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BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
The city of Palo Alto had eight employees make over $400,000 last year — more than double the year before — and saw its first employee make over $500,000, pay records show.
The number of employees in the $300,000 club also continues to roughly double each year — from three in 2020 to 65 last year, pay records show.
Fire Capt. Matthew Goglio was last year’s highest paid employee, with over half his pay coming from overtime. He made $513,739 last year and made $1.7 million in total pay from 2022 to 2025, plus a pension and benefits, pay records show.
LAYOFFS BEGIN: Yesterday marked the beginning of Meta’s massive layoffs of some 8,000 employees worldwide. Employees were encouraged to work from home.
CASTRO INCITED: Federal prosecutors have announced charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles. Castro was Cuba’s defense minister at the time. The charges included murder and destruction of an airplane.
SPACE X IPO: Elon Musk announced plans yesterday for one of the biggest sales of stock to the public ever for his space company that is currently losing billions of dollars. A filing yesterday shows his SpaceX lost $2.6 billion from operations last year on $18.7 billion in revenue.
HARVARD CAPS A’S: Faculty members at Harvard University have voted to cap the number of A’s they award to undergrads to try to reduce “grade inflation.” The policy limits A’s to 20% of the letter grades in a course. While there is a limit on A’s, there is
from $9.9 to $11.6 to $13.2 to $14.3 million over the last four years.
Fire Chief Geo Blackshire was second with $481,876 in pay last year, plus benefits. He cashed out $163,468 in unused vacation or sick time and retired on Oct. 31.
Last year, the consumer price index rose 2.7%. Palo Alto’s total pay, meanwhile, rose by 7.8%.
Overtime also keeps climbing —
The city paid $180.6 million to 1,443 employees last year. That’s up from $167.4 million to 1,432 employees in 2024 and $148 million to 1,315 employees in 2023.
Blackshire sued the city on Jan. 7 for allegedly denying him a 3% premium for having an EMT certification since
Pickleball pitted against kids
The Palo Alto Pickleball Club’s insatiable quest for more courts is upsetting tennis players, park visitors and disabled children who don’t like the noise.
The club is asking the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission on Tuesday to convert two tennis courts at Mitchell Park into eight pickleball courts.
Olenka Villarreal, founder and CEO of the Magical Bridge Foundation, said the Magical Bridge Playground for disabled kids is supposed to be “a sanctuary” at Mitchell Park. But pickleball has significantly changed that experience with its sharp, repetitive sound that carries far beyond the courts, and families have
[See PICKLEBALL, page 26]
Downtown may get new businesses
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Visitors of Menlo Park’s Santa Cruz Avenue are tired of fancy restaurants and empty buildings and would like to see businesses like yoga studios, animal clinics and spaces for family activities.
Windy Hill Property Ventures Co-Founder Tod Spieker said the downtown has a retail vacancy problem because the zoning is too restrictive. Many businesses want to come to downtown, but in a lot of cases, their uses aren’t allowed, Spieker told the
Menlo Park Planning Commission on Monday. He wanted the commission to OK plans for a new animal clinic in his building at 870 Santa Cruz Ave. and to allow more types of businesses along Santa Cruz. Commissioners agreed to
[See DOWNTOWN, page 26]
PICKLEBALLERS play at Mitchell Park in this Post file photo.
Locally owned, independent
• Spacious Living Room
• Dining Area
• Chefs Eat-in Kitchen Features Thermador Appliances, Quartz Countertops, Inset Cabinetry, and High Ceilings
• Primary Bedroom Suite Retreat Features Double Sinks, Quartz Countertop, and Walk-in Closet
• 4 Bedrooms
• 4.5 Bathrooms
• Lower Level Includes a Bedroom Suite, Bedroom, Full Bathroom, and Bonus Space That Can Be Used as a Separate Family Room
• Interior Features Include European Oak Hardwood Floors, Central Heating and Air Conditioning, and Designer Touches Throughout
• Lovely Landscaped Yard
• Award Winning Oak-Knoll School District
Setting on 1+ Acres Half-Mile from the Village
26854 Robleda Court, Los Altos Hills
• Outstanding opportunity on approximately by Compass)
• One-half mile from Los Altos Village
• Elevated on a gentle knoll set back from the street with abundant privacy
• Two levels with 4 bedrooms and 3 baths
• Approximately 3,522 square feet (not
• Freshly painted interiors, beautiful and new lighting – ready to move in and enjoy, further renovate, or potentially build a new home
• expansive picture window
• Formal dining room with new chandelier and bowed front window
• Well-appointed eat-in kitchen with cherry cabinetry and granite slab counters
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• Three main-level bedrooms, including primary suite with its own balcony, plus privately located bedroom and bath on the lower level
• Lower-level recreation room opening to the rear yard plus large laundry/ project room
• Detached 2-car garage and ample off-street parking
• Front yard with refreshed landscaping
• Expansive patios and multi-level decks with built-in bench seating
• Excellent Los Altos schools
Court sides with state on controversial law
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A Court of Appeal has upheld a controversial state law that allows up to four homes on a single-family lot.
