WEDNESDAY, April 29, 2026
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BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Text messages between Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims and her school district friends show that Lythcott-Haims voted against a volunteer for a city commission because of the volunteer’s views on Gaza and math.
Lythcott-Haims sought advice in a group chat with former school board president Jennifer DiBrienza, former school board candidate Nicole Chiu-Wang and parent
TEXTS obtained by the Post through a California Public Records Act request shows Palo Alto Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims asking her friends about an applicant for a city commission.
Nana Chancellor. Lythcott-Haims asked them about Allyson Rosen, a Stanford psychologist who applied for the city’s Human Relations Commission in October.
“I’m hearing there are concerns about (Rosen) based on ‘PAUSD issues.’ Does any of you have an opinion?” Lythcott-Haims asked the group chat on Oct. 3.
“Yes. Do not let her on there,” said DiBrienza, who was on the school board from 2016 to 2024.
Rosen has a PhD “in something” and bills herself as “a data person” but twists data to suit her agenda, DiBrienza said.
“She is one of the math acceleration people. She is very unsympathetic toward Gaza,” DiBrienza said. Rosen went to a
[See TEXTS, page 18]
BY CAROLYN JONES CalMatters
CORRECTION: An April 23 story about utility bills included the wrong increase proposed for electric rates. The Palo Alto Finance Committee has recommended a roughly 4.5% rate increase.
COMEY INDICTED AGAIN: Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted again, this time over a social media photo of seashells arranged on a beach that officials say constituted a threat against President Trump. Comey says he assumed the arrangement of shells reading “86 47” was a political message, not a call to violence against Trump, the 47th president.
UAE LEAVES OPEC: The United Arab Emirates will leave OPEC
[See THE UPDATE, page 23]
Just a few months after California overhauled the way it teaches children to read, a new bill takes on math education — and may be just as controversial.
Senate Bill 1067 would require schools to screen all kindergartners,
first- and second-graders for basic math skills, and give them extra help if they’re behind. The idea is to help those children catch up to their peers who might have had much more exposure to math before starting school.
“A student’s early math skills are the most powerful predictor of their later success in school,” said Amy Cooper,
a senior advisor at EdVoice, an education nonprofit that’s cosponsoring the bill. “We’re not talking about tracking kids. There’s no labels. It’s just about getting support to students so that they can get up to grade level.”
California students, in all grade levels, have long struggled in math. Last
[See MATH, page 19]
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
San Carlos City Council is eyeing increasing parking ticket fines and overnight parking restrictions to combat the increased number of RVs parked on the city’s east side.
The majority of council on Monday
said it was interested in banning RVs citywide, but wanted to focus on reaching out to affected businesses and RV dwellers.
“It’s kind of a whack-a-mole, if you ban it in one place, they’re going to move to another,” Councilwoman Sara McDowell said.
McDowell said she would support any police that addresses the concerns of business owners. She was worried that if the city chose to implement a permit program, it would divert significant resources from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. A ban would
[See RV, page 18]
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A man who shot a Mountain View police officer in 2022 was sexually abused by his father when he was 2 years old, his sister told a jury.
“It was very violent,” Elizabeth Barrow said at a trial for her brother, Jeffrey Choy.
Choy, 36, of Stockton, is on trial for shooting Detective Raymond Clutter during a downtown traffic stop at 12:28 a.m. on July 16, 2022.
Choy’s bullet went through Clutter’s forearm and stopped in his bulletproof vest.
Question of intent
The jury has already seen a video of the shooting, and Choy admitted that he pulled the trigger. So Choy’s attorney Edward Sousa is making the case that Choy’s trauma made him paranoid and addicted to drugs, and he didn’t intend to kill Clutter.
“Why would anyone in their right mind do something like that?” Sousa asked jurors during his opening argument.
Barrow flew out from her home in Austin, Texas, to support Choy’s case on Monday. She said their father was authoritarian and angry, always slamming doors and stomping his feet.
Barrow said she remembers her father, uncle and grandfather abusing her from when she was 5 to 10 years old.
Barrow said she saw Choy get raped by her father and forced to perform oral sex when Choy was 2 or 3 years old. The abuse happened in bathrooms at their homes in San Jose and Fremont, and the rape happened during a trip to the snow, Barrow said.
“I remember it very clearly,” Barrow calmly told the jury of 12.
After the rape, Choy started having night terrors, getting in trouble and failing at school, Barrow said.
Choy started drinking as a teenager, struggled with depression and attempted suicide several times, Barrow said.
Barrow said she went to therapy and left home for college. She now works as a somatic coach, teaching people with trauma how to “befriend their bodies” instead of shutting down.
Legal troubles
Choy took a different route. Going back to 2008, he has pleaded guilty to breaking into a home, leading an officer on a car chase, attempting a robbery and violating his probation three times.
At the time of the shooting, Choy had two felony cases pending against him — one for domestic violence in Stockton and the other for carrying a gun and possessing meth in Sunnyvale.
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BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
A former Menlo-Atherton High School secretary has filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging she was framed for releasing student information to Atherton Police without parental consent because she is Tongan.
Ofa Taimani’s attorney, Harry Stern, filed a lawsuit on April 24 against the district for allegedly using Taimani as a scapegoat by blaming her for releasing a student’s individualized education program, also known as an IEP, to the police and for forcing her to work in a new role without training.
