Please see their ad on Page 19 and tell them how you appreciate their support.
Some want official punished
BY STEPHANIE LAM Daily Post Correspondent
Woodside Town Councilman Paul Goeld is claiming that “a lapse in judgement” resulted in him violating the state’s open meeting law and hopes “no further action is necessary” from the town, but residents and council members say he should be punished.
For breaking open meeting law
Council on Tuesday voted to ask the town manager to look into how council can reprimand Goeld for breaking the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting laws, when he told former Town Manager Jason Ledbetter about his hiring process. The incident came to light when Ledbetter threatened to release a 14-page report alleging council member’s wrongdoings unless the town paid
THE UPDATE
NEW ATTACKS: The U.S. and Iran have resumed active military strikes following an Iranian missile attack on a base in Jordan.
PATRIOTS ORDERED: The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles. This comes as ongoing Iran war has strain edcurrent weapons stockpiles.
NUDIFICATION APPS: Elon Musk’s company xAI has sued Minnesota over the state’s first-inthe-nation law that bans “nudification” technology on websites and apps, potentially providing a test for how far states can go in constitutionally regulating the use of artificial intelligence.
JAPANESE QUAKE: The death toll has risen to 18 people following a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake in southwestern Japan. Rescue crews are searching through damaged structural sites including a shopping center.
SHARKS SPEND BIG: The San Jose Sharks yesterday signed Macklin
[See THE UPDATE, page 4]
him $400,000 for, what he says is severance pay. The city refused and hired an attorney to investigate the report, which found that Goeld shared hiring information the council had discussed in a closed session.
Mayor Brian Dombkowski was the only one who voted against the action,
saying he prefers to have a “further discussion” with council before deciding next steps.
Before council heard from the city’s legal team about Goeld’s consequences, the councilman read a letter addressing his actions, and then excused himself from the discussion, as per city policy.
Goeld said he never, “denied or concealed” to investigators and council
[See PUNISHED, page 18]
Dr. Fauci pleads the Fifth
Dr. Anthony Fauci yesterday repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to answer dozens of questions from senators in a Republican-led committee hearing about his handling of the Covid pandemic.
The decision, at least for now, shielded Fauci from answering questions that could expose him to accusations of lying under oath. Though he received a pardon in early 2025 from Democratic President Joe Biden, some Republicans pursuing a yearslong campaign for his arrest had suggested he could still face charges for any perjury committed during yesterday’s hearing.
The scientist, who helped lead the nation’s Covid response, was subpoenaed to testify under oath by Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has long had an antagonistic relationship with Fauci.
[See FAUCI, page 18]
Man convinced home was his dad’s Hid in stranger’s home
BY STEPHANIE LAM Daily Post Correspondent
A man who was arrested for burglary after locking himself in a Barron Park home’s bathroom claims he was in his family’s house and the resident is his father, court records show.
On July 19 at around 1 a.m., Oscar
Dario Banegas, 46, of San Jose, rang the doorbell of a couple in their 50s home on the 3500 block of Julie Court. He then entered through the front door without their knowledge, went into their spare room and then locked him-
self in the bathroom, according to Palo Alto police officer Eduwardo Gonzalez. Banegas later told police he was believed to have entered his family’s home, which is located in Mountain View, according to Gonzalez. He spoke with his father, “Ted,” who he identi-
[See HOME, page 18]
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI appears before a Senate committee yesterday. AP photo.
• Fully remodeled with design and construction by Harrell Design + Build within the past 5 years
• 2 bedrooms and 2 baths on one level
• Approximately 1,840 square feet (not
• Located just across from the pond and fountain at the gated entrance
•
• Remodeled open kitchen with all Miele appliances
• Spacious primary suite with rear garden access
• Attached 2-car garage with second refrigerator and full-height wine cooler
• Spacious and very private rear garden patio spans the home
• Two community pools, spa, bocce court, and 20-acre park
• Just minutes to the Los Altos Village
• Excellent Los Altos schools (buyer
Cubberley appraisal to stay secret
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Managing Editor
Palo Alto’s city manager isn’t going to ask the City Council whether he should release the city’s appraisal of Cubberley Community Center.
The Post has asked the city to release the appraisal for the Cubberley Community Center before voters consider approving a half-cent sales tax to buy the land in November.
The city said appraisals ahead of buying a property are exempt from the California Public Records Act, so the city isn’t required to release the appraisal.
But City Manager Ed Shikada told the Post after the city’s denial of the Post’s request that it’s not his decision alone to release the appraisal. He said council and the school board would need to be involved, and both are on summer break.
No plan
The Post followed up this week to find out whether council will discuss releasing the appraisal when it’s back in session on Aug. 10.
Shikada replied “there is no action planned for the
council to reconsider this request.” However, the Post submitted its request for the appraisal on July 9, after the council’s final meeting of the summer on June 15, giving the council no time in a closed session hearing to discuss the request.
