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Another water rate hike likely

BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent

Palo Alto residents could see their water bills go up 8% starting in July, in part due to rising costs of Hetch Hetchy water the city buys from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

The city’s Utilities Advisory Com-

In the past five sessions

SON TAKES OVER: Iranian state TV says Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late supreme leader, has been named his successor. President Trump says the choice is unacceptable.

VIRUS RAMPANT: Analysis of sewer water shows human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, is rampant in the North Bay. It causes pneumonia. There’s no vaccine.

AMERICAN KILLED: The military says a U.S. service member died of injuries sustained during an Iranian attack on U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia.

OVERWEIGHT KIDS: The CDC says more than 1 in 5 U.S. children and teenagers were obese between 2021 to 2023, compared to only 5.2% between 1971-1974. The number of children with severe obesity in recent years has hit 7%.

SHOOTING AT RIHANNA’S HOUSE: A woman has been arrested after a gun was repeatedly fired toward the home of Rihanna in Beverly Hills yesterday afternoon. The shots hit the gate to the house

[See THE UPDATE, page 4]

mission voted 5-2 last week to recommend the 8% increase. The rate hike isn’t final: It will go to council’s Finance Committee for review and then to the full City Council for a vote in June.

The 8% increase recommended by the commission is less than a previous-

ly proposed 10% increase that would add about $12.60 to a typical resident’s monthly water bill. With an 8% increase, the monthly bill would go up by about $10.

the previous two years, the city raised water rates by 5%.

The new water rate hike would follow a 10% increase for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. In each of

Other utility rate hikes for Palo Alto residents this year included a 6% increase for electric, 5% for gas, and 20% for wastewater.

The city of Palo Alto buys its water

[See WATER, page 18]

Oil jumps to $100 a barrel

Oil prices eclipsed $100 per barrel yesterday for the first time in more than three and a half years yesterday as the Iran war hinders production and shipping in the Middle East.

President Trump said it was a small price to pay for defeating Iran.

The price was the highest since the early part of President Biden’s term.

The increases followed the U.S. crude price jumping by 36% and Brent crude rising by 28% last week. Oil prices have surged as the war, now in its

[See OIL, page 18]

Churchill closure draws opposition

BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer

Homeowners are pushing back on a plea by parents and students to close a railroad crossing by Palo Alto High School as a way to prevent more suicides.

Homeowners are worried about ambulances taking longer to get to Stanford Hospital and thousands more cars stuck on Embarcadero Road.

“Supposedly solving a perceived

“Supposedly solving a perceived problem on Churchill by transferring it to surrounding neighborhoods is not a solution.”

Resident

Barbara Hazlett

problem on Churchill by transferring it to surrounding neighborhoods is not a solution. It is a redistribution resulting in real harm,” Professorville resident

Barbara Hazlett told Palo Alto City Council on March 2.

Resident Alexis Hamilton, who used the Churchill Avenue crossing to get to her radiation treatments for cancer, said Embarcadero Road is already “a nightmare” and will only get worse when the Town and Country Shopping Center adds housing.

“While my heart is heavy at the loss of another Palo Alto student to suicide,

[See CHURCHILL, page 19]

Thousands cheered on Olympic champion Eileen Gu in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco. While she’s a native of San Francisco, she decided to represent China in the winter games, winning two silver medals and one gold. SEE PAGE 2. AP photo.

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Hometown hero

Gu draws cheers

San Francisco rang in the Year of the Horse with its annual Chinese New Year parade on Saturday evening, with thousands of revellers cheering on hometown hero and Olympic champion Eileen Gu as its grand marshal.

The procession featured drums, dancing and floats celebrating the vibrancy of the Chinese-American community in the oldest celebration of its kind outside Asia and one of the largest. Civic leaders and performers paraded from downtown to Chinatown through popping firecrackers. Children marched wearing inflatable horses while lion dancers and martial artists waved to the crowd.

The parade was first organized in the 1860s by Chinese immigrants who came to work during the California Gold Rush and wanted to share their culture through a parade, according to the event website.

Crowd excited by Gu

While the celebration always draws massive crowds, attendees were especially excited for Gu, who drew loud cheers.

“She’s really wonderful. ... She’s funny, sunny, and she represents positivity,” said paradegoer Vanessa Chan of South San Francisco.

Gu appeared partway through the parade in a red dress, sitting in a red

convertible adorned with flowers. The color is a symbol of good fortune and prosperity for the Chinese holiday.

Parade organizer Wiliam Gee said Gu was picked for the role by the middle of last year — before she competed in the 2026 Milan-Cortino Winter Games, where she won two silver medals and one gold, making her the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history. She holds an MBA from Stanford.

“The year of the horse brings a lot of new life and energy,” Gee said. “She definitely represents Chinese heritage and definitely is an icon.”

Represented China in the Olympics

Gu has come under scrutiny for her decision to represent China in competition, and Megan Chin, also of South San Francisco, said she felt the Olympian was attacked unfairly.

“When you’re multicultural and you want to celebrate both heritages, it’s great to be happy for someone if they want to celebrate their other heritage as well,” Chin said. “I am proud of her.”

Calvin Lui, who attended with his young son, said he loved Gu’s representation of the city where she was born and raised as well as her Chinese heritage.

“That’s her identity, both countries — so she gets the best of both worlds,” Lui said.

HOMETOWN HERO — Olympic gold medalist and Grand Marshal Eileen Gu waves during the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco Saturday. AP photo.

Crying at work isn’t that unusual

If your job has brought you to tears, you aren’t alone.

Some 39% of employees admit to having cried at least once in the workplace, according to a survey of 1,018 U.S. adults published by AI resume builder site Resume Now.

Among all employees, 25% have cried once or twice, and 14% said they’ve cried multiple times.

“Together, these findings show that

“(The survey) reflects a workforce that is showing up physically while struggling emotionally, with implications for productivity, morale, and long-term retention.”

emotional strain is no longer an isolated workplace issue, but a defining feature of the modern employee experience,” the survey noted. “(The survey) reflects a workforce that is showing up

physically while struggling emotionally, with implications for productivity, morale, and long-term retention.”

More than half of employees “worry they could lose their job even without

Selling Your Gold & Silver Coins?

a clear performance issue or business reason,” while 27% say they feel secure about their role and don’t worry about losing their job, the study said. Historically, layoff rates have remained relatively stable since the pandemic, yet the number of people quitting is higher than at any point from June 2001 to August 2017, according to data from the Federal Reserve, updated through December 2025.

—

Time Again for Gold?

but not the house itself, and that there were no injuries.

RETAIL THEFT RING: Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three people of running an organized retail theft operation that stole $88,500 worth of merchandise from TJ Maxx and Target stores. Items taken included jeans, perfume and handbags.

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RUNNING DRY: Wine consumption is down, forcing wineries to fire workers, close production facilities and sell their land. Wine prices are falling.

MUMPS IN BERKELEY: Two cases of mumps have been reported at Berkeley High School, prompting the city to issue a public health advisory. The dates of potential exposure were Feb. 19 and 20. The incubation period for mumps is up to 25 days, the office said.

