Market Rate Housing Rental Program. Provides rental apartments for low- to moderate income households that are leased at rates below market rents. Administered by Alta Housing Services, LLC. There are 357 rental units that are part of the BMR rental program. City of Palo Alto Below Market Rate Housing Purchase Program. Provides homes for purchase to low- and moderate-income households significantly below market rate. These homes are condo apartments and townhomes. Waiting list is maintained by Alta Housing Services, LLC. The waiting list was recently opened in 2024. There are 265 ownership units that are part of the BMR purchase program. General Homeless Support Services and Outreach. Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST). TRUST responds to calls for service when homeless people are experiencing behavioral health challenges and concerns from the community. The team then links them with emergency medical services and psychiatric care. Palo Alto Downtown Streets team. Provides the Flagship Program for people experiencing homelessness to help clean streets and other public spaces while providing peer support and case management to help participants exit homelessness. The Street Enterprises Program offers paid employment and case management for people with trauma following homelessness and incarceration. Life Moves Opportunity Services Center. The Opportunity Services Center is a comprehensive, one-stop, multi-service, day drop-in center that provides critical services for homeless Palo Alto residents. The facility provides showers, laundry, clothing, snacks, case management, and shelter / housing referral services. Housing opportunities for homeless households and families include Emergency Shelter and Permanent Supportive Housing. The County’s Social Services Agency has expedited the review process of homeless households’ CalFresh applications so that they may receive benefits within three days. Homeless—Healthcare Valley Homeless Health Care Program. The Valley Homeless Healthcare Program (VHHP) is part of the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and provides medical services to homeless individuals, including primary care and urgent care. VHHP also manages a Medical Respite program for homeless individuals discharged from hospitals as well as a Backpack Homeless Health Care Program for those in encampments. New Directions is a community-based case management program for chronically homeless individuals with complex medical and psychosocial needs that aims to decrease the number of emergency room visits and hospital admissions. The program is run through Peninsula Health. 2     Packet Pg. 96     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 77 Ravenswood Family Health Network. Provides comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, optometry, dental services for under and uninsured patients. Homeless—Prevention Services Alta Housing Management and Services. Alta Housing provides counseling and supportive case management services for low-income residents of single-room occupancy facilities to help them maintain housing stability. Activities include financial counseling, health maintenance, information and referral, problem solving, employment assistance, crisis intervention and case management. Homeless Prevention System. Overseen by OSH, has a $30 million annual budget and capacity to serve 2,500 households. Partners deliver temporary financial assistance, legal support, and case management to prevent homelessness. Homeless—Supportive Housing LifeMoves’ Homekey Palo Alto. Currently under construction. Will provide supportive housing and intensive services for individuals without shelter for over 200 people a year. 801 Alma Family Housing. Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc. (EHRSI) manages Alma and provides a range of supportive services and enrichment programs designed to meet the needs of the diverse resident population of 801 Alma. EHRSI’s resident services coordinators are onsite to offer important information and referral services and to implement key programs including youth summer and after-school activities, an innovative computer-assisted learning program, a scholarship program for eligible resident families, financial literacy training, and community-building activities. There are 50 units. Legal Assistance. Project Sentinel. Provides fair housing counseling and tenant-landlord dispute resolution to prevent evictions. The Fair Housing Center investigated 409 complaints of discrimination in 2023. Staff provided education and referrals on 1,172 calls. For dispute resolution services, staff educated 8,512 tenants about their rights through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one counseling. Bay Area Legal Aid. Helps low-income residents with evictions, discrimination cases, habitability issues. Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. Assists with eviction cases at the Santa Clara County Superior Court at the Self-Help Center. Rental Assistance. LifeMoves. Provides financial assistances to cover rent for low, very low, and extremely low income persons. LiveMoves assisted over 7,000 clients in 2022 with outreach, interim supportive housing, prevention services, and services through the opportunity center. Utilities Assistance. Rate Assistance Program. City of Palo Alto provides a discount on gas and electricity charges and 20% discount on storm drain service fees for residents struggling to pay their utility bills Residential Energy Assistance Program. City of Palo Alto helps homeowners achieve more efficiency and 2     Packet Pg. 97     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 78 reduce energy and water costs. ProjectPLEDGE. City of Palo Alto Utilities can assist with one-time assistance for income-eligible residents. Mental health counseling. County Behavioral Health Services Department (BHS) has multiple programs to connect homeless individuals with housing or shelter assistance. BHS also treats those going through behavioral health crises Momentum for Health. Provides supportive housing services in Palo Alto for homeless individuals who have mental illnesses or are recovering from substance abuse. Alcohol/Drug Misuse. Behavioral Health Services in Santa Clara County offers substance use treatment services for adults and older adults that have substance use and mental health needs. Services are available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Tagalog and include: • Withdrawal management services, including residential detoxification; • Residential treatment that includes group, individual, and family counseling; • Recovery services that include recovering coaching, relapse prevention, and linkages to housing, transportation, job training, and education; • Transitional housing for clients engaged in outpatient treatment and need a safe space or temporary housing. Child Care Palo Alto Community Child Care. The City provides childcare subsidy assistance for income-eligible residents administered by Palo Alto Community Child Care, and administers contracts for the provision of after-school child care at 12 PAUSD elementary school sites. There are currently 80 providers that the city works with to provide subsidies. Transportation Palo Alto Link provides transportation to job opportunities and healthcare appointments for $1. Downtown Streets, Inc. provides transportation assistance to unhoused within the Workforce Development Program. LifeMoves Opportunity Center offers bus passes along with other services. Employment and Workforce Initiatives The North Valley Job Training Consortium (NOVA) is a local workforce development board, is a nonprofit, federally funded employment and training agency that provides customer-focused workforce development services to San Mateo County and parts of Santa Clara County. NOVA provides: • Digital literacy training • Career pathway support for youth • Skill building to match market demand 2     Packet Pg. 98     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 79 • Labor market information • Navigation tools for the job market Households with HIV/AIDS. Santa Clara County HIV Commission was created to provide an effective, compassionate, and comprehensive system of HIV prevention and care services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the County. The HIV Commission serves as a designated alternative to an HIV health services planning council pursuant to the Public Health Services Act for the receipt of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grant fund Positive Connections Program. Provides early intervention services, such as HIV testing, and case management services, medical transportation, emergency financial assistance, and ongoing referrals for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Ryan White case management is provided through Positive Connections. Health Trust AIDS Services (THTAS). This program serves persons living with HIV/AIDS in the County. THTAS receives and administers contract funding for its housing subsidy program (Housing for Health) from HOPWA and HOPWA-PSH from the City of San José (grantee) and the County General Funds through the Public Health Department. In addition to tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA), these contracts include placement and support services provided by case managers, registered nurses and social workers for more medically acute clients. The Health Trust served 13,456 individuals throughout the county with food and nutrition services, housing services, and HIV/AIDS services. Domestic violence survivors. YWCA of Silicon Valley. Support Network for Battered Women, a Division of YWCA, provides a bilingual domestic violence hotline, an emergency shelter, crisis counseling, legal assistance, court accompaniment, individual and group therapy, support groups, children’s therapy groups, preventative education, safety planning and community referrals for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence. YWCA of Silicon Valley has assisted 8,500 people through their help line and over 5,000 survivors received supportive services. Veterans VA Palo Alto provides veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with immediate food and shelter, including transitional and permanent housing, residential rehabilitation, job training and education, system navigation and community re-entry from jail, financial support to prevent homelessness, treatment for addition and depression, health and dental care Justice Involved Residents The County’s Reentry Resource Center (RRC) provides services to those who have been previously incarcerated and to individuals who are homeless upon release. Services include referrals to drug treatment, housing assistance, food assistance, counseling, and other benefits. From 2012 to 2022, the reentry center has assisted 20,000 unique clients with housing assistance, food, healthcare, identification, employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and legal assistance. Persons returning from mental and physical health institutions—Supportive Housing Medical Respite Program. This program provides a place for persons experiencing homelessness to heal after they have been in the hospital. Located within the HomeFirst Shelter in San Jose, the Medical Respite has 20 beds with semi-private, double occupancy rooms. The team is made of a medical doctor, 2     Packet Pg. 99     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 80 pharmacist, psychiatrist, psychologist, social workers, community health workers, substance use counselors, and nurses. The team works together to meet the physical, mental, and social needs of the clients. Silicon Valley Independent Living Center. Silicon Valley Independent Living Center assists individuals with disabilities and their families to transition from homelessness, health care facilities, unstable or temporary housing to permanent affordable, accessible, integrated housing by providing emergency assistance, security deposits, rent, information, and referral, and other basic essentials. Seniors and persons with disabilities Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) are non-medical facilities that provide a level of care that includes assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and grooming. These facilities serve persons 60 and older and those 60 and under certain circumstances. The City has 1,875 RCFE beds available for elderly persons Catholic Charities. Assists in problem resolution and advocates for the rights of residents of long-term care facilities in Palo Alto. The majority of the clients assisted are low-income, frail, elderly, and chronically ill. This program assists these vulnerable, dependent, and socially isolated residents receive the care and placement to which they are entitled. Alma Place. 107 unit affordable housing community which is home to extremely low and very low income individuals. Over 50% of the residents are between the ages of 50 and 85 years old. Describe the strengths and gaps of the service delivery system for special needs population and persons experiencing homelessness, including, but not limited to, the services listed above The CoC adopted the Community Plan to End Homelessness in Santa Clara County (2020-2025) (The Plan), which creates a community-wide road map to ending homelessness. The Plan was created through a series of community summits related to specific homeless populations in the County. The Plan identifies strategies to address the needs of homeless persons in the County, including chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans, and unaccompanied youth. The Plan aims to implement the following three steps: 2     Packet Pg. 100     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 81 1. “Disrupt Systems: Develop disruptive strategies and innovative prototypes that transform the systems related to housing homeless people; 2. Build the Solution: Secure the right amount of funding needed to provide housing and services to those who are homeless and those at risk of homelessness; and 3. Serve the Person: Adopt an approach that recognizes the need for client-centered strategies with different responses for different levels of need and different groups, targeting resources the specific individual or household.” Stakeholders and residents participating in the engagement activities for this Consolidated Plan indicated a need for easier navigation of the services available and more individualized case management services throughout the county. Although the system has resources and services in place, it is difficult for residents with limited access or knowledge of technology to know what resources are available to them specifically and how to connect with these services. Participants also indicated that due to insufficient funding, even with a system in place, it is impossible to reach people who are homeless with solutions in a timely manner and by the time a resource or shelter space is identified, it is no longer possible to locate them. Provide a summary of the strategy for overcoming gaps in the institutional structure and service delivery system for carrying out a strategy to address priority needs The City holds regular quarterly meetings between entitlement jurisdictions and coordinates on project management for projects funded by multiple jurisdictions. This will contribute to overcoming gaps in the institutional delivery structures. 2     Packet Pg. 101     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 82 SP-45 Goals Summary – 91.215(a)(4) Table 20. Goals Summary (*Pending new allocations from HUD) Sort Order Goal Name Start Year End Year Category Geographic Area Needs Addressed Funding Estimates Goal Outcome Indicator 1 Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing 2025 2030 Affordable Housing Citywide Affordable Housing CDBG: $TBD* Rental Units Rehabilitated – TBD* units Homeowner Housing Rehabilitated – 40* units 2 Respond to homelessness and risk of homelessness 2025 2030 Homeless Citywide Homelessness CDBG: $TBD* Public Service Activities to Address Homelessness Housing Benefit – TBD* persons 3 Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building 2025 2030 Non- Homeless Special Needs Non- Housing Community Development Citywide Non housing community development CDBG: $TBD* Public Facilities Activities Other Than Low/Moderate- Income Housing Benefit – TBD* persons 4 Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development 2025 2030 Non-Housing Community Development Citywide Economic Development CDBG: $TBD* Jobs Created or Retained – TBD* jobs 5 Provide supportive services to low-income households 2025 2030 Non-Housing Community Development Citywide Supportive Services CDBG: $TBD* Public Service Activities Other Than Low/Moderate-Income Housing Benefit – TBD* persons 2     Packet Pg. 102     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 83 Table 21. Goal Descriptions 1 Goal Name Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing Goal Description Assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing for low-income and special needs households. This includes funding home repair programs. 2 Goal Name Respond to homelessness and risk of homelessness Goal Description Support activities to prevent and end homelessness, such as funding affordable housing opportunities, resource centers for homeless individuals, and support for tenants of single-room occupancy units. 3 Goal Name Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Goal Description Provide community services and public improvements to benefit low-income and special needs households. This includes assisting those with disabilities to transition from unstable housing to permanent housing, supporting residents of long-term care facilities, and supporting individuals experiencing domestic violence. 4 Goal Name Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development Goal Description Support economic development activities that promote employment growth and help lower-income people secure and maintain jobs. This includes funding nonprofits working toward developing the skills of low-income and homeless individuals. 5 Goal Name Provide supportive services to low-income households Goal Description Provide supportive services to low-income households through bolstering case management and navigation of services including legal assistance, and tenant/landlord resolution. Estimate the number of extremely low-income, low-income, and moderate-income families to whom the jurisdiction will provide affordable housing as defined by HOME 91.315(b)(2) The City estimates that CDBG and HOME funds will provide affordable housing to approximately 150 households over the ConPlan period. 2     Packet Pg. 103     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 84 SP-60 Homelessness Strategy – 91.215(d) The City is committed to addressing the housing and service needs of homeless persons and families in Palo Alto and has made significant progress through a range of strategies, initiatives, and goal-setting activities. Setting the context for a discussion of the City’s homeless strategy and the five-year strategic goals that will contribute to these strategies, City staff’s overarching goals for homelessness appears below. • Increase new and maintain existing affordable housing; • Provide appropriate services, identifying resources and ensuring access; and • Decrease impacts on residents, community, and staff. Reaching out to homeless persons (especially unsheltered persons) and assessing their individual needs The City’s Downtown Streets Team reaches out to homeless persons in Palo Alto and provides access to job and workforce training, job opportunities, community resources, peer support, and case management services to help individuals exit homelessness. The team also administers the Flagship Program for unsheltered persons to help clean the City’s streets and public spaces and provides transportation assistance to homeless persons through the Workforce Development Program. Palo Alto has committed to locally supporting the Downtown Streets Team through General City funds to reduce homelessness in the city by employing a “Work First” model in downtown Palo Alto. The model is intended to connect persons experiencing homelessness to the Downtown Street Team’s community partners to help individuals access job training programs and job opportunities. The Trusted Response Urgent Support Team (TRUST) also conducts outreach services to assess the needs of homeless persons in Palo Alto. In partnership with Momentum Health, Pacific Clinics, HomeFirst, and Santa Clara County, the pilot program was designed to respond to calls for service when homeless persons are experiencing behavioral health challenges. When concerns are reported by the community, the team assesses their needs and links individuals with emergency medical services and psychiatric care. Additionally, in 2023, the City identified the following strategies, activities, and priorities for homeless outreach and service provision: • Provide training for staff who interact with the unhoused, including training on de-escalation. This effort will involve identifying appropriate resources and partnering with departments whose staff are outward facing, including Community Services, Library, Fire, Police, and Public Works. It will provide staff with the knowledge and tools to encourage positive interactions and good outcomes. • Onboarding, managing, and evaluating contracted outreach worker. The Office of Human Services will be contracting for services with an outreach worker. In this pilot effort, the outreach worker will provide a range of services to meet and engage unhoused Palo Alto individuals where they are, including outreach services, welfare checks, case management, service coordination, shelter access and housing navigation services. • Improve communication about existing policies, programs, resources, and successes. This effort will include seeking diverse, accessible ways to effectively communicate information. The City will also work to increase awareness of existing programs and resources while reducing barriers to access by educating stakeholders (prospective and current homeowners, tenants, landlords) about available programs and resources. 2     Packet Pg. 104     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 85 The City is also considering re-establishing and maintaining a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) which pairs a licensed mental health clinician with a law enforcement officer to provide expert mental health assistance on calls-for-service. In the coming years, the City’s Police Department is committed to working with the City Manager’s Office and the County to secure adequate staffing and ongoing support. Addressing the emergency and transitional housing needs of homeless persons The City of Palo Alto addresses the emergency and transitional housing needs of homeless persons and families by partnering with LifeMoves, supporting the development of transitional housing, and through the City’s Safe Parking Program. The City uses Homekey funds and partners with LifeMoves to address the transitional housing needs of homeless persons and families. In August 2022, for example, the City used $26.6 million in Homekey funds to develop transitional housing on City-owned property and to provide intensive and customized case management for clients. The City will continue to pursue the Homekey Palo Alto at 1237 San Antonio Road to use as a temporary bridge housing facility for individuals engaged in services and waiting for permanent housing. The City also plans to continue to explore opportunities for Homekey funding sources (or similar funding) to convert hotels to permanent or interim housing for homeless persons or persons at risk of homelessness. The City’s 2023 Update to the Housing and Services for the Unhoused Report includes strategies, actions, and priorities to address the housing needs of homeless persons and families in Palo Alto such as: • Communicate alternatives to paramedic transport for unhoused individuals seeking shelter or resources. The Fire Department will collaborate with key service providers and the City’s Communication Team to identify ways to ensure people are quickly connected to the resource that best fits their needs. • Increase awareness of existing programs and resources, while reducing barriers to access. The Planning and Development Services Department will work to educate all stakeholders (prospective and current homeowners, tenants, and landlords) about available programs and resources. • Identify and secure additional funding for housing efforts. This will help support the City’s key activities which include the implementation of the City’s Housing Element, Affordable Housing Fund, Below Market Rate (BMR) Housing Purchase Program, and Safe Parking programs. Additionally, the City will continue to address emergency and transitional housing needs by expanding and improving the Safe Parking Program. The City’s 2024 Housing Element proposes several strategies and objectives to better address needs during the planning period through the program including: 1) expand the geographic and service areas of the City’s program to include parks/commercial lots and case management; 2) explore opportunities to provide supervised access to City facilities; and 3) create a social services directory and make it available to residents at public counters, on the City website, and at Safe Parking areas. The City of Palo Alto set a timeframe to initiate these efforts by 2026 with a target complete date of December 2028; and a quantified objective to move 40% of individuals currently using Safe Parking (annually) to housing—as it becomes available. Helping homeless persons (especially chronically homeless individuals and families, families with children, veterans and their families, and unaccompanied youth) make the transition to permanent housing and independent living, including shortening the period of time that individuals and families experience homelessness, facilitating access for homeless individuals and families to affordable housing units, and preventing individuals and families who were recently homeless from becoming homeless again. 2     Packet Pg. 105     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 86 The City of Palo Alto has adopted a range of strategies to help homeless persons and families make the transition to permanent housing and to prevent previously homeless persons and families from becoming homeless again. These strategies, action items, and objectives include but are not limited to: • Continue to pursue the Homekey Palo Alto at 1237 San Antonio Road for use as a temporary bridge housing facility to provide accommodations for individuals who are actively engaged in services leading to permanent housing. • Engage with stakeholders including the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) LifeMoves, Santa Clara County Office of Supportive Housing (OSH), and the Santa Clara County Housing Authority, and continue efforts on an ongoing basis throughout the planning period. • Advance Palo Alto’s Homeless Prevention Program and ensure robust program uptake by engaging in ongoing homeless outreach; providing support services and connectivity; and by providing transitional housing for a minimum 88 households annually. • Explore and implement additional opportunities for Homekey funding or similar funding sources to convert hotels to permanent housing for persons experiencing homelessness; and work with stakeholders to identify locations to support homeless populations in Palo Alto. The City also helps homeless persons transition to permanent housing and facilitates access to affordable housing units by encouraging and supporting the development of affordable housing and alternative housing types (e.g., large family units, single-room occupancy units, supportive and transitional housing, and managed living units or “micro-units” for extremely low income households). Opportunity areas for housing targeted to low income households and special needs populations identified by the City include areas along Alma Street, Embarcadero Road (Northeast of Highway 101), and the South Ventura neighborhood. The County and City have made efforts to reduce the time homeless individuals and families are without services, assistance, or housing. The Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, for example, expedites the review process of CalFresh applications for homeless households to ensure they receive benefits within three days. Help low-income individuals and families avoid becoming homeless, especially extremely low- income individuals and families who are likely to become homeless after being discharged from a publicly funded institution or system of care, or who are receiving assistance from public and private agencies that address housing, health, social services, employment, education or youth needs Homeless prevention is a crucial element to Palo Alto’s homelessness strategy. Following the creation of Santa Clara County’s 2020-2025 Community Plan to End Homelessness, the City created the Homeless Prevention Program which focuses on Palo Alto households at risk of homelessness as well as households experiencing homelessness. For those at risk of homelessness, the City’s program offers self-sufficiency and stabilization services while currently homeless households are connected to permanent housing and provided services that offer immediate support while they wait for housing. (The City defines “at risk households” in accordance to the HUD definition.) Over the planning period, the City intends to expand the program to include renter protections including security deposit limits, eviction reductions, and financial assistance for utilities; and to identify funding sources for the program (e.g., Human Services Allocation Process funds) to support at risk households. The City set a quantified objective of providing transitional housing to a minimum 88 households annually. 2     Packet Pg. 106     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 87 These efforts are in line with and contribute to the County’s Homeless Prevention System (HPS) which includes 13 agencies that offer financial assistance and case management services targeted to meet the needs of Palo Alto clients. The County’s HPS program serves approximately 3,000 to 3,300 Palo Alto residents. Other strategies and policies adopted by the City to help low income and special needs households avoid homelessness (particularly after being discharged from institutions and/or those receiving assistance) include but are not limited to:  Support local agencies and organizations in the creation or preservation of housing and supportive services that serves the City’s population with special needs. Examples of the types of housing Palo Alto’s Housing Element identifies include: group homes and supported living facilities for persons with special needs, housing designed for seniors and persons with disabilities, and emergency and transitional shelter for persons experiencing homelessness.  Encourage the universal design of housing products and environments, making them usable by a wide range of persons with different physical and mental abilities.  Promote the use and acceptance of Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs) in high opportunity and high resource areas by educating renters and landlords on fair housing rights and responsibilities and income discrimination.  Adopt a “Fair Chance Ordinance” for persons with criminal records.  Enforce notification and relocation assistance requirements for low income households displacement due to demolition, condominium conversion, and persons displaced due to enforcement activities. 2     Packet Pg. 107     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 88 SP-65 Lead based paint Hazards – 91.215(i) Actions to address LBP hazards and increase access to housing without LBP hazards City staff provides information about lead based paint (LBP) hazards to property owners, developers, and nonprofit organization who are rehabilitating older housing units. Additionally, any rehabilitation funded by the City is required to be inspected for LBP hazards. The City also provides abatement services with City funding. How are the actions listed above related to the extent of lead poisoning and hazards? As discussed in the Needs Assessment, 74 percent of homes (19,345) were built before 1980. Homes built before 1980 may contain walls previously or currently painted with lead-based paint. Twenty-seven percent (7,105) of households are LMI. Using this proportion, 5,223 LBP households are potentially occupied by LMI families. How are the actions listed above integrated into housing policies and procedures? The City requires that contractors are trained and certified in an effort to decrease the risk of potential use of LBP in new units. All development and rehabilitation projects must be evaluated according to HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule 24 CFR Part 35. 2     Packet Pg. 108     2025-2030 City of Palo Alto Consolidated Plan 89 SP-70 Anti-Poverty Strategy – 91.215(j) Jurisdiction Goals, Programs and Policies for reducing the number of Poverty-Level Families The City's anti-poverty strategy is heavily reliant on regional cooperation, including support from nonprofit service providers and partner agencies. As housing is usually the highest single expense facing impoverished families, the City will continue to explore avenues to build new and rehabilitate existing affordable housing. The City is always looking for opportunities to partner and leverage programs and service providers to build service capacity and improve the depth of available resources. How are the Jurisdiction poverty reducing goals, programs, and policies coordinated with this affordable housing plan Housing cost burden and severe housing cost burden were identified as the most common housing problems facing impoverished households in the city. New and rehabilitated affordable housing with regulatory agreements and rents affordable to LMI households are vital in addressing the problem of poverty. The City provides CDBG and HSRAP funding to nonprofits that provide services to low-income, homeless, or at-risk individuals living in the community. Additionally, the City’s Workforce Development Program, administered by Downtown Streets, Inc., provides a transition from unemployment and homelessness to regular employment and housing through case management, job training, mentoring, housing, and transportation assistance. The City also partners with NOVA, a local nonprofit agency that provides job seekers with resume and job search assistance, assessment, and referrals to specialized training and educational programs. 2     Packet Pg. 109     2025-2030 City of Palo Consolidated Plan 90 SP-80 Monitoring – 91.230 Describe the standards and procedures that the jurisdiction will use to monitor activities carried out in furtherance of the plan and will use to ensure long-term compliance with requirements of the programs involved, including minority business outreach and the comprehensive planning requirements The City has developed a monitoring system to ensure that the activities and programs funded with CDBG or other HUD funds are managed in accordance with the federal monitoring requirements of 24 CFR 570.501(V) and 24 CFR 85.40 and all other applicable laws, regulations, policies, and sound management and accounting practices. The objectives of monitoring are:  To ensure that subrecipients are carrying out their program/project as described;  To ensure that subrecipients are implementing the program/project in a timely manner;  To ensure that subrecipients are assessing costs to the program/project which are eligible under CDBG regulations and the contract;  To ensure that subrecipients are conforming with other applicable laws, regulations, and terms of the agreement;  To ensure that the program/project is operating in a manner that minimizes the opportunity for fraud, waste, and mismanagement;  To ensure that subrecipients have the capacity to carry out the approved project/program; and  To ensure that subrecipients are carrying out their program/project as described. The City implements a CDBG Monitoring Responsibilities and Plan that provides an internal control mechanism to review performance over a period of time. Subrecipients that are in noncompliance will be notified and provided with technical assistance towards compliance. 2     Packet Pg. 110     2025-2026 City of Palo Annual Action Plan 91 Annual Action Plan AP-15 Expected Resources – 91.220(c)(1,2) In FY 2025-26, the City will allocate a total of $600,000 CDBG funds to eligible activities that address the needs identified in the Consolidated Plan. These CDBG funds reflect the sum of a $500,000 FY 2025-26 Entitlement Grant (Estimated) and $100,000 in FY 2025-26 Program Income (estimated). The city acknowledges that program income receipts may vary and endeavors to forecast future income while implementing necessary adjustments to the ongoing program budget. It should be noted that while the HUD CDBG allocations are critical, the allocation are not sufficient to overcome barriers and address all needs that low-income individuals and families face in attaining self-sufficiency. The City efforts include leveraging local, county, regional, state, and federal funds estimating $5.3 million, that align with the goals outlined in the Consolidated Plan. The City continues to leverage additional resources, as described below, to provide support and services to the communities’ populations in need. The following section discusses the anticipated resources available for community development activities during the next five years of the City’s Consolidated Plan. Table 1. Anticipated Resources Program Source of Funds Uses of Funds Expected Amount Available Year 1 Expected Amount Available Remainder of ConPlan $ Narrative Description Annual Allocatio n: $ Program Income: $ Prior Year Resources: $ Total: $ CDBG Public- Federal Acquisition Admin and Planning Economic Development Fair Housing Housing Public Improvements Public Services 500,000 100,000 600,000 2,000,000 CDBG funds will be used for the creation and preservation of affordable rental units, improvements in low- income neighborhoods, and public services that benefit low-income and special needs households. 2     Packet Pg. 111     2025-2026 City of Palo Annual Action Plan 92 Explain how federal funds will leverage those additional resources (private, state and local funds), including a description of how matching requirements will be satisfied The City joined Santa Clara County's HOME Consortium in 2015 and does not receive federal HOME funds on an entitlement basis from HUD. The Consortium includes the cities of Cupertino, Gilroy, Palo Alto, and the Urban County. HOME funds can be used to support eligible affordable housing projects, including acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation. Since FY 2015–16, developers of affordable housing projects in Palo Alto have been eligible to apply directly to the County through a competitive annual Request for Proposals (RFP) process for HOME funds. Certain nonprofit organizations, known as Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs), may also apply for funding through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for projects located in Palo Alto. The City has received only one HOME grant to date—from the 1992 HOME funding cycle for the Barker Hotel project. Any proceeds from HOME loan repayments are deposited into a HOME Program Income Fund and used in accordance with HOME program regulations. The County only funds projects that have the City’s local support. If Palo Alto receives HOME dollars through its participation in the Consortium, the required 25% match is provided from the City’s Affordable Housing Fund, which includes both the Commercial Housing Fund and the Residential Housing Fund. Although no projects have yet been funded through the HOME Consortium, the City plans to increase outreach to developers to promote awareness of the program and available resources. In addition to HOME and CDBG funds, the City benefits from a range of other state and federal programs that support affordable housing and community development. These include the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, Section 202, Section 811, the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program (AHP), and others. In most cases, the City is not the direct applicant for these funds, as they are primarily available to developers. Projects often leverage a mix of private investment, County resources, and the City’s Housing Supportive Programs and Projects (HSPAP) funds—totaling an estimated $1.6 million—to support their programs. The City also monitors state legislation to identify funding opportunities. In September 2022, the State passed key housing bills, including SB 6 (Middle-Class Housing Act) and AB 2011, to streamline development approvals and ensure fair wages for construction workers. The California Housing Accelerator program also provided funding for shovel-ready projects that were delayed due to challenges in securing tax credits. The City continues to track and pursue opportunities to leverage state and federal resources to support local affordable housing efforts. If appropriate, describe publicly owned land or property located within the jurisdiction that may be used to address the needs identified in the plan The City of Palo Alto's 2023–2031 Housing Element includes a strategic initiative to redevelop city-owned surface parking lots, particularly in the downtown area, to support affordable housing development. This approach aims to utilize underutilized public land to meet the city's housing goals. The City plans to issue requests for information (RFIs) to explore public-private partnerships for redevelopment, conduct parking studies to assess current usage, and evaluate opportunities for reconfiguring or replacing parking as needed. A schedule of actions will be developed to guide implementation, with clear milestones to ensure accountability and progress toward the City's RHNA goals. In 2019, the Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N- 06-19 that ordered the California Department of General Services (DGS) and the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to identify and prioritize excess state-owned property and aggressively pursue sustainable, innovative, cost- effective housing projects. There is no excess state property in the City of Palo Alto. 2     Packet Pg. 112     2025-2026 City of Palo Annual Action Plan 93 Discussion HUD allocations are critical to overcoming barriers; however, they are not sufficient to address all the needs of LMI households. Therefore, the City will continue to leverage other funding sources to provide services to populations in need. Currently, the City is not eligible to receive direct funding under the HOME Investment Partnership Act, Emergency Solutions Grant, or Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS. Other local resources that support housing and community development programs include: • Palo Alto Commercial Housing Fund provides assistance for the development of below market rate (BMR) housing units which are, in part, funded by mitigation fees obtained from commercial and industrial development projects. • ADA coordinator and city-wide ADA capital improvement listing. • The Housing Element outlines the City’s detailed housing priorities and needs. • Rebuilding Together Peninsula assists 4-6 low-to moderate income homeowners with home improvements. 