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Aenlle fired by new sheriff
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
Victor Aenlle, a central figure in the controversies that led to the removal of former San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, has been fired as a reserve deputy.
Central in Corpus controversy
County, retaliation isn’t about justice, it’s selective, targeted and uneven,” Aenlle told the Post in an email.
said. “It was political. It was retaliatory. Sheriff Binder made the decision to release me not because I failed to serve, but because I stood for accountability, fairness and transparency.”
TRUMP SIGNS EPSTEIN BILL:
President Trump has signed a bill to compel the Justice Department to make public its case files on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now that the bill has been signed by the president, there’s a 30-day countdown for the Justice Department to produce what’s commonly known as the Epstein files. The bill will most likely trigger a rarely seen baring of a sprawling federal investigation.
BOTULISM CASES GROW: Health officials say at least 31 babies in 15 states have been treated for botulism as an outbreak tied to ByHeart formula continues to grow. Investigators in at least three states said the formula remains on some store shelves, despite a Nov. 11 recall of all products nationwide. Businesses and consumers should remain alert and should not sell or feed the formula to babies. Infant botulism is a potentially deadly illness caused by a type of bacteria that produces a toxin in babies’ guts. Symptoms can take up to 30 days to develop.
CONGRESSWOMAN INDICTED:
U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
[See THE UPDATE, page 4]
Aenlle told the Post he wasn’t given a reason.
“My removal was political, not professional and that should concern every resident of this county. In San Mateo
Aenlle was fired on Tuesday, a week after the county’s board of supervisors appointmented Sheriff Ken Binder, according to sheriff’s office spokeswoman Gretchen Spiker. Spiker did not respond to the Post’s questions about the reasoning given to him for his firing.
Binder asked Aenlle to turn in his gun and Taser, according to a letter Aenlle provided to the Post.
“My removal was not about conduct, performance or qualification,” Aenlle
Aenlle said he will be seeking legal counsel.
This is the second time Aenlle has been fired. Supervisors fired him on Nov. 12, 2024, the day after the release
[See FIRED, page 18]
Council begrudingly OKs tower
California will face a projected $18 billion deficit next year, setting up a challenge for Gov. Gavin Newsom to safeguard some of the progressive policies that have defined his tenure as he considers a presidential run.
The nonpartisan Legislative Ana-
lyst’s Office projected the shortfall in a report released yesterday. It would mark the state’s fourth deficit in a row.
State spending continues to grow much faster than revenues, and new federal policy changes to health care and food assistance programs for low-income
BY DANIEL SCHRAGER Daily Post Staff Writer
Mountain View’s City Council has OK’d the city’s tallest building, and it’s being built by a former mayor who was forced out of office for using his position for personal benefit.
Council voted Tuesday to approve a 15-story, 455-unit apartment building at 901-987 N. Rengstorff Ave., built by Mario Ambra.
Council voted 6-1, with Councilman John McAlister casting the one no vote.
“I don’t believe this project at this size and what’s going on is going to make a community,” McAlister said at the meeting.
Council didn’t have much of a choice, though. Ambra filed for a “Builder’s Remedy,” approval through [See TOWER, page 18] [See BUDGET, page 19]
people will also increase costs for the state by $1.3 billion, the report says. Newsom will release his own budget estimates in January as he lays out a spending proposal for the next fiscal year; sometimes his office disagrees
AMBRA PLACE —A rendering of the 15-story apartment complex slated for 901 N. Rengstorff Ave. in Mountain View. Artist’s rendering.
• Sprawling estate property built in 1980
• One level with 5 bedrooms and 4 baths, plus attached ADU with kitchen and bath
• Approximately 4,669 square feet (not
• Approximately 1.28 acres (55,756 square
• Pool, spa, tennis court, outdoor shower, built-in barbecue, and vast lawn
• End of a cul-de-sac with long gated
• Freshly painted interiors and new carpet in some rooms
• formal dining room
• Spacious skylit kitchen with island seating, wine bar, and high-end appliances
• Family room, fully open to the kitchen,
• Privately located bedroom and bath plus separate wing with spacious primary suite with extra-large designer closet, bedroom suite, two bedrooms and bath, and studio ADU with full kitchen, bath, and laundry
• Attached 3-car garage with custom built-ins and walk-up loft storage
•
• Excellent Los Altos schools (buyer
Negotiation leads to arrest
A Mountain View man was arrested after barricading himself in an apartment, police said yesterday.
Police recieved a call on Tuesday at 12:23 a.m. from a resident of the 100 block of El Monte Avenue that someone was trying to break into their apartment through a shared wall, police said.
Police arrived and saw Jose Luis Valencia Sanchez, 22, trying to break into the apartment while holding a knife, police said.
The department’s crisis negotiation team arrived and had neighbors evacuate or shelter in place as a precaution, police said. After several hours, Sanchez was arrested at 5:50 a.m. Tuesday.
Sanchez sustained minor injuries before he was arrested, was treated by paramedics and taken to Stanford Hospital. He was later arrested on suspicion of brandishing a knige, burglary, vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon.
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McCormick of Florida has been indicted on charges accusing her of stealing $5 million in federal disaster funds and using some of the money to aid her 2021 campaign, the Justice Department said yesterday. The Democrat is accused of stealing FEMA overpayments that her family health care company had received through a federally funded Covid vaccination staffing contract, prosecutors said.
