Birder’s Garden proudly supports local journalism.
The news you read every day in the Daily Post would not be possible without the support of our advertisers.
Please see their ad on Page 13 and tell them how you appreciate their support.
Post
Thousands of homes foreseen
BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent
The city of Palo Alto is inviting residents to weigh in on a plan to add thousands of homes to the San Antonio Road area, along with parks, new retail, and improvements for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The plan for the 275-acre area is called the San Antonio Road area plan. Depending on building heights and den-
People asked to opine on plan for the San Antonio Road area
sities the city decides to allow, the plan could include 3,900 to 7,000 new housing units. The area now has 384 homes.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission will discuss the plan tomorrow, followed by a presentation to
the Planning and Transportation Commission on Wednesday. The plan will then go to City Council for a study session on April 6. Survey questions include whether
[See THOUSANDS, page 18]
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Residents can participate in a city survey on the plan at https://communityfeedback. opengov.com/portals/ paloalto/Issue_14871
The deadline is March 29.
TSA SUBSTITUTES: President Trump has sent federal immigration agents to airports to substitute for TSA workers who are calling in sick or quitting because they’re not being paid due to a partial shutdown by Congress.
IRAN’S REACH: Iran has unsuccessfully fired two intercontinental ballistic missiles at a joint UK-U.S. military base in the Indian Ocean known as Diego Garcia, exceeding what was previously considered the maximum range of the country’s weapons capabilities. The strike shows much of Europe could be hit by Iran’s missiles.
IRAN ISSUES WARNING: Iran yesterday warned it would close the Strait of Hormuz immediately if the U.S. attacks Iranian power plants. President Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to reopen the strait.
GUTHRIE CLUES SOUGHT: Savannah Guthrie, in a new statement on Instagram, is asking neighbors, friends and residents of Tucson, Ariz.,
[See THE UPDATE, page 4]
BY STEPHANIE LAM Daily Post Correspondent
Mountain View City Council on Tuesday will consider approving plans to build hundreds of new homes in an eight-story building in the East Whisman neighborhood.
Developer Jeffrey Stone of WTA Middlefield (Diamond Construction) wants to build 460 apartments and 9,371 square feet of retail space at 490
[See EIGHT, page 19]
Zuck, Chan’s decision may be costly
Enrollment in the East Palo Alto-based Ravenswood School District is expected to jump by 21% due to the decision last year by billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan to close a private school they had opened, a ballot argument for a bond measure states.
Zuckerberg and Chan announced
Closure of billionaire couple’s school could raise Ravenswood taxes
last April that they are closing tuition-free The Primary School, forcing over 400 students to find a new school. Most of those students will
end up in the Ravenswood City School District.
Zuckerberg and Chan’s charity, which provided the funds to the school, didn’t provide a reason why the couple cut off funding.
In the June 2 special election, voters will decide the fate of the bond mea-
[See ZUCK, page 19]
Proposal for 490 East Middlefield Road in Mountain View. Rendering by SDT Architects.
Locally owned, independent
• 2 upstairs bedrooms, each en suite, plus half-bath
• Approximately 1,375 square feet
• Freshly painted and engineered wood floors throughout
• Open-concept living area, vaulted skylit ceiling, and garden patio
• Upstairs laundry, attached 1-car garage, air conditioning
• Community pool and spa
• HOA fee of $759.11/month
• Excellent Palo Alto schools
• Minutes from Stanford, California Avenue shops & restaurants, and San Antonio Center Offered at $1,598,000 4173ElCaminoReal23.com
And what a location!
$114 million bridge for cougars, butterflies
A $114 million bridge that allows cougars and butterflies to cross a freeway in Southern California has taken four years to build and is $21 million over budget.
Gov. Gavin Newsom presided this week over the opening of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing above Highway 101 in Agoura Hills.
The bridge’s project manager, fungi expert Beth Pratt, blamed President Trump for the cost overruns, saying it was due to his “tariffs, inflation, (and) labor problems.”
She disputed the notion that the project was a fiasco.
“There’s no boondoggle,” she said. “Given the times we’re living in,” a potential $21 million overage is “not that bad.” She said the cost increases were consistent with those faced by other construction projects.
The governor’s office says the project is needed to ensure the safety and genetic diversity of mountain lions in the Santa Monica Mountains, where only about a dozen non-kitten cougars live at any given time. While bridge proponents claim that the local mountain lion population could otherwise face extinction, researchers suggest the bridge is not the only solution to ensure their survival.
to jog their memories in hopes of sparking new leads in the disappearance of her mother Nancy.
BLACKOUT IN HAVANA: Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel is blaming the U.S. for a blackout in Havana caused by a lack of oil.
ROBERT S. MUELLER, the former FBI director who was special counsel in charge of investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, has died at age 81.
BOX OFFICE: The Ryan Gosling movie “Project Hail Mary” has topped the North American box office charts over the weekend with $80.5 million in ticket sales.
PAIN RELIEVER RECALL: Nearly 90,000 bottles of a children’s pain reliever have been recalled due to reports of particles and other possible contaminants. The Food and Drug Administration posted an online notice about the recall of Taro Pharmaceuticals’ Children’s Ibuprofen Oral Suspension.
GAS TAX LIFTED: Georgia has become the first state to suspend fuel taxes for 60 days after the war in the Middle East sent pump prices soaring.
ADRIFT AT SEA: The uncrewed Russian tanker drifting in the Mediterranean for the past two weeks has entered Libya’s search and rescue zone and is now about 40 nautical miles from Libya’s territorial waters, Italy’s civil protection agency said. The Arctic Metagaz is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” transporting fossil fuels in violation of international sanctions over Moscow’s war on Ukraine.
