Daily Post 3-26-26 by Daily Post

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Union paints different picture

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Teachers’ union president Tom Culbertson is trying to paint a different ﬁnancial picture as he negotiates a new contract with the Palo Alto Uniﬁed School District.

“We want to get our side of the story out,” he said in an interview on Tuesday.

From school district’s narrative

The two sides are still far apart — the union asked for a 17% raise over two years on Monday, and the district countered with 7% over two years, plus $6,000 in bonuses.

IRAN REJECTS PLAN: Iran dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries. Two Pakistani ofﬁcials familiar with the US ceaseﬁre proposal said it addresses sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on state TV that his government has not engaged in talks to end the war.

TOO FAR: In a recent AP-NORC poll, 59% of respondents said U.S. military action in Iran has been excessive. Meanwhile 45% are concerned about being able to afford gas in the coming months.

SHUTDOWN WARNING: The acting head of TSA says it may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on as travelers are experiencing record waiting times.

ICE HEADS UP: TSA ofﬁcials at SFO airport allegedly gave ICE a heads up that a woman wanted by [See THE UPDATE, page 28]

Culbertson said the district can afford a larger raise, but Chief Business Ofﬁcer Charen Yu makes “extremely conservative” budget projections and

downplays the district’s position by using unusual deﬁnitions for reserves.

Yu said the district had $48 million in reserves in December, but the union calculated reserves at $114 million, Culbertson said.

“We’re trying to break through some of the public pronouncements that

they’re making so that we can have a really honest discussion at the negotiating table,” said Culbertson, who became union president last year after 14 years as a fourth-grade teacher.

Recent raises have kept up with inﬂation, but Palo Alto’s salaries have fallen from third to sixth-highest in Santa Clara County, Culbertson said. Raises around 4% don’t capture how

Council OKs over 800 homes In one night

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Mountain View City Council has approved three housing developments that will bring 821 new homes to the city.

“Yay, more housing!” Mayor Emily Ann Ramos said before council’s third 7-0 vote on Tuesday.

But not everyone was happy about one of the projects: 323 apartments in three ﬁve-story buildings at 555 W. Middleﬁeld Road.

Residents don’t want the developer, Joe Kirchofer of AvalonBay Communities, to take out 88 trees,

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

San Mateo County’s powerful labor council has endorsed Supervisor Davie Canepa to be the next assessor-clerk-recorder and chief elections ofﬁcer —an

endrosement Canepa says his opponent didn’t stand a chance of getting.

Assistant Chief Elections Ofﬁcer Jim Irizarry said it would be a conﬂict of interest to be endorsed by the San Mateo County Labor Council because it represents the em-

ployees in the Assessor’s ofﬁce.

But Canepa said Irizarry was never going to be endorsed by labor because of his history with employees.

“You have an organization that literally is in turmoil

[See FLY, page 30]

[See HOMES, page 28]

[See UNION, page 28]

IRIZARRY

Locally owned, independent

Spacious two-story 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with 2,239 +/- sf of living space in the Strawberry Park neighborhood

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Bright living room with hardwood ﬂoors, a wall of windows, and cozy wood-burning ﬁreplace

Generous family room with new carpeting, glass doors to the backyard, and a breakfast bar uniting it to the kitchen

Attached 2-car garage with epoxy painted ﬂoor and new myQ garage door opener

Sought-after Cupertino Union and Fremont High School Districts: Manuel De Vargas Elementary, Warren E. Hyde Middle, and Cupertino High (Buyer to verify enrollment)

Prime location just blocks to John Mise Park with tennis, pickleball, basketball, and sports ﬁeld

Offered at $2,698,000 534WagmanDrive.com

2 bedrooms, 2 baths, den, and screencovered atrium

2,119 +/- sf of living space

Set on a 3,828 +/- sf lot

Beautiful, gated Rancho Deep Cliff Community of 61 homes and 17 acres

Recently remodeled kitchen and bathrooms with recently installed bamboo ﬂoors

Plantation shutters and French doors

Amenities include clubhouse with ﬁtness center, kitchen, 2 tennis courts, pool, and spa

Sought-after Cupertino schools (Buyer to verify enrollment)

HOA dues of $1,015/month (Buyer to verify)

Offered at $2,298,000 11052CanyonVistaDrive.com

Just Two Blocks Away!!

Harry Benjamin Bremond

September 19, 1934 – December 8, 2025

Harry Bremond passed away on December 8, 2025 at the age of 91. Harry was born in Austin, Texas, on September 19, 1934, the son of Velma White Bremond & Walter Bremond, Sr. As a child, he moved with his mother and older brother to San Francisco where he grew up in public housing projects. Harry graduated from Commerce High School in 1951 and earned a B.A. in business with San Francisco State University in 1955 before enlisting in the US Army from 1955 to 1957.

Following his military service, he returned to San Francisco State for graduate school, receiving a master’s degree in business in 1958. He then worked at PG&E as an accountant and started law school at night at the University of San Francisco School of Law, earning an LL.B in 1962 as the second ever black USF graduate.

After initially relocating to San Jose, Harry moved to East Palo Alto, where he ended up hanging his own shingle, handling estate, criminal, and domestic law matters. He met Congressman Pete McCloskey through the Palo Alto Bar Association and Pete introduced him to John Wilson and Roger Mosher. Harry ultimately joined McCloskey Wilson and Mosher on Welch Road — which would eventually evolve into Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati — and the rest is history.

As one of the very first Black lawyers practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Harry helped shape the growth of Silicon Valley. In 1967, he joined what is now Wilson Sonsini — then a small local outfit with only a handful of attorneys — in Palo Alto. His practice focused on general commercial litigation with an emphasis on real estate, employment, insurance coverage and other business contract issues for a wide variety of clients.

During Harry’s 44 years at Wilson Sonsini, perhaps his most significant achievement was his participation in the founding and leadership of the firm’s pro bono practice — and the pro bono movement within law firms generally. He demonstrated a bold commitment to helping the underserved gain access to justice. Harry was a founding member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and a steadfast advocate for civil rights, recognized by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, the Equal Justice Society, and the Charles Houston Bar Association, among numerous others. Beyond these efforts, Harry also mentored generations of young lawyers even after his retirement. For example, Harry would annually host dinners for young Wilson Sonsini associates.

Harry’s actions throughout his life demonstrated his spirit of service and passion for both giving back and paying forward. He freely shared his time, wisdom, and signature kindness and candor with many regardless of background. Harry was widely known, respected, and regarded throughout the legal community and beyond.