NO FULL REPORT: The Labor Department said yesterday that it will not be releasing a full jobs report for October because the 43-day federal government shutdown meant it couldn’t calculate the unemployment rate and some other key numbers. Instead, it will release some of the October jobs data — most importantly the number of jobs that employers created last month — along with the full November jobs report, now due a couple of weeks late on Dec. 16.
BESSENT PRESSURED: For the second time in two days, President Trump said he would like to appoint Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to chair the Federal Reserve. Despite his protestations, Bessent is widely seen as a leading potential replacement for Jerome Powell. Trump has been sharply critical of the current Fed chair, Powell, whose term ends in May, for not cutting interest rates quickly enough.
META’S AI CHIEF LEAVING: Yann LeCun, a pioneer in artificial intelligence, has announced he will leave his role as Meta’s chief AI scientist at the end of the year. He plans to start a new company focused on advanced AI research. This research aims to develop AI that can understand the physical world, have memory, reason and plan complex actions. Meta will partner with the new startup, with some research overlapping with its commercial interests. LeCun joined Facebook in 2013 and co-founded Meta’s AI research division.
GREYSTAR SETTLEMENT: Real estate giant Greystar has reached a $7 million settlement with nine states over its use of rent-setting algorithms that officials say drive up housing costs. It’s the latest result of antitrust lawsuits targeting RealPage and similar software companies. Prosecutors argue these products help property managers illegally align prices. Greystar has agreed to stop using software that relies on other landlords’ confidential data.
Winner
awards from
San Francisco Press Club
Deaths
San Mateo County Coroner’s Office: Nov. 18
Helga F. Brandt, 86, no hometown listed
Maria Yolanda Ascurra, 27, of Daly City
Yukiko Hope, 93, of Pacifica
David Chiang, 86, no hometown listed
Adolf Basler, 90, of San Bruno
Births
Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City: May 5
Camille Quinn Insigne Chan, a girl
Amelie Paola Herrera Beinat, a girl
Aras Erdem Sahin, a boy
Carlos Sifuentes Lazcon, a boy
Julian Daniel Zaragoza Ruiz, a boy
May 4
Luciana Marcela Jarquin Perez, a girl
Stefanos Peter Makreas, a boy
Penelope Rose Maldonado Revuelta, a girl
Devan Alejandro Medellin Hernandez, a boy
Lily Rao Shah, a girl
May 3
Isabel Yolanda Lopez, a girl
Athena Kassandra Walker, a girl
May 2
Faye Larsen, a girl
Timothy Knight Marks, a boy
Valia Inez Zenteno Rodriguez, a girl
May 1
Arie Biton, a boy
Ivaan Paresh Boraste, a boy
August Dean Cardosa, a boy
Wynn Jana De Alva Chan, a girl
Alexander Lucas Hernandez, a boy
Anastassios Haimo Karagiorgos, a boy
Bodhi Lee Taylor McFadden, a boy
Lehua Kapiolani Waligora, a girl
April 30
Amir Akyl, a boy
Alaric Cameron Sanchez Avila, a boy
Ariel Estrada, a girl
Gabriel Ito Zamora, a boy
April 29
Marco Cases, a boy
Isela Annalise Guzmanalcala, a girl
Aiden James Johnston, a boy
Stephen Leong, a boy
Emma Qiu, a girl
Lucas Zeng, a boy
New seating on way for closed section of street
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
The “rickety” picnic tables at the 600 block of Santa Cruz need to be replaced immediately, as Menlo Park City Council is still considering how it wants to design the closed street.
Council focused on improving seating during its Tuesday meeting and decided to purchase at least two new models to upgrade seating options while it decides on the street’s aesthetic.
Downtown buzz
The city is looking to add some buzz to downtown and create a community space for everyone by adding outdoor seating, a painted road and a play space for kids. The closed street has three picnic tables that desperately need to be replaced, Vice Mayor Betsy Nash said.
Some options they were considering were picnic tables costing between $2,420 and $2,970, or metal tables with movable seats costing between $620 and $805. The furniture bought may be used for the 600 block, but could also be repurposed if it is not durable for outside use, Assistant City Manager Stephen Stolte said.
Other ideas
Stolte and M-Group are also proposing increasing bicycle parking, shades and overhead string patio lights.
Large shade canopies would be hung in front of the Starbucks and Walgreens, with string lights installed below to illuminate the area at night.
Wooden benches would be placed around the sides of the street, with movable seating in the
middle. A stage may be placed in front of Walgreens between the seating.
A children’s play area would be set next to Bistro Vida’s outdoor seating space with public art and statues.
Some reservations
Councilman Jeff Schmidt said he did not agree to have a park, and it wouldn’t be the best use of the space.
“I would want to be careful we didn’t go too far toward hopscotch and PlayStations,” Schmidt said.
Nash also agreed and said she wasn’t interested in a children’s play area.
The closure along the 600 block is the only part of the street still closed from when council closed off all of Santa Cruz Avenue to vehicle traffic in 2020.
Tom Steyer running for governor
BY MAYA C. MILLER CalMatters
Tom Steyer, the San Francisco billionaire climate activist and businessman who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2020, is the latest Democrat to jump into Cal-
ifornia’s crowded gubernatorial field.
His two core promises — which could appear at odds — are to preserve the state’s status as a hub for business and innovation while also lowering California’s cost of
living by making corporations pay “their fair share,” he said in a video.
“There’s a reason everybody comes here to start businesses — because this is the place that invents the future,” Steyer says. “I never want to lose that spark.”
Insider to become new city manager
Redwood City Council has selected its next city manager, its current assistant city manager, Patrick Heisinger.