Taimani was on maternity leave at the time of the alleged release of student information in the spring of 2023, according to the lawsuit.
The suit names Sequoia Union
Superintendent Crystal Leach, Associate Superintendent of HR Bonnie Hansen, M-A Principal Karl Losekoot, Vice Principal Emily Rigotti and former Assistant Superintendent of HR Todd Beal.
The district did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.
Alleged retaliation, firing
During the 2023 school year, many minority teachers were aware of discriminatory and retaliatory complaints against white administrators, but none were investigated, including Taimani’s against Beal, the suit said.
Taimani returned from maternity leave around November 2023 when Beal requested to meet with her, the suit said. Beal accused her of allowing a visitor to photograph the assistant principal’s office and of providing student information
to the police without parental consent, the suit said.
After the meeting, Taimani felt like she was having a heart attack. Taimani’s condition got worse, causing her to leave work and file a workers’ compensation claim to seek treatment, the suit said.
Taimani returned to work from medical leave around April 2024, where she was assigned a new job without training, according to the lawsuit. After summer break in 2024, Taimani’s duties were increased without training despite repeatedly asking Rigotti for training, the suit said.
Taimani went on medical leave again in September 2024 after the ongoing alleged harassment, retaliation and discrimination. She was then fired in March 2025 while still being on medical leave, according to the suit.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Menlo Park Councilman Drew Combs is running for his third term on council.
Combs said he wants to see through the housing proposals for the USGS campus, the SRI campus and the former Sunset Magazine headquarters for when they come before council for decisions.
Combs said. “My approach has historically been very much resident community-focused and fairly pragmatic.”
USGS campus, SRI campus, and former Sunset Magazine headquarters will be generation-defining projects, Combs said.
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“I’ve provided a valuable perspective on the City Council,”
Combs said it could be seen as time to wrap it up, but he feels like his voice on council is key to having a more thoughtful approach to topics. Menlo Park does not have term limits, but many council members bow out after two terms.
The housing proposals on the
Combs was first elected in 2018 to represent District 2, which includes the Willows, Suburban Park and Flood Triangle neighborhoods. If elected, he would want to focus on helping businesses in the downtown and having more community events at city parks, Combs said.
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BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Former San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee has died at age 66.
Magee, a Half Moon Bay resident, retired in February due to her cancer battle, according to Acting Superintendent Marco Chavez.
Magee died Sunday, surrounded by her family, Chavez said.
Magee served nearly eight years as superintendent. Outside of the office, Magee was a water polo player, Chavez said.
Magee was also part of a swimming club in Half Moon Bay, where she
would swim in the ocean, he said. Magee’s love for water polo comes after she played in college at San Jose State University, where she received her master’s in Library and Information Science. Magee received her teaching credential and bachelor’s in English from San Diego State.
Avid sports fan
Magee was an avid sports fan and would love to watch the women’s basketball, including the Valkyries, the Bay Area’s WNBA team, Chavez said Magee would sometimes incorporate her love of sports into her position by doing a cheerleader routine, making everyone laugh, Chavez said.
Magee led with empathy and was lighthearted, Chavez said.
Thomas Eugene Brosnan passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026, at his home in Palo Alto, surrounded by his family.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Tom—affectionately known as “GPA”—lived as a faithful Catholic, reflecting Christ’s love through his generosity and service. A quiet hero, he was devoted to God, his family, and his country.
Tom proudly served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1962 aboard the USS General W. A. Mann. He married his beloved wife, Pauline Pearl, in 1962, and together they built a life in Palo Alto, raising four children and creating a legacy of love. He founded Brosnan Test Labs in 1980 and led it until his retirement in 2000. He later served as a chaplain at Stanford Hospital.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Pauline Brosnan; his children, Linda Fisher, Donna Sanchez, Sheila Santana, and Tommy (Jeanette) Brosnan; 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; and his sisters, Carol Mackay, Betty O’Brien, Mary Alice Heim, and Patsy Christensen.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome and Marion Brosnan; his brothers, Jerry and James Brosnan; and his sisters, Marion George and Bonnie Brosnan. A faithful servant, he now rests in the eternal peace of the Lord.
She was a respectful leader who would push to meet her vision, Chavez said. Magee is recognized for leading the county office through the pandemic.
Magee was elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Magee was received Medium County Office of the Year award from the California County Superintendents a nonprofit association.
She stepped up
Magee was the driving force behind developing a countywide program to align youth mental health support and services into an easier-to-navigate process.
“She stepped up at the time we needed someone to step up,” Hector Camacho Jr. said.
Camacho, who Magee hired as execu-
tive director for equity, social justice, and inclusion, is running for county superintendent and was endorsed by Magee.
“Nancy Magee’s contributions to the safety and wellbeing of our students will be felt for decades to come,” Supervisor Jackie Speier posted on social media, honoring Magee’s work to make schools safer.
Before becoming superintendent, Magee taught as a teacher in the Grossmont Union High School District near San Diego for 20 years. In 2010 she started working in the San Mateo County office of education as library services coordinator and associate superintendent.
Magee has two sons, Travis and Noah, and two granddaughters, Avery and Emmy, who live in San Diego.
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
Santa Clara County District
hostile language,” defense attorney Tony Brass added.
Attorney Jeff Rosen should be thrown off a case against Stanford’s pro-Palestinian protesters because he called them antisemitic and raised campaign money on prosecuting them, a defense attorney argued.