PROTEST BOMBED: Tensions between opposing protest groups outside the New York City mayor’s residence boiled when a protester hurled an improvised explosive onto the crosswalk, causing protesters and police officers to scramble. Police arrested two men who said they were inspired by ISIS.

REFUGEE CRISIS: Lebanon says over a halfmillion people have been displaced in the week of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

‘HOPPERS’ IS TOP MOVIE: Disney and Pixar’s new film “Hoppers” is leading the North American box office with a strong debut, while Warner Bros.’ “The Bride!” is stumbling. Studio estimates on Sunday show “Hoppers” made $46 million in its first weekend domestically and $88 million globally after adding in international receipts.

EMBASSY EXPLOSION: Police in Norway were investigating an explosion early yesterday outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, the capital of the Scandinavian country, officials said. No injuries were reported.

Births

Readers have asked why our birth announcements are delayed several months. The Post gets the births from the state Department of Health, which provides the information at a delay. All births and deaths are public record under state law.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto:

July 31

Zaheen Adam Ansari, a boy

Daniela Angelic Bayas Suque, a girl

Elias William Bergen, a boy

Noeli Neilashni Bhartu, a girl

Evelyn Mila Cassarino, a girl

Jaxon Ryan Dizon, a boy

Jess Wilson Loughhead, a boy

July 30

Aziel David Castro Ortiz, a boy

Samuel Robert Day, a boy

Axel Anders Ellison, a boy

Daisy Sofia Gutierrez, a girl

Cooper Matthew Hipwell, a boy

Michael Richard Limonchik, a boy

Serena Lopez Parada, a girl

Cameron Chinn Mcgillivray, a boy

Santiago Sair Ruiz, a boy

Athreya Kodaikkalniyogi Sidharth, a boy

Evelyn Aitana Vargas Santos, a girl

Jackson Alexander Watsonzink, a boy

Owen John Wonpu, a boy

Yicheng Xu, a boy

July 29

Mar Agustina Atayde Villa, a girl

Allan Gustavo De Jesus Perez, a boy

Guillermo Nathanael Galicia Marin, a boy

Faith Rose Holder, a girl

Eliana Hazel Kaczmarek, a girl

Louisa Bea Krejcishaller, a girl

Amy Liu, a girl

David Oliveira Luna, a boy

Hansika Maddula, a girl

Marigold Darling Maher, a girl

Advit Mathur, a boy

Carlos Alonso Molina Vazquez, a boy

Getsemani Morales Ruiz, a girl

Aitana Alondra Roque Mejia, a girl

Elijah Jayden Santarosa Ramos, a boy

Everett Asher Pakfong So, a boy

Emmet Milton Wrye, a boy

Felix Zhou, a boy

July 28

Chase Wesley Bonn, a boy

Kensley Beatriz Caceres Landaverde, a girl

Madisson Sofia Calderon Solorio, a girl

Noah Tobechukwu Ekekeziemeara, a boy

Alani Floressolano, a girl

Mihika Ghosh, a girl

Jeimy Hernandez Cortez, a girl

Shiloh Asher Santiago Izraelevitz, a boy

Ira Kamdar, a girl

Rian Li Murphy, a boy

Zion Silva Piovezan, a boy

Jesus Ismael Rodriguez Espinosa, a boy

James Martin Rogowski, a boy

Hanson Wang, a boy

Michael B. Kenney ¢ ¢

December 26th, 1942 – November 16th, 2025

Michael B. Kenney passed peacefully November 16th, 2025. His final days were surround by his children, listening to his favorite tune’s…sung by his favorite musicians.

Michael was born December 26th, 1942, in San Francisco, CA to Benjamin and Faith Kenney. By the age of three his family moved to Palo Alto, where his most cherished memories began. He made lifelong friendships that begun as early as elementary school continuing through Wilbur junior high school and before his tenth year, Michael’s family moved to Los Altos where he became an Eagle at Los Altos High School with the class of 61. After his high school, Michael started Foothill Junior College where life truly began. He made more friends and discovered his talent with the game of pool. Michael along with his college friends enjoyed playing in competitions at the infamous Cochran’s Billiards Hall on Market Street in San Francisco. His pool earnings would help pay his way though college and life was just beginning…..creating lasting friendships, breaking hearts, and having babies.

By 1970 Michael became a father to his first born, Megan Elizabeth. Around the same time, Michael used his savvy math skills to become an entrepreneur. In 1974 he established United Home Loan Inc., his first company, additionally he began investing in avocado farms in Southern California. Due to his entrepreneurial spirit, Michael ventured outside of the real estate and the avocado business and began investing in fast cars and racehorses. He settled down with the love of his life a Palo Alto native, Maureen Patricia Nook. And on October 11, 1975, the two tied the knot. Michael and Maureen were embracing newfound success amongst real estate adventures, avocado farms, and racehorse winnings. Michael’s strong work ethic, charismatic personality, determination, and grit was prospering. On March 1st, 1980, Michael and Maureen welcomed a baby girl, Allison Jeanne, and 15 months later, to the day, Jason Michael was born, June 1st, 1981.

Michael lived life to the fullest, was blessed with good health and enjoyed his many friendships. He stayed active in sports and played competitive tennis before learning the game of golf. He volunteered to coach his children’s sports teams and never missed any of his daughter’s tennis matches or his son’s baseball games.

By the early 2000s, Michael had conquered a few successful real estate developments in the San Ramon valley east to the Central Valley and north to Sacramento. His company had expanded throughout Northern California. Despite his success, Michael remained true to his humble beginnings whose generous heart found joy in giving back and helping others in need. Not just momentarily but by mentoring other young entrepreneurs through his leadership skills.

By 2005, Michael’s good health allowed him to play golf with his friends all around the world. His golf adventures gave him much pleasure to spend time with his dear friends making the most unforgettable memories. From Thailand, to Australia, to the ice bars in Switzerland, Paris, Marbella, Brazil and many more. Not to forget his memorable travels within the US, trips to New York, Augusta, and several fly fishing trips around the Pacific Northwest.

Some would say Mike or Big Mike the most interesting man in the world, others knew him as the Godfather, or Peck, but we knew him as dad. We will never live a day without thinking of the good memories, or remembering the values, work ethic he instilled within us.

Michael was surrounded by his family and close loved ones in his final years. He is preceded in death by his both of his patents and former wife Maureen Patricia Kenney (d. 2020) He is survived by his three children, Megan Kenney, Allison Jones (Jon) and Jason Kenney (Serena), his grandsons, Benjamin and Branden, his sister Sherrill Stone and his grand-fur babies, Sadie, Cheeto, Coco & Puff. Michael will be laid to rest on his birthday, December 26th, at Green Hills Cemetery in Ranchos Palos Verdes next to his mother, Faith, father, Benjamin and grandmother, Georgia. A private celebration to honor is life is set for February 13th at Palo Alto Hills Golf and Country Club where Michael enjoyed many years as a golf member.

