Cover Story
Who are the vehicle dwellers?
along with his children. Where he sleeps: The front seat of his 1988 Dodge Spirit. Sometimes on a bench at the Caltrain station because he is developing circulatory problems from not sleeping on a flat surface. Various places in commercial areas near El Camino Real. Years living in his vehicle: 2 What he wants people to know: “A woman mentioned at the City Council meeting how she lives in her car. She’s afraid of shelters. When she can get in her car and lock those four doors, she feels secure. How can you think about taking that away from her? You’re going to throw her into a more terrifying existence? Do you really want to take that away from her? What are you thinking? Shelter is the biggest expense if you are moneychallenged. I would like to have my own home.” Solutions to the issue: “There should be another circuit like Hotel de Zink. Currently there are only 15 beds and homeless people can stay for only three months in a year.”
Vickie Boone
Age: 53 Education: Palo Alto schools, including Terman Middle School and Gunn High School. She was working on bachelor’s degree in business and was three classes short when she ran out of money. Career: Worked as a security guard. Currently works as a “mystery shopper” evaluating retailbusiness performance and in a focus group. Does not receive public assistance. Reasons for being on the street: Victim of domestic violence Where she sleeps: The front seat of her Geo Metro in an area she prefers not be made public Years living in her vehicle: 2 What she wants people to know: “I really want a job. I have never broken the law, and I don’t want to become a criminal. I took care of my dad for six years when he had cancer, so there’s a gap in my resume, so people say I’m not hirable. My biggest problem is I don’t fit into any categories (for assistance): veteran, have children, criminal, mental illness. I’m not old, sick or pregnant. What’s gotten me through is my faith. I go to San Francisco once a month to feed the homeless. You’ve got to give back. If I make this all about me, then I’m going to be depressed.” Solutions to the issue: “More shelters. We already have laws for dumping garbage or urinating in public. If you don’t break the law you shouldn’t be treated as a criminal.”
Chuck Jagoda
Age: 68 Education: Graduate degrees from New York Institute of Technology Career: Taught Latin and special education, psychology and anthropology. Former faculty member at the New York Institute of Technology and teacher in New York City public schools, missionary in Jamaica with the Peace Corps, garbage man, landscape laborer, carpenter, caretaker for his mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease. He’s a father and grandfather. He currently gets Social Security and a small pension, tutors and does some writing and editing contract work. He’s working with a Stanford student on “Homeless, the Musical.” Reasons for being on the street: Not getting
NOTICE OF VACANCIES ON THE PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION AND THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENSION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council is extending the deadline to receive applications from volunteers interested in serving on either the Planning and Transportation Commission or the Architectural Review Board to September 1, 2011 at 5:30 pm. Contact the City of Palo Alto City Clerk’s Office at 650-329-2571, send an email to city.clerk@ cityofpaloalto.org, or visit www.cityofpaloalto.org for more information. MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MUST BE PALO ALTO RESIDENTS. THERE ARE NO RESIDENTCY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD. DONNA J. GRIDER City Clerk
CITY OF PALO ALTO
Fred Smith
Age: 67 1/2 Education: Bachelor’s degree in physics with enough hours for minors in mathematics, chemistry, engineering and psychology. Started a doctorate degree in physics but dropped out after almost two years. Reads a lot and is the best-read person he knows. Career: Was a software engineer for nearly 30 years from the late 1970s to 2006; currently lives on Social Security and Medicare. Still looking for work and as a Plan B is working on a software program that hopefully will generate $1,000 or so per month to supplement income. Reasons for being on the street: A few years ago he lost his six-figure job, and his wife of 22 years died after a four-year illness. Devastated, he ran out of money last July. He’s one of the “99ers” — his unemployment benefits ran out, and he lost his apartment. Where he sleeps: In his motor home on El Camino Real and near Boulware Park and in commercial areas. Years living in his vehicle: 1 What he wants people to know: “I’ve been a resident of Palo Alto for over 35 years, and I’ve paid my taxes. My wife and I spent something like $750,000 in Palo Alto over the years. I resent the attitude of some that now that I am out of work, living in my vehicle, that I now have less rights than them. Most of us keep a very low profile, do not throw garbage out, do not defecate or urinate in anyone’s yards. I and most vehicle dwellers stay at least 100 yards away from any residential housing. I can just get by, but I cannot afford rents around here — not even the cost of moving my RV into an RV park. I have no criminal record (did a rolling stop through a stop sign once). A criminal record (if the ordinance passes) will make it even harder to find work.” Solutions to the issue: “I do not like living in an RV but ... living in a vehicle, especially one that is large like a van or RV, is a much better solution than any offered or proposed. The proposed ban seems draconian. I believe the ban is not needed, and they already have laws about vehicles staying in residential areas more than three days. I harm no one and would like to just be left alone to solve my living problems.” N — Sue Dremann
NOTICE OF FINAL DATES ON OR BEFORE WHICH DIRECT AND REBUTTAL ARGUMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK IN SUPPORT OF OR AGAINST AN INITIATIVE MEASURE TO UNDEDICATE TEN ACRES OF EXISTING PARKLAND IN BYXBEE PARK FOR USE AS A COMPOST FACILITY TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS OF PALO ALTO AT A SPECIAL ELECTION, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Tuesday, August 16, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., has been fixed as the final date and time when direct arguments for or against the following measure may be submitted to the City Clerk for printing and distribution to the voters of the City. Copies of the direct arguments will be available from the City Clerk on Wednesday, August 17, 2011. The deadline for filing rebuttal arguments with the City Clerk has been set for Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. Copies of the rebuttal arguments will be available from the City Clerk on Wednesday, August 24, 2011. CITY OF PALO ALTO (MEASURE “___”) Shall ten acres of existing parkland in Byxbee Park be undedicated for the exclusive purpose of building a processing facility for yard trimmings, food waste and other organic materials? FOR THE ORDINANCE ____ AGAINST THE ORDINANCE ____ The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Copies of the resolution placing this proposition on the ballot and containing the full text of the measure are available in the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California 94301. All materials to be printed in the Sample Ballot regarding the measure will be available for public examination from Wednesday, August 24, 2011 through Friday, September 2, 2011, at the City Clerk’s office on the seventh floor. DONNA J. GRIDER, MMC City Clerk *> Ê Ì Ê7ii ÞÊUÊ Õ}ÕÃÌÊx]ÊÓ䣣ÊU *>}iÊ23