State lawmakers have clarified the purpose of the law, Senate Bill 9, to help justify their authority to take away local control, a Court of Appeal ruled on March 20.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling sends a challenge to SB9 back to Los Angeles Superior Court to decide if the law is constitutional.
SB9 has been a battleground between pro-housing state lawmakers and local officials who want to keep neighborhoods as they are.
How it works
Starting in January 2022, properties that were zoned for one home could be split into two lots without a city hearing, and then a duplex could get built on each one.
Cities can’t deny SB9 projects unless a property is historic, a fire risk or too small. The cities of Redondo Beach, Carson, Torrance and Whittier sued the state in March 2022, arguing that the state shouldn’t be making land-use decisions for them.
The cities that sued are charter cities, which have their own constitution and can make their own landuse decisions, except when a matter is of statewide concern.
Would impact cities here
California has 121 charter cities, including Palo Alto, San Mateo, Redwood City and Mountain View. Atherton and Portola Valley are looking at becoming charter cities.
The rest of California’s cities are general law cities that follow the rules of the state, and the lawsuit doesn’t apply to them.
Judge Curtis Kin sided with the charter cities in April 2024, saying the state failed to show that SB9 would realistically help with its stated purpose: ensur-
ing access to affordable housing in California. SB9 projects “would not necessarily be below market rate or accessible to people with lower financial means, especially in economically prosperous cities,” Kin said.
New law clarifications
State officials appealed Kin’s ruling and passed SB450 in August 2024.
SB450 clarified the purpose of SB9 — to increase California’s housing supply, addressing a severe statewide housing shortage. The sole focus was no longer affordability.
“There is no question the amendments made by SB450 directly impact (Kin’s) analysis,” the Court of Appeal said in a tentative ruling, written by three justices: Helen Zukin, Armen Tamzarian and Craig Van Rooyen.
The Court of Appeal told Kin to reconsider his ruling, including an order for the state to pay $270,000 in attorney’s fees.
THE
UPDATE FROM PAGE 1 no limit of A-minuses per class, the New York Times reports.
VOX DEAL: Media scion James Murdoch, the son of Rupert Murdoch, has struck a deal with the liberal-leaning Vox Media digital company to acquire New York magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network and the Vox editorial brand.
KIRK POST SETTLEMENT: Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over memes he posted on Facebook joking about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Editor: Dave Price
Managing Editor: Emily Mibach
General Manager: Brandon Heinrichs
Distribution: Amando Mendoza III
Account Executives: Jena Hollister, Mike Ireland and Winnie Reyes
Letters:
A CRANE TRUCK tipped over on Interstate 280 yesterday morning near Page Mill Road. The driver was not seriously hurt, CHP said. CHP photo.
Couple accused of embezzling $823K
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A Mountain View couple has been arrested for allegedly working together to funnel $823,299 from a tech company to their own accounts.
Paul Joseph Pichulo, 59, and Suzeth Pruscila Lara, 52, allegedly stole employee benefits from TIBCO Software between March 2016 and February 2024, according to an FBI investigation.
Alleged invoice scheme
Lara was TIBCO’s benefits director. She allegedly created fake invoices for unused benefits and collected payments from benefits providers like Fidelity and CIGNA Health.
She then sent checks to bogus companies created by herself and Pichulo, who transferred the money to their personal accounts and withdrew large sums of cash, Special Agent Jason Hui said in a statement to support an arrest warrant.
Lara and Pichulo allegedly stole $395,015 from two retirement plans, $172,372 from a wellness program and $238,912 from a commuter benefits program.
Pichulo and Lara previously dated and have an eight-year-old child together, Hui said.
Pichulo told investigators on Jan. 30 that he worked as a consultant for TIBCO, creating pamphlets and mailing flyers during an open enrollment period for health insurance once a year.
But Pichulo’s one-man consulting company receiving inflated payments throughout the year that he couldn’t explain, Hui said.
Felony charges
Pichulo was arrested around 9 a.m. on May 11 by his house at 1765 San Ramon Ave., police records show. He’s charged with 26 felonies — 18 counts of grand theft, seven counts of money laundering and one count of criminal conspiracy.
Pichulo posted $750,000 bail for his release two hours after his arrest and missed his arraignment the next day. Judge Brian Buckelew has issued an arrest warrant, court records show.
Lara was arrested and charged with 39 felonies on May 12. She posted $1 million bail and is due back in court on June 12, court records show.