Plan to buy seven acres
Council is asking voters to buy seven acres for $65.5 million from the Palo Alto Unified School District.
The deal was approved in October 2024 by council and the school board, contingent on the city raising the money with a tax.
Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims and former school board member Jennifer DiBrienza led the committees that confidentially negotiated the price.
DiBrienza is now heading up the campaign to get the sales tax approved, according to finance forms filed with the City Clerk’s office by the pro-tax campaign.
According to those finance forms, DiBrienza has so far pitched in $5,600 of her own money to the campaign, which raised a total of $9,875 between March 1 and June 30. Residents have questioned council’s de-
Every year, Dream Flights brings the magic of flight to veterans living in senior living communities.
On July 28 at Hayward Executive Airport, Robert Beyer experienced a Dream Flight—a free, 15-minute thank-you flight in a restored WWII-era open-cockpit biplane.
Robert Beyer, 90
A U.S. Navy veteran who served for 25 years and attained the rank of Captain. A Vietnam veteran, he served aboard the USS Pictor, USS Tripoli, and USS Nimitz, and held several leadership roles in naval aviation logistics and aircraft programs.
“At Palo Alto Commons, it is our privilege to honor the men and women who have served our country with courage and sacrifice. Dream Flights gives our veteran residents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to relive cherished memories, experience the joy of flight, and be celebrated for their service. We are deeply grateful to Dream Flights.”
- Li Li, Sr. Executive Director
cision not to mention the land purchase on the ballot for the half-cent sales tax.
Plumbing over land
Instead, the question asks if the city should make Cubberley’s buildings safer, upgrade deteriorating wiring and plumbing, acquire outdoor space, maintain safe and clean streets and prepare for natural disasters.
“It just seems off to me — I mean we can’t really do it without the purchase of the land,” resident Phyllis Brown told council members during the June 8 meeting.
In a letter to council, resident Penny Ellson asked if the city mistakenly left out the land purchase in the ballot question.
Only 34% of Palo Alto voters surveyed in January said buying the Cubberley land was very or extremely important, and the measure needs 50% to pass. The city opted to include issues that ranked higher with voters, such as updating the building’s plumbing and electrical, Assistant Director of Administrative Services Christine Paras told the council on June 8.
Celebrini to a five-year, $94 million contract — the biggest in the history of the NHL. Celebrini, who had 45 goals and 70 assists last season, is entering the final season of an entry-level contract and could have become a restricted free agent.
INTEREST RATES: New Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh announced yesterday that interest rates will remain steady despite fears by some that the Fed might have to intervene to lower inflation.
NEW SPYMASTER: U.S. Senate Republicans successfully confirmed federal prosecutor Jay Clayton as the director of national intelligence, overseeing all spy agencies. Democrats strongly opposed the nomination during a contentious hearing.
FIGHTING SCREWWORM: The USDA announced a $25 million investment for a new Arizona facility to combat the New World screwworm. The facility will produce and disperse sterile flies to protect livestock.
TESLA VANDALISM: Irvine police have arrested a man who was wanted for allegedly spray-painting 13 Teslas in Orange County parking garages in recent weeks. The suspect spray-painted the words "nazi" and "fascist" on the vehicles.
SEATTLE SHOOTING: A gang has been blamed for a shootout at a festival near the Seattle Space Needle that killed three people. Police say they’ve arrested one of the shooters, a 15-year-old.
Winner of 17 awards from the National Newspaper Association
Publishers: Dave Price, Jim Pavelich
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: Limit to 250 words. Author’s full name, address and phone number are required. See policy at padailypost.com under “letters.”
Stories without bylines are often from The Associated Press, Bay City News service or the Post staff.
Legal notices: The Superior Court of Santa Clara County has adjudicated the Daily Post as a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Palo Alto and the County of Santa Clara, and we’re qualified to publish legal notices such as Fictitious Business Name Statements (FBNs) and legal name changes. For more information, email ads@padailypost.com.