2     Packet Pg. 113     2025-2026 City of Palo Annual Action Plan 94 AP-20 Annual Goals and Objectives Table 2. Goals Summary (estimates based on 2024 allocations) Sort Order Goal Name Start Year End Year Category Geographic Area Needs Addressed Funding Estimates Goal Outcome Indicator 1 Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing 2025 2026 Affordable Housing Citywide Affordable Housing CDBG: $195,130 Rental Units Rehabilitated – 10 units Homeowner Housing Rehabilitated –5 units 2 Respond to homelessness and risk of homelessness 2025 2026 Homeless Citywide Homelessness CDBG: $109,154 Public Service Activities to Address Homelessness – 160 persons 3 Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building 2025 2026 Non-Homeless Special Needs Non-Housing Community Development Citywide Community Services and Public Improvements CDBG: $19,500 Public Service Activities Other Than Low/Moderate-Income Housing Benefit – 300 persons 4 Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development 2025 2026 Non-Housing Community Development Citywide Economic Development CDBG: $120,000 Jobs Created or Retained – 150 jobs 5 Provide supportive services to low- income households 2025 2026 Non-Housing Community Development Citywide Supportive Services CDBG: $35,837 Public Service Activities Other Than Low/Moderate-Income Housing Benefit – 75 persons 2     Packet Pg. 114     2025-2026 City of Palo Annual Action Plan 95 Table 3. Goal Descriptions 1 Goal Name Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing Goal Description Assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing for low-income and special needs households. 2 Goal Name Respond to homelessness and risk of homelessness Goal Description Prevent and end homelessness, such as funding affordable housing opportunities, resource centers for homeless individuals, and support for tenants of single-room occupancy units. 3 Goal Name Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Goal Description Provide community services and public improvements to benefit low-income and special needs households. This includes assisting those with disabilities to transition from unstable housing to permanent housing, supporting residents of long-term care facilities, and supporting individuals experiencing domestic violence. 4 Goal Name Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development Goal Description Support economic development activities that promote employment growth and help lower-income people secure and maintain jobs. This includes funding nonprofits working toward developing the skills of low-income and homeless individuals. 5 Goal Name Provide supportive services to low-income households Goal Description Provide supportive services to low-income households through bolstering case management and navigation of services including legal assistance, and tenant/landlord resolution. 2     Packet Pg. 115     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 96 AP-35 Projects – 91.220(d) Introduction The Consolidated Plan goals represent high priority needs for the City of Palo Alto and serve as the basis for the strategic actions the City undertakes to meet these needs. The projects, listed in no particular order are: Table 4. Projects # Project Name 1 2025 Project Sentinel – Fair Housing Services 2 2025 WeeCare/Upwards 3 2025 Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) – Safe at Home 4 2025 Silicon Valley Independent Living Center – Case Management 5 2025 Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence 6 2025 Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: Long Term Care Ombudsman Program 7 2025 LifeMoves – Case Management Services 8 2025 Community Working Group/Abode – Alma Garden 9 2025 Homekey Palo Alto – Recreation Project 10 2025 City of Palo Alto - Planning and Administration Describe the reasons for allocation priorities and any obstacles to addressing underserved needs The City awards CDBG funding to projects and programs that primarily benefit low-income, homeless, and special needs households. Projects are only considered for funding within the Consolidate Plan period if they address the goals discussed. 2     Packet Pg. 116     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 97 AP-38 Project Summary Table 5. Project Summary Information 1 Project Name 2025 Project Sentinel – Fair Housing Services Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Provide supportive services to low-income households Needs Addressed Fair Housing Funding CDBG: $21,437.86 Description Fair Housing Services. Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): O5J, Fair Housing Activities CDBG National Objective: LMC 24 CFR 570.208(a)(2) Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 10 unduplicated low and moderate income individuals will be provided with fair housing services of complaint counseling, investigation, and where appropriate enforcement referral. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities Project Sentinel’s project activities include fair housing counseling and investigative services for Palo Alto residents through casework, increase knowledge of fair housing laws and individual counseling on the fair housing laws to improve understanding of residents' and housing providers' rights or obligations. Funding would provide operating expenses for these fair housing services. 2 Project Name 2025 WeeCare/Upwards Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development Needs Addressed Economic Development Funding CDBG: $120,000.00 Description WeeCare/Upwards assists Family Childcare Home microenterprise businesses and will provide business improvement services to such businesses in the City. Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 18C Economic Development: Micro-Enterprise Assistance. CDBG National Objective LMC Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 15 daycare microenterprises will benefit from this project. Plus, the possibility of new full-time jobs will be created by WeeCare/Upwards. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities WeeCare/Upwards, a for-profit organization, project activities support their BOOST program for low-income Family Child Care Home (FCCH) providers in Palo Alto. The BOOST program provides specialized technical assistance and business support for income qualifying FCCH’s. 2     Packet Pg. 117     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 98 3 Project Name 2025 Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP)– Safe at Home Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing Needs Addressed Affordable Housing Funding CDBG: $73,585.00 Description Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 14A National Objective LMH 24 CFR 570.202(a)(1) Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 5 LMI households will benefit from home improvements. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities RTP project activities preserve affordable housing by transforming homes at no cost to the service recipient. The majority of the low-income homeowners served will be elderly seniors and/or people with disabilities, who are physically and or financially unable to maintain safe living conditions for themselves and their families. Funding covers the costs of home repair, such as construction materials and payment of subcontractors. 4 Project Name 2025 Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC): Case Management Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Needs Addressed Community Services and Public Improvements Funding CDBG: $19,500.00 Description Case Management. Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 05B, Handicapped Services CDBG National Objective: LMC Target Date 6/30/2025 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 21 unduplicated Palo Alto residents will benefit from one-on-one housing assistance. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) project activities assist very low income Palo Alto residents with disabilities and their families with their housing search for affordable, accessible housing. Funding would support the Housing and Emergency Services for Persons with Disabilities Program and case management services. The Program provides education & training on all aspects of how to conduct a housing search to transition from homelessness, health care facilities, or unstable, temporary housing into safe, long-term community-based housing. It includes group workshops, one-on-one service training, and access to IL (Independent Living) services, including emergency food assistance, security deposits/rent (as funding allows), information & referral to ensure the long-term sustainability of housing. 2     Packet Pg. 118     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 99 5 Project Name 2025 Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Provide supportive services to low-income households Needs Addressed Community Services and Public Improvements Funding CDBG: $7,200.00 Description Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 05G, Services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking CDBG National Objective: LMC Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 20 unduplicated Palo Alto residents will benefit from client centered services. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities Next Door Solution to Domestic Violence's project activities provide Palo Alto residents identifying as victims/survivors of domestic/intimate partner violence (DV) with receive client-centered services through Community Support Advocacy: crisis intervention counseling, risk assessment, safety planning, legal advocacy and attorneys, restraining order assistance, case management, other support services through walk-in or virtual. 6 Project Name 2025 Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Needs Addressed Community Services and Public Improvements Funding CDBG: $7,200 Description Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 05A, Senior Services CDBG National Objective: LMC Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities The program will provide advocacy and complaint investigation for 37 elderly residents of long-term care facilities in Palo Alto. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities Catholic Charities’ Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) activities include regular contact with Palo Alto Residential Care Facilities to observe and monitor conditions of care and handle and resolve issues regarding residents’ rights, unmet needs, allegations of abuse, and complaints effectively, thus promoting resident well-being. Funding would support program services. 7 Project Name 2025 LifeMoves: Case Management Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Respond to homelessness and the risk of homelessness 2     Packet Pg. 119     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 100 Needs Addressed Homelessness Funding CDBG: $39,154 Description Opportunity Services Center/Hotel De Zink Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 03T, Operating Costs of Homeless/AIDS Patients Programs CDBG National Objective: LMC Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 32 unduplicated individuals (homeless and/or very low-income individuals per year) will receive case management services, including assistance with housing/job searches, referrals and mentoring at the Opportunity Services Center and Hotel De Zink. Location Description 33 Encina Way, Palo Alto, CA 94301 Planned Activities LifeMoves project activities include case management services to Opportunity Services Center and Hotel De Zink clients in locating housing and/or employment and be connected to benefits. Additionally, activities include provision of services at the Opportunity Services Center, such as showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, benefits enrollment assistance, transportation vouchers, and referrals for medical and dental care for residents of Palo Alto and surrounding areas who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 8 Project Name 2025 Community Work Group/Abode – Alma Garden Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing Needs Addressed Affordable Housing Funding CDBG: $121,545 Description Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 14B Rehab: Multi-Unit Residential National Objective LMH 24 CFR 570.202(a)(1) Target Date 6/30/2026 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 10 LMI households will benefit from apartment unit improvements. Location Description Alma Garden Apartments 2507-2533 Alma Street, Palo Alto, CA 94306 Planned Activities Community Work Group/Abode project activities include rehabilitating rental housing units in Alma Garden, an affordable multi-family housing complex for very low and low-income households , to address existing health and safety concerns. Funding would be spent on a project manager, bathroom upgrades, exterior repairs, and electrical and water utility upgrades. 9 Project Name 2025 Homekey Palo Alto – Recreation Project Target Area City-Wide Goals Supported Respond to homelessness and the risk of homelessness Needs Addressed Homelessness Funding CDBG: $70,000 Description This project will provide an on-site play structure and area at the HomeKey Palo Alto shelter. Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 03C, Homeless Facilities 2     Packet Pg. 120     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 101 National Objective LMC Target Date 6/30/2025 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities 104 households annually Location Description 1237 San Antonio Road Planned Activities LifeMoves, this homeless service provider will manage the design and construction of recreation area and recreation equipment within the Homekey Palo Alto shelter property. The anticipated project completion timeframe is 12 months. 10 Project Name 2025 Planning & Administration Target Area Citywide Goals Supported Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Needs Addressed Community Services and Public Improvements Funding CDBG: $120,000 Description Eligible Activity (Matrix Code): 21A, General Program Administration Planning and Administration: CDBG Citation: 570.206(a) Target Date 6/30/2025 Estimate the number and type of families that will benefit from the proposed activities The City will provide general administrative support to the CDBG program. Location Description Citywide Planned Activities Administer the administrative costs for the overall management, coordination, and evaluation of the CDBG program, and the project delivery costs associated with bringing projects to completion. 2     Packet Pg. 121     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 102 AP-50 Geographic Distribution – 91.220(f) Description of the geographic areas of the entitlement (including areas of low-income and minority concentration) where assistance will be directed The City allocates CDBG funds to benefit low-moderate income (LMI) households and does not have any designated target areas. Instead, the City focuses CDBG funds on public services, housing preservation, economic development-business assistance, and capital improvements across the City as a whole. Table 5: Geographic Distribution Target Area Percentage of Funds Citywide 100% Rationale for the priorities for allocating investments geographically This question is not applicable to Palo Alto’s program. Discussion Please see discussion above. 2     Packet Pg. 122     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 103 AP-85 Other Actions – 91.220(k) Introduction The following provides a description of today's obstacles and or barriers to meeting LMI or underserved populations, including vulnerable populations, housing preservation needs, lead-paint issues, increased earning capacity for LMI households, city delivery structure for supporting needed services, and regional approaches to serving and helping the homeless populations. Actions planned to address obstacles to meeting underserved needs The City collaborative works with social service providers, affordable housing developers, housing preservation entities, fair housing and homeless assistance agencies to address obstacles to permanent housing for all residents. To address this, the City supplements its CDBG funding with other resources and funds, such as: • Support social services entities including Alta Housing and Catholic Charities that provide needed supportive services for extremely low-income and or elderly residents. • In FY 2024-25, the City’s Human Service Resource Allocation Process (HSRAP) provided $919,664 from the General Fund in support of human services. The HSRAP funds, in conjunction with the CDBG public service funds, are distributed to local non-profit agencies. • Support low income persons with disabilities. Provide CDBG funds to Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC) with case management needs. • Support the city’s homeless population through CDBG awards and other funding sources to: LifeMoves Shelter and proposed Homekey Palo Alto shelter development project. • The Housing Authority of the County of Santa Clara (HACSC) administers the federal Section 8 program countywide. The program provides rental subsidies and develops affordable housing for low-income households, seniors and persons with disabilities living within the County. • Continue to locally support, through General City Funds, the Downtown Streets Team to reduce homelessness through a “work first” model. Downtown Streets Team uses its community connections to provide training and job opportunities to homeless people, specifically in the downtown area. Actions planned to foster and maintain affordable housing The City will foster and maintain affordable housing by continuing the following programs and ordinances: • Support low income homeowners through annual CDBG allocations for housing rehabilitation. Provide CDBG funds to Rebuilding Together Peninsula to preserve existing affordable housing stock. The City is also planning an affordable housing rehabilitation and replacement project, Buena Vista Mobile Home Park that will benefit approximately 270 residents. • Support Community Work Group (Abode) with CDBG funds to preserve 10 affordable housing units. • Annual CDBG allocations to Rebuilding Together Peninsula to preserve existing affordable housing stock. • A Business Tax was approved in late 2022 to fund affordable housing, public safety, homeless services, rail crossing safety, and general city services. • The Below Market Rate Emergency Fund, which provides funding on an ongoing basis for loans to BMR 2     Packet Pg. 123     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 104 owners for special assessment loans and for rehabilitation and preservation of the City’s stock of BMR ownership units. • Apply to both the State of California HOME program, and the County’s HOME Consortium to fund supported affordable housing projects. • The Commercial Housing Fund and Residential Housing Fund are used by the City to assist new housing development or the acquisition, rehabilitation, or the preservation of existing housing for affordable housing. • The Density Bonus Ordinance regulations allow for bonuses of 20 to 35 percent, depending on the amount and type of affordable housing provided. • The City is collaborating with Santa Clara County and Eden Housing in the development of Michell Park Place, a new affordable housing development project providing 50 affordable units located in one of the City’s LMI census tracts. • The City’s participation in the County's HOME Consortium will allow developers of affordable housing projects to be eligible to competitively apply through an annual RFP process directly to the County for HOME funds to help subsidize affordable housing projects in Palo Alto, including acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation. 2     Packet Pg. 124     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 105 Actions planned to reduce lead-based paint hazards The City’s housing and CDBG staff provides technical assistance, information, and referrals to property owners, developers, and non-profit organizations rehabilitating older housing about lead-based paint (LBP) hazards. Any house to be rehabilitated with City financial assistance is required to be inspected for the existence of LBP and LBP hazards. The City will provide financial assistance for the abatement of LBP hazards in units rehabilitated with City funding. The City also requires that contractors be trained and certified in an effort to decrease the risk of potential use of LBP in new units. All development and rehabilitation projects must be evaluated according to HUD’s Lead Safe Housing Rule 24 CFR Part 35. Rebuilding Together Peninsula, through its housing rehabilitation program, ensures each rehab includes lead-based paint assessment and mitigation on impacted areas for each housing case. Actions planned to reduce the number of poverty-level families The City, in its continuing effort to reduce poverty, will prioritize funding agencies that provide direct assistance to the homeless and those in danger of becoming homeless. In FY 2025-26, these programs will include the following: • LifeMoves provides basic necessities for persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Opportunity Services Center is a comprehensive, one-stop, multi-service, day drop-in center that provides critical services for homeless Palo Alto residents. Specifically, the facility provides showers, laundry, clothing, snacks, case management, and shelter/housing referral services. • Homekey Palo Alto, although not CDBG funded, is supported by the City and other state and federal resources to build a new interim housing shelter that will serve over 200 individuals annually. This new facility includes 88 rooms with interior shows and restrooms. • WeeCare provides business services and best management practices for small daycare businesses in the City. Many of which provide childcare for LMI families. • Buena Vista Mobile Home Park development project, although not CDBG funded, is supported by the City to replace, and increase the number of residential units in the development. Plus improve neighborhood amenities include walking trails, bulk trash removal, new water/sewer infrastructure. Actions planned to develop institutional structure The administration of the City’s CDBG program requires collaboration between several departments including the finance department, administration, Human Services, and Planning and Development Services Department staff. The Planning and Development Services Department assigns critical staff to manage project development, subrecipient contracting and technical assistance, consultant management, collaboration with public works department staff, and fund draws and activity spending. The Finance Department assists in the process by reconciling CDBG and City budget accounts and draw approvals. The Human Relations Commission and Council hold public hearings and recommend recommendations and final approvals of annual CDBG project activities and projects. The City strives to improve intergovernmental and private sector cooperation to synergize efforts and resources and develop new revenues for community service needs and affordable housing production. Collaborative efforts include: 2     Packet Pg. 125     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 106 • Regular meetings between entitlement jurisdictions at the CDBG Housing Coordinators meetings and Regional Housing Working Group. • Joint jurisdiction Request for Proposals and project review committees. • Collaborations between the City’s housing and public works departments. • Coordination on project management for projects funded by multiple jurisdictions. • HOME Consortium meetings between member jurisdictions for affordable housing projects. Actions planned to enhance coordination between public and private housing and social service agencies The City benefits from a strong jurisdiction and region-wide network of housing and community development partners, such as the County and the Continuum of Care. To improve intergovernmental and private sector cooperation, the City continues to participate with other local jurisdictions and developers in sharing information and resources. In FY 2024-25 and FY 25-26, the City awarded CDBG funds to the Alma Garden project for the preservation of 10 residential very low income rental units. The City is collaborating with Santa Clara County and Eden Housing in the development of Michell Park Place, a new affordable housing development project providing 50 affordable units located in one of the City’s LMI census tracts. In addition to the actions listed above, the City continues to coordinate with the City’s Human Relations Commission on funding efforts to address community needs comprehensively. 2     Packet Pg. 126     2025-2026 City of Palo Alto Annual Action Plan 107 AP-90 Program Specific Requirements – 91.220(l)(1,2,4) Introduction Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1) Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included in projects to be completed. Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Reference 24 CFR 91.220(l)(1) Projects planned with all CDBG funds expected to be available during the year are identified in the Projects Table. The following identifies program income that is available for use that is included in projects to be carried out. 1. The total amount of program income that will have been received before the start of the next program year and that has not yet been reprogrammed $100,000 2. The amount of proceeds from section 108 loan guarantees that will be used during the year to address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the grantee's strategic plan N/A 3. The amount of surplus funds from urban renewal settlements N/A 4. The amount of any grant funds returned to the line of credit for which the planned use has not been included in a prior statement or plan. N/A 5. The amount of income from float-funded activities N/A Total Program Income $100,000 Other CDBG Requirements N/A 1. The amount of urgent need activities 2     Packet Pg. 127     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 1 APPENDIX A. Citizen Participation and Stakeholder Consultation This section summarizes the primary findings from the extensive citizen participation and stakeholder consultation conducted to inform the Santa Clara County Urban County, HOME Consortia, and entitlement jurisdiction Consolidated Plans. Residents and stakeholders were invited to participate in a variety of engagement opportunities in addition to the community survey throughout the Consolidated Plan process. Findings from the survey are detailed in Appendix B. Detailed discussion notes from the citizen participation and stakeholder consultation events follow Appendix B. The events included: ¾ “Pop up” events—Booths with activities were set up at community venues and events to capture residents’ input on priority housing and community development needs and were held throughout October and December 2024. Approximately 200 residents engaged with pop up events. Ø Mountain View Dia de Los Muertos Event: November 2, 2024 Ø Gilroy and South County Open House: November 4, 2024 Ø Saratoga Library Popup: November 18, 2024 Ø Campbell Farmers Market Popup: December 1, 2024 Ø Sunnyvale Farmers Market Popup: January 18, 2025 ¾ Two regional virtual public workshops were held on November 14th and 20th 2024. Virtual public workshops were open to all residents living in and stakeholders serving residents in the County. Approximately 55 residents attended the workshops between the two sessions provided. Ø The City of Mountain View held a third local virtual public workshop on the evening of December 16, 2024. ¾ Three stakeholder consultation workshops were held on December 5th, 11th, and 17th, 2024 with stakeholders who serve and represent low and moderate income and special needs residents. Attendees represented affordable housing providers, service providers serving special needs populations, people with lived experience, legal advocates, child care service providers, public health agencies, mental health service providers, and others. A total of 72 stakeholders engaged through the workshops. 2     Packet Pg. 128     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 2 Demographic surveys voluntarily completed at resident engagement events show that the demographic composition of participants broadly represents that of the county’s low and moderate income populations. Promotion. The Consolidated Plan website www.letstalkhousingscc.org was available throughout the Plan and promoted through a social media and communications toolkit. The website provided information on the Consolidated Plan process and ways for community members and stakeholders to be engaged through taking the survey and participating in events. The website’s “Events” page, pictured to the right, includes a list of upcoming and past community engagement events associated with the Consolidated Plan. Residents could view dates, times, locations, and registration information for each event on this page. Residents could also learn about upcoming engagement opportunities on City and County websites and social media pages. Regional virtual public workshops were promoted with flyers—shown below—in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin that included dates, times, translation information, and links to meeting registration and the letstalkhousingscc.org website. Figure A-1. Let’s Talk Housing Santa Clara County Website Events Page Source: https://www.letstalkhousingscc.org /events 2     Packet Pg. 129     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 3 Figure A-2. Virtual Public Workshop Promotional Flyers in English and Spanish Note: Flyers were also available in Vietnamese and Mandarin. City and County staff posted flyers on official websites and social media profiles with captions from a social media toolkit, as seen in the example below from the City of Palo Alto’s website. The social media toolkit included captions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. Figure A-3. Virtual Public Workshop Promotional Page, City of Palo Alto Website Source: City of Palo Alto. 2     Packet Pg. 130     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 4 Popup events were advertised locally on City websites and social media pages with flyers such as the one presented below from the Gilroy and South County Open House event. Figure A-4. Gilroy and South County Open House Promotional Flyer Stakeholders from stakeholder partner organizations and former subrecipients and grant applicants were invited through email to participate in virtual workshops, while stakeholders from other organizations could register their interest on the Let’s Talk Housing SCC website through a Google form. Figure A-5. Stakeholder Workshop Information and Registration Page, Let’s Talk Housing SCC Website Source: https://www.letstalkhousingscc.org/orgs 2     Packet Pg. 131     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 5 Citizen Participation and Stakeholder Consultation Findings This section summarizes the feedback received from residents and stakeholders in pop up events, virtual public workshops, and stakeholder focus groups. It is organized around the four broad categories of need discussed at each event: ¾ Housing needs ¾ Public/supportive services needs ¾ Community development needs ¾ Economic development needs For each category of need, this section includes discussions of community concerns, consideration of residents and locations with the greatest need, and suggested solutions. Housing needs. Residents and stakeholders reported that there are shortages in shelter and support services across the county, with the most acute needs for very low income households in the South County. Special needs groups with the most acute needs include: ¾ Domestic violence survivors—for whom there are only 63 emergency shelter beds in the county—need low-barrier, safety- and trauma-informed crisis housing that helps them access childcare and services. ¾ LGBTQ+ residents who have experienced mistreatment in-specific shelters need tailored shelters. ¾ There is also a lack of sober living environments and substance-friendly housing options in transitional housing. ¾ Housing is even harder to find for groups with special needs including residents with disabilities who need accessible units and seniors who need fall prevention design and modifications to age in place. Seniors increasingly resort to living in RVs, which are often in poor condition. Geographic differences included: ¾ South County and Gilroy residents placed a priority on addressing the shelter and service gaps faced by migrant farm workers. Many county-level stakeholders and South County residents recommended allowing and funding safe parking areas as an interim solution. ¾ South County and Gilroy residents also put a very high priority on permanent supportive housing for people moving out of homelessness. ¾ South County and Gilroy residents were also unique for their prioritization of first time homeownership activities—something that other areas of the County did not prioritize due to the remarkably high cost of homes in their areas. Except for deed-restricted, Below Market Rate homeownership products, homebuying assistance programs are not realistic. 2     Packet Pg. 132     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 6 ¾ Unique to Mountain View was an emphasis on providing rental assistance and new rental products to help those who have middle incomes. These households have incomes that are too high to qualify for LIHTC, but too low to afford market rate rentals without being cost burdened. Overall, the housing needs most frequently cited included: Affordable rental housing, rental assistance, and affordable homeownership opportunities (South County). Income restricted units often target households at 60-80% AMI, so very low and extremely low income households often cannot afford these units. AMIs reflect the incomes of both renters and homeowners in the County and not the reality of workforce. This is compounded by a lack of rental assistance and vouchers. Further, these developments often have restrictions around renters’ histories and credit scores that make it difficult for applicants who could afford rent to qualify. Residents frequently reported that even in market rate rental units with manageable monthly rents, deposits were prohibitively expensive. There is very little naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) in the area, and even mobile home communities—historically NOAH—are increasingly difficult for low income households to afford due to increasing lot rents. Housing solutions. To address affordability challenges, participants recommended individualized support in the forms of emergency rental assistance, security deposit assistance, and down payment assistance and broader policy change such as zoning reform and density incentives, streamlining residential development applications and approvals, siting workforce housing near employment centers to mitigate displacement, and implementing rent control policies (suggested in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, and Campbell—with an emphasis on essential workers). Participants advocated for future development to be sited in walkable areas near transportation, ensuring access to employment, food, and essential services for low income households. Participants expressed concerns about limited parking in residential areas far from public transit. A common theme in the solutions discussion was building intentional communities, whether these be tiny home communities for people moving on from homelessness or communities for people with intellectual and development disabilities, or communities for youth moving into adulthood. Residents and stakeholders also reported that navigating housing processes is difficult due to bureaucratic and private market barriers. The process of securing rental housing is complicated, especially for groups who may struggle to qualify for a unit— including individuals without work history and individuals who face barriers to employment (e.g. undocumented residents, foster youth moving into adulthood who lack work histories, domestic violence survivors who need trauma-informed employment). Housing navigation 2     Packet Pg. 133     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 7 services including application assistance and negotiation with landlords were recommended. Participants identified a need for tenant rights education, particularly for youth, families who may be illegally denied housing because they have children or a Section 8 voucher (as observed by multiple participants), and seniors who are unaware of their right to reasonable modifications. Additional legal assistance for tenants was also identified as a need as free legal services in the county are currently overwhelmed. Financial instability is a significant barrier to staying in housing, particularly for seniors and families. Social Security Income benefits for seniors have not kept pace with housing costs, causing a rise in seniors applying for Section 8 vouchers—which come with a long application and approval process—and an inability for seniors to make essential repairs to deteriorating homes. Low income families must manage expenses of both housing and childcare and may respond by living in overcrowded or substandard conditions, risking eviction and displacement when conditions are discovered. Participants recommended increasing home repair assistance and funding landlord-tenant mediation and emergency rental assistance—currently a gap in the county’s services infrastructure—to promote housing stability. Other solutions recommended in workshops and pop-up events included community land trusts (CLTs) and limited equity housing cooperatives to promote homeownership, universal basic income (UBI) to allow residents to meet their immediate housing needs, and long term (3-year) housing voucher programs and landlord partnerships to promote housing stability. Public/supportive services needs. Residents and stakeholders highlighted countywide needs for affordable and stigma-free mental health and substance abuse services, legal assistance, food programs and addressing food deserts, financial literacy education, and eviction and homelessness prevention including rental assistance and landlord-tenant mediation. Participants also identified a need for expanded access to medical, dental, and vision care, especially in Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and the South County. There are also significant population specific needs: ¾ Families with children need improved access to affordable childcare and after school programming to maintain employment (also discussed in “economic development”). ¾ Immigrants and residents with limited English proficiency—who are most concentrated in the South County—need language services and classes, citizenship classes, housing assistance, navigating public transportation systems, and legal help to become economically self sufficient—and find that many service providers cannot accommodate them. ¾ Domestic violence survivors face critical geographic gaps in services (in-person services are not available in Milpitas, Campbell, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Cupertino, 2     Packet Pg. 134     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 8 Palo Alto, and Saratoga), and domestic violence offices in the county have cut hours and staff capacity due to limited funding, increasing reliance on volunteers who lack expertise. Accessing domestic violence services is especially difficult for undocumented residents. Increased funding for domestic violence services is needed. ¾ Seniors need affordable and accessible transportation, home health care, and legal support for aging in place. ¾ Unhoused residents need hygiene assistance and employment navigation assistance. Participants shared that the locations of service providers—often in areas that are easiest to serve, rather than areas that have the highest need—are not pedestrian-accessible or near transit stops, complicating access for transit-dependent residents. Many service providers operate only during 9-5 business hours, conflicting with potential clients’ work schedules. New public and nonprofit facilities should be sited in high need, pedestrian- friendly, and transit-connected areas. Residents recommended convening service providers in “family resource centers” where clients can access a wide range of services. Residents are often unfamiliar with the services available to them or do not know how to access services. Further, supportive services are difficult to navigate independently: clients must locate relevant organizations, submit multiple (often complicated) applications to various organizations, and navigate long waitlists. Special needs populations face additional barriers to accessing services. Case management— where available in the county—is sporadic and insufficient due to lack of funding and high turnover among poorly paid case workers. High turnover leads to low institutional knowledge among case managers and nonprofit service providers, diminishing the quality of service available. Case management is especially critical for foster care youth, immigrants, and unhoused individuals who may be navigating support systems for the first time. Participants recommended that the County fund case management services and a consolidated search platform or drop in centers; that cities and nonprofits collaborate more frequently and fully; and that service providers design and adopt a single, straightforward application accepted by multiple organizations. Community development needs. Residents frequently reported a need for new, accessible community centers with recreational, cultural, and educational programming, access to services, reservable common spaces, and potentially subsidized meals. Residents also recommended providing community spaces with engagement opportunities in new housing developments. Multiple stakeholders reported that social isolation is a common problem for the county’s seniors and recommended increased provision of senior recreational programming and facilities such as an indoor walking track. One stakeholder reported that many senior centers are run down and need renovation. 