As senior and founding partner Larry Sonsini shared, “Harry was a key advisor and a very good friend. His spirit and energy captured our imagination back in 1967, and as we were starting to formalize the firm, I asked that he’d be part of our team and everyone agreed. He was someone I often went to for a sanity check — in fact, we went to lunch several times a week to talk about the culture of the firm we wanted to build. I will always be grateful for Harry’s council, and especially for his friendship, candor, and commitment to being the best we could be.”

In late 2024, the Stanford center for racial justice launched the Harry Bremond – Wilson Sonsini foundation student fellowship, which offers Stanford law students the opportunity to immerse themselves in civil rights work through a wide range of impactful opportunities. In November 2024, over 200 individuals attended a celebration of Harry and the fellowship at the Stanford law school. In addition, in 2020 Wilson Sonsini created the Harry Bremond Award to honor our attorneys who have consistently upheld Harry ‘s excellence in character, leadership, and service to the community.

Harry is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Peggy Woodford Forbes, his daughter, Candace Bremond and his grandchildren from his predeceased daughter, Stephanie Bremond (Gascoigne). Also, he is survived by his stepdaughters Maya Forbes (Wally Wolodarsky), China Forbes and their children. He was predeceased by his ex-wife, Faye Crawford Bremond and his brother, Walter Bremond Jr.

Harry’s laugh was infectious. Yet, he was a bottom line kind of guy. He was devoted to his family and friends. Harry loved jazz and chamber music. He was quite an athlete and enjoyed tennis and skiing. In his younger days, both he and his brother Walter played football at San Francisco State, where he was a halfback nicknamed “Harry the Horse.” He was a big fan of the Warriors and the 49ers.

Harry spent most of his adult life on the Peninsula; he lived in Atherton and Menlo Park, settling with Peggy for 30+ years in Los Altos Hills, California. In 2023, they moved to Palo Alto where he passed away.

Harry’s life was rich in love, family, purpose, joy, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life was held in February at the Museum of The African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco.

Deaths

San Mateo County Coroner: March 24

Bam M. Swett, 74, of Redwood City

James August Muiter, 93, of San Mateo

Anant Sammarsup, 82, of San Mateo

Americo Gonzalez Ochoa, 89, of South San Francisco

Births

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto:

Aug. 12

Erik Andrews, a boy

Aug. 11

Aiza Keilany Aguilar Aguilar, a girl

Niramaya Kumar Bharadwaj, a boy

Hemi Erai Blandford, a boy

Estuardo Yahir Coloma Larios, a boy

Daphne Rae Liu, a girl

Ethan Daniel Magana Zepeda, a boy

Fernanda Victoria Reynoza Valiente, a girl

Aks Kapoor Saxena, a boy

Maddison Guadalupe Silva Hernandez, a girl

Aug. 10

Joshua Gabriel Contreras Torres, a boy

Malakai Asher Henryarellano, a boy

Jose David Herrera Casillas, a boy

Arya Kaul, a girl

Zayn Mazek Kukkady, a boy

Linda Lucas Pinon, a girl

Lincoln Stoltz Lyon, a boy

Arlette Yasmin Miranda Orozco, a girl

Noah Ortega, a boy

Yeimy Soﬁa Palma Flores, a girl

Chance Taeden Scott, a boy

Eloise Tran, a girl

Alaric Wang, a boy

Aug. 9

Aeron Suniega Baltazar, a boy

Damiyah Lazenah Marie May Hunter Reed, a girl

Kali Manju Kedia, a girl

Sydney Anlee Lau, a girl

Kyle Zekai Li, a boy

Zoe Nailani Lopez Tapia, a girl

Violeta Solis, a girl

Andrei Lloyd Tereshchenko, a boy

Liam Gael Vicente Aguilar, a boy

Cassian Lu Whitmore, a boy

Officials irked by transit card woes

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

The Bay Area’s new transit card system has been plagued by lagging card readers, ticket overcharges, suspended accounts, systemwide outages and upset riders.

Elected ofﬁcials on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, who approved the new Clipper system, were frustrated yesterday by the issues with the $603 million update, affecting BART, Caltrain and 20 other transit agencies.

“We are the tech capital, and to think we can’t simply go ‘boop’ and get on any form of transportation is frustrating,” Commissioner Gina Papan said at the MTC meeting yesterday.

System glitches emerge

Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga said the new Clipper system has overcharged Caltrain riders for weekend passes and improperly suspended 400 accounts.

Conductors use card readers to check tickets that take around 10

seconds to load, so they’ve struggled to ensure riders are paying fares, Abe-Koga said.

Jason Baker, Caltrain’s director of government affairs, said Caltrain was hoping the card readers would be faster before the San Francisco Giants’ ﬁrst game yesterday, but now the contractor is targeting a ﬁx by April 21.

The MTC has paid Cubic Transportation Systems $532 million to update the Clipper system. Cubic was the only company to offer its services to the MTC in September 2018.

The “next generation” Clipper was supposed to load money onto cards faster and allow for discounted transfers.

Account switch issues

MTC Program Manager Jason Weinstein said Cubic has moved 1.3 million accounts to the new system, and another 18 million accounts haven’t been switched over.

Customers on the new system have dealt with missing passes, cards that no longer auto-load and difﬁculty access-

ing their accounts, Weinstein said in a report to the MTC.

Transit agencies are ﬁguring out workarounds, and Cubic will have to pay them for any lost revenue, Weinstein said.

Ticket vending machines have been unreliable and slow, and ﬁnancial transactions have taken days to settle, Weinstein said.

A call center is getting 2,000 calls from riders per day, and customer service agents are taking around 13 minutes to answer each call, Weinstein said.

“Everybody is feeling the pain in some way,” Marin County Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters said at the meeting.

Cubic takes blame

Cubic President Peter Montgomery-Torrellas took responsibility for the issues yesterday and said his company is working to ﬁx them by May.

“All of these issues that we’re having are speciﬁc and need to be triaged individually,” he said.

Palo Alto Councilman Pat Burt said

he wants to see a checklist on the issues and when they’ll be ﬁxed.

Papan, Abe-Koga and Burt all said they want a report examining what went wrong.

“We should’ve been able to anticipate that this was going to be complicated,” San Francisco Commissioner Alicia John-Baptiste said yesterday.

Potential ballot impact

Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Pleasant Hill Councilwoman Sue Noack said the technical difﬁculties could hurt efforts to pass a halfcent sales tax for transit agencies in November.

The tax would last 14 years and generate about $1 billion per year in ﬁve Bay Area counties, according to the state Senate.

Transit agencies are trying to address a loss in fare revenue that started in March 2020 when ofﬁces closed because of Covid.

