WEDNESDAY, July 23 2025
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BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A Los Altos developer who allegedly embezzled millions of dollars is going to trial with an investor who is suing him for keeping a $167,800 loan. In response to the lawsuit, developer Vahe Tashjian said his business Dutchints Development LLC struggled because of the pandemic, and he didn’t mean to defraud anyone.
“Nobody could predict the pandemic and its resulting effects on real estate developers and their investors, which resulted in bankruptcy,” Tashjian’s attorney said in a trial brief on Friday.
Los Altos and to help with his aunt’s home loan at 1226 Phyllis Ave. in Mountain View, Ettenger said in a trial brief.
EARLY BREAK: The House is leaving Washington early as Republicans clash over the Jeffrey Epstein files. House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into Epstein as some Republicans push for a vote on the matter. Johnson said yesterday that he wants to give the White House “space” to release the Epstein information on its own.
OLYMPICS BAN: The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has barred transgender women from competing in women’s sports. The committee is citing an executive order from President Trump.
NEW TARIFFS: President Trump says he’s reached a trade agreement with Philippine leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the U.S. will slightly drop its tariff rate for the Philippines to 19% without paying import taxes for what it sells there. Meanwhile, Trump announced 15% tariffs on Japanese goods.
HUNTER HITS BACK: Hunter Biden has criticized prominent Democrats and party advisers in a [See THE UPDATE, page 4]
Tashjian, 45, is facing a lawsuit from Cathy Ettenger, one of more than a dozen investors who lost money in his developments. Ettenger, 69, of Sunnyvale, said Tashjian misrepresented the health of his companies when he encouraged her to take out loans, and then he transferred her investments to his personal accounts.
Tashjian used the money to remodel his own house at 901 Loyola Drive in
Ettenger is seeking to recover her loan, plus $67,120 in interest, $80,200 in attorney fees and $503,400 in punitive damages. The trial started yesterday at the Old County Courthouse in San Jose. Judge Beth Mc-
[See DEVELOPER, page 18]
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
Redwood City Council has passed a ban on homeless encampments despite some residents saying the ban is not the solution to the problem.
Council approved the ban 6-1 on Monday to start giving tickets to homeless people. After two warnings, they would be charged with a misdemeanor.
Councilman Chris Sturken voted no because he was concerned the ban was overpromising and won’t deliver.
“This isn’t going to solve homelessness and we’re not going to see the number of
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
An inventor who allegedly killed Mountain View tutor Alice Ku in Taiwan is now selling his property to avoid paying $23.6 million to Ku’s family, an attorney said yesterday.
Harald Herchen, 66, of Los Altos, sold a house in Palo Alto for $3.3 million while the family’s lawsuit against him was pending, attorney Todd Davis said.
“This is particularly troubling as it appears this property was sold without
[See CAMPS, page 18]
being listed, the new owners’ names and contact information is concealed from the Santa Clara County property tax records, and the (Ku family) had previously put the defendant on notice that any transfer of property
[See PAY, page 18]
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A state bill intended to protect small businesses from law firms that misuse the Americans with Disability Act has died in the state Assembly without a vote.
Tim Taylor, policy director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said Senate Bill 84 made common sense and had bipartisan support, evidenced by a 34-2 vote in the state Senate.
But a consultant for the Assembly Judiciary Committee didn’t schedule a hearing by Friday’s deadline, so the bill is off the table until next year.
Assembly politics
Taylor blamed Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas for holding up SB84.
“If it dies in the light of day, that’s fine. That’s part of the process,” Taylor said. “But for it to die in darkness, that’s a problem,
and that’s what leaves a really bad taste in everyone’s mouth.”
Assemblyman Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, and Assemblywoman Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, haven’t returned a request for comment on whether they supported the bill. State Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, voted yes on June 4.
Lawsuit relief
SB84 would require law firms to send warning letters to business owners and give them 120 days to fix accessibility issues before they get sued.
Hundreds of small businesses on the Peninsula have been caught off guard by law firms like Potter Handy that specialize in ADA lawsuits.
The law firms and a group of disabled plaintiffs find issues with buildings, such as ramps that are too steep for a wheelchair or tables that are too tall. Businesses usual-
ly settle the lawsuits for around $10,000 rather than risk losing more in a trial.
Local targets
Potter Handy targeted downtown Palo Alto restaurants that had ADA violations in their outdoor dining setups in 2021. The firm has also sued businesses along El Camino Real, on Castro Street in Mountain View and Laurel Street in San Carlos.
A similar ADA reform effort, Senate Bill 585, also made it through the state Senate last year but stalled in the Assembly. The bill was supported by chambers of commerce throughout the state but opposed by disabled advocacy groups.
The ADA is a building code signed in 1990 that requires at least 5% of seating to be accessible for people with disabilities. The code is enforced by private citizens through lawsuits.
Fresh basil pesto has come to define much of what Americans like best about Italian cooking. This simple blend of basil, garlic and olive oil, so easy to make, brings a bold depth of flavor to every dish it comes to. The miracle of a well-made pesto is its versatility.
Simply slathered on a crust of bread or spooned over a slice of fresh tomato, it can make you swoon with delight. Tossed with pasta or into a risotto, it is perfect. Forked into a hot baked potato or folded into a cheese omelet, pesto works wonders. I could go on.
The name Pesto is derived from the Italian verb ‘pestare’ meaning ‘to pound’ or ‘to crush’ and refers to anything that is pounded, typically in a mortar and pestle, to a puree. In a modern Italian household, it would not be unheard of to make pesto with a mortar and pestle, but it would not be the norm. If you’ve ever used a mortar and pestle, you’d know why. At Howie’s we use a bar blender to make pesto, making preparation quick and so easy.
We blanch our basil (and parsley). Blanching breaks down the enzymes in the basil leaves that promote oxidation and cause discoloration. All restaurants do this. Our recipe calls for pine nuts, a traditional ingredient in pesto. Pine nuts are oddly expensive these days and are often hard to find in retail shops. It’s okay to substitute raw, unsalted cashews. The pine nuts don’t contribute any flavor to the pesto, but rather they aid in emulsifying the sauce. Lastly, we freeze our pesto immediately after preparation in portion size containers and you should too. Pesto loses its vibrancy in only a matter of hours.
To get the recipe for Basil Pesto scan the QR code or visit Howie’s website and click on ‘Recipe of the Month’. While you’re there, sign up to have Howie’s Recipe of the Month emailed to your inbox each month.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
A 46-year-old transient is facing 10 years in prison after trying to rape a 10-year-old girl at a laundromat in San Mateo, a prosecutor said.
Ignacio Rosendo Martinez pleaded no contest yesterday to attempted rape and failure to register as a sex offender, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
Rosendo Martinez was arrested on Nov. 11, 2020, after police responded to a report of indecent exposure at Wash and Dry Coin-Op Laundry at 364 N. Ellsworth Ave, Wagstaffe said.
Rosendo Martinez walked up behind a 10-yearold girl, pulled down her pants, bear-hugged her and thrusted his pelvis toward her for about 25 seconds, Wagstaffe said.
