4-13-26

Swalwell drops out of race

BY STELLA YU CalMatters

Rep. Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign for governor last night, days after two news outlets published explosive allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from four women, including a former staff member.

The East Bay Congressman had been the Democratic front runner in

Supporters abandon him after scandal

a 10-candidate field for the June 2 primary. Swalwell’s campaign collapsed

ORBAN OUT: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban conceded defeat yesterday after what he called a “painful” election result, ending 16 years in power for a dominant figure in the far-right movement of Hungary.

BACK-TO-BACK MASTERS: Rory McIlroy yesterday became just the fourth golfer in history to win back-toback Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods was the last to accomplish the rare feat, when he was repeat winner in 2001 and 2002.

PRESIDIO BOARD FIRED: President Trump has fired all six people President Biden appointed to the Presidio Trust Board. The Presidio Trust can still operate without board members in place, and the park and agency will continue to run normally.

MACHETE ATTACK: A man with a machete who attacked three people randomly at a major New York City subway station was shot and killed by police, authorities said. The man

Friday soon after the first report in the San Francisco Chronicle, in which the unnamed former staff member said Swalwell solicited oral sex from her while she was working for him and twice sexually assaulted her when she was too drunk to consent. The account was corroborated with medical records and by people the woman spoke with after the last

[See SWALWELL, page 18]

BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent

The San Mateo County Community College District appears headed toward settlement with at least three defendants it accused of participating in a “pay-to-play” scheme aimed at obtaining lucrative contracts for construction projects.

The suit revolves around allegations that the firms gave gifts to former chancellor Ron Galatolo in exchange

for contracts to build additions to the district’s three campuses.

In a lawsuit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court, the district named five construction or architectural firms: Allana Buick & Bers;

McCarthy Building Companies; Bunton, Clifford & Associates; Robert A. Bothman Inc.; and Blach Construction Company.

But now, lawyers for the college district have filed three separate notices of settlement regarding claims against Blach, McCarthy and Bunton. The notices were filed on Dec. 31, Feb. 10 and Feb. 26, respectively.

The notices say the college district

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

A Santa Clara County taxpayer has sued District Attorney Jeff Rosen for allegedly wasting public money by paying a prosecutor not to work while also warning of severe budget cuts.

Rosen’s “failure to uphold (his) duties will continue to waste public funds and cause the taxpayers of Santa Clara County to suffer irreparable injury,” the lawsuit said. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Jim McManis on behalf of Sarah Scofield, 63, of San Jose.

McManis and Scofield don’t like how Rosen has

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

A realtor who is striking fear throughout a Palo Alto neighborhood will go to trial on charges that she violated restraining orders and attacked Google co-founder Larry Page’s security guard with an umbrella.

April Li, 52, of Palo Alto, is becoming angrier and more intense, according to resident Robin Feldman.

“The change in her demeanor is downright frightening,” Feldman said

[See THE UPDATE, page 4]

[See DA, page 18]

11 people lose home

Residents in an apartment on California Street in Mountain View got a surprise when it seemed like their sink was on fire.

The residents of the multi-family apartment complex in the 1900 block of California got out of the building before firefighters arrived Saturday at 3:56 p.m.

Fire behind drywall

The firefighters discovered an active fire coming from the two units on the second floor of the two-story building, according to the Mountain View Fire Department.

Firefighters used thermal imaging

cameras to measure heat behind the drywall and found the fire, which appeared to have begun behind the sink, had spread into the attic. Firefighters extinguished the flames, preventing the fire from spreading further into the building.

Renovation project

The fire was traced to a kitchen renovation project in one of the units. Damage was estimated at about $200,000. The fire displaced included six adults and five children. They were being provided accommodations by the American Red Cross.

No injuries were reported.

Demolition order disputed

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT

Daily Post Staff Writer

The owner of a hotel that was illegally converted into a dorm for Stanford graduate students is appealing the city of Palo Alto’s demolition order.

Owner Sophia Huang said the city’s order to demolish the Stanford Terrace Inn at 531 Stanford Ave. cites violations that are “inaccurate, immaterial, grossly overstated, or which have already been addressed.”

In response, Code Enforcement Manager Elisa Vargas said the converted hotel is “one of the most significant and complex code en-

Owner of Stanford Terrace Inn rented rooms to students

forcement matters” that she’s encountered in her nine-year career.

‘Extraordinary’ violations

“The scope of the violations was extraordinary. The habitability and life safety hazards were real, severe and well-documented,” Vargas said in a statement.

The city started looking into the Stanford Terrace Inn in September 2023 after firefighters re-

sponded to a medical call and saw corroded sprinklers and broken alarms.

Fire Marshal Tamara Jasso inspected the buildings on March 18, 2024, and took pictures of dozens of alleged violations.

Blocked exits

Emergency exits were blocked, ceilings were lined with plastic film, electrical wiring was corroded and a balcony was at risk of collapse, Jasso said.

The garage had paint thinner, pool chemicals, fake Christmas trees and propane tanks that could

[See TERRACE, page 19]

in Saturday’s incident called himself “Lucifer,” and refused more than 20 commands to drop his weapon.

CAR PRICES RISING: New cars and SUVs now list for an average of $50,000, up 30% in six years. More consumers are getting loans that spread the cost over as much as seven years.

TAX CUTS: Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin says his government will offer new fuel tax cuts to address protests over soaring fuel costs.

SUPER MARIO PREVAILS: “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is dominating the box office in its second weekend, adding $69 million to its haul that now stands at $308.1 million, with a global total of $629 million.

Palo Alto Daily Post

and padailypost.com

385 Forest Ave., Palo Alto CA 94301 • (650) 328-7700

Winner of 17 awards from the National Newspaper Association

„

Publishers: Dave Price, Jim Pavelich

Editor: Dave Price

Managing Editor: Emily Mibach

General Manager: Brandon Heinrichs

Distribution: Amando Mendoza III

Account Executives: Jena Hollister, Mike Ireland and Winnie Reyes

Letters: Limit to 250 words. Author’s full name, address and phone number are required. See policy at padailypost.com under “letters.”

Stories without bylines are often from The Associated Press, Bay City News service or the Post staff.

Legal notices: The Superior Court of Santa Clara County has adjudicated the Daily Post as a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Palo Alto and the County of Santa Clara, and we’re qualified to publish legal notices such as Fictitious Business Name Statements (FBNs) and legal name changes. For more information, email ads@padailypost.com. © 2026 Palo Alto Daily Post. All rights reserved.