In lieu of flowers, we kindly ask for donations to be made in memory of Michael Kenney to support the Little Learners Program, a nonprofit early childhood program operated by LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (nonprofit tax ID #941415317), which helps children with blindness or visual impairments by providing specialized services to them and their families in northern Californa and central California. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/inmemoryofmichaelbkenney/

Don’t rush to hire new superintendent

With all of the controversy surrounding the Palo Alto school district, the school board shouldn’t make things worse by rushing to hire the next superintendent before the next school board is elected.

The board would be wise to take a breath and move through the process thoughtfully — rather than at breakneck speed.

The last three months have been tumultuous in the district.

• The community was divided by a surprise move in January to add ethnic studies to the high school curriculum, a class that Chinese and Jewish families felt was discriminatory.

When new board member Rowena Chiu said publicly she felt bullied by other “woke” school board members for questioning the class, all hell broke loose — and an attempt led by former board member Ken Dauber to pressure her off the board failed.

• Then, in a reversal of the employee-employer relationship, a council of teachers and administrators rejected a decision by the school board to offer multivariable calculus at Palo Alto High School. The move was a stunner since the school board usually makes decisions, not the employees.

• In early February, it came out that the union representing teachers wanted a 28% pay raise (the figure includes benefits and other pay), and the non-teacher union wanted a 47% boost. No decision on pay has been made.

• In mid-February, the district agreed to pay $3.25 million to PE teacher Peter Colombo, who claimed he was falsely accused of raping a student more than 20 years ago. He accused the district, led by Superintendent Don Austin, of botching the investigation into his case.

• Days after the settlement, Austin said he was stepping down. The board agreed to pay him $596,802 to quit.

• Three days later, the school board announced it had selected Austin’s chief of staff, Trent Bahadursingh, to serve as acting superintendent.

A chip off the Austin block Bahadursingh, like Austin, was a defendant in Colombo’s suit. Bahadursingh once worked in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, where Austin was once superintendent.

And Bahadursingh is an employee of Austin’s side gig, a leadership coaching business called SimpleWins. Now the school board is abbreviating the process for finding Austin’s replacement, which is a mistake.

Normally, a district would ask for “requests for proposals” or RFPs from search firms. But to speed things up, the district (actually Bahadursingh and board President Shounak Dharap) will ask a couple of search firms to vie for the job of finding Austin’s replacement.

Conflict of interest

I don’t trust these search firms because they have a built-in conflict of interest — they represent both job seekers and employers. Imagine you’re a superintendent in another city, and your board is on the verge of giving you the boot. But the public doesn’t hear that you’re about to get fired because it’s all handled in closed sessions. You hire one of these search firms to find you a new job and they send your application to Palo Alto. When applying in Palo Alto, you’re able to keep your job problems secret because they were all discussed in closed session. So Palo Alto unknowingly gets a bad apple.

If you slow down the process, the board can visit the applicant’s current district to see what people say about him or her.

A worse case: The board will get lazy and give up on finding the best candidate. They’ll just give the job to Bahadursingh. After all, he’s chief of staff (whatever that means), so he must know a lot about the district.

But an employee of the district’s front office, Victoria Maya, claims in a lawsuit that Bahadursingh bullied her, and it stopped her from coming to work. She claims he called her all sort of vulgar names.

A lot of witnesses

Now I know that anybody can file a lawsuit and claim anything they want. So these allegations could be completely false. But from the looks of the complaint, there’s going to be many witnesses in the case who would be called to testify about whether Bahadursingh said such things. If they all heard Bahadursingh berating her, it will be more than just a case of “she said/he said.”

You’ve got to wonder why the district would elevate Bahadursingh to the top job, albeit on a provisional basis, when he has this cloud over his head. Isn’t there anyone else in the vast and highly-paid administrative ranks of the PAUSD able to run things on a temporary basis?

This is an example of why the board should slow down and make thoughtful decisions. Let the new school board, which will have two new members, hire the next superintendent.

Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.

Dave Price

No new transit taxes

Dear Editor: Palo Alto City Council should oppose the proposed BART-Caltrain transit sales tax increase. We don’t need another regressive transportation funding measure. Our taxes are already too high.

Vote “no.”

Over the last several elections, voters in Santa Clara County have passed multiple tax and fee increases for transportation, including:

• Caltrain Measure RR sales tax in 2020;

• two bridge toll increases approved in 2004 and 2018;

• four VTA sales taxes (1976, 2000, 2008, 2016);

• Santa Clara County’s Measure A 1/8 cent sales tax last November;

• and the 2010 Measure B $10 car tax. Additionally, we’re on the hook to pay back numerous state bond issues including high-speed rail, the Proposition 1 water bond and the infrastructure bonds of 2006.

All this nickel-and-diming helps

make the Bay Area a horribly expensive place to live, especially for people of modest means, who must pay the greatest percentage of their income in these regressive taxes and fees. Each increase by itself does not amount to much, but the cumulative effect is to add to the unaffordability of the region. Before increasing taxes yet again, waste needs to be removed from transportation projects.

Why don’t the wealthy high rollers at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission suggest taxing rich tech companies and leave the little guy alone for a change?

Bill Hough Los Altos

Affordability choices

Dear Editor: Many politicians cry about the affordability crises. Certainly, in Palo Alto affordability is a mantra that is often heard.

The Feb. 11 Post featured two articles which showed our local politicians

[See LETTERS, page 8]

BEST ROOFTOP PATIO

LETTERS –

The Palo Alto school board, which runs a district with declining enrollment, is considering eye-popping salary increases and continuing an unneeded parcel tax that costs a homeowner about $900 year.

City Council commissioned a poll to find out if voters would support a tax to pay for improvements to the Cubberley Community Center. When the poll showed the taxes wouldn’t pass, they made excuses for the lack of support and they talked about spending more money to hire a pollster to deliver the desired answers.

These taxes could add hundreds of dollars per year to the budgets of local families.

Council did not ask questions like what spending can we cut in order to spruce up Cubberley?

The council should build on Vice Mayor Greer Stone’s comments on getting outside funding. Maybe the answer is to figure out how to get Cubberley done without raising taxes. For now, how about some spackle and a fresh

coat of paint. Part of making Palo Alto affordable is being fiscally responsible and living within your means.

Daniel Benas Palo Alto

The last temptation

Dear Editor: While millions of Americans, especially here in the Bay Area, are happy to see the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, though sadly it doesn’t appear that she was fired for cruelty or incompetence.

Rather, as the Daily Post reported, even many in GOP criticized Noem’s $220 million ad campaign encouraging people to self-deport.

Noem told lawmakers that President Trump was aware of the campaign in advance. But Trump disputed that, saying he did not sign off on the ad campaign.

She wouldn’t take the blame, and she embarrassed Donald.

As T.S. Eliot wrote in “Murder in the Cathedral,” “The last temptation is the greatest treason. To do the right deed, for the wrong reason.”

Janice Hough Palo Alto

Council term limits won’t reach ballot

BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer

After rushing to try to put term limits on the June ballot, the East Palo Alto City Council pushed off making a decision until this summer after the city manager pointed out residents aren’t happy with council.

Mayor Webster Lincoln called a special meeting on Thursday to meet the Friday deadline to submit the two-term limit measure to the San Mateo County Elections Office for the June 2 election, but the majority of council disagreed. Lincoln, along with Councilman Mark Dinan, have been pushing the measure, as they have regularly butted heads with Councilmen Ruben Abrica and Carlos Romero, who have been on and off the council for decades.