He allegedly tried to pull the girl into a back room, but she broke free and ran to her sister, Wagstaffe said. They went home and told their mom, who called police. Security footage confirmed the assault and helped police ID Rosendo Martinez, who was found at an apartment complex in the 200 block of Elm Street, according to Wagstaffe. Rosendo Martinez is in the San Mateo County jail with no bail. It was agreed upon to sentence him to 10 years on Aug. 19, Wagstaffe said.
recent interview. In a podcast released Monday, he expressed frustration over George Clooney’s call for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. He also accused longtime Democratic strategists of profiting from the party without helping its current efforts. As for the disastrous June 2024 debate, Hunter Biden said his father had taken the sleep aide Ambien and was still affected by it.
TAKING LA TIMES PUBLIC: Dr. Patrick SoonShiong, the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Times since 2018, says he intends to take the newspaper public in the coming year. During an interview on Monday’s “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” Soon-Shiong said the move would allow the Times “to be democratized and allow the public to have ownership of this paper.”
San Mateo County Coroner’s Office:
July 21
Kenneth Wayne Whitehurst, 88, of Millbrae
Greg Anthony Cortez, 39, of Daly City
Mohammed Zaheed, 53, of San Bruno
July 20
Mary Wardlaw, 100, of Redwood City Lai Lo, 85, of San Mateo
July 19
Thomas Lee, 84, of Redwood City
Faith Taeko Burgess, 82, of San Carlos David Benaron, 66, of Portola Valley
July 18
Giok S. Lioe, 61, no hometown given Tony Lew, 91, of South San Francisco
Donald George Land, 68, of San Mateo
Ethel Michelle Smith, 65, of East Palo Alto
July 17
Susan M. Adams, 85, of Palo Alto
Gustavo Alfonso Morales Rivera, 33, of San Mateo
Sukumar Ramanathan, 63, of Menlo Park
Arthur Lewis Baldwin Jr., 56, of Daly City
Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City:
Jan. 4
Zola Le Grand, a girl
Jan. 3
Jupiter Claire Gonzalez Ho, a girl
Rey Krishna Surange, a boy
Jan. 2
Maya Sensapra, a girl
Jan. 1
Aurora Molina Mendez, a girl
Dec. 31
Aekas Singh Bhullar, a boy
Juliette Dolores Calhoun, a girl
Isabelle Jiang, a girl
Dec. 30
Sho Ishitsubo Alexakis, a boy
Neo Ren, a boy
Yunshu Sun, a girl
Forest Rose Williams, a boy
Dec. 29
Hayden Grace Humann, a girl
Nisha Swara Ravishankar, a girl
Dec. 28
Meera Jangi, a girl
Jack Thomas Lorey, a boy
Mack Wolf Richardson, a boy
September 11, 1940 - July 10, 2025 ¢ ¢
Ralph Levine passed away in his sleep at his Palo Alto home on July 10. He was well cared for during his rapid decline due to Alzheimer’s.
Ralph was gifted, from his perfect musical pitch, to his natural athleticism (he played shortstop), to his overall brilliance. He had ideas how to improve the world, and would send occasional beautifully-crafted letters to the New York Times (on baseball rules) -- and to Stanford presidents. He had a quick wit and a Bronx sense of sarcasm. He remembered a professor’s words, “The more you know about different subjects, the more interesting your own life will be.”
But his special talent was friendship. He loved children. He cherished a vast network of friends including childhood playmates, people from his colleges and his old jobs, students he mentored at Stanford, and neighbors. He was a wonderful friend—so full of warmth, humor, and kindness. Many regarded him as their best friend and mentor. His trips all over the globe were often to visit or travel with those friends. They in turn would often come to stay with him in Palo Alto, and he joked that his home was the “moochery.”
Music was a delight for him throughout his life. Ralph composed his own melodies and could play any song after hearing it once. He was a master of many instruments, often selftaught, and played both organ and piano in his living room. He loved opera. He read three daily newspapers and had insightful views on both local and national politics. Ralph relished amateur photography and his photo albums recorded his happy times with friends. And, as volunteer family archivist, he prepared albums that systematically organized the family photos from the 1940’s onward.
Ralph Sanders Levine was born September 11, 1940, in New York City, the son of Samuel, who was a beloved elementary school teacher and principal, and Ruth, the wise and intelligent center of the family. His grandparents lived in the apartment next door. He grew up in what was then the thriving working-class neighborhood of Highbridge in The Bronx. Ralph was educated at P.S. 11, one block from the family apartment; at the renowned Bronx High School of Science, where he later taught math; at Bard College, where he won the prize in science, was the college organist, chaired the college council, and was later a generous donor. And then at Harvard he earned his Master of Arts in Teaching and Doctor of Education degrees.
June 12, 1946 - July 9, 2025
Alison Slone Hengehold, 79, of Menlo Park, loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend, passed away on July 9, 2025.
Alison was born on June 12, 1946, in Patterson, California, to James Woodward Slone and Charlene Elfers Slone. She attended Northmead Elementary, Las Palmas Middle School and Patterson High School, where she played tennis and was a cheerleader. After graduating, she earned a nursing degree and quickly realized that caring for others was her true calling. She began her career at Del Puerto Hospital in Patterson and later continued at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose. It was during her time in San Jose that friends introduced her to her future husband, James Hengehold.
Alison and Jim were married on September 6, 1975, at Mission Santa Clara. They made their home in Menlo Park, where they raised two children, Matthew and Ann. Jim ran the family business, Hengehold Trucks, with his brother Dave for many years. While Alison did not work at the business, she supported Jim wholeheartedly in both his professional and personal life. After becoming a mother, Alison retired from nursing but never stopped caring for others. She redirected her compassion and energy toward her family and friends, becoming a constant, nurturing presence in their lives. She extended that care to Jim’s father, Fred Hengehold, founder of Hengehold Trucks, lovingly supporting him in his later years until his passing at the age of 103. She also cared for her mother, whom the family affectionately called Nana and who was a regular presence at the Hengehold home in Menlo Park, often found playing cards and making her infamous Chex Mix—a recipe Alison thankfully passed on. A devoted wife, Alison was Jim’s primary caregiver and a steady source of strength as the family faced his battle with Parkinson’s disease. Alison and Jim’s marriage spanned 42 years, until his passing in 2017. When not tending to family and friends, Alison could be found in the NICU at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, cradling premature newborns. She cherished her mornings in the Cuddlers Program and afternoons driving local seniors to medical appointments. Alison was active in the National Charity League with her daughter, Annie. For a decade, she served as a devoted board member and volunteer with the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto. Alison will be remembered for her generous spirit, her deep loyalty to family and her unwavering kindness. She was always thinking of others, quietly doing thoughtful things to lift those around her. She was the thread that tied four generations of Slone and Hengehold families together, embracing the role of matriarch with love and ease. Her fun nature and willingness to laugh at herself endeared her to many. We will miss her beautiful smile, her warm embrace and her selfless love.