Births

Readers

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto:

Aug. 29

Amori Vianna Sasamoto Aguilar, a girl

Abisay Antonio Alfaroramirez, a boy

Kaiden Sebastian Arias Laguna, a boy

Liliana Barrera Mendoza, a girl

Aug. 28

Veer Bahl, a boy

Lismaylin Esperanza Fabian Casco, a girl

Ayla Zarraga Forbes, a girl

Dante James Gaidano, a boy

Said Haziel Gutierrez Barrios, a boy

Eleanor Takara Hayashi, a girl

Renad Ahmad Mansour, a girl

Isabelle Florence Sagalov, a girl

Aleana Rami Tannous, a girl

Layah Daielaine Tatmon, a girl

Solstice Jet Verma, a girl

Ke Ting Luna Wong, a girl

Aug. 27

Allison Bryn Manla Aguba, a girl

Cillian Jack Forbynsaldivar, a boy

Charlie Marie Forester, a girl

Eloise Rosa Hilger, a girl

Jaxson Michael Holmes, a boy

Raagnya Kaul Mitra, a girl

Raahi Nitta, a girl

Sejal Guadalupe Sahagun, a girl

Jenine Khan Sherwani, a girl

Riley Lennon Southworth, a girl

Aanya Elizabeth Vijai, a girl

Aug. 26

Kainaat Asthanabajaj, a boy

Paige Hailey Chen, a girl

Lygia Feldmanmurillo, a girl

Gael Huerta Gamboa, a boy

Lezhi Liang, a girl

Jeanluc Austin Moya, a boy

Eliel Balmore Ortiz Beltran, a boy

Scottie Rhys Roller, a boy

Adelyn Elena Sandoval Chairez, a girl

Kamilla A Topalyan, a girl

Aug. 25

Lucas Gerard Castellanos Martinez, a boy

Eithan Josue Castillo Gomez, a boy

Jaime Alexander Contreraszarco, a boy

Pamela Esperanza Cruz Salguero, a girl

Eithan Garcia Diaz, a boy

Noah Emmanuel Gonzalez Reay, a boy

Tomi Moui He Kelesi Lauese, a boy

Evan Chen Li, a boy

Kayce Maelle Moctezuma Matus, a girl

Citlali Adriana Ojeda Rodriguez, a girl

Thao Dinh Porter, a girl

Isaiah Mateo Sanchezflores, a boy

Clara Rhees Silva, a girl

Amara Sally Vana, a girl

Julian Vargas Abaj, a boy

Aug. 24

Griffen Latu Corbett Jr, a boy

Azariah Brielle Cruz, a girl

Arjun Das, a boy

Felix James Fathi, a boy

Iliana Jazmin Gates, a girl

Willow Nadou Lawson, a girl

Lucas Weier Lin, a boy

Lauren Mendoza Grey, a girl

Aislin Sophia Ramirez Treminio, a girl

Eliza Blake Kuuwehiouilani Rodriguez, a girl

Asha Sofia Rodriguez Quiroa, a girl

Elizabeth Patricia Stromberg, a girl

Anthony Ejidio Vasquez Morales, a boy

Aug. 23

Carlos Aparicio Pimentel, a boy

Celine Wai Beattie, a girl

Lavinia Suliana Faasisila, a girl

Gerardo Gonzalez Reyes, a boy

Arielle Love Leoncupis, a girl

Arjun Om Menghnani, a boy

Sofia Azul Urbina, a girl

We’ve reached a tipping point on tips

I’m not the only person who thinks the world has gone overboard with tipping.

A new survey from the restaurant marketing company Popmenu found that nearly 80% of consumers now say tipping practices are ridiculous.

Moreover, 44% say they are tipping less than last year.

I think back to the 1980s when I had two jobs, one at a radio station doing news and the other at a bar where I depended on

Fundraising by DA

Dear Editor: This letter is about your column on March 30 that criticized Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen for using his campaign website to note his role in prosecuting the vandalism case at Stanford while also raising funds from voters worried about antisemitism.

You have unfairly impugned the ethics of an honorable public servant. I recently attended a sold-out concert at the Guild Theater in Menlo Park. The crowd mostly stood. I had one of the few higher priced seats and another

tips to make enough money to pay the rent.

As a waiter and bartender, I learned quickly that if you wanted bigger tips, you needed to provide attentive service. You had to get the meal and the drinks out to the customer as fast as possible. You had to be friendly and always jump whenever they wanted anything.

It didn’t matter that you were working 12 hours a day. All the customer cared about was good service.

Over the years, customer service has gone downhill while restaurants have become more aggressive when it comes to tips. I don’t like those point-

of-sale screens that suggest higher minimum tips, often starting at 20%.

It used to be that customers would leave what they felt was an appropriate amount. As a waiter or bartender, if you felt it wasn’t enough, you’d work harder to get a better tip from the next customer. Usually, though, the average customer would reward hard work with a fair tip.

Now businesses are squeezing customers to pay bigger tips, and it seems customers are rebelling.

Areas where consumers are reducing their tips include:

• Restaurants and bars, 35%

• Grocery delivery, 24%

LETTERS

left vacant by a friend who couldn’t attend. I spotted DA Rosen standing in the crowd and I offered him the empty seat. Rosen thanked me and politely declined. He stood for the rest of the concert. Afterwards, I realized he was scrupulously following the ethics rules about accepting gifts. He is that honest! You say it is improper for Rosen to note his role in prosecuting vandalism that took place as part of a protest of Israel’s actions while also using his website to raise funds from those concerned with antisemitism. But what if the DA had prosecuted someone charged with vandalizing, say, a black church and

then tried to raise funds from those concerned with racism? Would that also be improper? Or are you only concerned when someone steps forward to raise funds from those troubled by attacks against Jews? I applaud your focus on ethics. But in this case, you have been unfair to a highly honorable man.

Hal Plotkin Palo Alto

Building height limit

Dear Editor: The proposed height limit of 90 feet around San Antonio Road is too low. A height limit of

• Hotel workers, including housekeeping and bellhops, 19%

• Taxi and ride services, 19%

• Car repair, 19%

• Hair salons and barbers, 18% Brendan Sweeney, the CEO of the company that commissioned the survey, said tips are down because of a general fatigue over tipping. Also, he said consumers have less disposable income because of higher prices for food, energy and other necessities. You could say that when it comes to tipping, we’ve reached a tipping point.

Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.

250 feet would allow residents on upper floors of a building to have lovely views. The lower floors could be for affordable housing.

I would hope that a higher limit would also allow for more trees and landscaping around the taller buildings, with a greater setback from adjacent buildings (and from the street).

Erica Byrne Palo Alto

Wasted transit funds

Dear Editor: SamTrans, the bus service in San Mateo County, is among

the local transit agencies pleading poverty. On Wednesday, April 8, at 2:34 p.m., a SamTrans bus was parked outside Hillview Middle School. It was assigned to take students home after school. One problem. Hillview School was on spring break.

This scene was replayed the whole week.