Classic Style in Southgate
MARIPOSA AVENUE, PALO ALTO
Classic charm and fresh updates define this inviting bungalow in sought-after Southgate, a premier Palo Alto neighborhood near Stanford University.
The home has been freshly updated and offers a warm and welcoming ambience throughout. The living and dining room combination is anchored by a woodburning fireplace, and just off the foyer, a flexible-use room offers ideal versatility for an office, den, or media room.
Two bright bedrooms are served by an updated bath finished with travertine and tumbled marble. Beyond the home, the detached finished 1-car garage offers exceptional flexibility for hobbies, fitness, or a remote office.
A newly landscaped rear yard provides generous space for entertaining and play, all complemented by access to acclaimed Palo Alto schools.
The Choice Is Clear.
Supervisor warns not to bully cities
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
San Mateo County Supervisor Jackie Speier said she is concerned the county would become a bully if it decides to put a measure on the November ballot to restrict a state law related to low-income housing without support from cities.
The board decided on Tuesday to ask city officials for their input before making a decision that could affect cities’ housing elements, a state-mandated plan that shows where housing can go.
Speier said the county is starting to get a reputation as a bully and should hear from cities first.
Article 34 workaround
The county is looking for a way around Article 34, which was added to California law in 1950 after there was a huge influx of affordable projects and white communities didn’t want people of color moving into their neighborhoods, according to Deputy County Attorney Lauren Carroll. It gives taxpayers a say in whether or not subsidized housing can be built in their neighborhoods. Article 34 became an issue a few years ago when Millbrae residents got upset with county officials who wanted to buy a hotel and make it housing for the formerly homeless.
Supervisor Ray Mueller said he couldn’t see himself supporting the
measure without backing from cities, since they haven’t OK’d other agencies to build outside their housing elements. If approved, the measure would already give local agencies authorization, rather than approving housing on a project-by-project basis. It would make it easier for the county to develop affordable housing.
“If we’re doing it, they’re doing it with us,” Mueller said.
After being the mayor of Menlo Park, he knows the sweat and blood that goes into developing the housing element, Mueller said. With Article 34 out of the way, it could empower cities, but there could be pushback if housing is built in other areas not included in their housing element, he said.
Public support
Pollster Bryan Godbe said there was 67% support among residents for a measure based on polling conducted in January. Housing in the county is becoming increasingly scarce, expensive and unaffordable to many low-income residents and the elderly, Godbe said.
Supervisor Noelia Crozo said the measure could be a tool to help the housing crisis. County officials will do their best to reach out to all 20 cities and return to the board in June after securing city approval. The board has until August to decide whether to place a measure on the November ballot.
Church stirs traffic worries
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Two Menlo Park planning commissioners are concerned that a Brazilian church will affect the traffic on Willow Road.
A Brazilian Baptist Church will be opening soon at 1100 O’Brien Drive, where American Printing and Copying is located, but it might affect traffic flow, Vice Chair Katie Behroozi said on Monday.
“It’s really rough sometimes during certain times of day,” Behroozi said.
Behroozi asked whether it was possible to create an entrance at the dead end of Menalto Avenue, behind the church. Applicant Andrea Montero said she will look into it and hopes to build a strong partnership with the city.
Neighborhood impact Commissioner Misha Silin was concerned that the zoning at O’Brien was designated for life sciences due to traffic, but Principal Planner Corinna Sandmeier said the church wouldn’t have a significant impact on traffic. Sand-
meier said the church will fit in the neighborhood, next door to the other church, Iglesia Embajadores De Cristo.
Montero and her husband have been looking for a place to open a new church location on the Peninsula for Brazilian Americans who speak Portuguese. They had been moving to different locations after it didn’t work out at a San Bruno location they had leased that had no parking.
The church’s goal will be to strengthen families and promote student education, Montero said.
LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMPS
Down 2-1 after two innings in the winner-take-all City Championship game, AJ Tutoring rallied in a big way. The team scored 16 runs over the next three innings to beat OneStream 17-2 on Sunday and capture the 2026 Palo Alto Little League City Championship. Photo courtesy of Richard Sousa.
EL CAMINO HEALT H FOUN DAT ION P RESEN TS A Conversation with ATUL GAWANDE, MD
Author of New York Times best seller
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Doors open: pm
Program begins: pm
For more information or tickets, scan the QR code or visit
Mountain View Center
by the Behar Family in loving memory of Drs Don & Elaine Ehrman and Jerry Behar
The Post prints the latest real estate transactions.