Alison is survived by her children, Matthew Hengehold (Christina) and Ann Hengehold (Cesar Ramos); her grandchildren, Alexa, Reed and Josephine Hengehold, and Slone Ramos; her brother, John Slone (Shauna); her brother-in-law, Dave Hengehold (Cathy); her nieces and their families; her childhood best friends, Georgia Leese and Michele Knapp; and the first dog she ever owned, Daphne, who she truly adored. She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved aunt, Geraldine Edwards; her brother, Michael Slone, and his wife, Virginia; her sister- in-law, Diane Hengehold; and her loving husband, Jim. A celebration of Alison’s life will be held in the near future, with details to be shared by the family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Ecumenical Hunger Program.
Services provided by Menlo Park Funeral Home and Cremation Services
In his long and successful career in educational administration, he was a school district official first in Connecticut and later in Oakland where he was responsible for Federal grants. He taught higher ed administration at Cal State Sacramento, taught at the College of the Center for Early Education in Los Angeles, and was principal of the secular section of a Hebrew day school in the Bay Area. Joining Stanford, for years he was at the School of Education helping to lead Pew Foundation national initiatives on standards-based education, and then was promoted to be the long-serving manager of the Aeronautics and Astronautics Department in the School of Engineering.
Ralph brought care and intelligence to everything he did, formed close relationships with the graduate students, and delighted to volunteer as advisor to Stanford undergraduates. He will be missed in Palo Alto, from coast to coast, and from Korea and Japan to Switzerland. He is survived by his sister Laura Steinberg and brother Martin Levine, his nephews David Steinberg (Mona) and Ben Levine and niece Diane Hiller, and grandnephews Matthew and Evan Steinberg and grandnieces Sydney Hiller and Cara Phillips (Billy). Pasepa Kolo and her family were his devoted caretakers.
Ralph will be buried in Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills, 5590 Forest Lawn Drive, in Los Angeles, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 2:00 PST. For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be livestreamed at https://Mount-Sinai-Memorial-Parks-and-Mortuaries. livecontrol.tv/687a5e59 An obituary will be posted at https://mountsinaiparks.org/ obituaries/
Donations in his memory can be made to the Fund for New York City Public Schools, 52 Chambers St. Room 305, New York, NY 10007, to support PS 11, Bronx (Highbridge School.) https://www.fundfornycps.org/donate
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
A man who allegedly rammed his truck into a Palo Alto police car and injured two officers will face a criminal sentence rather than getting mental health treatment, a judge ruled yesterday.
Emmanuel Glinton, 40, argued that he should go to a residential treatment center followed by a halfway house in San Jose, pointing to his PCP use that started when he was 8 years old.
Glinton’s dad had 28 kids and manufactured drugs, and his aunt sexually abused him, Glinton’s lawyer said in an application for a mental health diversion.
“Glinton’s justice involvement is likely the result of his early exposure to substances, violence, abuse, trauma and inconsistency in support through his childhood,” Deputy Public Defender Mahira Mir said.
Deputy District Attorney William Bobseine opposed the application, saying Glinton has a decade-long history of stealing IDs, fraudulently buying cars and trying to sell a house that wasn’t his in Sacramento County.
Judge Meghan Piano sided with Bobseine, allowing the criminal case to proceed on Aug. 12, court records show.
2023 incident
Glinton allegedly tried to withdraw money from a bank account that wasn’t his and then fled in his truck at 50 mph from Palo Alto Square on July 7, 2023.
Glinton allegedly reversed his truck into a police car on Leland Avenue, starting a fire in the engine and breaking a bone in Officer Christopher Conde’s hand.
In the truck, Glinton allegedly had a loaded gun, 13 fake ID cards and tools for making fake Social Security cards.
Firefighters near Half Moon Bay have rescued a labrador that found itself stuck on a ledge along a cliff by the ocean, Cal Fire said.
Yellow lab “Loui” was on a cliff at Ross Cove, just north of the Pillar
Point radar tower. Rescue crews with Cal Fire and the Coastside Fire Protection District did just what they would do with a human — they set up a rope system and descended down the cliff to retrieve the retriever.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
A longtime neighbor of an East Palo Alto man accused of killing his tenant testified that he admitted to the shooting to her.
Elizabeth Axiak has lived two doors down from John Caisiano Thompson for over 30 years and tearfully described him to a Redwood City courtroom as more than a neighbor but a brother.
Thompson would always check up on her and save her a parking spot when he knew she would get home late, Axiak said.
But after Axiak called Thomspon on Dec. 2, 2022, after hearing four to six gunshots, their conversations became strange and he acted paranoid, she testified on Monday.
Axiak’s sister told her the next day that she saw Thompson with blood on his pants.
“It was me”
On Dec. 7, 2022, the day after police blocked off the street for a reason unknown to Axiak, Thompson came over and was acting strangely, Axiak said. He asked if police had come to her door the day before. He also
asked if her security cameras were working.
She asked Thompson about the gunshots she had heard a few days prior.
“It was me,” Thompson told Axiak, according to her testimony.
Thompson is on trial for the fatal shooting of Breanna Labat on Dec. 2, 2022. The two had gotten into an argument, which “exploded,” leading to Thompson shooting Labat in the hallway of his home at 107 Daphne Way in East Palo Alto, according to Deputy District Attorney Vishal Jangla. Labat had been a tenant there for a short time and would sometimes babysit Thompson’s two-year-old.
Thompson allegedly told Axiak that two to three men were at his home and that something had happened — one of the men was shot in the leg after there was a scuffle, she said.
Thompson said the man who got shot went to a hospital in San Jose but was arrested because there was a warrant out for him, Axiak said.
Thompson asked her for gloves because he had to clean up after them, but she didn’t have any, Axiak said.
On Dec. 13, 2022, Axiak was interviewed by police, and when she returned home, Thompson entered her car unannounced and asked her about her last name.
Thompson then asked Axiak if she could delete the footage from her security camera. She showed him her phone to prove she didn’t have access — only her sister could delete the videos.
Axiak said Thompson had told her he had replaced the bloody floorboards and disposed of them throughout the area — some in a Home Depot dumpster, others in a nearby creek.
On Dec. 13, 2022, police and detectives searched the home with a warrant and found the indentations gone and the flooring in the process of being replaced, according to Jangla. Two areas of blood and two bullet holes in the living room and 9mm casings were found, Jangla said.
Thompson was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, and pleaded innocent to first-degree murder. He remains in jail without bail.
The case will continue this week with more witnesses being called.
BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ Daily Post Staff Writer
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus says she is fighting for and protecting her employees. But the deputies’ union says she fails to acknowledge her wrongdoings.
Yesterday, Corpus sent an email to her employees to let them know that attempts to bring her down will not deter her. The deputies’ union said the email is AI-generated and sounds like a fake leader.
“The attempts to break me have done the opposite; they’ve strengthened my resolve. The louder the opposition grows, the more transparent their motives become. And while their influence may be disruptive now, it will fade. Because the truth always rises,” Corpus said in her email.
Union response
The union said that the email never mentions leadership, only that she is a leader.
“It is shown in presence, in action, in being available to answer the hard questions. Instead, she has been largely absent, rarely seen around the office, shielded by a growing entourage of attorneys and refusing to speak publicly about the very issues that have rocked this department,” the union said in an email to members.
The union said if she believes in fairness, Corpus would resign to allow the department to heal.