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
The Wildlife Crossing over Highway 101. AP photos.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, left, and Gov. Gavin Newsom at the opening last week.
BIRTHS
El Camino
Aug. 11
Bailee Heeyeon Bae, a girl
Leni Louise Kanja, a girl
Ayse Inci Keskin, a girl
Zachary Cory Koblents, a boy
Ahsen Korkmaz, a girl
Yanrui Barron Ma, a boy
Adithya Premkumar, a boy
Hannah Van Ramos, a girl
Aria Singh, a girl
Lexi Chen Zhao, a girl
Aug. 12
Natan Cybis Carlesso, a boy
Atharv Chandra Dachepalli, a boy
Desmond Yanchu Gao, a boy
Dhruv Gautam, a boy
Griffin Joseph Ginanni, a boy
Carson Andrew Giordano, a boy
Camila Linda Hurd, a girl
Hailey Li Kang, a girl
Sanav Krishna, a boy
Miles Shepherd Lau, a boy
Riley Christine Lonso, a girl
Jayce Adler Sheng, a boy
Rayan Umar, a boy
Charlotte Nadia Wilhelms, a girl
Aug. 13
Amelia Dawn Mosqueda Brixey, a girl
Elianarose Veloso Cuyle, a girl
Lia Lamont Driscoll, a girl
Kavin Karthikeyan, a boy
Varchas Kaundinya, a boy
School board member secretly investigated
The Palo Alto school district is so wildly out of control that the district’s employees secretly conducted an investigation of an elected school board member.
The employees hired a law firm who interviewed people to find something on board member Rowena Chiu. Turns out, she was clean as a whistle.
The pretext for this investigation was that an employee filed a complaint against Chiu.
The employees, under now-former superintendent Don Austin, thought they had the right to investigate her. Nothing was brought to the board for a public vote or discussion.
They need a Civics 101 lesson: The voters elect the board. The board hires and fires the superintendent.
The superintendent hires the district’s employees.
Where are the bikes?
Dear Editor: “I’m worried that this just becomes a bike freeway,” Vice Mayor Greer Stone said.
For years, I have walked down the closed section of California Avenue several times a week. Except for three hours on Sunday mornings, I have yet to see
The cliche “the inmates are running the asylum” comes to mind.
In this district, if the board decides the high schools should offer multivariable calculus for kids who want to get into a college with a strong engineering program, the teachers can blow off the board and refuse to offer the class.
The teachers are in charge, not the board.
This secret investigation puts the board in a bad spot. Some might say that a faction that controls the school board is secretly using district employees and district lawyers to hound a critic. I’m sure board members would deny such allegation, but that’s the perception such an investigation gives to an outside observer.
Let’s say the lawyers found something terrible about Chiu. (They didn’t.)
Since she’s not a school district employee, what could they do about it? They can’t discipline her or threaten to
fire her. She was elected by the voters and accountable only to them.
So what’s the point of a secret investigation? Maybe it’s to dig up dirt that would be secretly circulated around the community and used against Chiu before the next election?
Perhaps the point of the investigation was extortion? In other words, we’ve got some dirt on you. If you don’t want it revealed, you better vote the way we tell you to vote.
As residents of the district, we’re entitled to some information about this secret investigation:
• How much did this investigation cost?
• What was its scope?
• Who approved it?
• Were any board members told about it?
• Can we see the final report?
LETTERS
a single cyclist walk their bike. Rather than spend taxpayers’ money on consultants, Mr. Stone and Redesign Project Manager Bruce Fukuji should have a cup of coffee or even lunch on California Ave. and see with their own eyes.
Brenton Hanlon Palo Alto
Health care for all
Dear Editor: While the Measure A sales tax passed and will inject some much-needed funds into the Santa Clara health care system following federal cuts, the county still faces a shortfall. This will in all likelihood lead to additional loss of staff and possible
NO KINGS 3 Peninsula Out in Force
YOU CAN’T BEAT ABC7 when it comes to alarmist journalism. On Thursday, they had a story saying,“San Francisco is sinking at a rapid pace, NASA data shows.”
If you dig a little deeper, you find out that NASA defines rapid as 0.4 of an inch per year. Combine that with predictions of sea-level rise, and San Francisco should have enough water soon to wash away the poop and fentanyl needles on the sidewalks.
Next week, ABC7 will report: Glaciers are headed our way rapidly.
IN PALO ALTO, we do a lot of planning. One planning report after another. One planning district on top of another. And we have traffic jams, business districts dying and people living in their cars.
Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.
closure of hospitals and other essential health services.
It is time to stop piecemeal solutions to our health care crisis. Assembly Bill 1900, otherwise known as the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, has now been introduced into the state [See LETTERS, page 8]
Saturday, March 28
2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM
San Carlos, CA
(Intersection of San Carlos Ave. and El Camino Real)
We are living through a moment that is testing the strength of our democracy, and this is not the time to retreat. It is the time to stand shoulder to shoulder in community and keep the pressure on. Let us raise a clear and unwavering message: in America, we do not crown kings—we defend democracy. Bring your voice. Bring your conviction. Bring your drums. Come prepared to peacefully and powerfully express your dissent and your hope. Together, let us exercise our First Amendment rights—not in anger, but in courage—to protect the freedoms that define us and to reaffirm the democratic principles that make this nation ours.
let the message be clear: LOVE IS STRONGER THAN HATE
Dave Price
Bay Area Home Remodeling Pros
LETTERS –---
legislature. This policy-only bill will provide the essential first step in the path towards Medicare for All in California.