“These experiences do not contribute to consumer conﬁdence. It is the opposite,” Ezzy Ashcraft said yesterday.

Meta, Google found liable for teen’s addiction

BY COLIN LECHER CalMatters

A Los Angeles jury has found the parent companies of YouTube and Facebook liable for a teen’s mental distress in a closely-watched trial over social media addiction.

The jury awarded $3 million to the plaintiff, a young woman identiﬁed as KGM, and her mother, according to NPR, which noted Facebook parent company Meta would be responsible for about 70% of that amount and that the companies could face future pen-

alties as well. The family had accused the platforms of willfully making their products addictive and targeting teens, despite internal research showing it could damage their mental health.

Landmark decision

The Los Angeles Superior Court decision is among the ﬁrst in a wave of hundreds of suits by schools, attorneys general, and others, making personal injury claims about major tech companies’ alleged recklessness.

A New Mexico jury recently found

Money

Meta liable on similar claims and the company was ordered to pay $375 million in damages. Meta said it would appeal that decision. Meanwhile, a case is also ongoing in a federal court based in California.

“We disagree with the verdict and plan to appeal,” Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, said in a statement. “This case misunderstands YouTube, which is a responsibly built streaming platform, not a social media site.”

Erin Logan, a spokesperson for

Meta, said, “We respectfully disagree with the verdict and are evaluating our legal options.”

Advocates praise ruling

Online child safety advocates immediately cheered the ruling.

“For too many years, kids have suffered immeasurable harm from social media, while the owners of these tech companies have reaped billions in profits,” John M. Bennett, Director of the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy, said in a statement.

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• Timeless mid-century ranch home with all new updates

• 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths on one level

• Approximately 2,540 square feet (not

• Just completed updates include a new kitchen, new main baths, new paint, new

•

• All-new kitchen with white cabinetry, quartz counters, and new stainless steel appliances

• Family room, just off the kitchen, with access

• Primary bedroom suite with justcompleted bath

• Three additional bedrooms served by a second just-completed bath

•

• driveway

• Spacious and private rear yard with patio and lawn

• Lot size of approximately 11,700 square

• Great location just one mile from the

• Excellent Los Altos schools

• Timeless and impressive architecture by Walter Chapman with enduring appeal

• Just completed updates include a new

• 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths on two levels

• Approximately 3,442 square feet (not

• wine bar

• Formal dining room and butler’s pantry

• Stunning all-new kitchen with high-end appliances, large casual dining area, and

• Main-level bedroom suite ideal for guests

• Upstairs primary suite with luxe marble bath

• Two upstairs bedrooms served by a hallway bath

• Spacious and private rear yard with large patio and expansive lawn

• Attached 2-car garage

• Lot size of approximately 11,676 square

• Excellent South Los Altos neighborhood one-half mile from Rancho Shopping Center

• Top-rated Los Altos schools

660 MENLO OAKS DRIVE, MENLO PARK

Classic architecture and beautiful gardens define this remodeled Menlo Oaks one-level home set on just over one-half acre. Extensive enhancements inside and out have elevated the property into a turnkey retreat complete with a detached ADU.

The floor plan offers 3 bedrooms and 2 beautifully remodeled baths, a remodeled kitchen, plus formal living and dining rooms overlooking the gardens. The detached ADU was updated in 2022 with a full kitchen and bath.

The expansive rear grounds unfold with a broad patio and barbecue center, a fire pit seating area, and open space beneath majestic oaks – offering a wonderful sense of space and serenity.

Completing the appeal is access to parks, excellent schools, downtown Menlo Park, and Stanford University.

Living Space: 2,223 sq. ft.

House: 1,872 sq. ft. (per the County, unverified) | ADU: 351 sq. ft. (per plans) Lot Size: 22,429 sq. ft. (per the County, unverified)

Offered at $4,900,000 660MenloOaks.com

Parents allege secret TIDE talks

Legal fight over plan to shutter academy grows

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

Parents of a school slated to close are alleging the Sequoia Union High School Board circumvented the state’s open meeting laws by possibly discussing the school’s closure in private text messages.

A group of parents called TIDE Rising ﬁled a Brown Act complaint against the district on Monday, alleging in documents they received as part of a response to a California Public Records Act request that Superintendent Crystal Leach directed the ﬁve elected board members to call or text her about the possible closure of the small magnet school in Menlo Park.

This direction to discuss TIDE via text or phone call is evidence that trustees deliberated without the public knowing, violating the Brown Act, according to the complaint, ﬁled in San Mateo County Superior Court by attorney Jay Jambeck.

The district did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.

‘Scripted’ moves

The parents also allege the district had started working with a consultant who put together detailed proposals on how to shut down the school ﬁve weeks before the board told Leach to reach out to parents about the school’s closure.

“Every step of the purported community engagement process, including ‘listening meetings’ and ‘feedback’ opportunities, had been scripted in advance,” the complaint alleges.

The district held a series of community meetings between the board’s Nov. 12 vote to discuss closing the school

and its Feb. 4 vote to close the campus at 150 Jefferson Drive and move the program of about 200 students to Woodside High School.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he has not been made aware of any violations from the district.

January lawsuit

This is the second legal action the parent group has taken against the district regarding the school’s closure.

Parents alleged in a suit ﬁled on Jan. 30 that the district is discriminating against children with disabilities by closing TIDE. U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson rejected the request to stop the closure because there was no immediate need for her to approve the request. Thompson set a new date for May as the district ﬁled a motion to dismiss the case.

Other legal trouble

The district has previously been sued by a group called Parents Defending Education for withholding public records about the M-A Chronicle student newspaper’s copyright takedown of a video from YouTube. The parents contend school employees were behind the student newspaper’s move.

The district continues to face a series of lawsuits related to ethnic studies and alleged antisemitism.

Chloe Gentile-Montgomery, a former ethnic studies teacher at Menlo-Atherton High School, sued the district for alleged racial discrimination and harassment, claiming the district did not defend her when she was being harassed by students, parents and fellow district employees.

The district is also being sued by a group of parents who claim the district fostered a culture of antisemitism.

Outstanding West Menlo Park location

Open-concept great room with seamless indooroutdoor ﬂow

Chef’s kitchen with large skylight and custom wood island with seating

Spacious mudroom with washer/dryer, sink, cabinetry, and cubbies

Hardwood ﬂoors throughout main living areas

Private primary suite with ﬁreplace, backyard access, and spa-like bath

Professionally remodeled landscaping with bluestone walkway

Backyard retreat with stone patio, privacy, and hot tub

Within close proximity to downtown, multiple parks, and Stanford University

Excellent Menlo Park schools

Certiﬁed Residential Specialist

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.