“Change is never easy, especially when it threatens long-standing power structures. What we are facing today is not rooted in genuine concern for this office, it’s about protecting a status quo that has served a select few while many of you were overlooked, undervalued or denied opportunities to grow,” Corpus wrote.
Corpus calls herself a reformer in her email.
“But what kind of reformer installs her romantic partner into a powerful, high-paying executive role within the department,” the union said.
The union said Corpus doesn’t acknowledge that her vision of justice isn’t really justice.
Corpus says in her email that she won’t let employees be bullied or silenced.
“My door remains open,” Corpus said in her email.
Corpus is currently facing removal from the Board of Supervisors and the county’s civil grand jury.
Supervisors have voted to fire her based on allegations in two reports by outside investigators. They alleged she engaged in nepotism, retaliation, intimidation, ordering a false arrest and making racial and homophobic slurs.
The civil grand jury has also issued four accusations against Corpus. She will have to stand trial, and if she’s convicted, she will be removed from office.
WHAT: The Stanford Memory Lab is looking for healthy older adults to participate in a study on attention and memory.
ELIGIBILITY: Healthy and between the ages of 65 and 80; right-handed; able to lie flat for an MRI scan and hear without aid; no history of memory loss or neurological illness; no MRI-incompatible metal implants; normal or corrected-to-normal vision; and no color blindness
COMMITMENT: Participation will involve four separate visits:
Visit 1: Cognitive testing (at Stanford)
Visit 2: PET-MRI brain scan (at Stanford)
Visit 3: EEG-fMRI brain scan (at Stanford)
Visit 4: Behavioral testing (at Stanford)
COMPENSATION: Participants will be compensated $100 for the PET/MRI scan and an additional $20/hour for the EEG/fMRI and behavioral testing.
Ozzy Osbourne, the gloomy, demon-invoking lead singer of the pioneering band Black Sabbath who became the throaty, growling voice — and drug-and-alcohol ravaged id — of heavy metal, died yesterday, just weeks after his farewell show. He was 76.
In 2020, he revealed he had Parkinson’s disease after suffering a fall.
Either clad in black or bare-chested, the singer was often the target of parents’ groups for his imagery and once caused an uproar for biting the head off a bat. Later, he would reveal himself to be a doddering and sweet father on the reality TV show “The Osbournes.”
Black Sabbath’s 1969 self-titled debut LP has been likened to the Big Bang of heavy metal. It came during the height of the Vietnam War and crashed the hippie party, dripping menace and foreboding.
The band’s second album, “Paranoid,” included such classic metal tunes as “War Pigs,” and “Iron Man.” The song “Paranoid” reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 but became in many ways the band’s signature song.
Beatles of heavy metal
“Black Sabbath are the Beatles of heavy metal. Anybody who’s serious about metal will tell you it all comes down to Sabbath,” Dave Navarro of the band Jane’s Addiction wrote in Rolling Stone. Sabbath fired Osbourne in 1979
for his legendary excesses, like showing up late for rehearsals and missing gigs.
Osbourne reemerged the next year as a solo artist with “Blizzard of Ozz” and the following year’s “Diary of a Madman,” both hard rock classics that spawned enduring favorites such as “Crazy Train.” Osbourne was twice inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — once with Sabbath in 2006 and again in 2024 as a solo artist.
The original Sabbath lineup reunited for the first time in 20 years in July for his final concert.
Known for outlandishness
Osbourne embodied the excesses of metal. His outlandish exploits included relieving himself on the Alamo, snorting a line of ants off a sidewalk and, most memorably, biting the head off the live bat that a fan threw onstage during a 1981 concert. (He said he thought it was rubber.)
Osbourne was sued in 1987 by parents of a 19-year-old teen who died by suicide while listening to his song “Suicide Solution.” The lawsuit was dismissed.
Thelma Riley and Osbourne married in 1971; Osbourne adopted her son Elliot Kingsley, and they had two more children, Jessica and Louis. Osbourne later met Sharon, who became her own celebrity persona. They married in 1982, had three children and endured periodic separations and reconciliations.
BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT Daily Post Staff Writer
An executive at a financial software company has died after getting hit by a Caltrain in Menlo Park, according to the San Mateo County Coroner.
Sukumar Ramanathan, 63, of Menlo Park, was hit on Thursday around 7 a.m. near Ravenswood Avenue by an express train going straight from Redwood City to Palo Alto, according to Caltrain alerts.
Ramanathan was chief revenue officer for Parafin, a San Francisco-based company that makes payment plat-
forms for merchants like DoorDash and Walmart, according to his LinkedIn. The coroner hasn’t determined if Ramanathan’s death was an accident or a suicide.
2025 train deaths
Ramanathan is the fifth person to die on the tracks this year. Caltrain also recorded deaths on Jan. 31, March 4 and June 24 in Santa Clara County and on Feb. 8 in San Mateo County, according to a fatality log provided by the agency.
Help is available. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, call or text the 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.
The Post prints
3812 Quail Drive, 94303, 3 bedrooms, 1605 square feet, built in 2007, Leung Trust to Ayana and Serik Beketayev for $2,109,000, closed June 12 (last sale: $1,100,000, 01-24-08)
315 Oxford Ave., 94306, 3 bedrooms, 2182 square feet, built in 1982, Johan Ugander to Leland Stanford Junior Univ for $2,300,000, closed June 10 (last sale: $3,588,000, 12-05-17)
600 Willow Road #2, 94025, 2 bedrooms, 1334 square feet, built in 1996, Borba Trust to Kemit Mawakana for $1,375,000, closed May 23
32 Campbell Lane, 94025,
5 bedrooms, 2340 square feet, built in 1961, Gregory Valiant to Leland Stanford Junior Univ for $1,955,500, closed May 22 (last sale: $3,150,000, 08-18-20)
99 East Middlefield Road #24, 94043, 2 bedrooms, 1083 square feet, built in 1969, Kay and Dominic Hardiman to Afsoon Fallahi for $830,000, closed June 10 (last sale: $325,000, 0124-03)
49 Showers Drive #N160, 94040, 3 bedrooms, 1392 square feet, built in 1974, Saurabh Potdar to GrayMoin Trust for $1,275,000, closed June 11 (last sale: $1,095,000, 02-02-23)
LOS ALTOS
743 Edge Lane, 94024, 3 bedrooms, 1626 square
feet, built in 1953, Podell Family Trust to Amin and Solmaz Torabi for $4,320,000, closed June 2
831 La Mesa Drive, 94028, 2 bedrooms, 3074 square feet, built in 1961, Gibbons Family Trust to Jerome Guillen for $5,000,000, closed May 19
REDWOOD CITY
937 Pleasant Hill Road, 94061, 3 bedrooms, 1630 square feet, built in 1956, Tankersley Family Trust to Han and Michelle Chen for $2,275,000, closed May 13
3350 Page St., 94063, 3 bedrooms, 2020 square feet, built in 1947, Zachary Gomez to Norbert and Zimei Yang for $1,850,000, closed May 15 (last sale: $1,100,100, 10-12-15)
Why shockwave therapy is now the smart choice for athletic recovery
No Downtime:
• Stay in motion. You can return to practice, workouts, or daily activity right after treatment—no rest required.