Deputy Attorney General Sharon Lockner said Rosen’s office shouldn’t be recused, and his comments have remained neutral.
Rosen’s office is prosecuting five students who allegedly broke into the Stanford president’s offices, barricaded themselves inside and spattered blood throughout the building on June 5, 2024.
Antisemitism claims
Deputy Public Defender Avi Singh cited Rosen’s comment during a campaign interview in response to questions about “monetizing” the prosecution. Rosen said he hasn’t faced similar challenges in other cases.
“But in this case, because it’s about antisemitism, and it’s because I’m a Jew, it’s the oldest f***ing antisemitic trope. And that’s exactly what the defense attorney is doing in this case,” Rosen reportedly told the San Jose Mercury News on April 20.
The case would get dismissed if Rosen made a comment like this during a trial, and his allegations of antisemitism are “baseless,” Singh said on Monday at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
“This is absolutely biased and
“There’s nothing wrong with campaigning on a case. That’s been done since the dawn of time,” Lockner said.
The Jewish Community Relations Council is concerned the recusal effort will set a precedent that turns any prosecutor’s efforts to confront hate speech against them, spokesman Jeremy Russell said in an email yesterday.
Judge Kelley Paul said she’ll announce a decision on Rosen’s recusal on May 7.
Fundraising efforts
Rosen, 58, of Los Altos, sent a fundraising email to 621 members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Los Angeles on Dec. 5, according to subpoenaed records.
Rosen’s email said his father survived three concentration camps and was a refugee in postwar Europe before immigrating to America.
“My parents taught my brother and me to love four things: America, the State of Israel, the Jewish people and Judaism,” Rosen wrote.
The email included a donation button and a link to a Los Angles Times article about the case.
“Felony charges for pro-Palestinian Stanford students? Trump will love this,” the headline said.
Rosen raised $12,000 for his campaign in December, and his fundraising efforts have put his office in a corner, Singh said.
Five protesters — German Gonzalez, Maya Burke, Taylor McCann, Hunter Taylor-Black and Amy Zhai — are facing felony vandalism and conspiracy charges. Six more protesters accepted pretrial plea deals or alternative sentences.
The protesters were “highly organized” and brought food, a ladder, plywood, crowbars and hammers for breaking in, Rosen said in a press conference when he announced the charges.
One Stanford employee had a photo of her deceased mother and kids destroyed by fake blood, Rosen said.
“Dissent is American. Vandalism is criminal,” Rosen said at the time.
Singh argued the occupation was peaceful and only meant to raise awareness about Stanford’s investments in Israel. He’s representing Gonzalez, and the rest of the defense attorneys have joined in his argument against Rosen’s involvement.
A trial from Jan. 9 to Feb. 13 ended with jurors divided 8-4 for guilt on conspiracy and 9-3 for guilt on vandalism.
Following the verdict, Rosen said he would push for a retrial to have the five take responsibility for an estimated $300,000 in damage.
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Stocks and bond markets, long suppor ted by Central Banks, may be challenged going for ward as governments have exhausted their debt expansion tools. Recent new highs in equities, due to some promising companies, may be more post-election hope than substance.
Cr yptocurrencies had their run, but the hope for a sounder and more private fiat system remains challenged while a past price bubble for the majority has been costly. Bitcoin is an example of those still per forming among the thousands of currencies & tokens in this young experiment.
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Mountain View City Council has declared a state of emergency after cement slurry got into a water main, leaving 67 homes without drinking water near Cuesta Park.
The emergency declaration will allow the city to seek reimbursement from the state and the federal government for expenses related to the contamination.
The breach happened on Friday when the contractor, C2R Engineering, was replacing a water main at the intersection of Cuesta Drive and Bonita Avenue.
Residents who have had their water shut off since then will have to wait until later this week to use water from their tap for anything other than flushing toilets, city spokeswoman Lenka Wright said.
Samples show bacteria
Crews have been flushing the water main and taking water samples. On Monday, the city said two of five water samples tested positive for bacteria. E. coli was not detected but coliform bacteria was found.
The city has offered residents free hotel stays and delivered bottled water.
Potable water is available at the Cuesta Park restrooms and picnic area. Residents should bring their own container that is no more than 5 gallons.
The city is looking at how to offset higher water bills that residents will face for flushing their plumbing systems to clear potentially contaminated water.
Council was set to ratify the emergency declaration last night.
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
The city of Palo Alto has agreed to pay $45,000 to a man who was rear-ended by a police officer.
In exchange, Sami Michel Abdou Gerges will drop his lawsuit against the city.
Gerges said he came to a complete stop on University Avenue at the intersection with Woodland Avenue on Nov. 3, 2023.
Gerges was hit from behind by Officer Yolanda Franco-Clausen, of Hayward, who has worked for
the city since 2016, pay records show.
Injuries claimed
Gerges said he went to the hospital and couldn’t work because of his injuries.
In response, the city said Gerges’ “alleged injuries pre-existed the accident.”
Gerges and the city settled their case on Jan. 5, according to an agreement obtained by the Post using the California Public Records Act.
This is the second settlement the city has signed in the last year for an officer crash. In September, the city paid $400,000 to downtown resident Pamela McGavock, who was hit in a crosswalk by Officer Arturo Bravo at Forest Avenue and Alma Street on May 14, 2022.