The Post prints the latest real estate transactions:

PALO ALTO

823 Altaire Walk, 94303, 4 bedrooms, 1889 square feet, built in 2010, Deng Trust to George Giorgidze for $2,065,000, closed Feb. 26

4119 Park Boulevard, 94306, 3 bedrooms, 1448 square feet, built in 1959, Wendy Akers-Ghose to Shetty Living Trust for $2,760,000, closed Feb. 26

914 Colorado Ave., 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1440 square feet, built in 1960, VHO Residential LLC to Novaleaf Group LLC for $3,400,000, closed Feb. 24 (last sale: $3,300,000, 02-13-26)

3330 Stockton Place, 94303, 4 bedrooms, 2309 square feet, built in 1952, Ochi-Jacobs Living Trust to Aiqing and Ruoxin Sang for $4,200,000, closed Feb. 25

EAST PALO ALTO

2060 Pulgas Ave., 94303, 4 bedrooms, 1330 square feet, built in 1951, Beatrice Living Trust to Irma and Orlando Escobar for $1,075,000, closed Feb. 13

939 Oakes St., 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1823 square feet, built in 2000, Simon Trust to Eun and Jee Kim for $1,475,000, closed Feb. 10 (last sale: $1,475,000, 07-25-22)

MENLO PARK

831 University Drive, 94025, Solti Living Trust to Fahey Living Trust for $3,125,000, closed Feb. 13

381 Leland Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1780 square feet, built in 1968, Ohta-

ki Family Trust to James and Patricia Pang for $3,570,000, closed Feb. 10

MOUNTAIN VIEW

17 Cassandra Way, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 992 square feet, built in 1970, Chi-Chung Cheung to Pham Trust for $1,260,000, closed Feb. 25 (last sale: $1,150,000, 05-26-22)

1467 Tyler Park Way, 94040, 3 bedrooms, 1702 square feet, built in 1979, Ha 1996 Trust to Lucy and Paul Kwon for $1,690,000, closed Feb. 27

2020 Thea Circle, 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1614 square feet, built in 2020, Chenran Li to Sreya and Ashesh Ghosh for $1,975,000: 02-23-26 (last sale: $1,755,000, 10-07-20)

LOS ALTOS

1808 Alford Ave., 94024, 4 bedrooms, 3099 square feet, built in 1998, Lyer Trust to Akanksha and Adithya Gurram for $5,550,000, closed Feb. 24

LOS ALTOS HILLS

12911 Atherton Court, 94022, 6 bedrooms, 4147 square feet, built in 1979, Double Diamond Real Estate LLC to Ying and Jun Xiao for $5,300,000: 02-2326 (last sale: $3,660,000, 03-15-16)

PORTOLA VALLEY

30 Pine Ridge Way, 94028, 3 bedrooms, 2380 square feet, built in 1965, Johnson Trust to Teresa and Simon Holden for $3,229,000, closed Feb. 13

110 Bear Gulch Drive, 94028, 3 bedrooms, 2724 square feet, built in 1955, Christie Schmitz to Monica

and Rodrigo Gutierrez for $7,000,000, closed Feb. 13 (last sale: $2,145,000, 08-02-02)

WOODSIDE

3490 Tripp Road, 94062, 5 bedrooms, 5564 square feet, built in 2020, Charles Schembri to 3490 Tripp LLC for $16,250,000, closed Feb. 12 (last sale: $3,215,000, 07-08-16)

REDWOOD CITY

203 Santa Clara Ave., 94061, 3 bedrooms, 1610 square feet, built in 1942, Lisa and Anastasios Douglas to Guy and Katherine Hekman for $2,598,000, closed Feb. 10 (last sale: $1,300,000, 10-14-20)

246 Beresford Ave., 94061, 3 bedrooms, 1792 square feet, built in 1948, William Parrish to Rashmi and Khimraj Chawda for $2,550,000, closed Feb. 10 (last sale: $2,050,000, 09-07-21)

SAN CARLOS

726 Neal Ave., 94070, 4 bedrooms, 1750 square feet, built in 1951, Laura Sato-Wong to Sharon and Jon Wada for $937,500, closed Feb. 11

BELMONT

1152 Village Drive, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 2350 square feet, built in 1982, Felipe Dealmeida to Oldham Living Trust for $1,875,000, closed Feb. 10 (last sale: $715,000, 05-21-10)

1550 Winding Way, 94002, 4 bedrooms, 2610 square feet, built in 1978, Revive Norcal LLC to Reisa LLC for $2,150,000, closed Feb. 11 (last sale: $2,110,000, 01-29-26)

Selling Your Home in Palo Alto?

UNCOMPROMISED STANDARDS. UNPARALLELED RESULTS

Xin approaches Palo Alto real estate with sharp analytical

Your Trilingual Palo Alto Specialist

Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts will be delighted by this truly special Woodside retreat. Nestled in The Glens and surrounded by trees, this home sits atop an expansive preserve with access to hiking trails. Built in 1959, the home showcases iconic midcentury design with ﬂoor to ceiling glass that ﬁlls the upper level with natural light and opens to an expansive 900+ sq ft deck, seamlessly blending indoor-outdoor living and creating an ideal setting for entertaining.

The modern kitchen is thoughtfully appointed with Carrara marble countertops and premium stainless steel appliances, including Bertazzoni, Viking, and Fisher & Paykel. The upper level features a spacious living room with ﬁreplace, a motorized awning for the deck along with two bedrooms and a full bath. The lower level offers a versatile family room, generous storage, and carport access. The primary suite provides a peaceful retreat with its own bathroom and direct access to a secluded patio, perfect for relaxing among the natural surroundings. Other features and updates within the last year include a new roof, new deck, new A/C, new landscaping and a new driveway. A rare opportunity to enjoy timeless architecture, privacy, and the beauty of nature.

Mid-Century Modern enthusiasts will delight in this one of a kind architectural gem. Designed by architect Alan Blair, this home boasts three levels of blissful views reaching from San Francisco to Santa Clara. A host’s dream! Tucked away from the flats, this stunning retreat is quiet and private. The home boasts three large decks, a hot tub, two gas fireplaces, an expansive remodeled lower level and two Tesla chargers in the garage, five bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, an office upstairs and two living areas. The dining room contains Herman Miller light fixtures and high ceilings meet walls of expansive glass to thrill and entertain guests. Come claim this magical home that some have said has the best views in the Silicon Valley and experience all that this great community of Ladera offers.