Reduces the Need for Expensive Diagnostic Tests (MRI, X-ray):
• Skip the wait and high costs. Shockwave therapy targets the injury directly, saving you time and money.
Lower Patient Out-of-Pocket Expense:
• Affordable, non-invasive, and effective—ideal for athletes and active people who want results without breaking the bank.
• When combined, these three powerful therapies speed recovery and deliver lasting relief.
• EMTT for deep tissue healing
• Radial Shockwave for circulation and scar tissue
• Focused Shockwave to target the root cause of injury
Author:
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Meth was involved in 64% of all drug deaths in Santa Clara County last year, leading public health officials to launch an awareness campaign to prevent meth use among residents.
“The increasing number of methamphetamine-related deaths was a clear signal that we need to talk directly to our community,” said Dr. Cheryl Ho, behavioral health medical director. “This drug is present in our neighborhoods, and people deserve honest information about its effects. Our goal is to provide the facts that might make someone think twice before trying meth.”
The rush wears off fast, resulting in paranoia and anxiousness, the county said. In some cases, people take meth in binges and don’t eat or sleep for hours or days. Repeated use can lead to psychosis, delusions, tooth decay, severe itching, a stroke or heart failure, the county said.
Santa Clara County has reported 1,482 meth-related deaths since 2018. Treatment options, including medication and therapy, are available. To start, contact the county’s behavioral health call center at (800) 704-0900.
Meth is a stimulant drug made in labs that can be eaten, snorted, smoked or injected to give the user a quick “rush” or sense of euphoria.
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The U.S. is developing new safeguards for the organ transplant system after a government investigation found a Kentucky group continued preparations for organ donation by some patients who showed signs of life, officials told Congress yesterday.
While the organ removals were canceled, near misses that
some lawmakers called horrifying should never happen. A House subcommittee asked how to repair trust in the transplant network for potential organ donors and families — some of whom have opted out of donor registries after these cases were publicized.
“We have to get this right,” said Rep. Brett Guthrie, a Kentucky
Republican who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee and whose mother died waiting for a liver transplant.
Lawmakers stressed most organ donations proceed appropriately. But the federal probe cited a “concerning pattern of risk” in dozens of other cases involving the Kentucky donation group.
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.
JULY 1
7:53 p.m. — Parts and/or accessories stolen from a vehicle, 3000 block of Cowper St.
JULY 12
10:37 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, Hamilton Ave. and Middlefield Road.
JULY 13
10:03 a.m. — Home burglary, 1800 block of Park Blvd.
11:41 a.m. — Vehicle stolen, 800 block of Webster St.
1:42 p.m. — Burglary, 200 block of Whitclem Drive.
8:03 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes injuries, 200 block of Oregon Expressway.
JULY 15
5:05 p.m. — Osvaldo Madrigal, 44, of Menlo Park and 66-year-old Armando Ray Garcia of Mountain View both arrested for drinking alcohol in a public place, 400 block of Waverley St.
8:56 p.m. — Welvi Alexander Tomas Lopez, 18, of Redwood City, arrested for DUI and driving without a license, 1800 block of Embarcadero Road.
THURSDAY
7:46 a.m. — Peweli Ariel Pinkston, 34, of Redwood City, cited on a warrant, 200 block of Portage Ave.
7:52 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Bryant St.
7:58 p.m. — Auto burglary, Stanford Shopping Center.
8:01 p.m. — Auto burglary, Stanford Shopping Center.
8:06 p.m. — Auto burglary, 700 block of Emerson St.
8:18 p.m. — Vandalism, 800 block of Center Drive.
8:19 p.m. — Vehicle stolen, 700 block of Homer Ave.
8:41 p.m. — Victim defrauded, 700 block of Layne Court.
8:50 p.m. — Vandalism, 500 block of Webster St.
8:56 p.m. — Auto burglary, 300 block of Hamilton Ave.
10:19 p.m. — Home burglary, 2700 block of Bryant St.
10:26 p.m. — Home burglary, 400 block of Tennyson Ave.
JULY 14
2:30 p.m. — About $700 in cash stolen from an unlocked vehicle, 500 block of Entrada Way.
SUNDAY
10:44 a.m. — Elver Perez Espinoza, 32, cited for drug possession, 1500 block of Willow Road. Reihuanani Funganitao, 47, cited on a warrant and for theft of someone else’s lost property.
7:47 p.m. — Dog bite reported, 500 block of Oak Grove Ave.
11:15 p.m. — Jose Maria Zamora Ramos, 23, of Redwood City, arrested for public drunkenness, 500 block of Oak Grove Ave.
MONDAY
8:05 a.m. — Jose Gomes Cruz, 49, of East Palo Alto, arrested on a warrant, Willow Road and Bayfront Expressway.
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9:15 a.m. — Vehicle collision causes injuries, Marsh Road and Haven Ave.
10:01 a.m. — Finnigan Barry, 27, of San Francisco, cited for narcotics possession, 500 block of El Camino.
1:34 p.m. — Fraud, 700 block of Laurel Ave.
1:45 p.m. — Grand theft, 200 block of Durham St.
10:22 p.m. — Jamie Tonn, 35, of Fremont, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Marsh Road and Bohannon Drive. Incident handled by Atherton police.
JULY 12
12:09 p.m. — Auto burglary, 600 block of Escondido Road.
12:49 p.m. — Auto burglary, 400 block of Roth Way.
9:34 p.m. — Bicycle stolen, 400 block of Arguello Way. Jeremiah James Aguilar Lockaton, 30, of Redwood City, arrested about 20 minutes later at Town & Country Village for grand theft, carrying a concealed dirk or dagger and drug possession.
JULY 13
2:02 a.m. — Jazmine Rocha Peralta, 26, of San Jose, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Villa and Franklin streets.
JULY 14
1:20 a.m. — Gilbert Ramirez Jimenez, 28, of Mountain View, arrested for public drunkenness, 500 block of Escuela Ave.
10:43 a.m. — Home burglary 1-99 block of Sierra Vista Ave.
11:17 a.m. — Home burglary, 200 block of Sierra Vista Ave.
2:01 p.m. — Vandalism, 2500 block of W. El Camino.
4:27 p.m. — Assault, 900 block of E. El Camino.
4:36 p.m. — Theft, Royal Oak Court.
6:52 p.m. — Tekla Fisher, 67, of Palo Alto, arrested for public drunkenness and resisting police, 1900 block of W. El Camino.
7:02 p.m. — Theft, 2200 block of Mora Place.
FRIDAY
12:43 a.m. — Daniel Guzman, 20, of San Jose, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and narcotics possession, Monroe Drive and El Camino.
SUNDAY
9:22 a.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, 600 block of Mills Ave.
3:27 p.m. — Daniel Marshall, 50, of Los Altos, arrested on a warrant, 400 block of Almond Ave. MONDAY
8:09 p.m. — Auto burglary, 100 block of First St.
