5-14-26 by Daily Post

May 14, 2026

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Gas water heater ban OK’d

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Bay Area officials decided yesterday that curbing pollution is more important than affordability of water heaters right now.

Regional ban begins next year

The Bay Area Air District advanced its ban on buying natural gas water heaters, which are $3,500 cheaper than electric water heaters but emit nitrous oxides that cause lung problems, studies show. The ban will take effect on Oct. 1, 2027. Low-income residents or homeowners spending more than 28% of their income on their mortgage would be exempt. Contractors could also get an exemption for homes that don’t have the space or electrical capacity.

“I am very optimistic about the ability of our grid and our electrical supply to handle this,” Palo Alto Mayor Vicki Veenker said at yesterday’s meeting. Veenker compared nitrous oxides to secondhand smoke. She was one of 10 board members to support the ban, overruling eight board members against it.

From the Peninsula, San Mateo County Supervisor Noelia Corzo and Mountain View Councilman Chris Clark were in favor, and San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller was against.

“This is a historic expansion of the district’s regulatory power,” Mueller said. “Do we want to do this at this current time, with the current administration?” Clark said he’s grateful that

[See GAS, page 26]

SHELTER OPENING: The city of Palo Alto is having a ribbon-cutting for its $37.2 million homeless shelter east of Highway 101 today. The shelter will have space for 24 families and 58 single adults, with services provided by the nonprofit LifeMoves.

TRUMP WELCOMED: U.S.

President Trump has arrived in Beijing for a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. His welcome included a military honor guard, a military band and hundreds of Chinese youths waving flags and chanting, “Warm welcome!” Trump and Xi will hold bilateral talks today. The talks are expected to focus on the Iran war, trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

PERRY DEATH: A licensed drug addiction counselor who delivered the ketamine that killed “Friends” star Matthew Perry has been sentenced to two years.

LAST TANKER: A tanker carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude has arrived at the Port of Long Beach — the final planned shipment from the Middle East to [See THE UPDATE, page 27]

SMALL CRAFT CRASHES

A gyrocopter went off the runway and leaked fuel at the Palo Alto Airport yesterday around 3:30 p.m. The pilot was OK, emergency dispatchers said. Gyrocopters rely on air to spin their rotors for lift and engines to move forward through the sky, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Post photo by Braden Cartwright.

Robotics teacher loses suit

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

A jury has ruled against a former Palo Alto High School robotics coach who said she was bullied, insulted and undermined because she’s a woman and a lesbian.

The jury sided with the Palo Alto Unified School District on Tuesday after a trial that looked back at Kathy Krier’s tumultuous nineweek tenure in fall 2018.

Krier, 63, complained about a group of parent boosters who raised money for the team and encouraged students to complain about her because she was part of a “far-left social justice warrior agenda.” “A woman can’t do this job,” a booster

[See ROBOTICS, page 26]

Senate confirms Stanford’s Warsh

The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed Stanford’s Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve. President Donald Trump had picked the former Fed governor to replace Jerome Powell, believing that Warsh can deliver the booming

economy the president had promised voters.

Warsh takes over a divided central bank wrestling with the economic fallout from the war started by the U.S. and Israel with Iran on Feb. 28. The conflict

has driven up energy prices and made it even more difficult for the Fed to bring inflation down to its 2% target.

But Trump has demanded lower in

terest rates, not the higher ones that

[See WARSH, page 27]

Locally owned, independent

DEATHS

San Mateo County Coroner: May 13

Eduardo Amigelo, 76, of South City

Eric John Kwiecien, 64, of San Bruno

May 12

Anthony Williams, 66, of East Palo Alto

Laurence Kinsella, 74, of San Mateo

BIRTHS

Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City:

Sept. 18

Kj Bobby Bourne, a boy

Dexter Charles Cooman, a boy

Sept. 17

Indy Marie Barrenechea, a girl

Enzo Mateo Stultz, a boy

Zion Ellis Torres, a boy

Sept. 16

Maximiliano Hernandez, a boy

Jeremy Asher Kerlan, a boy

Nissim Pore Mahajan, a boy

Aram Yulius Panossian, a boy

Kiaan Naren Petlu, a boy

Hayley Michelle Tran, a girl

Santos Jarail Watts, a boy

Sept. 15

Ren Takahashi Alberico, a boy

Essam Artemio Aljundi Contreras, a boy

Benjamin Edward Breckenridge, a boy

Adrich Delgado Madlambayan, a boy

Andrew Raymond Prasolov, a boy

Erina Zi Xin Shao, a girl

Sept. 14

Octavio Raman Kantawala, a boy

Joseph Albert Rotchadl, a boy

Theodore Richard Sobolewski, a boy

Sept. 13

Eliot Lee Beth, a girl

Adria Raye Salvador Gonzalez, a girl

Riley Zhihan Krowang, a boy

Leander Nikorion Martz, a boy

Jhoziah Wardell Navarrofong, a boy

Dolores Adair Noce, a girl

Raegan Hensley Padreddii, a girl

Leyla Salinas Oliva, a girl

Leo Abelleja Tria, a boy

Sept. 12

Chloe Luc, a girl

Elijah Oluwale Nauzo, a boy

Yvonne Song, a girl

Marion Eugene “Gene” Cavanaugh ¢¢

Marion Eugene “Gene” Cavanaugh, a pioneering engineer and devoted family man, passed away last Saturday at his home in Mountain View, California, at the age of 95.

Born in Childress, Texas, he later became a long-time resident of Palo Alto, California. During the early years of the semiconductor industry, he worked with Texas Instruments designing some of the first semiconductor chips. In the 1960s he also taught solid state physics to engineers and later authored patents based in quantum physics. Gene was also a patent attorney, but his passion was electronics.