There was no driver in the bus

when we passed. Perhaps they were in the back of the bus, enjoying their unneeded assignment.

What a waste of money! What poor management of resources! I’m voting “no” on any measure to increase taxes for SamTrans and other transit agencies.

Edward Moritz Menlo Park

Spending on Artemis

Dear Editor: For the cost of the Artemis II moon orbit mission, the U.S. could have put a dent in the chronic homelessness. The $4 billion to $4.1 billion for a single launch could have paid for housing, counseling, follow-up care and meds.

Steve Duncan Burlingame

U.S. plans to block Strait of Hormuz

In the hopes of

weakening Iran

President Trump yesterday said the U.S. Navy would “immediately” begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, after U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks in Pakistan ended without an agreement.

Trump wants to weaken Iran’s key leverage in the war after demanding that it reopen the strait to all global traffic on the waterway that was responsible for 20% of global oil shipping before fighting began.

A U.S. blockade could further rattle global energy markets. “It’s going to be all or none, and that’s the way it is,” Trump said.

No tolls

Trump said on social media that he told the Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.” He said other nations would be involved but did not name them.

Freedom of peaceful navigation is a basic principle of international maritime trade.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later

said the strait remained under Iran’s “full control” and was open for non-military vessels, but military ones would get a “forceful response,” two semi-official Iranian news agencies reported.

During the 21-hour talks, the U.S. military said two destroyers had transited the strait ahead of mine-clearing work, a first since the war began. Iran denied it.

Trump said Tehran’s nuclear ambitions were at the core of the talks’ failure. He threatened to strike civilian infrastructure.

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led Iran’s side, addressed Trump in a new statement on his return to Iran: “If you fight, we will fight.”

Neither indicated what will happen after the ceasefire expires on April 22.

Nukes and more

“We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,” said Vice President JD Vance, leading the U.S. side.

The position of the U.S. is that Iran never obtain a nuclear weapon, end uranium enrichment, dismantle major enrichment facilities and allow retrieval of its highly enriched uranium, along with opening the Strait of Hormuz and ending funding for Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi rebels.

— SELL SMART —

Money is Moving

Whether you spent a lifetime assembling a coin collection you are proud of or inherited a collection from parents or a spouse, a wise first step is to contact us at Mish International (MIMI).

Whether you spent a lifetime assembling a coin collection you are proud of or inherited a collection from parents or a spouse, a wise first step is to contact us at Mish International (MIMI).

Unlike distant internet operations or traveling buyer crews, Mish International has the true expertise, 60+ year top reputation, immediate capital, and permanent presence to serve you right here in Menlo Park.

Unlike distant internet operations or traveling buyer crews, Mish International has the true expertise, 60+ year top reputation, immediate capital, and permanent presence to serve you right here in Menlo Park.

Privacy and Security. Proper Appraisals. Fairest Buyers. Since 1963, same principal.

Privacy and Security. Proper Appraisals. Fairest Buyers. Since 1963, same principal. Yes, we also buy gold bullion, jewelry, and watches too.

Yes, we also buy gold & silver bullion, bars, sterling, gold jewelry, currency, and watches too.

To learn more, visit our website then call (650) 324-9110 for an appointment.

To learn more, visit our website then call (650) 324-9110 for an appointment.

For gold jewelry, watches, or sterling silver, please call (650) 853-8425

Open space group buys working farm

Peninsula Open Space Trust has purchased a 71-acre working farm in Coyote Valley for $5.3 million, aiming to protect farmland and improve wildlife movement in the region, the organization announced Tuesday.

The Trust and the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority announced the acquisition of the Coyote Fields property, located along Santa Teresa Boulevard in North Coyote Valley.

The Authority will manage the land, which has been farmed for decades, while long-term plans include transferring ownership as funding and planning efforts continue, the group said.

Conservation leaders said the purchase helps preserve agricultural land while supporting wildlife corridors in one of the region’s most ecologically important areas.

The property sits near Coyote Creek and is close to planned wildlife crossings designed to help species such as mountain lions move through barriers, including highways and rail lines.

The farm will remain in agricultural use under an existing lease, while future plans may include improvements and expanded public access as part of a broader conservation plan for the valley.

Work starts on water lines

Drivers on Grant Road in Los Altos can expect to see crews replacing old water mains with new pipes.

California Water Service has begun two major infrastructure projects in Los Altos and Sunnyvale aimed at improving water reliability and fire protection.

In Los Altos, crews are installing 5,200 feet of upgraded main along Grant Road, replacing 10-inch pipes with 12-inch lines to increase water flow.

Meanwhile, in Sunnyvale, work includes 3,390 feet of new main along Carlisle Way and nearby streets, re-

placing older 4-inch pipes with larger 8-inch and 12-inch mains.

The projects, located near Panama Park in Sunnyvale and near Oak Avenue Elementary and Mountain View High School in Los Altos, are expected to be completed by the end of July, according to a press release issued Thursday.

Construction is scheduled on weekdays, with traffic controls in place to minimize disruptions. Temporary paving will be installed until permanent road repairs are completed following construction.

•

Sheriff to buy AI data analysis tool

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office plans to use a new AI tool to compile crime data into a single database, amid fears that immigration officers would access the information such as data from license plate cameras.

Such concerns stopped the Raleigh, N.C., City Council from buying a similar system last month.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is buying the AI system from Peregrine Technologies, which gathers data from other police departments, the county’s jail system and the District Attorney’s Office into one database.

Contract approved

The Board of Supervisors approved spending $1.9 million on a contract with Peregrine on Tuesday. Departments in San Mateo County can opt into using the new tool. Atherton, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City are all listed as signed up for the tool, according to a report from Sheriff Ken Binder.

This system will allow officers in Menlo Park to access information from other police departments, such as license plate reader data or previous arrest or incident records more quickly than what is now possible, according to Peregrine spokesman Austin Finan.

Peregrine uses AI to collect and summarize dispatch data, incident reports, arrest records, body-worn camera footage and automated license plate reader data, according to Finan. The data will help solve crimes faster and improve communication between police departments, Finan said. Agencies

will control how long data is retained and with whom data is shared, he said.

Finan said the Peregrine system is not meant to replace human judgment but only to show officers the most relevant information to help them make better decisions.

The sheriff’s office has not yet activated the program, but once it does, data will be shared with agencies across the state, sheriff’s spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker said.

Other police agencies in other counties will be able to access the data collected from cities like East Palo Alto, where residents are already concerned about federal agencies accessing the city’s license plate-reading cameras.

In East Palo Alto on Tuesday, City Council decided not to discuss a contract with Flock Safety, which operates license plate cameras. Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica said he would try to bring the contract back for consideration on April 21.