Bravo testified that he looked away from the road at his computer and hit McGavock going 15 mph. McGavock testified that she’s in pain every day, and her life was never the same.
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Tick season seems to be off to a fast start, with an unusually high number of bites already reported across the country.
Some U.S. doctors are worried about the potential for a bad year for tickborne diseases.
“If you have a lot of exposures, there will probably be more cases of tick-related infections,” said Dr. Alina Filozov, an infectious disease doctor at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Conn.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an early advisory to the public this week to guard against ticks.
Tick bites typically spike in May, but “the data are telling us now is the time to take action,” said Alison Hinckley, a CDC Lyme disease expert. “Ticks are out and people are getting bitten.”
ER visits running high
Current data is very limited, but the early signs are not good.
The CDC’s tracking system shows that weekly rates of ER visits for tick bites are the highest for this time of year
since 2017. That’s true in all regions of the country, except the south-central United States.
About 85% of U.S. hospital emergency departments send data to the surveillance system, but it doesn’t capture people who didn’t go to a hospital. It will take months for systematic tick sampling by researchers to chart changes in tick populations.
Ticks cause disease
Ticks are small, eight-legged bloodsucking parasites — arachnids, not insects — that feed on animals and sometimes people.
Ticks like warm, humid weather, and more can be seen after a mild winter. The more deer and mice available for them to feed on may also factor.
Some ticks are infected with germs that can cause serious diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy. Lyme disease is the most common, with an estimated 476,000 treated for it each year, according to the CDC.
The Food and Drug Administration is offering ultra-fast review to three psychedelic drugs being developed to treat mental health conditions, including depression, the latest step by the Trump administration toward possible approval of the experimental treatments.
President Trump signed an executive order this month directing the FDA and other federal agencies to speed research and loosen restrictions on psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic drugs which remain illegal under federal law.
Priority vouchers
The FDA said Friday it awarded priority review vouchers to two companies studying psilocybin — the active
ingredient in magic mushrooms — for hard-to-treat forms of depression. A third company received a voucher for methylone, a drug related to MDMA, for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The FDA did not name the companies in a press release announcing the news.
“We owe it to our nation’s veterans and all Americans who are suffering from these conditions to evaluate these potential therapies with urgency,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a statement.
The vouchers don’t guarantee approval, but instead mean that regulators will try to shorten their reviews from a period of months to weeks.
At least 34 people in 13 states have been sickened with salmonella poisoning traced to contact with backyard poultry, including some with infections resistant to common antibiotics, federal health officials said.
Backyard poultry include birds like chicken, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys. The animals can carry germs, including salmonella, that make people sick.
Illnesses were reported from Feb. 26 to March 31 and include 13 people who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sick people range in age from 1 to 78, but more than 40% are children younger than 5, the CDC said last week.
Of sick people interviewed, nearly 80% reported contact with backyard poultry. More than 90% had obtained the animals since January.
Times shown are when a report was made to police.
APRIL 11
2:43 a.m. — Leon Henry Ayiers Jr., 53, of Palo Alto, arrested on a warrant, 400 block of Bryant St.
APRIL 14
12:51 p.m. — Theft at the Apple Store, 340 University Ave.
APRIL 15
2:44 p.m. — Eutimio Amaya Amaya, 33, of Sunnyvale, arrested for illegal lodging, 4200 block of Alma St.
4 p.m. — Forgery, Stanford Shopping Center.
APRIL 16
9:23 a.m. — Scott Christopher Munson, 58, of Menlo Park, arrested for creating a public nuisance, Ramona St. and Addison Ave.
APRIL 18
1:14 p.m. — Stolen vehicle recovered, Oregon Expressway and Middlefield Road.
6:55 p.m. — Auto burglary, 300 block of Hamilton Ave.
10:47 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Ramona St.
APRIL 19
6:16 a.m. — Grand theft, 1000 block of Colorado Ave.
6:36 a.m. — Battery, Downtown Palo Alto Caltrain Station.
8:40 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Oregon Expressway and Birch St.
APRIL 20
1:43 p.m. — Dayker Wender
Carvalho, 36, of Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 1000 block of E. Meadow Circle.
APRIL 21
4:10 p.m. — Naomi Louise St. Louis, 65, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 500 block of High St.
5:33 p.m. — Anthony Emilio Nieblas, 26, of San Jose, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.
SUNDAY
10:55 a.m. — Adrian Verdin, 40, of Menlo Park, cited on a warrant, Bay Road and Addison Ave. Incident handled by Menlo Park police.
APRIL 22
Time not given — Victim loses about $10,000 to a scam, 600 block of Menlo Oaks Drive.
SUNDAY
8:35 a.m. — Matthew Owen, 70, of Palo Alto, arrested on a warrant, 500 block of El Camino.
3:20 p.m. — Juan Valle Ibarra, 28, of East Palo Alto, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without a mandated ignition interlock device and display of false vehicle registration, Bayfront Expressway at the Dumbarton Bridge.
MONDAY
8:34 a.m. — Vehicle collision causes injuries, Crane St. and Oak Grove Ave.
8:42 a.m. — Noninjury vehicle collision, 1300 block of El Camino.
3:59 p.m. — Lilia Romero Garcia, 37, of Menlo Park, cited on a warrant, University Ave. at the railroad tracks.
APRIL 20
8:16 a.m. — Rape reported, 500 block of Mayfield Ave.