Heisinger, 45, has worked for the city since 2023 and will become city manager on Dec. 31 after his boss, City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz, retires.
Stevenson Diaz, 56, of San Jose, has led Redwood City since October 2015, overseeing a $385 million budget and 600 employees. She announced in June she would retire in December.
About Heisinger
Heisinger worked for East Palo Alto for about five years, holding various positions before ultimately serving as interim city manager for about nine months after the city didn’t renew former City Manager Jaime Fontes’ contract. The city ultimately hired Melvin Gaines to be city manager.
Heisinger has also worked in San Jose, San Bernardino, Riverside and the county of Santa Cruz. He has a California real estate brokers’ license, two graduate degrees in public administration and education and a bachelor’s degree in international relations.
Heisinger has been in charge of multiple major projects in Redwood City, including the city’s ordinance banning sidewalk camping.
He has helped reorganize multiple departments in the city government, resulting in 20 new city employees getting hired, according to the city. He’s also worked on plans to modernize the city’s business license tax, implement its economic development plan and update the city’s laws around low-income housing and tenant protections, according to the city.
“Since joining the Redwood City team, I’ve been continually impressed by the city council’s ambitious agenda, our staff’s professionalism, and the community’s willingness to engage in shaping the city’s future,” Heisinger said in a statement. “I’m grateful for the council’s confidence in me. Redwood City has a strong foundation, and I look forward to continuing to work with this fantastic team to serve our residents and businesses.”
Financial details
Heisinger’s contract will be voted on at council’s meeting on Monday. Heisinger’s new salary wasn’t immediately available yesterday.
Stevenson Diaz made $390,980 in pay and $122,254 in benefits for a total compensation of $513,234 in 2023, pay records show.
HEISINGER
STEVENSON DIAZ
Giving
Thursday, November 27 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Not everyone has someone to give thanks with, or a home where they can celebrate. Kemal Kurt and his family would like to share a traditional Thanksgiving meal, free of charge, to those who are less fortunate.
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
NOV. 10
3:17 a.m. — Angel Manuel Cuevas, 37, of Palo Alto, arrested on a warrant, 1-99 block of Encina Ave.
9:53 a.m. — Michael Philip Lugea, 64, of Sunnyvale, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 2400 block of Faber Place.
3:04 p.m. — Jose Misael Campos, 55, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St. NOV. 11
3:32 p.m. — Victim scammed, 1800 block of Fulton St. NOV. 12
4:06 p.m. — Dorothy Motschenbacher, 45, transient, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 1000 block of Corporation Way.
5:01 p.m. — Steven Cary Taylor, 67, of Palo Alto, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 1-99 block of Encina Ave.
NOV. 13
10:12 a.m. — Liam Bickford, 63, of Menlo Park, arrested for creating a public nuisance, 500 block of High St.
4:21 p.m. — Luis Josue Calvo Ajbac, 19, of East Palo Alto, and a juvenile both arrested for shoplifting, El Camino. Calvo Ajbac is also arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
10:14 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Florence St.
FRIDAY
12:38 p.m. — Vehicle accident involving a pedestrian, 3400 block of Hillview Ave.
2:12 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Lincoln and Channing avenues.
SATURDAY
9:08 a.m. — Theft, 200 block of San Antonio Ave.
11:21 a.m. — Hit-and-run causes injuries, University Ave. and High St.
11:33 a.m. — Burglary at a business, 3600 block of W. Bayshore Road.
11:37 a.m. — Identity theft, 300 block of Whitclem Drive.
4:26 p.m. — Hit-and-run causes injuries, Pasteur Drive and Welch Road.
7:33 p.m. — Sexual battery, Middlefield Road.
SUNDAY
8:27 a.m. — Vandalism, 800 block of Stanford Ave.
6:01 p.m. — Violation of a court order, Hamilton St.
8:48 p.m. — Gavin Lamar Mour, 45, of Palo Alto, arrested for vandalism and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, University Ave. and Waverley St.
STANFORD
NOV. 9
7:39 a.m. — Vandalism, Comstock Circle and Escondido Road.
NOV. 10
3:32 a.m. — Shabo Atasuntsev, 38, of Redwood City, arrested for prowling, attempted theft and possession of burglary tools, 600 block of Campus Drive.
MENLO PARK
FRIDAY
2:12 a.m. — Jose E. Matute Vaquedano, 25, of San Francisco, and 27-year-old Mauricio Peralta Marin both arrested after being found in possession of illegal fireworks, two stolen rifles, multiple stolen tools and a stolen power bank and speaker, I-280 and Sand Hill Road. Arrests made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies. The rifles and tools are determined to have been stolen from a home in Santa Cruz County.
MONDAY
8:14 a.m. — Vehicle collision causes injuries, Olive St. and Middle Court.
9:54 a.m. — Bicycle stolen, 800 block of Arbor Road.
9:55 a.m. — Package stolen, 1200 block of Madera Ave.
4:17 p.m. — Guillermo Archundia Padilla, 48, of Campbell, cited on a warrant, El Camino and Middle Ave.
TUESDAY
8:03 a.m. — Grand theft, 600 block of Live Oak Ave.
8:23 a.m. — Vandalism, 1300 block of Willow Road.
8:42 a.m. — Jorge Hernandez, 33, of East Palo Alto, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Bayfront Expressway at the Dumbarton Bridge.
11:30 a.m. — Erick Guzman, 21, of East Palo Alto, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, 800 block of El Camino.
2:12 p.m. — Burglary, 2200 block of Sharon Road.