Peregrine is used by more than 400 cities, including San Francisco, helping them track criminal activity and respond faster.

Controversy over Flock

But not everyone is on board. The City Council in Durham, N.C., turned down a proposal from Peregrine after residents said they were concerned the data could be used by federal agencies such as ICE, which is looking for illegal foreign nationals in the U.S.

Mountain View, Santa Clara and Los Altos Hills terminated their contracts with Flock after learning that federal agencies could search the camera data.

Villa Toscana Memory Care 939 W. El Camino Real, Ste. C Mountain View, CA 94040 VillaToscanaMC.com

Leave baby deer alone, experts say

They may look abandoned or hungry. But leave the baby deer alone, state wildlife officials say.

Well-intentioned people can be tempted to “help” fawns in the late spring and early summer, the peak times for California’s deer to give birth, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Friday.

They’re actually fine. Mother deer regularly stash their fawns in tall grass or brush for up to a day while they’re foraging for food.

“Every year, we receive calls from concerned individuals and families about fawns and other young wildlife that appear to be abandoned or in distress,” said Jeff Stoddard, Wildlife Program Manager from CDFW’s Northern Region.

They don’t need human intervention. “Stay clear of the animal so the mother feels safe to return and so your presence does not attract unwanted attention to the fawn by people or other animals,” he said.

“In almost every case, the mother returns after dark or when it appears quiet and the mother feels safe to do so,” Stoddard said.

Fawns removed from the wild lack the survival skills their mothers would have taught them and can’t be released back into nature.

Hunter wants cage match with Trumps

Hunter Biden wants to face off against Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump in a cage match.

Hunter Biden made the comment about President Trump’s oldest sons in a video in which he announced he’d be taking part in YouTuber Andrew Callaghan’s upcoming “Carnival” tour.

“I think he’s trying to organize a cage match, me versus Eric and Don Jr. I told him I’d do it, 100% in, if he can

pull it off,” Hunter Biden said on Callaghan’s Instagram page.

The Trump Organization did not respond to requests for comment.

Hunter Biden said he’d be appearing at “Carnival” shows in Phoenix, San Diego and Albuquerque, N.M., later this month.

Callaghan told USA Today that he thought Hunter Biden made the remark “in jest,” but added he’d be “more than happy to facilitate” the match if the Trumps are “willing to engage Hunter in mutual combat.”

Disney drops gender-less policy

The Walt Disney Co. has brought back phrases such as “Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls” to DisneyWorld and Disneyland after switching to gender-less pronouns in 2021, according to a website that covers the theme parks.

Disney eliminated words like “Boys” and “Girls” in 2021 in an attempt to make their amusement parks more “inclusive.” The company hasn’t commented on the change back to pronouns that mention a gender. But fans of the parks picked up on the change this month.

“The return of ‘ladies and gentlemen,’ on the announcement heard by passengers of Disney’s monorails, restores the familiar phrasing that longtime guests associated with the beginning of a Magic Kingdom day,” said a story on the InsideTheMagic.net website.

The Disney cartoon characters who walk around the parks referred to children as “friends” during the gender-less pronoun period. They’ve gone back to saying they’re boys and girls.

Mysterious skin growth?

Palo Alto Dermatology Institute is nationally recognized for our expertise in all types of skin cancer. Be proactive in your health care and contact us today for a skin check.

Same-day skin exams, biopsy results and treatment - including Mohs Surgery - all in one visit. (Same-day treatment space limited)

Times shown are when a report was made to police. Information is from police department logs. All of the people named here are innocent until proven guilty in court.

PALO ALTO

MONDAY

3:40 p.m. — David Matthew Maldonado, 52, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

5:15 p.m. — Vandalism at Palo Alto Police Dept., 275 Forest Ave.

7:09 p.m. — Vehicle accident involving a pedestrian, Loma Verde Ave.

10:28 p.m. — Michael L. Wu, 68, transient, cited for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

TUESDAY

1:48 a.m. — Leroy Jackson Jr., 35, of San Francisco, cited on a warrant, Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain Station.

11:41 a.m. — Victor Juarez Vela, 25, transient, arrested on a warrant, 400 block of Bryant St.

1:51 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Alma St. and San Antonio Road.

2:08 p.m. — Grand theft, 400 block of Hale St.

2:22 p.m. — Richard Andrew Wijtman, 62, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 4000 block of Fabian Way.

WEDNESDAY

2:37 p.m. — Alfredo Jasso, 27, of San Jose, arrested for theft of a vehicle and possession of drugs and

Police Blotter

drug paraphernalia, El Camino and Charleston Road.

MENLO PARK

FRIDAY

11:18 a.m. — Embezzlement alleged, 400 block of Pierce Road.

2:44 p.m. — Petty theft, 100 block of San Andreas Drive.

2:46 p.m. — Petty theft, 700 block of Roble Ave.

3:28 p.m. — Fraud, 2300 block of Crest Lane.

SATURDAY

4:22 a.m. — Burglary, 300 block of Sharon Park Drive.

9:38 p.m. — Burglary, 1700 block of Bay Laurel Drive.

STANFORD

APRIL 5

12:13 a.m. — Grand theft at Mars House, 553 Mayfield Ave.

9:48 a.m. — Rape, 500 block of Coronado Ave.

6:30 p.m. — Electric bike stolen, 700 block of Serra St.

10:02 p.m. — Anthony Michael Widman, 53, of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., arrested for public drunkenness, 400 block of Lagunita Drive.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

APRIL 3

12:54 a.m. — Griselda Bello Garcia, 44, arrested for child endangerment, 200 block of Ortega Ave.

APRIL 4

2:26 a.m. — Taylor Tran, 25, of

ADD NATURAL BEAUTY AND ELEGANCE TO YOUR HOME WITH TRAVERTINE TILE

Milpitas, cited for DUI, Evelyn Ave. and Kittyhawk Way.

6:30 a.m. — Burglary at a business, 600 block of Calderon Ave.

7:02 a.m. — Burglary at a business, 1-99 block of Church St.

1:20 p.m. — Robert Silva, 37, of Campbell, arrested for public drunkenness, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of ammunition by a felon, and resisting police, Castro St. and Central Expressway.

2:14 p.m. — Rape, 1800 block of Appletree Lane.

3:16 p.m. — Burglary at an apartment complex, 400 block of W. Evelyn Ave.

5:42 p.m. — Theft, 1200 block of Montecito Ave.

7:22 p.m. — Eric Pinal, 41, of San Jose, arrested for public drunkenness at Trader Joe’s, 590 Showers Drive.

9:52 p.m. — Mateo Quezada, 27, of East Palo Alto, arrested on warrants, 200 block of Escuela Ave.

10:11 p.m. — Alexandra Urban, 33, of Mountain View, arrested for domestic violence, 100 block of Pacchetti Way.