Expanded Mid-Century Craftsman in Sought-After Allied Arts

Classic mid-century character and a thoughtful expansion come together in this beautifully updated solar-powered home in Allied Arts. The significant expansion introduces modern livability with an open great room featuring the kitchen and family room together beneath a dramatic vaulted ceiling. Three bedrooms are arranged on one convenient level, including a primary suite with an adjoining office and outside entrance. All of this is just blocks from parks, a bike and pedestrian bridge to Stanford Shopping Center, and excellent Menlo Park schools.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE HOME:

Beautifully updated and significantly expanded midcentury Craftsman with modern livability in Allied Arts

3 bedrooms, office, 2 baths on 1 convenient level

Approximately 1,835 SF (per Floor Plan Visuals)

Exceptional wraparound grounds in complete privacy on a corner lot of approximately 6,079 square feet

Blocks to parks and bike/pedestrian bridge to Stanford Shopping Center, and less than one mile from downtown Menlo Park and downtown Palo Alto

Excellent Menlo Park public schools: Oak Knoll Elementary, Hillview Middle, Menlo-Atherton High (buyer to verify)

Karin Klint Riley

DRE 01725481 | R.E. Agent 650.465.6210 karin.riley@compass.com

Green Gables Stylish Eichler

618 WILDWOOD LANE, PALO ALTO

This original Joseph Eichler home has been thoughtfully transformed into a refined, contemporary interpretation of mid-century modern living.

The single-level floor plan includes four bedrooms and three baths, highlighted by a spacious primary suite with yard access. Living and dining areas span a full wall of floor-to-ceiling glass with sliding doors to the rear yard, creating seamless indoor-outdoor living. A separate family/media room further expands the living space.

Outdoor areas continue the modern aesthetic with an elevated deck, built-in concrete seating, fire pit, patio, and lawn. Located in the desirable Green Gables neighborhood, the home is close to Stanford University, leading tech campuses, and the shops and restaurants of University Avenue, with access to highly regarded Palo Alto schools.

Living Space: 2,309

$4,195,000

Where Design Meets Nature

HALE STREET, PALO ALTO

Known as The Treehouse, this award-winning home designed by Aidlin Darling Design of San Francisco emphasizes structural clarity, refined craftsmanship, and a thoughtful relationship to its surroundings.

Fleetwood retractable walls of glass stack expand the great room living space onto a vast terrace. The modern kitchen pairs sleek ebony cabinetry with solid marble surfaces. A fitness center and media room are tucked away on the first floor.

Upstairs, four bedrooms—including the primary suite and beautifully appointed baths. Outside, an expansive lawn and native plantings offer a serene landscape which includes a pool, separate in-ground spa, and outdoor shower.

Ideally located moments away from the shops and restaurants of University Avenue and served by acclaimed Palo Alto schools.

More Th an a New Home Community

Marina Station offers a lifestyle rooted in connection, open space and the simple joy of living on the coast. With thoughtful design, modern comfort and a convenient location at the mouth of the Monterey Peninsula, Marina Station is coastal living reimagined.

Marina Station Homes—Made for the Way You Live

With 19 thoughtfully designed ﬂ oor plans from the charming Cottage Collection to the elevated Villa Collection, there’s a home for every lifestyle. Each residence includes a two-car garage, full driveway and architecture inspired by the natural beauty of the coast. Every detail has been crafted with care, creating spaces that feel modern, welcoming and unmistakably like home. Explore interactive ﬂ oor plans at LiveMarinaStation.com

900 Highlands Circle

Los Altos, CA 94024

Open House:

Saturday, 3/28 · 1:30 - 4:30 PM

Sunday, 3/29 · 1:30 - 4:30 PM

6 Bed | 3.5 Bath | 3,335 SF

Listed at $5,598,000

Nestled in the sought-after Highlands neighborhood of Los Altos, this expanded 3,335 sq. ft. home on a large ~12,896 sq. ft. lot effortlessly combines modern elegance with everyday comfort.

Featuring six bedrooms across two levels, including a main-level bedroom perfect for guests or a private

laundry room, and a luxurious primary suite with a spa-like bath and private balcony.

The open-concept living areas are bathed in natural with premium appliances, Wolf range and oven, Sub-

Outside, the backyard is a true retreat with a sparkling pool and spa, lush lawn, and tranquil rock waterfall. With fresh updates inside and out, plus proximity to top-rated schools, downtown Los Altos, and parks, this home offers an exceptional lifestyle in an unbeatable location.

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

FRIDAY

10:21 a.m. — Roberto Carlos Gonzalez Perez, 18, of Mountain View, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Webster St. and University Ave.

7:25 p.m. — Vandalism, 300 block of University Ave.

8:16 p.m. — Randall Eric Nelson, 59, of Emigrant Gap, arrested for DUI, 4000 block of El Camino Way.

SATURDAY

12:22 a.m. — Jaden Michael Padilla, 21, of Santa Maria, arrested for public drunkenness, 400 block of Emerson St.

3:19 p.m. — Marlon Dontae Mays, 35, of San Jose, arrested for public drunkenness, 3800 block of El Camino.

SUNDAY

5:58 a.m. — Phillip Dontay Steward, 43, of East Palo Alto, cited on a warrant, 400 block of Bryant St. 9:17 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Birch St. and Oregon Expressway.

1:10 p.m. — Theft, 200 block of University Ave.

MENLO PARK

MONDAY

11:04 p.m. — Adan Felix Larios, 22, of Antioch, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Bayfront Expressway and Willow Road.

11:47 p.m. — Salvador Graciano Maya Jr., 30, of Menlo Park, arrested for domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon, 500 block of Glenwood Ave.

TUESDAY

12:15 p.m. — License plate stolen from a vehicle, 200 block of San Luis Drive.

12:54 p.m. — Christopher Mark Roland Martinez Jr., 25, of San Jose, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 800 block of El Camino.

3:05 p.m. — Lilia Sabrina Romero Garcia, 37, transient, arrested on two warrants, University Ave. at the railroad tracks.

STANFORD

MARCH 16

3:05 p.m. — Christopher Garcia Ramirez, 18, of Redwood City, cited for making a false report of a bomb or

EXPERTS

other explosive, 400 block of Arguello Way.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

MARCH 17

9:02 a.m. — Vandalism, 800 block of San Ardo Way.

9:23 a.m. — Grand theft, 500 block of W. Middleﬁeld Road.

2:21 p.m. — Theft, 200 block of W. Evelyn Ave.

3:04 p.m. — Grand theft, Mountain View High School.

3:35 p.m. — Theft at Best Buy, 715 E. El Camino.