DEATHS
San Mateo Co. Coroner: July 28
Bruce John Wilkinson, 80, of Melbourne
Moises Nartia Gines, 75, no hometown listed
Michael H. Triesch, 77, no hometown listed
David Etienne Ramirez, 79, of Winslow Donald Miao, 60, of San Bruno
Santa Clara Co. Medical Examiner: July 17
Hildegard Cervenka, 98, of Palo Alto
Mohammad Alam, 80, of Sunnyvale
July 16
Loching Keng, 99, of Sunnyvale
Gladys Moorer, 82, of Palo Alto
Edwin Wong, 97, of Los Altos
July 15
Simronjot Singh, 31, of Sunnyvale
Trinnian Gonzalez, 12, of Sunnyvale
July 14
Carlin Yee, 35, of Redwood City
Henry Newman, 81, of Sunnyvale
Mildred Peery, 86, of Palo Alto
July 13
David Ingalz, 56, no hometown listed, died in Mountain View
BIRTHS
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto:
Nov. 6
Jeremy David Acevedo Madrigal, a boy
Zoe Isabelle Chen, a girl
Khalid Aziz Cornejo Santana, a boy
Aurora Filichkina Das Gupta, a girl
Milton Ulises De Leon Lopez, a boy
Christian Gael Martinez Gaytan, a boy
Evara Nagpal, a girl
Noah Hudson Nguyen, a boy
Paige Elisabeth Robinson, a girl
Emmett Steven Schlosser, a boy
Alaya Sage Vishwa Solomon, a girl
Keylani Daelis Valle Duarte, a girl
Eleven Wang, a girl
Celine Alexis Wu, a girl
Nov. 5
Maja Eleonora Deheebert, a girl
Elijah Emiliano Esqueda, a boy
Hadi Hamza Darwish Ibrahim, a boy
Rohan Kanugo, a boy
Chevy Leal, a boy
Avery Jude Lopez, a girl
Brianna Alexis Lopez, a girl
Adali Elisia Manzanareserazo, a girl
Luna Teno Monteaperto, a girl
Ian Xavier Schachar, a boy
Aviraj Jain Singh, a boy
Paisley Jo Stradling, a girl
Meryem Sana Tamer, a girl
Charming
Lush
Spacious
Family
Fresh
Mountain
Minutes
HOA
BY STEPHANIE LAM Daily Post Correspondent
A Shoreline West resident and a local artist and juggler are the most recent contenders to enter the Mountain View City Council race.
Samuel Ali, 39, pulled papers on Monday to join, while Jesse Cupp, 36, filed on Tuesday. The other candidates so far for three seats include James Kuszmaul, IdaRose Sylvester, Erik Poicon, Robert Cox, Silja Paymer, Paul Donahue and Alexander Amoroso.
The incumbents who hold those three seats are Ellen Kamei, Alison
Hicks and Lucas Ramirez. All three are termed out.
Ali is a resident of the Shoreline West neighborhood.
Cupp, meanwhile, is chair of the Visual Arts Committee for the city. He also works part-time as a business and community relations representative for the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce.
He went to Bellarmine College Preparatory and graduated with a bachelor’s in liberal arts and sciences from Thomas Edison State University.
He describes himself as a Bay Area artist, juggler, circus enthusiast and man-about-town, according to his Facebook page.
Lots to close overnight
Parking lots by Pacifica State Beach will be closed nightly to vehicles due to problems with overnight parkers, police said.
Pacifica will close the Pacifica State Beach north and south parking lots (Linda Mar Beach) to vehicles between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., starting last night.
Public safety concerns
The city applied for a Coastal Commission Emergency Permit for the overnight closure of the parking lots due to
“the escalating public safety, vandalism and dumping consequences from allowing vehicles to remain continuously and function as long-term residences,” the city said.
The city also said the amount of vehicles that park overnight has “degraded public access” and affected people’s enjoyment of the area.
The initial closure period is for 90 days, the city said, though it is working on making the overnight closures permanent.
OPEN FRIDAY 4:00 – 7:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:00 – 4:30PM
Situated in Palo Alto’s sought-after College Terrace neighborhood, this charming Craftsman home offers a rare blend of historic character including original oak hardwood floors and leaded glass windows. Set on a generous level lot with mature trees and distinct yard areas. Its unbeatable location is just moments from Stanford University, vibrant California Avenue shops and restaurants, the weekly farmers market, major tech campuses, and award-winning Palo Alto schools. Owned by the same family for more than 50 years, this beloved property is ready to begin its next chapter whether as it stands today, remodeled or reimagined entirely.
OFFERED AT $3,950,000 Virtual tour: 2230Amherst.com
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
JULY 8
3:59 p.m. — Theft by use of credit card information, 4100 block of Park Blvd.
JULY 14
4:13 p.m. — Auto burglary, 3200 block of Miranda Ave.
JULY 20
6:51 p.m. — Camera found where it’s not supposed to be, 3200 block of E. Bayshore Road.
JULY 21
10:28 a.m. — Jerrell Curtis King, 41, of Los Angeles, arrested for auto burglary, 1700 block of Embarcadero Road.
JULY 23
1:08 a.m. — Kenneth Arlen Hennefer, 71, of Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 600 block of E. Meadow Drive. 11:13 a.m. — Cynthia Rose Gonzales, 69, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, Encina Ave. and El Camino.
11:20 a.m. — Steven Cary Taylor, 67, of Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, Encina Ave. and El Camino.
12:27 p.m. — Robbery, 2700 block of Embarcadero Road.
4:35 p.m. — Liam Anselm Bickford, 64, of Sunnyvale, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 528 High St. 5:22 p.m. — Organized retail theft, Stanford Shopping Center.