Above all, he was a deeply loving father who instilled confidence and empathy in his children.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joyce Cavanaugh, whom he married in 1957; his daughters Laura Rasmussen, Rhonda Bachman, and Angela Cavanaugh; his grandchildren Rashelle Rasmussen, Cameron Bachman, and Enrique Avalos; and his great-grandchildren Kaito Oku and Nanami Oku.

He will be remembered not only for his brilliant mind, but for the quiet kindness, encouragement, and love he gave his family throughout his life.

Gene will be interned at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno on Friday May 15th. His family will have a celebration of life at Cypress Point Woods at 306 Central Avenue in Mountain View from 3pm to 5pm on the same day.

Glenn Allen Waters ¢ ¢

Glenn Allen Waters, age 74 passed away on April 25, 2026.

Glenn was a longtime resident of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park and graduated from Ravenswood High School. He excelled in carpentry and furniture refinishing. His family still possesses furniture pieces he worked on and cherishes them.

He also had a beautiful singing voice and sang in a local group called the LoveMen.

His life partner was Elaine Johnson, who died in 2020. They had two children: Glenn Jr (Georgia) and Adrean (deceased 2020). A great cook, he loved being in the kitchen.

Glenn relocated to Tacoma Washington in 2020 where he passed away.

He is survived by his son and nine grandchildren. Also sisters Crystal Jordan and Gail Mowatt of Tacoma, WA and Phyllis Waters of Mountain View, CA, along with many nieces and nephews and their children.

He will always be in his family’s thoughts.

Services will be held in Washington State.

Menlo Park.

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Yes, we also buy gold & silver bullion, bars, sterling, gold jewelry, currency, and watches too.

To learn more, visit our website then call (650) 324-9110 for an appointment. For gold jewelry, watches, or sterling silver, please call (650) 853-8425

Council term limits headed to ballot

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

East Palo Alto voters will get to decide on the November ballot whether to limit council members to serving 12 years after many debates between longtime council members and newer ones.

Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica said this was a political issue and knows it applies to him and Councilman Carlos Romero. Abrica has been on and off council since sitting on the city’s first council in 1983. Romero has been on and off council since 2008.

Abrica said he isn’t taking it personally and supports term limits, but there

is recklessness in having members with less experience.

“We’re here to serve the people. Not our egos,” Abrica said.

Council vote

Council on Tuesday voted 4-1 to place a limit of three consecutive fouryear terms on the November ballot. Termed-out members would be able to run after two years.

Romero voted against the measure because a higher voter turnout would be expected if it were on the November 2028 ballot.

“I don’t see the need to rush this,” Romero said. If the city really wants

to have a democratic process, it should wait until 2028, he said.

City Clerk James Colin also said the term-limit measure could affect the voter turnout on the city’s possible bond measure on the November ballot.

Commons center project

The city is planning to place a bond measure to fund a new civic commons center. Sycamore Real Estate, owned by Laurene Powell Jobs, proposed to build a new city hall, police station, library and park. The project is estimated to cost $200 million, and council will discuss how to pay for its contribution in September.

But Councilmen Webster Lincoln and Mark Dinan said the bond measure would not be affected and instead bring in new voices to council.

“It’s like any job, if you’ve had the same people doing the job for a long, long time, a fresh set of eyes on the same issues can really open things up,” Dinan said.

If council waits until 2028 for term limits, it would just be kicking the can down the road, Dinan said. Term limits are popular, and with the governor’s race, many people will vote, he said.

“We don’t know, and we don’t want to jeopardize this opportunity,” Romero said.

Board picks interview panel for superintendent

The Palo Alto Unified School District board has picked names out of a hat to interview superintendent candidates.

The panel will include two union presidents and two school board candidates: Linda Henigan and Avery Wang.

The board is searching for stability after agreeing to pay longtime Superintendent Don Austin $596,802 to resign on Feb. 20 and Acting Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh $346,673 on March 17.

HR Director Herb Espiritu is acting superintendent

until July 1, when the board is aiming to have a permanent leader.

Interview process

Applications were due on Monday, and search consultant Nicole Anderson is screening candidates this week.

The board will select finalists, review interview questions and discuss pay in a closed session on May 22.

A panel will privately interview finalists on May 30 and 31 before the board picks one on June 16, according to a search calendar.

INTERVIEW PANEL

Asterisks denote an alternate

Teachers:

Elizabeth Matchett

Ander Lucia

Tom Culbertson

Tracey Atkinson*

Classified staff:

Meb Steiner

Linda Henigan

Kendyll Owens

Caroline Camhy*

Patricia Venerable*

Parents:

Nallely Gomez Jimenez

Rika Yamamoto

Veronica Oropeza

Heather Driscoll

Robyn Reiss*

Nicole Chiu-Wang*

Community members:

Christopher Chang

Shamim Tong

Avery Wang

Qiyan Zhang

Kirill Shore*

Yudy Deng*

Ann Xu*

Student board members: Anaya Rana

Helen Li

Enzo Wolff de Tourreil

Aishwarya Balasubramaniam*

Angelise Chang*

Dylan Chen*

Students: Longjun Lai

Vineet Petlur

Daniel Miladinov

Leilani Chen

Olivia Kim

Avni Lochan

Maya Craig

Kyuho Jung

Catherine Ouyang

Brennan Bailey

Yasseen Fakhry*

David Tolkach*

Jonathon Cao*

Abbey Mutz*

Alexander Deisseroth*

Spacious single-level 5-bedroom, 2.5-bath home for 2,201 +/- SF with beautiful stone façade, brick walkway and front porch