LOS ALTOS

APRIL 2

1:41 p.m. — Auto burglary, 4900 block of El Camino.

APRIL 4

1:53 p.m. — Home burglary, 1800 block of Middleton Ave.

MONDAY

11:13 a.m. — Vandalism, 700 block of Nash Road.

WEDNESDAY

3:53 a.m. — Oscar Cardoza Orellana, 32, of San Jose, cited for display of false vehicle registration, Foothill Expressway and Springer Road.

6:45 a.m. — Burglary at Lulu’s, 163 Main St.

1:20 p.m. — Eder Zuniga, 36, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant at Los Altos Police Dept, 1 N. San Antonio Road.

3:55 p.m. — Mohandus Jamison, 25, of Daly City, arrested for having a loaded gun with an altered identification mark, having a large-capacity magazine of ammunition and destroying or concealing evidence of a crime, Fremont and Miramonte avenues.

THURSDAY

8:04 a.m. — Kirk Ford, 60, transient, cited on a warrant, Whitney and First streets.

ATHERTON

FRIDAY

1:17 p.m. — Vandalism, Broadacres Road.

SATURDAY

8:15 p.m. — Home burglary, Catalpa Drive.

REDWOOD CITY

MONDAY

5:57 p.m. — Sailesh Tummala, 33, of Redwood City, arrested for

Police Blotter

domestic violence, 200 block of Franklin St.

7:30 p.m. — Alex Chajon Vasquez, 31, arrested for drug possession, driving with a suspended or revoked license and on a warrant, Woodside Road and Broadway. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

7:48 p.m. — Man steals merchandise from a store, Walnut St.

8:51 p.m. — Man hits another person and runs away, El Camino.

TUESDAY

5:05 p.m. — Resident finds a strange man sleeping in the resident’s apartment, 1300 block of Whipple Ave. Adrian Oscar Garcia, Isaula, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for burglary and probation violation.

5:20 p.m. — Destiny Dawn Heather Jean Turney, 35, cited for narcotics possession, 400 County Center. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

6:27 p.m. — Customer slaps a store employee, El Camino.

11 p.m. — Oscar Leonardo Rincon Pirela, 41, of San Mateo, arrested for domestic violence, 200 block of Linden St.

11:05 p.m. — Gregory V. Vartanian, 62, of Redwood City, cited for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, Woodside Road and Broadway.

11:58 p.m. — Taylor Suton Dawley, 27, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI that causes injuries following a two-vehicle accident, El Camino and James Ave.

WEDNESDAY

10:30 a.m. — Marcus Anthony Fulcher, 44, of Redwood City, arrested for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and

parole violation at Redwood City Police Dept., 1301 Maple St.

12:19 p.m. — Gregory V. Vartanian, 62, of Redwood City, cited for trespassing at Good Nite Inn, 485 Veterans Blvd.

1:52 p.m. — Auto burglary, Hamilton St.

6:37 p.m. — Auto burglary, Middlefield Road.

7:08 p.m. — Sedat Ozce, 37, arrested for failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements and on a warrant at Cordilleras County Mental Health Facility, 200 Edmonds Road. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

8:35 p.m. — David Anthony Nunes, 47, arrested for drug possession, parole violation and resisting police, Hancock and Laurel streets. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

THURSDAY

1:32 a.m. — Stolen vehicle recovered, Marsh Road.

11:36 a.m. — Caller says a reckless driver just sped through multiple stop signs, Redwood Shores Parkway.

1:20 p.m. — Drunken man reported to be harassing customers as they go into a store, Roosevelt Ave. Police are unable to find the man.

1:33 p.m. — Davion Douglas, 32, cited for shoplifting, 2400 block of El Camino.

2:43 p.m. — Man causing a disturbance at a bank, El Camino.

4:29 p.m. — Man reported to be throwing chairs outside a business, Broadway. Police are unable to find the man.

BELMONT

THURSDAY

6:43 p.m. — Theft, 1100 block of Shoreway Road.

FRIDAY

9:47 a.m. — Milton Iulio, 33, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Ralston Ave. and Alameda de las Pulgas.

9:53 p.m. — David Daniel Childress, 54, arrested on a warrant, 1100 block of Shoreway Road.

SATURDAY

9:13 a.m. — Jacklyn Marie Kendall, 24, arrested for domestic violence, 900 block of Old County Road.

CHP

From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the MidPeninsula.

APRIL 1

Mansur Sirazetdinov, 28, arrested for DUI.

APRIL 2

Eduardo H. Lazo Flores, 47, arrested for identity theft, possession of a counterfeit bill or check, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

APRIL 3

Mariah R. Davis, 32, arrested for DUI and child endangerment. Edwin Perez, 34, arrested for DUI.

Dani J. Tiznado, 28, arrested for DUI.

Adam A. Yauk, 29, arrested for DUI.

Nicholas J. Zuniga, 29, arrested for DUI and carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle.

APRIL 4

Mario A. Estrada Gomez, 31, arrested for DUI.

Gabriel A. Rangel Nieves, 27, arrested for DUI.

APRIL 5

Leila C. Kilduff, 28, arrested for DUI.

Vandon T. Weaver, 29, arrested for DUI.

Palo Alto

Daily Post won 17 AWARDS from the National Newspaper Association.

News coverage

The Post won national awards for its coverage of the:

• controversy surrounding San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus

• the opioid crisis

• the slow release of after-action reports on the Covid outbreak

• coverage of a massive fire that destroyed a housing development in North Fair Oaks

Advertising

The Post’s advertising and graphics staff won first place national awards for:

• Best Advertising Idea

• Best Public Notice Section

• Best Real Estate Ad

• Best Restaurant Ad

• Best Use of Color

• Best Small-Page Ad

• Best Series Ad Using Color

Lynn North

The Post prints the latest

PALO ALTO

4250 El Camino Real #B118, 94306, 1 bedroom, 960 square feet, built in 1983, Hsieh Living Trust to Jonathan Chow for $675,000, closed March 9 (last sale: $420,000, 0609-11)

1116 Bryant St., 94301, 2 bedrooms, 1220 square feet, built in 1904, Lockhart Family Trust to Meyer Trust for $1,485,000, closed March 12 (last sale: $219,000, 03-17-11)

1455 California Ave., 94304, 2 bedrooms, 1989 square feet, built in 2017, Mary Wootters to Stanford University for $1,825,000, closed March 10

MENLO PARK

1208 Henderson Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1070 square feet, built in 1948, Per Nilsson to Eunhei Jang for $1,244,000, closed Feb. 27 (last sale: $1,211,500, 11-07-19)

1983 Euclid Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1270 square feet, built in 1985, Golden Acacia LLC to Chieh-Yin and Young Lee for $1,250,000, closed Feb. 23 (last sale: $1,100,000, 10-18-24)

1104 Del Norte Ave., 94025, 4 bedrooms, 1474 square feet, built in 1952, Benny Low to Gar and Jessica Moreno-Garcia for $1,250,000, closed Feb.