4:24 p.m. — Hector David Brambilla Castillo, 24, of Menlo Park, arrested on a warrant, 1300 block of Crane St.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
OCT. 30
4:18 p.m. — Tyana Moore, 28,
cited on warrants, Rock St. and Sierra Vista Ave. Rashad Percelle-White, 28, of San Mateo, also cited on a warrant. NOV. 3
2:15 p.m. — Felipe Santiago, 50, of Mountain View, cited on warrants, 1500 block of N. Shoreline Blvd. NOV. 11
1:25 a.m. — Maxwell Adamick, 28, arrested for indecent exposure and drug possession, El Camino Hospital.
7:56 a.m. — Mario Hernandez, 42, of Mountain View, arrested for shoplifting, public drunkenness and resisting police at Safeway, 645 San Antonio Road.
2:20 p.m. — Jorge Ramos Esparza, 50, transient, arrested for grand theft, Stevens Creek Trail and Central Ave.
2:51 p.m. — Jose Gonzalez, 36, of Mountain View, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia and probation violation, Stevens Creek Trail and Central Ave.
10:06 p.m. — Theft, 2200 block of Latham St. NOV. 12
7:42 a.m. — Vandalism, Mountain View High School.
11:08 a.m. — Battery, Grant Road and North Drive.
12:40 p.m. — Vandalism, 500 block of W. Middlefield Road.
1:39 p.m. — Fernando Retana, 39, of Mountain View, arrested for public drunkenness, 600 block of Sylvan Ave.
3:50 p.m. — Jaime Franco, 43, of Mountain View, arrested on a warrant, Rengstorff Park.
5:30 p.m. — Theft at Walgreens, 1905 W. El Camino.
10:03 p.m. — Auto burglary, 100 block of Castro St.
10:32 p.m. — Battery, 700 block of Vaquero Drive.
11:49 p.m. — Aaron Lenhoff, 37, of Hayward, arrested for public drunkenness at 7-Eleven, 2640 California St.
REDWOOD CITY
SUNDAY
1:11 a.m. — Man injured during a fight with another man, Broadway.
2:31 a.m. — Auto burglary, Hilton St.
2:46 a.m. — Vehicle fire, Stambaugh St.
6:20 a.m. — Ethan Tyler Cousins, 35, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic battery, violation of a protective order and on a warrant, Fifth Ave. and Bay Road.
2:21 p.m. — Two women yelling at each other and one brandishes a knife at the other, James Ave.
11:28 p.m. — Caller says a man attacked the caller’s friend with a machete, cutting the victim’s finger,
Palm Ave. Carlos Escobar Menjivar, 36, of Redwood City, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.
MONDAY
7:35 a.m. — Multiple callers say an aggressive panhandler punched the windshield of a woman’s vehicle, El Camino and Jefferson Ave. Jason Jerome Bostaph Pearson, 47, of Redwood City, arrested for drug possession and threats.
12:41 p.m. — Cash and jewelry stolen from a home, Baltic Circle.
2:20 p.m. — Savannah Symone Duncan, 33, of Los Angeles, arrested for shoplifting and check fraud, 1400 block of El Camino.
2:41 p.m. — Neighbors yelling at each other in a dispute over a parking spot, Roosevelt Ave.
WOODSIDE
FRIDAY
9:25 p.m. — Karen Ann Bowe, 71, of Woodside, arrested for public drunkenness, 2900 block of Woodside Road.
SAN CARLOS
NOV. 13
12:14 a.m. — Esequiel Felix Quintero, 40, of Redwood City, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, 100 block of El Camino.
FRIDAY
5:08 a.m. — Home burglary, 100 block of Devonshire Blvd.
3:10 p.m. — Jacob Jerrel Smith, 37, of San Leandro, arrested for possession of meth and drug paraphernalia, for falsely identifying himself to police and on three warrants, Old County Road and E. San Carlos Ave.
BELMONT
TUESDAY
3:10 p.m. — Jose Sajuan, 30, arrested for theft from a vehicle and parole violation, 1600 block of El Camino.
CHP
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula. NOV. 12
Zheng Fang, 28, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, having a concealed and loaded gun in a vehicle and having a gun in violation of a court order.
Wilfredo Funes Ponce, 28, arrested for failing to obey traffic signals as a pedestrian and resisting police.
Anthony A. Marquez, 28, arrested for DUI.
Updated Traditional Appeal with Poolside Living
& SUNDAY
Spacious two-story traditional home with fresh updates
· 5 bedrooms and 2.5 baths
· Approx. 2,397 sq. ft. of living space (per County records)
· · Formal living and dining rooms plus family room
· Upstairs primary suite and adjacent bedroom with direct access, ideal for a nursery
· Attached 2-car garage with laundry area
· Inviting rear yard with pool, spa, and low-maintenance landscaping
· Western hill views from the front of the home
· Lot size of approx. 6,955 sq. ft. (per County records)
· Excellent close-in location near Fremont Older Open Space Preserve yet only 2.5 miles to the Saratoga Village
· Acclaimed Cupertino schools
Work with a specialist. Work with Tim Trailer.
Tim has sold $2+ Billion in home sales and knows every facet of the residential real estate business, including new construction. He holds the Certified Residential Specialist designation, awarded by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. He is an Associate Broker with Compass, combining his expertise and knowledge with the cutting edge, high-tech platform of Compass.