Lush 10,237 +/- sf lot with circular driveway

Large living/dining room combination with wood-burning ﬁreplace and beautiful, beamed cathedral ceiling

Family room with brick wood-burning ﬁreplace opens to backyard

Eat-in kitchen with premium appliances

Fresh interior paint, new carpets, and modern light ﬁxtures

Verdant yard with pool and spa, entertaining patio, wisteria covered pergola, apricot and orange tree

3-car attached garage with epoxy painted ﬂoor

Sought-after Los Altos schools: Almond Elementary, Egan Jr. High, and Los Altos High (Buyer to verify enrollment)

Offered at $4,700,000 124JardinDrive.com

Enchanting 4-bedroom, 4-bath home for 2,531 +/- sf in the Trinity Park neighborhood

Lush mature landscaping on a 5,932 +/- sf lot

Primary suite, plus bedroom/ofﬁce on main level, and a second suite

Wood ﬂoors throughout

Artistic double-sided Lennox gas ﬁreplace shared between the dining and living rooms

Large family room with built-in cabinetry

Designed for optimal passive ventilation: temperature-controlled attic exhaust fan, tankless water heater, net-metered solar panels, and high-speed connectivity

Attached 2-car garage plumbed for EV charger

HOA dues $115/month (buyer to verify)

Sought-after Sunnyvale schools and Homestead High

Ideally located to 3 fantastic parks, a vibrant downtown, and major Silicon Valley companies

Offered at $2,998,000 819WilmingtonTerrace.com

Original design by renowned architect, Willis Polk, and now redesigned and expanded for modern livability

Enchanting gardens, designed by a landscape architect, wrap around the home on 1.146 acres

divided light windows and interior doors

Formal living room, formal dining room, library, and family room

Entirely remodeled designer kitchen

6 bedrooms including main-level primary suite, 4 upstairs bedrooms, and privately located upstairs suite off the kitchen

Newly renovated pool house with Murphy bed, kitchenette, and bath

garden, plus numerous fruit trees

Top-rated Menlo Park schools

Approximately 7,342 total square feet

Charming Updated Bungalow

950 IRIS STREET, REDWOOD CITY

This beautifully updated circa 1942 bungalow is located on a coveted street on the highly soughtafter west side of Redwood City, just two blocks from Red Morton Park.

Light-filled interiors feature Brazilian cherry wood floors, recessed lighting, open living and dining areas, and an updated kitchen with breakfast bar seating. Two bedrooms and a remodeled bath complete the floor plan.

Fully fenced backyard with lawn and covered patio, perfect for play and entertaining. Attached 1-car garage with laundry plus 2-car carport.

Excellent Peninsula location just 1 mile to Caltrain, downtown Redwood City amenities, and great schools.

Lush Setting in South Los Altos

spacious home offers a lush retreat in a secluded neighborhood. Formal living and dining spaces warmed by a wood burning seating areas. granite counters. Family room with slider

Situated on a spacious 10.4k+ lot with mature gardens. Outstanding Los Altos

Crime fears, data clash

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

Menlo Park residents may be disconnected from the reality of the city’s crime rate, a councilman said.

Councilman Drew Combs said on Tuesday that crime in Menlo Park has decreased, but some neighbors feel like crime is rising.

Police chief’s take

Police Chief Dave Norris said he had a different perspective. There are many higher-end areas in the city with more incident reports than other parts, Norris said.

“(Every) community has its own personality and the things that it’s concerned about, and so we have

to pay attention to those things,” Norris said.

Residential burglaries are one of the most traumatic types of crimes a resident can experience, he said.

“We no longer feel safe in our homes, and if we don’t feel safe in our homes in Menlo Park, what do we have?” resident Linda Litskovitz previously said in a meeting when council picked public safety as a top priority.

Litskovitz said she lives in Sharon Heights and has seen many of her neighbors being robbed.

“Every night that I go out during dinner, I’m afraid I’m going to come home and be robbed. I’m happy that I have a large dog at home, but this is a real big prob-

lem, and we need to address it,” Litskovitz said.

By the numbers

The total of burglaries is dropping every year, Norris said. Since 2023, burglaries have dropped from 204 to 130, according to Norris. But home burglaries have become a stable trend, he said. There were 57 home burglaries in 2024 and 59 last year, according to Norris.

Norris said the city should continue to keep the pressure on, creating a neighborhood watch group, as it helps the department. In the future, the department will also be looking to buy drones to assist officers, Norris said.

Safety plan for hilly road OK’d

BY JULIA CHIE Daily Post Correspondent

San Carlos residents concerned with speeding vehicles, a lack of crosswalks and irresponsible drivers along Crestview Drive were handed a small victory after city council approved plans to make changes to the road.

Council approved the $1.3 million project on Monday in a 4-1 vote with Councilman John Dugan dissenting. The project adds a roundabout, new crosswalks, bike lanes and narrows the travel and parking lanes along 2.2 miles of the road.

The plan council approved will narrow the two 15-foot parking lanes and two 17-foot travel lanes

in order to make room for the new buffered bike lanes.

School concerns

There are three schools off of Crestview, resulting in children biking or walking to school alongside drivers navigating the hill.

Resident Stephanie Filson advocated for an all-way stop sign at the hillside intersection of Melendy and Crestview drives, saying that her 10-year-old who crosses that street to get to school is often nearly hit by drivers. Filson proposed the city hire a crossing guard for the 18 months prior to renovations.