STANFORD
JULY 21
12:49 p.m. — Bicycle parts stolen, 300 block of Santa Teresa St.
JULY 22
10:34 a.m. — Juan Anthony Tinoco, 48, of Bakersfield, cited on a warrant, Quarry Road and Palo Drive.
4:05 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, Searsville parking lot, 190 Searsville Road.
8:12 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, 400 block of Quarry Road.
MENLO PARK
TUESDAY
9:41 a.m. — Randall Marlette, 39,
Police Blotter
of Shasta Lake, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of tear gas, 500 block of El Camino.
1:12 p.m. — Grand theft, 200 block of Concord Drive.
3:15 p.m. — Angela Peddy, 51, transient, cited for possession of drugs, 500 block of El Camino.
7:22 p.m. — Jose Barrera, 31, transient, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, El Camino and Encinal Ave.
7:45 p.m. — Jami Speegle, 47, transient, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Laurel St. and Ravenswood Ave.
10:31 p.m. — Lino Colula Sanchez, 36, of Menlo Park, arrested for making threats, 1200 block of Henderson Ave.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
JUNE 6
3:45 p.m. — Sujithreddy Naidu, 26, of San Jose, cited for driving the wrong way on the road, Middlefield Road and Leslie Court.
9:43 p.m. — Christ Castillo Jimenez, 19, of Mountain View, cited for possession of a controlled substance, an open container while driving and driving with a suspended or revoked license, California St. and San Antonio Road.
JUNE 7
10:51 p.m. — Walter Bochcax, 21, of Mountain View, cited for DUI, California St. and S. Rengstorff Ave.
JUNE 9
10:20 a.m. — Justin Matthews, 44, transient, cited for theft of personal property, 100 block of E. El Camino.
JUNE 11
11:48 p.m. — Alan Garcia Rosas, 20, of Mountain View, cited for reckless driving and driving with a suspended or revoked license, San Antonio Road and California St.
JUNE 23
8:15 p.m. — James Hayes, 56, of Mountain View, cited on a warrant, 800 block of California St.
JULY 20
12:35 a.m. — Battery, 1000 block of Rich Ave.
2:01 a.m. — Battery, 400 block of N. Whisman Road.
3 a.m. — Eduar HernandezCastane, 24, of Dublin, cited for DUI, El Monte Ave. and Ednamary Way.
7:54 a.m. — Grand theft, 200 block of Mariposa Ave.
7:57 a.m. — Battery, 1900 block of W. El Camino.
8:52 a.m. — Gino Crisci, 25, of San Jose, cited for DUI, Moffett Blvd. and Highway 101.
10:26 a.m. — Angela Aguilar, 26, of Bell Gardens, arrested on multiple warrants, 100 block of Villa St.
10:49 a.m. — Auto burglary, 200 block of Mariposa Ave.
LOS ALTOS
FRIDAY
2:52 a.m. — Ronnie Rayon, 42, of San Jose, arrested on a warrant, Belleville Way and Homestead Road.
ATHERTON
SUNDAY
11:22 a.m. — Violation of a court order reported, Park Lane.
MONDAY
8:08 a.m. — David Chamalepatzan, 36, of Redwood City, cited for driving with a suspended license, Middlefield Road and Watkins Ave.
11:35 a.m. — Ivan Hernandez Trejo, 32, of Sunnyvale, cited for driving with a suspended license, Walsh and Reservoir roads.
12:53 p.m. — Osman Leonel Sanchez Pagoada, 29, of San Jose, cited for driving with a suspended license, Atherton and Austin avenues.
NORTH FAIR OAKS
SATURDAY
1:20 a.m. — Woman arrested for DUI, 3200 block of Middlefield Road.
3:30 p.m. — Erik Barragan, 42, of Mountain View, arrested on a warrant, 100 block of Florence St. and 17th Ave.
REDWOOD CITY
JULY 22
12:01 a.m. — Paulo Cesar Torres Quintanilla, 44, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, Douglas Court.
12:01 a.m. — Alfredo Quelmonzon, 24, and Willian Zuniga Moran, 22, both of Redwood City, cited for resisting police, Spruce and Chew streets.
1:10 a.m. — Francisco Zuniga,
56, of Redwood City, cited on a warrant, 300 block of Woodside Road.
2:53 a.m. — Jose D. Quintanilla Guevarra, 26, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drugs and paraphernalia, Clinton St.
5:25 a.m. — Gun shots heard, Manzanita St.
10:35 a.m. — Window on second story broken, Broadway.
11:12 a.m. — Shoplifter leaves the parking lot in a gold Porsche, El Camino.
3:40 p.m. — Upset man calls to say that his ex-girlfriend and her friend began recording him when returning some of her things. Call taker tells man that if they’re in public, anyone can record, man says he will call back if things escalate, Allerton St.