ຉ
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PALO ALTO
315 Homer Ave. #105, 94301, 2 bedrooms, 1544 square feet, built in 2004, Cmw Trust to Harmon Trust for $2,375,000, closed Oct. 20 (last sale: $2,205,000, 03-25-22)
560 Addison Ave., 94301, 3 bedrooms, 1219 square feet, built in 1898, Miller Living Trust to Heewon and Jea Cho for $2,800,000, closed Oct. 23 (last sale: $800,000, 08-23-02)
EAST PALO ALTO
116 Daphne Way, 94303, 7 bedrooms, 4000 square feet, built in 1952, Mnam1 LLC to Nianna and Michael Bruennert for $1,750,000, closed Oct. 3 (last sale: $930,000, 03-07-18)
MENLO PARK
591 16th Ave., 94025, 4 bedrooms, 1920 square feet, built in 1964, Gianino Living Trust to Yly Investment LLC for $2,200,000, closed Sept. 30 414 Laurel Ave., 94025, 4 bedrooms, 1700 square feet, built in 1926, Gray Trust to Radhika and Mihir Contractor for $3,800,000, closed Oct. 3 (last sale: $789,000, 04-15-99)
MOUNTAIN VIEW
505 Cypress Point Drive #186, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1105 square feet, built in 1971, Passailaigue Living
Trust to Sumegh Living Trust for $778,000, closed Oct. 23
278 Monroe Drive #35, 94040, 2 bedrooms, 899 square feet, built in 1962, Reenal Pattni to Patil Family Trust for $810,000, closed Oct. 24 (last sale: $789,500, 06-24-24)
1983 San Luis Ave. #33, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1171 square feet, built in 1984, Julie Wildman to Xiao and Jie An for $1,002,000, closed Oct. 24 (last sale: $540,000, 08-15-12)
LOS ALTOS
425 1st St. #36, 94022, 1 bedroom, 984 square feet, built in 2023, 425 First Los Altos LLC to Lee and Kim Living Trust for $1,500,000, closed Oct. 21
1981 Newcastle Drive, 94024, 4 bedrooms, 2489 square feet, built in 1961, Donald Living Trust to JeanClaude Roy for $4,000,000, closed Oct. 23
LOS ALTOS HILLS
23525 Ravensbury Ave., 94024, 4 bedrooms, 5491 square feet, built in 1996, Jamie Saxena to Yang and Fan Wang for $7,000,000, closed Oct. 23 (last sale: $8,100,000, 06-19-25)
PORTOLA VALLEY
243 Echo Lane, 94028, 4 bedrooms, 1770 square feet, built in 1953, Baldwin Family Trust to Rebecca and James Walker for $3,500,000, closed Oct. 2
REDWOOD CITY
3 Lisbon Lane, 94063, 2 bedrooms, 1375 square feet, built in 2021, Abigail and Matthew Lubniewski to Wan and John Freedman for $950,000, closed Sept. 29
370 Beresford Ave., 94061, 2 bedrooms, 760 square feet, built in 1956, Peavler Living Trust to Anastasiya Lazareva for $1,175,000, closed Oct. 1 (last sale: $1,100,000, 0319-20)
1005 Jones Court, 94063, 8 bedrooms, 4502 square feet, built in 1961, Doric Bypass Trust to Fortune1888 LLC for $1,980,000, closed Sept. 29
SAN CARLOS
270 Oakview Drive, 94070, 4 bedrooms, 2590 square feet, built in 2008, Darrell Anderson to Arnaud and Hailun Zhou for $4,028,000, closed Sept. 24 (last sale: $3,000,000, 03-02-18)
BELMONT
291 La Mesa Drive, 94028, 3 bedrooms, 1660 square feet, built in 1951, White Trust to Atrayee and Surajit Sinha for $2,500,000, closed Oct. 2
2610 Belmont Canyon Road, 94002, 5 bedrooms, 2104 square feet, built in 1978, Myly and Christian Posse to Amanda and Dominic Kallas for $3,300,000, closed Sept. 22 (last sale: $1,340,000, 08-27-13)
‘Wicked: For Good’ loses some magic
BY JAKE COYLE Associated Press Writer
“Give us a clock tick” is an expression uttered several times in “Wicked: For Good.” But Jon M. Chu’s two-part musical has asked for quite a bit more than that.
Together, the two halves of this “Wicked” adaptation have run 297 minutes, which, more than the threat of lions and tigers and bears, is enough to make any moviegoer not entirely bewitched by the “Wizard of Oz” revision breathe a sigh of “Oh, my.”
So it’s a lot of clock ticks, quite a few more than the stage musical, which had roughly half the runtime. But “Wicked” has always been a spectacle of scale: power ballads and sprawling sets, all in retina-testing technicolor. Muchness is part of the point of “Wicked,” a song-and-dance assault of allegory and anthems relayed with an earnestness that you might call endearing if you’re good or tiresome if you’re, well, you know.
Second helping
For anyone in the former camp who somehow felt last year’s part one wasn’t enough, “For Good” will probably be a very welcoming second helping. Since these films were shot at the same time, much of the tone and
tenor of the first chapter continues in “For Good.” There’s more Cynthia Erivo, more Ariana Grande and more soaring soliloquies. For most “Wicked” fans, more is good.
But for those of us who felt — what’s a non-wicked way to say this? — mildly waterboarded, in pink and green, by “Wicked,” “For Good” doesn’t offer much relief. There is, to be sure, great talent on display in these films, particularly in the case of Erivo. But “For Good,” like its predecessor, often feels more like a production than a movie, with characters shuffled on and offstage with Oz-like orchestration. That may be an unavoidable
aspect of a pop amalgamation like “Wicked.”