Senior Traffic Engineer Hanieh Houshmandi did not find evidence for an all-way stop to be effective,

as it will decrease visibility even more for those turning on the steep roadway.

A roundabout will be installed at Crestview Drive and Edmonds Road after a fatal crash occurred at that intersection in March 2021, according to Public Works Director Steven Machida.

A resident who only identified herself as Janice said narrowing the travel lanes will cause significant delays. She brought up how the wide, buffered bike lanes will be used by aggressive drivers to whip around the lane.

Carlmont High School junior Ben Mangiafico said the proposed plan wasn’t perfect, but it’s a massive step forward.

to police.

PALO ALTO

MAY 5

10:17 a.m. — Burglary at a business, 3600 block of W. Bayshore Road.

1:18 p.m. — Rosalinda Godinez Chavez, 66, of East Palo Alto, arrested for embezzlement, Stanford Shopping Center.

MAY 6

8:58 a.m. — Vehicle accident involving a cyclist, W. Charleston Road and Park Blvd.

5:33 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Embarcadero Road and Wildwood Lane.

MAY 7

7:01 p.m. — Home burglary, 1600 block of Edgewood Road.

FRIDAY

11:36 p.m. — Olga Reuven, 56, of Portland, Ore., arrested for DUI.

SATURDAY

10 a.m. — Ryan Benjamin Twedell, 34, of Grover Beach, arrested on a warrant at Palo Alto Police Dept., 275 Forest Ave.

2:29 p.m. — Marisela Marin, 33, cited on a warrant, 2500 block of El Camino.

MENLO PARK

TUESDAY

10:29 a.m. — Petty theft, 200 block of Marmona Drive.

10:48 a.m. — Vandalism, 1200 block of O’Brien Drive.

11:27 a.m. — Edgar Rivera, 51, of San Jose, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, 1100 block of Merrill St.

7:17 p.m. — Ofamooni Wendal Tuipulotu, 32, of San Mateo, arrested for vandalism, 1200 block of El Camino.

11:24 p.m. — Sergio David Zuniga, 74, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Bayfront Expressway at the Dumbarton Bridge. Rose Marie Dean, 54, of San Jose, cited for drug possession.

PORTOLA VALLEY

SUNDAY

2 p.m. — Agnes Jane Banquerigo Taylor, 56, of Oakley, arrested for possession of cocaine, 2400 block of Alpine Road.

STANFORD

MAY 5

1:07 p.m. — Vandalism at Sigma Phi Epsilon, 1047 Campus Drive.

2:11 p.m. — Electric scooter stolen, 400 block of Jane Stanford Way.

2:56 p.m. — Liava Antonio Maaewilson, 34, arrested for drug possession, possession of burglary tools and on a warrant, 400 block of Arguello Way. Michael Gabriel Fisiiahi, 23, of Palo Alto, arrested for illegal lodging.

5:15 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, 400 block of Via Ortega.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

MARCH 25

12:30 p.m. — Edward Kim, 44, of Mountain View, cited for elder abuse, 1100 block of Boranda Ave.

APRIL 20

11:54 a.m. — Maurice Ellis, 35, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant, 300 block of Moffett Blvd.

APRIL 21

5:33 p.m. — Gabriel Ortiz, 35, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant, 900 block of Terra Bella Ave.

APRIL 22

4:22 p.m. — Danny Jackson, 63, transient, cited on a warrant, 2500 block of California St.

MAY 4

10:51 a.m. — Noah Mallory, 25, of San Francisco, cited on a warrant, 1-99 block of Showers Drive.

3:19 p.m. — Bradley Michael Rollins, 44, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 600 block of W. Evelyn Ave. Incident handled by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

4:20 p.m. — Luis Canche, 35, arrested for credit or debit card fraud, narcotics possession and resisting police at Hampton Inn & Suites, 390 Moffett Blvd.

5:57 p.m. — Assault at Red Rock Coffee, 201 Castro St. Kathleen Carter, 50, of Milpitas, arrested for assault likely to produce great injury.

NORTH FAIR OAKS

FRIDAY

10:27 a.m. — Yonni Morales Garcia, 24, of Redwood City, cited on two warrants, 100 block of Fifth Ave.

2:06 p.m. — Antonio Tavaki Franco, 27, of unincorporated San Mateo County, arrested for trespassing, 400 block of Fifth Ave.

SATURDAY

4:22 p.m. — Victor Lemus Galicia, 59, of unincorporated San Mateo County, arrested for public drunkenness, 3000 block of Middlefield Road.

6:43 p.m. — Alejandro Gabriel Copado, 30, arrested for domestic battery, false imprisonment and child endangerment, 200 block of Berkshire Ave.

6:45 p.m. — Three people attack a towing company employee who is trying to tow a vehicle, 2700 block of Spring St. The victim is taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Eduardo Castro Gonzalez, 34, of Redwood City, arrested for battery that causes serious injuries, carjacking, vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime. Jhonny Mendoza Delgado, 41, of Princeton, is arrested for arrested for battery that causes serious injuries, vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime, and Julio Cesar Imas Najera, 33, of unincorporated San Mateo County, is arrested for battery that causes serious injuries, theft of a vehicle, vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime.

REDWOOD CITY

FRIDAY

4:06 a.m. — Man reported to be breaking into a vehicle, Alameda de las Pulgas.

10:59 a.m. — Female student says a man just tried to touch her inappropriately. Location not disclosed.

12:02 p.m. — Heather Mary Madsen, 57, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, Hazel and Linden streets.