Real Estate

27 (last sale: $340,000, 05-06-10)

MOUNTAIN VIEW

2025 Yorkshire Way, 94040, 3 bedrooms, 1036 square feet, built in 1950, Joy and David West to ARO Properties Norcal 1 LLC for $3,451,000, closed March 13

3352 Villa Robleda Drive, 94040, 4 bedrooms, 2103 square feet, built in 1972, Corson and Judd 2006 Trust to Maya and Mark Hardiman for $3,710,000, closed March 10 (last sale: $1,205,500, 02-16-10)

1011 Tulane Drive, 94040, 4 bedrooms, 2409 square feet, built in 1958, Survivor Sandstrom to Chaewon and Ki Kim for $3,850,000, closed March 11

1010 Gest Drive, 94040, 3 bedrooms, 1836 square feet, built in 1963, Westwood Cho 2014 Trust to Ding Living Trust for $4,118,000, closed March 9 (last sale: $1,307,000, 05-24-10)

767 Cuesta Drive, 94040, 5 bedrooms, 2551 square feet, built in 2023, Glz 08 LLC to Catherine Chang for $4,125,000, closed March 13

248 Walker Drive #17, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1855 square feet, built in 1981, Pollock Trust to Sindhu and Shamanth Kumar for $5,520,000, closed March 13

LOS ALTOS HILLS

26951 Almaden Court, 94022, 3 bedrooms, 2246

square feet, built in 1966, Arnold Living Trust to Daniela and John Haaland for $5,167,500, closed March 10

REDWOOD CITY

1172 Woodrow St., 94061, 3 bedrooms, 1830 square feet, built in 1926, James and Scott Walsh to David Ata for $1,850,000, closed Feb. 25 (last sale: $1,200,000, 07-28-15)

517 Martinique Drive, 94065, 4 bedrooms, 2520 square feet, built in 1978, Zheng-Cheng Trust to Chenyu Zhang for $2,515,000, closed Feb. 27 (last sale: $1,705,000, 01-31-20)

1716 Rosemary Lane, 94061, 3 bedrooms, 1730 square feet, built in 1958, Yinshuang Gong to Marco and Raffaella Dreassi for $2,560,000, closed Feb. 23 (last sale: $2,150,000, 11-06-23)

SAN CARLOS

1115 Crestview Drive

#2, 94070, 2 bedrooms, 1040 square feet, built in 1974, Montez Living Trust to Alexander Brugger for $1,275,000, closed Feb. 23 (last sale: $615,000, 09-20-06)

537 Prospect St., 94070, Mack Family Trust to Allison Warner for $2,750,000, closed Feb. 27

1316 Rosewood Ave., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1906 square feet, built in 1945,

Michael Rong to Stephanie and Sumeet Singh for $3,100,000, closed Feb. 24 (last sale: $2,575,000, 04-06-23)

103 Northam Ave., 94070, 4 bedrooms, 2670 square feet, built in 1953, Gormly-Pearce Trust to Stripling and Skye Trust for $3,600,000, closed Feb. 23

289 Kings Court, 94070, 4 bedrooms, 5570 square feet, built in 1997, Tansey Family Trust to Natalie and Kyle Boston for $5,800,000, closed Feb. 26 (last sale: $1,340,000, 12-23-97)

BELMONT

1255 North Road, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 1830 square feet, built in 1969, Nicholas Fullagar to 1683 Ventures LLC for $1,800,000, closed Feb. 23 (last sale: $435,000, 12-08-97)

1306 North Road, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 1650 square feet, built in 1957, Shirley Kraus to Indhu and Mukilan Mohan for $2,501,000, closed Feb. 27 (last sale: $1,805,000, 03-17-25)

2637 Sequoia Way, 94002, 4 bedrooms, 1770 square feet, built in 1959, Yujie Liu to Ruyi and Chao Yuan for $2,910,000, closed Feb. 27 (last sale: $2,000,000, 01-14-22)

2712 Hallmark Drive, 94002, 5 bedrooms, 2430 square feet, built in 1966, Gee Family Trust to Deng Family Trust for $3,525,000, closed Feb. 26

SWALWELL ––––

incident, which she said took place in New York in 2024.

CNN later Friday published the same woman’s account, as well as those of three other women who alleged similar encounters and said he sent unsolicited nude photos and other inappropriate messages on Snapchat.

Pelosi drops her support

Dozens of supporters and staffers quickly dropped their backing of him. Yesterday, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi said he should end his campaign. Major unions and congressional candidates pulled their endorsements.

In his post, Swalwell apologized to his “family, staff, friends, and supporters,” saying “I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” he wrote.

He’ll still be on the ballot

Because he is leaving the race after a state deadline to file for or withdraw from a race, his name will still appear on the June 2 primary ballot.

Pressure for him to drop out intensified over the weekend when the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced it would look into the alleged 2024 assault.

This wasn’t the first time Swalwell’s judgment involving a sexual relationship made news. In 2011-15, Swalwell admitted to having an affair with a woman who, unbeknownst to him, was a Chinese spy.

The woman, known as Fang Fang, raised money for his 2014 campaign and placed an intern in his office. At the time, Swalwell was on the House Intelligence Committee. The FBI advised him to end the relationship, which he did.

Swalwell ran primarily on his antagonism toward President Trump, telling voters that fighting Trump is the California governor’s “number one job.”

Was ahead in the polls

In a field of seven major Democrats, he had better name recognition with liberal voters than many other candidates from his frequent appearances on cable news and his role chairing the second Trump impeachment in 2021.

He quickly rose to the top of the polls among Democratic candidates, and garnered the largest share of support from state Democratic Party delegates during its February convention.

For much of the past two weeks, he was in a threeway tie for lead Democrat in the race, along with Katie Porter and Tom Steyer.

All three were trailing the two Republican candidates, Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco, raising concerns among Democrats that the two Republicans could take the top two spots in the June 2 primary

election, advance to November and lock Democrats out of the seat.

Swalwell’s exit could allow another Democrat to surge into the lead, if most of his supporters flock to the same candidate.

DEALS ––––--–––

“has agreed in principle” to settle its claims against the defendants. The notices don’t include details of the settlements.

SMCCCD agendas show the case was discussed in closed session during regular board meetings in January, February and March and during a Dec. 17 special meeting.

If the three settlements are finalized, that leaves two defendants — Allana Buick & Bers and Robert A. Bothman Inc. — to potentially continue on to a trial date, currently scheduled for May 4. Lawyers for the district and the defendants said they’d try to work things out through private mediation, according to minutes of a Feb. 9 case management conference.