SUNDAY
9:50 p.m. — Guillermo Dominguez, 41, of Bloomington, cited on a warrant, El Camino and Valparaiso Ave. MONDAY
5:06 p.m. — Omus Marshall,
53, of Concord, cited for narcotics possession, Atherton Ave,
FRIDAY
8:56 p.m. — Jose Antonio Melgarejo Cruz, 26, cited for drug possession, Bay Road and Willow St.
APRIL 25
Jose Armando Granados, 23, arrested for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, 300 block of Buckeye St.
Eric David Larsen, 32, of San Francisco, cited for narcotics possession, 100 block of Chestnut St.
Anessa Antonia Lopez, 23, of San Jose, cited for shoplifting at Target, 2485 El Camino.
APRIL 26
Adriana Corona Garcia, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for arson that burns an inhabited structure, 1-99 block of Renato Court.
Roman Leon Contreras, 25, of Menlo Park, cited for resisting police, 1000 block of Middlefield Road.
APRIL 27
Armando Perez Ramirez, 48, of Redwood City, arrested for violation of a restraining order, 2000 block of Broadway.
Carolina Lupian, 34, of Redwood City, arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and resisting police, 100 block of Buckeye St.
APRIL 28
Lourdes Maria Moscozo Mayen, 27, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence, 200 block of Poplar Ave.
Marcelo Enrique Pallais, 46, of Redwood City, arrested on warrants, 800 block of Brewster Ave.
Miriam Magallon Ceja, 50, of Redwood City, cited for shoplifting at Target, 2485 El Camino.
WEDNESDAY
12:45 a.m. — Juan Manuel Gonzalez, 55, of Redwood City, arrested for public drunkenness, 900 block of Madison Ave.
1:15 p.m. — Mischelle Priyanka Lal, 44, of Hayward, cited for shoplifting at Target, 2485 El Camino.
6:10 p.m. —Oscar Rodriguez Maravilla, 23, of Redwood City, arrested for parole violation, 1-99 block of Willow St.
THURSDAY
1:05 a.m. — Jeff Henkle, 55, of Redwood City, arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, 2300 block of El Camino.
7:20 a.m. — Manuel Alejandro Arreola, 33, arrested for public drunkenness and parole violation, 1000 block of El Camino.
3:16 p.m. — Esneider Alexander Pardo Masmela, 36, of Redwood City, arrested for domestic violence and false imprisonment, 1-99 block of Renato Court.
6:57 p.m. — Sione Fakatua Latu, 37, of Redwood City, arrested for public drunkenness, 2200 block of Broadway.
FRIDAY
5:23 a.m. — Vehicle rollover accident causes minor injuries, Broadway.
5:35 a.m. — Cintya Esmeralda Paz Rangel, 24, of Redwood City, cited for possession of drug paraphernalia, Allerton St. and Whipple Ave.
7:13 a.m. — Vehicle hits a pedestrian, causing minor injuries, Woodside Road.
9:10 a.m. — Melvin James Malcolm, 77, of San Francisco, cited for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, Fuller and Winslow streets.
10:09 a.m. — Anthony Lee Taggart, 63, of San Francisco, arrested for failure to comply with sex offender
registration requirements, Fuller and Winslow streets.
10:12 a.m. — Mark Conrad Alward, 68, of Redwood City, arrested on warrants, 400 block of Stambaugh St.
12:34 p.m. — Jonathan Hernandez Nepomuceno, 24, of Redwood City, cited for having nonfunctional or nonapproved airbags in his vehicle, 500 block of Woodside Road.
2:07 p.m. — Vehicle accident causes minor injuries, Hudson St.
5:04 p.m. — Roberto Mihal Calvillo Ayala, 32, cited on a warrant, Broadway and Hamilton St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
5:29 p.m. — Adriana Marie O’Donnell Martell, 20, cited on a warrant, Broadway and Hamilton St. Citation given by San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies.
5:34 p.m. — Cyclist injured in a hit-and-run, Chestnut St.
JULY 14
Time not given — $3,500 fraudulently withdrawn from an account, 3400 block of Woodside Road.
FRIDAY
5:06 p.m. — Adolfo Figueroa Olguin, 40, cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license, Woodside Road and Alameda de las Pulgas.
SUNDAY
12:25 a.m. — Paea Kelepiroy Kakala, 18, cited on a warrant, 1800 block of Ralston Ave.
6:29 a.m. — Couple gets into a physical altercation, Granada St. 9:53 p.m. — Vehicle stolen in Belmont is recovered in Oakland, though damaged and missing parts.
From the Redwood City office of the CHP, which covers the Mid-Peninsula. JAN. 31
Saminullah Musa Zai, 28, arrested for DUI.
FEB. 1
Luis Alvarez Barrales, 37, arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and narcotics possession.
Sayd M. Ghoreishi, 64, arrested for DUI.
Limber Lara Mercado, 32, arrested for DUI that causes injuries.
Yolanda Ochoa, 57, arrested for DUI, driving with a suspended or revoked license and violation of a court order.
FEB. 2
Jorge A. Molina-Arteaga, 44, arrested for DUI.
Leticia Y. Rojas Angel, 27, arrested for DUI.
FEB. 3
Gissell Penaloza Vega, 25, arrested for DUI.
FEB. 8
Gregorio F. Izeta, 51, arrested for DUI.
Gemma Newlove, 52, arrested for DUI.
Simon P. Vecchio, 41, arrested for DUI.
FEB. 9
Ilia Brylkov, 31, arrested for DUI.
Edgar M. Franco, 36, arrested for DUI, hit-and-run, driving with a suspended or revoked license, threats, vandalism, battery and resisting and obstructing police.
Scott E. Jackson, 49, arrested for DUI.
Ryan Mendez, 18, arrested for DUI.
Sonia K. Toor, 31, arrested for DUI.
Rahul Vemuri, 28, arrested for DUI.
FEB. 12
Gina M. Rollandi, 34, arrested for DUI.
Trade Wars and Currency Wars are accelerating worldwide.
The old monetar y system is failing. Indebted national currencies are depreciating in a see-saw race to the bottom. So much worldwide debt is in default or is being masked with more debt. Politicians posture at each other, but they all created the situation by buying power and favors while mor tgaging your children’s future.
Stocks and bond markets, long suppor ted by Central Banks, may be challenged going for ward as governments have exhausted their debt expansion tools. Recent new highs in equities, due to some promising companies, may be more post-election hope than substance. Cr yptocurrencies had their run, but the hope for a sounder and more private fiat system remains challenged while a past price bubble for the majority has been costly. Bitcoin is an example of those still per forming among the thousands of currencies & tokens in this young experiment.
Wise and calm obser vers know that longterm, gold is money, not debt, not paper promises. For thousands of years it has protected families from currency depreciation, paper defaults, and cer tain political abuses.
If you have been waiting to buy gold, or buy it “cheaper,” reconsider. Gold bottomed near $1040 at the end of 2015. We are in a new multi-year uptrend reconfirmed by the current strength just below all time highs. Monetar y scientists understand that the repricing of gold is just getting star ted. Each crisis seems to become more pronounced as the debt monetar y system disintegrates towards failure. Gold is best accumulated, not speculated. Star t saving in gold, and make it a habit.