4:20 p.m. — Theft, Bair Island Road.
7:56 p.m. — Vehicle and 13-yearold on e-bike crash, teen may have a broken leg, no location given.
11:47 p.m. — Anthony Michael Sodano, 47, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic battery and on a warrant, 1200 block of Sierra St.
11:57 p.m. — Obed Martinez Gonzalez, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI, Main St. and Veterans Blvd.
SAN CARLOS
SATURDAY
3:01 p.m. — Marvin Antijuan Banks Jr, 41, of Palo Alto, arrested for a parole violation and possession of drugs and paraphernalia, 800 block of El Camino.
4:47 p.m. — Walter Donaldo Lopezcux, 36, of Redwood City, cited on a warrant, 1000 block of Old County Road.
SUNDAY
11:32 p.m. — Fredy Hermenegildo Lopez Puluc, 27, of Redwood City, arrested on a warrant, 1000 block of Holly St.
BELMONT
SUNDAY
1:31 p.m. — Injured deer, Alameda de las Pulgas.
1:44 p.m. — Resident calls to report that a neighbor is using a gas power washer. Call taker tells resident that this is not an emergency and to not call 911 about this, Manzanita Ave.
The Post prints the latest real estate transactions.
PALO ALTO
200 Sheridan Ave. #201, 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1355 square feet, built in 1997, Sheridan Plaza LLC to Rustad Living Trust for $1,402,500, closed July 2
3161 Emerson St., 94306, 4 bedrooms, 1881 square feet, built in 1950, Trailer Trust to Spaulding Ave LLC for $3,050,000, closed July 1 (last sale: $375,000, 11-01-88)
797 North Tolman Drive, 94305, 4 bedrooms, 2304 square feet, built in 1969, Mark Duggan to Walter and Elizabeth Egan for $3,150,000, closed July 2
MENLO PARK
26 Bishop Lane, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1320 square feet, built in 1972, Glaesener Trust to Shruti and Arvind Vijayanand for $2,151,000, closed June 10
206 Sand Hill Circle, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 2170 square feet, built in 1972, Pds LLC to Cassin Family Trust for $2,500,000, closed June 12 (last sale: $2,500,000, 04-01-26)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
363 Tyrella Ave. #C, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 917 square feet, built in 1972, Neil Yorke-Smith to Perla Zuniga for $610,000, closed June 30
100 East Middlefield Road #3b, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1083 square feet, built in 1969, Bernard Lee to Luxmi Lnu for $710,000, closed July 2 (last sale: $370,000, 06-03-04)
769 Bryn Mawr Court #49, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1150 square feet, built in 2004, Dgssl Living Trust to Olivia Zunino for $1,061,000, closed June 30 (last sale: $447,000, 12-17-03)
LOS ALTOS
561 Orange Ave., 94022, 4 bedrooms, 3408 square feet, built in 1986, Ting Living Trust to Chelsea and Donald Burnette for $7,800,000, closed June 25 (last sale: $2,650,000, 08-09-07)
LOS ALTOS HILLS
13690 Robleda Road, 94022, 4 bedrooms, 1415 square feet, built in 1955, Struthers Family Trust to 13690 Robleda LLC for $5,355,000, closed June 23
25751 Elena Road, 94022, 6 bedrooms, 11206 square feet, built in 2004, Bhardwaj Family Trust to Elmer Living Trust for $15,250,000, closed June 26
ATHERTON
98 Fredrick Ave., 94027, 3 bedrooms, 3182 square feet, built in 1940, Moll Trust to Zheng-Cao Family Trust for $7,800,000, closed June 12 (last sale: $6,630,000, 06-09-22)
PORTOLA
VALLEY
747 Westridge Drive, 94028, 4 bedrooms, 3300 square feet, built in 1967, Terpening Trust to Hipwell Living Trust for $5,950,000, closed June 2
120 Deer Meadow Lane, 94028, 4 bedrooms, 3140 square feet, built in 1980, Jennifer Sandell to Medri
and Picciafuoco Trust for $8,400,000, closed June 3 (last sale: $4,267,500, 03-22-10)
WOODSIDE
330 Ridgeway Road, 94062, 4 bedrooms, 3700 square feet, built in 1979, Mariana and Marc Pappalardo to Jingcai and Li Yin for $6,561,500, closed June 1 (last sale: $5,500,000, 12-15-21)
REDWOOD CITY
23 Meadow Lane, 94063, 3 bedrooms, 1130 square feet, built in 1946, Ittai Shay to Miles Hunt for $1,600,000, closed June 5 (last sale: $1,300,000, 03-22-21)
950 Hudson St., 94061, 2 bedrooms, 850 square feet, built in 1940, Christian Nguyen to Pradhan Family Trust for $1,700,000, closed June 3 (last sale: $1,590,000, 12-08-21)
SAN CARLOS
265 Chestnut St., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1300 square feet, built in 1942, Cobbey Trust to Mullen 2017 Trust for $2,165,000, closed June 3
948 Alameda, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 2172 square feet, built in 1951, Lewis Trust to Denise and Andrew Ludwig for $2,425,000, closed June 2 (last sale: $1,900,000, 05-12-20)
BELMONT
2011 Belle Monti Ave., 94002, 5 bedrooms, 2320 square feet, built in 1926, Peterhans Trust to Rachel and Jeremy Talis for $2,398,000, closed June 3 (last sale: $828,500, 0429-02)
22nd Annual San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day
Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026 • 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. San Mateo County Event Center
A family-friendly and resource-rich event designed to empower all residents to be better prepared for any emergency! The event will feature a variety of interactive activities, including: How to Pack a Go Bag; How to Use a Fire Extinguisher; Pets & Disasters 101; Be Red Cross Ready; an Emergency Cooking Demonstration; a Law Enforcement Dog demonstration; and a Kids’ Korner where children can decorate a pillowcase and hear Storytime with a Firefighter. In addition to these demonstrations, there will be numerous displays, exhibits, games, and vendors available to provide further information and supplies. While there is something for everyone to enjoy, they kindly ask that you leave your pets comfortably at home. For updates and a full listing of events, please visit www.SMCDisasterPrep.org.