The college district — which runs College of San Mateo, Canada College and Skyline College — filed its lawsuit in February 2023 and revised it in November 2023.

Wine, concert tickets, free construction work

The lawsuit alleges that former Chancellor Galatolo accepted gifts including wine, concert and sports tickets, and free construction work on his personal properties, “in return for awarding lucrative construction contracts to contractors and architects in connection with the district’s various capital improvement plans.”

The lawsuit called Jose Nunez, the district’s former vice chancellor of facilities, a “co-conspirator.”

“Defendants knew that the benefits and gifts they gave to Galatolo and other college employees were illegal but made them anyway in order to secure massive construction contracts,” the district alleged.

Galatolo faced criminal charges and on Jan. 20, a jury found him guilty of eight felonies, including four counts of tax evasion and four counts of perjury. The jury was deadlocked on the remaining 18 felony charges, which included misuse of public funds, perjury and conflicts of interest.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe decided not to retry Galatolo for the 18 felonies, saying it would cost too much. Galatolo’s sentencing is set for June 5.

Nunez took a plea bargain in 2022 after being charged with 15 felonies.

$1.06 billion in bond measures

The construction projects at issue in the lawsuit were funded by voter-approved bond measures. From 2001 to 2014, voters approved three bond measures to raise $1.06 billion for the college district.

The district argued in its lawsuit that contracts it

entered into are invalid if either Galatolo or Nunez had a financial interest in the contract based on gifts they received or expected to receive. Money paid under those contracts should be returned, the district claimed, citing California law pertaining to conflicts of interest in government contracts.

In a Jan. 30 joint case management statement, defendants called the case “pure government overreach.”

“One of the district’s most extreme positions in this litigation is that a single gift to a public official before a contract is entered into is sufficient to void a $100M plus contract,” the defendants said.

Defendants denied bribes

They said that during Galatolo’s criminal trial, there was no finding of any misconduct related to any defendant in the district’s lawsuit.

“This case is not about bribery or kickbacks,” the defendants said. “The district admits there is no evidence any gift was given or accepted in exchange for any particular contract.”

In the settlement notice for Bunton, Clifford & Associates, attorneys for the college district said they’d file a request to dismiss the case by the first day of trial. A dismissal depends on “the satisfactory completion of specified payment terms,” the notice said.

The settlement notice for Blach Construction said attorneys will file a request to dismiss the case by Nov. 6.

The college district said it would provide further details on its settlement with McCarthy when the agreement is finalized.

handled Deputy District Attorney Daniel Chung, who is getting a $8,525 paycheck every two weeks while under Rosen’s orders to stay home.

Rosen has fired Chung twice, but the firings were reversed both times. Chung has sued Rosen three times and is running against him in the June election.

McManis is representing Chung in one of the lawsuits, and the other two were filed by the union for prosecutors.

In Rosen’s “state of the office speech” on Feb. 17, Rosen focused on the “allegedly catastrophic state of the county’s budget,” claiming the county’s $470 million deficit will require layoffs that will gravely impact public safety, Scofield’s suit said.

Rosen warned that his office could be forced to stop prosecuting tens of thousands of misdemeanors.

“Will people get hurt? Will they be killed? Will criminals go free? I don’t know,” he said.

Rosen paid Chung $314,596 from 2022 to 2025, Scofield’s suit said.

The county also hired attorney Jonathan Holtzman to defend Rosen’s firings for $450,000, according to public records.

Rosen’s spokesman Sean Webby declined an interview on Rosen’s behalf.

Scofield wants a judge to order Rosen and the county to allow Chung to return to work.

“Defendants would rather let Chung — a highly educated, highly qualified attorney — sit at home to prove their point: Don’t cross Rosen,” said the lawsuit, filed on March 25 in Santa Clara County Superior Court.

Guest opinion upset Rosen

The feud between Rosen and Chung goes back to February 2021, when Chung published an opinion piece that criticized “progressive prosecutors” in the wake of several hate crimes against Asians.

Rosen, 57, of Los Altos, suspended Chung for two weeks, but an arbitrator later reduced the suspension to one week.

In May 2021, Chung went to a Red Cross center where the families of mass shooting victims were gathered, without Rosen’s permission.

Rosen had Chung escorted out of the office and fired, but arbitrator Paul Roose reduced the punishment to a 30-day suspension.

Chung ran against Rosen in 2022 and used his candidacy as a platform to criticize Rosen. He claimed prosecutors slept with witnesses, used campaign funds to reimburse non-campaign costs and withheld evidence in serious criminal cases.

Chung said there was a saying in the office: “If you’re not one of Rosen’s chosen, you’re going to be frozen.”

Chung received 79,378 votes to Rosen’s 181,851, and Rosen was elected to his fourth term.

Chung then went to a training seminar in San Diego in April 2023, despite instructions not to do so.

Rosen fired him again. A personnel board reduced the firing to a two-week suspension and reinstated Chung on June 23, 2025.

ODD ––––--–––––

in an application for a restraining order on Dec. 26. Feldman is one of six Old Palo Alto residents with a restraining order against Li, who is known for opening car doors without permission and acting confused.

Family traumatized

Jeremy Mathias said he moved to the neighborhood with his wife and three kids in August, and Li spends hours each day standing in front of their home or across the street, waiting for them to return.

“When we enter or exit our vehicles, she runs toward them and attempts to open the door. This is traumatic for our family every time it happens,” Mathias said in a Jan. 22 restraining order application.

The issues with Li started around July 2023 when she asked a security guard if she could represent Page in a home purchase, according to a police report.

“She was persistent in this venture as she began trying to bribe our security officers for access,” a security guard told police. “Unfortunately, things started to escalate from there.”

of his face near his temple, Officer Andrew Escalante said in a police report.

Police initially arrested Li for felony assault with a deadly weapon, but she was ultimately charged with misdemeanor battery.

Li was arrested again on Sept. 23 and Nov. 2 for walking within 300 feet of homes with restraining orders.

A judge appointed a doctor to evaluate Li on Nov. 6, and she was found competent to stand trial.

Li was arrested again on Dec. 25 for going near resident Pei-Hsing Chang’s house. Chang had called the police on Li 14 times and was fed up that she kept being released.

“Her behavior throughout the neighborhood was becoming more violent,” Officer Ian Johnson said in a police report.

Made unusual sounds in police car

On the way to jail, Li made choking noises and pretended to go unconscious, Johnson said.

“She stated she needed to stay in the hospital for more observation, clearly trying to find an excuse not to go to jail,” Johnson said.