Imagine having no fee at the point of service. Imagine being able to choose the doctor and hospital you want to go to. Imagine having comprehensive health care services covered, including vision, hearing, dental and long-term care. Imagine not facing the prospect of bankruptcy if you’re diagnosed with cancer or some other serious health condition, or even from having a baby! Imagine, at the same time, saving billions of dollars a year in health care costs.
All this is possible with the Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, but it will take a massive, people-led effort to overcome the attacks against it, which will no doubt be led by those who profit off our current ruthless, predatory health care system.
Elizabeth Price Palo Alto
No calculus for me
Dear Editor: Congratulations to the Palo Alto School Board for avoiding calculus in high school. I got my first exposure to the subject in the first semester of Engineering School. The course was extremely demanding.
The administration used it as a test of the student’s suitability for the rest
of the engineering curriculum. Many decided to pursue another major, saving their parents money for education in a field in which they were not destined to succeed. And our high school suffered no suicides.
Jerry Clements Los Altos
Time to fight back
Dear Editor: Don’t ever believe that a government agency can walk all over you.
Americans have allowed their government to believe that officials are in charge, and there is no way for citizens to fight back. As a result, we have excesses by ICE and President Trump’s decision to ship bombs to Israel.
If “We the People” had fought back, then government would have never broken free from our control.
The Social Security Administration had awarded me a monthly stipend and then tried to take it away from me.
I didn’t take this lying down. I contacted the office of Sen. Adam Schiff. Almost instantly, the Social Security Administration called off the dogs.
In another case, the office of Assemblyman Marc Berman persuaded DMV to radically slash its bloated fee for registering my old car.
Senator Schiff has emphatically opposed King Trump’s war against Iran and the King’s ICE attacks. Are we to remain subjects of a runaway monarchy?
No! It is not difficult to get into dialogue with our elected reps. We can persuade them to fix arrogant government agencies, to block fascism and return control to people of conscience. Let us all twist the arms of our elected reps, as I did!
Linda Jolley Palo Alto
Ice cream heist
Dear Editor: I have been a loyal reader of the Daily Post for many years and appreciate your thorough coverage of local news. For the first time, your reporting has disappointed me.
In your recent article on the Marissa Meyer ice cream heist, you left out important information and left me with more questions.
The fact that the burglar was homeless seems irrelevant. What I desperately want to know is the following: what flavor was the ice cream? How
big were the jars? Is the man lactose intolerant? If so, the sequelae of his actions should be punishment enough. Also, what does a $30,000 onyx baccarat countertop look like?
I appreciate your attention to these details, which all reasonable people must find essential, and look forward to further reporting on this matter. Finally, kudos to Ms. Mayer for making ice cream so delicious that the thief couldn’t stop at one jar.
Linda Barman Menlo Park
Our representative
Dear Editor: It seems obvious that U.S. citizens deserve representation in the U.S. Congress.
By what stretch of the imagination do illegal aliens deserve the same representation?
Raymond R. White Mountain View
WINDOW CLEANING
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
WEDNESDAY
6:23 a.m. — Vandalism, 100 block of Hamilton Ave.
9:59 a.m. — Petty theft, Palo Alto High School.
1:53 p.m. — Scam, 400 block of California Ave.
2:04 p.m. — Assault, Embarcadero Road and northbound Highway 101.
6:29 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Ross Road.
MENLO PARK
THURSDAY
12:32 p.m. — Fraud, 100 block of Constitution Drive.
1:29 p.m. — Vandalism, Coleman Place.
2:43 p.m. — Assault, 100 block of Constitution Drive.
5:42 p.m. — Burglary, 500 block of Oak Grove Ave.
FRIDAY
9:52 a.m. — Benjamin Ervin, 33, transient, cited on two warrants, 700 block of El Camino.
7:43 p.m. — Andrew Williams Kern, 33, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, University Ave. at the railroad tracks.
8:15 p.m. — Petty theft, 600 block of Santa Cruz Ave.
3:10 p.m. — Noninjury vehicle collision, Willow Road and Chester St.
8:50 p.m. — Person taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation, 100 block of E. Creek Drive.
9:33 p.m. — Oscar Cespedes Patricio, 39, transient, arrested on two warrants, 1300 block of Willow Road.
STANFORD
MARCH 12
11:40 a.m. — Bicycle stolen, 500 block of Mayfield Ave.
7:18 p.m. — Vandalism, 200 block of Ayrshire Farm Lane.
10:11 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, 400 block of Escondido Mall.
10:21 p.m. — Electric scooter stolen, 400 block of Via Ortega.
MARCH 13
2:33 p.m. — Bike parts stolen, 700 block of Serra St.
8:22 p.m. — Electric bike stolen, 300 block of Lasuen St.
MARCH 15
3:43 p.m. — Yuhui Zhang, 19, of Stanford, cited for domestic violence, 200 block of Santa Teresa St.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
MARCH 15
1:18 a.m. — Ekaterina Datsenko, 31, of Mountain View, arrested for DUI, 300 block of Easy St.
2:31 a.m. — Julio Portillo Guardado, 22, of Sunnyvale, arrested for DUI, 900 block of W. Middlefield Road.
3:01 a.m. — Billy Lopez Aparicio, 29, of San Jose, arrested for DUI, Terra Bella Ave. and Shoreline Blvd.
3:03 a.m. — Victor Alvarenga Hernandez, 21, of Mountain View, arrested for DUI, 1000 block of Villa St.