Come visit Mish International and find out what probabilities lie ahead for gold and related commodities. Learn why gold must be a necessary par t of your assets. Since 1964, the wisest advice and best prices for gold & silver are right here in Menlo Park.
After nearly three decades of founding and leading California Skin Institute, Dr. Morganroth is no longer seeing patients at CSI. His advanced expertise in dermatology, Mohs surgery, cosmetic and laser procedures, reconstructive techniques, and comprehensive skin cancer evaluations is now exclusively available at his new practice in Palo Alto.
Book your dermatology appointment today at Palo Alto Dermatology Institute (PADI), where cutting-edge technology meets expert, patient-centered care. Call (650) 606-PADI (7234). Whether you’re seeking medical, surgical, or cosmetic dermatology services, their team is here to provide personalized treatment in a state-of-the-art setting. PADI’s 7,000-square-foot, five-star setting is located at 301 High St.
PALO ALTO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH has a heart for serving hungry children locally and globally. Last year’s Tri-Tip BBQ Fundraiser helped provide over 10,000 meals and monthly doctor visits for the children in León, Nicaragua. This year the goal is to establish a sustainable garden for the feeding center and teach the families how to grow
fresh vegetables. Join them on Sat., July 26th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 2890 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, for a fun day of music and delicious food and help change the lives of hungry children.
FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNITY. Palo Alto First Christian Church, located at 2890 Middlefield Rd. in Midtown Palo Alto, is pleased to invite the public to their community Food Truck event every last Thursday until August. This is a fun, free, relaxing evening for everyone. Join them on July 31st from 5 to 8 p.m.,
kids activities such as spike ball, big jenga, face painting, and corn hole!
21ST ANNUAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS DAY. Saturday, August 2, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo County Event Center. A family-friendly and resource-rich event designed to empower all residents to be better prepared for any emergency! Some of the activities include: How to Pack a Go Bag; How to Use a Fire Extinguisher; Pets & Disasters 101; Be Red Cross Ready; an Emergency Cooking Demonstration; a Search & Rescue Dog demonstration; and a Kids’ Korner where children can decorate a pillowcase and hear Storytime with a Firefighter. In addition, there will be many displays, exhibits, games, and vendors so you can gather more information and supplies. For updates and full listing of events, visit smcdisasterprep.org
CONNECT AND LEARN SPEAKER EVENT. If you are planning on moving into a senior living community or helping a family or friend with downsizing, come join The Avant for an invaluable discussion on the best way to tackle decluttering, sorting, packing, moving, setting up a new residence and selling your home. Most importantly, learn about the benefits of living in a vibrant senior community. The event will be held
on Tuesday, August 5th from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 4041 El Camino Way, Palo Alto. Mani Mortezai, a well respected professional in the senior real estate field and the Marketing Director of Tailored Transitions will be the speaker. To reserve a spot, please call (650) 320-8626.
LOOKING TO BOOST YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS? At the Global Leadership Summit on August 7 – 8, you have the opportunity to hear a livestream of leadership experts, network and attend a Community Expo, and come away inspired! Event held at First Presbyterian Church of Mountain View, whose pastor Kim Dorr-Tilley says “We’re at the hinge of history right now in Silicon Valley. Investing in bold, inspiring leadership with a true north may be one of the most significant things we’ll ever do.” To learn more and register, go to fpcmv.org/gls.
WHERE SERVICE FEELS LIKE FAMILY. For Steve Kirksey, service manager at Stevens Creek Mercedes-Benz, the goal is simple: make every customer feel like they’re part of the family. As a former manager of Park Ave Motors in Palo Alto. For decades, Steve and his service team has had the reputation to work efficiently and with transparency. They offer pick-up and drop-off service requests as well as loaner car deliveries, all while treating every car as if it were their own. Customers keep
coming back for the personalized care and the peace of mind that comes with knowing their car is in the right hands. Steve and his friendly service team welcome you and are ready to keep your Mercedes running at its bestmake sure to tell them we referred you.
SUNDANCE THE STEAKHOUSE OFFERS
DELICIOUS dinners and friendly people like Galen and Finn. They’ll make sure your visit to this legendary steakhouse will be one to remember. A romantic atmospher and yet kid friendly. Prime rib, lobster, New York steaks and a variety of fresh seafood. The historic lounge is always good for a sip of wine with an appetizer or a shot and beer like the tough guys do. Sundance has been in business for over 50 years so check the website and give
Galen or Finn a call at (650) 321-6798 for a lunch or dinner reservation. Visit 1921 El Camino Real in Palo Alto and see why Sundance The Steakhouse is such a special place.
LOOKING FOR
PEOPLE FIRST? BMO Bank, formerly Bank of the West, has spent the past two years building real connections in the Palo Alto community. Located at 2600 El Camino Real, BMO stands out as the only bank in the area known for going out to local businesses and offering their employees free incentives
to open accounts with no strings attached. The team prides itself on treating every client as an individual, with personal experiences that matter. From complimentary in-house financial advising to a full range of services designed to help you make real financial progress, BMO is here to support your goals every step of the way. You are in great hands, so request for Albert Banking Manager, Assem Premier Manager, Leslie & Deepti Retail Relationship Banker, and Jonas Associate Banker for all your financial questions or needs. For more information stop by their branch or call (650) 3276000.
Gowen will hear from up to six witnesses, including Tashjian, Ettenger and a forensic accountant, before she makes a ruling.
Tashjian is facing 23 counts of felony embezzlement and more than 15 civil lawsuits from people trying to get money back from him. He is due back in court on Monday for the criminal case.
Lawsuits keep coming
The lawsuits have continued to roll in, most recently from investor Rajeev Guliani. Guliani sued Tashjian on March 24 for allegedly keeping a $1 million loan.
Disgruntled investors include Janet Bocek, Gary and Judy Laine, Tom and Diana Pare, Richard and Catherine Spieker, Tod Fukushima, Lourdes Martinez and Catherine Hung.
Tashjian had his hand in about a dozen housing developments on the Peninsula, ranging from luxury single-family homes to apartment complexes.
Tashjian’s investors were guaranteed healthy returns and referred their friends to him from 2016 to 2019.
But his network of LLCs came crashing down in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, according to a report by DA investigator Cody Cogliandro.
Where the money went
Without their knowledge, Tashjian was transferring money between LLCs set up for specific projects and his personal accounts, Cogliandro said.
When investors asked for financial records they were entitled to see, Tashjian would either refuse or send records through an app that makes a document disappear a few seconds after viewing it, Cogliandro said.
“Vahe knew he wasn’t being honest with his statements and only temporarily moved money around to appear honest,” Cogliandro wrote in his report.
would be considered fraudulent conveyance,” Davis said.
So Davis filed an application on Sunday for a temporary restraining order that would prevent Herchen from disposing of any assets.
Judge Beth McGowen will consider the application today at the Old County Courthouse in San Jose.
Herchen and Ku were married in October 2017 without telling her family.
Ku, 37 at the time, disappeared after she and Herchen went to Taroko National Park on Nov. 29, 2019. Herchen allegedly sent an email from Ku’s account to fake that she was alive.
Lengthy process
Ku’s family sued Herchen in January 2021, and an emotional two-week trial started on July 10.