It would’ve cost approximately $75,500 to $90,600 to place the measure on the June ballot, according to City Clerk James Colin. To place the measure on the November ballot, it will cost approximately $63,000 to $75,600, Colin said.

Thursday was the third time council discussed term limits. During the second meeting, Councilwoman Martha Barragan was absent, and on Thursday, Councilman Carlos Romero was absent.

Community sour on council

City Manager Melvin Gaines said it would be a risk to place term limits on the June ballot because recent polling showed residents’ opinions of the council have dropped. The poll was con-

ducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Metz & Associates (FM3) to determine whether residents would support a bond to fund a new civic commons center. Residents were asked for their opinions of council, and the majority said they were not happy, according to Gaines.

“If you all are torn at all and if the community’s torn, then I will be giving you the same caution that I’m giving you today about June,” Gaines said.

It would also be a risk to place the term limits measure on the November ballot, the same ballot on which the city is thinking of placing a bond measure to fund a new civic commons center, Gaines said.

The city is considering a bond to fund a new civic center, proposed by Sycamore Real Estate, owned by Laurene Powell Jobs. Council voted unanimously in July to move forward with Powell Job’s company to build a new city hall, police station, library and park. The project is roughly $200 million, and council will discuss how to pay for its contribution in September.

Dinan takes dig at Abrica, Romero Dinan said term limits could have a positive impact and improve council’s image.

“This is an important issue that we’ve heard again and again and again from people. They want term limits. They want a government that isn’t the same people getting re-elected and that includes me,” Dinan said.

Dinan was talking about Abrica and Romero, longtime council members.

The Monday after we “spring forward” for daylight saving time isn’t just another sleepy morning at the office. Research shows it’s one of the most dangerous days of the year for your heart.

Studies have found that heart attacks increase by 24% on the Monday following the springtime change, when Americans lose an hour of sleep. This alarming statistic reveals how even small disruptions to our sleep and circadian rhythms can have serious — and sometimes deadly — consequences.

Research shows sleep disruption triggers stress hormones, inflammation, and blood-clotting changes that put

significant strain on the cardiovascular system;

Sleep deprivation causes several immediate changes in your body:

• Increased stress hormones: Cortisol and adrenaline levels spike, raising blood pressure and heart rate;

• Disrupted circadian rhythm: Your body’s internal clock controls critical functions like blood pressure regulation and hormone release;

• Inflammatory response: Lack of sleep triggers inflammation;

• Blood-clotting changes: Sleep loss can affect how your blood clots, potentially increasing the risk of dangerous clots forming.

County falls behind in psychiatric care

Gov. Gavin Newsom says Santa Clara County needs to step up its game in treating people with severe mental health issues.

Newsom says the county is one of 10 that is not bringing enough people through the state-mandated CARE Court system — designed to allow family members and first responders to petition the court to help treat adults with psychotic disorders.

The program, if implemented, would help rid the streets of the mentally ill who are often homeless.

Since December 2024, 53 petitions have been filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court for individuals to enter a voluntary treatment program under the guidance of a judge, according to data provided by the county.

County’s reaction

Mental health advocate Andrew Siegler objects to the governor’s comments.

“Since when did Gavin Newsom have any experience in the mental health industry?” Siegler asked.

“The county has built hundreds of (treatment) beds for people, (and provided funding) for non-law enforcement crisis response. (CARE Court is) not the only thing that matters, and it shouldn’t be the only thing any county is doing.”

Newsom signed the California Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, which established CARE Court into law in 2022 and it took effect statewide by Dec. 1, 2024. In order to qualify for the program, individuals need to be at least 18 years old, have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder and need supervision in order to function in society.

Expanded to cover bipolar

Recently, the state expanded the program to include people with bipolar I disorder with psychosis. A representative of the Santa Clara County Superior Court said they expect to see as many as 80 petitions this year, almost twice the number of petitions filed in 2025.

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Power lines coming to rural areas in AI push

For John Zola, the 40 acres he owned were like a paradise: apple orchards tucked into northern Pennsylvania’s rolling hills, a barn, meadows and more than enough land for four houses: one for himself and his wife and each of his three adult children.

It’s been “hell,” however, since a contractor hired by the local power utility knocked on Zola’s door in late 2024 and informed him that it planned to build a 500-kilovolt

power line through his property. This line and others like it are being planned in accelerating numbers in the United States to deliver power, sometimes across hundreds of miles, to enormous data centers run by the world’s biggest tech companies.

Although advances in artificial intelligence are seen by President Trump as critical to the nation’s economic and national security, their energy needs are threatening

to overwhelm the power grid — and people like Zola are caught in the middle.

The local utility, PPL, said it did everything it could to balance the impact on people with its obligation to deliver electricity and protect grid reliability. But to Zola, all they care about is money.

“They don’t look at whose lives they are destroying, whose property they are destroying,” Zola said.

These high-voltage power lines

Angry local opposition has sprouted against dozens of the behemoth data centers amid fears of rising electricity costs and irreparable damage to their communities.

Who benefits?

Opponents of transmission projects are similarly motivated: they say the lines are intruding on the sanctity of private land and threatening long-lasting harm to sensitive public lands, farms, property values and pristine waterways — all for electricity that they don’t think benefits them.

Utilities contend that any new transmission line — even those driven primarily by large customers, like data centers or industrial sites — benefits everyone by adding capacity to the grid.

Some members of Congress want to exclude lines from environmental reviews, while some tech companies are trying to build their own power plants, or next to one, in part to avoid a quagmire.

These transmission projects aren’t local power lines on wooden poles. Rather, these are lines on steel towers five or six times as

A high-tension power line.

tall, carrying power in bulk across long distances.

The expansion is eliciting opposition from landowners, conservationists, local officials, consumer advocates and even states.

In Texas’ Hill Country, the Hill Country Preservation Coalition sprang up against the construction of the southernmost of three 765-kilovolt lines — the highest voltage used in the United States

— that Texas regulators commissioned to cross the state in eastwest “superhighway” corridors.

The coalition’s founder, Jada Jo Smith, calls it a “Goliath” that will be nearly impossible to defeat. To at least minimize the damage, the coalition is pressing state regulators to adopt a different, slightly longer path that follows existing highway corridors.

Demand likely to triple

In eastern Pennsylvania, Amazon and other developers have so many data center projects in the works that PPL projected its peak electricity demand will more than triple by 2030.

The utility has offered to pay property owners to access their land, but landowners worry that, if they don’t accept, PPL will go to court to use eminent domain to force a settlement.

The new line would run 100 feet from where Zola’s grandkids sleep at night. In recent days, Zola said holdout landowners got higher cash offers from PPL.

“My offer went from $17,000 to $85,000,” Zola said. “Just like that. And there’s no amount of money for me. And when you come here, you’ll understand why.”

Physical & Occupational Therapy

PALO ALTO

TUESDAY

1:44 a.m. — Elliot Edward Holt, 43, transient, cited for creating a public nuisance, 400 block of Bryant St.