10 a.m. — Bicycle stolen, 600 block of Escondido Road.
4:12 p.m. — Electric scooter stolen, 200 block of Campus Drive.
7:12 p.m. — Stalking reported, 200 block of Galvez St.
MARCH 9
8:27 p.m. — Shaquille Thompson, 27, of Richmond, cited for possession of a concealed dirk or dagger and theft of someone else’s lost property, Shoreline Blvd. and Wright Ave.
MARCH 10
12:15 a.m. — Jessica Gurrola, 41, of Sunnyvale, cited for DUI, Central Expressway and Easy St.
3:41 p.m. — Delia Andre, 38, of Santa Clara, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Central Expressway and Moffett Blvd.
MARCH 12
4:20 p.m. — Sean Harley, 32, of Aptos, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, California St. and Ortega Ave.
5:26 p.m. — Antonio Diaz, 42, transient, cited for theft at Target, 555 Showers Drive.
MARCH 15
2:26 a.m. — Anthony Blandon Perez, 22, of Oakland, cited for DUI, Shoreline Blvd. and Middlefield Road.
3:03 a.m. — Victor Alvarenga Hernandez, 21, of Mountain View, arrested for DUI, Villa and Franklin streets.
APRIL 19
9:16 p.m. — Carlos DeJesus, 48, arrested for DUI and driving without a license, 2000 block of California St. APRIL 20
7:09 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, 200 block of Fairchild Drive.
7:47 a.m. — Battery, 1000 block of N. Shoreline Blvd.
10:49 a.m. — Home burglary, 700 block of San Pablo Drive.
MONDAY
6:51 a.m. — Isidro Diaz Dimas, 47, of Sunnyvale, cited on a warrant, Fredrick Ave.
7:16 p.m. — Joshua Jeremiah Mines, 36, of San Francisco, arrested for vandalism, Ashfield Road and Fair Oaks Lane.
FRIDAY
10:51 p.m. — Juan Carlos Navarrete, 37, cited for driving without a license, Spring St. and Woodside Road.
FRIDAY
1:21 a.m. — Francia Pichuante Rojas, 56, of Redwood City, cited on two warrants, Middlefield Road and Charter St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies. 2:33 a.m. — Gabriel Fuentes
Garcia, 35, arrested on a warrant, 200 block of Walnut St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
9:17 a.m. — Jorge Daniel Chamale, 37, cited on warrants, 900 block of Shasta St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
10:36 a.m. — Auto burglary, Elwood St. Tools stolen.
10:41 a.m. — Woman reported to be walking around a store, cutting tags off items, El Camino.
1:34 p.m. — Mail truck and car collide, Main St. No injuries reported.
1:50 p.m. — Erica Alejandre Morales, 24, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug
paraphernalia at the library, 1044 Middlefield Road.
3:15 p.m. — Thomas Eugene Smith, 63, cited on a warrant, Redwood City Caltrain Station. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
5:02 p.m. — Person hits a victim in the nose, causing it to bleed, Middlefield Road.
5:56 p.m. — Packages stolen, Main St.
6:31 p.m. — Jose de Jesus Nube Arellano, 40, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 2200 block of Broadway.
8:55 p.m. — Theo Vance Phillips, 24, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI and narcotics
possession, Hopkins Ave. and Birch St.
FRIDAY
9:32 p.m. — Luis Fernando Santiago Bermudez, 37, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Woodside Road and Churchill Ave.
SUNDAY
12:51 a.m. — Woman says a man she was with stole her keys and her wallet, Old County Road.
10:39 a.m. — Gregory Patrick Flynn, 67, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, Ralston Ave. and Highway 101.
Real Estate for Older Adults and Their Families Real Estate Services for Older Adults and Their Families
The Post prints the latest real estate transactions:
closed March 16 (last sale: $4,096,000, 07-22-22)
Sophie Tsang, MBA, CRS, CSA®, CPTS
Broker Associate | DRE#01399145
Broker Associate | DRE#01399145
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Broker Associate | DRE#01399145
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Stanford GSB LEAD
408.667.3171 sophie@compass.com
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SophieTsang.com
sophie@compass.com
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A rare blend of civil engineering, strategic marketing, Sophie Tsang,
A rare blend of civil engineering, strategic marketing, and real estate investment expertise, complemented Sophie Tsang, MBA, CRS, CSA®, CPTS
A rare blend of civil engineering, strategic marketing, Sophie Tsang, MBA, CRS, CSA®, CPTS
A rare blend of civil engineering, strategic marketing, and real estate investment expertise, complemented by a national network of trusted professionals.