12:06 p.m. — Identity theft, 400 block of Chagall St.
1:30 p.m. — Victor Zuniga, 52, of Mountain View, arrested on a warrant, California and Castro streets.
3 p.m. — Marlene Schulze, 33, arrested for battery, 600 block of Mariposa Ave.
3:21 p.m. — Home burglary, 100 block of Evandale Ave.
3:59 p.m. — Fernando Vargas, 44, of Mountain View, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Calderon Ave. and Villa St.
4:21 p.m. — Burglary at Public Storage, 1909 Old Middlefield Way.
7:37 p.m. — Eduardo Perez Ramirez, 28, of Mountain View, arrested for burglary, 600 block of National Ave.
REDWOOD CITY
WEDNESDAY
9:56 p.m. — Librado Cervantes Contreras, 41, arrested for violation of a protective order and driving with a suspended or revoked license, El Camino and Carlos Ave. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
THURSDAY
12:51 a.m. — Suspicious man reported to be checking multiple mailboxes, Marshall St. Police are unable to find the man.
6 a.m. — Two men are interrupted
while breaking into mailboxes, Hartsene Drive.
8:11 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, Junipero Ave.
9:47 a.m. — Jhovana Yamilet Romero Leyte, 25, arrested for elder abuse, 1100 block of Second Ave.
8 p.m. — Sione Fakatua Latu, 38, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 1000 block of El Camino. Eric Samuel Smith, 62, arrested for drug possession.
8:55 p.m. — Jose Ivan Rojas, 23, arrested for resisting police and probation violation, 200 block of Dumbarton Ave.
10:10 p.m. — Employee of an establishment says a woman is extremely drunk and does not appear to have the means to pay her tab, Broadway.
10:47 p.m. — Juan Carlos Uspirir, 23, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Woodside Road and El Camino. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
BELMONT
THURSDAY
12:01 a.m. — Gregory Patrick Flynn, 66, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 600 block of Old County Road.
FRIDAY
11:32 p.m. — Ahmed Moutstafa Elattar, 25, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Ralston Ave. and Highway 101.
SATURDAY
12:15 a.m. — Gerardo G. Huerta, 56, arrested for DUI, 600 block of Ralston Ave.
Sheriff seizes ballots
A county sheriff running for governor has seized more than half a million ballots cast in a November special election from county election officials, saying he’s investigating a ballot count discrepancy.
County elections officials have disputed the claims by Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Republican. California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, called Bianco’s move unprecedented and says it is designed to sow distrust in elections.
Bianco held a news conference Friday saying his office had launched the investigation after
Whether
He’s a Republican running for governor
receiving a complaint from a local citizens group about the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting.
A fact-finding mission
In the special election, voters approved a measure to redraw congressional district lines to favor Democrats in the upcoming midterm election. The measure passed in the county by a margin of more than 80,000 votes.
Bianco seized ballots in Riverside County, the inland California county of 2.5 million people where he has twice been elected sheriff. He called the effort “a fact-finding mission.”
“This investigation is simple: Physically count the ballots and compare that result with the total votes reported,” he said Friday.
Bianco is one of two prominent Republicans running for governor in a crowded June primary that includes more than half a dozen Democrats. California runs a top-two primary system that puts all candidates on the same ballot, regardless of party, and sends the two candidates who get the most voters onto the November general election.
He might win primary
Leading California Democrats are worried that their party has so many candidates, they risk splitting the vote and sending Bianco and Steve Hilton, another top Republican, onto the general election.
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.
Privacy and Security. Proper Appraisals. Fairest Buyers. Since 1963, same principal.
Privacy and Security. Proper Appraisals. Fairest Buyers. Since 1963, same
Yes, we also buy gold & silver bullion, bars, sterling, gold jewelry, currency, and watches too.
Yes, we also buy gold bullion, jewelry, 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
Castro Street, at which time all interested parties may be heard regarding the following project: PROPOSED PROJECT
LOCATION: 333 Franklin Street (APN: 158-12-069)
APPLICANT: Jenny Kang for Silicon Valley Custom Homes
APPLICATION NO: PL-8889
HEARING DATE: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
The Zoning Administrator will review a request for a Planned Community Permit and Development Review Permit to construct a three-story, multifamily building with 12 apartment units and two detached Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), on a vacant site which previously contained a multifamily building, utilizing State Density Bonus Law, and a Heritage Tree Removal Permit to remove two Heritage Trees on a 0.17-acre site; and a recommended determination that the project is categorically exempt per California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15332 (“In-Fill Development”) and forward a recommendation to the City Council. This project is located on the east side of Franklin Street between West Dana Street and California Street in the P(19) Downtown Precise Plan. If you have comments or questions about this project, please contact the project planner, Vinson Kwan at (650) 903-6306 or at vinson.kwan@mountainview.gov
Draft recommendations and associated documents will be available for review the Friday before the hearing at mountainview.legistar.com. This meeting will be held with a virtual component and broadcast live at mountainview.legistar.com and on YouTube at MountainView.gov/YouTube. Members of the public wishing to provide comments to the ZA may: 1) send an email to azh@mountainview.gov 2) join the Zoom Webinar online at mountainview. gov/meeting or call 669-900-9128 and enter Webinar ID 85261011237; or 3) attend the meeting in person in the Plaza Conference Room, Second Floor at 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041. Please consult the meeting agenda, which will be available for review the Friday before
CARVING STATION
Slow-Roasted Prime Rib with Creamy Horseradish & Demi-glace Honey-Glazed Ham with Grainy Mustard
Mesquite-Grilled Salmon with Herb Olive Oil
BREAKFAST SPECIALTIES
Classic Eggs Benedict with Cayenne Hollandaise Sauce
Omelet with Spinach & Mushroom • Cage-Free Scrambled Eggs Apple Wood Smoked Crisp Bacon • Mashed Garnet
HOUSE SPECIALTIES
SEAFOOD STATION
CHEF'S CHOICE SALADS
DESSERTS BY FAZ BAKERY
Spring into Comfort
Medicare fraud hits $90 milllion Scheme allegedly led
by former local man, now at large
Federal agents have a warrant to arrest a former Sunnyvale resident who is accused of carrying out a large-scale fraud scheme that allegedly sought more than $90 million from Medicare Advantage programs by submitting thousands of false claims for medical equipment.