PALO ALTO
785 La Para Ave., 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1392 square feet, built in 1961, Braff Trust to Malgorzata and Nathan Lin for $3,310,000, closed April 21
878 Miranda Green St., 94306, 4 bedrooms, 2167 square feet, built in 1970, Raeden Trust to Roozbeh Mohajer for $4,050,000, closed April 23
MENLO PARK
754 15th Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1230 square feet, built in 1947, Michael Pickett to Gabrielle Lessey for $2,200,000, closed April
8 (last sale: $1,610,000, 12-18-18)
2442 Sharon Oaks Drive, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 2180 square feet, built in 1972, Tao Family Trust to Martin and Anna Luan for $2,442,000, closed April 9 (last sale: $1,790,000, 04-09-21)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
108 Bryant St. #30,
94041, 3 bedrooms, 1263 square feet, built in 2000, Blake-Burke Living Trust to Shrijeet Family Trust for $1,400,000, closed April 21 (last sale: $975,000, 09-30-14)
171 Bel Air Court, 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1369 square feet, built in 2006, Li Family Trust to Weihong Lu for $1,415,000, closed April 20 (last sale: $1,390,000, 08-07-17)
LOS ALTOS HILLS
12950 Cortez Lane, 94022, 5 bedrooms, 4495 square feet, built in 1968, Magal Family Trust to Surabhi and Raj Misra for $7,100,000, closed April 13 (last sale: $4,300,000, 05-09-17)
WOODSIDE
240 Glenwood Ave., 94062, 3 bedrooms, 1434 square feet, built in 1927, Shir and Jacob Heimark to Ferrante Living Trust for $2,925,000, closed April 6 (last sale: $2,050,000, 12-18-19)
80 Skywood Way, 94062, 4 bedrooms, 1880 square
feet, built in 1959, Jamie and Andrew Parker to Amelia and Blake Read for $4,000,000, closed April 7 (last sale: $2,037,500, 05-18-21)
REDWOOD CITY
3354 Page St., 94063, 3 bedrooms, 1370 square feet, built in 1947, Meagan and John Wenstrand to Van and Anh Le for $1,600,000, closed April 3 (last sale: $1,165,000, 09-19-19)
7 Chart Lane, 94065, 3 bedrooms, 1400 square feet, built in 1995, Fan Zhou to Anisha and Puneet Sarna for $1,275,000, closed March 30 (last sale: $1,350,000, 09-05-20)
SAN CARLOS
224 Highland Ave., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1780 square feet, built in 1956, Pryor Trust to Fnu and Pitambari Parekh for $2,300,000, closed April 10
2308 Howard Ave., 94070, 4 bedrooms, 2090 square feet, built in 1953, Erin Niemeyer to Kolbert-Hyle Living Trust for $2,560,000, closed April 6
A rare opportunity to own one of Palo Alto’s landmark estate properties. Set on nearly half an acre this extraordinary Queen Anne Victorian blends timeless architectural character with refined modern updates. Featuring soaring ceilings, white oak floors, expansive light-filled rooms, wraparound porch, and beautifully landscaped park-like grounds. Updated chef’s kitchen with Wolf range, Sub-Zero refrigerator, quartz countertops, and custom cabinetry. Approximately 3,355 SF main residence with 7 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, finished attic, lower-level apartment with private entrance, expansive basement, and detached 3-car garage. Prime College Terrace location near Stanford University, California Avenue dining and shopping, parks, and acclaimed Palo Alto schools. A truly exceptional blend of historic charm and modern luxury.
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Step through the front door of 941 Amador Avenue & into a
Times shown are when a report was made to police. Information is from police department logs. All of the people named here are innocent until proven guilty in court.
PALO ALTO
MAY 12
10:51 a.m. — Sergio Geovany Milian Posadas, 24, of Redwood City, cited on a warrant, El Camino and Churchill Ave. Incident handled by Stanford police.
FRIDAY
9:51 a.m. — Alok Ojah, 44, of Palo Alto, arrested for domestic violence and child endangerment, Paul Ave.
2:15 p.m. — Suzanne Simon Galli, 69, of Mill Valley, cited on a warrant, Stanford Shopping Center.
MENLO PARK
TUESDAY
1:12 p.m. — Noninjury vehicle collision, 100 block of Royal Oak Court.
2:37 p.m. — Anh Le, 46, arrested on a warrant, 1300 block of El Camino.
STANFORD
MAY 12
11:30 a.m. — Christopher Lee Welch, 31, of Los Angeles, cited for trespassing, 400 block of Jane Stanford Way.
6:19 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, 600 block of Knight Way.
7:08 p.m. — Vandalism at Old Union, 520 Lasuen Mall.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
MAY 2
8:27 p.m. — Edward Guasguita
Monroy, 25, of Sunnyvale, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Del Medio Ave. and California St.