12:22 p.m. — Woman says that

while she was unloading her truck, another vehicle with three people pulled up to her and one of the occupants tried to steal beer and liquor from the bed of her truck, Jackson Ave.

12:42 p.m. — Vehicle hits a pedestrian, causing minor injuries, Hudson St.

3:05 p.m. — Man steals a bottle of whiskey, El Camino.

3:08 p.m. — Vendor reported to have a portable speaker playing pornographic material, causing a disturbance, Tenth Ave. Police are unable to find the vendor.

6:18 p.m. — Vehicle crashes into a curb, causing minor injuries, Tenth Ave.

7 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Middlefield Road.

8:39 p.m. — Catherine Marie Canavan, 59, of Redwood City, arrested for shoplifting, probation violation and on a warrant at Target, 2485 El Camino.

8:40 p.m. — Two men steal beer and liquor from a store, Bay Road.

SAN CARLOS

FRIDAY

10:30 a.m. — 17-year-old from San Carlos arrested for assault likely to produce great injury, San Carlos Ave.

3:59 p.m. — Charles Chester Chatman III, 39, of San Francisco, arrested for theft of someone else’s property and being a felon in possession of pepper spray, 1500 block of El Camino.

BELMONT

SUNDAY

9:29 a.m. — Camilo Jose Barberena, 71, of Belmont, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without a mandated ignition interlock device and display of false vehicle registration, 4200 block of S. El Camino in San Mateo.

3:21 p.m. — Person steals beer from a store and then is cited for shoplifting, El Camino.

MONDAY

10:53 a.m. — Mailboxes broken into and mail stolen, Alameda de las Pulgas.

PALO ALTO

4148 Thain Way, 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1629 square feet, built in 1980, Gnanalingam Trust to Elena and Ilya Dvoiris for $1,498,000, closed April 14 (last sale: $1,580,000, 09-14-22)

3157 Maddux Drive, 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1004 square feet, built in 1952, Debbi and David Breaux to 2502 Uplift Real Estate LLC for $2,170,000, closed April 13 1665 Amherst Way, 94304, 4 bedrooms, 2464 square feet, built in 2018, Stanford Leland to Wei and Renyuan Xu for $2,285,000, closed April 17 (last sale: $2,236,000, 09-25-25)

EAST PALO ALTO

2212 Dumbarton Ave., 94303, 4 bedrooms, 1962 square feet, built in 1946, Aseel and John Sutter to Brownrigg Living Trust for $1,379,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $1,420,000, 03-14-22)

MENLO PARK

461 Burgess Drive #4, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1143 square feet, built in 1968, Jennifer Knestrick to Michael Bektas for $1,000,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $1,100,000, 08-22-16)

166 Sand Hill Circle, 94025, 2 bedrooms, 1850 square feet, built in 1971, Emiko and Toshio Sugii to

Mohsen and Parisa Afkhami for $1,567,500, closed April 3

1317 Laurel St., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1205 square feet, built in 1980, Maritza Longland to Margaret and Ajey Venkataraman for $1,975,000, closed April 3

MOUNTAIN VIEW

205 Infinity Way, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1355 square feet, built in 2018, Han Liu to Adam Jones for $1,599,000, closed April 13 (last sale: $1,487,500, 09-05-18)

395 Martens Ave., 94040, 6 bedrooms, 3580 square feet, built in 2022, Yitao Guo to Jia and Boyun Shih for $5,700,000, closed April 17 (last sale: $2,360,000, 03-11-21)

LOS ALTOS

62 Cuesta Drive, 94022, 3 bedrooms, 1484 square feet, built in 2011, Gudmundson Family Trust to Huan and Nan Dun for $1,940,000, closed April 15 (last sale,: $807,000, 11-08-10)

LOS ALTOS HILLS

12387 Stonebrook Drive, 94022, 8 bedrooms, 4831 square feet, built in 1961, Kleitman Family Trust to Mcdermott Trust for $4,900,000, closed April 17

ATHERTON

2 Callado Way, 94027, 5 bedrooms, 5250 square feet, built in 1975, Qiu

Living Trust to Brilliant Gsg LLC for $10,000,000, closed April 3 (last sale: $4,000,000, 11-01-04)

59 Almendral Ave., 94027, 5 bedrooms, 3790 square feet, built in 1930, Salamander59 LLC to Gross Family Trust for $14,650,000, closed April 1 (last sale: $8,600,000, 02-11-21)

REDWOOD CITY

114 Shorebird Circle, 94065, 1 bedroom, 823 square feet, built in 1986, Andrea and David Evans to Hsu Living Trust for $700,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $315,000, 08-22-01)

647 Scott Ave., 94063, 3 bedrooms, 1100 square feet, built in 1946, Kiselman Group Inc to Lion Share Investments LLC for $800,000, closed April 3 (last sale: $665,000, 0325-26)

SAN CARLOS

1046 Lupin Way, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1080 square feet, built in 1948, Jonathan Forman to Natalie and Lyle Rudman for $1,650,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $450,000, 04-28-00)

BELMONT

600 Live Oak Way #603, 94002, 3 bedrooms, 2096 square feet, built in 2005, Wei Su to Luke and Carina Hampp for $1,700,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $1,570,000, 02-28-19)

Where Coastal Luxury Meets The Sand

Overdose deaths fell again in 2025

About 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year — about 14% fewer than the previous year, according to preliminary government data.

It was the third straight annual drop, making it the longest decline in decades, according to federal data released yesterday. The 2025 total is about the same as the tally in 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

Inside the numbers

Declines were seen across a number of drug types, including fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. Overdose deaths fell in the vast majority of states, although seven saw at least slight increases, including jumps of 10% or more in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, the preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.

policy changes or a shift in the drug supply, Marshall and other researchers say.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that this represents really a fundamental change in the arc of the overdose crisis,” said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends.