5:58 p.m. — Robbery, Sylvan Park.

ATHERTON

TUESDAY

4:11 p.m. — Sonja Dillon, 56, of Marietta, Ga., cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, El Camino and Tuscaloosa Ave.

NORTH FAIR OAKS

SATURDAY

3:30 p.m. — Vehicle window smashed, 300 block of Fourth Ave.

SUNDAY

3:25 a.m. — Gabriel Canel Chitay, 30, of Redwood City, arrested for public drunkenness and giving a false

name to police, Charter and Spring streets.

11:42 a.m. — Rodney Andre Tostado, 52, of Redwood City, arrested for drug possession, Dumbarton Ave. and Middleﬁeld Road.

8:40 p.m. — Assault reported, 400 block of Third Ave. Joey Carlos Garcia, 31, of Redwood City, arrested for public drunkenness. A second person is arrested for public drunkenness and probation violation.

REDWOOD CITY

SATURDAY

3:03 a.m. — Abigail Roblero Bravo, 24, of unincorporated San Mateo County, arrested for DUI, 2300 block of Middleﬁeld Road. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

4:27 a.m. — Bryan Guerrero, 23, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, Maple St. and Veterans Blvd.

7:59 a.m. — Hit-and-run injures a victim, Veterans Blvd.

3:09 p.m. — Kamarlon Nadir Walker Sr., 51, of Redwood City, arrested for resisting police, 900 block of Middleﬁeld Road. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

5:28 p.m. — Philip-John Tacsuan Delapena, 42, of Daly City, arrested

for being under the inﬂuence of drugs, Brewster Ave. and Arguello St.

5:41 p.m. — Jose Jairo Gutierrez, 44, arrested for domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment, 3000 block of Hoover St.

10:42 p.m. — Luis Santizo Puac, 29, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence and false imprisonment, Mills Way and Broadway. Israel Santizo, 49, of Redwood City, arrested for public drunkenness.

11:45 p.m. — Juan

Cesar Calderon Frasco, 37, of Sunnyvale, cited on warrants, 300 block of Oak Ave.

SAN CARLOS

SATURDAY

4:21 p.m. — Police talk to a man and ﬁnd he has meth, drug paraphernalia and numerous identiﬁcations and credit and debit cards bearing other people’s names, 1100 block of Cowgill Alley. Ryan Steven Roberts, 40, of San Francisco, arrested for theft of someone else’s lost property and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

BELMONT

MONDAY

10:15 p.m. — Alexander Emilio Reyes, 34, cited for drug

possession, 500 block of Ralston Ave.

TUESDAY

7 a.m. — Woman says her son punched holes in the walls and broke windows, Valley View Ave.

11:22 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Sixth and Emmett avenues.

CHP

From the Redwood City office, which covers the Mid-Peninsula. MARCH 12

Karla V. Lopez Rojas, 22, arrested for DUI.

MARCH 13

Jose L. Calvillo May, 42, arrested for DUI.

pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines. If you have comments or questions about this project, please contact the project manager, Ben Pacho at (650) 903-6054 or at Ben.Pacho@mountainview.gov

This meeting will be broadcast live at mountainview.legistar.com, on YouTube at MountainView.gov/YouTube, and on Comcast Channel 26. Members of the public wishing to provide comments to the EPC may: 1) send an email to epc@ mountainview.gov 2) join the Zoom Webinar online at mountainview.gov/meeting or call 669-900-9128 and enter Webinar ID 853 0070 5240; or 3) attend the meeting in person in the Council Chambers, Second Floor at 500 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041. Please consult the meeting agenda, which will be available for review the Friday before the meeting at mountainview.legistar.com. Meeting dates and times are subject to change. Please check the ﬁnal published agenda online at the web address listed above or view the posted agenda located outside the front door of City Hall at 500 Castro

WONDERING WHERE TO WATCH MARCH MADNESS? Head over to 541 Ramona St. in Palo Alto. The Pro, a Palo Alto landmark since 1964, has been revitalized in its original location. The new establishment honors the bar’s rich legacy and the “Spirit of Stanford” while celebrating Bay Area sports. It has preserved the bar’s unique character and vibrant atmosphere, including the “Coach’s Corner” in memory of former co-owners Bill “Coach” Campbell and Mike Homer. This legacy is carried on by a new group of local leaders, including Guillaume Bienaime and founding partner Andrew Luck, the former Stanford and NFL star, who is helping restore the spirit of “The Old Pro.”

CRAVING LUXURY? LUXERETAIL THERAPY INVITES you to their grand opening on Saturday, April 4, at 824 San Antonio Road, Palo. Alto. In addition to shopping, LuxeRetail is now accepting luxury and high-quality items for consignment. Owner Rachelle Cagampan is committed to sustainability and supporting a circular economy by helping families declutter and earn effortlessly. LuxeRetail handles the entire selling process, helping to reduce waste with every transaction. To schedule a drop-off, please email clientservices@ luxeretailtherapy.com.

EASTER BRUNCH AT CABANA COVE. Sunday, April 5, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Celebrate Easter in style with a delightful brunch buffet featuring breakfast classics, small plates, salads, entrees, and

desserts. Their family-friendly event also includes complimentary egg hunts for children at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. *Adults:

$80 | Kids: 5-10

$35 | Under 5: Free *Price does not include tax & gratuity. More information and reservations at cabanapaloalto.com/eat-drink/ or 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.

JOIN PENINSULA CIVIL WAR

ROUNDTABLE at Harry’s Hofbrau in Redwood City on Tuesday, April 21, at 11:30 a.m. Joan Larrabee will talk about “Mary Chesnut and her Diary.” Larrabee grew up in a military family; one great-grandfather served in a New York regiment as a teenager at the end of the Civil War. She earned a degree in history at Stanford University and a Master of Urban Planning at San Jose State. She worked for the City of San Jose in the ﬁelds of community services, public works, and transportation. For more information, please visit peninsulacivilwarroundtable.org.

DONNA MARIE

BALDWIN PRESENTS: SPRING INTO ACTION!

This April, cross those lingering items off your to-do list. Join Donna Marie for a free “Estate Planning 101” Zoom webinar on Wednesday, April 22, at 6 p.m., featuring expert Kimberly N. Barrot. Then, declutter your home at their Paper Shredding and E-Waste event in Hillsborough on Sunday, April 26. Events are free, but registration is required. For full details, visit DonnaMarieBaldwin.com/Events. Compass | DRE #00560346.