MAY 6
5:45 p.m. — Carlos Mossin, 64, of Mountain View, cited on warrants at Mountain View Police Dept., 1000 Villa St.
MAY 7
10:32 a.m. — Windy Holland, 60, of Mountain View, cited on warrants, 2100 block of Rock St.
8:08 p.m. — John Thompson, 58, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and on warrants, Terra Bella and San Rafael avenues.
MAY 12
7:23 a.m. — Theft, 500 block of Oak St.
8:10 a.m. — Jessy Mendoza, 54, of Mountain View, arrested on a warrant, 500 block of Central Ave.
8:33 a.m. — Theft, 1100 block of California St.
10:33 a.m. — Battery, Pear Ave. and Inigo Way.
12:36 p.m. — Grand theft, 300 block of Preston Drive.
1:50 p.m. — Auto burglary, Spring St. and Telford Ave.
1:54 p.m. — Identity theft, 800 block of Runningwood Circle.
3:31 p.m. — Vandalism, 600 block of San Antonio Road.
4:11 p.m. — Vandalism, 100 block of Waverly Place.
9:36 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, Stierlin Road and Central Ave.
LOS ALTOS
MAY 11
5:57 p.m. — Juan Hernandez Cabrera, 28, of Mountain View, cited for possession of drugs and drug
paraphernalia, 900 block of Acacia Ave.
TUESDAY
7:15 a.m. — Michael Danberg, 31, of Pleasant Hill, cited for display of false vehicle registration, El Camino and Ortega Ave.
REDWOOD CITY
MAY 14
1:01 a.m. — Walter Rae Chao, 56, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, 800 block of Chestnut St.
1:09 a.m. — Dorian Garcia Adame, 43, of Redwood City, cited for possession of a hypodermic needle, 1000 block of Upton St.
2:16 p.m. — Driver reported to be swerving and nearly hitting pedestrians and another vehicle, Oak Ave. Carlos A. Santos Flores, 40, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, 2600 block of Spring St.
6:17 p.m. — Agitated man running between restaurants and possibly holding a knife, Middlefield Road. Benjamine Joshua Hernandez, 29, of Sylmar, arrested for being under the influence of drugs.
6:20 p.m. — Jaden Jose Rivera, 22, arrested on a warrant at San Mateo County Jail, 300 Bradford St.
7:54 p.m. — Shoplifter given a warning, El Camino.
8:35 p.m. — Henry Fonseca, 67, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Harrison Ave. and El Camino.
9:27 p.m. — Two-vehicle accident, Veterans Blvd.
9:37 p.m. — Plants vandalized, St. Francis St.
FRIDAY
5:19 a.m. — Resident says a
strange man came into the resident’s apartment sometime during the night, peed inside the apartment and fell asleep there, 1400 block of Marshall St. Jimmy Ace Romero, 20, of Anaheim, arrested for public drunkenness.
6:31 a.m. — Electric scooter stolen, El Camino.
8:08 a.m. — Vehicle hits a kid riding an electric scooter, who suffers minor injuries. Location not disclosed.
9:51 a.m. — Auto burglary, El Camino.
9:56 a.m. — Person uses counterfeit bills to pay for items at a business, Woodside Road.
11:51 a.m. — Package stolen, Main St.
12:27 p.m. — Man says a pickup truck hit his vehicle and took off, and the man has suffered a back injury and possibly a concussion, Woodside Road.
12:29 p.m. — Two women steal merchandise from a store, El Camino.
3:30 p.m. — Caller says someone else fraudulently used the caller’s credit card information to purchase flights, Kansas St.
4:45 p.m. — Property owner says squatters broke into a vacant home and stole keys, Brewster Ave.
5:07 p.m. — Leo Frank Muro Jr., 58, of Redwood City, arrested for carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and illegal possession of tear gas, Madison Ave. and Iris St.
5:41 p.m. — Wallet stolen, El Camino.
9:38 p.m. — Shaun Tuvaoimatagi Numera, 33, of Redwood City, arrested for aggravated sexual assault of a child under age 14, 100 block of Locust St.
9:40 p.m. — Cedric Anthony
or mnanevicz@gmail.com paloaltoappraisal.com
Sanders, 47, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license and without a valid vehicle registration, El Camino and Edgewood Road. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
11:13 p.m. — Callers report two men are fighting and one has the other down on the ground, Woodside Road.
11:30 p.m. — Man says he told a woman who was causing a disturbance to calm down and she slapped him in the face, Woodside Road.
10:38 a.m. — Preston Bryant Matthews, 64, arrested on a warrant, El Camino and Jefferson Ave. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
1:34 p.m. — Luis Alberto Orozco Perez, 33, of San Mateo, cited for possession of meth, Woodside and Middlefield roads. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
3:58 p.m. — Jacqueline Alonzo de Rivera, 42, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without a mandated ignition interlock device and on warrants, 2100 block of Middlefield Road. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
6:17 p.m. — Family walks
out of a business without paying their bill, El Camino.