But the number of Americans dying from overdoses is still high, and deaths declined at a slower pace last year. A number of things could cause deaths to rise again — including government

“If deaths are going down rapidly, that means they can increase just as rapidly if we take our foot off the gas,” Marshall said.

Pandemic spike

U.S. overdose deaths were generally rising for decades, but they shot up dramatically during the pandemic, peaking at nearly 110,000 in 2022. The pandemic spike was associated with social isolation and difficulties accessing addiction treatment.

Deaths declined as the pandemic waned. Researchers have pointed to numerous possible factors: an increase in the availability of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, expanded addiction treatment, shifts in how people use drugs, and the growing impact of opioid lawsuit settlement money.

Some research suggests the number of people likely to overdose has been shrinking, as fewer teens take up drugs and many illicit drug users have died. Another theory suggests regulatory changes in China appear to have diminished the availability of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl.

Viral videos fuel Pratt’s mayoral bid

On the reality television show “The Hills,” Spencer Pratt played something of a villain, blamed for spreading a salacious rumor and driving a wedge between his girlfriend and her best friend.

Pratt is casting himself as a hero in his latest venture, a bid to be mayor of Los Angeles, in which he’s promising to rid the nation’s second most populous city of disorder and dysfunction.

Originally greeted with bemusement, Pratt is now upending the race with early voting underway ahead of the June 2 election. The Republican is riding a wave of buzz fueled by viral videos taking aim at Mayor Karen Bass, Gov. Gavin Newsom and others.

Pratt’s goal is to turn the chatter into a ticket to a November runoff against Bass, a Democrat who is struggling to recover from a widely panned response to devastating wildfires last year.

He would face long odds in a city that last elected a Republican mayor in 1997. But during last week’s debate, Pratt was one of only three candidates onstage, alongside Bass and progressive City Councilwoman Nithya Raman.

“As crazy as this will sound, I’m the adult in the room,” Pratt said.

A populist campaign

Pratt and his supporters are making a populist appeal to voters, emphasizing day-to-day concerns about life in Los

Angeles and leaning on visceral imagery of drug use and homeless encampments from the grittier corners of the city of nearly 4 million residents.

He blames the city’s Democratic leaders and pledges to “stop these corrupt politicians from destroying our city.” He advocates a hard line against homelessness, pledging to eliminate encampments and pursue criminal investigations of nonprofit organizations that serve people living on the streets.

“These people do not want a bed,” he said in last week’s debate. “They want fentanyl or meth.”

Pratt announced his campaign in January at an event marking the one-

year anniversary of the deadly Palisades Fire, which destroyed his home and thousands of others.

Viral videos

In an ad released late last month, Pratt stands in cozy neighborhoods where Bass and Raman live. He contrasts them with an Airstream trailer parked on a flattened lot, where he says he’s living after his house was destroyed.

“They let my home burn down,” Pratt says in the ad. “I know what the consequences of failed leadership are.”

Pratt is actually living at the swanky Hotel Bel-Air and has never lived in the

Airstream trailer, TMZ reported yesterday. Pratt told the celebrity gossip site that the arrangement is necessary because of unspecified security concerns.

Over the past week, viral videos created with artificial intelligence have portrayed Pratt as the city’s savior from hapless Democrats and violent socialists. In one, Pratt is portrayed as Batman saving a dystopian Los Angeles from Bass, portrayed as a villainous Joker.

Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor and onetime Republican presidential candidate, called it “maybe the best political ad of the year” in a post on X.

Reality TV background

Pratt, 42, is well-versed in the art of generating buzz and entertainment.

He first rose to prominence in 2007 as Heidi Montag’s boyfriend on “The Hills,” a hit reality series built around the lives of young women as they navigated young adulthood in Southern California. He was portrayed as driving a wedge between Montag and her roommate, Lauren Conrad, leading to the disintegration of their friendship. He went on to marry Montag, and they have two children together. They have appeared on a variety of other scripted and reality television series since “The Hills” ended in 2010.

Pratt points to a 2013 political science degree from the University of Southern California as evidence of his readiness to lead a massive city.

PRATT

DARTH KAREN — Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is portrayed as Darth Vader in a viral video created with artificial intelligence for Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign.

Smuin Presents Future Forward

Next weekend, Smuin Contemporary Ballet presents its spring program, “Future Forward,” May 14-17 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. This dynamic program is grounded in the company’s past—Michael Smuin’s “Hearts Suite” returns after an 11-year absence—while looking boldly ahead with world premieres from Amy Seiwert and Andi Schermoly. Don’t miss the ﬁnal program of the season! Photo: Artists Maggie Carey and Ricardo Dyer in Amy Seiwert’s “Still Falling.”

Photo by Maximillian Tortoriello Photography.

A TRADITION OF DANCE EXCELLENCE

SINCE 1978. Menlo Park Academy of Dance is an accredited Royal Academy of Dance school and the recipient of four Solo Seal Awards. With an emphasis on Classical Ballet technique, the curriculum also offers classes in a variety of dance genres including Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Acro, Pre Dance and Adult classes. In addition to its year-round schedule, the Academy is offering Summer Classes

from July 6 to August 1 and an acclaimed Summer Intensive Program from June 8 to 19. Fall Classes start August 10. For more information, please call (650) 323-5292. Director/Owner Sarah-Jane Measor is shown in the photo.