A federal grand jury indicted Anar Rustamov, 38, an Azerbaijani, on a charge of health care fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California said.
Authorities said Rustamov, suspected of entering the U.S. illegally, is currently at large.
Helping Hand
According to the indictment, Rustamov used a company he created, Dublin Helping Hand, to submit claims between October 2024 and June 2025 for items such as blood glucose mon-
itors and orthotic braces that were not provided, not medically necessary or not authorized by a provider.
Prosecutors allege the claims were submitted on behalf of unsuspecting Medicare beneficiaries and listed a referring medical provider who had not approved the requests.
The scheme sought reimbursement totaling more than $90 million from Medicare Advantage Organizations that administer Medicare Part C plans, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Other schemes
The FBI said its agents are investigating similar schemes across the country. Many have been set up by illegal foreign nationals. Minneapolis has been a hotbed for such schemes.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo said the alleged scheme attempted to siphon “tens of millions of dollars” from a program intended to provide essential care to patients.
Rustamov faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Volleyball coach in sex case due in court
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
The former Woodside High School coach who allegedly sexually assaulted a student will make his first court appearance on Thursday, a prosecutor said.
Thomas Feng, 26, of Fremont, was arrested on a warrant on Feb. 25 by the sheriff’s office after a year-long investigation of an inappropriate relationship he had with a student and posted $25,000 bail the same day, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
The girl’s family is suing the Sequoia Union High School District and the Academy of Volleyball, a club.
The lawsuit claims that Feng would text the student every day and flirt with her, including once telling her he thought she was wearing lingerie. Feng would give the student, who was 15 at the time, special attention in exchange for guaranteeing her a spot on the volleyball team at Woodside, according to the lawsuit.
Feng was also a coach at the Academy of Volleyball in 2022, a club where the student also played on his team because he favored her, the suit said. Feng spent time alone with her in his car and at the club’s facilities for two years.
Suit says misconduct was known
The lawsuit states that Woodside administrators and the director of the Academy of Volleyball knew of Feng’s misconduct but failed to investigate it.
Other players in the club noticed Feng’s favor toward the student, the suit said. Feng would grab her waist during photos, kiss her forehead, take her to lunch alone and discuss being “hypersexual” with her, the suit said.
During the 2022-2023 school year, Feng admitted his feelings to the student after assaulting her numerous times. In January 2023, Feng allegedly met with the student in his car at the club’s parking lot and digitally penetrated her, according to the suit.
In March 2024, Feng had sex with her while on a team trip with the Academy of Volleyball team to Las Vegas for a tournament, the suit said.
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND PROPOSALS FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
OUTDOOR LEARNING PROJECT
The Mountain View Whisman School District issues a Request for Qualifications and Proposals to invite contractors to perform construction services for the above District project (“Project”) pursuant to the lease-leaseback delivery method. (Ed. Code, § 17406.) Any contractor that may seek to contract with the District to perform construction services on this Project must respond to this RFQ/P.
Contractors that intend to submit a response to the RFQ/P must: (1) prequalify with the District by submitting the District’s Prequalification Questionnaire located at the following link: MVWSD Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on or before April 3, 2026; and (2) hold a Class A or B Contractors License that is current, valid, and in good standing with the California Contractor’s State License Board. Contractors that have prequalified within a year of the deadline for the submittal of Proposals set forth in the schedule in the RFQ/P do not need to submit the Prequalification Questionnaire.
The RFQ/P can be found on the District website at MVWSD - LLB RFQPOutdoor Learning Project or by contacting Brenda Parella with Greystone West at Brenda@greystonewest.com . Responses must be received by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026 pursuant to the process in the RFQ/P.
The successful contractor shall be required to furnish a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond if awarded a contract for the Project. The successful contractor(s) and its subcontractors shall pay all workers on the Project not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), State of California, for the type of work performed and the locality in which the work is to be performed within the boundaries of the District, pursuant to sections 1770 et seq. of the California Labor Code. Prevailing wage rates are available from the District or on the Internet at: <http:// www.dir.ca.gov>. Contractors shall comply with the registration and qualification requirements pursuant to sections 1725.5 and 1771.1 of the California Labor Code.
If the District issues addenda to this RFQ/P, contractors are solely responsible for and must acknowledge receipt of addenda in the contractor’s response.
MOUNTAIN VIEW WHISMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
By: Rebecca Westover, Ed. D. Chief Business Officer
Publication Dates: (1) March 23, 2026 (2) March 30, 2026
FENG
TIM TRAILER, CRS
Work with a specialist. Work with Tim Trailer.
Tim has sold $2+ Billion in home sales and knows every facet of the residential real estate business, including new construction. He holds the Certified Residential Specialist designation, awarded by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. He is an Associate Broker with Compass, combining his expertise and knowledge with the cutting edge, high-tech platform of Compass.