Exile and rebellion
Having spent much of part one filling in the backstory of Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) as classmates at Shiz University, the second chapter finds Oz in an increasingly agitated state. Elphaba, demonized as the Wicked Witch of the West, is now living in exile.
The catchiest tunes (“Popular,” Defying Gravity”) are in the rearview. Instead, “Wicked: For Good” is all storm clouds and rebellion, as Elphaba (Erivo) mounts a resistance to the
Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). Characters like Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), captain of the Wizard’s guard, are forced to pick a side.
All the momentum that “Wicked: For Good” does gather is owed significantly to its stars. To a large degree, these movies have been the Erivoand-Grande show, a grand spectacle of female friendship that rises above all the petty biases and misjudgments to forge a vision of harmony in opposites. It’s a compelling vision, and Chu, as he did in the culmination of part one, knows how to stick the landing.
Grande is best at the (too few) comic moments, like a brief impression of Margaret Hamilton’s cackle. But it’s Erivo who really elevates the material. Her Elphaba seems to both believe in the hopeful possibility of “Wicked” and fear its impossibility. When she melancholily sings one of the new songs, “No Place Like Home,” Erivo appears to grasp that it’s going to take more than a click of the heels, or tick of the clock, to get there.
Release info
“Wicked: For Good,” a Universal Pictures release in theaters tomorrow, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association for action/violence, some suggestive material and thematic material. Running time: 137 minutes.
WICKED WITCH — Cynthia Erivo, left, and Jonathan Bailey in “Wicked: For Good.” Universal Pictures via AP.
Oscars broadcast to add new award
The Oscars are making room for one more award on their live broadcast in 2026. The new prize for achievement in casting will be part of the 98th Academy Awards in March, the academy told The Associated Press yesterday.
That brings the total award count to 24 for the Oscars broadcast on March 15, where statuettes for best picture, best actor and actress will be among the others awarded.
Rare change
The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the addition of the new prize last year, though it was not confirmed if it would be part of the official broadcast.
Not counting the short-lived “popular film Oscar” which never came to be, the addition of the casting prize marked the first time the academy has added a category since best animated feature film was established in 2001. Earlier this year, the organization also revealed plans to add a stunt design award, starting with the 100th Oscars in 2028.
Voting process
Members of the casting directors branch will help narrow the field to 10 shortlisted films, a process that a hand-
ful of other categories use including documentary, international film, makeup & hairstyling, score, song, sound, visual effects and the three short film categories. Shortlists will be announced Dec. 16 before final nominees are revealed on Jan. 22.
Conan O’Brien has already agreed to host the 98th ceremony, which will air live on ABC on March 15 at 4 p.m.
WEEK OF Thanks & Giving
Mon., Nov. 17 • 12:15 PM
Rotary Club of Palo Alto Baylands Café 1875 Embarcadero
Thurs., Nov. 20 • 5:00-7:00 PM Palo Alto Public Safety Building
250 Sherman Avenue
Canned Food: fruit, tuna, beans (no green beans), ravioli, soups & Top Ramen
Hygiene: Deodorant, toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, razors, and more
Clothing: New socks, shoes, new underwear, hats, all L-3XL suits, jeans, sweats
Thurs., Nov. 20 • 6:00 PM Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto
Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel
625 El Camino Real
Fri., Nov. 21 • 7:15 AM Rotary Club PA/University Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel 625 El Camino Real
TOP PRIZE — Oscar statuettes sit backstage at the Academy Awards. AP file photo.
FIRED –––––––– TOWER –––––––
state law allowing projects where 20% of the apartments are designated as affordable units to get out of local zoning restrictions in cities that fell behind on their state-mandated housing goals.
The 1.2-acre project violates local zoning ordinances regarding height, parking, setbacks, density and open space, Deputy Zoning Administrator Rebecca Shapiro said. City code allows a maximum of 25 units per acre in that location, Shapiro’s report said, but the building, named “Ambra Place,” will have over 14 times that. City code would typically require 727 parking spaces for a development of that size, but Ambra plans to build 429.
Can’t block proposal
But the city can’t block the proposal because it was submitted in April 2023 and Mountain View took until that May to finalize its Housing Element, a state-mandated housing plan for 2023 to 2031, which was due in January of that year.
Ambra walked into City Hall to file the application, but was told to file the permit application online instead, according to an email sent to council by City Manager Kimbra McCarthy. But Ambra left the application on the counter and took a photo with it before leaving, according to the email, which the Post obtained through the California Public Records Act.
At 180 feet, it will be the tallest building in Mountain View. The current tallest building is a 145-foot office building at 444 Castro St.
The project will contain 183 studio, 142 one-bedroom and 130 two-bedroom apartments.
It will be located next to the Ambra family’s old olive oil factory. During Ambra’s tenure on council, which began in 1996, he was accused of trying to influence city staff so he could develop around the factory.
Removed from office
In November 2001, a civil grand jury charged him with misconduct for using his office for financial gain but he was able to get the charges dropped since the property was owned by a trust controlled by his father.
But the following April he was convicted of violating the city charter by directing staff behind the thenCity Manager Kevin Duggan’s back and removed from office. City employees testified Ambra told them to harass the property’s neighbors into moving so he could buy their land.
Ambra and his wife Liz attended Tuesday’s meeting to advocate for the project and thank council. Their lawyer, Genna Yarkin, asked council to extend the project’s entitlement so it would expire after eight years instead of the usual two, but council denied the request.
of retired Judge LaDoris Cordell’s report that looked into multiple HR complaints about Aenlle and Corpus, banning him from parts of the county buildings that the general public cannot access.