CANTABILE

YOUTH

SINGERS, a Bay Area non-proﬁt dedicated to providing worldclass choral education to singers in Grades 1-12 will hold

7 YEARS OF CONFIDENCE & BEAUTY

its spring concert series, “Sing With The Earth,” this Saturday, May 16, at the stunning Mission Santa Clara de Asís. The ﬁrst concert will begin at noon and feature all of Cantabile’s choirs, ages 5-18. The second concert will start at 2:30 p.m. It will feature Cantabile’s upper choirs, i.e., the Performance Division choirs. Since the choirs will have separate repertoires, interested attendees are encouraged to attend both at a discounted rate.

COURTYARD LONG BAR & BISTRO. Looking for the perfect spot to unwind, enjoy live music, and indulge in amazing food and drinks? Look no further!

Their stunning courtyard is your new go-to destination for unforgettable moments. Let the soothing tunes of local artists set the perfect vibe for your evenings with live music by Brian Ho on Sunday, May 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. And for those who love a little friendly competition, don’t miss their new Trivia Night on Thursday, May 14 and May 28 at 6 p.m.—a fun-ﬁlled evening of brain-teasing questions, great prizes, and unbeatable energy! Join them at the Courtyard Long Bar & Bistro – Where Every Day Feels Like a Celebration! 4320 El Camino Real, Los Altos.

ble, hape. still ahead.

Some businesses start with a business plan. Lingerie République started with a belief — that every woman deserves to feel confident, comfortable, and beautifully fitted, regardless of her size or shape. Here’s to seven years — and to everything still ahead.

SYMPHONIC WORLD CUP, JUNE 6 & 7, 2026 AT THE CALIFORNIA THEATRE. The FIFA 2026 World Cup comes to Santa Clara County, but before the world’s top soccer stars take the ﬁeld, Symphony San Jose’s own allstar musicians will present a dynamic line-up of international masterpieces. Experience the Symphony’s debut of Denmark’s Carl Nielsen as he tells the ancient myth of Helios, and hear Alberto Ginastera’s groundbreaking Harp Concerto from Argentina, performed by the acclaimed Katherine Siochi. The concert concludes in Russia with Shostakovich’s heroic and hopeful Symphony No. 5, a powerful statement of triumph over oppression.

NATIVITY CARNIVAL CELEBRATES 44 YEARS OF COMMUNITY FUN. The beloved Nativity

Carnival returns for its 44th year on June 5–7, 2026, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors for

a lively weekend of fun and celebration. A cherished community tradition, the Nativity Carnival features thrilling rides, classic games, festive music, a worldfamous tiki bar, and delicious food favorites for all ages. Mark your calendars now for a joyful, highenergy weekend ﬁlled with laughter, bright lights, and hometown spirit as we celebrate 44 years of the Nativity Carnival!

STANFORD

JAZZ FESTIVAL RETURNS for Six Weeks of Summer Music. The Stanford Jazz Festival returns June 21–July 31 with 25 concerts celebrating jazz’s rich global traditions. Artists include Branford Marsalis Quartet, Anat Cohen, Luciana Souza and Marcel Camargo, Yilian Cañizares Trio, and Stefon Harris & Blackout, performing live on the beautiful Stanford campus.

Physical & Occupational Therapy

Chronic Pain | Pelvic Health | Women’s Health Regenerative Shockwave Therapy | Therapeutic Pilates

Free Workshop on Arthritis!

Join us for a free workshop on Saturday, May 16 at 10 AM. Learn how shockwave therapy treats chronic joint pain when other treatments haven't, and try a live demo yourself. Hosted by Kim Gladfelter, MPT, and Kelli Farhat, OTR/L. Call or Scan To Learn More: (650) 360-9373

DAVE KLEMISH KNOWS HAIR. He can’t grow it but he does know it. He’s been styling men’s hair at The Hairmill Barbershop in Menlo Park for over 40 years… maybe longer. The Hairmill is an old school classic barbershop and yet Dave is a contemporary hair stylist. Come by and see how he’s been keeping Menlo’s elite men looking so suave. Call 650 323 0653 for an appointment and then come by 1050 Chestnut near Santa Cruz ave. in Menlo Park. You’ll be glad you did.

16 at 10 AM. Learn how shockwave therapy

GAS --------–---

leaders before him banned dangers like asbestos despite political resistance, and it’s on today’s leaders to face the unintended consequences of natural gas infrastructure.

“The longer you wait, the more difficult it is to correct course,” Clark said.

Health over cost

Corzo said any family would choose a cost increase over slowly being poisoned.

“It’s kind of a no-brainer,” she said.

Veenker said residents would end up saving money on health care.

San Francisco Environment Director Tyrone Jue said cities can train contractors, streamline permits and offer financing to drive down costs.

The number one concern for those against the ban was the cost of living, especially as rent and gas prices are on the rise.

Sending the wrong message

The air district is sending the wrong message at this time, Hayward Mayor Mark Salinas said.

“Most Californians will not be able to afford this,” El Cerrito Mayor Gabe Quinto said.

Pittsburg Councilwoman Dionne Adams said she doesn’t like that low-income residents would be exempt, because they’d still deal with the pollution.

“The exemption that we have signals that it’s okay for the vulnerable to suffer … that they’re not worth the investment,” Adams said.

Deputy Executive Officer of Policy Greg Nudd said the ban would reduce pollution throughout the Bay Area, even in areas with more exemptions.

“It just doesn’t sit well with me,” Adams replied.

An unfunded mandate

Benicia Mayor Steve Young said local officials often rail against state mandates, yet the district is considering its own unfunded mandate.

“We would be much better off if we incentivized and educated and made it as seamless as possible to make the switch,” Young said.