Li, who is represented by the public defender’s office, has pleaded innocent to battery and restraining order violations. She is scheduled for a six-day jury trial with Judge Eric Geffon on April 27, court records show.

TERRACE –––––

easily combust, Jasso said. “These buildings could rapidly become fatal to occupants,” Jasso said in a statement supporting the demolition order.

The city made all of the tenants move out, and Huang had to pay relocation assistance equaling two months of rent.

Most tenants moved to Extended Stay America in Mountain View or found somewhere to rent closer to Stanford, Huang’s attorney at the time, Isaac Winer, said in an April 2024 interview.

Six tenants — Jun Li, Justin Jacob, Jonas Nikoloff, Ming Yang, Dongsheng Han and Dena Bahmani — sued Huang and her companies in October 2024.

Huang allegedly targeted Stanford graduate students because “they were foreigners with money and a need for housing since they were students, but completely unfamiliar with tenant laws,” the lawsuit said.

The tenants confidentially settled their lawsuit with Huang on Aug. 4, court records show.

Chief Building Official George Hoyt issued a demolition order on Oct. 17, giving Huang six months to tear down the building.

Building is falling apart

Hoyt said the building has fallen apart even more since the first inpsection. He noticed a mattress and bedding on a balcony and a water line was tapped into, suggesting someone was living there.

“Demolition is not only warranted but required by law,” Hoyt said in a statement.

Huang’s attorney Brian O’Neill said the city has targeted Huang because she didn’t respond to a letter about using the hotel as a city homeless shelter on June 18, 2021.

“We believe the owners’ decision not to sell the property to the city or repurpose it in accordance with the city’s preferred high-density housing agenda provoked a campaign of retaliation,” O’Neill said in a letter on Nov. 7.

Huang is worried about the cost of demolition and a vacant property becoming a magnet for “nuisance activities,” O’Neill said.

Palo Alto City Council will consider Huang’s appeal on April 20.

College Terrace residents aren’t happy about the property’s condition.

“Not only is it an eyesore, it is a fire hazard, a terrible precedent to set vis-a-vis planning and development for a site, and a breeding ground for rodents,” neighbor Annette Ross said in an email to council. If council denies the appeal, then Huang would have until Oct. 20 to demolish the buildings.

Shir Heimark was the first resident to get a restraining order against Li in December 2023.

‘Bizarre’

Li allegedly tried to get into a car with Heimark’s one-year-old son and said she was looking for a friend when she was confronted.

“It’s such a bizarre thing, the way she behaves,” Heimark said in an interview at the time.

Heimark said she added security cameras to her house, put an alarm on her keychain and bought pepper spray to keep by her bed when her husband travels.

“I don’t want to see anything bad to happen to her. I just want to feel safe,” Heimark said.

Resident Gregory Price obtained a restraining order against Li in September 2024 after she opened the front door to his house, police said.

Umbrella attack

A security guard confronted Li for opening car doors on March 24, 2025, and she allegedly hit him in the face with an umbrella, police said.

The security guard had a red mark on the left side

WHEN OUR YOUTH NEED SUPPORT, Children’s Health Council Is Here. Childhood today can feel overwhelming, for kids and for parents. When anxiety, learning challenges, or emotional struggles begin to surface, families often wonder where to turn. For more than 70 years, Children’s Health Council (CHC) has provided compassionate support for children and teens, helping them build confidence, resilience, and hope. From therapy and evaluations to parent guidance and school support, CHC walks alongside families every step of the way. If your child needs support, don’t wait. Learn more at chconline.org.

TRUSTED CARE FOR THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER. The new Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center - Palo Alto offers timely, accessible, and competitively priced therapy with a licensed clinician. Services for youth aged 12-17 meet teens where they are—in both readiness for care and logistical needs. Each young person receives care reflecting their unique needs and preferences, with evidence-based therapy addressing emotional regulation, mood and anxiety symptoms, trauma and grief, peer relationships and social stress, identity development and self-esteem, parent-child communication, and more. Family therapy is also offered. Visit Caminar. org/TeenWellness for more information.

SAND HILL SCHOOL, PART OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH COUNCIL, is now enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year for grades 2–8. Designed for bright students with ADHD, dyslexia, and schoolbased anxiety, Sand Hill School offers a personalized, strengths-based approach that meets each child where they are and helps them thrive. With small class sizes, expert educators, and integrated support, students build confidence, resilience, and

a love of learning. Families seeking a different path for their child’s success are encouraged to learn more and schedule a visit at sandhillschool.org/visit.

fabulous Five Ten gifts at 510 Waverley St. in downtown Palo Alto or give them a call at (650) 322-4510.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. The Shady Lane Gift Shop in Sharon Heights has plenty to offer for the person who has everything or is hard to please. Or maybe you just want to buy a nice gift made by local artists and craftsmen. Silver jewelry, wood carvings, masks, intricate boxes and much, much more. Alice is the friendly owner of this fun and fascinating little gift shop located in the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park. Shady Lane is right next door to Starbucks. Give Alice a call at (650) 321-1099 and check the website for more crafty new information about this great little place.

OK, SO YOU PULLED THE BARBECUE onto the deck and immediately wanted to put it away? Deck too dirty? Sweeping and hosing it down won’t clean it, right? Call Mark Carlsen for a deep-down clean pressure-washing job on that deck. He’ll wash away winter and whatever else is on that wood! Gutters clogged? He can help you with that too. Call Mark today at (650) 868-0801.

IN NEED OF A UNIQUE GIFT? Stop into Five Ten in Palo Alto and say hi to Whitney. Five Ten is all about great gifts and cool gadgets. Looking for fun or fancy gift? Whitney has it all and can be picked up today. Check out all the

STOP IN AND ENJOY THE MACARTHUR PARK RESTAURANT AND BAR. Their landmark restaurant has been honored and recognized for its culinary achievements, historic setting, and contribution to Palo Alto’s rich history. Faz, owner and operator of MacArthur Park has created an extensive, newly renovated menu and delicious daily specials. Come dine with them and relish in the magnificence of MacArthur Park’s food, ambience, and beauty. Make a reservation now by calling (650) 321-9990. MacArthur Park is open Tuesday–Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is located in downtown Palo Alto, right next to the Caltrain station at 27 University Ave.

MAYBE PETER HASN’T BEEN DOING in personally but Sundance the Steakhouse has been serving the dining public for over 50 years. That’s what Sundance the Steakhouse does in Palo Alto. Peter and the staff are here now and they’re a big part of making this restaurant one of the best steakhouses on the peninsula. American fare cuisine with a variety of steaks and seafood. Prime rib is the favorite for most people along with the world class wine list. Come by and check it out. You won’t be disappointed. Sundance The Steakhouse is located at 1921 El Camino Real. Call (650) 321-6798 for reservations or check the website for more information.