THE LOS ALTOS FRIENDS OF the Library will hold a Used Books & Media Sale starting tomorrow, July 31 until Sunday, August 2 at the Los Altos Community Center. The event
will feature a large selection of children’s books, and a silent auction of vintage books, signed editions, and collectibles will take place on Friday and Saturday. For more information, please visit https:// losaltoslibraryfriends.org/.
JOIN MENLO PARK’S CERT TEAM! A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of trained volunteers who assist their communities during emergencies. They receive training in basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical
operations. CERT members play a crucial role in supporting first responders and helping their communities become more resilient in the face of disasters. To learn more, call (650) 688-8400 or email cert@menlofire.gov.
COMPASSIONATE CARE. TRUSTED SUPPORT. PEACE of mind. At 24-Seven Senior Care, they understand that there are times when you can’t be there for your loved one. That’s why 24-Seven Senior Care family of carefully screened exceptional caregivers is dedicated to providing personalized inhome care that helps seniors remain safe, comfortable, and independent in the place they call home. Whether your loved one needs a few hours of companionship, personal care or 24-hour live-in support, they tailor every care plan to meet their unique needs. When you choose 24-Seven Senior Care, you are choosing more than a caregiving service, you are gaining a trusted partner dedicated to enhancing your loved one’s quality of life while giving your family confidence and peace of mind. Schedule your complimentary in-home care assessment today by calling 650759-1720 or visit their website for more details at www.24sevenseniorcare.com.
THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION FILM Festival in Libraries will present a documentary film at the Rinconada Palo Alto City Library on Thursday, August 6th at 6:00 PM. The featured film is “Coup 53,” directed by Taghi Amirani. While documenting the CIA/M16 coup in Iran in 1953, they discovered 16mm footage and documents that narrate the overthrow of the Iranian government. These unprecedented details lead to explosive revelations about concealed secrets for 67 years. The film presentation will be moderated by Jasmina Bojic, the founder and Executive Director of the International Documentary Film Festival UNAFF. Attend this complimentary documentary film presentation at the Rinconada Palo Alto Library, located at 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto.
THE MARKET AT EDGEWOOD SIMPLIFIES
National Night Out 2026
Join the Palo Alto Police Department for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, and help welcome three brand-new Palo Alto PD officers—Officer Mace, Officer Caracter, and Officer Mofrad—as they enter the field training program.
National Night Out is a great opportunity for community members to meet their police department, ask questions, connect with neighbors, and help build a safer, stronger community. Residents are encouraged to join with their neighborhood association’s block party (more than a dozen neighborhood events have already registered).
catering arrangements through convenient pick-up or delivery options. The store owner, Navi, and his dedicated team are eager to collaborate with you on a customized order tailored to your specific requirements. Their catering menu encompasses a diverse selection of artisan platters, sandwiches and wraps, hors d’oeuvres,
Kids may have a few important questions for the newest trainees: Do they have stickers? Are they nice? Can they run fast? There’s only one way to find out—come meet them at National Night Out. For more information, search your favorite browser for “Palo Alto National Night Out” or go to https://www.paloalto.gov/Departments/ Police/Community-Involvement/National-Night-Out.
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that he spoke with Ledbetter about the latter’s hiring process.
He acknowledged the disclosure was “inappropriate” and he “regrets that lapse in judgement.” Goeld said he hopes his “sincere acknowledgement of his accountability and apology are acceptable, and no further action is necessary.”