Aenlle was hired by Corpus in 2022 to be part of her transition team. Aenlle had been a reserve deputy for over 17 years, but primarily worked as a realtor with Coldwell Banker when he was hired by Corpus. Corpus said in a previous statement that Aenlle was fully qualified for the position because he has been a reserve deputy for over 17 years.
Position created for him
When Corpus was putting together her executive team, she instructed county employees to create a position for Aenlle, and told HR manager Heather Enders to find him a position that would pay more than $72 an hour, Enders testified at an August hearing related to Corpus’ removal.
Cordell spent much of her report looking into complaints about Aenlle, and found that he showered Corpus in expensive gifts such as $1,200 Louboutin boots and $11,000 diamond earrings from Tiffany’s, according to her report. Cordell said the two had an “intimate relationship.”
Both Corpus and Aenlle deny they were having an affair. Corpus testified during the August hearing that she bought the earrings herself. Cordell’s report also brought into question conflicting stories about Corpus and Aenlle being spotted at SFO on their way to Hawaii with Corpus’ children.
Report raised questions
Cordell questioned in her scathing report whether Aenlle was eligible to be a reserve deputy. Cordell found Aenlle did not complete the volunteer hours to qualify as a reserve deputy, yet he held himself out as a police officer.
When Aenlle was chief of staff, he had a gold badge like an officer and gave directions to deputies, according to Cordell.
“By wearing a gold badge, he has likely committed a misdemeanor for willfully wearing a facsimile badge that could deceive a civilian into believing he is a sworn officer with full police powers,” Cordell wrote.
Aenlle did not reach the requirements to maintain his status as a reserve deputy, according to Cordell.
“Even worse, it appears that he likely falsified his
volunteer hours when he entered them into the database,” Cordell said in her 408-page report.
A “designated Level 1” reserve deputy has to volunteer for 192 hours per year and go to trainings with the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, according to state law.
Aenlle entered his volunteer hours after Cordell reached out to him for an interview, and he appeared to be double-dipping by logging volunteer hours as time he actually spent working as Corpus’ chief of staff, according to her report.
Said he was wronged
Aenlle said he was wrongfully fired after Cordell’s report was released, which had a lot of errors.
Cordell found that Aenlle had been retaliating against the sheriff’s office employees.
“Fear of retaliation is rampant in the organization,” Cordell wrote.
Corpus fired former Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan for participating in an interview with Cordell, though County Manager Mike Callagy kept Monaghan on the payroll to lessen any damages the county might face if Monaghan filed a wrongful firing lawsuit. Monaghan was fired after an alleged conversation between him and Aenlle where Aenlle asked about Monaghan’s participation in the Cordell report, according to multiple county commissioned reports.
After Aenlle was fired the first time, he was spotted back in the sheriff’s headquarters in Janurary, with Corpus, contractor Manjit Sappal and an unleashed dog.
County Attorney John Nibbelin at the time said Aenlle’s presence was OK because Corpus was an elected official.
Corpus later brough Aenlle back as a reserve deputy who assisted with the sheriff’s unit that approves concealed carry weapons permits.
Suing the county
Aenlle filed a lawsuit in federal court in September against the county, claiming he was retaliated against for supporting Corpus after the board rejected his claim. The county asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit on Monday.
Aenlle claims that an investigation into the living conditions of farm workers on his coastside ranch was an act of retaliation for his support of Corpus.
After the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay in 2023, the Farmworker Housing Compliance Task Force inspected 56 properties, including Aenlle’s. It was found that it was unsafe and the water was contaminated.
A week into the job as sheriff, Binder has also reinstated deputy union president Carlos Tapia, Sgt. Javier Acosta and Sgt. Joe Fava, who were retaliated against by Corpus. Binder was appointed by the board on Nov. 12.
CORPUS
AENLLE
BUDGET -----
with the LAO and paints a rosier financial picture. His second and final term as governor ends in January 2027, and this year’s budget will be his last say on how money is spent in the nation’s most populous state. Governors in California are limited to two terms.
New federal policies on tariffs and ongoing high borrowing costs are leading to weaker corporate and sales tax trends and sluggish job growth, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek said at a briefing yesterday.
The only bright spot has come almost exclusively from strong investments in artificial intelligence, allowing the state to collect billions more in personal income tax than projected. But most of those revenue gains must go toward schools and paying down state debt. The report also warns that the AI investments might not be sustainable in the long run.
Image on his mind
For Newsom, how he balances the budget without abandoning Democrats' priority programs will help shape his national image as he mulls a presidential run.
He already had to roll back a signature health care program last year in the face of a $12 billion deficit, dealing a major blow to state Democrats’ priority
of providing universal health care. The ambitious state-funded program started in 2024 to provide free health care to immigrants living in California regardless of their legal status. Those without legal status will no longer be eligible to enroll in the program starting next year, and some will have to start paying a premium in 2027.
State Democratic leaders in the past few years have avoided some of the deepest cuts to their priorities by borrowing from special funds and delaying payments to plug the budget hole. But they’re running out of most temporary and one-time solutions.
More cuts to health care programs could come next year, as they are among the biggest expense in the state budget. The governor in past years had rejected calls to raise taxes to fix budget problems. Lawmakers have until June to pass a balanced budget.
Bigger deficit on the horizon
California will likely see even a bigger deficit, up to $35 billion, the following year, the LAO report said.
Legislative Republicans said the budget challenges are a result of poor spending decisions.