2:32 p.m. — Supreme Ali Jackson, 18, of Emeryville, arrested for shoplifting, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and illegal possession of ammunition, El Camino. A juvenile is arrested for shoplifting, marijuana possession and conspiracy to commit a crime.

8:06 p.m. — Auto burglary, 500 block of Webster St.

WEDNESDAY

4:35 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Page Mill Road and Alma St.

MENLO PARK

FRIDAY

12:42 a.m. — Damani Collins, 51, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, El Camino and Glenwood Ave.

6:57 a.m. — Vehicle collision causes injuries, Meta Way.

1:02 p.m. — Vandalism at a business, 700 block of Santa Cruz Ave.

9:24 p.m. — Edwin Penda, 21, of Pittsburg, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Willow Road and Hamilton Ave.

SATURDAY

3 a.m. — Marcelino Medina, 43, of San Jose, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Woodland Ave. and Oak Court.

12:35 p.m. — Fraud, 2200 block of Sharon Road.

8:33 p.m. — Valdemar Estrada Vargas, 45, of Redwood City, cited for

driving with a suspended or revoked license, 3600 block of Haven Ave.

9:27 p.m. — Victor Trujillo Campos, 42, of Menlo Park, arrested for DUI and on two warrants, 1300 block of Henderson Ave.

STANFORD

FEB. 28

2:59 p.m. — Bike parts stolen, 700 block of Escondido Road.

MARCH 1

11:01 p.m. — Grand theft, 600 block of Mayfield Ave.

11:05 p.m. — Threats, Dudley Lane.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

FEB. 28

1:55 a.m. — Assault reported, 1100 block of San Antonio Road.

Ricardo Leguia Gonzalez, 40, arrested for assault likely to produce great injury and Francisco Diaz Herazo, 40, of Mountain View, arrested for violation of a court order.

5:18 a.m. — Javier Rodriguez, 28, of Stockton, arrested for domestic violence, 700 block of Lynwood Ave.

8:43 a.m. — Home burglary, 500 block of Ortega Ave.

10:23 a.m. — Home burglary, 800 block of Sheila Court.

10:24 a.m. — Vandalism, 1600 block of Villa St.

12:38 p.m. — Hit-and-run causes injuries, 700 block of N. Shoreline Blvd.

2:54 p.m. — Theft at Target, 555 Showers Drive.

4:47 p.m. — Theft at Target, 555 Showers Drive.

5:51 p.m. — Jose Zuniga, 44, of Mountain View, arrested for theft of someone else’s lost property, possession of a scanning device used to obtain other peoples’ credit and debit card information, possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant at 7-Eleven, 615 S. Rengstorff Ave.

8:05 p.m. — Diners leave without paying the bill at a restaurant, 300 block of Castro St.

MARCH 1

8:18 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, 300 block of Del Medio Ave.

8:21 a.m. — Home burglary, 1100 block of W. El Camino.

8:35 a.m. — Mario Hernandez, 42, of Mountain View, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 2400 block of California St.

10:03 a.m. — Fernando Retana, 39, arrested for burglary and violation of a court order, Castro and California streets.

2:15 p.m. — Home burglary, 1100 block of W. El Camino.

4:06 p.m. — Madalyn Loens, 28, arrested for battery against police and child endangerment, 900 block of W. El Camino.

4:15 p.m. — Theft at Walmart, 600 Showers Drive.

6:58 p.m. — Hit-and-run causes injuries, 200 block of W. El Camino.

7:16 p.m. — Assault, 1200 block of Terra Bella Ave.

8:58 p.m. — Stephen Benard, 20, arrested for being on the campus of Bubb Elementary School after the allowed time, 525 Hans Ave.

9:50 p.m. — Robbery at Walmart, 600 Showers Drive.

ATHERTON

FRIDAY

1:12 p.m. — Two-vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Elena and Valparaiso avenues.

5:26 p.m. — Truck knocks down a telephone line, Middlefield Road and Oak Grove Ave.

REDWOOD CITY

THURSDAY

3:43 a.m. — Woman reported to have vandalized a vehicle, 300 block of Main St. Dominique Zarely Benitez Vera, 27, arrested for burglary and vandalism.

3:51 a.m. — Auto burglary, B St. Backpack taken.

9:03 a.m. — Auto burglary, Howland St. Tile cutter stolen.

12:01 p.m. — Catering equipment stolen from a company van, California St.

4:48 p.m. — Anthony Jermain Smith, 33, arrested for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia and on warrants, Middlefield Road and Cassia St. Arrest made by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.

10:28 p.m. — Cesar Ivan Lopez Baltazar, 26, arrested for transporting drugs for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia and parole violation,

Marsh Road and Highway 101. Adriana Corona Garcia, 38, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

10:45 p.m. — Man reported to be peeing on vehicles, 1000 block of El Camino. Christopher Travis Henning, 41, arrested for public drunkenness, possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation.

SAN CARLOS

WEDNESDAY

7:50 a.m. — Jeffrey David Nichols, 53, arrested on warrants, 1400 block of El Camino.

3:20 p.m. — Brittany Elizabeth Romero, 34, cited on a warrant, 1000 block of El Camino.

9:16 p.m. — Robert William Underwood II, 32, arrested for shoplifting, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to commit a crime and on a warrant, 1100 block of Industrial Road. Justine Perez, 43, arrested for possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a crime and on a warrant. A charge is added later for bringing drugs into a jail.

BELMONT

FRIDAY

10:26 p.m. — Complaint of a loud party, Irene Court. Warning given.

SATURDAY

8:50 p.m. — Oscar Eliel Vindell Alvarado, 42, arrested for driving with a suspended or revoked license and on a warrant, Masonic Way and Old County Road.

CHP

From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula.

FEB. 23

Victor M. Davis, 68, arrested for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

Ishani P. Palkar, 28, arrested for DUI.

Rebecca M. Rock, 40, arrested for drug possession.

FEB. 24

Kalvin A. Mar, 36, arrested for domestic violence.

FEB. 25

Eric H. Hoey, 27, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and possession of narcotics for sale. Christopher A. Miranda Bonilla, 27, arrested for DUI and recklessly evading police in a vehicle.

Real Estate

The Post prints the latest real estate transactions.