ຉ
The Post prints the latest real estate transactions:
PALO ALTO
771 Barron Ave., 94306, 3 bedrooms, 1886 square feet, built in 1952, SF23L LLC to Sakib Living Trust for $5,400,000, closed Feb. 17 (last sale: $2,750,000, 10-23-24)
915 Colonial Lane, 94303, 5 bedrooms, 3004 square feet, built in 2025, Colonial Lane LLC to Xiqi and Minjun Yang for $6,800,000, closed Feb. 20 (last sale: $3,450,000, 01-27-22)
985 Lincoln Ave., 94301, 5 bedrooms, 2893 square feet, built in 2024, Liang Liu to Rivas Family Trust for $7,250,000, closed Feb. 20 (last sale: $3,098,000, 06-28-23)
MENLO PARK
1268 Carlton Ave., 94025, 2 bedrooms, 860 square feet, built in 1951, Michael and Ian Lyon to Christopher and Walid Nijem for $850,000, closed Feb. 5 224 Ivy Drive, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1130 square feet, built in 1951, Green-Howard Trust to Aerion LLC for $1,100,000, closed Feb. 2
251 Ivy Drive, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1600 square feet, built in 1930, L&L Capital Group LLC to Vaiman and Kinkoi Lo for $1,335,000, closed Feb. 3 (last sale: $1,170,000, 0614-21)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
366 Sierra Vista Ave. #14, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1478 square feet, built in 1986, Kimberly Toy to Allyson and Nicholas Comly for $1,351,000, closed Feb. 18 (last sale: $1,215,000, 04-12-17)
444 S. Shoreline Blvd., 94041, 1260 square feet, built in 1928, Peterson Family Trust to Story In LLC for $1,825,000, closed Feb. 18
787 San Clemente Way, 94043, 5 bedrooms, 1950 square feet, built in 1964, Di Liu to Xiaoyu and Bosen Li for $3,035,000, closed Feb. 19 (last sale: $2,389,500, 08-26-25)
121 Fairchild Drive, 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1753 square feet, built in 2016, Luo Trust to Nivedita and Rohith Vallu for $1,550,000, closed Feb. 20 (last sale: $1,345,000, 10-23-20)
3575 Wellesley Court, 94040, 4 bedrooms, 2122 square feet, built in 1962, Cochran Family Trust to Kanika and Siddharth Gupta for $4,025,000, closed Feb. 20
LOS ALTOS
1225 Altamead Drive, 94024, 4 bedrooms, 3090 square feet, built in 2014, Nakayama Trust to Ishna and Sanjoy Das for $6,400,000, closed Feb. 17 (last sale: $1,400,000, 05-01-12)
4388 El Camino Real #348, 94022, 2 bedrooms, 1200 square feet, built in
2009, Dennis and Julie Kim to Traylor Trust for $1,410,000, closed Feb. 19 (last sale: $1,400,000, 05-03-24)
1541 Awalt Court, 94024, 3 bedrooms, 2183 square feet, built in 1967, Revive Norcal LLC to Lp Vandelay Industries LLC for $4,010,000, closed Feb. 19 (last sale: $3,281,000, 02-06-26)
915 Berry Ave., 94024, 3 bedrooms, 2159 square feet, built in 1952, Gazenbeek Family Trust to Dmvn Family Trust for $4,100,000, closed Feb. 18
11701 Winding Way, 94024, 5 bedrooms, 3586 square feet, built in 1992, Kathleen and David Macfarlane to Alice and Daniel Lee for $4,385,000, closed Feb. 19
446 Lerida Ave., 94024, 4 bedrooms, 2802 square feet, built in 2015, Regina and Dung Pham to Elena and Roman Dubtsov for $5,095,000, closed Feb. 18 (last sale: $3,400,000, 11-06-20)
SAN CARLOS
828 Cordilleras Ave., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 2020 square feet, built in 1942, Anderson Family Trust to Katie and Michael Curtis for $3,100,000, closed Feb. 6
1621 Elm St., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1780 square feet, built in 1949, Kramer Living Trust to Austin and Jessica Newman for $2,800,000, closed Feb. 6
Join Jack Dominge, Managing Partner at Uptrex Wealth Advisors, for an educational webinar to learn how to create a good life in retirement.
• How does your retirement planning measure up?
• Identify all potential sources of income
• Understand your expenses in retirement
• Determine your withdrawal strategy
To register, please go to: www.uptrex.com or email him at: jack@uptrex.com.
RUSTIC HOUSE
OYSTER BAR & GRILL IN LOS ALTOS HAS BECOME a destination for its outstanding wine program and special wine events. Join them for a special Vineyard 29 Winemaker
Dinner this Wednesday, March 25 at 6:00 p.m. at The Rustic Room. Vineyard 29 has earned an outstanding reputation for crafting beautifully balanced wines that capture the character of Napa Valley’s most celebrated vineyards. Founded by Chuck and Anne McMinn, the winery combines meticulous vineyard farming with thoughtful winemaking to produce elegant Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Zinfandel, and exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. They are delighted to showcase these remarkable wines; each is thoughtfully paired with a course designed to highlight their depth and character. For more information please call (650) 613-5171 or email Lynda Newlon at lynda@ rustichouselosaltos.com.