2     Packet Pg. 135     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 9 Multiple stakeholders offered ideas for how to increase community and combat loneliness through “communal social centers” and free events; this was mentioned frequently in Campbell. Participants consistently reported gaps in the availability of childcare options and youth programming including after school programs, youth sports, and teen programming, advocating for the construction of new youth centers and enhanced city collaboration with youth-serving nonprofits. One stakeholder recommended home daycares as a community- embedded, potentially affordable alternative to commercial daycares. There is also a lack of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ teens and foster care youth moving into adulthood in the county. Residents and stakeholders frequently reported that accessible, well-connected public transportation is essential for connecting residents with employment opportunities, essential services, and grocery stores. Bus service is inconsistent, bus stops are limited, and transit is difficult to navigate. There are needs for new bus stops, improvements to existing bus stops, greater reliability and frequency, improved accessibility for residents with mobility differences, an app to keep commuters updated on VTA service, and translation of navigation materials into multiple languages. Broader infrastructure improvements are also needed. There was very widespread concern that bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure such as sidewalks and street crossings are nonexistent, unsafe, or non-ADA compliant in areas across the county, including near essential public facilities. Bike lane safety could be improved with public education on bike lane use. Road improvements including street light and intersection improvements are also needed across the county. Participants also called for improvements to trails and outdated parks, with a focus on providing safer parks with better lighting. While these needs are countywide, infrastructure improvements have not kept up with housing development especially in the South County: residents report needs to fill pot holes, improve sidewalks, and resolve frequent electricity and internet outages. Mountain View residents also emphasized safety and mobility improvements due to recent accidents and deaths. Several participants including South County and Campbell residents expressed a need for climate resilience planning, creek rise mitigation, tree planting, and expanding access to solar energy. Other miscellaneous needs discussed include new community pools, general recreation opportunities, speed bumps in residential areas, and cultural and arts facilities. As a general solution to community development needs, stakeholders recommended that the County provide jurisdictional planning departments with a centralized list of grant opportunities and capacity building resources. Economic development needs. Stakeholders and residents reported significant needs for adult education, job training, and skills development across the county and especially in East San Jose and the South County. Workforce development programs are 2     Packet Pg. 136     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 10 critical to the economic mobility of residents of all ages seeking higher paying jobs, and participants noted that they are particularly important for youth entering the workforce and unhoused residents seeking gainful employment. Residents recommended trade education, and several stakeholders reported that youth would benefit from paid internship or trade apprenticeship opportunities. Workforce development programs should be offered outside of regular business hours and in English and Spanish where possible, especially in areas with large monolingual Spanish populations like the South County. There is also a need for marketing of existing programs: one low income resident expressed interest in skills development, but did not know of any programs in the county. Residents consistently reported needs for small business support including entrepreneurship support, microbusiness assistance, small business grants and loans, and technical assistance, especially for minority-owned businesses. Several residents noted a lack of affordable commercial kitchen space for emerging entrepreneurs, and while others noted that local small businesses and retail establishments are suffering due to a lack of support. Mountain View residents reported that there are many empty or closed businesses on Castro Street, recommending that the City streamline business permitting processes and lift the downtown vendor ban. Others called for more formal and traditional programs to build capacity for trades, noting that small business development comes with risk. Many participants expressed concern that essential workers cannot afford to live in the county, emphasizing that affordable rental and homeownership options are essential to workforce development and retention. Some participants recommended building designated workforce rental housing near employment centers, increasing access to vouchers, offering down payment assistance, and exploring innovative homeownership solutions including community land trusts, sweat equity programs, and limited equity housing cooperatives. Others emphasized a need for creation of and access to higher paying jobs. Participants consistently reported that access to affordable childcare and reliable, accessible public transportation—currently gaps in the county, discussed in “community development needs” above—are needed to promote economic mobility of low to moderate income households. Stakeholders and South County residents reported that immigrants struggle to access skills training and small business development resources due to immigration status and/or language needs, resulting in needs for immigration support and expanded access to English language training. South County residents with limited English proficiency reported immigration-related employment discrimination and poor working conditions. Other participants noted that domestic violence survivors need trauma-informed employment opportunities, recommending training for employers on the impact of trauma and support policies like flexible work hours and affordable childcare for survivors. Other needs discussed include support for residents starting cooperatives and nonprofit organizations, 2     Packet Pg. 137     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX A, PAGE 11 financial literacy education, and retraining, skill-building, and volunteer opportunities for recently laid-off tech workers in Mountain View. 2     Packet Pg. 138     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 1 APPENDIX B. Survey Findings Santa Clara County conducted the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey to better understand the greatest housing, community development, and economic development needs in the county. The survey was administered to both residents and stakeholders to gain an in-depth understanding of concerns from those who deliver services and those who may receive them. The survey results influenced the priority needs and goals for the 2025-2029 Five-year Consolidated Plan. Primary Findings Housing needs and outcomes ¾ Low- to moderate-income families were identified as the group with the greatest challenge finding and keeping housing in Santa Clara County, followed by persons who are currently unhoused, persons with mental illness, persons with disabilities, and seniors; ¾ Over half (52%) of residents selected homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents as the most needed housing activity. Residents in southern Santa Clara County, renter respondents, Hispanic respondents, large households, and single parents selected homeownership opportunities and rental housing for low income renters at the highest rates; ¾ More affordable rental housing was the most desired housing outcome using federal funding at 44%, followed by more affordable homeownership (37%), better distribution of affordable housing (36%), supportive housing for unhoused individuals or families (33%), and increased shelter capacity (30%); and ¾ More affordable homeownership opportunities were selected by Hispanic respondents at the highest rate of any racial or ethnic group (58%). Additionally, 56% percent of Hispanic respondents selected better distribution of affordable housing— also the highest of any race or ethnicity. Community and economic development needs and outcomes ¾ Affordable childcare was identified as the top community development need (41%), followed by mental health services (37%), services for the unhoused (35%), and youth activities (30%); ¾ Increased access to mental healthcare services was the most frequently selected community development outcome by respondents (34%), followed by additional and/or higher quality childcare centers (33%), sidewalk and streetlight improvements 2     Packet Pg. 139     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 2 (32%), transportation services for seniors (31%), improved access to fresh food (29%), and new/improved community centers (29%); and ¾ Respondents selected job training programs as the most desired economic development outcome (39%), followed by more opportunities for small businesses (35%), improved transportation to areas with job opportunities (34%), and revitalization of neighborhood businesses (34%). Funding priorities for Housing Given that housing is a critical need in the county, the survey contained a subset of questions about prioritizing housing funding among eligible activities. Respondents were asked to rank items from 1, indicating strong disagreement for funding, to 10, indicating strong agreement that the item should be funded. ¾ Housing affordable to residents working in public services like public safety, librarians, and teachers received the highest average rating, followed by housing affordable to residents on fixed income, and housing for youth exiting foster care; and ¾ Hispanic respondents rated starter homes for first time buyers, housing for larger households, housing for multigenerational households, and housing for youth exiting the foster system at higher rates relative to other racial/ethnic groups. Homelessness and displacement ¾ Thirteen percent of survey respondents reported that they are currently or had been unhoused in Santa Clara County in the past year. Twenty-five percent of respondents identifying as “other” or multiple races and 16% of Hispanic respondents had experienced homelessness in the past year. A quarter (25%) of those with a disability in the household, 26% within a large household, 27% of renters with household income less than $49,999, and 31% of single parents experienced homelessness within the last year in Santa Clara County; and ¾ Twenty-three percent of survey respondents reported that they have had to move from their home/ apartment when they did not want to in the last five years. Single parents had the highest displacement rate at 51%. Increases in rent were the most frequently selected reason for displacement. Accessibility needs ¾ Twenty-four percent of respondents reported that they or someone in their household has a disability. Of those with a disability or those living with a household member who has a disability, 30% currently live in a home or apartment that does not meet their accessibility needs; and ¾ Forty-one percent of respondents whose home needed modifications said they needed a walk or roll-in shower. This was followed closely by 39% who needed grab 2     Packet Pg. 140     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 3 bars, 29% who needed ramps, 28% who needed a reserved accessible parking spot by the entrance, and 26% who needed stair lifts. Stakeholder perspectives Responses from those who work in the housing and community development fields (called “stakeholders” in this section) were similar to resident responses. Stakeholders prioritized affordable rental housing and identified increased access to mental health services as a top community development need. However, stakeholders less frequently identified homeownership as a priority. Stakeholders also opined on service gaps, noting that transportation services and childcare for homeless people were the hardest resources to access, while general outreach and advocacy for homeless and counseling services for veterans were rated as the easiest to access. Methodology and Sample The survey was available online in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese. Paper surveys were also administered throughout Santa Clara County in English and Spanish. The survey was advertised on social media platforms, the county’s online hub for information on the Consolidated Plan (www.letstalkhousingscc.org), stakeholder lists, and county staff email lists. 1,659 people responded to the survey. 1,446 were residents only, 136 were both residents and stakeholders who work for an organization or agency that serves county residents, and 77 were stakeholders who served county residents but lived outside of Santa Clara County or in San Jose. Stakeholder perspectives are included at the end of this report. All other analysis is reflective of residents (including stakeholders within Santa Clara County) only. 2     Packet Pg. 141     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 4 Figure B-1. Survey Promotion on Let’s Talk Housing Santa Clara County Source: Let's Talk Housing Santa Clara. Sampling note. The survey respondents do not represent a random sample of the county’s population. A true random sample is a sample in which each individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the survey. The self-selected nature of the survey prevents the collection of a true random sample. When considering the experience of members of certain groups within Santa Clara County, some sample sizes are too small (n<40 respondents) to express results quantitatively. In these cases, we describe the survey findings as representative of those who responded to the survey, but the magnitude of the estimate may vary significantly in the overall population (i.e., large margin of error). Survey data from small samples are suggestive of an experience or preference, rather than conclusive. Explanation of terms. ¾ “North County” includes respondents from Campbell City, Cupertino, Lost Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Santa Clara City, San Jose, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale. Residents that did not select a city are still represented within the Santa Clara County category and results overall. 2     Packet Pg. 142     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 5 ¾ “South County” includes respondents from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and respondents who selected “other unincorporated city.” ¾ “Precariously housed” includes residents who are staying with friends and family but not on lease (“couch surfing”), are staying in shelters, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, hotels/motels, and sleeping on the street or car. ¾ “Disability” indicates that the respondent or a member of the respondent’s household has a disability of some type—physical, mental, intellectual, developmental. ¾ “Single parents” are respondents living with their children without a spouse or partner. ¾ “Large households” are made up of five or more people in one housing unit. ¾ “Older adult” is a respondent older than 65. Demographics Over half (58%) of respondents resided in northern Santa Clara County and 37% lived in the southern portion of the county. Almost half (47%) of respondents were homeowners, 32% were renters, and 11% identified as precariously housed. Twenty-six percent of respondents identified as non-Hispanic White and 22% identified as Hispanic. Respondents with household income less than $49,999 made up the highest proportion of any income bracket (20%). By household type, 24% of respondents reported a disability in the household, 16% were older adults, 13% were large households, and 10% were renters with household income less than $49,999. Twenty-four percent of respondents were a couple with children and 6% were single parents. Southern Santa Clara County has more Hispanic respondents, households with income less than $49,999, and slightly more renter households compared to respondents in northern Santa Clara County. 2     Packet Pg. 143     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 6 Figure B-2. Respondent Demographics Note: n = 1,659. County numbers do not add to 100% due to non-resident stakeholders and non-answers. Some categories may not add to 100% due to non-answers. Some categories may add to more than 100% if respondents were able to select more than one answer. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. n %n %n % Total 1,659 100%955 58%610 37% Respondent Type Stakeholder and Resident 136 8%79 8%54 9% Resident Only 1,446 87%876 92%556 91% Stakeholder Only 77 5%---- Tenure Homeowner 776 47%492 52%279 46% Renter 526 32%305 32%220 36% Precariously Housed 182 11%98 10%84 14% Other 175 11%60 6%27 4% Race and Ethnicity Non-Hispanic White 428 26%309 32%116 19% Asian 81 5%77 8%4 1% Other/Multiple Races 186 11%142 15%44 7% Hispanic 365 22%94 10%271 44% Household Income Less than $49,999 338 20%164 17%173 28% $50,000 up to $99,999 241 15%139 15%101 17% $100,000 up to $149,999 152 9%95 10%56 9% $150,000 or more 238 14%168 18%70 11% Household Characteristics Large Households (5 or more)215 13%80 8%135 22% Older Adult (Over 65)268 16%172 18%95 16% Disability 404 24%238 25%165 27% Renter with Income < $49,999 172 10%73 8%99 16% Family Type No Children/Unspecified 1,163 70%682 71%388 64% Couple with Children 390 24%222 23%167 27% Single Parent 106 6%51 5%55 9% Santa Clara County North County South County 2     Packet Pg. 144     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 7 Housing Needs Groups with the greatest housing challenges. Respondents were asked to identify the groups with the greatest challenge finding and keeping housing in Santa Clara County. Most respondents selected low- or moderate-income families (51%), followed by persons who are currently unhoused (47%), persons with mental illness (45%), and persons with disabilities (36%). Other responses included: ¾ “Survivors of domestic violence” ¾ “Young adults and recent graduates” ¾ “People with pets” ¾ “Unemployed people” Figure B-3. Groups with the Greatest Challenges Finding and Keeping Housing Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 145     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 8 The following figures break down the groups identified as having the greatest challenges finding and keeping housing by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, selected household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Responses were similar across the county. Respondents in southern Santa Clara County selected low- or moderate-income families and seniors/elderly persons at higher rates than those in northern Santa Clara County; ¾ By tenure, renters selected low-or moderate-income families at a higher proportion (63%) than precariously housed respondents (53%) and homeowners (46%). Homeowners selected persons with mental illness at the highest rate (52%) and precariously housed respondents selected persons with disabilities and unhoused individuals at the highest rate (42% and 51%, respectively); ¾ Hispanic respondents selected low-or moderate-income families (69%) and seniors (39%) as those who had the greatest housing challenges finding and keeping housing at the highest rate, but selected unhoused individuals at the lowest (24%); ¾ Households with income less than $49,999 selected low- or moderate-income families at the highest rate (61%) and seniors (42%), while those with household income $150,000 or more selected persons who are unhoused and persons with mental illness at the highest rates (60% and 58%, respectively); ¾ Large households and renter households with income less than $49,999 selected low- to moderate-income families at the highest rates while older adults and respondents with a disability selected persons with mental illness and unhoused individuals at the highest rates; and ¾ Respondents with children (both couples with children and single parents) selected low-or moderate-income families and unhoused individuals at higher rates than those without children. 2     Packet Pg. 146     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 9 Figure B-4. Top Five Groups with Greatest Housing Challenges, North and South Santa Clara County Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-5. Top Five Groups with Greatest Housing Challenges, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 147     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 10 Figure B-6. Top Five Groups with Greatest Housing Challenges, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-7. Top Five Groups with Greatest Housing Challenges, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 148     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 11 Figure B-8. Top Five Groups with Greatest Housing Challenges, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-9. Top Five Groups with Greatest Housing Challenges, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 149     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 12 Most needed housing activities. Responses for the most needed housing activities aligned with the results regarding groups with the hardest time finding and keeping housing: The most needed housing activities were homeownership opportunities for low- or moderate-income residents (52%), followed by rental housing for low income renters (49%), supportive housing for unhoused residents (37%), rental housing for seniors (35%), and emergency shelters (35%). Figure B-10. Most Needed Housing Activities Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 150     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 13 The following figures display the most needed housing activities by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, selected household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Respondents throughout the county selected rental housing for low income renters, supportive housing for unhoused residents, rental housing for seniors, and emergency shelters at similar rates. Those in southern Santa Clara County selected homeownership opportunities at a higher rate (59%) compared to the north (48%) and Santa Clara County overall (52%); ¾ Renter respondents selected homeownership opportunities (65%) and rental housing for low income renters (59%) at the highest rates. Precariously housed respondents selected supportive housing for unhoused residents at the highest proportion (43%); ¾ Hispanic residents selected homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate- income residents at the highest proportion (69%) compared to 52% of non-Hispanic White respondents and 57% of Asian respondents; ¾ Responses by income were mostly in parity, with the exception of respondents with household income between $50,000 and $99,999 selecting homeownership opportunities for low- to moderate-income residents at a higher rate (72%) than other income brackets; ¾ Large households selected homeownership opportunities at the highest proportion (73%) of household groups while older adults selected homeownership opportunities at the lowest (50%). Older adults instead selected rental housing for seniors and emergency shelters as their top housing needs; and ¾ Single parents selected homeownership opportunities (70%) and rental housing for low income renters (62%) at higher rates compared to couples with children and respondents with no children. 2     Packet Pg. 151     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 14 Figure B-11. Top Five Most Needed Housing Activities, North and South Santa Clara County Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-12. Top Five Most Needed Housing Activities, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 152     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 15 Figure B-13. Top Five Most Needed Housing Activities, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-14. Top Five Most Needed Housing Activities, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 153     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 16 Figure B-15. Top Five Most Needed Housing Activities, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-16. Top Five Most Needed Housing Activities, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 154     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 17 Housing Outcomes Respondents selected housing outcomes that aligned with their top housing needs that included low income housing for renters and affordable homeownership for low- to moderate-income households. More affordable rental housing was the outcome selected most frequently (44%), followed by more affordable homeownership (37%), better distribution of affordable housing (36%), supportive housing for unhoused individuals or families (33%), and increased shelter capacity (30%). The following figures display the top five housing outcomes by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Respondents in southern Santa Clara County selected more affordable homeownership opportunities and better distribution of affordable housing at higher rates than respondents in northern Santa Clara County; ¾ Precariously housed respondents selected supportive housing for the unhoused at the highest rate of any tenure category (44%) and renters selected more affordable rental housing and more affordable homeownership opportunities at the highest rates (58% and 51%, respectively); ¾ More affordable homeownership opportunities were selected by Hispanic respondents at the highest rate (58%). Fifty-six percent of Hispanic respondents selected better distribution of affordable housing—the highest of any race or ethnicity; ¾ There was little variation between household income brackets for housing outcome items. Respondents with household income more than $150,000 selected more affordable rental housing at a slightly lower rate than lower income brackets; ¾ Sixty-three percent of large households selected more affordable homeownership opportunities—the highest of household groups; and ¾ Single parents selected more affordable rental housing, more affordable homeownership opportunities, better distribution of affordable housing, supportive housing for unhoused, and increased shelter capacity at higher rates than couples with children and respondents without children. 2     Packet Pg. 155     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 18 Figure B-17. Top Housing Outcomes Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 156     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 19 Figure B-18. Top Five Housing Outcomes, North and South Santa Clara County Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-19. Top Five Housing Outcomes, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 157     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 20 Figure B-20. Top Five Housing Outcomes, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-21. Top Five Housing Outcomes, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 158     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 21 Figure B-22. Top Five Housing Outcomes, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-23. Top Five Housing Outcomes, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 159     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 22 Funding Priorities: Housing Respondents were asked to rank items from 1, indicating strong disagreement for funding, to 10, indicating strong agreement that the item should be funded. Housing affordable to residents working in public services like public safety, librarians, and teachers, received the highest average rating, followed by housing affordable to residents on fixed income, and housing for youth exiting foster care. The following figures analyze average rankings by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, selected household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Funding for starter homes for first time buyers, apartments appealing to young adults working or starting families, housing for larger households, and housing for multigenerational households were rated higher by respondents in the southern parts of the county compared to the north. Other items were rated similarly across the county; ¾ Renters and precariously housed respondents rated funding for starter homes, apartments for young adults, housing for downsizing, permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals, and housing for larger households substantially higher than homeowners. While renters and precariously housed respondents were mostly in parity, precariously housed respondents rated housing for larger households and housing for multigenerational households higher than renters; ¾ Hispanic respondents rated starter homes for first time buyers, housing for larger households, housing for multigenerational households, and housing for youth exiting the foster system at higher rates compared to other racial/ethnic groups; ¾ Respondents with household income less than $49,999 rated funding for housing for larger households, housing for multigenerational households, housing for people with a criminal record, and permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals noticeably higher than other income brackets; ¾ Larger households rated starter homes and homes for multigenerational households higher than other household groups, while renters with household income less than $49,999 rated apartments for young adults, housing for those losing mobility, housing for people with a criminal record, and permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals at noticeably higher rates than other groups. Older adults gave the lowest rating to housing for larger households; and ¾ Single parents gave substantially higher ratings to housing for larger households, more shelter beds, housing for people with a criminal record, housing for those with mental illness, and permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals compared to couples with children and respondents with no children. 2     Packet Pg. 160     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 23 Figure B-24. Rating of Importance for Funding, North and South Santa Clara County Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 161     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 24 Figure B-25. Rating of Importance for Funding, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 162     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 25 Figure B-26. Rating of Importance for Funding, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 163     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 26 Figure B-27. Rating of Importance for Funding, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 164     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 27 Figure B-28. Rating of Importance for Funding, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 165     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 28 Figure B-29. Rating of Importance for Funding, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey 2     Packet Pg. 166     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 29 Homelessness and Displacement Homelessness. People experiencing homelessness can be difficult to pick up in surveys, as they face barriers to internet access, language challenges, and are moving in and out of shelters frequently. Despite these challenges, 194 individuals responded that they are or had been unhoused in the county within the past year. The figure below shows the percentage of each group of respondents indicating that they have recently or currently are experiencing homelessness. Twenty-five percent of respondents identifying as other or multiple races and 16% of Hispanic respondents had experienced homelessness in the past year. A quarter (25%) of those with a disability in the household, 26% within a large household, 27% of renters with household income less than $49,999, and 31% of single parents experienced homelessness within the last year in Santa Clara County. 2     Packet Pg. 167     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 30 Figure B-30. Are you currently or have you been unhoused in Santa Clara County in the past year? Note: n = 1,459 (all county respondents). The percentage for each group is based on the total number of respondents within that group who indicate they have experienced or are experiencing homelessness. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Respondents who have experienced homelessness provided input on shelters that would most meet their needs. Answers included: ¾ “A room with parking nearby.” ¾ “Non-congregate supportive shelter.” ¾ “Safe supportive shelter for women and children.” ¾ “[A place that] accepts couples with pets.” ¾ “A tiny home.” ¾ “Natural disaster shelter.” Respondents also gave input on shelters that are most needed in Santa Clara County in general: 2     Packet Pg. 168     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 31 ¾ “Bigger, safer shelters.” ¾ “A partial hospitalization program.” ¾ “A place where families can stay together and have some privacy and feel secure.” ¾ “A shelter to assist people with mental illnesses and a shelter to assist people with substance abuse issues to get them treated and be able to function in the community.” ¾ “A system that handholds individuals from emergency housing to successful permanent housing.” ¾ “Affordable housing. Any and all types.” ¾ “Cold night shelter with non- prescriptive rules.” ¾ “Domestic violence shelters.” ¾ “Safe family shelters.” ¾ “Low-barrier, non-congregate shelters.” ¾ “Restrooms or showers for motor-home street dwellers.” ¾ “Permanent supportive housing for those with physical, mental, and/or addictive illnesses.” ¾ “Permanent supportive housing for those with substance abuse issues that is not combined with housing for low income seniors.” ¾ “Safe RV parking.” ¾ “Shelters for LGBT+ and senior citizens.” ¾ “Tiny home community with shower and laundry facilities.” ¾ “Transitional Aged Youth shelter with mental health support.” ¾ “More winter shelters.” Displacement experiences. To better understand the precursors to homelessness, residents were asked if they have had to move from their home or apartment in the last five years when they did not want to. Twenty-three percent of respondents reported that they had experienced displacement. The following figures displays the proportion of respondents who have experienced displacement by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, selected household characteristics, and family type, along with the top five reasons for moving: ¾ Rent increases were the most frequently selected reason for displacement among all groups, except for respondents who identified as other or multiple races who selected eviction due to rental arrears most frequently; ¾ In northern Santa Clara County, eviction due to rental arrears was the second most common reason for displacement, while in southern Santa Clara County, landlord selling the home/ apartment was the second most common reason. Respondents in both areas of the county reported poor condition of property as a reason for moving when they did not want to; 2     Packet Pg. 169     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 32 ¾ Thirty-seven percent of renters and 54% of precariously housed individuals reported displacement in the past five years. Renters reported landlord selling property and utility expenses were top reasons for their displacement. Precariously housed respondents reported losing a job or reduction in hours and eviction due to rental arrears as top reasons for displacement; ¾ Hispanic respondents had the largest proportion of respondents who experienced displacement within all race and ethnicity categories (32%). Asian respondents were the only group to selected unsafe housing (e.g. domestic violence) as a top reason for displacement; ¾ By income, almost half (49%) of respondents with income less than $49,999 experienced displacement. Eviction due to rental arrears was selected second most frequently in this income bracket after increase in rent. Career moves and job changes were selected more frequently in higher income brackets; ¾ Forty-nine percent of renters with income less than $49,999, 42% of large households, and 38% of households with a disability reported displacement in the last five years. Large households reported eviction due to apartment rule violations more frequently than other groups; and ¾ Over half (51%) of single parents experienced displacement in the past five years compared to 30% of couples with children and 17% of respondents with no children. 2     Packet Pg. 170     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 33 Figure B-31. Reasons for Displacement, Jurisdiction and Tenure Note: n = 1,342. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. PERCENT WHO REPORTED DISPLACEMENT Santa Clara County North County South County Renter Precariously Housed 23%24%22%37%54% WHAT WERE THE REASONS YOU HAD TO MOVE? (TOP 5 ANSWERS) 1 Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay 2 Lost job/ hours reduced Evicted because I was behind on rent Landlord was selling home/ apartment Landlord was selling home/ apartment Lost job/ hours reduced 3 Evicted because I was behind on rent Lost job/ hours reduced Poor condition of property Utilities were too expensive/ shut off Evicted because I was was behind on rent 4 Landlord was selling home/ apartment Poor condition of property Lost job/ hours reduced Lost job/ hours reduced Personal/ relationship reasons 5 Poor condition of property Career move/ job change Personal/ relationship reasons Poor condition of property Poor condition of property 2     Packet Pg. 171     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 34 Figure B-32. Reasons for Displacement, Race, Ethnicity, and Household Income Note: n = 1,342. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. PERCENT WHO REPORTED DISPLACEMENT White Asian Other/ Multiple Races Hispanic Income <$49,999 Income $50,000 - $99,999 Income $100,000 - $150,000 Income $150,000+ 19%14%31%32%49%27%13%6% WHAT WERE THE REASONS YOU HAD TO MOVE? (TOP 5 ANSWERS) 1 Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Evicted because I was behind on rent Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay 2 Landlord was selling home/ apartment Lost job/ hours reduced Rent increased more than I could pay Lost job/ hours reduced Evicted because I was behind on rent Lost job/ hours reduced Career move/ job change Utilities were too expensive/ shut off 3 Lost job/ hours reduced Housing was unsafe (e.g. domestic assault) Landlord wanted to rent to someone else Landlord was selling home/ apartment Lost job/ hours reduced Landlord was selling home/ apartment Utilities were too expensive/ shut off Landlord was selling home/ apartment 4 Career move/ job change Poor condition of property Evicted for no reason Poor condition of property Landlord was selling home/ apartment Career move/ job change Personal/ relationship reasons Career move/ job change 5 Personal/ relationship reasons Evicted because I was behind on rent Utilities were too expensive/ shut off Personal/ relationship reasons Poor condition of property Utilities were too expensive/ shut off Lost job/ hours reduced Personal/ relationship reasons 2     Packet Pg. 172     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 35 Figure B-33. Reasons for Displacement, Selected Household Characteristics and Family Type Note: n = 1,342. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. PERCENT WHO HAD TO REDUCE OR GO WITHOUT Large Household Older Adults Disability Renter <$49,999 Couple with Children Single Parent No Children 42%8%38%49%30%51%17% WHAT DID YOU REDUCE OR GO WITHOUT? (TOP 5 ANSWERS) 1 Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay Rent increased more than I could pay 2 Evicted because I was behind on rent Landlord was selling home/ apartment Evicted because I was behind on rent Evicted because I was behind on rent Evicted because I was behind on rent Lost job/ hours reduced Lost job/ hours reduced 3 Lost job/ hours reduced Lost job/ hours reduced Lost job/ hours reduced Landlord was selling home/ apartment Landlord was selling home/ apartment Evicted because I was behind on rent Landlord was selling home/ apartment 4 Evicted because of apartment rules Health/ medical reasons Landlord was selling home/ apartment Utilities were too expensive/ shut off Utilities were too expensive/ shut off Poor condition of property Career move/ job change 5 Landlord was selling home/ apartment Increased neighborhood crime Personal/ relationship reasons Lost job/ hours reduced Poor condition of property Landlord was selling home/ apartment Personal/ relationship reasons 2     Packet Pg. 173     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 36 Accessibility Needs Twenty-four percent of respondents reported that they or someone in their household have a disability. Of respondents who reported a disability, the most common types were moderate physical disabilities (48%), followed by mental disabilities (34%), medical disabilities (31%), and developmental disabilities (17%). Of those with a disability or those living with a household member who has a disability, 30% currently live in a home or apartment that does not meet their accessibility needs. Figure B-34. Does your home or apartment meet your accessibility needs? Note: n = 403. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. When asked what improvements or modifications they needed to better meet their household needs, 41% of respondents whose home needed modifications said they needed a walk or roll-in shower. This was followed by 39% who needed grab bars, 29% who needed ramps, 28% who needed a reserved accessible parking spot by the entrance, and 26% who needed stair lifts. Other responses included: ¾ “Cleaning crews for property.” ¾ “In-unit laundry.” ¾ “One floor. Stair lift breaks down.” 2     Packet Pg. 174     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 37 Figure B-35. Improvements and Modifications Needed Note: n = 121. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 175     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 38 Community and Economic Development Needs Community and economic development needs questions asked respondents to examine non-housing related services and resources that were missing from Santa Clara County that bolster community and economic activity. The figure on the next page shows the most frequently selected critical community and economic development needs by all survey respondents. Affordable childcare was the top need (41%), followed by mental health services (37%), services for the unhoused (35%), and youth activities (30%). The following figures break down the top community and economic development needs by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, selected household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Youth activities were selected by 46% of respondents in southern Santa Clara County compared to 20% in northern Santa Clara County; ¾ Precariously housed respondents selected services for unhoused and job training programs at higher rates than homeowners and renters; ¾ Hispanic respondents selected affordable childcare, youth activities, and job training programs at noticeably higher rates compared to other racial and ethnic groups; ¾ The rate affordable childcare was selected increased as income increased, with those with household income $150,000 with the highest proportion. Conversely, job training programs were most favored by those with household income less than $49,999 and rates decreased as income increased; ¾ Fifty-nine percent of large households selected affordable childcare as a top community and economic development need—the most of any group. Large households also selected youth activities and job training programs at the highest rates (51% and 45%, respectively). Respondents with a disability had the highest proportion who selected mental health services (51%); and ¾ Single parents and couples with children had almost equal proportions for all categories, with single parents selecting youth activities and job training programs at slightly higher rates. 2     Packet Pg. 176     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 39 Figure B-36. Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 177     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 40 Figure B-37. Top Five Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs, Jurisdiction Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-38. Top Five Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 178     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 41 Figure B-39. Top Five Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-40. Top Five Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 179     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 42 Figure B-41. Top Five Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-42. Top Five Most Critical Community and Economic Development Needs, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 180     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 43 Community and Economic Development Outcomes Desired community and economic development outcomes were selected by respondents. Outcomes reflect the tangible services or resources to meet the community and economic development needs specified in the previous section. Community development outcomes. Increased access to mental healthcare services was the most frequently selected community development outcome by respondents (34%), followed by additional and/or higher quality childcare centers (33%), sidewalk and streetlight improvements (32%), transportation services for seniors (31%), improved access to fresh food (29%), and new/improved community centers (29%). The following figures break down community development outcomes by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, selected household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Additional childcare centers, sidewalk and streetlight improvements, and improved access to fresh food were selected at higher proportions by respondents in southern Santa Clara County compared to respondents in northern Santa Clara County; ¾ Items were selected at almost equal proportions by tenure with the exception of improved access to fresh food where 42% of precariously housed respondents selected this item compared to 37% of renters and 24% of homeowners; ¾ White respondents selected increased access to mental healthcare at the highest rate while Hispanic respondents selected additional childcare centers, sidewalk and streetlight improvements, and improved access to fresh food at the highest rates; ¾ Rates of selection for transportation services for seniors and improved access to fresh food were highest for households with income less than $49,999. Rates of selection for transportation services for seniors and improved access to fresh food decreased as income increased; ¾ Over half (52%) of large households selected additional childcare centers as a desired community development outcome—the highest of any group. Fifty-two percent of older adults selected transportation services for seniors and 51% of renters with income less than $49,999 selected improved access to fresh food; and ¾ Couples with children selected sidewalk and streetlight improvements at higher rates than single parents. Almost half (49%) of single parents selected improved access to fresh food compared to 37% of couples with children and 23% of respondents without children. 2     Packet Pg. 181     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 44 Figure B-43. Top Community Development Outcomes Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 182     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 45 Figure B-44. Top Five Community Development Outcomes, North and South Santa Clara County Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-45. Top Five Community Development Outcomes, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 183     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 46 Figure B-46. Top Five Community Development Outcomes, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-47. Top Five Community Development Outcomes, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 184     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 47 Figure B-48. Top Five Community Development Outcomes, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-49. Top Five Community Development Outcomes, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 185     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 48 Economic development outcomes. Respondents selected job training programs as the most desired economic development outcome (39%), followed by more opportunities for small businesses (35%), improved transportation to areas with job opportunities (34%), revitalization of neighborhood businesses (34%), and center for seasonal and day laborers (30%). The following figures break down the top five economic development outcomes by county location, tenure, race and ethnicity, household income, selected household characteristics, and family type: ¾ Respondents in southern Santa Clara County selected job training programs and a center for seasonal and day laborers at noticeably higher rates compared to those in northern Santa Clara County; ¾ Precariously housed respondents selected a center for seasonal and day laborers and improved transportation to job opportunities at higher rates than renters and homeowners. Forty percent of homeowners selected revitalization of neighborhood businesses—the highest of any group; ¾ Hispanic respondents selected job training programs and a center for seasonal and day laborers at the highest rates at 59% and 55%, respectively; ¾ Rates of selection for revitalization of neighborhood businesses increased as household income increased, while rates for job training programs and center for seasonal and day laborers decreased as income increased; ¾ Fifty-two percent of renters with household income less than $49,999 selected improved transportation to areas with job opportunities and 61% selected more job training programs—the highest of any group; and ¾ Fifty-two percent of single parents selected job training programs as a desired economic development outcome. Couples with children selected more opportunities for small businesses, improved transportation to areas with job opportunities, and revitalization of neighborhood businesses at higher rates than single parents and respondents with no children. 2     Packet Pg. 186     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 49 Figure B-50. Top Economic Development Outcomes Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-51. Top Five Economic Development Outcomes, North and South Santa Clara County Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 187     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 50 Figure B-52. Top Five Economic Development Outcomes, Tenure Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-53. Top Five Economic Development Outcomes, Race and Ethnicity Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 188     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 51 Figure B-54. Top Five Economic Development Outcomes, Household Income Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Figure B-55. Top Five Economic Development Outcomes, Selected Household Characteristics Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 189     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 52 Figure B-56. Top Five Economic Development Outcomes, Family Type Note: n = 1,582. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 190     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 53 Stakeholder Perspectives This survey included a stakeholder-specific section for service providers, city and county staff, and developers. Non-resident stakeholders were asked which groups have the greatest challenges finding and keeping housing in Santa Clara County, and desired housing, community and economic development outcomes. Stakeholders who lived within Santa Clara County and those who lived outside the county rated the ease of access for various services in the county. Stakeholder demographics. The figure below shows the industries stakeholder respondents represented. Thirty-five percent selected a government-related industry followed by 22% who provided services to the unhoused, 19% who provided supportive services to residents, 16% who selected affordable housing advocacy, 13% in affordable housing development, and 13% in K-12 or higher education. 2     Packet Pg. 191     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 54 Figure B-57. Stakeholder Industries Note: n =171. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. n % Affordable housing advocacy 28 16% Affordable housing development 22 13% Affordable housing provision 17 10% Business owner/manager 11 6% Civil rights 10 6% Criminal justice 0 0% Disability rights/advocacy 11 6% Economic development 15 9% K-12 or higher education 22 13% Environmental justice 7 4% Fair housing 16 9% Food provision 10 6% Government 60 35% Services to unhoused populations 37 22% Homeownership counseling or services 5 3% Insurance 5 3% Land use planning 11 6% Landlord/tenant services 6 4% Legal aid 10 6% Lending 3 2% Market rate housing development 2 1% Owner of rental property 5 3% Property management 7 4% Public housing authority 3 2% Regional planning 6 4% Residential appraisals 5 3% Rural development 2 1% Home sales 7 4% Services for businesses 7 4% Supportive services for residents 33 19% Transit provider 0 0% Transportation planning 2 1% Other 20 12% 2     Packet Pg. 192     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 55 Stakeholder-identified groups with greatest housing challenges. Of the stakeholders who lived outside of Santa Clara County, persons with mental illness were selected most frequently as the group with the greatest challenges finding and keeping housing at 57%. This compared to 45% of resident respondents who selected persons with mental illness. Figure B-58. Groups with the Greatest Challenges Finding and Keeping Housing, Stakeholders Note: n = 77. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 193     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 56 Stakeholder-identified housing outcomes. The top affordable housing outcome identified by stakeholders outside of Santa Clara County was more affordable rental housing (64%), followed by funding for community land trusts (47%), better distribution of affordable housing (43%), fair housing resources (43%), supportive housing for addiction recovery (43%), more affordable homeownership (42%), and housing for residents with a criminal record (42%). Residents also selected more affordable rental housing most frequently. Figure B-59. Top Housing Outcomes, Stakeholders Note: n = 77. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 194     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 57 Stakeholder-identified community development outcomes. Non- resident stakeholders selected increased access to mental healthcare services most frequently as a community development outcome (47%) followed by increased access to addiction treatment services (40%), additional and/or higher quality childcare centers (38%), counseling for landlord-tenant issues (35%), new/improved community centers (34%), and more recreational opportunities for youth/special populations (34%). Increased access to mental healthcare services was also prioritized by residents. Figure B-60. Top Community Development Outcomes, Stakeholders Note: n = 77. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 195     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 58 Stakeholder-identified economic development outcomes. Non- resident stakeholders identified more opportunities for small or start-up businesses as their top economic development outcome (51%) followed by improved transportation to areas with job opportunities (49%), center for seasonal and day laborers (38%), job training programs (29%), and revitalization of neighborhood businesses/commercial areas (29%). Other responses included: ¾ “More bus routes near affordable housing developments.” ¾ “Remove restrictions on street vending and food trucks. This creates more individual and small business opportunity while bringing vitality to neighborhoods.” ¾ “Work closely with Santa Clara County neighborhood business associations in identified low income communities to revitalize businesses in those areas, plus include start-up funds for new business opportunities.” Figure B-61. Top Economic Development Outcomes, Stakeholders Note: n = 77. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. Access to resources. Stakeholders rated resource access from 1 (resource does not exist) to 10 (resource is easy to access). The figures on the next two pages display average ratings. The resources receiving the lowest average ratings, and therefore regarded as the most sparse and difficult to access, were transportation services targeted to homeless, law enforcement to help low income individuals, childcare and education services targeted to 2     Packet Pg. 196     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 59 homeless, mortgage assistance, and transportation of low income families in general. The resources with the highest average ratings, and therefore rated easiest to access, were general outreach for unhoused, counseling services for veterans, advocacy for people experiencing homelessness, advocacy for homeless at-risk youth, and counseling services for homeless at-risk youth. . 2     Packet Pg. 197     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 60 Figure B-62. Average Rating of Resource Access, Stakeholders Note: n = 162. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 198     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 61 Figure B-63. Rating of Resource Access, Stakeholders Note: n = 162. Source: Root Policy Research from the 2024 Santa Clara County Housing and Community Needs Survey. 2     Packet Pg. 199     ROOT POLICY RESEARCH APPENDIX B, PAGE 62 2     Packet Pg. 200     ATTACHMENT C – 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan Goals Summary City of Palo Alto 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan Goals Summary Goal No. 1: Increase the supply and condition of affordable housing Assist in the creation and preservation of affordable housing for low-income and special needs households. This includes funding home repair programs. Goal No. 2: Respond to homelessness and the risk of homelessness Support activities to prevent and end homelessness, such as funding affordable housing opportunities, resource centers for homeless individuals, and support for tenants of single- room occupancy units. Goal No. 3: Strengthen neighborhoods through investing in infrastructure and public facility improvements that prioritize safety, accessibility, and community building Provide community services and public improvements to benefit low-income and special needs households. This includes assisting those with disabilities to transition from unstable housing to permanent housing, supporting residents of long-term care facilities, and supporting individuals experiencing domestic violence. Goal No. 4: Support projects that increase opportunities for workforce development Support economic development activities that promote employment growth and help lower- income people secure and maintain jobs. This includes funding nonprofits working toward developing the skills of low-income and homeless individuals. Goal No. 5: Provide supportive services to low-income households Provide supportive services to low-income households through bolstering case management and navigation of services including legal assistance, and tenant/landlord resolution. 2     Packet Pg. 201     ATTACHMENT D – Criteria for Funding Consideration Criteria for Funding Consideration • Is the program/ project a HUD eligible activity? • Does it meet CDBG regulatory requirements? • Does it serve low-income or presumed benefit population (seniors, homeless, disabled, abused, etc.)? • Does it demonstrate project or program readiness? • Does the agency have the administrative capacity to carry out the proposal? • Is it consistent with the funding priorities, goals and strategies of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan? • How many Palo Alto residents will be served? • Does the proposal increase the services provided or the number of clients served? • Are the services duplicated by other agencies? • What is the agency’s previous performance experience and what is the anticipated performance? • Are other funding sources available? Could the program/ project be achieved with less funding? • Is there collaboration with other local agencies? 2     Packet Pg. 202     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Veenker, Vicki; Palo Alto Free Press; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23 Cc:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Council, City; Reckdahl, Keith; Kaloma Smith; Reckdahl, Keith; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Gennady Sheyner; Donna Wallach; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Rowena Chiu; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Lauing, Ed; Ruth Silver Taube; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; BoardOperations; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Zelkha, Mila; Templeton, Cari; Emily Mibach; Bill Newell; Dave Price; Pat M; Sean Allen; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Raymond Goins; Human Relations Commission; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Figueroa, Eric; Foley, Michael; Enberg, Nicholas; Barberini, Christopher; yolanda; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Vara Ramakrishnan; Mickie Winkler; Wagner, April; Jeff Conrad; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lotus Fong; Marina Lopez; Cait James; Tim James; Salem Ajluni; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Gardener, Liz Subject:Mob of Orthodox Jewish men chased Brooklyn woman after mistaking her for protester against Israeli securityminister Date:Monday, April 28, 2025 10:22:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mob of Orthodox Jewish men chased Brooklyn woman after mistaking her for protesteragainst Israeli security minister Source: PBS NewsHour https://share.newsbreak.com/cu8w23lp?s=i0 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 203     From:Aram James To:<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Binder, Andrew Cc:Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Stump, Molly; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Gennady Sheyner; editor@paweekly.com; Reckdahl, Keith; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lu, George; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith; Human Relations Commission; Sean Allen; Richard Konda; Raj Jayadev; Musa Tariq; Raymond Goins; Jose Valle; Cynthia Longs; BoardOperations; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Pat M; h.etzko@gmail.com; Henry Etzkowitz; Roberta Ahlquist; Lotus Fong; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Dave Price; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Sameena Usman; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Vara Ramakrishnan; Ed Lauing; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Doug Minkler; Dennis Upton; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Lee, Craig; Jeff Conrad; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Salem Ajluni; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; Ruth Silver Taube; Figueroa, Eric; Friends of Cubberley; Foley, Michael; Zelkha, Mila; Henry Etzkowitz; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Mickie Winkler; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Donna Wallach; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Afanasiev, Alex; Jensen, Eric; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; josh@joshsalcman.com; Linda Jolley; Nash, Betsy; Rowena Chiu; Baker, Rob; Robert. Jonsen Subject:Re: April 21, 2025, Independent Police Auditor Study Session -Some Reflections Date:Sunday, April 27, 2025 5:07:56 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of theorganization. Be cautious of opening attachmentsand clicking on links. Police Chief Andrew Binder, Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada and the Palo Alto City Council From: Aram James April 27, 2025 During the Independent Police Auditor’s Study Session,April 21, 2025, there were some comments made by PaloAlto City Council Member Pat Burt about Tasers. CouncilMember Burt referred to Tasers as a tool. Both IPAMichael Gennaco and police Chief Andrew Binder knowthat the manufacturer’s (Axon) eight-page warning neveronce refers to a Taser as a tool. Instead, more than 100 times, the warning refers to Tasersas a weapon with multiple examples of how failure to follow the specific, complex, and medically andpsychologically focused warnings can result in serious injury or death. Neither Chief Binder nor IPA Gennaco,despite their intimate knowledge of the manufacturer’s 4500-word warning, attempted to correct Pat Burt’smischaracterization of Tasers as a Tool, not a deadly weapon. Failure to correct Burt regarding the actual dangersassociated with Tasers left the rest of the city council and the public attending the meeting with the possible falseimpression that Tasers are less than a potentially deadly weapon. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 204     Similarly, when council member Burt commented thatTasers are an alternative to using deadly force, neithercorrected the mischaracterization of how Tasers are actuallyused on the streets and on patrol. Simply stated, Taserexperts universally accept that when deadly force isnecessary, the suspect has a gun, knife, or other deadlyweapon, training dictates that police are instructed NOT touse a Taser. Why? Tasers fail to bring down their humantarget at rates between forty and fifty percent of the time.As the saying goes, “You don’t bring a Taser to a gunfight.” In a deadly force situation, police are specifically trained toaim their guns at the center mass of the individual in possession of the deadly weapon with the intent to kill. Thedefault is that, since Tasers are not appropriate to use in deadly force situations, Tasers are almost always used onunarmed individuals whose vulnerabilities, physical/medical, and psychological, are unknown to the police officerdeploying the Tasers on the individual. None of the information above is new to Andrew Binder or MichaelGennaco. The failure to appropriately educate our political leaders andcommunity members regarding the extraordinary dangerTasers pose to human life has led to many unnecessarydeaths, disproportionately targeting black, brown, and poorindividuals. Tasers have resulted in the unnecessary death and seriousinjuries of thousands of individuals in this country. Settlements, jury verdicts, and related litigation costsresulting from the misuse of Tasers by law enforcement have cost municipalities across this country hundreds ofmillions of dollars over several decades. Over more than two decades, the Coalition for Justice andAccountability (CJA), based in San Jose, has educatednumerous political leaders throughout Santa Clara Countyon the risks associated with Tasers. Our Coalition consists of a cross-section of grass-rootscommunity leaders from across Santa Clara County. We areavailable to meet with all members of the Palo Alto CityCouncil, Police Chief Binder, and other members of hisstaff, as well as City Manager Ed Shikada. Sincerely, {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 205     Aram James On Sun, Apr 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: To: Palo Alto IPA Mike Gennaco, Palo Alto Police Chief Andrew Binder, Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada and the Palo Alto City Council From: Aram James April 27, 2025 During the Independent Police Auditor’s Study Session, April 21, 2025, there weresome comments made by Palo Alto City Council Member Pat Burt about Tasers.Council Member Burt referred to Tasers as a tool. Both IPA Michael Gennaco andpolice Chief Andrew Binder know that the manufacturer’s (Axon) eight-page warningnever once refers to a Taser as a tool. Instead, more than 100 times, the warning refers to Tasers as a weapon with multiple examples of how failure to follow the specific, complex, and medically andpsychologically focused warnings can result in serious injury or death. Neither Chief Binder nor IPA Gennaco, despite their intimate knowledge of the manufacturer’s 4500-word warning, attempted to correct Pat Burt’s mischaracterization of Tasers as a Tool, not a deadly weapon. Failure to correct Burt regarding the actual dangers associatedwith Tasers left the rest of the city council and the public attending the meeting with the possible false impression that Tasers are less than a potentially deadly weapon. Similarly, when council member Burt commented that Tasers are an alternative to usingdeadly force, neither corrected the mischaracterization of how Tasers are actually usedon the streets and on patrol. Simply stated, Taser experts universally accept that whendeadly force is necessary, the suspect has a gun, knife, or other deadly weapon, trainingdictates that police are instructed NOT to use a Taser. Why? Tasers fail to bring downtheir human target at rates between forty and fifty percent of the time. As the sayinggoes, “You don’t bring a Taser to a gun fight.” In a deadly force situation, police are specifically trained to aim their guns at the center mass of the individual in possession of the deadly weapon with the intent to kill. Thedefault is that, since Tasers are not appropriate to use in deadly force situations, Tasers are almost always used on unarmed individuals whose vulnerabilities, physical/medical,and psychological, are unknown to the police officer deploying the Tasers on the individual. None of the information above is new to Andrew Binder or MichaelGennaco. The failure to appropriately educate our political leaders and community membersregarding the extraordinary danger Tasers pose to human life has led to manyunnecessary deaths, disproportionately targeting black, brown, and poor individuals. Tasers have resulted in the unnecessary death and serious injuries of thousands of {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 206     individuals in this country. Settlements, jury verdicts, and related litigation costsresulting from the misuse of Tasers by law enforcement have cost municipalities across this country hundreds of millions of dollars over several decades. Over more than two decades, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA), basedin San Jose, has educated numerous political leaders throughout Santa Clara County onthe risks associated with Tasers. Our Coalition consists of a cross-section of grass-roots community leaders from acrossSanta Clara County. We are available to meet with all members of the Palo Alto CityCouncil, Police Chief Binder, and other members of his staff, as well as City ManagerEd Shikada. Sincerely,Aram James {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 207     From:Aram James To:<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Binder, Andrew Cc:Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Stump, Molly; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Gennady Sheyner; editor@paweekly.com; Reckdahl, Keith; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lu, George; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith; Human Relations Commission; Sean Allen; Richard Konda; Raj Jayadev; Musa Tariq; Raymond Goins; Jose Valle; Cynthia Longs; BoardOperations; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Pat M; h.etzko@gmail.com; Henry Etzkowitz; Roberta Ahlquist; Lotus Fong; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Dave Price; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Sameena Usman; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Vara Ramakrishnan; Ed Lauing; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Doug Minkler; Dennis Upton; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Lee, Craig; Jeff Conrad; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Salem Ajluni; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; Ruth Silver Taube; Figueroa, Eric; Friends of Cubberley; Foley, Michael; Zelkha, Mila; Henry Etzkowitz; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Mickie Winkler; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Donna Wallach; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Afanasiev, Alex; Jensen, Eric; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; josh@joshsalcman.com; Linda Jolley; Nash, Betsy; Rowena Chiu; Baker, Rob; Robert. Jonsen Subject:Re: April 21, 2025, Independent Police Auditor Study Session -Some Reflections Date:Sunday, April 27, 2025 5:02:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. To: Palo Alto IPA Mike Gennaco, Palo Alto Police Chief Andrew Binder, Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada and the Palo Alto City Council From: Aram James April 27, 2025 During the Independent Police Auditor’s Study Session, April 21, 2025, there were some comments made by Palo Alto City Council Member Pat Burt about Tasers. CouncilMember Burt referred to Tasers as a tool. Both IPA Michael Gennaco and police Chief Andrew Binder know that the manufacturer’s (Axon) eight-page warning never once refersto a Taser as a tool. Instead, more than 100 times, the warning refers to Tasers as a weapon with multipleexamples of how failure to follow the specific, complex, and medically andpsychologically focused warnings can result in serious injury or death. Neither ChiefBinder nor IPA Gennaco, despite their intimate knowledge of the manufacturer’s 4500-word warning, attempted to correct Pat Burt’s mischaracterization of Tasers as a Tool, nota deadly weapon. Failure to correct Burt regarding the actual dangers associated withTasers left the rest of the city council and the public attending the meeting with thepossible false impression that Tasers are less than a potentially deadly weapon. Similarly, when council member Burt commented that Tasers are an alternative to using deadly force, neither corrected the mischaracterization of how Tasers are actually used onthe streets and on patrol. Simply stated, Taser experts universally accept that when deadly force is necessary, the suspect has a gun, knife, or other deadly weapon, training dictatesthat police are instructed NOT to use a Taser. Why? Tasers fail to bring down their human target at rates between forty and fifty percent of the time. As the saying goes, “You don’tbring a Taser to a gun fight.” {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 208     In a deadly force situation, police are specifically trained to aim their guns at the centermass of the individual in possession of the deadly weapon with the intent to kill. Thedefault is that, since Tasers are not appropriate to use in deadly force situations, Tasers arealmost always used on unarmed individuals whose vulnerabilities, physical/medical, andpsychological, are unknown to the police officer deploying the Tasers on theindividual. None of the information above is new to Andrew Binder or Michael Gennaco. The failure to appropriately educate our political leaders and community members regarding the extraordinary danger Tasers pose to human life has led to many unnecessarydeaths, disproportionately targeting black, brown, and poor individuals. Tasers have resulted in the unnecessary death and serious injuries of thousands ofindividuals in this country. Settlements, jury verdicts, and related litigation costs resultingfrom the misuse of Tasers by law enforcement have cost municipalities across this countryhundreds of millions of dollars over several decades. Over more than two decades, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA), based in San Jose, has educated numerous political leaders throughout Santa Clara County on therisks associated with Tasers. Our Coalition consists of a cross-section of grass-roots community leaders from across Santa Clara County. We are available to meet with all members of the Palo Alto CityCouncil, Police Chief Binder, and other members of his staff, as well as City Manager Ed Shikada. Sincerely,Aram James {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 209     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:And the Economic Empowerment Award Goes to... Date:Sunday, April 27, 2025 11:17:51 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. i This message needs your attentionYou've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 210     THE 2025 ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AWARD GOES TO... When bills pile up, budgets get tricky, and thing feels overwhelming, our volunteer financial coach, Hina, steps in. She swaps confusion for clarity, turning question marks into dollar signs with creative, out-of-the- box thinking. Volunteer financial coaches like Hina don’t just help residents save money; they help them thrive. Meet Our Volunteer Financial Coach Hina Eden Housing22645 Grand StreetHayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 211     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Perron, Zachary; Reifschneider, James; Afanasiev,Alex; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Sean Allen; Gardener, Liz; Roberta Ahlquist; Josh Becker; Bill Newell; Figueroa,Eric; Jensen, Eric; Mickie Winkler; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; DavePrice; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for CaliforniaDemocratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Diana Diamond; Bains, Paul; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith; JulieLythcott-Haims; Tannock, Julie; Wagner, April; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; board@pausd.org; EPA Today; Lee,Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Gerry Gras; Daniel Kottke; Dana St. George; Angel, David; Marina Lopez; LotusFong; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Rose Lynn; Sheree Roth; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Blackshire, Geoffrey;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Lu, George; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov;Vara Ramakrishnan; Human Relations Commission; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; ladoris cordell;Donna Wallach; Pat M; Council, City; editor@almanacnews.com; h.etzko@gmail.com; editor@paweekly.com;Jose Valle; josh@joshsalcman.com; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Doug Minkler; Zelkha, Mila;Sheriff Transparency; Salem Ajluni; Sameena Usman; Foley, Michael; Drekmeier, Peter; Jeff Hayden; Baker, Rob;Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Damon Silver Subject:Watch "Cops Crack Jokes After K-9 Mauls Innocent Black Man To Death" on YouTube Date:Sunday, April 27, 2025 10:05:47 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The body camera footage showing a police dog attacking and killing an innocent Black man is so gruesome and shocking that an Alabama judge has blocked its release to the public,claiming it could lead to civil unrest. But those who have watched it say Montgomery police not only allowed the dog inside a house to attack the man who had committed no crime, several cops stood around as he wasdying, mocking and laughing at him while refusing to provide life-saving aid because they were prohibited from doing so by department policy. Instead, they waited for paramedics toarrive." https://youtu.be/4dnjPMTzJSU?si=aiiroepSqrCdg1u9 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 212     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:And the Foundation Award goes to... Date:Saturday, April 26, 2025 11:49:46 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. i This message needs your attentionYou've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 213     THE 2025 FOUNDATION AWARD GOES TO... Our Board Vice Chair Cheryl O'Connor knows that safe, dignified housing changes lives—and she’s been helping make that happen for years. From her work with HomeAid Northern California to her service on Eden Housing’s Board of Directors, Cheryl has been a force for good. Thank you, Cheryl, for helping us change the world, one corner at a time! Meet Eden's Board Vice Chair Cheryl O'Connor Eden Housing22645 Grand StreetHayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 214     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:And the Strategic Partner Award Goes to... Date:Friday, April 25, 2025 11:35:57 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. i This message needs your attentionYou've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 215     THE 2025 STRATEGIC PARTNER AWARD GOES TO... Sometimes it takes hammers and nails, and other times, advocacy and heart. That’s why we’re thrilled to honor our partner Abode! From delivering critical services to championing policy change, Abode is working to end homelessness by helping low-income families and individuals who have experienced homelessness find stable, supportive housing. When we team up for a shared mission, we don’t just build homes, we build hope. Hear from Vivian Wan, CEO of Abode Eden Housing22645 Grand Street Hayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 216     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:And the Civic Leader Award Goes to... Date:Thursday, April 24, 2025 1:25:10 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. i This message needs your attentionYou've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 217     THE 2025 CIVIC LEADER AWARD GOES TO... From helping secure funding to making sure progress lands on the ballot, Mayor Fred Keeley turns words into action—and action into impact. Thank you, Mayor, for being a true champion of change! Meet Mayor Fred Keeley of Santa Cruz Eden Housing22645 Grand Street Hayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 218     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:And the Eden Friend Award Goes to... Date:Wednesday, April 23, 2025 1:23:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. THE 2025 EDEN FRIEND AWARD GOES TO... Victoria Sandvig has been volunteering at Eden Housing since 2020, sorting donations, delivering meals, and spreading warmth everywhere she goes. She’s fluent in kindness (and multiple languages), translating compassion into action. It’s beautiful, selfless acts like hers that define a true Eden Friend. Because when people give back, we all move forward, and have WAY more fun getting there! {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 219     Meet Victoria Sandvig Eden Housing22645 Grand Street Hayward, CA 94541United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 220     From:Aram James To:Gardener, Liz; Council, City; Shikada, Ed; Human Relations Commission; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; EPAToday; Diana Diamond; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org Subject:New taxes will soon dwarf the billions spent on homelessness in last decade. Who’s watching over it? Date:Wednesday, April 23, 2025 9:15:25 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. New taxes will soon dwarf the billions spent on homelessness in last decade. Who’s watching over it? https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-23/new-tax-money-will-soon-dwarf-the- billions-of-dollars-spent-on-homelessness-in-past-decade-whos-watching-over-it {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 221     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew Cc:Sean Allen; Council, City; Pat M; Perron, Zachary; dennis burns; Enberg, Nicholas; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Dana St. George; Friends of Cubberley; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; Kaloma Smith; Vara Ramakrishnan; Reckdahl, Keith; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Figueroa, Eric; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Mickie Winkler; Wagner, April; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; board@pausd.org; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Palo Alto Free Press; Liz Kniss; Gardener, Liz; Diana Diamond; Dave Price; Emily Mibach Subject:Morgan Hill man charged with hate crime for allegedly pushing elderly Muslim man The man faces up to a year inprison, community service if convicted Date:Tuesday, April 22, 2025 7:55:38 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of theorganization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links. Morgan Hill man chargedwith hate crime forallegedly pushing elderlyMuslim man The man faces up to a year in prison, community service if convicted https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/22/morgan-hill-hate-crime-charge-allegedly-pushing- elderly-muslim-man/ {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 222     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:Celebrating Our 2025 Good Neighbor Award Winner Date:Tuesday, April 22, 2025 1:20:51 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. THE 2025 GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD GOES TO... Some people dream about a welcoming community. Dolores Campbell brings everyone together to build it. She knows the strongest ties are those created through collaboration. Residents like Dolores don’t just live here; they make the community come alive. Meet Dolores Campbell {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 223     Eden Housing 22645 Grand Street Hayward, CA 94541United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 224     From:Jessy Needham To:Jessy Needham Subject:Upcoming CCEJ Trainings & Events - and we"re hiring! Date:Tuesday, April 22, 2025 9:25:54 AM Attachments:image001.pngCCEJ_HH Director Job Description_2025.pdfCCEJ_HH Restorative Justice Specialist JD & Application Process.