PALO ALTO

200 Sheridan Ave. #406, 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1400 square feet, built in 1997, Sheridan Plaza LLC to Maryam and Mohammadhossein Namaki for $1,573,000, closed Feb. 2

1655 Bowdoin Court, 94304, 3 bedrooms, 2217 square feet, built in 2017, Stanford Leland to Mark Zhandry for $1,770,000, closed Feb. 3 (last sale, $1,750,000, 06-25-25)

478 Fulton St., 94301, 3 bedrooms, 1600 square feet, built in 1973, Risser Trust to Kirste and Eric Lau for $2,600,000, closed Feb. 6

759 Kendall Ave., 94306, 2 bedrooms, 1866 square feet, built in 1949, Alan Kittredge to EBKZ Investment for $2,960,000, closed Feb. 3

3665 South Court, 94306, 4 bedrooms, 2358 square feet, built in 1952, Bian Family Trust to Chen-Sun Living Trust for $3,500,000, closed Feb. 6 (last sale, $2,200,000, 1009-14)

1015 High St., 94301, 2 bedrooms, 2526 square feet, built in 1915, Hickey Family Trust to Leanna and Hung Nguyen for $3,800,000, closed Feb. 6

MENLO PARK

1363 Carlton Ave., 94025, 3 bedrooms, 1140 square feet, built

in 1948, Shenghao Bi to Lloyden Properties LLC for $1,300,000, closed Jan. 20 (last sale, $1,250,000, 04-08-25)

1962 Menalto Ave. #B, 94025, Diamond Trust to Joshi Trust for $2,100,000, closed Jan. 20 (last sale, $535,000, 03-25-99)

700 Sand Hill Circle, 94025, 3 bedrooms, 2070 square feet, built in 1976, Labe Trust to Manju and Kanti Patel for $2,100,000, closed Jan. 23 (last sale, $1,995,000, 02-05-20)

MOUNTAIN VIEW

453 N. Rengstorff Ave. #17, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 960 square feet, built in 1968, Colin Brown to Alagappan and Nag Living Trust for $700,000, closed Feb. 5 (last sale, $155,000, 06-01-91)

837 Sierra Vista Ave., 94043, 3 bedrooms, 1251 square feet, built in 2016, Wanghuan Chu to Jaka Jaksic for $1,359,000, closed Feb. 6 (last sale, $1,220,000, 10-06-20)

REDWOOD CITY

3760 Hoover St., 94063, 3 bedrooms, 1410 square feet, built in 1948, Fidel Pacheco to Qingyue and Jiawang Zhou for $1,500,000, closed Jan. 22 (last sale, $292,500, 09-17-25)

11 South Palomar Drive, 94062, 3 bedrooms, 2720 square feet, built in 1930, Coleman Living Trust to Lampert Living Trust for $2,435,000, closed Jan.

20 (last sale, $367,500, 05-01-86)

103 Harkins Road, 94062, 3 bedrooms, 1960 square feet, built in 1987, Heather and James Huddleston to Vladislav and Evgeniia Bodnia for $2,525,000, closed Jan. 21 (last sale, $1,175,000, 03-29-05)

1931 Kentfield Ave., 94061, 3 bedrooms, 2380 square feet, built in 1994, Nikki Klein to Shrawanti and Amaresh Agrahara for $2,575,000, closed Jan. 20

SAN CARLOS

633 Elm St. #212, 94070, 2 bedrooms, 1258 square feet, built in 2003, Rozakis Trust to Goodrum Living Trust for $1,300,000, closed Jan. 20 (last sale, $697,000, 11-18-03)

10 Winding Way, 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1930 square feet, built in 2003, Patricia Grewell to Linfei and Fangzhou Qiu for $2,780,000, closed Jan. 21 (last sale, $1,918,000, 09-14-15)

125 Chestnut St., 94070, 3 bedrooms, 1906 square feet, built in 1947, Lyer Family Trust to Dmytro and Daria Goncharov for $2,925,000, closed Jan. 20 (last sale, $1,900,000, 04-27-16)

BELMONT

300 Davey Glen Road #3601, 94002, 1 bedroom, 760 square feet, built in 1965, Jencek Trust to Yufen and Qingyin Ding for $453,000, closed Jan. 21

Trusted Care for the Moments That Matter

The new Caminar Teen and Family Wellness Center - Palo Alto offers timely, accessible, and competitively priced therapy with a licensed clinician. Services for youth aged 12-17 meet teens where they are—in both readiness for care and logistical needs. Each young person receives care reﬂecting their unique needs and preferences, with evidence-based therapy addressing emotional regulation, mood and anxiety symptoms, trauma and grief, peer relationships and social stress, identity development and self-esteem, parent-child communication, and more. Family therapy is also offered. Visit Caminar. org/TeenWellness for more information.

WHEN OUR YOUTH NEED SUPPORT, Children’s Health Council Is Here. Childhood today can feel overwhelming, for kids and for parents. When anxiety, learning challenges, or emotional struggles begin to surface, families often wonder where to turn. For more than 70 years, Children’s Health Council (CHC) has provided compassionate support for children and teens, helping them build conﬁdence, resilience,

Attn: Vended Meal Food Service Companies. Menlo Park City Elementary School District is requesting vended meal proposals for the 2026-27 school year There

a mandatory pre-bid Informational call on 4/2/2026 at 2 pm PT. Email ryan@schoolfoodsolutions org to RSVP. The school is

and hope. From therapy and evaluations to parent guidance and school support, CHC walks alongside families every step of the way. If your child needs support, don’t wait. Learn more at chconline.org.

PALO ALTO COMMONS TAKES THE Gold for Senior Empowerment. For their dedication to active engagement, Palo Alto Commons just took the LifeLoop Communities That Shine Award for Resident Empowerment. LifeLoop is a proactive engagement, communication and wellness platform used by more than 4,700 senior living communities

across North America. Of those, 12 were recognized this year for using the technology to improve resident quality of life. Want to ﬁnd out more about exceptional, worry-free senior living? Call (650) 494-0760 or go to paloaltocommons.com.

RESIDENTS AT STERLING COURT ENJOY a retirement lifestyle designed for independent living. Sterling Court offers luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments featuring full kitchens, private balconies, and a large courtyard. Their dedicated staff provides healthy lunches and dinners, as well as a variety of lectures, movies, and ﬁtness activities. Your monthly fee also covers housekeeping, linen service, parking, and transportation to and from appointments. Please note that no purchase, buy-in, or long-term contracts are required. Rent is guaranteed for at least one year, and you may cancel at any time. To schedule a tour, please call (650) 344-8200.

GET READY TO SHAMROCK AND roll at the Downtown Los Altos St. Paddy’s Beer Stroll on Friday March 13th, from 6 to 9 p.m. Experience a night where the luck of the Irish meets the best local craft brews! With 20 tasting sites pouring over 20 different selections from 15 premier breweries, your gold at the end of the rainbow is waiting in every glass. Dust off your ﬁnest green attire and enjoy the magic of live music echoing throughout

Support our advertisers who support print journalism.

Downtown for a legendary evening of cheers and beers! Participating breweries include Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Canyon Lakes Brewery, Fort Point HenHouse, Gordon Biersch, Laughing Monk Brewing, Otherwise Brewing, Stone Brewing, Sugoi Brewing and many more. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit downtownlosaltos. org. Photo by Lighting Up Your Life Studio

SCHOLA CANTORUM SILICON VALLEY: Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Experience the drama,the passion, the power of Mendelssohn’s Elijah! Witness thunderous choruses, cinematic orchestral overtures, and stunning soloists, all wrapped into an unforgettable musical journey. Join Schola Cantorum Silicon Valley on March 14th at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Palo Alto. Don’t miss your chance to experience this masterpiece live! Secure discounted tickets in advance at scholacantorum.org/concerts/elijah.