EASTER BRUNCH AT CABANA COVE. Celebrate Easter in style with a delightful brunch buffet including breakfast classics, small plates and starters, salads, brunch entrees, and delicious desserts. Their Easter Brunch also includes
complimentary egg hunts for children in a family-friendly setting. Join them for a memorable gathering filled with a delicious spread and spring cheer. Sunday, April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Egg Hunts at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. *Adults: $80 | Kids: 5-10 $35 | Under 5: Free *Price does not include tax & gratuity. More information and reservations at https://www. cabanapaloalto.com/eat-drink/. Call (650) 857-0787.
ATTENTION ALL ABBA FANS! Get ready for a night of amazing live music, irresistible melodies, glittering costumes and pure joy when theinternationally acclaimed ABBA tribute band
“ABRA Cadabra” takes the stage at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City on Friday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m. This interactive, family-friendly extravaganza features a captivating live band, powerful vocals, dazzling dancers, multimedia effects, and multiple costume changes. You will be singing along to all your favorite ABBA classics, including “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Waterloo,” and more!
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit iLoveABBA.com or call the box office at (650) 369-7770.
STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER
MUSIC. The Stanford Jazz Festival returns June 21–July 31 with 25 concerts celebrating jazz’s rich global traditions. Artists include Branford Marsalis Quartet, Anat Cohen, Luciana Souza and Marcel Camargo, Yilian Cañizares Trio, and Stefon Harris & Blackout, performing live on the beautiful Stanford campus.
or just have them talk about their relationship. As a Columbia University-educated seasoned journalist, Kamakshi will use her skills to help you tell your story in your own words. Visit www.kamakshiayyar. com or call (650) 656 1075 for more details.
UNITED NATIONS GIFT
KAMAKSHI AYYAR’S PERSONAL BIOGRAPHER SERVICE is dedicated to preserving your and your loved ones’ legacies through conversationbased storytelling. From moments, like the birth of a child, to decades-long journeys, like a big anniversary or birthday, Kamakshi will work with you to weave together details and create treasured heirlooms. Capture milestones, celebrations, and life experiences to pass down to future generations. She can also interview two or more people together to record their memories of an event or experience,
STORE IN Downtown Palo Alto is open. They have amazing assortment of handwoven baskets, musical instruments, alpaca scarfs, children’s books and toys and unique gift items to choose from. They are unique handcrafted creations made by local artisans and shipped in from around the world. Remember to shop local. UNA Gift store, which is located at 552 Emerson St. in Palo Alto.
A LITTLE WINE. A LITTLE pasta. A few good friends. You’re enjoying the best Italian restaurant in San Carlos! Yes, 888 Ristorante Italiano is cozy, comfy and yummy. Have Vincenzo Maddalena serve you an award winning Italian dinner you won’t soon forget. Vincenzo is a nice guy and he loves pouring the wine at his 888 Ristorante Italiano.
The Italian cuisine served there is the finest and freshest around. Come see why this great restaurant wins awards at 888 Laurel st. in downtown San Carlos. Buon Appetito! Call (650) 591-0920 for a reservation or check the web.
PAUL HOBSON, A PHOTO RESTORATION expert, says, “Invest in your family’s future by preserving its past.” With his expertise in image manipulation, he breathes new life into old, faded, and damaged photos, creating cherished keepsakes for future generations. This rewarding service came from his long career in graphic design and photography, where he advocated for digitizing all precious memorabilia. Give Paul a call at (650) 272-1019. Consultations and estimates are free, and you can discuss how to become the most cherished member of your family.
THOUSANDS ------
new development should be residential only or include offices; how tall new buildings should be; and whether developers of new offices should be required to provide community benefits such as parks.
“Build more homes, allow taller buildings,” one survey respondent wrote.
Another resident said new housing should be mixed with retail to help make up for retail the city has lost. The heavy traffic on San Antonio Road will be even worse with more housing, the resident said, and “so it would be great to (have) grocery, general shopping, pharmacy, restaurants near the new housing.”
Parking
The survey also asks about removing parking from San Antonio Road to create separated paths for bicyclists and pedestrians.
“It is important to allow for some parking,” another respondent wrote. “It is not necessary to have separate lanes for bikes and pedestrians. There just aren’t many of either.”
The plan is still in its early stages. Completion is expected in early 2028.
The city has been eyeing the San Antonio Road area as a prime location to add more housing that’s needed to meet state housing quotas. The area is peppered with small office or industrial buildings with the potential to be redeveloped at higher densities.
A major question for the city is how much new office space versus homes should be in the area after it’s redeveloped.
The 275-acre plan area is broken down into zones or “sub-areas.” There are four sub-areas that the city thinks have the most potential for redevelopment: the Central San Antonio, South Fabian, North Fabian, and CTI zones. CTI is shorthand for the area along
Sub Area Alternatives
Primary Sub-Areas: Estimated Build-out of Alternatives
• Central San Antonio
+ 1,300 to 2,400 Residential Units
- 209,000 sf Commercial/Industrial
• South Fabian
+ 600 to 1,100 Residential Units - 177,000 sf Commercial/Industrial
• North Fabian
+700 to 1,500 Residential Units - 485,000 sf Commercial/Industrial
• CTI + 1,000 to 2,000 Residential Units
528,000
Commercial and Transport streets and Industrial Avenue.
Some areas are built out
In contrast, some other zones within the San Antonio Road plan area are already built out with little chance for redevelopment. Those include the Green Meadow neighborhood, the Greenhouse condominium complex and the South San Antonio Road area.
The North Fabian zone includes the 24-acre Maxar factory site, which the property owner is looking to
sell, according to a report to the Planning Commission.