CLASSIC FAMILY OWNED RESTAURANT STILL GOING STRONG FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS. What can you say about Sundance the Steakhouse? Galen and the Fletcher family have created one of the ﬁnest steakhouse restaurants in the Bay Area. Galen’s dad Bob Fletcher opened the doors in 1974 and has been serving slow roasted prime rib ever since. They’ve never closed the doors and they have stuck to their award winning American cuisine for nearly half a century. They offer lunch and dinner in the beautiful main dining room or the historic sports lounge. Award winning prime rib, fresh seafoods and a world class wine list await you. So take your choice, lunch or dinner. Sundance The Steakhouse is located across the across the street from Stanford at 1921 El Camino Real in Palo Alto. Check the website for the menu and call Galen Fletcher at (650) 321-6798 make a reservation.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR, UKE, SONGWRITING AND Harmony Singing Classes. Taught In-Person and Live Via Zoom starting March 30th by Grammynominated guitarist/singer/ songwriter Carol McComb. Classes meet for one hour each week and run for 8 weeks. Carol teaches classes at all levels

of guitar featuring folk, country, bluegrass, ﬁngerstyle blues, alternative rock songs, harmony singing and songwriting. The cost is $240 for 8 weeks. For details, go to www.carolmccomb.com and click on the “group classes” menu button. Questions? Email carol@carolmccomb.com.

DO YOU HAVE LEAKY WINDOWS OR ROOF THAT IS IN NEED OF REPAIR? Contact Palo Alto Builders today. They are a full-service local construction company that has become known for high-quality craftsmanship. Palo Alto Builders employs the best craftsmen and skilled artisans to help bring your home and ofﬁce projects to life. From the simple remodel to a new building, their stamp of quality is on every job and they have many happy local clients who’ll be happy to vouch for this. Call Sassan today at (650) 422-4119 to set up a consultation for your next project.

EASTER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. Be sure to shop Five Ten in Palo Alto for all the coolest gifts in town. Picture here is Kate. She is holding up an Easter Bunny that stands 27” tall. This is the perfect compliment for your Easter display. FiveTen gift store is located at in Downtown Palo Alto at 510 Waverley Street. You can also give them a call at (650) 322-4510.

NEWS

UNION –––––––

Bay Area housing costs have skyrocketed in the last decade, Culbertson said.

“That has really eaten away at the buying power and living conditions of our members,” Culbertson said.

The average teacher’s salary is around $130,072 a year, according to the district.

The union is asking the district to continue funding 100% of health care for members and 90% for their dependents.

The union also wants more autonomy for teachers. For example, high school teachers will go to extracurriculars like clubs, plays and sports — but they don’t want to be forced to in their contract, Culbertson said.

Special education teachers also need more support, like extra aides, Culbertson said.

No interview

Acting Superintendent Herb Espiritu, who is leading negotiations for the district on the board’s behalf, wasn’t available for an interview this week.

“As we move through the superintendent search process, Mr. Espiritu’s schedule is quite limited at this time,” district spokeswoman Lynette White said in an email on Tuesday.

Espiritu replaced acting Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh, who was leading the negotiation team but resigned on March 17 with a $346,673 payout.

Bahadursingh’s resignation came a month after the board parted ways with longtime Superintendent Don Austin, who received $596,802 to resign on Feb. 20.

Credibility damaged

“PAUSD management and the school board has lost a lot of credibility in the last six weeks,” Culbertson said. “A lot of community members are looking to us. They want to know what we think … The teachers represent stability.”

The district and the union will continue negotia-

tions next month. The two sides are closer than they were in February, when the district offered a 2% raise in the ﬁrst year of the contract, and the union asked for 13%.

The district is now offering 4% for the ﬁrst year, and the union is asking for 9%.

Culbertson said he’s not anticipating a strike.

“We’re ready to make a deal,” he said.

HOMES ---––––––

including some along Highway 85. “Please, if possible, save the buffer of mature trees along the freeway,” resident Lada Adamic said. “This will make a real difference to the health and well-being of residents who live there, both current and future.”

Worries on dead-end

Other neighbors are worried about trafﬁc on Cypress Point Drive, a 2,000-foot dead-end street to the new apartments.

“During an emergency, how would all the residents of these complexes be able to evacuate? We have asked the city for a study of trafﬁc in the area but none has been done,” said Diane Gazzano, who has lived on Cypress Point Drive since 1976.

The development is an addition to a 404-unit complex on 14.5 acres, replacing parking lots and carports in the Willowgate neighborhood.

Kirchofer will include a rooftop pool and give the city land for a 1.3-acre park.

“That’s a tremendous amenity for a park-deﬁcient neighborhood,” said Councilman Lucas Ramirez, who liked the project because it’s within walking distance to downtown and the Caltrain station.

Other approvals

Council also approved 38 three-story townhomes at 922 San Leandro Ave. and 460 apartments in an eight-story building at 490 E. Middleﬁeld Road.

The townhomes, proposed by developer Kian Malek of City Ventures, will replace industrial buildings and two single-family homes near the Highway 101-85 interchange. Amaru Robotics CEO Lewis An-

derson encouraged council to approve the townhomes because he said high housing costs make good employees harder to hire.

For first-timers

Councilman John McAlister said he’s excited because ﬁrst-time buyers can afford the townhomes.

“Somebody that owns something is going to be more committed to the community, and that’s what I like to see,” he said on Tuesday.

The apartments on East Middlefield Road will replace a two-story office building on a 2.9-acre property, with new retail spaces on the ground floor.

The project by developer Jeff Stone is in the East Whisman neighborhood where council previously approved seven-story and eight-story buildings at 675 E. Middleﬁeld Road.

“We’re confident in fighting a fire in a building of this size” Fire Chief Brian Jones told council.

THE UPDATE FROM PAGE 1

immigration enforcement was at the airport, the New York Times reported. This led to ICE arresting the woman and her daughter in front of a crowd at SFO.

TECH COUNCIL: President Trump has named Mark Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen, Sergey Brin, Larry Ellison and Nividia CEO Jensen Huang, among others, to an advisory council to help guide policy on AI and technology.

FLYNN SETTLEMENT: The Justice Department has settled for roughly $1.2 million a lawsuit with Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser to President Trump who pleaded guilty during the Republican’s ﬁrst term to lying about phone conversations with a top Russian diplomat but was later pardoned.

GUTHRIE PLEADS: Savannah Guthrie said in a tearful interview on NBC that “somebody needs to do the right thing” and provide information to lead to a resolution of the case of her missing 84-yearold mother. Guthrie says she wakes up every night wondering about the terror her mother went through.