GOT BICYCLE? SPRINGTIME AND SUMMER are just around the corner. The Bike Connection in Palo Alto is your place for one stop shopping. Greg Forrest and his stellar crew have everything you need to get into the wind and enjoy the outdoors. The

Bike Connection offers all the big name brand bikes, clothing and accessories. They carry electric bikes and gravel bikes,too. Throw in the complete repair and service they offer and that’s about all you need to know. If you do want to know more call Greg at 650 853 3000 and ask him very detailed questions. Greg has all the bicycle answers or you can just come by the Bike Connection at 2011 El Camino Real in Palo Alto and see for yourself.

KAMAKSHI AYYAR’S PERSONAL BIOGRAPHER SERVICE is dedicated to preserving your and your loved ones’ legacies through conversation-based storytelling. From moments, like the birth of a child, to decades-long journeys, like a big anniversary or birthday, Kamakshi will work with you to weave together details and create treasured heirlooms. Capture milestones, celebrations, and life experiences to pass down to future generations. She can also interview two or more people together to record their memories of an event or experience, or just have them talk about their relationship. As a Columbia University-educated seasoned journalist, Kamakshi will use her skills to help you tell your story in your own words. Visit www.kamakshiayyar.com or call (650) 656 1075 for more details.

PAUL HOBSON, A PHOTO RESTORATION expert, says, “Invest in your family’s future by preserving its past.” With his expertise in image

manipulation, he breathes new life into old, faded, and damaged photos, creating cherished keepsakes for future generations. This rewarding service came from his long career in graphic design and photography, where he advocated for digitizing all precious memorabilia. Give Paul a call at (650) 272-1019. Consultations and estimates are free, and you can discuss how to become the most cherished member of your family.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE. THE SHADY Lane Gift Shop in Sharon Heights has plenty to offer for the person who has everything or is hard to please. Or maybe you just want to buy a nice gift made by local artists and craftsmen. Silver jewelry, wood carvings, masks, intricate boxes and much, much more. Alice is the friendly owner of this fun and fascinating little gift shop located in the Sharon Heights Shopping Center in Menlo Park. Shady Lane is right next door to Starbucks. Give Alice a call at (650) 3211099 and check the website for more crafty new information about this great little place.

WATER –––––––

from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, which runs the water system that brings water to the Bay area from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in Yosemite National Park. Palo Alto has its own distribution system to deliver the water to its residents and businesses.

The wholesale water expense is roughly half of the city’s total cost to provide water.

The city has no control over wholesale water prices charged by the San Francisco PUC and passes those costs to Palo Alto customers. SFPUC has been raising the price of Hetch Hetchy water to pay for $4.8 billion in improvements to the water system. The Water System Improvement Program includes seismically strengthening parts of the system, with a goal of being able to resume service within 24 hours of a major earthquake.

Lower usage reduced revenues

On top of the water system improvements, SFPUC brought in less money over the summer because customers used less water due to relatively cool weather.

In May 2025, SFPUC said its wholesale water rate increase would be about 1%; but in January, the PUC said the increase would be between 5.9% to 9.1%. Palo Alto Utilities estimated the SFPUC increase at 7.6% for purposes of calculating its own rate increase.

Reducing reserves

To reduce the amount of the rate increase, the commission recommended moving less money to a reserve account than the utility department had proposed. Commission members said they want to further discuss the policies surrounding reserve funds.

Councilman Ed Lauing, who is council’s liaison to the commission, agreed that reserve amounts are a key issue.

“Customers have to pay more if we have a bunch of cash sitting around that we may or may not need,” Lauing said.

OIL –––––––––-----

second week, ensnared countries and places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf.

Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil — about 20% of the world’s oil — typically are shipped every day through the Strait of Hormuz, according to independent research firm Rystad Energy. The threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks has all but stopped tankers from traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Iraq, Kuwait and the UAE have cut their oil production as storage tanks fill due to the reduced ability

to export crude. Iran, Israel and the United States also have attacked oil and gas facilities since the war started, exacerbating supply concerns.

The last time U.S. crude futures traded above $100 per barrel was June 30, 2022, when the price reached $105.76. For Brent, it was July 29, 2022, when the price hit $104 per barrel.

The global surge in oil prices since Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran on March 1 has rattled financial markets, sparking worries that higher energy costs will fuel inflation and lead to less spending by U.S. consumers, the main engine of the economy.

In the U.S., a gallon of regular gasoline rose to $3.45 yesterday, about 47 cents more than a week earlier, according to AAA motor club. (That’s a national average. California’s prices are higher.)

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” said U.S. gas prices would be back under $3 a gallon “before too long.”

“Look, you never know exactly the time frame of this, but, in the worst case, this is a weeks, this is not a months thing,” Wright added.

If oil prices stay above $100 per barrel, some analysts and investors say it could be too much for the global economy to withstand.

Air strikes on oil depots

Iranian authorities said strikes by Israel on oil depots in Tehran and a petroleum transfer terminal early yesterday killed four people. Israel’s military said the depots were being used by Iran’s military for fuel to launch missiles. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, warned that the war’s impact on the oil industry would spiral.

Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to China.

The price of natural gas also has climbed during the war, though not by as much as oil. It was selling for about $3.33 per 1,000 cubic feet late last night. That’s 4.6% higher than its Friday closing price of $3.19, after rising about 11% last week.

CHURCHILL –––

closing the Churchill rail crossing to traffic is

Hamilton said in an email to council on Feb. 15.

Convenience

On the other side are parents like Mare Lucas, who lost her son Zane, a wrestler at Gunn High School, to suicide nine years ago.

“To all the people in our community who worry about the inconvenience: I honestly don’t know what to say,” Lucas told the school board on Feb. 10.

Lucas said she spent six hours at the Churchill crossing on Feb. 3 after Summer Devi Mehta, 17, committed suicide there.

“Every time the train went by — the deafening sound and the fast speed — a little more of my heart died,” Lucas said.

Parent Linda Henigan read a letter from Mehta’s father, who said the crossing allowed Mehta to act impulsively at a low moment.

“It’s too late for my daughter, but not too late for others,” Mehta’s father said in his letter.

Mehta was the third Palo Alto student to die by suicide in the last year. Ash He, 15, died on March 4, 2025, and Emily Fiedel, 17, on Aug. 9.

Student hears the train

Student Ann Nguyen said she hears the train almost constantly — in class, on her short walk to school and while lying in bed trying to sleep.

“Make our crossings safer. We cannot keep losing our friends,” Nguyen told the school board.

Mayor Vicki Veenker said the city is looking at a temporary closure with Caltrain and the California Public Utilities Commission.

The commission would review the city’s plan for rerouting pedestrians and bicyclists, traffic circulation and signs, signal changes and fencing.

“A closure is complex and would need to address many issues, such as emergency response,” Veenker said in a Feb. 6 statement.

The city will have a meeting to get feedback on the closure at the school district office on Thursday. Council will consider next steps in mid-April.

In the meantime, council on Feb. 23 hired security guards to watch all four crossings in Palo Alto 24/7.

The city will also have workshops at the Mitchell Park Community Center on March 18 and 19 to teach residents how to recognize signs that someone may be in distress.

TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING FOR ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills, State of California, will hold a public hearing at the hour of 6:00 P.M. THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026, or as soon as thereafter practicable, in the Council Chambers of Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, California, as the time and place for consideration of the following:

Subject: Consideration of an Ordinance Making Amendments to Chapter 1 (Zoning) of Title 10 (Zoning and Site Development) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code to update regulations related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) for consistency with current State law. Complete a first reading of the proposed Zoning Ordinance Amendment.

CEQA Review: Exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) and 15282.1(h) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, and Government Code sections 65852.21(k), 66411.7(n).

A digital copy of the meeting agenda and staff report will be available on the Town’s website by the end of the day on March 12, 2026, at http://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov. If you have any questions or need additional information about the foregoing actions for consideration, please contact Jay Bradford, Community Development Director at (650) 559-2244 or jbradford@losaltoshills.ca.gov.

All interested persons may appear and be heard at said time and place. Written communications should be filed at Town Hall prior to the date of the hearing. Court challenges to the action of the City Council may be limited to issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence received at Town Hall at, or prior to, the time of the public hearing. Further details may be obtained from the City Clerk’s Office at 650-947-2513.

To attend the meeting in person: City Council Chambers, 26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

To provide Public Comment in person: Members of the public wishing to speak are requested to complete a speaker card and submit it to the City Clerk at the meeting.

To participate in the meeting via Zoom Video Conference, please follow the instructions below:

1. If you wish to submit a public comment on agenda items in advance of the meeting, email the Planner for the project. If you choose to email your comments, indicate in the subject line “FOR PUBLIC COMMENT” and specify the File #. Written comments will be posted on the City website at www.losaltoshills.ca.gov subject to Staff’s ability to post the documents before the meeting.

2. If you wish to provide public comment during the meeting, follow this protocol: raise your hand in the Zoom application, before sharing your comment, identify yourself by name and where you reside.

3. To join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Android device, click this URL to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88012789215?pwd=vZUBpe57fbYbazQPXbpcdB6FVqNfLB.1

Meeting ID: 880 1278 9215

Password: 94022

Public testimony will be taken at the direction of the Mayor and members of the public may only comment during times allotted for public comments. This meeting will be broadcast via live-stream service at http://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov.

Marco Ahumada

Administrative Clerk/Technician

Town of Los Altos Hills

NOTICE DATE: March 9, 2026

NEWS

Anti-war folk singer Joe McDonald dies

“Country” Joe McDonald, a hippie rock star of the 1960s whose “I-FeelLike-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was a four-lettered rebuke to the Vietnam War that became an anthem for protesters and a highlight of the Woodstock music festival, died yesterday. He was 84.

McDonald, who performed with his band, Country Joe and the Fish, died in Berkeley. His death from complications of Parkinson’s disease was reported by Kathy McDonald, his wife of 43 years.

McDonald was a longtime presence in the Bay Area music scene, where peers included the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and his onetime girlfriend, Janis Joplin. He wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from psychedelic jams to soul-influenced rockers, and released dozens of albums. But he was known best for a talking blues he completed in less than an hour in 1965 — the year President Lyndon Johnson began sending ground forces to Vietnam — and recorded in the Berkeley home of Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz.

Vietnam War parody

In the deadpan style of McDonald’s hero, Woody Guthrie, “I-Feel-Like-

I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” was a mock celebration of war and early, senseless death, with a chorus concertgoers and others would learn by heart: And it’s 1, 2, 3 what are we fighting for? Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, Next stop is Vietnam, And it’s 5, 6, 7 open up the pearly gates, Well there ain’t no time to wonder why, WHOOPEE we’re all gonna die. The song helped make him famous. Soon after performing it at Woodstock, McDonald was arrested and fined for using the cheer at a show in Worcester, Mass. The Ed Sullivan Show canceled an appearance by the band because of the song.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS / INVITATION TO BID

Notice is hereby given that the governing board (“Board”) of the Mountain View Whisman School District (“District”) will receive sealed bids to construct the following project:

Theuerkauf Elementary School Restroom Modernization Project (“Project” or “Contract”)

Bidders must submit sealed bids on or before 1:00p.m., April 6, 2026,at the District Office, located at 1400 Montecito Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043, and Bidders must ensure that the District time stamps the Bidder’s bid at or before that time. After the designated bid opening time, the District will open the bids and publicly read them aloud. Any claim by a Bidder of error in its bid must be made in compliance with Public Contract Code § 5100, et seq. The District is not responsible for (1) bids received after the deadline noted above; or (2) bids misdelivered, by any method, even to a different District address.

The Project consists of:

Toilet modernization in Buildings C, D, and H

All bids shall be on the forms provided by the District. Each bid must conform and be responsive to all pertinent bid and Contract Documents, including, but not limited to, the Instructions to Bidders.

To bid on this Project, the Bidder is required to possess one or more of the following State of California Contractor Licenses:

– General Building Contractor

The Bidder’s license(s) must be active and in good standing at the time of the bid opening and must remain so throughout the term of the Contract.

As security for its Bid, each Bidder shall provide with its Bid form

• a bid bond issued by an admitted surety insurer on the form provided by the District,

• cash, or

• a cashier’s check or a certified check, drawn to the order of the Mountain View Whisman School District, in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the total bid price. This bid security shall be a guarantee that the Bidder shall, within seven (7) calendar days after the date of the Notice of Award, enter into a contract with the District for the performance of the services as stipulated in the bid.

The successful Bidder shall be required to furnish a 100% Performance Bond and a 100% Payment Bond if it is awarded the Contract for the Project.

The successful Bidder may substitute securities for any monies withheld by the District to ensure performance under the Contract, in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code § 22300.

The successful Bidder and its subcontractors shall pay all workers on the Project not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages and the general prevailing rate for holiday and overtime work as determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, State of California, for the type of work performed and the locality in which the work is to be performed within the boundaries of the District, pursuant to Labor Code § 1770 et seq. Prevailing wage rates are on file with the District and are available to any interested party on request or at www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/statistics_and_databases.html. Bidders and Bidders’ subcontractors shall comply with the registration and qualification requirements pursuant to Labor Code §§ 1725.5 & 1771.1.

A voluntary pre-bid conference and site visit will be held on March 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Theuerkauf Elementary School, 1625 San Luis Avenue, Mountain View, California. All prospective Bidders are required to sign in at the Administration Building. The Site Visit is expected to take approximately one [1] hour.

Contract Documents are available on March 6, 2026, for review by contacting Brenda Parella-Greystone West brenda@greystonewest.com for an electronic set of plans and a list of the builders’ exchanges.

The District’s Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids and/or waive any irregularity in any bid received. If the District awards the Contract, the security of unsuccessful Bidder(s) shall be returned within sixty (60) days from the time the award is made. Unless otherwise required by law, no Bidder may withdraw its bid or bid security for ninety (90) days after the date of the bid opening. The District shall award the Contract, if it awards it at all, to the lowest responsive responsible Bidder based on: The base bid amount only.

Mountain View Whisman School District By:

Rebecca Westover, Ed. D, Chief Business Officer

Publication Dates: (1) March 9, 2026 (2) March 16, 2026

‘Country’ Joe McDonald