“The state’s structural deficit continues to grow because of the majority party’s unstoppable spending problems,” Republican state Sen. Roger Niello said in a statement.
City settles fees lawsuit
The city of East Palo Alto has changed a policy after getting sued by a family upset about a $55,000 fee to build two ADUs on their property.
East Palo Alto homeowner Wesley Yu filed a lawsuit in federal court in August challenging the constitutionality of that law, likening it to “extortion.”
Yu, a husband and father between jobs, was planning to build a home and backyard guest cottage for himself and his extended family on a neighboring parcel.
Because Yu was planning to construct two new structures, the city’s inclusionary zoning rules kicked in, requiring him to either sell or rent out
one of the units at “affordable” rates or to pay a one-time fee of $54,891 to be deposited in the city’s affordable housing subsidy fund.
The lawsuit was filed by the libertarian-oriented Pacific Legal Foundation, which announced yesterday that the city had changed its policy in order to settle the lawsuit.
To end the lawsuit, the city changed its ordinance to exclude SB9 and ADU projects like the Yus’ and backed down from the fees, according to Pacific Legal Foundation spokeswoman Emily Balon. The city will not be able impose in-lieu fees or set-aside requirements on similar projects.
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NOVEMBER IS MONTH OF GIVING at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU). Throughout this month, the Office of Advancement is encouraging your support of their annual Month of Giving campaign. Gifts received through November 30 will go toward scholarship support for graduate and degree completion students. Every gift makes a difference. Donate now at ndnu.edu/ ndnu-donationpage/.
NATIVITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL IS HOLDING its 27th annual Christmas tree lot starting Nov. 28th. The tree lot is staffed solely by Nativity School & Parish volunteers. 100% of proceeds benefit educational and extracurricular programs at Nativity School. Preorders are live and available through Tuesday, Nov. 25th. The tree lot is located at the intersection of Oak Grove Ave. and Laurel St. in Menlo Park. Trees ranging from 2’ to 15’ available! For more information, please visit: nativityschool.com/ nativity-trees or call (650) 325-7304 (ext. 207).
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY TO TheatreWorks Silicon Valley for some holiday fun: see “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” starting performances December 3. This festive sequel to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” stars Georgiana Darcy (Mr. Darcy’s sister, played by Emily Ota) and Kitty Bennet (one of the youngest Bennet sisters, played by Kushi Beauchamp).
TheatreWorks artistic director Giovanna Sardelli helms this delightful romp full of
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favorite characters in new adventures. Don’t miss “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley,” performing Dec. 3-28 at Palo Alto’s Lucie Stern Theatre. Save your seat today at theatreworks.org.
JOIN SYMPHONY SAN JOSE, SYMPHONY San Jose Chorale, Cantabile Youth Singers, New Ballet, and special guests under the baton of Elena Sharkova, and rejoice in beloved holiday classics, heartwarming carols, dazzling dance numbers, audience singalongs, and the ever-popular 12 Days of Silicon Valley. Include friends and family and make this experience an unforgettable part of your holidays. Tickets range from $35 to $115. Saturday, December 6 matinee special: Use promo code FAMILYFUN to get a child ticket for only $10 with each adult ticket purchased. symphonysanjose.org/.
LOVE YOUR FURNITURE? Make It New Again! Visit the Leather Leather Furniture Gallery in Menlo Park and enjoy 40% off leather or fabric reupholstery, leather restoration or foam replacement. Coowner Tricia Mulcahy says, “Sometimes people just don’t want to get something new because what they have works so well for them or it has sentimental reasons behind it. We can help them reimagine what they love with our upholstery or repair services.” To find out more about their services and the ongoing American Leather Holiday Sale, call them at (650) 617-0220.
350 SILICON VALLEY IS A grassroots climate advocacy group working locally to advance a just and rapid transition away from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy. The local level is where your
voice has the greatest impact — and together, they’re driving real change in cities like Palo Alto, San Mateo, and Menlo Park. Join them or support their work for a cleaner, fairer future. Donate at 350siliconvalley.org/ways-to-give.
PALO ALTO LASER & SKIN CARE, IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE the new location opening at 131 Lytton Ave, Palo Alto on Dec. 11. Palo Alto Laser & Skin Care is a premier med spa that offers advanced cosmetic lasers and aesthetic treatments.
They specialize in skin and body treatments such as Botox, Hydrafacial, and CoolSculpting. Take a look at their website for more information or give them a call at (650) 713-4653 to schedule your consultation. Pictured here is the wonderful Palo alto Laser skin team, from left to right, Alexis Willis, Dulce Angulo, Adriana Delgado, Lina Amini.
The Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
The floorboards were creaking from more than one mouse.
We’ve outgrown this starter, our ventures are hot, A baby is coming; this all that we got?
We’ve Silicon millions, our home has potential, But how can we move with careers so essential?
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, Our Realtors were here, to fix every matter!
“Now, Counters! Now, Facelift! Now Plumbers and Painters! Out Dryrot! Out ‘80s! We’ll fix these No-Brainers! Intelligent upgrades! Remove all the bland!
Soon move-in ready with $200 grand!*”
They prepped and they priced, and launch was a breeze, Their reports so clear that our minds were at ease, And when the offers came in, our hearts were so merry!
Our balance sheet: ice cream; their service: the cherry!
We’re ready to buy, and we know who to call, Young Platinum Group – they sure do it all.
And I heard them exclaim, ere they drove out of sight— “Thank you for trusting us to do the job right!”
*Not only for Christmas: we can front up to $200,000 to make your home sell faster, and for more