The site could be redeveloped exclusively with homes. Another option would be using about 5 acres of the site closest to highway 101 for research and development space, with the remainder for homes. The city could require park space and retail to serve the new residents.
For the CTI sub-area, the city is envisioning a new high-density neighborhood with parks and retail. The idea would be to connect the new neighborhood to
a large mixed-use development that’s been proposed just to the south in Mountain View.
Toyota dealer likely to be redeveloped
The Central San Antonio sub-area, along San Antonio Road between East Charleston Road and Byron Street, already has several housing projects in the pipeline that would be six to eight stories tall. And other sites, such as the Magnussen Toyota property, are likely to be redeveloped, the city said.
Robert Cain, principal planner for Palo Alto, told the city’s Human Relations Commission last week that a goal for the San Antonio plan is to provide new housing for all income levels. He acknowledged that the new development would have impacts to schools that the school districts would have to address.
Another issue, Cain said, is making sure residents of the new development don’t feel disconnected from the rest of the city.
“Going from 400 to 4,000 (housing units) is a big change,” Cain said. “And those new residents are going to need a lot of other things to make it feel like they are living in a real neighborhood, but also feel like they’re living in Palo Alto, and they’re not receiving a different level of experience than other residents of Palo Alto.”
Whisman area in recent years. In 2024, the council approved plans to add a seven- and eight-story building at 675 and 685 E. Middlefield Road. The project will add 836 new apartment units, along with multi-story office and garage spaces and community parks. The project is slated for completion in 2032.
ZUCK –––––––––
sure, known as Measure A. The ballots will be mailed to registered voters in early May and they’ll be due June 2. If Measure A passes, it will raise property taxes in the Ravenswood City School District, which includes East Palo Alto and part of east Menlo Park.
The increase in students, from 1,400 to 1,700, is an argument proponents of Measure A give in their ballot statement.
The ballot argument is signed by two school board members, Laura Nunez and Jenny Bloom, and three residents, Olatunde Sobomehin of the StreetCode Academy, Juanita Croft and Marco Chavez.
The bond measure, which will be repaid through a property tax increase, will pay for improvements to classrooms. The bond measure would generate $4.9 million annually. The tax rate for the bond would be $27.50 per $100,000 of a property’s appraised value.
Zuckerberg and Chan decided to close The Primary School in April 2025 before they moved to Miami, Fla., to avoid a possible tax on billionaires the SEIU-Healthcare Workers West union is trying to get on the November ballot.
Measure A opponent
Construction could start next month
On March 10, the City Council introduced and then unanimously approved an ordinance between the city and developer to build the space. If the ordinance passes its second reading on Tuesday, the developer will be able to move forward with the project in April.
The East Middlefield project, once completed, is estimated to generate a total $140,000 per year to the city.
Housing developers have been eyeing the East
TRUNK SHOW
The author of the ballot argument against Measure A is Mark W.A. Hinkle, a Libertarian who frequently files ballot statements in opposition to tax increases. He asks if the school board are puppets of the unions, if the schools teach the students propaganda and whether the unions shut down schools during the pandemic.
He points out that there will be no oversight or accountability if the tax passes, and that there’s no project list.
Redwood City puts parcel tax on ballot Also on June 2, voters in the Redwood City School District will be asked to approve a $12.2 million parcel tax. The money will mainly go to salaries. If the tax passes, the tax rate would be 17.5 cents per square foot of building space each year.
Supporters for Measure C are the President of the Redwood City Teacher Association, Brenna Geer, the founder of Casa Circulo Cultural Veronica Escamez Martinez, former Mayor Alicia Aguirre and the director of the Redwood City Education Foundation Florence Ortiz. The Redwood City Education Foundation is a nonprofit that provides financial support to K-8 public schools in Redwood City.
State admits DUI tests were faulty
California’s legal system is facing a forensic crisis after it was discovered that faulty equipment used by law enforcement agencies for nearly 10 years may have led to unreliable evidence in DUI cases, potentially resulting in wrongful convictions across the state, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The California Department of Justice recently alerted 60 law enforcement agencies and seven district attorney’s offices regarding flawed urinalysis kits.
The kits, manufactured by Simi Valley-based company Andwin Scientific, contained only 100 milligrams of sodium fluoride instead of the 750 milligrams advertised on the label, the L.A. Times report said.
Sodium fluoride acts as a critical preservative. Without an adequate amount, samples containing high sugar or yeast can ferment, creating alcohol within the vial after the sample is taken.
Tests elevated alcohol levels
This process can lead to an “artificially elevated alcohol level,” said Katina Repp, director of the state’s Santa Rosa lab.
The state’s audit flagged 97 tests — approximately 0.07% of reviewed cases — where alcohol levels were at or near the 0.04% legal limit for commercial drivers.
The total number of convictions that could be overturned is unknown.
While large counties like Los Angeles and San Francisco use their own labs and were unaffected, the “untold number” of cases in smaller jurisdictions depends on local reviews.
State waited to reveal flaw
It is also unclear why there was a delay between the state discovering the flaw in August 2025 and the widespread notification of defense attorneys in early 2026.
The burden of proof now shifts to local jurisdictions. Public defender offices across the 60 affected agencies are expected to audit years of files to identify clients who may have been wrongfully convicted.
The state has already moved to ensure all current testing kits meet the required chemical standards to prevent further fermentation issues.
“CACIO
E PEPE” EVERY TUESDAY
Watch as we crack open a whole wheel of Grana Padano cheese, warm it up with a splash of grappa or vodka, then toss the hot pasta in the cheese bowl, and finish it with pepper.