A refined approach to:
PALO ALTO
2855 Josephine Lane, 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1770 square feet, built in 2025, Summerhill West Bayshore LLC to Eunice and Henry Rafael for $590,000, closed April 2
4250 El Camino Real #D138, 94306, 2 bedrooms, 885 square feet, built in 1983, Kurdi Trust to Viviana Tul for $717,500, closed April 3 (last sale: $820,000, 08-23-20)
444 San Antonio Road #7A, 94306, 3 bedrooms, 1826 square feet, built in 1988, Qi and Dongxue Chen to Aishwarya and Manav Sanghavi for $2,100,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $765,000, 08-19-09)
MENLO PARK
1268 Carlton Ave., 94025, 2 bedrooms, 860 square feet, built in 1951, Walid Nijem to Tiffany Meng for $950,000, closed March 16 (last sale: $850,000, 0128-26)
1326 Hoover St. #7, 94025, Arnold Living Trust to Christopher Koch for $1,675,000, closed March 20 (last sale: $2,000,000, 06-07-21)
ATHERTON
85 Rittenhouse Ave., 94027, 6 bedrooms, 2243 square feet, built in 2024, Tony Wong to Fisher Family Trust for $5,600,000,
212 Oak Grove Ave., 94027, 4 bedrooms, 3030 square feet, built in 1968, Berquist Family Trust to Tadimeti-Cheruvu Living Trust for $7,400,000, closed March 16 (last sale: $1,695,000, 10-06-99)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
280 Easy St. #406, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 894 square feet, built in 1964, Mitun Balusamy to Benjamin Johnson for $650,000, closed April 2 (last sale: $739,000, 10-27-17)
928 Wright Ave. #402, 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1414 square feet, built in 1980, Gary Epis to Jeanne-Claudius and Cory Casanova for $1,350,000, closed April 1
1 W. Edith Ave. #A101, 94022, 1 bedroom, 1048 square feet, built in 1996, 1 Wedith101 LLC to Mukhopadhyay Living Trust for $1,530,000, closed April 1 (last sale: $1,450,000, 11-05-24)
100 1st St. #307, 94022, 1 bedroom, 1156 square feet, built in 2015, Karl Supal to VZT Survivor Trust for $1,950,000, closed April 1 (last sale: $1,598,000, 08-09-21)
1390 Westridge Drive, 94028, 4 bedrooms, 3943 square feet, built in 1964, Kelly and Chris Varma to
Halprin Living Trust for $8,100,000, closed March 20 (last sale: $3,760,000, 05-11-17)
REDWOOD CITY
1458 Hudson St. #204, 94061, 1 bedroom, 710 square feet, built in 1970, Patricia Brandt to Carmen and Francisco Luna for $455,000, closed March 18 (last sale: $440,000, 0418-16)
4008 Farm Hill Blvd. #102, 94061, 2 bedrooms, 916 square feet, built in 1973, Benjamin Jacobs to Stacy Perez for $620,000, closed March 19 (last sale: $740,000, 09-22-20)
501 Baltic Circle #539, 94065, 1 bedroom, 927 square feet, built in 1997, Yue Yan to Kevin Pham for $783,000, closed March 16 (last sale: $775,000, 1013-22)
75 Coronado Ave., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1630 square feet, built in 1960, Ronald L Benson LLC to Jialing and Xusheng Ouyang for $1,720,000, closed March 16 (last sale: $335,000, 0601-91)
602 Alameda de las Pulgas, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 1330 square feet, built in 1957, God Trust to Karen and Nathanael Wrye for $1,910,000, closed March 20 (last sale: $370,000, 07-14-98)
PARENTS, MAKE SPACE FOR SUPPORT. Join Children Health Council’s (CHC) free, virtual parent support groups—a welcoming place to connect with others who understand what you’re navigating. Each group is led by CHC experts who specialize in supporting children, teens, and young adults. Come as you are—ask questions, share challenges, or simply listen. You’ll gain practical strategies, helpful insights, and a sense of community. Upcoming topics include: Learning Differences (May 5), Spanish Speaking (May 11), ADHD (May 12), and Anxiety (May 15). Learn more or RSVP at chconline.org/parent-support-groups. CHC is here to support you.
TRUSTED CARE FOR THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER. The new Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center - Palo Alto offers timely, accessible,
and competitively priced therapy with a licensed clinician. Services for youth aged 12-17 meet teens where they are— in both readiness for care and logistical needs. Each young person receives care reflecting their unique needs and preferences, with evidencebased therapy addressing emotional regulation, mood and anxiety symptoms, trauma and grief, peer relationships and social stress, identity development and self-esteem, parent-child communication, and more. Family therapy is also offered. Visit Caminar. org/TeenWellness for more information.
SIKRI believes that anyone can excel in math. She founded OpMath 7 years ago to develop a modern solution to help Palo Alto students eliminate gaps in understanding, build strong foundations,
and grow confidence in their math ability. She and her team are passionate about helping students realize their full potential. With the start of the new semester, OpMath is taking enrollments for K-8th-grade foundational tutoring support as well as enrollments for Mehr’s own Paly math classes (current openings in Alg 2/Trig A, Alg 2/Trig H, IAC, and AP Calc AB). Learn more at opmath.com or email Mehr directly at mehr@opmath.com.
EXPERT COLLEGE
PREP TUTOR — Writing & Reading. With nearly 20 years of experience helping students excel, Dr. Audrey Nieswandt guides students in mastering college essays, academic writing, and literature. Her personalized approach builds confidence, clarity, and results— whether you’re aiming for stronger grades, mastery of language, or stellar, stand-out college applications. Ready to reach your highest potential and make your writing shine? For 1-to-1 teaching, contact Dr. Audrey Nieswandt at draudreywriter@ gmail.com or at (503) 580.7534. See: https:// elitewritingtutor.com.
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day. Lingerie République is located at Town & Country Village, Building 1, Suite 4, and is open seven days a week. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (650) 3237979.
CRAVING LUXURY? STOP BY LUXERETAIL
THERAPY at 824 San Antonio Road, Palo. Alto. In addition to shopping, LuxeRetail is 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.