The air district is also working to ban buying gas space heaters on Jan. 1, 2029.

Many weighed in Yesterday’s discussion comes after more than 100 residents spoke for and against the ban on May 7.

Fletcher Middle School student Sarah Seeger said she was horrified when she learned natural gas water

heaters poison homes with nitrogen oxides.

“I want a clean and healthy future,” she said.

San Jose realtor Ana Maria Russo said residents should be allowed to choose.

“Yet again, the middle class gets stepped on and shoved to the side,” she said.

ROBOTICS

allegedly said at her first meeting. Krier said students destroyed her gay pride flag and resisted her attempts to improve safety and diversity on the team.

“I know the district has a non-discrimination policy, but it seems like it was just on paper,” Krier testified on April 9 at the Old Courthouse in San Jose.

District on defense

In the district’s defense, attorney Mark Davis asked witnesses if they were motivated by Krier’s gender or sexual orientation. Parents, students and district leaders testified that they had high hopes for Krier. But she shut down the lab without notice or explanation, threatening the team’s efforts to have a successful season.

Student Lawrence Chang said Krier saw herself as a rule enforcer, immediately banning super glue and food in the lab.

Krier said power saws needed kill switches and wouldn’t let students use extension cords, the day before 65 recruits were coming in to the lab.

Stressed out students

Students were stressed because they felt like they needed to put in hundreds of hours to be competitive, Chang said. By mid-September, Krier was yelling at students and making new rules every day, Chang said.

“It felt sadistic in a way,” he said. Students complained to former Principal Adam Paulson, signed a petition and spoke out at a board meeting on Oct. 9, 2018. Krier was escorted out of her classroom two days later.

Didn’t need to resign

Former Deputy Superintendent Karen Hendricks said Krier was placed on leave so the district could investigate complaints by students that she yelled, used threatening language, unloaded personal information and didn’t explain changes to the program.

“There were some themes that were appearing in the complaints,” Hendricks testified on April 15.

Krier was understandably upset about going on leave, but she didn’t have to quit teaching computer science, Hendricks said. Krier’s mental health

was an issue in the trial, which was held from April 8 to 17 with Judge William Monahan at the Old Courthouse in San Jose.

Dr. James Armontrout said Krier’s time at Paly contributed to a suicide attempt and a lack of motivation.

Davis pointed out that Krier has PTSD from being in New York City on 9/11, had 18 different jobs between 2002 and 2013 and spent over $700 a month on cannabis.

What she wanted

Krier wanted the district to pay her at least $1.1 million. She said she had to give up a tenured position and a rent-controlled apartment to move from Berkeley to Palo Alto, and she can’t find a new job.

Armontrout said resolving the case will likely be helpful for Krier’s mental health, no matter what the outcome is.

District spokeswoman Lynette White wished Krier well on Tuesday and said she’s pleased with the jury’s decision, “which affirms PAUSD’s longstanding commitment to maintaining a safe, respectful, and equitable workplace for all employees.”

WARSH -----–

might be needed to keep inflation in check. Warsh, who had positioned himself as an inflation hawk earlier in his career, has more recently aligned himself with Trump’s views, arguing that artificial intelligence and other technologies can boost productivity and economic growth without igniting inflation.

Trump had consistently attacked Powell for refusing the deep rate cuts the president believes will boost the economy. And his Justice Department had launched an investigation into the Fed that was widely seen as an attempt to oust Powell. The legal drama delayed Warsh’s confirmation. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, said he would oppose Warsh until the Justice Department dropped the investigation, which it finally did last month. In an unusual move, Powell said he would remain on the Fed's governing board indefinitely after Warsh

came on as chair, citing Trump's “unprecedented” attacks on the central bank’s independence. Although Powell's term as chair is ending, his term as a Fed governor doesn't expire until 2028.

Powell’s continued presence could make things awkward for Warsh, especially if he tries to convince other Fed officials to go along with rate cuts.

From ‘central casting’

Trump has said that Warsh comes from "central casting," revealing a lot about the president's own views of the 56 year-old's looks and conventional pedigree. Warsh has many of the trappings of a traditional pick to lead the world's most important central bank, yet he's doing so at a decidedly unconventional moment for the Fed as Trump has said the new chair needs to cut its benchmark rates to the White House’s liking.

Rate cuts of the degree sought by Trump could temporarily boost growth, but they also pose the risk of overheating the economy at a time when inflation is already elevated and affordability is a top concern for much of the American public.

Warsh was previously a runner-up for the Senate-confirmed post of Fed Chair in 2017, when Trump selected Powell to lead the central bank. Trump has since said that he was given bad advice regarding Powell.

About Warsh

Warsh is credentialed with degrees from Stanford University and Harvard University Law School. He is also married to Jane Lauder, the daughter of billionaire cosmetics heir Ronald Lauder, a major Republican donor.

Warsh has been working as a visiting economics fellow at the Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank located at Stanford University. He is also a lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a partner at the Duquesne Family Office, which manages the wealth of billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller.

At 35, Warsh became the youngest governor on the Fed’s seven member board, serving in that post from 2006 to 2011. He was previously an economic aide in George W. Bush’s Republican administration and was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley.

THE UPDATE FROM PAGE 1

California for the foreseeable future due to the Iran war. State officials say there is enough oil on hand to keep prices steady for about six weeks before prices will rise.

DEFERRED: Trump

officials say $1.3 billion in Medicaid money to California will be deferred over suspicions of fraud. The administration is also imposing a sixmonth freeze on some new Medicare enrollments and warning states to investigate Medicaid fraud lose funding.