ROOFTOP PATIO

PORCHETTA NIGHT

FLY –––––––

and chaos because they don’t like how the ofﬁces run. He knew going into that endorsement that he wasn’t going to get it,” Canepa said.

‘Long standing policy’

Irizarry emailed to the unions involved in the labor council, stating the Assessor’s ofﬁce has a long-standing policy of not soliciting endorsements from any political party, union or special interest group.

“This policy is intended to preserve the independence, integrity and neutrality of the ofﬁce,” Irizarry wrote.

Yet Irizarry’s boss, Mark Church, was endorsed by labor in 2018, according to Julie Lind, head of the county’s Labor Council.

Irizarry applied for an endorsement from the San Mateo County Democratic Party, refuting his claim of a long-standing policy, Lind said.

Why Canepa

Lind said the Labor Council endorsed Canepa because he could address the challenges the department is currently facing.

The SEIU Local 521, which represents the employees in the Assessors’ ofﬁce, sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 23 saying there has been “chronic mismanagement.”

Last fall, the ofﬁce had 30% of positions vacant due to the deteriorating workplace conditions, burnout, or early retirement, according to union leader Mercedes Segura’s letter.

This has caused the processing of exemptions for churches, schools and low-income housing projects to be three years behind, Segura wrote. There has also been a backlog of appeals, and nearly 10,000 deeds are still pending for those seeking to change ownership, Segura wrote.

“They are the predictable outcome of inadequate leadership, poor workforce planning, ineffective recruitment and retention strategies, and an absence of meaningful accountability within the executive team,” Segura wrote. “The

toll on employees is profound. Morale is at historic lows. Burnout is widespread.”

Canepa said he is running to address the backlog, and his labor endorsement is key to ﬁxing the issue.

Church’s rebuttal Church, in a rebuttal to Segura’s claims sent to the Post yesterday, said the State Board of Equalization found the department is operating at a high level of performance, managing workload, appeals and exemptions.

The department’s vacancies are consistent countywide and result from long-tenured employees retiring, he said.

There is no deadline for ﬁling exemption claims that result in ﬁlings that need to be adjusted, and sometimes corrections need to be made, Church said.

The backlog of appeals exists but ﬂuctuates with market conditions and taxpayers’ behavior, according to Church.

The current workload consists of 2,783 deeds from 2025, Church said.

The alleged low morale and systemic dysfunction do not reﬂect the whole department’s experience, Church said.

Canepa had tried to question Irizarry about Segura’s letter at the Feb. 23 meeting, but was shutdown by the other supervisors, as Irizarry was at the meeting to present on changes to the tax roll. Supervisor Noelia Corzo told Canepa he “crossed a line” in his questioning of Irizarry at the meeting.

Irizarry’s supporters

Meanwhile, Canepa’s colleagues on the board, who usually are in lock-step with labor, such as Supervisors Corzo and Ray Mueller, have endorsed Irizarry. So has Supervisor Jackie Speier.

Irizarry said he is proud to have their support. They know he is the most qualiﬁed for the position, and that Canepa lacks the skills and qualiﬁcations needed for the multi-hyphenate position, he said.

The position with no term limits has an annual base salary of $317,040.

CITY OF PALO ALTO

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the City Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers and Zoom on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 5:30 p.m., or as near thereafter as possible in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California and via Zoom Virtual Teleconference (Site: https://zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 362 027 238 Phone: 1(669)900-6833) to consider: (1) Approval of a Final Map for the Properties Located at 4335 and 4345 El Camino Real to Allow for a Condominium Subdivision to Create Eight Units on a 17,406-Square-Foot Parcel and to Create 21 Units on a 41,370-Square-Foot Parcel and the Naming of Three Private Streets Associated With the Development (25PLN-00160). CEQA Status: Exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (In-ﬁll Development). Zoning District: CS (Service Commercial). For more information, contact the project planner, Claire Raybould at Claire.Raybould@ paloalto.gov. (2) QUASI-JUDICIAL. 530 Barron Avenue [25PLN-00021]: Appeal of Director’s Decision to Deny an Individual Review Application to Allow Partial Deconstruction of an Existing 924-Square-Foot Single-Story Residence and to Allow the Construction of a New 2,528-Square-Foot Two Story Single-Family Residence with Attached One-Car Garage, 303-Square-Foot Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit and 497-Square-Foot of Existing House Converted to Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit. CEQA Status: Exempt from the Provisions of CEQA in Accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15303. Zoning District: R-1 (Single-Family Residential). For more information, contact the project planner, Claire Raybould at Claire.Raybould@paloalto. gov. (3) San Antonio Road Area Plan Land Use and Transportation Alternatives Study Session. CEQA Status: Exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262. For more information, contact the project planner, Robert Cain at Robert.Cain@paloalto.gov.

MAHEALANI AH YUN City Clerk

Cars at City Hall upset officials

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

Vehicle owners who leave their cars at Independence Hall in Woodside for days at a time may get towed.

Woodside Town Council will be placing signs at its City Hall parking lot at 2955 Woodside Road after electric cars have been parked there for multiple days.

Councilman Dick Brown said at Tuesday’s meeting that he wanted to limit electric cars to parking for only two to three hours.

Some electric cars have stayed there all night long, Brown said.

Public Works Director Louis Sun said there was one car parked for three days and they weren’t sure whether it was charging. Having signs and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Ofﬁce to

enforcethat only charging cars can be parked will free up more spaces, Sun said.

Brown said he wasn’t sure how town employees didn’t know whether it was charging.

“They don’t hook it in just to hook it in,” Brown said.

Councilman Hassan Aburish said he thought it was ﬁne for residents to leave their cars, since it would beneﬁt the town by bringing in more money. Limiting residents to only two hours would not be appealing for them, he said. Aburish said he was in favor of issuing tickets instead of towing cars because they would have to cut off the hose to take the car.

Council will decide later whether to tow or issue tickets to cars parked at City Hall.

Energy co--op’s name too similar to PG&E

A clean energy nonproﬁt in San Mateo County is changing its name because its initals are too similar to PG&E.

Peninsula Clean Energy — or PCE wants to change its name to WestLight Energy, because “it’s easier to remember,” Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Shalini Swaroop told the East Palo Alto City Council on March 17.

Peninsula Clean Energy is a nonproﬁt energy cooperative that buys re-

newable energy such as solar and wind and uses PG&E lines to deliver it to consumers. It serves 97% of San Mateo County and also serves customers in Los Banos, where it has a solar facility.

The name Peninsula Clean Energy was literal and helped people understand who they were when the company ﬁrst started, Swaroop said. It would also be known as PCE, but many customers would confuse it with PG&E, she said.