8:08 p.m. — Adan Cisneros Calles, 37, of Redwood City, cited on warrants, Marshall and Maple streets. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
8:37 p.m. — Drunken man reported to be causing a disturbance and refusing to leave an establishment, Broadway.
11:53 p.m. — Man with a knife reported to be causing a disturbance, Broadway. David Bale, 34, of Redwood City, arrested for threats, brandishing a weapon and carrying a switchblade knife.
WOODSIDE
FRIDAY
10:24 a.m. — Carlos Alberto Palacios, 39, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Albion Ave. and Olive Hill Lane.
10:58 a.m. — Celeste Marie Reynolds, 56, of Santa Cruz, arrested on a warrant, Canada Road and Glenwood Ave.
SATURDAY
4:30 p.m. — Traffic collision causes minor injuries, 500 block of Old La Honda Road.
SAN CARLOS
MAY 14
5:55 p.m. — Petty theft from a vehicle, 1400 block of El Camino.
6:50 p.m. — Grand theft from a vehicle, 1400 block of El Camino.
FRIDAY
11:23 a.m. — Detectives try to make a traffic stop but the driver speeds away in the vehicle, Cedar St. and Hull Drive. Detectives do not chase him, but later track the suspect to a location in Hayward. Joseph Anthony Fuimaono, 40, of San Francisco, arrested for recklessly evading police in a vehicle, identity theft, possession of stolen property and parole violation.
SATURDAY
2:33 a.m. — Priscila Leisiliva Vakauta, 26, arrested for domestic violence, 300 block of Park Ave.
3:45 p.m. — Person, 37, of Fairfield, cited for display of false vehicle registration, 1100 block of Industrial Road.
4:40 p.m. — Daniel Edward Huerta, 36, arrested on a warrant, 1100 block of Walnut St.
BELMONT
MONDAY
3:38 p.m. — Two-vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Notre Dame and Ralston avenues.
6:32 p.m. — Man says $260,000 has been stolen from his bank account, Arbor Ave.
8:20 p.m. — Two men steal alcohol from a store, El Camino.
TUESDAY
4:21 p.m. — Electric bike stolen, El Camino.
CITY OF LOS ALTOS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Zoning Administrator of the City of Los Altos will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following project:
you are proud of or inherited a collection from parents or a spouse, a wise first step is to contact us at Mish International (MIMI).
1. SC26-0001 – Siyue Wu – 1847 Fallen Leaf Lane Request for Design Review to construct a new 3,253 square foot, two-story home. The project site is located on the east side of Fallen Leaf Lane, between Lantis Lane and Penny Way. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Existing Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Project Planner: Gallegos
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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
The Zoning Administrator public hearing will be held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM in person at the Community Meeting Chambers, Los Altos City Hall, 1 North San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA and via a webinar. Please go to the following link: https://ca-losaltos. civicplus.com/527/Zoning-Administrator
Questions can be answered by calling the Development Services Department at (650) 947-2750 or sent via email to planning@losaltosca.gov.
Yvonne Dupont, Management Analyst I
Entertainment ‘Mandalorian and Grogu’ fails to land
BY MARK KENNEDY Associated Press Writer
It’s been nearly seven years since there was a new “Star Wars” movie released in theaters and there are lots of ways to do it. “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a disjointed off-ramp that lacks the scale and ambition of its sisters, fails the task. As the Mandalorians might say, this is not the way.
Creator and director Jon Favreau has seen his Disney+ series about a minor “Star Wars” character turned into a huge summer cinematic tentpole and it buckles under the pressure, turning the Mandalorian into a trigger-happy John Wick and failing to do anything meaningful with one of Hollywood’s cutest critters, affectionately called Baby Yoda.
Messy new chapter Sigourney Weaver, as a New Republic colonel, early on admonishes the Mandalorian after a bloody mission: “Messy. Very messy.” The same could be said for this overlong and overviolent chapter, which relies on too many computer effects and exposes the limits of puppetry. In IMAX, it’s positively clumsy.
Perhaps the main problem with “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is that
the jeopardies are small. The fate of the Resistance isn’t on the line. Planets or whole star systems aren’t being risked. The Jedi aren’t on defense or in ascendancy. It’s just a story about a bounty hunter’s mission on the Outer Rim.
Franchise fans will still delight in familiar things — X-wings, AT-AT Walkers, Stormtroopers, the diminutive mechanics called Anzellans and Jabba the Hutt — well, not him but his relatives. There’s a nice nod to the Death Star trash compactor scene from “A New Hope” and we watch Grogu pick up a cane in a swamp, triggering
Presents
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 all-star musicians will present a dynamic line-up of international masterpieces.