KAMAKSHI AYYAR’S PERSONAL
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, 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.
and much, much more. Alice is the friendly owner of this fun and fascinating little gift shop located in the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park. Shady Lane is right next door to Starbucks. Give Alice a call at (650) 321-1099 and check the website for more crafty new information about this great little place.
BIOGRAPHER SERVICE is dedicated to preserving your and your loved ones’ legacies through conversation-based 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,
ARE YOUR MUSCLES FEELING OLD AND CRANKY? Is your neck and shoulders feeling tight and sore? If so, you might just need a little relaxation and massage at Blue Danube spa in Palo Alto. Right now, you can treat yourself to an hour of Swedish massage with hot rock therapy for just $65, which is a steal compared to the usual price of over $90. This massage can help you unwind, boost your energy, and can be helpful after an injury. Swedish massage uses long, kneading strokes, rhythmic tapping, and joint movement. Pair that with hot rock therapy to ease muscle tension, pain, and improve blood flow to the area. Blue Danube spa is conveniently located near the Palo Alto Caltrain station at 200 California Ave. Feel free to drop by or book an appointment by calling (650) 321-1777. Be sure to bring in the Daily Post coupon.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. The Shady Lane Gift Shop in Sharon Heights has plenty to offer for the person who has everything or is hard to please. Or maybe you just want to buy a nice gift made by local artists and craftsmen. Silver jewelry, wood carvings, masks, intricate boxes
OK, SO YOU PULLED THE BARBECUE onto the deck and immediately wanted to put it away? Deck too dirty? Sweeping and hosing it down won’t clean it, right? Call Mark Carlsen for a deep-down clean pressurewashing job on that deck. He’ll wash away winter and whatever else is on that wood! Gutters clogged? He can help you with that too. Call Mark today at (650) 868-0801.
HAVING A PARTY OR A MEETING? The private banquet room you need for that family get together or business meeting is at the Dutch Goose in Menlo Park. Yes, the Dutch Goose offers the Maroney Room for special events and private parties. Greg is the owner and offers a large room with dining tables and a buffet table area. You can have it catered from a special menu that includes a variety of Dutch Goose dishes and drinks. The Maroney Room is presentation friendly and there is no fee to rent the room but you do need to make a reservation so check the website for the Maroney Room details. The Dutch Goose is at 3567 Alameda de las Pulgas in Menlo Park. Call 650 854 3245 for more info or check their website.
meeting to make sure nobody blamed academic pressure for student suicides, DiBrienza said.
Warning a friend
“Oy,” Lythcott-Haims replied. “I’m good I’m good no need to say more!”
The Post obtained the messages from the city on Friday using the California Public Records Act.
Chancellor told Lythcott-Haims that Rosen is “one of the ones I warned you about.”
“She is the worst!!” Chancellor said.
Chiu-Wang said Rosen went after DreamCatchers — a nonprofit that offers free after-school programs, led by Chiu-Wang.
“She should definitely NOT be on HRC,” ChiuWang said.
“Anti-equity in every way,” Chancellor added. “She is also a big Rowena supporter. Okay, enough said.”
Chancellor was referring to school board member Rowena Chiu, who was elected in November 2024 to change the district’s culture and allow students to advance in math.
The interview Council members asked Rosen two questions during her interview for the Human Relations Commission on Oct. 15. Mayor Greer Stone asked about federal budget cuts, and Lythcott-Haims asked about Rosen’s posts in a Palo Alto parents’ group chat.
Rosen told the chat that she needed help in “an information war to defend Israel in the world of public opinion,” according to Lythcott-Haims.
“We are running around trying to debate radical pro-Palestinian activists telling us that Israel is committing genocide and promoting ceasefire proc-
lamations,” Rosen’s post said, according to Lythcott-Haims.
Lythcott-Haims asked Rosen how these views were compatible with the Human Relations Commission.
Rosen said it’s important to have correct information in the war between Israel and Hamas.
“If we don’t have correct information, then that turns into propaganda and hate against the Jewish community,” Rosen said at the meeting.
Didn’t get any votes
Rosen ended up getting no votes. Council picked Michelle Kraus, Sridhar Karnam and Salwa Ansari for two-year terms.
The Human Relations Commission’s mission is to “promote the just and fair treatment of all people in Palo Alto, particularly (its) most vulnerable populations.”
In an interview yesterday, Rosen said she felt like Lythcott-Haims blindsided her during the interview.
“I was very struck by how disrespectful it was,” said Rosen, speaking for herself not for her job as director of dementia education at the VA.
Feels judged
Rosen said she wanted to help the Human Relations Commission address student suicides, which she attributes to depression and bullying. She said she thought her background as a psychologist would be helpful, but she feels like Lythcott-Haims judged her politics, not her qualifications or approach.
“This isn’t about me,” Rosen said. “It’s about whether council members are making decisions with fairness, independence and integrity — not based on retribution or personal grievances or irrelevant political litmus tests.”
‘We all make mistakes’
Lythcott-Haims declined an interview yesterday. In an email, she said she learned in passing that Rosen had a long history of speaking at school board meetings and had disparaged supporters of Palestinians. “Whenever a candidate has said or done some-
thing concerning I give them an opportunity to explain where they were coming from and ask whether in retrospect they might have behaved differently,” Lythcott-Haims said. “We all make mistakes and are capable of growing. How they answer determines whether I would feel comfortable appointing them to the commission.”