A jury of 12 heard from an attorney who looked for Ku, a Taiwanese detective, an email expert, two doctors and Ku’s brother, sister and dad.
Herchen denied killing Ku and said she likely ran off with their younger and better-looking tour guide.
After two hours of deliberation, the jury on Friday found that Herchen’s conduct was a “substantial factor in causing the death of Alice Ku” and awarded Ku’s parents $23.6 million in damages.
Hard to collect
Davis said once the judgment is officially recorded, he will take steps to foreclose on Herchen’s properties and seize his bank accounts.
“It’s not necessarily that easy to collect money from somebody who owes it. You’ve got to keep the pressure on,” Davis said on a phone call.
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During the trial, Herchen testified that he owns six to eight properties. A public record search revealed that he sold or transferred a Palo Alto property at 260 Wilton Ave. on Oct. 31, Davis said.
Herchen “has not made any arrangements to preserve the proceeds from that sale to satisfy the plaintiffs’ judgment,” Davis said in his application.
Herchen’s Los Altos home is at 927 Lundy Lane, Davis said.
Herchen works as a fellow at Bloom Energy, a company based in San Jose that converts natural gas into electricity. He said he has about 60 to 70 patents. Herchen explained that his job as a fellow “means they respect my contributions there enough that I can do essentially whatever I want.”
Attorney Chuck Smith asked Herchen if he made “pretty good money” while he was married to Ku.
“It was definitely comfortable,” Herchen said.
Before Bloom Energy, Herchen worked at Applied Materials from 1994 to 2009 as the company grew from 1,000 employees to 30,000 employees. He has a PhD from Stanford and grew up in Canada.
encampments drop overnight,” Sturken said. The ban council approved is similar to the one in place in San Mateo County, which was approved on Jan. 23, 2024, allowing authorities to cite the homeless with a misdemeanor for camping after two warnings. The difference will be a smaller penalty of a citation of $100 or up to six months in jail.
County Manager Mike Callagy said on Monday that no citations have been issued since the county started the ban.
New rules
Under the new ban, encampments that are 200 feet away from schools and the Navigation Center, which
provides temporary living space at 275 Blomquist St, will be removed after a 48-hour notice.
Most encampments will be removed after two notices and 72 hours have passed. Assistant City Manager Patrick Heisinger said it takes around 90 days to clean up an encampment.
It would cost the city between $800 and $1,000 to clean up small encampments, $2,000 for medium-sized encampments and $20,000 for large encampments. The cost covers coordination with the police department, but it will now be coordinated by the county.
There were 21 speakers, most opposed to the ban because it criminalizes the homeless and poor.
“Adding the threat of arrest for camping does nothing to help. Instead, it motivated people to evade contact and refuse to speak with outreach workers, making it harder to build the trust needed for a positive outcome,” resident Clara Jaeckel said.
Won’t address the root
Jaeckel said the ban won’t address the root of the issue, which is that housing isn’t affordable.
She said the ban will make it even harder for homeless people to access services, be approved for leases and get hired if they are arrested.
Raymond Goins, who used to be homeless, feels like the ban punishes people for being poor.
“Redwood City is taking the Trump approach and doing the same thing to the homeless population that Trump is doing to our immigrant population,” Goins said.
Concern about fires
Only a few residents spoke in support of the ban, as they are concerned about the fires near their homes and theft by the homeless.
Tony Carpo, who lives on Bair Island, said for the past 3 1/2 years, there have been 13 fires between the Whipple Avenue on-ramp and the Docktown Marina. There have been four fires within the last two months, Carpo said. Carpo’s home has been just a few hundred feet away from the fires. He asked council to consider adding the neighborhood as an area where en-
campments could be removed within 48 hours.
“The danger to our community is real, it’s growing and it’s unique to our part of the city. Please don’t wait for another tragedy on Bair Island to force your response,” Carpo said.
Nancy Crampton, who lives at the 1 Marina condo complex, said she has experienced homeless people coming to her home looking around for items to take.
She said every day, a neighborhood Facebook group shares photos or videos of homeless people coming to their homes.
The number of homeless in Redwood City has decreased since 2023, according to Heisinger. In 2023, 205 people were unsheltered, compared to 141 in June.
There has been a 42% decrease since 2022, Heisinger said.
There are currently a total of 29 encampments with 88 individuals spread throughout them, Heisinger said.
The ban follows a $2.85 million grant the city received on March 5 to further its work helping people in homeless encampments to find stable housing and cleaning up areas.
The grant is being used at the intersection of Highway 101 and Highway 84, Woodside Road, and Seaport Boulevard, according to the city.
This is the second grant that the city has received. In 2022, $1.84 million was awarded to the city.
During that time, the number of people without homes went down 23% while it went up 18% countywide, according to data collected by San Mateo County.
The city previously attempted to help those living in RVs in 2020 by implementing the “Safe RV Parking Program.”
The program allowed RV dwellers to park in a city lot and have access to resources while staying there, hoping to lead them to find housing.
Council also voted to have a committee provide a recap every four to six months on the progress of the ban.
San Francisco banned homeless people from living in RVs by adopting strict new parking limits the mayor says are necessary to keep sidewalks clear and prevent trash buildup.
The policy, which received final approval by San Francisco supervisors yesterday, targets at least 400 recreational vehicles in the city of 800,000 people. The RVs serve as shelter for people who can’t afford housing.
Those who live in them say they’re a necessary option in an expensive city where affordable apartments are impossible to find. But Mayor Daniel Lurie and other supporters of the policy say motor homes are not suitable for long-term living and the city has a duty to both provide shelter to those in need and clean up the streets.
Critics of the plan, however, say that it’s cruel to force people to give up their only home in exchange for a shot at traditional housing when there is not nearly enough units for all the
people who need help; the mayor is only offering additional money to help 65 households.
Banning oversized vehicles is part of Lurie’s pledge to clean up San Francisco streets, and part of a growing trend to require homeless people to accept offers of shelter or risk arrest or tows.
Yesterday, about three dozen people gathered outside City Hall and marched somberly through the building, hoping to influence supervisors to vote against the measure. But it cleared the Board of Supervisors with two of 11 supervisors voting “no.” Supervisors made no remarks.
The proposal sets a two-hour parking limit citywide for all RVs and oversized vehicles longer than 22 feet or higher than 7 feet, regardless of whether they are being used as housing.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warned the financial industry of a “significant impending fraud crisis” because of the ability of artificial intelligence tools to impersonate a person’s voice to bypass security checks and move money.
Altman spoke at a Federal Reserve conference yesterday in Washington.
“A thing that terrifies me is apparently there are still some financial institutions that will accept the
voiceprint as authentication,” Altman said. “That is a crazy thing to still be doing. AI has fully defeated that.”
Voice clones
Voiceprinting as an identification for wealthy bank clients grew popular more than a decade ago, with customers typically asked to utter a challenge phrase into the phone to access their accounts. But now AI voice clones, and
eventually video clones, can impersonate people in a way that Altman said is increasingly “indistinguishable from reality” and will require new methods for verification.
“That might be something we can think about partnering on,” said Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, the central bank’s top financial regulator, who was hosting the discussion with Altman.