Experience the Symphony’s debut of Denmark’s Carl Nielsen as he retells 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.
Arrive early for our pre-concert festivities and kick off the fun before the concert even starts! We'll have SJSU Men's Soccer showing off their best soccer tricks, live music in the lobby, and the California Theatre all dressed up for the occasion.
And join us after Saturday’s performance for a casual post-concert drink at Ahi Bar at Signia by Hilton with harpist Katherine Siochi, conductor Carlos Vieu, and Symphony San Jose musicians.
Our 25th Anniversary Season is here!
Discover our 2026/2027 lineup and dive into a vibrant blend of classical masterpieces, exciting new finds, and family-friendly programs, including two fully staged ballet productions and the return of our films in concert with Star Wars IV: A New Hope Build your own package and pick any 3 concerts starting at just $33/ticket!
warm memories of Yoda. But there’s not enough lightsabering and there are way too many cattle prods.
Dangerous job
Pedro Pascal returns as the Mandalorian, shorn of any mention of his past, religion or home planet. He basically moves from one battle to the next, a ruthless killing machine dispatching enemies with a blaster and endless martial arts techniques. He’s like an unfunny Iron Man. When he is silenced in the second half, Grogu gets centered and the movie changes tone, getting more quiet and poignant.
Maybe they should have ditched the dude and just focused on the child.
The plot is basic action movie fare: A dangerous job for a dangerous man. The Mandalorian agrees to find and capture a shadowy ex-Imperial commander, but to do so, he has to make a detour to rescue Jabba the Hutt’s son. Yes, that old sluglike crime boss who froze Han Solo in carbonite. Well, he had a son, who has serious daddy issues, voiced by Jeremy Allen White.
The “Star Wars” franchise once led the culture with its imagery, swagger and style. But this movie is a step back, formulaic and aping “Top Gun,” “Blade Runner,” “Transformers” and “Men in Black.” Even Ludwig Goransson’s score is off, marred by cheap-sounding ’80s synthetic chirps along with what sounded like Yiddish folk ditties.
The runtime saps energy and when it’s all done, the scrolling credits for all those special effects goes on a full five minutes. You used to leave a new “Star Wars” movie on a cloud. Here, that galaxy is far, far away.
Release info
“Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu,” a Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release in theaters tomorrow, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “sci-fi violence and action.” Running time: 132 minutes.
Katherine Siochi
NEW ADVENTURE — The Mandalorian, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, left, and Grogu in “Star Wars: The Manalorian and Grogu.” Lucasfilm/Disney via AP.
ROOFTOP PATIO
PICKLEBALL –––
cut playground visits short or stopped coming altogether, Villarreal said.
“For individuals with sensory sensitivities, this type of noise is not just a nuisance — it is overwhelming, disorienting, and distressing,” Villarreal said in an email to commissioners on Monday.
Commissioners have received 174 pages of emails from pickleball players, tennis players and residents ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
Pickleball players touted the health and social benefits of their sport, enjoyed by people of all ages.
“Playing pickleball at Mitchell Park is perhaps the best way I’ve found to alleviate my loneliness — both the camaraderie and the exercise. But unfortunately most of the time I go to play, there is a wait to get on the courts,” said resident Dave Garr, from the Duveneck-St. Francis neighborhood.
Single-issue voter
Old Palo Alto resident Sean Fee said he’s a “single-issue voter,” judging elected officials only by their position on pickleball expansion.
Triple El resident Gilbert Wong said he’s played pickleball in Hawaii and Arizona, and Mitchell Park is unique for its level of friendliness. He said he plays five times a week for three hours each time.
Tennis players have already lost three courts at Mitchell Park to pickleball since 2018. They have four courts left there — the only lighted courts in south Palo Alto.
Offering to pay
Pickleball players have offered to pay to light tennis courts at the Cubberley Community Center so they can take over Mitchell Park.
But this would require extensive public review and approvals, and Mitchell Park would still see parking, noise and congestion impacts from pickleball’s expansion, Recreation Supervisor Adam Howard said in a report for commissioners. Tennis player Namita
Joshua is worried that losing tennis courts at Mitchell Park will drive more tennis players to Rinconada Park, where waiting times are already long.
Courts elsewhere?
Srdjan Kovacevic, president of the Palo Alto Tennis Club, said the city should build new pickleball courts somewhere else.
Howard said the city could explore a pickleball facility by softball and baseball fields in the Baylands Athletic Center, east of Highway 101.
City employees observed courts 68 times since August, primarily at busy times on weekday evenings and weekend mornings.
Pickleball courts were consistently above capacity, with waiting groups ranging from five to 60 players during peak periods, Howard said.