Attorney Richard Bolanos, who is representing the town in this matter, said council has been advised not to publicly comment on the allegations, as Ledbetter is considering suing the city.
Is training enough?
He recommended Goeld should undergo additional training on the town’s code of ethics and conduct.
But around 20 residents on Tuesday said ethics training for Goeld was not enough.They also criticized the city for not making it clearer on the meeting agenda that the council would be discussing Goeld’s consequences.
Resident Emma McCulloch said residents should be “proactively updated” on decisions regarding Goled and Ledbetter. McCulloch said there should be consequences and a “reprimand" of sorts for Goeld.
“This is not the ethical behavior that we expect from our town council,” McCulloch said. “This fundamentally impacts the trust and integrity that we have as residents in this leadership team.”
Won’t fix bigger issue
Resident Stacia Garr, who says she conducts research on HR and organization behavior, said ethics training is not going to fix a “culture problem” on the council.
“That’s what I see the worst corporations in the world do,” Garr said. “I would hate to see our own town do that.”
Councilwoman Jenn Wall said she agrees that the city should have been more transparent about Goeld.Wall said the council should consider formally reprimanding Goeld, including having it be on his record.
Interim Town Manager Pamela Antil said council can direct her to look into how they can hold a hearing, and Goeld has a right to due process if it happens.
Ledbetter’s letter
In February, Ledbetter demanded $400,000 from the town, which he claimed was severance pay, to keep him from releasing a “secret report” with allegations against council members. When the town refused, Ledbetter alleged in the report that he was manipulated to stop subsidized housing projects and that two council members made disparaging, racist and sexist remarks about others on council.
The town hired David Stallard, an attorney with the Stallard Panebianco workplace investigation firm, to look into Ledbetter's allegations, one of them that Goeld violated the Brown Act.
Goeld admitted during his interview with Stallard to telling Ledbetter over dinner that Councilwoman Jenn Wall complained about his hiring because he was a white man from a conservative area, Stallard wrote.
Council fired Ledbetter on May 1 for threatening the town and violating his employment contract.
fied as the male resident, before Banegas entered “his bedroom” to sleep, according to Gonzalez.
Issues with “Ted” Banegas said that “Ted” had been drinking and became confrontational. After leaving the bedroom to use the bathroom, Banegas was contracted by PAPD, according to Gonzalez.
Banegas described “Ted” as a white man with a white beard, but the male resident had very little, light-colored facial hair, according to Gonzalez. When officers spoke with Banegas, he rambled in incoherent sentences and was adamant that he had done nothing wrong, according to Gonzalez.
The male and female residents have a different version of events, according to Gonzalez. The residents live at their Julie Court house with their adult son, but he is not identified as Banegas in court records, according to Gonzalez.
How he got inside
At around 1 a.m. the male resident noticed Banegas approach the front door, which was locked, and attempted to open it before leaving. An hour later, Banegas returned and rang the doorbell, according to Gonzalez.
The male resident went outside to investigate and found that one of their cars had been rummaged through. Meanwhile, Banegas walked through the front door without the resident’s knowledge, according to Gonzalez.
After 30 minutes, the female resident noticed their spare room was ajar and heard noises. The male resident discovered that Banegas was inside. When questioned why he was there, Banegas said it was his bedroom and called the male resident “Dad,” according to Gonzalez.
Where’s the bathroom?
He then asked where the restroom was before entering and locking himself inside, according to Gonzalez. The residents called the police. When officers arrived they asked Banegas multiple times to come out, but he refused and held the door handle closed. The officer had to force open the door before arresting him, according to Gonzalez.
When officers attempted to identify Banegas, he provided a false name and date of birth. Officers found a small bag of methamphetamine in Banegas’s jacket pocket. He also left additional methamphetamine in the bedroom.
Banegas also claimed he entered “Ted’s” vehicle to retrieve his phone charger before entering the residence, but was unable to provide any additional clarifying details of the entire incident, according to Gonzalez.
Banegas has been booked into jail on suspicion of burglary, possession of meth, resisting arrest, providing false information to police and violation of parole. His bail is set at $3,000.
In response to angry, sometimes mocking questions from Republican senators, Fauci declined to answer more than 100 times, injecting new drama into partisan divides that have festered for years about the origins and handling of the pandemic. Fauci
himself has become a polarizing figure, even receiving death threats that prompted him to seek security.
In his opening statement, Fauci said Paul has an “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution.”
Following attorney’s advice
“The only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars,’” Fauci said, adding that while it pained him to do so, he was following his attorney’s advice by taking the Fifth.
Paul, who has long argued that Fauci should be criminally investigated, based on his belief that the scientist was dishonest in previous testimony to Congress, announced that the committee will vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer questions.
He did not say whether he would push for a criminal contempt referral to federal prosecutors or another charge. He also raised questions about whether Fauci’s pardon affects his eligibility for Fifth Amendment protections.