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. Good morning friends in the human relations space, Nice to meet many of you on the CAHRO call earlier this month; so good to know that people acrossthe state are continuing to do this important work. I wanted to share a recent keynote conversation from our recent Roots of Justice Convening in Long Beach between our Executive Director Reena Hajat Carroll and Interfaith America’s Jenan Mohajir – sharing ideas for building bridges in divided times. You can watch here: https://youtu.be/m2c1ptyFGYg or listen to the audio on our podcast: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/thrivingtogether/episodes/2025-03-28T09_32_30-07_00 We’ve got upcoming trainings and events that may be of interest – please join if you are able, and spread the word! Also, CCEJ is hiring for our Restorative Justice Youth Diversion program - see attached and share with anyone in your network who would be a good fit. Applications received by April 30th will be prioritized. If CCEJ can ever be a support to you in your work, please reach out – we’re happy to tailor trainingsfor your team online, or travel to see you in person! Best,Jessy MAY 5/8 – 5/9 – Community Building Facilitator Training (2-day training) This 2-day experiential Community Building Training will help you start building your own Restorative Justice practice in your workplace, community, or classroom. We will reflect on our own communication and discipline styles, learn what makes our practices authentically restorative, and engage in skill-building around teambuilding and leading circles. If you are interested in applying restorative practices and leading this work in your own life, this foundational training is for you. Participants leave with concrete Circle plans, ready to facilitate on their own. Cost: $425 per person Register Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CommunityBuilding24-25 5/21 – Bridging Differences Dinner & Dialogue | 5:00 – 7:30pm Navigating differences between our beliefs and worldviews and those of others can be difficult. However, taking on this challenging kind of dialogue is an important strategy to break through divisions and build power to collectively challenge issues of inequity. Join us for a follow up event to our Roots of Justice Convening, as we explore how we can engage in bridge building dialogue that strengthens connection without compromising our values and well-being. Free, RSVP by May 14th at https://forms.gle/wrCmYvNjRhN5nx1N7 JUNE 6/8 – CCEJ Love Day – In-Person | 11:00am-1:00pm {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 225     June is a meaningful month for love in our communities - it’s Pride Month, celebrating LGBTQ people and queer love. Also, Loving Day on June 12th commemorates the legal case of Loving v. Virginia, when the 1967 Supreme Court made interracial marriage legal in the U.S. Join us for a fun day in the park filled with joy, creativity and of course, LOVE! All ages welcome. We’ll be at Cesar E. Chavez Park in Downtown Long Beach. FREE, RSVP Here: https://bit.ly/loveday25 Performer Invitation: Do you have a special talent to share? We’re looking for volunteer performers to fill our Love Day stage with music, dance and poetry! Sign up by May 19th at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pnEgbpQYFCJsuCuLQB5q3VFh_V4qvdG-epIouIRXI1Y/edit 6/26 – 6/28 - Harm & Conflict Facilitator Training – In-Person (3-day training) Our in-depth 3-day Harm & Conflict Facilitator Training will take your Restorative Practices to the next level in situations where harm has occurred. Participants will learn specific strategies to address harm and conflict in restorative ways that center relationships and minimize exclusion. Building on our Community Building Training, this advanced skill-building session will help you unpack conditioned conflict responses, roleplay specific harm scenarios, and lead Harm & Conflict circles to give you firsthand practice with restorative responses. All participants will receive a Harm & Conflict Handbook during the training. This training is especially recommended for all those involved in any aspect of creating policies around or implementing disciplinary practices. Cost: $615 per personRegister Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HarmandConflict25 Jessy Needham (she/her/hers) Chief Development Officer Office: (562) 435-8184 ext.109 Cell: (562) 606-62823605 Long Beach Blvd, Suite 100 Long Beach, CA 90807 www.cacej.org Our mission: To educate and empower youth and adults to lead change for equity and justice in our communities. Our vision: A world where people live free of oppression and thrive. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 226     From:Aram James To:Doug Minkler; Raymond Goins; Bill Newell; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser,Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; josh@joshsalcman.com; JoshBecker; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Henry Etzkowitz; Zelkha, Mila; Foley, Michael; Andrew Bigelow;Reifschneider, James; Perron, Zachary; Kaloma Smith; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Lotus Fong;Friends of Cubberley; Liz Kniss; Roberta Ahlquist; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Bains, Paul;Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; Dana St.George; Gerry Gras; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Council, City; Vicki Veenker; Veenker,Vicki; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; Dennis Upton;Daniel Kottke; Angel, David; Human Relations Commission; Gardener, Liz; Mickie Winkler; WILPF Peninsula PaloAlto; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Sheree Roth; Lauing, Ed; ladoris cordell; Palo Alto Free Press; DonnaWallach; EPA Today; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Jensen, Eric;Figueroa, Eric; Afanasiev, Alex; Gennady Sheyner; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Diana Diamond; Wagner, April;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Nat Fisher; boardfeedback@smcgov.org;BoardOperations; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; editor@paweekly.com; Patrice Ventresca; Rowena Chiu;Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne Subject:Protect Ethnic Studies in California Schools Date:Monday, April 21, 2025 10:44:58 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Protect Ethnic Studies in California Schools https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-ethnic-studies-in-california-schools {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 227     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:And the Good Neighbor Award Goes to... Date:Monday, April 21, 2025 1:15:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of openingattachments and clicking on links. April is Volunteerism Month, and at Eden Housing, we’re excited to honor the spirit of service that has shaped our work since the very beginning. Through the Volunteer Appreciation Awards, we recognize some of the extraordinary people and partners who help power Eden Housing’s mission forward. THE 2025 GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD GOES TO... {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 228     For seven years, Joyce Bello has shown up nearly every day, rain or shine, to keep the Brown Bag program running smoothly. When her coordinator was out, she never missed a beat (or bag). Joyce doesn’t just manage a program, she adds warmth and color to every interaction. Residents like her truly make our communities shine. Meet Joyce Bello Eden Housing 22645 Grand StreetHayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 229     From:Aram James To:board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Jay Boyarsky; Rosen, Jeff;josh@sanjosespotlight.com; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Gennady Sheyner;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James;Wagner, April; Lee, Craig; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Zelkha, Mila; Doug Minkler; Diana Diamond; Dave Price;Figueroa, Eric; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Sean Allen; Pat M; Raymond Goins; Liz Kniss; Julie Lythcott-Haims;Kaloma Smith; Karen Holman; Ruth Silver Taube; Holman, Karen (external); Templeton, Cari; EPA Today; Nash,Betsy; Council, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; GRP-City Clerk; Human RelationsCommission; ladoris cordell; Bill Newell; Salem Ajluni Subject:This high school course is dividing districts across California Date:Sunday, April 20, 2025 9:49:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. This high school course is dividingdistricts across California https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/20/this-high-school-course-is-dividing-districts-across-california-00299498 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 230     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Ed Lauing; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate,Assembly District 23; Reckdahl, Keith; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie;Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Josh Becker;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Dave Price; EPA Today; Emily Mibach; Zelkha, Mila; Lotus Fong;Gardener, Liz; Human Relations Commission; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Wagner, April; Perron,Zachary; Diana Diamond; Gennady Sheyner Subject:Becca Balint - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Date:Wednesday, April 16, 2025 9:34:02 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Becca Balint - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://search.app/Z8ZexdLNygtCCDtE8 Shared via the Google app 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 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 231     From:LeDrew, Lance To:LeDrew, Lance Cc:Hartmann, Chase; O"Kane, Kristen Subject:May Fete Parade Invite Date:Monday, April 14, 2025 9:19:58 AM Attachments:image001.pngimage002.pngimage004.pngimage005.pngimage006.pngimage007.png Good morning Palo Alto Dignitaries, We are excited to announce that the May Fete Children’s Parade will return on Saturday, May 3rd for its 101st year! This year’s theme, “Celebrate Growth” celebrates individual growth, community spirit and nurturing of relationships! Once again, this year’s event will have some of the many things the community has come to love about the May Fete: floats, pets, bands, classic cars, and the return of a horse team! And do not forget the wonderful May Fete Fair, sponsored by Kiwanis of Palo Alto and hosted in Heritage Park. As a Palo Alto Dignitary, we would like to welcome you to walk in the parade to help celebrate our youth and to celebrate your great work in the community! The Parade will start at 10AM at the corner of University Avenue and Emerson St. If you would like to join us, we ask that you check in at that location by 9:30AM. If you plan to participate in the parade, please RSVP to me by Friday, April 25th at lance.ledrew@paloalto.gov We are excited to see you at this year’s parade and please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you! Lance Lance LeDrew Recreation Coordinator – Special Events Community Services (650) 329-2478 | lance.ledrew@cityofpaloalto.org www.cityofpaloalto.org {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 232     {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 233     From:Office of Supervisor Otto LeeTo:Human Relations CommissionSubject:Thank You, A Spirited State Of The County & April NewsletterDate:Friday, April 11, 2025 5:07:03 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. In This Newsletter: State of the County Recap - Trans Day of Visibility - Regional Medical Center Reopening - Highlights Around the Community - Upcoming Events and Helpful Resources - Before We Go... Dear Friends and Neighbors, The first few months of 2025 have flown by, and so much has happened to keep us all busy. Here at the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, I have been grateful to take on the role of Board President for 2025, and we have also been happy to welcome two new supervisors: Betty Duong (D2) and Margaret Abe-Koga (D5). With their addition to the dais, we are not only a majority AAPI Board, but also a majority female Board. I cannot express my excitement enough about this incredible feat for our county’s representation. While we have seen a trend toward important {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 234     progressive change here in the County, we have seen the opposite coming down from the presidential administration. There have been intentional and orchestrated disruptions across the country due to decisions coming down from the White House, which have already impacted many of our communities. We will not back down against these egregious actions coming out of Washington, D.C. We at the County of Santa Clara are here to work for you, and we will continue to work together side by side to transform obstacles into opportunities. As we reflect on the last few weeks, we also want to acknowledge all that is to come. Let’s look at what has been going on in our community, and how we are reflecting the needs of our District 3 constituents. As always, please feel free contact our office anytime via email at Supervisor.Lee@bos.sccgov.org or visit us online at SupervisorLee.org. Supervisor Otto Lee Santa Clara County, District 3 SupervisorLee.org Supervisor.Lee@bos.sccgov.org ICYMI: State of the County, March 14th {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 235     On Friday, March 14, our County came together for the State of the County address, an evening focused on Caution, Hope, Kindness and Gratitude as we navigate all the challenges we’re facing against the current presidential administration. Over 500 attendees joined us in person and overfill rooms to hear the speech. Over the course of the speech, we didn’t shy away from the hard realities of this point in time: the mass layoffs, the changes to healthcare coverage, the concerns surrounding LGTBQ+ protections, how our veterans are losing supportive services, and the like. But, as much as we acknowledged those challenges, we also reminded attendees and ourselves of how the County supports all Santa Clara County residents, and how we can {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 236     be an example for our neighbors, near and far. We exemplified the best of Santa Clara County through our Community Heroes Awards, in which I and my fellow supervisors awarded 10 community members and two community groups for their dedicated service to their districts. We were additionally supported by our MCs, former Assemblymember Evan Low and Executive Director of Latinas Contra Cancer Darcie Green. Further, we had a wide breadth of representation from our varied communities and artists, including county Poet Laureate Yosamir Reyes, a land acknowledgement by Calpulli Ocelocihuatl, the JP2 Lion Dance Team, Professor Eros, and Ballet Folklorico de SCU. Many thanks to everyone for making this event so community-focused, driven, and inspiring as we look forward to 2025 and beyond. Take a look at some of our photos both above and below! Watch the full video on the County website {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 237     Photos by Senit Ghile and Luis Castillo Transgender Day of Visibility Here at the County, we were grateful enough to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on Monday, March 24, at McEntee Plaza at the Santa Clara County Government offices. Led by the County’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs and The Q Corner, this event was a fantastic way for us all to gather and demonstrate our allyship, support, and care for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Together with Sera Fernando, County Executive James Williams, and many other important partners, we raised the transgender flag, to be flown year-round. Read more about the event highlightshere {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 238     In addition to this event, we also introduced a resolution at the Board of Supervisors on March 25, declaring our County as an affirming county for all county residents who identify as transgender, nonbinary, or gender expansive. Check out our Instagram Reel fromthe celebration here! Regional Medical Center reopens, joins County of Santa Clara on April 1 On Tuesday morning, we had the great honor of celebrating the reopening of the Regional Medical Center. This facility has become part of the Santa Clara Valley Healthcare family – which includes O’Connor Hospital, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, and St. Louise Regional Hospital – and will allow us to ensure critical, lifesaving medical services for community members in East San Jose, Milpitas, and surrounding communities. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 239     From its opening day on April 1, the RMC facility will offer STEMI, stroke, and level II Trauma care to our community. Additionally, the facility is determining bringing back Labor and Delivery services soon, to support new and growing families. We are here to support creating a healthier and stronger community, and we hope you will join us in celebrating this momentous occasion. Read more about this momentousoccasion here Upcoming Events and Helpful Resources {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 240     {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 241     {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 242     {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 243     70 West Hedding 10th Floor San José, CA 95110 (408) 299-5030 Email Supervisor Lee District 3 Website Unsubscribe from future messages. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 244     From:Aram James To:Gardener, Liz Cc:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Doug Minkler; Zelkha, Mila; Sean Allen; Pat M; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Binder, Andrew; Palo Alto Free Press; Lewis James; Wagner, April; Barberini, Christopher; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Council, City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jeff Rosen; h.etzko@gmail.com; Jay Boyarsky; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; Lotus Fong; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Cait James; Mickie Winkler; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; walter wilson; Don Austin; Donna Wallach; Roberta Ahlquist; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Afanasiev, Alex; Perron, Zachary; chuck jagoda; Dave Price; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Raj Jayadev; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; Yolanda Conaway; Damon Silver; Tim James; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Nash, Betsy; Raymond Goins; Bains, Paul; Ed Lauing; editor@almanacnews.com; editor@paweekly.com; Ruth Silver Taube; Roberta Roth; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Enberg, Nicholas; Rodriguez, Miguel; Jeff Hayden; Jeff Conrad; Bill Johnson; Tom DuBois; Kaloma Smith; Karen Holman; Dennis Upton; Human Relations Commission; Foley, Michael; Salem Ajluni; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Burt, Patrick; Gennady Sheyner; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; George for Palo Alto; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Stump, Molly Subject:Re: AIPAC have ramped up their efforts in recent years to try to oust elected officials critical of Israel. Date:Friday, April 11, 2025 4:26:31 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Subject: Your Courageous Letter Hi Liz, You have written a compelling letter and shown extraordinary courage in speaking out againstthe ongoing genocide in Palestine and elsewhere, despite the significant risks involved in exercising what is normally considered free speech. I am both angry and saddened to hear that your sons feel they might be bullied by their peersand that they are afraid teachers and school counselors will not support them if they express their true feelings about the Holocaust being perpetrated in Gaza and the West Bank, with fullbacking from the U.S. government. I have no doubt that your sons are very proud of their mother. With deepest respect, Aram James On Fri, Apr 11, 2025, at 2:04 PM, Liz Gardner <gardnerjaqua@gmail.com> wrote:Hello, Which other 8 US Senators are being targeted and are they speaking out? Andwhat price? AIPAC is committing political blackmail. Worse than the National Riffle Association and all their dirty work on our elected leaders. My own children cannot speak out about the loss of civilian human life in GAZA paid for by our bullets and tax dollars. They fear being bullied and called names by theirpeers and classmates. They are afraid to talk to the counselor at school or ateacher about the guilt and loss of life we are supporting and paying. It's a lopsided out of whack world. Numbing us to pain and suffering. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 245     Liz GardnerPalo Alto On Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 1:22 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: AIPAC unleashes ads targeting US senators opposing arms sales to Israel AIPAC have ramped up their efforts in recent years to try to oust elected officials critical of Israel. Source: The New Arabhttps://search.app/1d4YSWx5ovCAWRjR9 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 246     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:Celebrating Volunteerism Month at Eden Housing! Date:Tuesday, April 8, 2025 10:41:37 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. i VOLUNTEER @ EDEN Email not displaying correctly? View it on your browser This message needs your attention You've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 247     Dear Friend of Eden Housing, April is Volunteerism Month, and at Eden Housing, we’re excited to honor the spirit of service that has shaped our work since the very beginning. Founded by a group of passionate volunteers over 55 years ago, our organization continues to thrive thanks to the incredible individuals and groups who give their time, energy, and heart to our mission. As part of our celebration, we’re thrilled to announce our Volunteer Appreciation Awards, which recognize some of the extraordinary people and partners who help bring Eden Housing’s vision to life. We’ll be sharing their stories across our social media channels throughout Volunteer Appreciation Week, starting the week of April 21st—be sure to follow along and celebrate with us! If you’ve ever wanted to give back in a meaningful way, we would love to welcome you to the Eden Housing volunteer family. We offer opportunities for individuals, private groups, {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 248     and corporate teams to get involved and make a real impact in the communities we serve. Learn More and Sign Up to Volunteer We can’t wait to share and celebrate the amazing individuals and organizations who keepour mission alive and help advance it forward every day. Thank you for being part of ourcommunity! With appreciation,Eden Housing Eden Housing 22645 Grand StreetHayward, CA 94541United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. Privacy Policy {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 249     From:Aram James To:Gerry Gras Cc:Council, City; Sean Allen; Pat M; Reifschneider, James; Perron, Zachary; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Figueroa, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Enberg, Nicholas; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Bains, Paul; Jeff Rosen; Lee, Craig; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Clerk; Henry Etzkowitz; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Human Relations Commission; Raymond Goins; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Shikada, Ed; Sheree Roth; Binder, Andrew; editor@paweekly.com; Dave Price; Baker, Rob; Roberta Ahlquist; Roberta Ahlquist; Gardener, Liz; Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; Jeff Conrad; josh@joshsalcman.com; John Burt; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Doug Minkler; Dana St. George; Damon Silver; Kaloma Smith; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; Palo Alto Free Press; Burt, Patrick; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Donna Wallach; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Friends of Cubberley; Mickie Winkler; Liz Kniss; Daniel Kottke; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Sameena@Secure-Justice.org; ladoris cordell; Paul Bains; Dennis Upton; Rowena Chiu; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Rodriguez, Miguel; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; Jensen, Eric; Vara Ramakrishnan; mark.turner@morganhill.ca.gov; yolanda; KEVIN JENSEN Subject:Re: It is time to address the unacceptable rise of hate and bigotry in Morgan Hill with a firm and unequivocalvoice. On March 7, 2025, a Muslim family in our commu… Date:Saturday, April 5, 2025 2:17:18 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. 4/5/2025 Hi Gerry, It is hard to know where police chief Andrew Binder stands as a human being onthe ongoing hate crimes in his apparent hometown of Morgan Hill. I am not impressed by his cop’s uniform; I could care less about the military nazi uniforms' trappings of authoritarianism these characters wear. I would prefer that if we have to have police that they do not feel it necessary to wear, parade around in, thesehideous outfits at all. Just let me know who you are behind that uniform, AndrewBinder. I'm hoping beyond hope that in your hometown, you have stood up and spoken up against the attacks on Muslim members of your community and that nasty symbol of hate, the Nazi's swastika. The example set by the people ofBillings, Montana, in response to hate crimes in their community was terrific.Thanks to Gerry for sharing that most compelling article. More questions for Andrew Binder to follow. Best regards, Aram James On Sat, Apr 5, 2025 at 12:10 AM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: It is time to address the unacceptable rise of hate and bigotry in Morgan Hill with a firm andunequivocal voice. On March 7, 2025, a Muslim family in our commu… {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 250     Source: Morgan Hill Times | Morgan Hill, San Martin, CA https://search.app/9LYgtm9eLS8pAnEY6 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 251     From:Gerry Gras To:Aram James; Binder, Andrew Cc:Council, City; Sean Allen; Pat M; Reifschneider, James; Perron, Zachary; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Figueroa, Eric; michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Enberg, Nicholas; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Bains, Paul; Jeff Rosen; Lee, Craig; Sarah Wright; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Clerk; Henry Etzkowitz; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Human Relations Commission; Raymond Goins; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Shikada, Ed; Sheree Roth Subject:Re: It is time to address the unacceptable rise of hate and bigotry in Morgan Hill with a firm and unequivocalvoice. On March 7, 2025, a Muslim family in our commu… Date:Saturday, April 5, 2025 12:37:10 AM [Some people who received this message don't often get email from gerrygras@earthlink.net. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ] good letter. too bad it was not written by the newspaper staff. are other bay area cities much different? if so, i wonder what is special about Morgan Hill. ... i remember some years ago there was a racist attack in some city,probably in Montana, where many of the people in the city displayedsigns indicating their support for the ones attacked. ... here is the story, plus some advice about how to confront hate: https://www.niot.org/blog/how-10000-menorahs-helped-town-defeat-hate gerry On 4/5/25 00:10, Aram James wrote: > It is time to address the unacceptable rise of hate and bigotry in > Morgan Hill with a firm and unequivocal voice. On March 7, 2025, a> Muslim family in our commu…>> Source: Morgan Hill Times | Morgan Hill, San Martin, CA> https://search.app/9LYgtm9eLS8pAnEY6> > Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 252     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew Cc:Council, City; Sean Allen; Pat M; Reifschneider, James; Perron, Zachary; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Figueroa, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Enberg, Nicholas; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Bains, Paul; Jeff Rosen; Lee, Craig; Sarah Wright; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Clerk; Henry Etzkowitz; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Human Relations Commission; Gerry Gras; Raymond Goins; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Shikada, Ed; Sheree Roth Subject:It is time to address the unacceptable rise of hate and bigotry in Morgan Hill with a firm and unequivocal voice.On March 7, 2025, a Muslim family in our commu… Date:Saturday, April 5, 2025 12:11:13 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. It is time to address the unacceptable rise of hate and bigotry in Morgan Hill with a firm andunequivocal voice. On March 7, 2025, a Muslim family in our commu… Source: Morgan Hill Times | Morgan Hill, San Martin, CA https://search.app/9LYgtm9eLS8pAnEY6 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 253     From:Aram James To:Sean Allen Cc:Paul Joseph; mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov; district1@sanjoseca.gov; District2@sanjoseca.gov; District3@sanjoseca.gov; District4@sanjoseca.gov; District5@sanjoseca.gov; district6@sanjoseca.gov; District7@sanjoseca.gov; district8@sanjoseca.gov; District9@sanjoseca.gov; District10@sanjoseca.gov; Jeff Rosen; Dan Okonkwo; Brandon Pho; Robert Handa; Robert Salonga; Kiet Do; LaMonica Peters; eddie.aubrey@sanjoseca.gov; dwight.white@sanjoseca.gov; Jack Molmud; Sara Stinson; damian.trujillo@nbcuni.com; Richard Konda; Richard Hobbs; Wendy Greenfield; Carla Torres; Raj Jayadev; Jose Valle; Cynthia Longs; Pat M; William Armaline; Rose Lynn; Seher Awan; James Staten; mike braxton; Michael Pati; theresa.diola@gmail.com; Michael Ybarra; lasha heard; Candice Brooks; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Stump, Molly; editor@paweekly.com; Lauing, Ed; ladoris cordell; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Bains, Paul; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; sharon jackson; Lee, Craig; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Dana St. George; Council, City; Perron, Zachary; cromero@cityofepa.org; Raymond Goins; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Veenker, Vicki; Gerry Gras; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; gstone22@gmail.com; Gennady Sheyner; Emily Mibach; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Gardener, Liz; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Sarah Wright; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Kaloma Smith; Daniel Kottke; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Bill Newell; Bill Johnson; editor@almanacnews.com; Lydia Kou; Liz Kniss; Greg Tanaka; h.etzko@gmail.com; Doug Minkler; Mickie Winkler; josh@joshsalcman.com; John Burt; Friends of Cubberley; Paul George @ PPJC; George for Palo Alto; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Human Relations Commission; Karen Holman; Tom DuBois; ladoris cordell; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway Subject:Re: Complaint Regarding Excessive Use of Force by San Jose Police Department on January 10, 2025 Date:Friday, April 4, 2025 6:37:29 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Fri, Apr 4, 2025 at 6:33 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: 4/4/2025 Hi folks: This is the same department (SJPD) that Palo Alto Police Chief Andrew Binder, who is nowapparently living in Morgan Hill, 40 miles from Palo Alto, came from. How invested in Palo Alto is a chief who lives 40 miles from the town he claims to care about? Can we reasonablyexpect Binder to be available to lead first responders 24/7 in a mass shooting incident or other major catastrophe? You be the judge! A police chief living 40 miles from the city heoversees turns the idea of community policing on its head. Time for a change in leadership anyone? Sincerely, Aram James P.S. Please checkout this brutal & extraordinarily violent video of the SJPD in action. ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Sean Allen <sallen6444@yahoo.com>Date: Fri, Apr 4, 2025 at 4:45 PM Subject: Complaint Regarding Excessive Use of Force by San Jose Police Department onJanuary 10, 2025 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 254     To: Paul Joseph <Paul.joseph@sanjoseca.gov>, <mayoremail@sanjoseca.gov>,<District1@sanjoseca.gov>, <District2@sanjoseca.gov>, <District3@sanjoseca.gov>, <District4@sanjoseca.gov>, <District5@sanjoseca.gov>, <district6@sanjoseca.gov>,<District7@sanjoseca.gov>, <district8@sanjoseca.gov>, <District9@sanjoseca.gov>, <District10@sanjoseca.gov>, Jeff Rosen <JRosen@dao.sccgov.org>, Dan Okonkwo<dokonkwo@dao.sccgov.org> CC: Brandon Pho <brandon@sanjosespotlight.com>, Robert Handa<robert.handa@nbcuni.com>, Robert Salonga <rsalonga@bayareanewsgroup.com>, Kiet Do <kiet.a.do@gmail.com>, LaMonica Peters <lamonica.peters@fox.com>,<eddie.aubrey@sanjoseca.gov>, <dwight.white@sanjoseca.gov>, Jack Molmud <jmolmud@kron4.com>, Sara Stinson <sstinson@kron4.com>,<damian.trujillo@nbcuni.com>, Richard Konda <rkonda@asianlawalliance.org>, Richard Hobbs <richhobbs@msn.com>, Wendy Greenfield <wgestrella@aol.com>, Carla Torres<xicanamagic@hotmail.com>, Raj Jayadev <raj@siliconvalleydebug.org>, Jose Valle <jvalle1800@gmail.com>, Cynthia Longs <cynthia@siliconvalleydebug.org>, aram james<Abjpd1@gmail.com>, Pat M <p.marshall81@ymail.com>, William Armaline <warmali@yahoo.com>, Rose Lynn <roselynn95035@yahoo.com>, Seher Awan<firebrand.dr@gmail.com>, James Staten <jamesastaten@gmail.com>, mike braxton <mbraxton2021@gmail.com>, Michael Pati <michael.pati@gmail.com>,theresa.diola@gmail.com <theresa.diola@gmail.com>, Michael Ybarra <dr.michaelcybarra@gmail.com>, lasha heard <heardlasha22@gmail.com>, CandiceBrooks <brookscandicel14@gmail.com> April 4, 2025 To: San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph, Mayor Matt Mahan, SanJose City Council Members, City Manager, District Attorney Jeff Rosen, State Attorney General Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office,San Jose Police Auditor Eddie Aubrey From: Sean Allen - President, San Jose/Silicon Valley NAACP Video of San Jose PD Beating Young Man on January 10, 2025 On April 1, 2025, a video was sent to the San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP, showing three San Jose police officers usingunnecessary and unlawful force against a member of the public. The video lasts approximately one minute and 29 seconds. Here’sa summary of what is depicted. It’s important to note that the person who recorded the video was in such close proximity to the incident that the sounds of the {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 255     officers’ keys can be heard as they ran and engaged in physicalactivity. You can also hear the clanging of one officer's baton while it remained on his duty belt, as well as the officers' radiotransmissions. When the video begins, it is clear that two officers engage the community member with physical force. There are no audible de-escalation attempts or verbal commands heard. The first officer to make contact (referred to as Officer #1) mounts thecommunity member, while the second officer (Officer #2) initially approaches the citizen’s legs but then turns to threatenthe person recording, with his hand on his gun, approximately 6.5 seconds into the video. At around 11 seconds, Officer #1 calls thecitizen an “asshole.” Officer #2 continues to instruct the person recording to get back in the car, his hand still on his firearm untilabout 15.5 seconds into the video. During this time, there are still no verbal commands from Officer #1, who is on top of thecitizen, now rolled onto his stomach. At about 20 seconds in, Officer #2 radios in a comment about the “driver.” You can hearthe citizen say “hit me,” but Officer #1 does not demand compliance. At approximately 29 seconds, a voice says, “Right here, Mike,get his ass,” and a third officer enters the frame, throwing a series of four to five punches to the citizen’s upper torso. It is suspectedthat this third officer's name is Mike. Notably, both Officer #1 and the suspected Officer Mike encourage the use of forceagainst the citizen, despite a clear duty to intervene and prevent such actions. At around 39 seconds, Officer #1 strikes the citizenwith a knee to the torso, holding him down while punching him in the face with his right hand, with Officer Mike (Officer #3)assisting in restraining the citizen's upper torso. The citizen is unable to prevent these strikes. At about 47 seconds into the video, Officer Mike can be seenpushing the citizen’s face into the ground while Officer #1 maintains a knee on the citizen's back, and Officer #2 also holdshim down. At approximately 57 seconds, a fourth officer arrives and draws his firearm, approaching the person recording. Thenecessity for drawing a firearm appears unwarranted, as the three officers present did not draw their weapons, and there was nothreat posed by those recording the incident. A bystander can be heard questioning, “Why are you drawing your weapon?” ataround one minute and eight seconds into the video. Meanwhile, bystanders call for de-escalation and criticize the officers forescalating the situation. At about one minute and 25 seconds, it’s evident that Officer #2 has his knee on the back of the citizen’s neck while handcuffinghim. At the end of the video, Officer Mike approaches a young {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 256     African American male. In the background, you can hear othervoices identified as juveniles. It is alleged that the same officer used excessive force on one of the juveniles, causing injury to hishearing, which required medical attention. In this entire incident, the citizens and juveniles involved, who are of African ancestry, experienced violations of their rights.This reflects a pattern and practice consistent with the San Jose Police Department's history of disproportionate use of forceagainst people of color, specifically those of African descent. It is crucial to analyze this incident in light of California laws regarding the use of force. California Penal Code 835(a) states: 1. The authority to use physical force conferred on peace officersmust be exercised judiciously, with respect for human rights and dignity, acknowledging the sanctity of every human life. Everyperson has a right to be free from excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.2. Peace officers must use deadly force only when necessary to defend human life, evaluating each situation based on particularcircumstances and utilizing other resources and techniques if safely feasible.3. The decision to use force requires careful evaluation, reflecting the gravity of that authority and ensuring compliance with thelaw and agency policies. Moreover, I want to highlight the policies of another law enforcement agency within the county, which has morecomprehensive use of force policies that align with Penal Code 835(a). The policy states: 1. Description: Personal body weapon strikes consist of forcefulstrikes using hands, fists, forearms, elbows, feet, knees, or shins. 2. Force event: Personal body weapon strikes are authorized inreactive or planned response events. 3. Resistance type: Personal body weapon strikes are onlyauthorized in response to assaultive or life-threatening resistance and to prevent substantial self-harm.4. Special instructions: Unless deadly force is authorized, employees are prohibited from striking a person with a personalbody weapon in the head, neck, spine, kidney, or groin. Different departments within the same county have varying policies regarding the use of force. However, the largestdepartment in the county recognizes that striking certain areas with personal body weapons could be fatal. In reviewing thevideo, it is evident that Officer Mike strikes the citizen multiple times in the upper torso while he is being held down, at best,passively resistant. Officer #1 then knees the citizen in the torso {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 257     and punches him in the face while he is restrained. This use offorce is inconsistent with Penal Code 835(a). Close-fisted strikes to the head, torso, and spine, like those used in this incident, could cause great bodily injury or death andrequire immediate assessment from a medical professional. The video does not show that medical care was offered or provided.Additionally, officers are mandated to request medical care after a use of force event. If medical care was not provided, the SanJose Police Department failed to uphold its duty of care. This incident reveals clear violations of state laws regarding excessive use of force and unlawful application of force,specifically violations of Penal Codes 835(a), 149, and 245, as well as federal statutes (18 U.S. Code § 242 - Deprivation ofRights Under Color of Law concerning assault under color of authority) and violations of the United States Constitution,including the Fourth Amendment. The San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP demands a thorough investigation into this incident for administrative and criminalviolations at both the state and federal levels, along with complete accountability and transparency regarding this matter. Thank you for your time, Sean Allen - President San Jose Silicon Valley NAACP References: - Performance Protocol - Disparity of Force - California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 835a | FindLaw- California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 149 | FindLaw - California Code, Penal Code - PEN § 245 | FindLaw- Civil Rights Division | Statutes Enforced by the Criminal Section- 18 U.S. Code § 242 - Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute Sent from my iPhone {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 258     From:Aram James To:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki Cc:Jeff Rosen; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jay Boyarsky; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Figueroa, Eric; dennis burns; Perron, Zachary; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; Sean Allen; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; josh@joshsalcman.com; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; Zelkha, Mila; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Foley, Michael; Mickie Winkler; Doug Minkler; Marty Wasserman; Marina Lopez; Cait James; Tim James; GRP-City Council; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Dave Price; EPA Today; Emily Mibach; Jensen, Eric; Gardener, Liz; Raymond Goins; Rodriguez, Miguel; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Sarah Wright; Gennady Sheyner; DuJuan Green; Greg Tanaka; Rose Lynn; Lynn Krug; Human Relations Commission; Karen Holman; Tom DuBois; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Nash, Betsy; Jeff Conrad; Council, City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Clerk; Vara Ramakrishnan; Rowena Chiu; Donna Wallach; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Wagner, April; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Angel, David; Cribbs, Anne; Templeton, Cari; Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; yolanda; Pat M; Daniel Kottke; Dennis Upton; Doria Summa; Nat Fisher; Burt, Patrick; Patrice Ventresca; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov Subject:Keffiyeh-Wearing Columbia Students Were Allegedly Assaulted. A Year Later, No One Has Been Punished Date:Friday, April 4, 2025 4:25:59 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Keffiyeh-Wearing Columbia Students Were Allegedly Assaulted. A Year Later, No One Has Been Punished https://zeteo.com/p/keffiyeh-wearing-columbia-students-attack-what-safety?publication_id=2325511&utm_campaign=email-post-title&r=fjmzt&utm_medium=email {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 259     From:Aram James To:Gardener, Liz; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg,Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Council, City; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Baker, Rob; WILPFPeninsula Palo Alto; Doug Minkler; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Tim James; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; EPAToday; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; rabrica@cityofepa.org; dennisburns; DuJuan Green; Tom DuBois; Kaloma Smith; GRP-City Council; Perron, Zachary; Daniel Kottke Subject:San Jose settles excessive force suit for after police dog refused to let go of man’s throat The plaintiff will receive $1.6 million as part of the settlement Date:Thursday, April 3, 2025 5:15:50 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of theorganization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links. San Jose settles excessiveforce suit for after policedog refused to let go ofman’s throat The plaintiff will receive $1.6 million as part of the settlement https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/02/san-jose-settles-excessive-force-suit-after-canine-dog-refused-to-let-go-of-mans-throat/ {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 260     From:Jamila Mame To:Human Relations Commission Cc:Katherine DeVinna Subject:Invitation to Join Our Scholar & Family Fair – April 25 Date:Wednesday, April 2, 2025 1:35:18 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Dear City of Palo Alto Team, I hope this message finds you well. My name is Jamila, and I serve as the Community andScholar Persistence Manager at College Track, located in East Palo Alto. College Track is a comprehensive college completion program that supports first-generation students fromunder-resourced communities in their journey to and through college We are excited to be hosting our Scholar & Family Fair on Friday, April 25 from 5:30 to7:00 PM, and would love to invite the City of Palo Alto to join us as a participating community partner. This event is designed to connect scholars and families with valuable local resources, and we believe your presence would be a meaningful addition. If your department or team would liketo host a table and share helpful programs or services, please let us know. To confirm your interest, kindly fill out our brief vendor form: Vendor Interest Form We will provide a table and any setup support needed. Feel free to reach out with any questions. We’d be honored to have you join us! Warm regards, Jamila Jamila Mame (she/her) Community and Scholar Persistence Manager C 650.383.7206 jmame@collegetrack.org https://calendly.com/jmame- collegetrack/30min 1877 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303 This message needs your attention This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 261     "Nurture potential, ignite change." {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 262     From:Aram James To:Barberini, Christopher; Binder, Andrew; Perron, Zachary; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Enberg, Nicholas;Afanasiev, Alex; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; Julie Lythcott-Haims;ladoris cordell; Sean Allen; Pat M; Richard Konda; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Josh Becker;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Jeff Conrad; JeffRosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jose Valle; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; Bains, Paul; Bill Newell; Dana St. George;Gerry Gras; Doug Minkler; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; Baker, Rob; Roberta Ahlquist; Lori Meyers; sharonjackson; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; MGR-Melissa StevensonDiaz; Pacific GrovePD; Liz Kniss; Linda Jolley; Gardener, Liz; Shikada, Ed; Ruth Silver Taube; dennis burns;DuJuan Green; Council, City; GRP-City Council; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov;Kaloma Smith; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto Subject:San Jose settles excessive force suit after police dog refused to let go of man’s throat Date:Wednesday, April 2, 2025 12:30:29 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. San Jose settles excessive force suit after police dog refused to let go of man’s throat https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/04/02/san-jose-settles-excessive-force-suit-after-canine- dog-refused-to-let-go-of-mans-throat/ {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 263     From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:Q&A With Senator Wahab, Chair of the Senate Housing Committee; Progress on Affordable Housing in Dublin and SanCarlos; Exciting News on the Board Front Date:Wednesday, April 2, 2025 10:24:54 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. i View on web This message needs your attention You've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 264     “We provide housing for individuals who have experienced homelessness for years—even decades. Giving them a place to call home, combined with comprehensive wraparound services, can be truly life-changing.” – Samantha Meyer, Associate Director of Real Estate Development, on move-in day at Crescent Grove.   