Former Mayor Lydia Kou said Lythcott-Haims was scolding and condescending toward Rosen.
“It was a demeaning tirade,” Kou said in an interview yesterday.
Kou said the text messages reminded her of the movie “Mean Girls.”
“If that’s all the information that’s needed in order to say no to a volunteer — even though they’re highly qualified for the HRC position — it’s very shameful,” Kou said.
be easier to enforce instead of having a deputy go around checking for permits in an entire neighborhood, McDowell said.
The sheriff’s office currently marks vehicles with 72-hour stickers and issues $50 parking tickets, but hasn’t been able to remove the 15 to 20 vehicles from city streets, causing business owners to complain, according to Interim City Manager Nil Blackburn.
Vice Mayor Adam Rak said he wanted to be empathetic to the situation, but there are also health and safety issues. Rak said if there is concern about RVs moving to a different area in town, it would be best to ban them. But he also wanted to hear from businesses on having a permit program.
Councilman John Dugan said it was a vexing issue, but he didn’t like solving problems they don’t have yet. There haven’t been RV complaints in other parts of the city, he said. Dugan said he would be open to a citywide ban if RVs start parking in neighborhoods,
but for now, increasing the parking ticket fine could help.
“It needs to be a big number that people are going to be like, ‘Holy cow, I can’t stay here. Maybe there’s somewhere else I should go,” Dugan said.
Councilman Neil Layton said the only way to fix the issue is to take an aggressive approach, such as banning RVs citywide.
Changing the current policies will not affect the enforcement that the sheriff’s office can carry out, he said. Banning RVs will be a new tool for deputies and will prevent spillover, Layton said.
RVs will always move to less restrictive areas, and council is addressing how to improve San Carlos, Layton said.
Don’t copy Mountain View
Mountain View resident Albert Johns said his City Council didn’t act strongly enough, and now they have over 400 RVs. Mountain View has a ban on RV parking on certain streets and an RV lot that can hold around 70 vehicles, costing taxpayers, Johns said.
The best option would be to have a citywide ban, Johns said.
Council will discuss a future policy after city employees have reached out to the businesses.
year, just 37% of students performed at grade level in math, with some groups of students faring far worse. Just 16% of Black 11th-graders, for example, met the state’s grade-level standard. Nationwide, California ranks 43rd in
4th grade math scores, behind Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and dozens of other states.
One reason for the poor performance, experts say, is California’s uneven early education landscape. Until transitional kindergarten became available to all 4-year-olds last year, children showed up at kindergarten with a wide array of abilities and skills. Some had years of exposure to early math — either at preschool or at home — and could count, do basic arithmetic and even read a little. Others, especially low-income children, had no prior exposure to the ABCs and 123s, and lagged far behind. Even now, TK and kindergarten are optional, so some students start first grade with no previous math instruction at all.
Tipping point
Some of those children catch up eventually, but many continue to fall further and further behind, research shows. And because math is sequential, catching up becomes harder over time, and the gap widens. Some researchers found that early math skills can even be a predictor of how well students do in high school and college.
It’s still too early to gauge the impact of transitional kindergarten on students’ long-term math performance, but so far there’s still a gap between children who’ve had exposure to math — either through preschool or at home — and those who haven’t. Low-income children are far less likely to get that early exposure, said Alice Klein, a developmental psychologist and research director at the education research firm WestEd.
“It is a critical tipping point,” Klein said. “Unless those students get inter-
vention, the gap will widen. It’ll be harder for them to access higher-level math classes later on, and this will have implications for future job opportunities and the economic future of California. It’s a continual closing of opportunities.”
Klein supports the math screening legislation because she said it’s an effective way to identify students who are struggling and provide them with support.
At least 20 other states have math screenings and have seen positive results, she said.
Numbers and objects
Districts would have their choice of several screening tests to choose from,
each ranging from 10 to 20 minutes long and testing children’s knowledge of basic math concepts. For example, kindergartners might be asked to look at two groups of dots and decide which group has more. Or they’d be asked to identify certain numbers and show that they understand what the numbers mean — that “three” means three objects, for example. English learners would take the test in their native languages.
The bill is authored by state Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, D-San Diego, and last week passed unanimously in the Senate education committee.
Its cosponsor, EdVoice, was behind the push for phonics-based literacy instruction in California public schools.
effective Friday, stripping the oil cartel of its
and
MUSK VS. ALTMAN: Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO, world’s richest man and OpenAI’s cofounder, took the stand yesterday in a high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman that could
Meet Olaf, a 1-year-old, 11-pound bundle of love who is ready to go home! True to his namesake from Frozen, this little guy is all about warm hugs and big smiles. He has a goofy, bouncy side (zoomies are kind of his specialty), but he's just as happy to climb into your lap and settle in for some quality cuddle time. Take him out for a short walk, and he'll trot along happily, pausing now and then for a quick cuddle break before snuggling up as the perfect lap dog at the end of the day. Come meet him at the Pets in Need Redwood City shelter (Thurs-Sat, 12:30 to 6 p.m.) or call (650) 367-1405.
reshape the
intelligence.
OAK VS. SFO: San Francisco has settled a legal dispute with Oakland over the naming of the town’s airport. The agreement allows Oakland to call its airport “Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport” but prohibits highlighting “San Francisco” in any way. The settlement also requires the word “bay” to always follow “San Francisco.”