Employees counted an available tennis court 15 times during 68 visits to Mitchell Park. Tennis courts were generally available at several other locations throughout Palo Alto when pickleball courts at Mitchell Park were full, Howard said.
Howard recommended keeping the courts as they are at Mitchell Park.
DOWNTOWN –––
recommend the City Council review his proposal, with some exceptions, such as prohibiting banks from opening on Santa Cruz Avenue and allowing small recreational businesses to open with a permit.
What do residents want?
Residents are looking for more fitness studios and wellness services, Spieker, who lives in Atherton, said. His wife drives 20 minutes in traffic to Redwood City for a yoga class, he said.
If there’s flexibility, there would be more demand at coffee shops or lunch spots from people leaving the fitness studios, he said.
“It allows people coming downtown for a specific reason to do other errands they are doing in other communities,” Spieker said. Resident Laura Melahn,
who is running for a seat on council to represent downtown, said people have been raising the same concern for years.
“I think we’re doing our city a disservice with our current restrictive permitted uses on Santa Cruz,” Melahn said.
Marnie Foody said over the last 10 years, Amazon and Covid have changed the downtown, and residents now want to engage with each other more through fitness and family activities.
“We’re all aware of the high level of vacancies, which really drags the city down,” former planning commissioner Ben Eiref said.
Why are there vacancies?
Commissioner Katie Behroozi said she wasn’t sure whether there are vacancies on Santa Cruz Avenue because people want yoga studios, or for other reasons. She often hears that residents are tired of the vacancies downtown but they’re also tired of drugstores.
Residents don’t want more fancy establishments with one or two customers, Behroozi said.
Spieker is also requesting permission to allow businesses to rent the back part of their space for office use, which will help them afford to stay on Santa Cruz Avenue.
Chair Ross Silverstein said office spaces should have some public benefit. He said there may also be a reason why the current zoning is so limited.
Chris Kummerer said he has been looking to move his business, CKA Architects, onto the street, but it’s a struggle for a small eight-person firm.
What’s currently allowed
The current businesses that can open on Santa Cruz Avenue are food and beverages, sales, general retail and restaurants, according to Associate Planner Matt Pruter.
Commissioners also recommended council have a larger study session on the vacancies and zoning on Santa Cruz Avenue because it may be outdated for residents’ current needs.
PAY –––––––
he became chief in July 2019. The city has denied the allegations, and the case’s first hearing is on July 1.
City Manager Ed Shikada made $448,190 plus benefits last year. He’s among the highest paid city managers in the state when benefits are included, according to the California State Controller. Other employees making over $400,000 plus benefits are retired police Chief Andrew Binder, retired City Attorney Molly Stump, Sgt. Erin Good-
ell, Utilities System Operator Raymond Herrera and Battalion Chief William Dale.
City employees making over $300,000 went from seven in 2021, 10 in 2022, 27 in 2023, 46 in 2024 to 65 last year, pay records show.
The chart below includes the top 25 earners of 2025.
Their total pay includes regular pay, overtime, cashed out amounts such as vacation time, and other pay, such as car or housing allowances. It does not include employee benefits such as contributions to pensions or health insurance.
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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 world-famous tiki bar, and delicious food favorites for all ages. Mark your calendars now for a joyful, high-energy weekend filled with laughter, bright lights, and hometown spirit to celebrate 44 years of the Nativity Carnival!
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 allstar musicians will present a dynamic lineup 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.
NO SUCH THING AS A boring cheeseburger. Not at Sundance the Steakhouse anyway. Try a classic, thick, juicy cheeseburger for lunch, Sundance style. All the dressings and toppings are on the side so you can make it just the way you like it. Comes with some fries, onion rings or a healthy salad of your choice.
Sundance the Steakhouse is the place for you. Cash is the waiter, bartender, chief bottle-washer and man about town in the historic sports lounge of this family owned restaurant. The lunch menu at Sundance also offers a yummy french dip sandwich, chicken club sandwich, seared Ahi sandwich and the list goes on and on. You want a crisp healthy salad for lunch? They have quite a variety to choose from. Come on in and enjoy a fantastic lunch, Sundance style. Located at 1921 El Camino Real in Palo Alto for over 50 years. Call 650 321-6798 for a reservation and check the website for more info.
IF YOU’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR a dentist in Palo Alto, Dr. Harry Tseng DDS & Associates wants to make things easy. They treat their patients like family—the kind of family you actually like seeing. The office is a place where you can get your teeth fixed without feeling like just another number in a big system. Call (650) 326-3290, book online or visit them at 416 Waverley Street, Suite A in Palo Alto anytime. Whether you need a cleaning or a complete smile restoration, their friendly team is ready to help.