In every corner of our nation, we see an urgent need for safe, affordable housing, and at Eden Housing we are proud of our bold actions and role as a problem solver. Yet, we recognize it’s not a task for just one entity, but a collective responsibility that can only be tackled by public and private investment. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 265     We are fortunate to be surrounded by so many partners who are as dedicated as we are, including supporters in the political sphere, who work tirelessly to advocate for all those who need housing. This month, we sat down with one of these champions, Senator Aisha Wahab, who represents the cities of Hayward, Union City, Newark, Fremont, Milpitas, Sunnyvale, San Jose and Santa Clara, and is the new chair of the Senate Housing Committee. We know you’ll appreciate her insights on the state of housing in California as she shared the strides our legislature is making. We have much to celebrate with two recent closings, including for Cherry Street Commons in San Carlos, which will offer one, two and three-bedroom apartments in a visually striking Mediterranean-style building design designed to coordinate with the surrounding look and feel of San Carlos; and Regional Street Apartments in Dublin, a five-story building comprised of 55 studios and 57 one-bedroom units dedicated to seniors/senior households earning 20% to 50% of Alameda County Area Median Income or $20,000-$50,000. We know that this ongoing success is due to the hard work and commitment we see from Eden Housing staff each and every day. That’s why we were thrilled for the opportunity to express our admiration on Employee Appreciation Day March 6. While we are grateful for our dedicated team members every day, it was exciting to have a day set aside to recognize their outstanding contributions and invaluable impact. In addition to our staff, we rely on our committed board, which recently gained two new members: Katia Kamangar, Founder and Principal at Kamangar Consulting, LLC, a strategic real estate advisory firm; and Joe O’Hehir, who recently retired after 13 years as CEO of Vivalon, whose mission is to ensure that every adult has the opportunity to age with independence, dignity and grace. They bring unique insights from the real estate and senior housing sectors and will play a critical role in shaping our strategic initiatives. Given our appreciation for the time and talent our own board provides, we recognize the value of paying it forward by sharing our expertise with other relevant boards. I’d like to congratulate our COO Shola Olatoye, who was named Board President of Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) and will be an essential resource with her decades of experience as a housing leader. We’re thankful for your trust and support as we continue to double down on our mission. Wishing you a wonderful spring! Linda Mandolini, President & CEO of Eden Housing EDEN HOUSING UPDATES Q&A With Senator Aisha Wahab {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 266     Senator Wahab can relate to the issues the community faces regarding affordable housing, because she has walked in their shoes. Placed in foster care at an early age, she was adopted by a young couple in the Bay Area, who gave her a warm and stable upbringing. Yet she knows what it feels like to have housinginsecurity, as her self-employed parents lost their business and her home was foreclosed upon. Thatexperience colors her work, and today, she is dedicated to addressing issues that include housing affordability, civic engagement, education and economic inequality. Elected in 2022, Senator Wahab previously served as the Chair of the Alameda County Human RelationsCommission and a Board Member for the nonprofits Afghan Coalition, Abode Services, and Tri-CityVolunteers. She has served as an Alameda County Public Health Commissioner, speaker at the Bay Area Women’s March, and was selected to join the White House Roundtable of Afghan-American Leaders. Prior to her career in public service, Aisha worked at non-profits, community organizing, and technology. Read the Q&A   {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 267     Eden Housing Names Two New Board Members with Expertise in Real Estate, Senior Housing and More Eden Housing announced two new board members, Katia Kamangar, Founder and Principal at Kamangar Consulting, LLC, a strategic real estate advisory firm; and Joe O’Hehir, Interim CEO at Vivalon, whose mission is to ensure every adult has the opportunity to age with independence, dignity and grace. “We’re thrilled to welcome these two experts to our board as they bring a powerful combination of skills and experience, with invaluable insights from the real estate and senior housing sectors,” said Eden Housing President & CEO Linda Mandolini. “Katia and Joe will play a critical role in shaping our strategic initiatives and advancing our mission to create more affordable and sustainable housing options for themost vulnerable among us.” Read More {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 268       Eden Nominations Linda Mandolini Board of Directors of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Shola Olatoye Board President of Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California (NPH) UPCOMING EVENTS {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 269     Groundbreaking: Cherry Street Commons Apr 23 at 10 AM San Carlos, California Grand Opening: Crescent Grove May 9 at 12 PM Castro Valley, California Groundbreaking: Regional Street May 30 at 12 PM Dublin, California Grand Opening: La Avenida Jun 6 at 12 PM Mountain View, California EDEN HOUSING IN THE NEWS How Senior Project Developers Manage $10M+ Affordable Housing Developments {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 270     A Roof Over Every Head: Expanding Access to Rental Housing New stove that plugs into a normal wall outlet could be major gain for health and the climate Donate Today! Eden Housing 22645 Grand StreetHayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.Privacy Policy {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 271     From:Aram James To:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Angel, David; Friends of Cubberley;Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; h.etzko@gmail.com; Pat M; Marina Lopez; Gennady Sheyner; Sean Allen; Dave Price;Sarah Wright; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23;Jensen, Eric; Emily Mibach; Figueroa, Eric; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Foley, Michael;josh@joshsalcman.com; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; ladoris cordell; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Bains, Paul; Paul George @ PPJC; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; EPA Today; Gardener, Liz; Vicki Veenker;Veenker, Vicki; sharon jackson; Salem Ajluni; Bill Newell; Braden Cartwright; Enberg, Nicholas; Perron, Zachary;board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; John Burt;jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Doug Minkler; Vara Ramakrishnan; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; PatriceVentresca; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Burt, Patrick; Kaloma Smith; PaloAlto Free Press; HRW Silicon Valley; Dennis Upton; Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Jeff Hayden; Jeff Conrad; Rosen, Jeff; Jay Boyarsky; Rodriguez, Miguel; DamonSilver; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Sheree Roth; LoriMeyers; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Salem Ajluni; Sally Armendariz; dennis burns; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Wagner, April; Barberini, Christopher; Lotus Fong; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; Rowena Chiu;cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Daniel Kottke; Greg Tanaka; Lydia Kou; Donna Wallach; MelissaA Yeganeh Subject:Thanks for your support. Please share this quick action tool to show the Assembly Education Committee that many California Jews and allies support uncensored ethnic studies. Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 8:45:53 PM C A U T I O N : T h i s e m a i l o r i g i n a t e d f r o m o u t s i d e o f t h eo r g a n i z a t i o n . B e c a u t i o u s o f o p e n i n g a t t a c h m e n t s a n d c l i c k i n go n l i n k s . Thanks for your support. Please share this quick action tool to show the Assembly Education Committee that many California Jews and allies support uncensored ethnic studies. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/protect-ethnic-studies-in-california-schools/thankyou?delivery_id=118449750 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 272     From:Liz Gardner To:Aram James Cc:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Vara Ramakrishnan; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Conrad; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Dennis Upton; Rodriguez, Miguel; Doug Minkler; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Damon Silver; Diana Diamond; Perron, Zachary; Council, City; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Bains, Paul; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; board@valleywater.org; Gerry Gras; Sarah Wright; Lotus Fong; Liz Kniss; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today; Sean Allen Subject:Re: Cory Booker on Palestine Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:45:56 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hello, It's April 1. Interesting to note "April Fool's Day". I am not entirely sure if CB has negated his Senate responsibility and has beensilent and obedient during his marathon speech on the floor of the US Senate. My son just asked Chat GBT. Its answer. No. CB record speech on the Senate Floor has not had any reference to the ongoing Genocide in Gaza and Israel's bombing,killing and maiming of civilian Palestinians in Gaza and The West Bank, Lebanon.. Yet and in fact I heard and saw on C-Span live feed. He did read a letter a loud last night from a constituent in NJ who was fired from USAID by DOGE. In their letterthey specifically stated their call to humanity and their work with USAID. Theywere called and sent to GAZA and their work with the plight of Palestinians. My son's verbal search with Chat GBT did not pick up on this reference in a letterread by Booker last night on the Senate Floor. Censorship is infiltrated Chat GBT aswell. However there must be a transcript of Sen. Booker's ongoing speech on the Floor ofthe US Senate and the letter he read which highlights this American's work inPalestine. The Censorship is real. The silence and obedience instilled on America by APAICis real, Israel's yoke around the will of American's First Amendment rights is real. The silence on the Senate Floor is defining. Sen., Adam Schiff alludes to US University being silenced, penalized, and jailing of those speaking out in defense ofthe loss life in GAZA and our US involvement in these War Crimes in the wake ofthe Hamas October 7th massacre. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 273     Yet. When we have elected leaders, school districts, high school teachersprestigious university's and city council chamber members who are complacent bytheir silence to the suffering and are kneeling as an obedient servant to Israel's heinous ongoing crimes, we no longer have a Democracy but are a demon of silence . Liz GardnerPalo Alto On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 2:13 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Love CORY Booker (CB)-by aram james 4/1/2025 A friend text me to ask if CB ( in his marathon talk on the senate floor) would address the ongoing Palestine genocide: Here was my answer: Part 1: I doubt that CB wants to address the issue of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, which is sponsored by the U.S. and Israel. Someone like CB, whomay run for president again, is unlikely to want to provoke the anger of AIPAC and other pro-Zionist right-wing lobby groups. These groups will likely contribute to CB’sfuture campaigns if he chooses to remain silent on this matter. Silent & Obedient with his first loyalty to the State of Israel ??? Part 2: Indeed! The American public must be made aware of the true facts. The Israelis areextraordinarily fearful of the truth- thus their frantic efforts to crack down on free speech and academic freedom at colleges and universities across this country. FreeSpeech Be Damned! Our Institutions of higher learning are now -like our congress- Israeli-occupied territory. Shameful that our American democracy being destroyed in thename of Israel!!!! {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 274     From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Vara Ramakrishnan; Veenker, Vicki; Reckdahl, Keith; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider,James; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Conrad;board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Josh Becker;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Dennis Upton;Rodriguez, Miguel; Doug Minkler; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Damon Silver; Diana Diamond; Perron, Zachary;Council, City; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Bains, Paul; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); TomDuBois; board@valleywater.org; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Sarah Wright Cc:Lotus Fong; Liz Kniss; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today; Sean Allen Subject:Re: Cory Booker on Palestine Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 2:13:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 1:20 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Love CORY Booker (CB)-by aram james 4/1/2025 A friend text me to ask if CB ( in his marathon talk on the senate floor) would addressthe ongoing Palestine genocide: Here was my answer: Part 1: I doubt that CB wants to address the issue of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the WestBank, and Lebanon, which is sponsored by the U.S. and Israel. Someone like CB, who may run for president again, is unlikely to want to provoke the anger of AIPAC and otherpro-Zionist right-wing lobby groups. These groups will likely contribute to CB’s future campaigns if he chooses to remain silent on this matter. Silent & Obedient with his firstloyalty to the State of Israel ??? Part 2: Indeed! The American public must be made aware of the true facts. The Israelis are extraordinarily fearful of the truth- thus their frantic efforts to crack down on free speechand academic freedom at colleges and universities across this country. Free Speech Be Damned! Our Institutions of higher learning are now -like our congress- Israeli-occupiedterritory. Shameful that our American democracy being destroyed in the name of Israel!!!! {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 275     From:Aram James To:Julie Lythcott-Haims Cc:Sean Allen; Kaloma Smith; Rodriguez, Miguel; Bains, Paul; Pat M; DuJuan Green; Damon Silver; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary; Council, City; board@pausd.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; jay.boyarsky@da.sccgov.org; Jensen, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Afanasiev, Alex; Figueroa, Eric; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Roberta Roth; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lotus Fong; dennis burns; Human Relations Commission Subject:New Jersey Sen. Booker presses his marathon speech against Trump’s agenda past 20 hours and counting Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2025 1:13:42 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. New Jersey Sen. Booker presses his marathon speech against Trump’s agenda past 20 hours and counting https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 276     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew Cc:Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Afanasiev, Alex; DuJuan Green; Perron, Zachary; Wagner, April; Bains, Paul; dennis burns; Shikada, Ed; Gardener, Liz; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Lotus Fong; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; board@valleywater.org; Bill Newell; Sean Allen; Pat M; sharon jackson; Liz Kniss; Linda Jolley; Rowena Chiu; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; Sarah Wright; ladoris cordell; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Zelkha, Mila; Daniel Kottke; Dennis Upton; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; Yolanda Conaway; Kaloma Smith Subject:Watch "Corrupt Cops Force Out Black Chief Trying To Reform Department, Racism Exposed" on YouTube Date:Monday, March 31, 2025 4:47:32 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://youtu.be/uTh_nk0Hl5M?si=FdA9O1gXrstuA_Oi {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 277     The Vast Gaza Death Undercount– Undermines Civic, Diplomatic and Political Pressures By Ralph Nader March 28, 2025 The vast undercount of Israeli-caused deaths in Gaza is regularly reported as 50,000. The actual toll from violent military action and the indirect deaths (stemming from infectious disease, epidemics, untreated chronic illness, untreated serious wounds, and starvation) is well over 400,000 and growing by the day. No crowded enclave like Gaza – the geographical size of Philadelphia – with 2.3 million people under a long-term siege blocking essentials can withstand over 115 thousand tons of bombs, plus artillery, grenades, and snipers targeting civilians, with uncontrollable fires everywhere. How could 97.5% of its inhabitants survive? Tens of thousands of Palestinian children, women, and men lie under the rubble. Tens of thousands of diabetics and cancer victims have no medicine. Five thousand babies a month are born into the rubble. As declared by the Israeli war ministries, “no food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel,” the words of genocide or mass murder of utterly defenseless civilians who had nothing to do with October 7, 2023 — hikes the ratio of “indirect deaths” to the higher range of three to fifteen-fold by the Geneva Declaration Secretariat’s review of prior conflicts. From:Aram James To:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; dennisburns; Dave Price Cc:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; h.etzko@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; John Burt; Burt, Patrick; cromero@cityofepa.org; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Sean Allen; Lewis James; Cait James; Tim James; Paul Bains; DuJuan Green; Afanasiev, Alex; Ed Lauing; editor@almanacnews.com; Shikada, Ed; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Diana Diamond; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; Council, City; GRP-City Council; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Dennis Upton; Gardener, Liz; Vara Ramakrishnan; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Holman, Karen (external); kamhialison@gmail.com; Kaloma Smith; Doug Minkler; Jeff Conrad; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Yolanda Conaway; Donna Wallach; Don Austin; Liz Kniss; Daniel Kottke; Angel, David; Robert. Jonsen; Templeton, Cari; EPA Today Subject:The Vast Gaza Death Undercount– Undermines Civic, Diplomatic and Political Pressures By Ralph Nader March28, 2025 Date:Monday, March 31, 2025 12:11:40 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 278     In my lengthy article, published in the Capitol Hill Citizen, (August/September 2024 issue) I noted that the total ban by Netanyahu of foreign and Israeli reporters from entering the killing fields of Gaza allows the undercount by Hamas to be the anchor on the lethal truth. Hamas counts only names of the deceased given by hospitals and mortuaries, which were largely destroyed many months ago. Hamas, like Netanyahu, favors an undercount for obviously different reasons – the former to lessen the ire of its people for not protecting them and the latter to diminish international sanctions and condemnation. It is not as if there are no higher estimates by credible groups. UN agencies, international aid groups, and specialists in disaster casualties at places like Brown University and the University of Edinburgh, and reports in the prestigious medical journal LANCETall point to a major undercount. They cite minimum reasonable estimates. But the mass media just keeps citing the Hamas undercount, awaiting some magical number that meets an impossible level of precision. Interestingly, the mass media has no problem reporting estimates of deaths under the Syrian Assad dictatorship, during the Sudanese conflict, or the Russian war on Ukraine. It seems only the Palestinians are not allowed to live by the Israeli/U.S. terrorist regimes and are not told how many of them are being annihilated. Imagine, whole extended families in apartment buildings and tents. More curious is why the so-called Left, in their denunciations, are still clinging to the Hamas figure. A famous commentator from Haaretz and a civic leader in the U.S. gave me the same answer. The Hamas figures are horrific enough! Can you imagine Israeli governments undercounting their fatalities by nearly 90%? More curious is what is keeping the few strong defenders of Palestinian survival in Congress from asking the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress to come up with a minimum accurate figure from the available empirical and clinical evidence? What kept the majority of Democrats in the Senate under Biden from subpoenaing the evidence accumulated by the State Department on the death/injury count? The State Department has been resisting our Freedom of Information request since May 23, 2024. What about tapping into the work of sixteen Israeli human rights groups, including the military reservist groups like “Breaking the Silence”? Numbers matter in wars and natural disasters. They matter in the intensity behind the civic, political, and diplomatic efforts worldwide to stop the killing, secure a permanent ceasefire, let in the thousands of trucks bearing humanitarian aid (food, water, medicine, fuel, and other essentials), and enter into serious peace negotiations. Instead, Trump is backing the expulsion of the Palestinian survivors, supporting the {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 279     annexation of the West Bank, and leaving devastated Gaza as a real estate opportunity for Israeli and American developers. This attitude is what Jim Zogby (founder of the Arab-American Institute) exposed when years ago he delivered a lecture on “The Other Anti-Semitism” before an Israeli University audience. The other antisemitism, exhibited by Biden and Trump, is backed by F-16s and other weapons of mass destruction that have killed over 100,000 children along with their mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers. A deep racism backed by a genocidal delivery system day after day is funded by American tax dollars delivered by a homicidal Congress. A Congress that has refused, since 1948, testimony by leading Israeli and Palestinian peace advocates before House and Senate Committees to provide justice for the Palestinian people. Copyright © 2025 Nader.Org, All rights reserved.You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website. Our mailing address is:Nader.OrgP.O. Box 19367Washington, DC 20036 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 280     From:Henry Etzkowitz To:Office of the Provost; Council, City; Roberta Ahlquist; Mark Granovetter; Aram James; Terry Beaubois; RebeccaEisenberg; Ellen Bob; Josh Schneider; Sue Rosser; Human Relations Commission Date:Saturday, March 29, 2025 1:33:56 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. FYI implications for repairing Palo Alto-Stanford strained relationship? Proposed incandidates statement in 2024 City Council election, drawing upon the Yale-New Haven agreement. It may appear to be untimely for the university to take on a new financialobligation, especially one with long term potential, yet it may also be a propitious moment to reset town-gown relations on a renewed basis of solidarity among relative equals rather thanthe previous regime that induced the contemporary disjuncture. The novel funds could at least partially be earmarked for inter-generational sociability efforts, for , extending the Avenidassenior programs like community meet-up’s, bird watching and walking groups that on their face are age-appropriate to all. For further ideas see the “Amsterdam model” Etzkowitz andde Tombe, 2024) in follow-up. Best, Henry Neighbors for Environmental and social Justice (NESJ) Www.HenryEtzkowitz.org Harvard University has agreed to voluntarily pay the City of Cambridge $6 million without committing to a long-term amount for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes prog… https://search.app/jFKdmAU3NQwcvnCJ7 Shared via the Google app Sent from my iPhone {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 281     From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Josh Becker; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for CaliforniaDemocratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lori Meyers; ShereeRoth; Dave Price; Figueroa, Eric; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Tim James; Cait James; Marina Lopez;Templeton, Cari; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Bains, Paul; Reckdahl, Keith;Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Pat M; Sean Allen;board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Bill Newell;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Roberta Roth; Jensen, Eric; Barberini, Christopher; Nicole Chiu-Wang; SarahWright; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Diana Diamond; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Rosen, Jeff;frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; EPA Today; cromero@cityofepa.org;rabrica@cityofepa.org; Josie James-Le; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; John Burt; Mickie Winkler;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; h.etzko@gmail.com; Rodriguez, Miguel; Dana St. George;Gerry Gras; Gennady Sheyner; gstone22@gmail.com; Lu, George; Jasso, Tamara; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz;Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Palo Alto Free Press; Zelkha, Mila; Arthur Millman; Gardener, Liz; Human RelationsCommission; Karen Holman; Drekmeier, Peter; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; SalemAjluni; sharon jackson; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; Council,City; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Cecilia Taylor; Nash, Betsy; Burt, Patrick; Rose Lynn; Lydia Kou; DuJuanGreen; dennis burns; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Greg Tanaka Subject:The judge who blocked Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation is an observant Jew Date:Thursday, March 27, 2025 4:05:18 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The judge who blocked Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation is an observant Jew The judge who blocked Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil’s deportation is an observant JewSource: The Forward https://share.newsbreak.com/cb249ytt?s=i0 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 282     From:Aram James To:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; BoardOperations; board@pausd.org; Ed Lauing; JoshBecker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Rowena Chiu; LoriMeyers; Sheree Roth Cc:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Bains, Paul; Lotus Fong; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; h.etzko@gmail.com; Nicole Chiu- Wang; Sean Allen; sharon jackson; Sameena@Secure-Justice.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Doug Minkler; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Sarah Wright; EPA Today; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Raj Jayadev; Jose Valle Subject:WATCH: The Moment Masked ICE Agents Arrested Tufts Graduate Student Who Spoke Out in Support ofPalestine Date:Wednesday, March 26, 2025 4:29:24 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. WATCH: The Moment Masked ICE Agents Arrested Tufts Graduate Student Who Spoke Out in Support of Palestine “I can buy that badge from a fucking costume store,” says a witness to the“kidnapping” of Rumeysa Ozturk as she was on her way to break her Ramadanfast. Checkout fascist ICE/COPS/IDF/ Death Squads/???? Do THEIR Nazi Thing!!!! SEE VIDEO BELOW!!!! Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more WATCH: The Moment Masked ICE Agents Arrested Tufts Graduate Student Who Spoke Out in Support of Palestine {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 283     “I can buy that badge from a fucking costume store,” says a witness tothe “kidnapping” of Rumeysa Ozturk as she was on her way to break herRamadan fast. PREM THAKKER MAR 26 READ IN APP On Tuesday evening, plainclothes-masked Department of Homeland Security agents arrested Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national with a valid student visa, as she was on her way to break her Ramadan fast, according to her attorney and video footage of the arrest. Video credit: Daniel Boguslaw Ozturk’s attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, says her team is unaware of her whereabouts, has been unable to contact her, and that no charges have been filed against Ozturk that they are aware of. The ICE locator database on Wednesday afternoon listed Ozturk as being held in the “South Louisiana Processing Center” in Basile, Louisiana – more than 1,400 miles away from Somerville, Massachusetts, where Ozturk was detained. ICE and the White House did not respond to requests for comment. A DHS spokesperson claimed without evidence that “DHS and ICE investigations found Ozturk engaged in activities in support of Hamas.” The spokesperson added, “A visa is a privilege not a right…This is commonsense security.” Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, was targeted after the McCarthyite organization Canary Mission accused her on its website of “anti-Israel activism.” The proof was scant, involving an op-ed she co-wrote calling on Tufts to follow democratic outcomes. Upgrade to paid {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 284     Exactly one year ago, on March 26, 2024, Ozturk co-authored an op-ed in the student newspaper, in which she and three other students urged Tufts to heed resolutions that were overwhelmingly passed by the student senate, including one resolution that called on university leadership to acknowledge the Palestinian genocide and divest from companies with ties to Israel. “This arrest is the latest in an alarming pattern to stifle civil liberties,” Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said in an emailed statement. “The Trump administration is targeting students with legal status and ripping people out of their communities without due process. This is an attack on our Constitution and basic freedoms — and we will push back." Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley, who represents the district where Ozturk was detained, echoed Warren, saying: "This is a horrifying violation of Rumeysa's constitutional rights to due process and free speech. She must be immediately released. And we won't stand by while the Trump Administration continues to abduct students with legal status and attack our fundamental freedoms." On Tuesday night, Tufts president Sunil Kumar wrote in an email to university affiliates that the school had no prior knowledge of the arrest, nor did they share information with federal authorities. Kumar said university officials were told that Ozturk’s visa had been terminated. He added that they were seeking to confirm whether that was true, and would assist in connecting Ozturk to external legal resources if they requested it. Late Tuesday, a federal judge granted her lawyer’s request that Ozturk not be moved out of the state without advanced notice to the court from the government. It's unclear whether Ozturk was taken to Louisiana after the judge's order. State-Sanctioned ‘Kidnapping’ A source who witnessed the arrest said that what stuck with them was that the incident was “clearly premeditated” with “overwhelming force.” They told Zeteo that at least one officer was carrying a firearm, and that one of the agents’ vehicles had been parked on the street since 4:00 AM, according to a {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 285     neighbor’s camera. They saw the vehicle when they left for the morning and returned in the evening. Upgrade to paid As Ozturk walked down the sidewalk, three people got out of the vehicle and began crossing the street, one pulling up his hood, according to the video of her arrest. They confronted Ozturk, who appeared confused. They then grabbed her and pulled her phone out of her hand, as the other officers began pulling up ski masks to cover their faces. Amid the confusion, several other people emerged, pulling masks over their faces. According to the witness, the masked individuals insisted they were either police or with the police. The witness never heard them identify the agency they were from. The masked individuals continued to tug at her backpack, eventually taking it from her. The detainment – with no apparent charges or clear grounds – appeared less like a legal arrest and more like a “kidnapping,” said the source. "They did not start very well by identifying themselves or anything like that. And then when, like, questioned, they said either we are the police, or we're with the police, I think they say both. And it's all sort of like, yeah, fucking right man, you're with the police. Like, I can say that, and I can buy that badge from a fucking costume store." A String of Arrests Ozturk’s arrest is the latest in a growing list of the Trump administration’s crackdown on students who have spoken out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Legal experts question the constitutionality of the crackdown, given its complete dismissal of First Amendment rights, as well as its attempts to retrofit and weaponize law to target individuals without any solid legal basis. The case of Columbia student protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder, remains ongoing. Khalil was detained under an obscure provision that allows the secretary of state to deem noncitizens as a foreign policy risk and have {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 286     them deported – a law that experts told Zeteo likely is unconstitutional. Mahmoud Khalil speaks to members of the media about the Revolt for Rafah encampment at Columbia University on June 1, 2024. Photo by Jeenah Moon/Reuters The Justice Department has subsequently tried to justify his arrest, claiming he did not state on his green card application that he previously worked for the Syria office of the British Embassy and was a member of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). One of Khalil’s attorneys, Marc Van Der Hout, called the allegations "completely meritless” and said they show “that the government has no case whatsoever on this bogus charge that his presence in the U.S. would have adverse foreign policy consequences." Van Der Hout says Khalil was not a “member” of UNRWA; he simply did one of his three Columbia-approved internships there. On Khalil’s embassy work, Van Der Hout says Khalil’s work there “ended in December 2022, as he stated in his residency application.” Khalil was similarly sent over a thousand miles away from his home to Louisiana. Just months ago, rights groups published a report on facilities in Louisiana titled "Inside the Black Hole: Systemic Human Rights Abuses Against Immigrants Detained & Disappeared in Louisiana." Another Columbia student, 21-year-old Yunseo Chung, a South Korean national who has lived in the US since she was 8 – had her green card revoked by the Trump administration. Chung is suing the Trump administration to stop their targeting of her and other students. On Tuesday, a judge issued a temporary restraining order stopping the Trump administration from detaining her. Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar at Georgetown University, was arrested by masked agents last week. Suri has been taken through several detention centers and has now been placed a thousand miles away from his family, in a detention {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 287     center in Texas. Share The Trump administration has justified the arrest on the grounds that Suri apparently has "close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, a senior adviser to Hamas.” The charge is in reference to his father-in-law, who was a former Hamas government adviser, who left his position more than a decade ago and has since become a writer and commentator, who has been quoted in the New York Times. Suri’s attorney, Hassan Ahmad, told Mehdi Hasan that his client’s father-in-law is “a person that, according to the information that we have, he [Suri] has met twice in his entire life, doesn't really know, and has not had any sort of meaningful relationship with.” A judge has blocked Suri’s deportation for now. Prem Thakker is Zeteo’s political reporter. Send tips via email or Signal (premthakker.35). If you are already a paid subscriber to Zeteo but would like to increase your support for our accountability journalism, please do consider a donation, too. You’re currently a free subscriber to Zeteo. If you believe our work is important, please consider supporting Zeteo by upgrading your subscription. If you have any issues with your subscription, please email us at info@zeteonews.com. Upgrade to paid LIKE COMMENT RESTACK {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 288     © 2025 Zeteo1640 Boro Place 4th floor, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 289     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Vicki Veenker Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Anna Griffin; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Josh Becker; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Human Relations Commission; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Sarah Wright; Pat M; bos@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Kaloma Smith; Dennis Upton; Doug Minkler; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Vara Ramakrishnan; Gennady Sheyner; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Barberini, Christopher; Afanasiev, Alex; Enberg, Nicholas; Jensen, Eric; Figueroa, Eric; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Damon Silver; editor@paweekly.com; Sheriff Transparency; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Bill Newell; Perron, Zachary; Rodriguez, Miguel; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Reckdahl, Keith; Daniel Kottke; Angel, David; editor@almanacnews.com; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; sharon jackson; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Lu, George; Wagner, April; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Cribbs, Anne; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Raj Jayadev; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Jose Valle; Mickie Winkler; Roberta Ahlquist; Sean Allen; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; yolanda; Nash, Betsy; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Tim James; Cait James; Lewis james; Josie James-Le; Rowena Chiu; Patrice Ventresca; Bains, Paul Subject:US Embassy Tells US Doctor in Gaza ‘Not Our Role’ to Protect Them From Israeli Bombings Date:Tuesday, March 25, 2025 3:47:14 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. US Embassy Tells US Doctor in Gaza ‘Not Our Role’ to Protect Them From Israeli Bombings https://zeteo.com/p/us-embassy-tells-us-doctor-in-gaza? publication_id=2325511&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&r=fjmzt {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 290     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Ed Lauing; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jeff Rosen; h.etzko@gmail.com Subject:. It found that American support for Israel is at its lowest point in 25 years, while sympathy for Palestinians hasreached its highest level. Having 46% of Americans supporting Israel and 33% supporting Palestinians wouldhave seemed inconceivable in ... Date:Monday, March 24, 2025 11:08:40 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. . It found that American support for Israel is at its lowest point in 25 years, while sympathy for Palestinians has reached its highest level. Having 46% of Americans supporting Israel and 33% supporting Palestinians would have seemed inconceivable in the past, when the plight of Palestine and its people was largely overlooked by the general public. https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/u-s-opinion-shift-palestine {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 291     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Veenker, Vicki Cc:Jeff Rosen; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jay Boyarsky; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Council, City; Bains, Paul; Kaloma Smith; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; Dennis Upton; Human Relations Commission; Sean Allen; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Pat M; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Bill Newell; Zelkha, Mila; Zelkha, Mila; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Zahra Billoo; Perron, Zachary; Baker, Rob; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Sarah Wright; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Sheriff Transparency; editor@paweekly.com; editor@almanacnews.com; Shikada, Ed; Ruth Silver Taube; Donna Wallach; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Doug Minkler Subject:As universities become targets for investigation and arrest, even the annual custom of Spring Break has becomecause for concern Date:Monday, March 24, 2025 9:37:58 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. UC Berkeley tells foreign students leaving forspring break they may not be able to return A time-honored college tradition has become a source of anxiety for international students who might consider traveling abroad. MAs universities become targets for investigation and arrest, even the annual custom of Spring Break has become cause for concern Source: The San Francisco Standardhttps://search.app/qd2Q1mj5rU1UxmAn8 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 292     From:Uzma Minhas To:Human Relations Commission; LeDrew, Lance Subject:Fwd: Cultural Booth - Multicultural festival Saturday March 29 10am -1pm Date:Monday, March 24, 2025 9:13:10 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hi HRC and Lance, This sounds like a nice event. However, it is currently Ramadan and hence it's highly unlikely anyone from the Muslim community in Palo Alto will be able to take this on. However I'll still pass this on within ournetworks. I personally will be out of town. May you please avoid Ramadan for this event next year? I believe HRC is working on a cultural and religious holidays and observations calendar they can share. Best,Uzma Are you passionate about sharing your culture and connecting with the community? We invite individuals, cultural organizations, and community groups to participate free, in the Around the World in a Day multicultural festival by: Hosting a cultural booth Performing on stage to represent your culture through dance or music The event is on Saturday, March 29, 10 – 1pm at the Lucie Stern Community Center, 10am – 1pm. Contact lance.ledrew@cityofpaloalto.org if you are interested. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 293     {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 294     From:Aram James To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Veenker, Vicki Cc:Sean Allen; Pat M; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Rosen; board@pausd.org; ladoris cordell; Jay Boyarsky; Kaloma Smith; Rose Lynn; Tim James; Lewis James; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Jeff Conrad; sharon jackson; Jeff Hayden; Ed Lauing; Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Cait James; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Yolanda Conaway; Doug Minkler; Don Austin; Dave Price; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Gennady Sheyner; Bill Newell; Enberg, Nicholas; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; DuJuan Green; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; dennis burns; Dana St. George; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Dennis Upton; Human Relations Commission; GRP-City Council; city.council@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; Cecilia Taylor; Gardener, Liz; Lotus Fong Subject:N Last Article Filed hours before his killing in an Israeli airstrike, journalist Hossam Shabat describes theresumption of Israel"s scorched earth campaign in his hometown of Beit Hanoun. Date:Monday, March 24, 2025 1:57:02 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hossam Shabat’s Last Article Filed hours before his killing in an Israeli airstrike, journalist Hossam Shabat describes the resumption of Israel's scorched earth campaign in his hometown of Beit Hanoun. https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/hossam-shabat-journalist-killed-gaza-last-article?publication_id=2510348&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-share&triggerShare=true&r=fjmzt {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 295     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew Cc:Sean Allen; Reifschneider, James; Perron, Zachary; dennis burns; Wagner, April; DuJuan Green; Council, City; board@pausd.org; Dave Price; Kallas, Emily; Barberini, Christopher; Zelkha, Mila; Human Relations Commission; ladoris cordell; Gardener, Liz; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Gennady Sheyner; Baker, Rob; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Sheriff Transparency; Sarah Wright; Braden Cartwright; Figueroa, Eric; Lee, Craig; Enberg, Nicholas; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Jay Boyarsky; Rosen, Jeff; Jeff Rosen; EPA Today Subject:Morgan Hill Nazi Raver, Martin J. Wenzel member of “White Lives Matter – CA” and “NorCal Active Club” Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 10:30:37 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Due to his enthusiastic identification with Rhodesia’s militarized white nationalism and explicit nazism as a German-American, and his direct connection via WLM to members of Patriot Front and Golden State Skinheads, residents of Morgan Hill and Santa Clara County as well as Boise Morgan Hill Nazi Raver, Martin J. Wenzel member of “White Lives Matter – CA” and“NorCal Active Club” https://search.app/pj5hkn7NsEbdg7t69 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 296     From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew Cc:Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; h.etzko@gmail.com; Bains, Paul; Ed Lauing; ladoris cordell; Baker, Rob; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Sean Allen; Pat M; Rose Lynn; sharon jackson; Donna Wallach; Afanasiev, Alex; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Gennady Sheyner; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; EPA Today; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Burt, Patrick; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Council, City; Gerry Gras; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dana St. George; Angel, David; Rowena Chiu; Vara Ramakrishnan; Salem Ajluni; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; John Burt; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Mickie Winkler; Zelkha, Mila; Human Relations Commission; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss Subject:Nazi flag in Morgan hill on 101 overpass. : r/SanJose Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 10:02:17 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Nazi flag in Morgan hill on 101 overpass. : r/SanJose https://search.app/QkZsHhwo5RxcTaiN9 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 297     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Council, City; h.etzko@gmail.com; Stump, Molly; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; board@pausd.org; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad;Jay Boyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Michelle; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; YolandaConaway; board@valleywater.org; bos@smcgov.org; BoardOperations; city.council@menlopark.gov;citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Perron, Zachary;editor@paweekly.com; Shikada, Ed; Pat M; Sean Allen; sharon jackson; Baker, Rob; EPA Today;cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Human Relations Commission; Henry Etzkowitz; Dave Price;Angel, David Subject:Georgetown, Columbia and Brown scholars targeted for deportation by Trump administration Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 11:09:57 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Georgetown, Columbia and Brown scholars targeted for deportation by Trump administration https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/scholars-targeted-deportation-trump-administration-rcna197331 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/scholars-targeted-deportation-trump-administration-rcna197331?cid=mob_npd_nn_ios_mar {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 298     From:Aram James To:Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>;Foley, Michael; DuJuan Green; Enberg, Nicholas; dennis burns; Figueroa, Eric; KEVIN JENSEN;Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Donna Wallach; board@pausd.org;board@valleywater.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Gerry Gras;Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Sean Allen; Pat M; Jose Valle; Raj Jayadev; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; HumanRelations Commission; ladoris cordell; Bains, Paul; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; EPAToday; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; San JoséSpotlight; Salem Ajluni; Doria Summa; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com;h.etzko@gmail.com; josh@joshsalcman.com; Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; Marina Lopez; Council, City; GRP-CityCouncil; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Rose Lynn; Barberini, Christopher; Afanasiev,Alex; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Lewis james; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov;Braden Cartwright; Brad Imamura; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Diana Diamond Subject:Deputy shot California man 5 times, including in the back. Family is awarded $30.5 million Date:Friday, March 21, 2025 9:09:55 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Unarmed black man shot killed by Kern County Deputy Deputy shot California man 5 times, including in the back. Family is awarded $30.5 million Source: Los Angeles Times https://share.newsbreak.com/c6yamxbh?s=i0 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 299     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; bos@smcgov.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Yolanda Conaway; dennis burns; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Dennis Upton; Don Austin; Dennis Upton; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Steve Wagstaffe; Bill Newell; Lotus Fong; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Tim James; Cait James; Marina Lopez; Doug Minkler; Baker, Rob; Zelkha, Mila; Friends of Cubberley; Shikada, Ed; editor@almanacnews.com; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Donna Wallach; h.etzko@gmail.com; Kaloma Smith; Perron, Zachary; Gerry Gras; Anna Griffin; Sean Allen; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Burt, Patrick; Palo Alto Free Press; Patrice Ventresca; Pat M; yolanda; sharon jackson; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Supervisor Otto Lee; BoardOperations; board@valleywater.org; Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne; Angel, David; Enberg, Nicholas; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; Rose Lynn; Emily Mibach; Daniel Kottke; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric Subject:The Last Time Pro-Palestinian Activists Faced Deportation Mahmoud Khalil’s case is eerily similar to that of theL.A. Eight, in which a group of students were targeted, not because of any criminal activity but because of theirspeech. By David Cole Mar... Date:Tuesday, March 18, 2025 2:16:20 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. The Last Time Pro-PalestinianActivists Faced Deportation Mahmoud Khalil’s case is eerily similar to that of the L.A. Eight, in which a group of students were targeted, not because of any criminal activity but because of their speech. By David ColeMarch 18, 2025 https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/mahmoud-khalil-and-the-last-time-pro-palestinian-activists-faced-deportation {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 300     From:CAHRO To:hrc.info@sfgov.org; hrc@sandiego.gov; contact.center@calcivilrights.ca.gov; hhr@co.humboldt.ca.us;info@hrc.lacounty.gov; Jay.Virata@palmspringsca.gov; city_clerk@riversideca.gov; hrc@mountainview.gov;ntolentino@fremont.gov; sbassi@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us; adhernandez@chulavistaca.gov; chr@sonoma-county.org;losborne@cityofpasadena.net; hrc@cityofvallejo.net; olivia.byron-cooper@edcgov.us;aandrews@co.shasta.ca.us; BoardClerk@saccounty.net; Human Relations Commission; 108-EqualOpportunity@co.monterey.ca.us; lbengochia@gmail.com; mklotthor@countyofsb.org;kortiz@modestogov.com; DSSPersonnel@fresnocountyca.gov; ovance-dozier@berkeleyca.gov;cccwomenscommission@gmail.com; HRC@sdcounty.ca.gov; Adam.Spickler@santacruzcountyca.gov;civilandhumanrights@lacity.org; Cristina@hrcla.net; chelsea@womensvoicesnow.org; info@uhri.ngo;info@opendoorsus.org; info@voices4freedom.org; info@justdetention.org; ImpactPersonalSafety@gmail.com;info@ncjwla.org; webmaster@lalgbtcenter.org; tony@eqca.org; info@maldef.org; info@lwvlosangeles.org;info@laul.org; info@relationalcenter.org; info@laclj.org; info@powercalifornia.org; info@tickettodream.org;la@hrw.org; info@wrrap.org; mariemendez@efs-corp.com; hola@translatinacoalition.org; info@cacej.org;info@caimmigrant.org; info@wearegroundswell.org; info@lgbtqcenteroc.org; info@itgetsbetter.org;info@nationaldiversitycoalition.org; lexi@transcanwork.org; info@blackpowernetwork.org; info@mowsf.org;info@ebac.org; info@homeboyindustries.org; hello@outandequal.org; info@eff.org; info@forwardtogether.org;info@dralegal.org; info@horizonsfoundation.org; center4justice@cja.org; info@tgijp.org;dpnorg@dignityandpowernow.org; info@accountabilitycounsel.org; info@mediajustice.org; info@a21.org;latinas@latinas.org; info@speakupnow.org; sabrina.parra-garcia@sanjoseca.gov; Veloz-Passalacqua, Nestor;info@futureswithoutviolence.org; cc: noel@noelworkplaceconsulting.com; justin.lock@gmail.com;rtoma@hrc.lacounty.gov; gbrown@sandiego.gov; Dr. Curtiss Takada Rooks; Brian Levin;equalibria@yahoo.comlowenberg; Grace; Jacqueline; marisela.venolia.483@my.csun.edu;freddie.sanchez@csun.edu; Mann , Perrine; Executive Director; carmen.chandler@csun.edu;danell@danellscarborough.com; norma@wearegroundswell.org; martel.okonji@csun.edu; Graves, Robert;Shira.brown@csun.edu; yan.searcy@csun.edu Subject:Re: CAHRO Convening on Wednesday, April 2: Confronting Turbulent Times Date:Friday, March 14, 2025 10:47:56 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi everyone: Just wanted to remind you about the convening we are hosting on April 2. on "Confronting Turbulent Times: An Opportunity to Share Concerns and Brainstorm." The event will providean opportunity for you to discuss emerging priorities and concerns in your region, share how local organizations are responding, identify gaps and opportunities for this network to exploresupporting each other in a time of need. To RSVP, email CAHRO.Official@gmail.com. The Zoom link will be sent upon registration. (Please share this invite if you know someone who may be interested inattending.) We look forward to seeing you all in April. I look forward to seeing you next month. Carmen Ramos Chandler CAHRO Board President On Mon, Feb 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM CAHRO <cahro.official@gmail.com> wrote: Hi everyone: Attached is an invitation for a convening CAHRO is hosting on Wednesday, April Oct. 2,on "Confronting Turbulent Times: An Opportunity to Share Concerns and Brainstorm." {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 301     The event will provide an opportunity for you to discuss emerging priorities and concernsin your region, share how local organizations are responding, identify gaps and opportunities for this network to explore supporting each other in a time of need. To RSVP, email CAHRO.Official@gmail.com. The Zoom link will be sent uponregistration. (Please share this invite if you know someone who may be interested in attending.) We look forward to seeing you all in April. Join usPresenters Marquez {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 302     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; h.etzko@gmail.com; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Cribbs, Anne; Anna Griffin; board@pausd.org; Yolanda Conaway; dennis burns; Don Austin; Kaloma Smith; Council, City; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Pat M; Sean Allen; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Bill Newell; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Baker, Rob; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Templeton, Cari; Angel, David; Dennis Upton; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Reifschneider, James; Roberta Ahlquist Subject:Israel carried out "genocidal acts" against Palestinians by systematically destroying women"s healthcare facilitiesduring the conflict in Gaza, and used sexual… Date:Thursday, March 13, 2025 9:00:45 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. UN experts accuse Israel of genocidal acts and sexual violence in Gaza Israel carried out "genocidal acts" against Palestinians by systematically destroying women's healthcare facilities during the conflict in Gaza, and used sexual… Source: Reutershttps://search.app/uXCKeyjUWyD8prpP9 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 303     From:Aram James To:Barberini, Christopher Cc:Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; Binder, Andrew; Sean Allen; Pat M; Kaloma Smith; Sheriff Transparency; EPA Today; city.council@menlopark.gov; Council, City; GRP-City Council; Perron, Zachary; Reifschneider, James; Jay Boyarsky; Figueroa, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Anna Griffin; Planning Commission; ParkRec Commission; Human Relations Commission; h.etzko@gmail.com; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; Jensen, Eric; Gardener, Liz; Gerry Gras; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Templeton, Cari; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Bill Newell; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Dave Price; Diana Diamond; Emily Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Bains, Paul; Burt, Patrick; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Roberta Ahlquist; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver Subject:Fate of ex-Antioch K9 cop accused of plotting to brutalize residents now in jury’s hands Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 6:51:14 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Fate of ex-Antioch K9 cop accused of plotting to brutalize residents now in jury’s hands https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/03/12/fate-of-ex-antioch-k9-cop-accused-of-plotting-to-brutalize-residents-now-in-jurys-hands/ {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 304     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Dave Price; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Pat M; Sean Allen; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson;Marina Lopez Cc:Kaloma Smith; Reckdahl, Keith; Gerry Gras; Lu, George; Bains, Paul; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Mickie Winkler; h.etzko@gmail.com; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Human Relations Commission; josh@joshsalcman.com; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Bill Newell; Rose Lynn; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Binder, Andrew; Baker, Rob; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda; Lotus Fong; Templeton, Cari; Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; Karen Holman; Tom DuBois; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Vara Ramakrishnan; Gardener, Liz; Linda Jolley; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Tim James; Lewis James; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Ed Lauing; Daniel Kottke; Dennis Upton; Doug Minkler; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; yolanda; editor@paweekly.com; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Cecilia Taylor; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov Subject:Biggest assault on free speech since Red Scare Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 6:10:38 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Biggest assault on free speech since Red Scare Biggest assault on free speech since Red Scare https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=f8197fa5-60a6-48f1-9825-dab45f36dea2&appcode=SAN252&eguid=e926b84b-29a4-47fa-b2fc- 5a20c3e587d9&pnum=33# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 305     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Zelkha, Mila; Nicole Chiu-Wang; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Human Relations Commission; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; Angel, David; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Pat M; Sean Allen; sharon jackson; Gennady Sheyner; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Bill Newell; Dennis Upton; h.etzko@gmail.com; Vara Ramakrishnan; Jose Valle; Binder, Andrew; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Barberini, Christopher; Rowena Chiu; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Steve Wagstaffe; Gerry Gras; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley Subject:Re: Mahmoud Khalil’s Constitutional Rights and the Power of ICE Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 4:59:26 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Wed, Mar 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Vicki, Think about this. And that case has a lot of parallels to what we’re seeing here. It involved speech that the Court said was at the heart of what the First Amendment protects: speech on a matter of public concern, speech concerning political change. And this is the kind of speech that I think is what the Administration is trying to target. Mahmoud Mahmoud Khalil’s Constitutional Rights and the Power of ICE {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 306     Khalil’s Constitutional Rights and the Power of ICE https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/mahmoud-khalils-constitutional-rights-and-the- power-of-ice {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 307     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Binder, Andrew; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Josh Becker; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Zelkha, Mila; h.etzko@gmail.com; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Roberta Roth; Baker, Rob; Lotus Fong; Tim James; Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Doug Minkler; dennis burns; board@pausd.org; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Steve Wagstaffe; Sarah Wright; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Rowena Chiu; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Sean Allen; sharon jackson; Gennady Sheyner; Pat M; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; Sheree Roth; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; ladoris cordell; Lori Meyers; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Wagner, April; Anna Griffin; Daryl Savage; Angel, David; Human Relations Commission; Salem Ajluni; Jack Ajluni; Linda Jolley; EPA Today; cromero@cityofepa.org; Afanasiev, Alex; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda Subject:The Gaza Ceasefire Stalemate and the Case of Mahmoud Khalil: A discussion with Sami Al-Arian Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 12:41:33 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Please read: Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Become a paid subscriber to gain access to our private Discord server, subscriber- only AMAs, chats, and invites to events. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 308     Sami-jeremy-Gaza-update.mov Watch now The Gaza Ceasefire Stalemate and theCase of Mahmoud Khalil: A discussionwith Sami Al-Arian Trump envoy Steve Witkoff is in Doha for talks. Israel is making newdemands, and Hamas says it wants the original deal enforced. JEREMY SCAHILL MAR 12 {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 309     READ IN APP On Wednesday, President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy to Middle East Steve Witkoff arrived in Doha, Qatar for negotiations on extending the Gaza “ceasefire” and exchange of captives deal between Hamas and Israel. These talks come in the midst of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and as Israel has continued to violate the terms of the original agreement signed on January 19. Israeli forces have killed more than 130 Palestinians in Gaza and refused to allow the delivery of 60,000 mobile homes and 200,000 tents as stipulated under the terms of the deal. For the past 11 days Israel has imposed a total blockade on all aid entering the Strip. This weekend Israel cut off electricity to the one remaining desalination plant in Gaza, which provided drinking water to some 500,000 Palestinians. Israel claims it is undertaking these actions in an effort to pressure Hamas, effectively admitting to carrying out an act of collective punishment on the civilian population. Israel has maintained that it does not intend to move the ceasefire to a formal second phase, which would include the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and an enduring cessation of military hostilities. Instead, Israel is pushing for a 60-day extension of the ceasefire with no guarantee of its withdrawal or an end to the war. It wants Hamas to release ten living Israeli captives upon signing such a deal. Hamas has said that it is negotiating in good faith and wants the U.S. and regional mediators from Qatar and Egypt to pressure Israel to abide by the original three phase deal. Israel remains irked that the Trump administration’s envoy on hostages Adam Boehler met directly with Hamas. In a wide-ranging discussion, Jeremy Scahill speaks to Dr. Sami Al-Arian, the director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University. In addition to discussing the Gaza negotiations, the strategies of Hamas, the U.S. and Israel, they also talk about the case of Palestinian organizer Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University graduate and green card holder who was snatched by federal agents on Saturday night and threatened with deportation. “It's incredible how American values, the American Constitution, American cherished principles have been shredded by this administration and former {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 310     administrations,” said Al-Arian. “All because they're trying to save Zionism from its inevitable fate. It is an apartheid type regime, its supremacist racist ideology that it's trying to create a system with two different sets of laws, that is involved in genocide and war of extermination and war crimes. Its leaders have been on the wanted list by the International Criminal Court, and yet they are trying to ignore all this and come after activists, particularly if they are vulnerable in their residency or immigration.” Al-Arian, who is Palestinian, was prosecuted by the U.S. government during the George W. Bush administration, though the government failed to win a conviction at trial on the 52 count indictment it brought against him. Facing ongoing threats of prosecution, Al-Arian agreed to a plea deal and to voluntarily leave the U.S. He was deported in 2015. Also on Drop Site News: Shuaib Almosawa reports from Sana’a as Yemen's Houthis renew a blockade on Israeli ships, following the expiration of their deadline for Israel to allow aid into the besieged Gaza Strip. Leave a comment Image: Palestinians continue to live their daily lives under difficult conditions as electricity cuts continue in Gaza City, Gaza on March 10, 2025. Photo by Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images. Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: Access to our Discord, subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 311     virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 312     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:h.etzko@gmail.com; Gerry Gras; Council, City; board@pausd.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; BoardOperations; Sean Allen; Pat M; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Lotus Fong; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Jeff Conrad; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Human Relations Commission; Bill Newell; Roberta Ahlquist; Rodriguez, Miguel; Marina Lopez Subject:The author of ‘One Day, Everyone Will Have Been Against This’ discusses his memoir. Plus, the manager of NorthFigueroa Bookshop tells us about their most popul… Date:Wednesday, March 12, 2025 10:57:11 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Think about what this writer, Omar El Akkad, has to say and its relevance to vast majority ofour politicians, city, state and federal. The author of ‘One Day, Everyone Will Have Been Against This’ discusses his memoir. Plus,the manager of North Figueroa Bookshop tells us about their most popul… Source: Los Angeles Times https://search.app/CfH5t8r2ejvJdJgr7 Shared via the Google app {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 313     From:Aram James To:Reckdahl, Keith; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; kenneth.Binder@shf.sccgov.org; Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker;Veenker, Vicki; Ed Lauing; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, AssemblyDistrict 23 Cc:Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Doug Minkler; Zelkha, Mila; Arthur Millman; Sean Allen; Pat M; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; EPA Today; Human Relations Commission; Kaloma Smith; Holman, Karen (external); Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Dennis Upton; dennis burns; Nicole Chiu-Wang; chuck jagoda; Supervisor Otto Lee; District2@bos.sccgov.org; district1@bos.sccgov.org; Henry Etzkowitz; Burt, Patrick; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Hayden; Don Austin; Damon Silver; Gardener, Liz; Lotus Fong; Patrice Ventresca; Bains, Paul; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Roberta Ahlquist; Enberg, Nicholas; Reifschneider, James; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Mickie Winkler; gstone22@gmail.com; Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne; Angel, David; h.etzko@gmail.com; Anna Griffin; Greg Tanaka; Lydia Kou; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Stump, Molly; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Salem Ajluni; Sarah Wright; Jack Ajluni; Roberta Ahlquist; Cecilia Taylor; Steve Wagstaffe; Yolanda Conaway; Doria Summa; Rodriguez, Miguel; Rose Lynn; Palo Alto Free Press Subject:Demand the Immediate Release of Palestinian Student Activist Mahmoud Khalil from DHS detention Date:Monday, March 10, 2025 10:47:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Demand the Immediate Release of Palestinian Student Activist Mahmoud Khalil from DHS detention https://actionnetwork.org/letters/demand-the-immediate-release-of-columbia-student-pro-palestine-advocate-mahmoud-khalil-from-dhs-detention?source=direct_link& {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 314     From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:bos@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Council, City; Josh Becker; Ed Lauing; kenneth.Binder@shf.sccgov.org; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; GRP-City Council; Gerry Gras; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Dana St. George; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Tim James; Marina Lopez; EPA Today; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Friends of Cubberley; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Arthur Millman; h.etzko@gmail.com; Kaloma Smith; Human Relations Commission; Bill Newell; Baker, Rob; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Diana Diamond; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; cromero@cityofepa.org; Reifschneider, James; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael Subject:Columbia Is Doing the Bidding of Israel, and Trump’ - Says Former Professor Date:Monday, March 10, 2025 9:31:06 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 315     Prem-Columbia-TownHall-Substack.mp4 Watch now ‘Columbia Is Doing the Bidding of Israel, and Trump’ - Says Former Professor Katherine Franke and Prem Thakker discuss the suppression of freespeech on college campuses, plus the latest student protests and arrestsat Columbia and Barnard. TEAM ZETEO AND PREM THAKKER {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 316     MAR 10 ∙PREVIEW READ IN APP “These disciplinary cases are designed to distract us from what the real issue is which is a genocide, and a growing form of authoritarianism in Washington.” - Katherine Franke, Former Columbia Law Professor Columbia University is once again at the center of debate on free speech related to Israel and Palestine. On Friday, Trump pulled a massive $400 million of federal funding from Columbia University, citing the university’s alleged harassment of Jewish students. This comes despite the university’s repeated crackdown on pro-Palestine speech, including the violent suppression of student protesters, and most recently, the pushing out of their very own professors. Upgrade to paid In an exclusive Zeteo Town Hall, Ex-Columbia Law Professor Katherine Franke joined Zeteo Political Correspondent Prem Thakker to discuss how she was pushed out by the university after standing up for pro-Palestine students and how free speech continues to be suppressed on campus. “What happened to me is not about me,” Franke tells Prem. “What happened to me is a system. It's a systematic way in which universities have been deployed as a test case to see how we are going to punish and terrify people who speak out on particular issues.” {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 317     Last year, Professor Franke raised concerns on “Democracy Now!” about some Israeli students coming to Columbia “right out of their military service,” after a few Israeli students – who had recently served in the Israeli military – allegedly sprayed student protesters with a smelly substance. “I mentioned on the show that there had been a pattern of this problem of students who were pro-Palestinian experiencing serious harassment from students who were pro-Israeli, and that the university basically hadn't done anything about it,” Franke tells Prem. Upgrade to paid After her comments, two of Professor Franke’s colleagues filed a complaint against her at the university, accusing her of being anti-Israeli. “I had colleagues screaming things at me about how I've supported Hamas, that I didn't care that there were anti-Semitic attacks against these colleagues, children, or their families – which of course isn’t true,” Franke tells Prem. “…I just thought, ‘I don't know how I can be part of this community anymore.’ ” If you are a paid subscriber, watch the full interview above to hear the rest of Professor Franke’s story on how she was pushed into an early retirement with no benefits. Franke also discusses how Columbia’s approach to free speech has transformed since she was a student, the double standards when it comes to how pro-Israel speech is treated, and Trump’s attempts to crackdown on protests at universities. Free subscribers can watch the first 9 minutes of the interview. If you’d like to watch the full video, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. NOTE: This timely discussion was recorded on Friday, before the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil. You can read more about that story below: BREAKING: DHS Detains PalestinianStudent from Columbia Encampment, {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 318     Advocates Say PREM THAKKER ·MAR 9 On Saturday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers detained Mahmoud Khalil – a recent Columbia University graduate who helped lead the Gaza solidarity encampment – at his New York City home, an apartment building owned … Read full story Subscribe to Zeteo to unlock the rest. Become a paying subscriber of Zeteo to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content. Upgrade to paid A subscription gets you: Support Mehdi’s brand of accountability journalism Unlimited access to all exclusive content (shows, podcasts, newsletters) {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 319     Live Q&As with Mehdi + more! LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Zeteo1640 Boro Place 4th floor, McLean, VA 22102 Unsubscribe {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 320     From:Aram James To:board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; h.etzko@gmail.com; Linda Jolley; josh@joshsalcman.com; Yolanda Conaway;Veenker, Vicki; Lotus Fong; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Bill Newell; Zahra Billoo; Perron,Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Baker, Rob; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Enberg, Nicholas;Damon Silver; Dana St. George; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Rodriguez, Miguel; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; Supervisor Otto Lee; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; sharon jackson; Diana Diamond; Gardener, Liz;Gennady Sheyner; Doug Minkler; Sean Allen; Pat M; Stump, Molly; Wagner, April; Sarah Wright; Ed Lauing;Reckdahl, Keith; Lu, George; DuJuan Green; Dennis Upton; dennis burns; Human Relations Commission; JessicaSpeiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; Kaloma Smith; Tim James; Cait James;Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; Templeton, Cari; EPA Today;Anna Griffin; Cribbs, Anne; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Mickie Winkler; Donna Wallach; Steve Wagstaffe;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Jeff Conrad; city.council@menlopark.gov;citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Council; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Marina Lopez;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com Subject:Columbia Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding Date:Sunday, March 9, 2025 8:04:16 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Columbiaboard Bent Over Backward to Appease Right-Wing, Pro-Israel Attacks — And Trump Still Cut Federal Funding Columbia BeFunding {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 321     https://theintercept.com/2025/03/08/columbia-trump-funding-gaza-israel/ {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 322     From:Aram James To:Martin Wasserman Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Burt, Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; EPA Today; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Rodriguez, Miguel; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Emily Mibach; Roberta Ahlquist; Mickie Winkler; h.etzko@gmail.com; Cait James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Doug Minkler; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Supervisor Otto Lee; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Templeton, Cari; Braden Cartwright; dennis burns; Diana Diamond; Bill Newell; ladoris cordell; Figueroa, Eric; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Lu, George; Bains, Paul; paul@peaceandjustice.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; yolanda; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Wagner, April; Binder, Andrew; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Council, City; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Perron, Zachary; Zahra Billoo; Stump, Molly; editor@paweekly.com; editor@almanacnews.com; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Jensen, Eric; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Reifschneider, James; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Daniel Kottke; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Cecilia Taylor; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Rose Lynn; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Steve Wagstaffe; Ellen Fox; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Donna Wallach; Linda Jolley; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jose Valle; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Damon Silver; Rowena Chiu; Pat M; Lotus Fong; Kaloma Smith Subject:Re: Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza Date:Saturday, March 8, 2025 9:56:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Israel must comply with key ICJ rulingordering it do all in its power to preventgenocide against Palestinians in Gaza Today’s decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order provisional measures inresponse to South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is an important step that could help protect the Palestinian people in the occupied Gaza Strip from further suffering and irreparableharm, said Amnesty International today. An immediate ceasefire by all parties remains essential and – although not ordered by the Court – is the most effective condition to implement the provisional measures andend unprecedented civilian suffering. Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International The ruling issued by the ICJ ordered six provisional measures including for Israel to refrainfrom acts under the Genocide convention, prevent and punish the direct and public incitementto genocide, and take immediate and effective measures to ensure the provision ofhumanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. Crucially, the Court also ordered Israel topreserve evidence of genocide and to submit a report to the Court, within one month, of allmeasures taken in line with its order. “Today’s decision is an authoritative reminder of the crucial role of international law inpreventing genocide and protecting all victims of atrocity crimes. It sends a clear message that {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 323     the world will not stand by in silence as Israel pursues a ruthless military campaign todecimate the population of the Gaza Strip and unleash death, horror and suffering againstPalestinians on an unprecedented scale,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of AmnestyInternational. “However, the ICJ decision alone cannot put an end to the atrocities and devastation Gazansare witnessing. Alarming signs of genocide in Gaza, and Israel’s flagrant disregard forinternational law highlight the urgent need for effective, unified pressure on Israel to stop itsonslaught against Palestinians. An immediate ceasefire by all parties remains essential and –although not ordered by the Court – is the most effective condition to implement theprovisional measures and end unprecedented civilian suffering. ©Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images A man carries a propane gas cylinder on his back while walking through debris anddestruction littering a street in the Jabalia camp for Palestinian refugees in Gaza City onOctober 11, 2023. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 324     “The stakes could not be higher – the ICJ’s provisional measures indicate that in the Court’sview the survival of Palestinians in Gaza is at risk. The Israeli government must comply with the ICJ’s ruling immediately. All states – including those who were critical of or opposedSouth Africa’s submission of the genocide case – have a clear duty to ensure these measures are implemented. World leaders from the USA, UK, Germany and other EU states must signaltheir respect for the Court’s legally binding decision and do everything in their power to uphold their obligation to prevent genocide. Failure to do so would be a grave blow to thecredibility and trust in the international legal order.” States must also take urgent steps to prevent ongoing international crimes, including byimposing a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel and Palestinian armed groups. The USA, UK, Germany and other EU states must signal their respect for the Court’s legally binding decision and do everything in their power to uphold their obligation toprevent genocide. Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International Amnesty International has warned of the risk of genocide in Gaza due to the shockingly highdeath toll among Palestinians, the widespread destruction caused by Israel’s relentlessbombardment and the deliberate denial of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing illegalblockade which are all inflicting horrifying levels of suffering on Gaza’s civilian population.Other warning signs include the increase in racist and dehumanizing rhetoric by some Israeligovernment officials, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Israel’shistory of oppressing and discriminating against Palestinians under its system of apartheid. Inthe face of a serious risk of genocide, all states are under an obligation under international lawto act to prevent the commission of genocide. More than 26,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel’s unrelentingbombardment of Gaza with some 10,000 believed to be still missing under the rubble. At least1.8 million Palestinians have been internally displaced and are deprived of access to adequatefood, water, shelter, sanitation, and medical assistance. Amnesty International calls on Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups toimmediately suspend all military operations in Gaza. Israel must lift its illegal and inhumansiege and allow the unhindered and unconditional flow of desperately needed humanitarian aidto Palestinians, who are suffering from a deliberately engineered famine. We urge Hamas andother Palestinian armed groups to release all remaining civilian hostages. Background On 29 December 2023, South Africa brought a case against Israel at the ICJ under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide over allegations ofgenocide against the Palestinian people in the wake of the attacks on 7 October 2023 by Hamas and other armed groups, in which nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in Israel werekilled and some 240 were taken hostage. Hearings on South Africa’s request for provisional {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 325     measures took place in The Hague on 11 and 12 January 2024. The 84-page filing by South Africa accuses Israel of acts and omissions “genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent … to destroy Palestinians inGaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.” The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). Itdoes not pursue individual criminal responsibility, rather the Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States, including thoserelating to the interpretation, application or fulfilment of the Genocide Convention and the responsibility of a State for genocide. Article 94 of the UN Charter provides that judgments of the ICJ are binding on the parties to the dispute and that, if they are not implemented, then recourse is to be had to the SecurityCouncil, which may make recommendations or decide upon measures to be taken to give effect to the judgment. AFRICA ARMED CONFLICT On Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 9:36 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:The Jewish prophets predicted a time when all the nations would gather togetheragainst Israel, and the Almighty would then render His judgments and exact Hisretribution upon those nations. The fact that tiny Israel has been so successful at fending off powers much larger than itself shows that these prophecies have already begun to manifest. Martin Wasserman On Mar 8, 2025, at 9:03 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Israel a Vile Terrorist State Since 1948 Israel has a U.S. sponsored/paid for army, navy, air-force and nuclear weapons.Palestine no institutional military only their spirit of resistance and resilience.Hamas are not terrorists but freedom fighters of the first order. Israel anapartheid state has maintained a concentration camp called Gaza for decades.Israel is a rogue outlaw nation. A second genocide is now occurring in theWest Bank with full U.S. support. Israel condemned by the majority of theworld’s nations and by the International Criminal Court and by the UN’sInternational Court of Justice. Israel must be eliminated. A one-state and aone-person vote true democracy is the only viable road to peace. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 326     Avram Finkelstein Amnesty International July 2024 Israel’s occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories are unlawful. Source: Amnesty Internationalhttps://search.app/4h3oHkneZLPjCrzZ6 ICJ opinion declaring Israel’soccupation of Palestinianterritories unlawful is a historicvindication of Palestinians’rights Responding to the historic advisory opinion delivered today by theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Israel’s policiesand practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the consequences of Israel’s conduct for other states and the UN, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research,Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said: “The International Court of Justice has issued its opinion and theconclusion is loud and clear: Israel’s occupation and annexation of thePalestinian territories are unlawful, and its discriminatory laws and policies against Palestinians violate the prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. “This is a historic vindication of the rights of Palestinians who have endured decades of cruelty and systematic human rights violations stemming from Israel’s unlawful occupation. “The occupation is a key pillar of the system of apartheid that Israel uses to dominate and oppress Palestinians, and which has causedsuffering on a mass scale. Palestinians have witnessed their homes {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 327     being demolished, their lands expropriated to build and expand settlements, and have faced suffocating restrictions disrupting everyaspect of their daily lives, from family separation and restrictions onfreedom of movement to denial of access to land, water and natural resources. “The ICJ opinion comes at a time when Israel has been flagrantly flouting international humanitarian law on a cataclysmic scale for the past nine months, carrying out deadly and unlawful attacks during itsonslaught in the occupied Gaza Strip that have claimed anunprecedented toll on civilians. It has also been escalating illegal land grabs in the occupied West Bank, and authorizing the construction of more and more settlement units in occupied and illegally annexed EastJerusalem, all but entrenching and perpetuating the unlawfuloccupation. Israeli authorities have also consistently failed to comply with the provisional measures ordered by the ICJ to preventgenocide in Gaza. Israel must not be allowed to trample oninternational law any longer. “The international community, and in particular Israel’s allies, must now take unequivocal action to ensure Israel ends itsunlawful occupation, starting with the immediate halting of the expansion of Israeli settlements and reversing the annexation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and dismantling its brutal system of apartheid against Palestinians. Ending the occupationis crucial in order to stop the recurrent pattern of human rightsviolations across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “Israel must withdraw its forces from all parts of the occupiedterritories, including the Gaza Strip and remove all settlers from the West Bank, including from the illegally annexed East Jerusalem. Israel must also relinquish control over all aspects of Palestinians’ lives, as well as ceding control of borders, natural resources, air space andterritorial waters of the occupied territory. This means lifting the illegal blockade of Gaza and allowing Palestinians to travel freely between Gaza and the West Bank.” On Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com>wrote:Repeating a lie over and over again doesn't make it true. Every dayIsrael’s enemies falsely accuse it of genocide, while totally ignoring {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 328     the actual genocidal intentions of Hamas. The best way to stop thefighting in Gaza is for Hamas to release all of the hostages unconditionally. If Israel's enemies really cared about the Gazans, they would be demanding that Hamas release the hostages rather than trying to put all the blame on Israel. Martin Wasserman On Mar 8, 2025, at 5:37 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: Subject:Date:From:To: 1. 2. PRESS RELEASES PALESTINE "Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 329     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga | melissa@codepink.org Bay Area CODEPINK to Hold Press Conference at 3/11 Berkeley City Council Meeting "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" Berkeley, CA – CODEPINK will hold a press conference onMarch 11 at 5:30 PM PT at the Berkeley City Council meeting, 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, to demand that the BerkeleyCity Council take action in recognizing the genocide in Gaza. Participants will stand in silence with blood-red hands andbanners displaying the names of children murdered by Israeli forces using U.S. weapons. The group’s message is clear:"SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" . They will publicly shame the Council for itsfailure to vote on a resolution condemning the Israeli genocide {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 330     in Gaza, as well as its refusal to call for a ceasefire and an endto the violence and starvation in Gaza. The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission passed aCeasefire Resolution in October 2024 that former P&J Commissioner George Lippman said focuses “on what musthappen right now to end the death and destruction,” recommending that the City Council discuss and vote on it.However, the City Council has ignored the Commission's request, refusing to take any action. CODEPINK is demandingthat the Berkeley City Council agendize and vote on the Resolution so that Berkeley can show it cares about a genocidebeing funded with U.S. taxes, joining cities surrounding Berkeley – San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland, and Hayward–who have all gone on record in favor of a permanent ceasefire. EVENT DETAILS: Date: March 11, 2025Time: 5:30 PM PT Location: 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA "The Berkeley City Council’s inaction and silence regarding the genocide in Gaza is unacceptable," said CODEPINKorganizer Cynthia Papermaster. "We are spending billions of U.S. tax dollars on weaponskilling children, and given Israel’s human rights violations, that funding is illegal under U.S. and international law. Wedesperately need funds in Berkeley to address so many issues– affordable housing, healthcare, clean energy, education. If theCity Council can’t oppose the genocide on moral grounds, they should at least care about our community’s needs. It’s difficultto understand the Council’s inaction; we know that the majority of Berkeley voters, like those nationwide, overwhelminglywant a permanent ceasefire and end to arming Israel. We are pleading with the Council to uphold Berkeley’s social justicereputation, take a stand, and act by putting the recommended resolution on their agenda and voting on it." CODEPINK urges all concerned citizens to join the press conference on March 11 to stand silently with us. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 331     From:Martin Wasserman To:Aram James Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Burt, Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; EPA Today; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Rodriguez, Miguel; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Emily Mibach; Roberta Ahlquist; Mickie Winkler; h.etzko@gmail.com; Cait James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Doug Minkler; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Supervisor Otto Lee; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Templeton, Cari; Braden Cartwright; dennis burns; Diana Diamond; Bill Newell; ladoris cordell; Figueroa, Eric; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Lu, George; Bains, Paul; paul@peaceandjustice.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; yolanda; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Wagner, April; Binder, Andrew; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Council, City; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Perron, Zachary; Zahra Billoo; Stump, Molly; editor@paweekly.com; editor@almanacnews.com; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Jensen, Eric; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Reifschneider, James; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Daniel Kottke; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Cecilia Taylor; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Rose Lynn; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Steve Wagstaffe; Ellen Fox; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Donna Wallach; Linda Jolley; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jose Valle; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Damon Silver; Rowena Chiu; Pat M; Lotus Fong; Kaloma Smith Subject:Re: Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza Date:Saturday, March 8, 2025 9:36:47 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. The Jewish prophets predicted a time when all the nations would gather togetheragainst Israel, and the Almighty would then render His judgments and exact Hisretribution upon those nations. The fact that tiny Israel has been so successful at fending off powers much larger than itself shows that these prophecies have already begun to manifest. Martin Wasserman On Mar 8, 2025, at 9:03 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Israel a Vile Terrorist State Since 1948 Israel has a U.S. sponsored/paid for army, navy, air-force and nuclear weapons.Palestine no institutional military only their spirit of resistance and resilience.Hamas are not terrorists but freedom fighters of the first order. Israel an apartheidstate has maintained a concentration camp called Gaza for decades. Israel is arogue outlaw nation. A second genocide is now occurring in the West Bank withfull U.S. support. Israel condemned by the majority of the world’s nations and bythe International Criminal Court and by the UN’s International Court of Justice.Israel must be eliminated. A one-state and a one-person vote true democracyis the only viable road to peace. Avram Finkelstein {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 332     Amnesty International July 2024 Israel’s occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories are unlawful. Source: Amnesty Internationalhttps://search.app/4h3oHkneZLPjCrzZ6 ICJ opinion declaring Israel’soccupation of Palestinianterritories unlawful is a historicvindication of Palestinians’ rights Responding to the historic advisory opinion delivered today by theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Israel’s policies andpractices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the consequences of Israel’s conduct for other states and the UN, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research,Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said: “The International Court of Justice has issued its opinion and theconclusion is loud and clear: Israel’s occupation and annexation of thePalestinian territories are unlawful, and its discriminatory laws and policies against Palestinians violate the prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. “This is a historic vindication of the rights of Palestinians who have endured decades of cruelty and systematic human rights violations stemming from Israel’s unlawful occupation. “The occupation is a key pillar of the system of apartheid that Israel uses to dominate and oppress Palestinians, and which has caused suffering ona mass scale. Palestinians have witnessed their homes being demolished, their lands expropriated to build and expand settlements, and have faced suffocating restrictions disrupting every aspect of their daily lives, from family separation and restrictions on freedom of movement to denial ofaccess to land, water and natural resources. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 333     “The ICJ opinion comes at a time when Israel has been flagrantlyflouting international humanitarian law on a cataclysmic scale for the past nine months, carrying out deadly and unlawful attacks during its onslaught in the occupied Gaza Strip that have claimed an unprecedented toll on civilians. It has also been escalating illegal land grabs in theoccupied West Bank, and authorizing the construction of more and moresettlement units in occupied and illegally annexed East Jerusalem, all but entrenching and perpetuating the unlawful occupation. Israeli authorities have also consistently failed to comply with the provisional measuresordered by the ICJ to prevent genocide in Gaza. Israel must not be allowed to trample on international law any longer. “The international community, and in particular Israel’s allies, must nowtake unequivocal action to ensure Israel ends its unlawful occupation, starting with the immediate halting of the expansion of Israeli settlements and reversing the annexation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and dismantling its brutal system of apartheidagainst Palestinians. Ending the occupation is crucial in order to stop therecurrent pattern of human rights violations across Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. “Israel must withdraw its forces from all parts of the occupied territories, including the Gaza Strip and remove all settlers from the West Bank, including from the illegally annexed East Jerusalem. Israel must also relinquish control over all aspects of Palestinians’ lives, as well asceding control of borders, natural resources, air space and territorial waters of the occupied territory. This means lifting the illegal blockade of Gaza and allowing Palestinians to travel freely between Gaza and the West Bank.” On Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com>wrote:Repeating a lie over and over again doesn't make it true. Every day Israel’s enemies falsely accuse it of genocide, while totally ignoring the actual genocidal intentions of Hamas. The best way to stop the fighting in Gaza is for Hamas to release all of the hostagesunconditionally. If Israel's enemies really cared about the Gazans, theywould be demanding that Hamas release the hostages rather than trying to put all the blame on Israel. Martin Wasserman {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 334     On Mar 8, 2025, at 5:37 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Subject:Date:From:To: 1. 2. PRESS RELEASES PALESTINE "Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 335     March 6, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga | melissa@codepink.org Bay Area CODEPINK to Hold Press Conference at 3/11 Berkeley City Council Meeting "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" Berkeley, CA – CODEPINK will hold a press conference on March 11 at 5:30 PM PT at the Berkeley City Council meeting,1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, to demand that the Berkeley City Council take action in recognizing the genocide in Gaza.Participants will stand in silence with blood-red hands and banners displaying the names of children murdered by Israeliforces using U.S. weapons. The group’s message is clear: "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE INGAZA!" . They will publicly shame the Council for its failure to vote on a resolution condemning the Israeli genocide in Gaza, aswell as its refusal to call for a ceasefire and an end to the violence and starvation in Gaza. The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission passed a Ceasefire Resolution in October 2024 that former P&J CommissionerGeorge Lippman said focuses “on what must happen right now to end the death and destruction,” recommending that the CityCouncil discuss and vote on it. However, the City Council has ignored the Commission's request, refusing to take any action.CODEPINK is demanding that the Berkeley City Council agendize and vote on the Resolution so that Berkeley can show itcares about a genocide being funded with U.S. taxes, joining cities surrounding Berkeley – San Francisco, Richmond,Oakland, and Hayward– who have all gone on record in favor of a permanent ceasefire. EVENT DETAILS:Date: March 11, 2025 Time: 5:30 PM PTLocation: 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA "The Berkeley City Council’s inaction and silence regarding thegenocide in Gaza is unacceptable," said CODEPINK organizer Cynthia Papermaster. "We are spending billions of U.S. tax dollars on weapons killing {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 336     children, and given Israel’s human rights violations, that fundingis illegal under U.S. and international law. We desperately need funds in Berkeley to address so many issues– affordable housing,healthcare, clean energy, education. If the City Council can’t oppose the genocide on moral grounds, they should at least careabout our community’s needs. It’s difficult to understand the Council’s inaction; we know that the majority of Berkeley voters,like those nationwide, overwhelmingly want a permanent ceasefire and end to arming Israel. We are pleading with theCouncil to uphold Berkeley’s social justice reputation, take a stand, and act by putting the recommended resolution on theiragenda and voting on it." CODEPINK urges all concerned citizens to join the pressconference on March 11 to stand silently with us. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 337     From:Aram James Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila;Burt, Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; EPAToday; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Rodriguez, Miguel; Don Austin; YolandaConaway; Emily Mibach; Roberta Ahlquist; Mickie Winkler; h.etzko@gmail.com; Cait James; Tim James; MarinaLopez; Doug Minkler; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Supervisor Otto Lee; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad;Templeton, Cari; Braden Cartwright; dennis burns; Diana Diamond; Bill Newell; ladoris cordell; Figueroa, Eric;WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Lu, George; Bains, Paul;paul@peaceandjustice.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org;board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; yolanda; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Wagner, April;Binder, Andrew; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Council, City; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov;Perron, Zachary; Zahra Billoo; Stump, Molly; editor@paweekly.com; editor@almanacnews.com; The Office ofMayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Jensen, Eric; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex;cromero@cityofepa.org; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Reifschneider, James; Jeff Hayden; Human RelationsCommission; Daniel Kottke; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission;Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Cecilia Taylor; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Barberini, Christopher; Foley,Michael; Rose Lynn; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Steve Wagstaffe; Ellen Fox; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Donna Wallach;Linda Jolley; josh@joshsalcman.com; Jose Valle; Jennifer Morrow San José Spotlight; Damon Silver; RowenaChiu; Marty Wasserman; Pat M; Lotus Fong; Kaloma Smith Subject:Re: Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza Date:Saturday, March 8, 2025 9:04:04 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Israel a Vile Terrorist State Since 1948 Israel has a U.S. sponsored/paid for army, navy, air-force and nuclear weapons. Palestine no institutional military only their spirit of resistance and resilience. Hamas are not terrorists butfreedom fighters of the first order. Israel an apartheid state has maintained a concentration camp called Gaza for decades. Israel is a rogue outlaw nation. A second genocide is nowoccurring in the West Bank with full U.S. support. Israel condemned by the majority of the world’s nations and by the International Criminal Court and by the UN’s International Courtof Justice. Israel must be eliminated. A one-state and a one-person vote true democracy is the only viable road to peace. Avram Finkelstein Amnesty International July 2024 Israel’s occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories are unlawful. Source: Amnesty Internationalhttps://search.app/4h3oHkneZLPjCrzZ6 ICJ opinion declaring Israel’s {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 338     occupation of Palestinian territoriesunlawful is a historic vindication ofPalestinians’ rights Responding to the historic advisory opinion delivered today by the InternationalCourt of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of Israel’s policies and practices in theOccupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and the consequences of Israel’s conduct for other states and the UN, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, said: “The International Court of Justice has issued its opinion and the conclusion is loud and clear: Israel’s occupation and annexation of the Palestinian territories areunlawful, and its discriminatory laws and policies against Palestinians violate theprohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. “This is a historic vindication of the rights of Palestinians who have endureddecades of cruelty and systematic human rights violations stemming from Israel’s unlawful occupation. “The occupation is a key pillar of the system of apartheid that Israel uses to dominate and oppress Palestinians, and which has caused suffering on a mass scale. Palestinians have witnessed their homes being demolished, their lands expropriated to build and expand settlements, and have faced suffocating restrictions disruptingevery aspect of their daily lives, from family separation and restrictions on freedom of movement to denial of access to land, water and natural resources. “The ICJ opinion comes at a time when Israel has been flagrantly flouting international humanitarian law on a cataclysmic scale for the past nine months, carrying out deadly and unlawful attacks during its onslaught in the occupied GazaStrip that have claimed an unprecedented toll on civilians. It has also beenescalating illegal land grabs in the occupied West Bank, and authorizing the construction of more and more settlement units in occupied and illegally annexed East Jerusalem, all but entrenching and perpetuating the unlawful occupation.Israeli authorities have also consistently failed to comply with the provisionalmeasures ordered by the ICJ to prevent genocide in Gaza. Israel must not be allowed to trample on international law any longer. “The international community, and in particular Israel’s allies, must now takeunequivocal action to ensure Israel ends its unlawful occupation, starting with the immediate halting of the expansion of Israeli settlements and reversing the annexation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and dismantling itsbrutal system of apartheid against Palestinians. Ending the occupation is crucial in {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 339     order to stop the recurrent pattern of human rights violations across Israel and theOccupied Palestinian Territories. “Israel must withdraw its forces from all parts of the occupied territories, includingthe Gaza Strip and remove all settlers from the West Bank, including from theillegally annexed East Jerusalem. Israel must also relinquish control over all aspects of Palestinians’ lives, as well as ceding control of borders, natural resources, air space and territorial waters of the occupied territory. This means lifting the illegalblockade of Gaza and allowing Palestinians to travel freely between Gaza and theWest Bank.” On Sat, Mar 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Repeating a lie over and over again doesn't make it true. Every day Israel’senemies falsely accuse it of genocide, while totally ignoring the actual genocidalintentions of Hamas. The best way to stop the fighting in Gaza is for Hamas to release all of the hostages unconditionally. If Israel's enemies really cared about the Gazans, they would be demanding that Hamas release the hostages rather thantrying to put all the blame on Israel. Martin Wasserman On Mar 8, 2025, at 5:37 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Subject:Date:From:To: 1. 2. PRESS RELEASES PALESTINE "Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 340     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga | melissa@codepink.org Bay Area CODEPINK to Hold Press Conference at 3/11 Berkeley City Council Meeting "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" Berkeley, CA – CODEPINK will hold a press conference on March 11 at 5:30 PM PT at the Berkeley City Council meeting, 1231 Addison Street,Berkeley, to demand that the Berkeley City Council take action in recognizing the genocide in Gaza. Participants will stand in silence withblood-red hands and banners displaying the names of children murdered by Israeli forces using U.S. weapons. The group’s message is clear: "SHAMEON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" . They will publicly shame the Council for its failure to vote on a resolution condemning {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 341     the Israeli genocide in Gaza, as well as its refusal to call for a ceasefire and anend to the violence and starvation in Gaza. The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission passed a Ceasefire Resolution inOctober 2024 that former P&J Commissioner George Lippman said focuses “on what must happen right now to end the death and destruction,”recommending that the City Council discuss and vote on it. However, the City Council has ignored the Commission's request, refusing to take any action.CODEPINK is demanding that the Berkeley City Council agendize and vote on the Resolution so that Berkeley can show it cares about a genocide beingfunded with U.S. taxes, joining cities surrounding Berkeley – San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland, and Hayward– who have all gone on record in favor of apermanent ceasefire. EVENT DETAILS: Date: March 11, 2025Time: 5:30 PM PT Location: 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA "The Berkeley City Council’s inaction and silence regarding the genocide in Gaza is unacceptable," said CODEPINK organizer Cynthia Papermaster. "We are spending billions of U.S. tax dollars on weapons killing children, and given Israel’s human rights violations, that funding is illegal under U.S. andinternational law. We desperately need funds in Berkeley to address so many issues– affordable housing, healthcare, clean energy, education. If the CityCouncil can’t oppose the genocide on moral grounds, they should at least care about our community’s needs. It’s difficult to understand the Council’sinaction; we know that the majority of Berkeley voters, like those nationwide, overwhelmingly want a permanent ceasefire and end to arming Israel. We arepleading with the Council to uphold Berkeley’s social justice reputation, take a stand, and act by putting the recommended resolution on their agenda andvoting on it." CODEPINK urges all concerned citizens to join the press conference onMarch 11 to stand silently with us. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 342     From:Martin Wasserman To:Aram James Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Burt, Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; EPA Today; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Michelle; Rodriguez, Miguel; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Emily Mibach; Roberta Ahlquist; Mickie Winkler; h.etzko@gmail.com; Cait James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Doug Minkler; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Supervisor Otto Lee; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Templeton, Cari; Braden Cartwright; dennis burns; Diana Diamond; Bill Newell; ladoris cordell; Figueroa, Eric; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Lu, George; Bains, Paul; paul@peaceandjustice.org; Vara Ramakrishnan; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; yolanda; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Wagner, April; Binder, Andrew; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Council, City; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Perron, Zachary; Zahra Billoo; Stump, Molly; editor@paweekly.com; editor@almanacnews.com; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Jensen, Eric; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Reifschneider, James; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Daniel Kottke; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Cecilia Taylor; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Rose Lynn; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Steve Wagstaffe; Ellen Fox; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth Subject:Re: Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza Date:Saturday, March 8, 2025 6:24:58 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Repeating a lie over and over again doesn't make it true. Every day Israel’s enemies falsely accuse it of genocide, while totally ignoring the actual genocidal intentions of Hamas. The best way to stop the fighting in Gaza is for Hamas to release all ofthe hostages unconditionally. If Israel's enemies really cared about the Gazans, theywould be demanding that Hamas release the hostages rather than trying to put all the blame on Israel. Martin Wasserman On Mar 8, 2025, at 5:37 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Subject:Date:From:To: This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 343     1. 2. PRESS RELEASES PALESTINE "Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga | melissa@codepink.org Bay Area CODEPINK to Hold Press Conference at 3/11 Berkeley City Council Meeting {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 344     "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" Berkeley, CA – CODEPINK will hold a press conference on March 11 at 5:30PM PT at the Berkeley City Council meeting, 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, todemand that the Berkeley City Council take action in recognizing the genocidein Gaza. Participants will stand in silence with blood-red hands and bannersdisplaying the names of children murdered by Israeli forces using U.S.weapons. The group’s message is clear: "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOURSILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" . They will publicly shame the Councilfor its failure to vote on a resolution condemning the Israeli genocide in Gaza,as well as its refusal to call for a ceasefire and an end to the violence andstarvation in Gaza. The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission passed a Ceasefire Resolution inOctober 2024 that former P&J Commissioner George Lippman said focuses “onwhat must happen right now to end the death and destruction,” recommendingthat the City Council discuss and vote on it. However, the City Council hasignored the Commission's request, refusing to take any action. CODEPINK isdemanding that the Berkeley City Council agendize and vote on the Resolutionso that Berkeley can show it cares about a genocide being funded with U.S.taxes, joining cities surrounding Berkeley – San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland,and Hayward– who have all gone on record in favor of a permanent ceasefire. EVENT DETAILS:Date: March 11, 2025Time: 5:30 PM PTLocation: 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA "The Berkeley City Council’s inaction and silence regarding the genocide inGaza is unacceptable," said CODEPINK organizer Cynthia Papermaster. "We are spending billions of U.S. tax dollars on weapons killing children, andgiven Israel’s human rights violations, that funding is illegal under U.S. andinternational law. We desperately need funds in Berkeley to address so manyissues– affordable housing, healthcare, clean energy, education. If the CityCouncil can’t oppose the genocide on moral grounds, they should at least careabout our community’s needs. It’s difficult to understand the Council’sinaction; we know that the majority of Berkeley voters, like those nationwide,overwhelmingly want a permanent ceasefire and end to arming Israel. We arepleading with the Council to uphold Berkeley’s social justice reputation, take astand, and act by putting the recommended resolution on their agenda andvoting on it." CODEPINK urges all concerned citizens to join the press conference on March11 to stand silently with us. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 345     {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 346     From:Aram James To:Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila Cc:Burt, Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; EPA Today; Sarah Wright; Salem Ajluni; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Michelle; Rodriguez, Miguel; Don Austin; Yolanda Conaway; Emily Mibach; Roberta Ahlquist; Mickie Winkler; h.etzko@gmail.com; Marty Wasserman; Cait James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Doug Minkler; Gennady Sheyner; sharon jackson; Supervisor Otto Lee; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Conrad; Templeton, Cari; Braden Cartwright; dennis burns; Diana Diamond; Bill Newell; ladoris cordell; Figueroa, Eric; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Lu, George; Bains, Paul; Paul George @ PPJC; Vara Ramakrishnan; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; yolanda; Baker, Rob; Roberta Roth; Roberta Ahlquist; Wagner, April; Binder, Andrew; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Council, City; GRP-City Council; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Perron, Zachary; Zahra Billoo; Stump, Molly; editor@paweekly.com; editor@almanacnews.com; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; city.council@menlopark.gov; Jensen, Eric; Enberg, Nicholas; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Anna Griffin; Angel, David; Reifschneider, James; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Daniel Kottke; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Cecilia Taylor; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Barberini, Christopher; Foley, Michael; Rose Lynn; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Steve Wagstaffe Subject:Re: Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza Date:Saturday, March 8, 2025 5:38:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Subject:Date:From:To: 1. 2. PRESS RELEASES PALESTINE "Shame on you, Berkeley!" Peace Groups to Call Out Berkeley for Failure to Acknowledge Genocide in Gaza {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 347     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Melissa Garriga | melissa@codepink.org Bay Area CODEPINK to Hold Press Conference at 3/11 Berkeley City Council Meeting "SHAME ON YOU FOR YOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" Berkeley, CA – CODEPINK will hold a press conference on March 11 at 5:30 PM PT at theBerkeley City Council meeting, 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, to demand that the BerkeleyCity Council take action in recognizing the genocide in Gaza. Participants will stand insilence with blood-red hands and banners displaying the names of children murdered by {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 348     Israeli forces using U.S. weapons. The group’s message is clear: "SHAME ON YOU FORYOUR SILENCE ON GENOCIDE IN GAZA!" . They will publicly shame the Council for its failure to vote on a resolution condemning the Israeli genocide in Gaza, as well as itsrefusal to call for a ceasefire and an end to the violence and starvation in Gaza. The Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission passed a Ceasefire Resolution in October 2024that former P&J Commissioner George Lippman said focuses “on what must happen right now to end the death and destruction,” recommending that the City Council discuss and voteon it. However, the City Council has ignored the Commission's request, refusing to take any action. CODEPINK is demanding that the Berkeley City Council agendize and vote on theResolution so that Berkeley can show it cares about a genocide being funded with U.S. taxes, joining cities surrounding Berkeley – San Francisco, Richmond, Oakland, andHayward– who have all gone on record in favor of a permanent ceasefire. EVENT DETAILS: Date: March 11, 2025Time: 5:30 PM PT Location: 1231 Addison Street, Berkeley, CA "The Berkeley City Council’s inaction and silence regarding the genocide in Gaza is unacceptable," said CODEPINK organizer Cynthia Papermaster. "We are spending billions of U.S. tax dollars on weapons killing children, and given Israel’s human rights violations, that funding is illegal under U.S. and international law. Wedesperately need funds in Berkeley to address so many issues– affordable housing, healthcare, clean energy, education. If the City Council can’t oppose the genocide on moralgrounds, they should at least care about our community’s needs. It’s difficult to understand the Council’s inaction; we know that the majority of Berkeley voters, like those nationwide,overwhelmingly want a permanent ceasefire and end to arming Israel. We are pleading with the Council to uphold Berkeley’s social justice reputation, take a stand, and act by puttingthe recommended resolution on their agenda and voting on it." CODEPINK urges all concerned citizens to join the press conference on March 11 to standsilently with us. {{item.number}}     Packet Pg. 349