In the combative hearing, Paul and other Republicans accused Fauci of lying in earlier testimony about the coronavirus’ origins, something the longtime National Institutes of Health scientist has forcefully denied. Dem-
ocrats called the hearing a politically motivated attempt at entrapping Fauci and praised the scientist for his work during the pandemic.
Paul dominates hearing
With Fauci declining to answer questions throughout, Paul dominated the approximately three-hour hearing, listing a litany of accusations and detailed questions.
“Today will be the capstone to Anthony Fauci’s 40 years of abuse of power at NIH,” Paul said. “History will judge, but the facts as we now know them paint a sordid tale of dishonesty, misjudgment and ultimately the hubris, the likes of which the world has never seen.”
Attorney booted
In a heated moment during the hearing, Paul ejected Fauci’s attorney, David Schertler, from the room after he tried to speak without being recognized. In a statement, Schertler said the removal was “outrageous and demonstrates the completely biased and baseless nature of this proceeding.”
In another statement, he called Paul’s accusations about Fauci “false and disgraceful.”
Democratic senators praised Fauci and said he didn’t deserve the treatment he was getting.
Fauci’s diary
Leading up to the hearing, Paul re-
leased more than 1,000 pages of Fauci's personal diary covering the pandemic years. Pointing to some notes about early efforts at understanding how the virus emerged, Paul said on social media that what Fauci “wrote privately and what he told the country are two different stories.”
Some of the diary entries — including Fauci’s uncertainty in the pandemic’s earliest days as scientists around the world raced to understand the new virus and how best to curb it before vaccines could be created — already were reflected in a 2024 memoir and in interviews at the time.
But they have nonetheless drawn attention from people who blame Fauci for mask mandates, school closures and other policies they believe infringed on their rights as hundreds of thousands of people were dying.
Trump watched
President Trump yesterday wrote on social media that he stopped relying on Fauci over the course of the pandemic because he felt the scientist made bad decisions about masks, shutdowns, and other issues. He later told reporters he watched the entire hearing. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist before entering public office, said on social media that his department had found the diary entries on government property and had given them to the committee.
Fauci defended
Scientists also scrambled to Fauci’s defense ahead of the unusual hearing — the second time he has been back before Congress to discuss pandemic origins since leaving the government in 2022. While the Covid pandemic introduced him to millions of Americans, he talked the nation through numerous outbreaks over decades, including HIV, Ebola and the 2001 anthrax attacks, while advising seven presidents.
In a public letter, more than 150 infectious-disease experts and other scientists wrote “no credible evidence has been produced to support these absurd charges.”
Also discussed
Among topics discussed at yesterday hearing was whether NIH-funded research in China may have played a role in how the pandemic started.
Many scientists believe the virus most likely emerged in nature and jumped from animals to people, coming to light when it spread at a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. There’s no new scientific evidence supporting the theory that the virus might instead have leaked from a laboratory, a theory Paul champions. A GOP-led subcommittee that studied the question in 2024 found no evidence linking Fauci to wrongdoing. Fauci has said publicly he was open to both theories but there’s more evidence supporting Covid’s natural origins.
Panel OKs school district apartments
BY STEPHANIE LAM Daily Post Correspondent
A proposal to build 430 subsidized apartments at the site of the current Ravenswood School District office has received a thumbs-up from the East Palo Alto Planning Commission.
Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved design plans to build the development at 2120 Euclid Ave., which includes the apartments and 2,071 square feet of retail space.
Once the Euclid Avenue homes are completed, Superintendent Gina Sudaria said about 50 of the district’s em-
ployees can opt to live there. The project is scheduled to break ground next June.
Search for revenue
The school district has been looking at redeveloping the Euclid headquarters, and the former Flood School site at 321 Sheridan Drive in Menlo Park, to bring revenue to the district. The Flood School site, once completed, will potentially have 88 units of affordable housing, with some apartments set aside for teachers.
Commissioner Javanni Brown-Austin said she likes the idea of having
affordable teacher housing, but thinks The Pacific Companies, the project developers for the Euclid site, should consider increasing the amount of retail space.
“I understand to an extent how that is going to cost more,” Brown-Austin said. “But the long-term effects of what’s happening with this is going to be greater than what you have right now and benefit our community better.”
Traffic considerations
Commissioner Juan Mendez asked how Pacific Companies will work with
the district to mitigate traffic during and after the project. The site is located near the Highway 101 ramp, and is known for having a “gridlock” of cars during rush hour, Mendez said.
Solomon Hill, the school district’s chief operating officer, said the district plans to move its office to the Ravenswood Middle School Campus on 2450 Ralmar Ave., which will clear the avenue of any school bus-related traffic. He also predicted that once the housing project is completed, people will opt to bike or walk to school or work.
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