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Local news, information and analysis
Palo Alto group seeks to bridge gap between police, community New Community Advisory Group offers the Police Department ‘candid’ advice behind closed doors by Gennady Sheyner alo Alto’s newest citizen commission includes an East Palo Alto pastor, a Palo Alto High School student, a retired bank executive, a former Palo Alto mayor and a local resident who had publicly accused Palo Alto police officers of racially profiling her. Its members’ ages range from 16 to 84 and their backgrounds and
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occupations are similarly varied. Since late October, members have been meeting once a month with a small group of Palo Alto police officers to swap police stories and bone up on police laws and procedures. The goal, according to the group’s vision statement, is to “address the concerns of the community and enhance the relationship between the
police and citizens in order to assure fair and impartial policing.” But in recent weeks, several members of the City Council publicly questioned the less-than-transparent nature of the new Community Advisory Group, which the city created last year to improve communications between the police department and the community. At last week’s joint meeting of the City Council and the Human Relations Commission, Councilman Yiaway Yeh asked for a list of “pros and cons” for keeping the meetings closed to the public.
Councilwoman Gail Price said she hopes the group revisits the issue. “I see it as a process decision, hopefully, that gets revisited because we feel very strongly about giving people opportunities to participate,” Price said. “I understand the issue of creating an environment where people feel safe to make comments,” she added. “As this goes on, there are a lot of people with good ideas who may help you with your work.” Police watchdog Aram James characterized the private meetings
as an affront to democracy and argued that the community has a right to know what goes on at the meetings. James, who regularly criticizes the police department at meetings of the City Council and the Human Relations Commission, decried the fact that he can’t participate in the Community Advisory Group meetings as well. “It’s a basic concept of democracy,” James said. “I might see what (continued on page 8)
STATE
Newcomer takes fundraising lead in Assembly race Venture capitalist Becker overtakes Gordon, Kishimoto in cash raised by Gennady Sheyner
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Vivian Wong
Many new teachers credit mentoring from the New Teacher Center, a national organization dedicated to “accelerating the effectiveness of teachers,” for giving them the support and sense of professionalism they need to stick with, and thrive in, the challenging job. “The New Teacher Center has had a tremendous impact on my abilities as a teacher,” said first-year teacher Kathleen Florita. “From orientation at the beginning of the year, to NTC mentors at my school site to my own NTC mentor, they have all transformed my classroom into an
Menlo Park venture capitalist has surged past two political veterans in the race for campaign cash, all but ensuring a tight three-way contest for Ira Ruskin’s seat in the State Assembly. Joshua Becker, whose campaign is a little more than three months old, has received $219,643 in campaign contributions, according to financial statements filed Monday. His two opponents in the Democratic primary, San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon and former Palo Alto Councilwoman Yoriko Kishimoto, have raised $195,360 and $161,464 as of Dec. 31, respectively. Becker took the lead in fundraising despite being the only political newcomer in the race. Calling himself an “innovation Democrat,” Becker is banking on Silicon Valley support to win Ruskin’s seat in the 21st District, which includes 13 cities from San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Ruskin will be termed out at the end of this year. Gordon has received much of his support from San Mateo County attorneys, Realtors and labor leaders. Kishimoto has relied on checks from local environmentalists, politicians and neighborhood leaders. Becker has been boosted by the district’s high-tech sector. His more than 300 contributors include many technologists and CEOs, including professionals from such firms as Google, HP, Microsoft, Apple and Cisco. Becker, who sits on the Univer-
What a re-leaf! Paly High student Jayshawn Gates-Mouton shovels structural soil into the hole around a tree, at the Canopy-sponsored tree-planting along California Avenue last Saturday. More than 150 volunteers participated in replanting the street with 44 new trees, in a community celebration of trees. Another 21 larger trees will be planted by the city.
EDUCATION
Mentoring boosts teacher retention in East Palo Alto schools Veteran teachers offer support, ‘sense of professionalism’ in challenging job by Chris Kenrick
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new teacher enters the classroom brimming with energy and enthusiasm before running up against the hard realities of
the job. Those difficulties — daunting bureaucracy, tough working conditions, to name a few — used to
mean that 75 percent of new teachers in East Palo Alto’s Ravenswood City School District failed to return for a second year. But that figure has reversed itself dramatically in the past few years — about 74 percent of first-year teachers now stay on for at least three or four years. That’s welcome news for Superintendent Maria De La Vega, who has said a more stable teaching staff is key in boosting student performance in a district where nearly 70 percent of students are English-language learners and 85 percent qualify for federal lunch subsidies.
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