N E W S
Menlo Park smoking law could have broad reach By Sean Howell Almanac Staff Writer
P
eople who smoke cigarettes may find themselves pausing to examine their surroundings more often when they’re within the borders of Menlo Park, if the city tightens its smoking ordinance as expected. The changes the City Council will consider at its March 2 meeting would prohibit smoking in public parks, places of congregation such as ATM machines and bus stops, near openings to buildings such as windows and vents, and in common areas within multi-unit residences. Perhaps most significantly, the ordinance would declare second-hand smoke a nuisance — enabling people to take legal action against others who smoke in their vicinity, such as in an adjoining apartment or condo unit. The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, located in the Civic Center complex between Laurel and Alma streets.
The city drafted the ordinance in response to an extraordinary lobbying effort by Barbara Franklin, who decided to take up the issue after she was bothered by smoke wafting into her condominium unit from an apartment below hers. She began making presentations to the council about the dangers of secondhand smoke in late 2008, and has attended most council meetings since then, often sitting through the several hours of the meeting. The council has received a trickle of correspondence about the issue from residents since then, with several people making nuanced arguments about how far the ordinance should go. But there has not been much organized opposition thus far, from real estate agents or other groups. The revised ordinance would also enable the city to enforce a San Mateo County law, requiring tobacco vendors to obtain permits from the county. Some believe that requirement would decrease the incidence of vendors selling cigarettes to minors.
Big run of property crimes in Atherton, MP By Dave Boyce Almanac Staff Writer
T
hieves got away with almost $53,000 in stolen goods in some 19 property crimes in Atherton and Menlo Park over the week that started Friday, Feb 19, according to police logs for both communities. In Menlo Park, a take of $17,150 includes four residential burglaries, four thefts — in which breaking and entering was not a factor — and three auto burglaries. Atherton’s much higher loss of $35,800 includes a $31,000 heist of jewelry from a locked vehicle, along with two residential burglaries and one theft, according to the log.
There were also four Menlo Park vehicle thefts, two of which were recovered, police said. Menlo Park
In residential crimes, the take last week included a laptop and jewelry valued at $7,350 on Carlton Avenue, two rings valued at $4,900 from Monte Rosa Drive, a video game setup valued at $2,800 from O’Connor Street, and two turntables, a mixer and some jewelry for a total of $3,600 from a home on Carlton Avenue. On Noel Drive, someone stole a bicycle valued at $1,700 from a garage. At Robert Half International offices on Sand
Hill Road, thieves stole a TV valued at $2,500, police said. Losses from auto burglaries included a $2,300 theft of a laptop, briefcase and notebook. Someone stiffed the Chevron station on El Camino Real for $69.95 for a vehicle repair, police said. Atherton
The big jewelry burglary of a vehicle occurred on Palmer Lane after someone smashed the vehicle’s window and stole a jewelry box and its contents along with a purse, police said. At a construction site on Betty Lane, thieves got away with $4,400 in tools, police said.
Art, wine auction to benefit Alzheimer’s Association An art and wine auction to support art therapy services to Alzheimer’s sufferers is set for 6-9:30 p.m. on March 5 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. The event
benefits the Alzheimer’s Association’s “memories in the making” program, which is offered locally at Rosener House and Canyon House in Menlo Park. Tickets cost $125 and are avail-
able at the door. Go to www.alz. org/norcal to preregister or call 962-8111 for information. The Computer History Museum is located at 1401 Shoreline Ave. in Mountain View.
March 3, 2010 N The Almanac N 11