School Board Blasted for Fired Principals Other Priorities
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Tea culture WEEKEND | 17 MARCH 23, 2018 VOLUME 26, NO. 9 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 21 MV to start taxing, regulating short-term rentals CITY OFFICIALS TASKED WITH DRAFTING AIRBNB RULES By Mark Noack here is we want this system to work,” said Councilwoman Pat fter years of dithering, Showalter. “We want people to Mountain View is getting make a little more money, and Aready to start regulat- welcome visitors to the commu- ing and taxing the local cottage nity, but not to reduce housing industry of Airbnb rentals and stock.” other similar services. In regard to housing, a number In a discussion Tuesday night, of public speakers urged caution. the City Council unanimously Poorly written rules could end up supported the idea of forcing encouraging homeowners to rent an estimated 670 listed rentals out their properties on Airbnb operating in the city to register as instead of providing long-term formal businesses and pay taxes housing, warned Sarah McDer- similar to hotels. To accomplish mott, an analyst with the Unite that, city leaders endorsed a plan Here labor union. NATALIA NAZAROVA for Airbnb to start collecting “In cities like San Francisco and A SALUTE TO READING taxes on behalf of the city, which Los Angeles, we’ve seen whole the company has been offering to apartments being converted into Belynda Lindsey reads to an enthusiastic group of students at Monta Loma Elementary School on do for years. hotels. Suddenly there’s keypads March 16. Lindsey, a command chief warrant officer with the 63rd Regional Support Command, was The regulations were described on the units and they’re being one of the Very Important People invited to VIP Reading Day, an annual event for special guests to share as a “no-brainer” by council rented out like short-term units,” a love of reading and talk about their professions. Other VIPS at Monta Loma this year included police members, yet it has taken a long she said. “The concern here is Chief Max Bosel, Councilwomen Lisa Matichak and Margaret Abe-Koga, and representatives from the time to get to this point. For incentivizing taking a long-term library, the school board, NASA Ames and the Humane Society. years, city officials have acknowl- rental unit off the market.” edged the need to put together To curb this, council members policies for services like Airbnb, suggested they could put a cap but the effort was sidelined for on the number of days each year School board blasted for fired principals other priorities. Over that time, that any vacant housing could MV WHISMAN BOARD MUM ON REASONS FOR ADMIN CHANGES AT FOUR SCHOOLS city officials have mostly turned be rented out through Airbnb. a blind eye as Airbnb rentals Exactly how many days will be By Kevin Forestieri a new assistant principal at Gra- paper plates to huge construction have steadily spread throughout decided at a future meeting, they ham Middle School paper, all showing overwhelm- Mountain View, even though indicated. ozens of frustrated par- Although the topic wasn’t on ing support for reinstating the they were technically illegal Some of the more complicated ents and community the agenda, the March 15 meet- ousted principals, particularly under the city’s rules. questions on short-term rentals Dmembers laid into top ing marked the first chance for Thompson and Chesley. During that time, Mountain were left up in the air. City staff Mountain View Whisman Dis- district residents to weigh in on The sweeping decision to View has forfeited a small for- did not address whether they trict officials last week, demand- the decision in person. The board remove nearly half of the dis- tune in tax revenues. A previ- would need to modify the city’s ing a complete reversal of a trict’s principals at the end of ous Voice report found that zoning rules to allow Airbnb ser- decision earlier this month to the school year was a bombshell Mountain View was losing out vices in residential areas. Under remove four school principals ‘I frankly have no that, to parents, came out of on about $1 million a year by the current rules, rental services and decrying what they called a nowhere and seemed ill-advised. not taxing Airbnb, not counting operating like hotels would be bogus job review process. more trust left Landels PTA president Laryssa its competitors. One scrupulous prohibited, pointed out Council- In a closed-session vote on Polika-Engle said Chesley had a Airbnb host described how city man John McAlister. March 1, trustees unanimously to give you.’ strong track record, champion- officials would actually mail him Similarly, staff also avoided voted to remove, or “release,” MONICA TEICHER, DISTRICT PARENT ing initiatives to improve student back his money when he tried to wading into the question of how Landels Elementary School literacy and partnering with the pay the same taxes as hotels. short-term rentals would jibe Principal Steve Chesley, Mistral PTA to bring new programs to The reason for this was city legal with the city’s rigid rent control Elementary Principal Marcela meeting ended up as something the school. Getting rid of him staff believed Mountain View policies. In San Francisco, rent Simoes de Carvalho and Graham of a release valve for frustration without consulting with parents needed to first draft regulations control protections have been Middle School Principal Kim that had been building over the — and for opaque reasons — has before they could tax the industry. exploited by Airbnb guests to Thompson. Theuerkauf Elemen- last two weeks. Parents and stu- “fractured” the community and At the Tuesday night meeting, force homeowners to treat them tary Principal Ryan Santiago was dents packed the multipurpose given rise to an atmosphere of elected leaders made it clear they as tenants. City Attorney Jannie also removed from his position room at Graham with signs were ready to take that step. at the school, and reassigned as made out of everything from See PRINCIPALS, page 10 “The fundamental principle See RENTALS, page 12 INSIDE ARTS & EVENTS 16 | GOINGS ON 22 | MARKETPLACE 24 | REAL ESTATE 26 THE ADDRESS IS THE PENINSU THE EXPERIENCE IS AIN PINEL MOUNTAIN VIEW $2,598,000 MOUNTAIN VIEW $2,395,000 SANTA C RA $2,198,000 1917 Limetree Lane | 3bd/2ba 1209 Awalt Drive | 4bd/2.5ba 3178 Atherton Drive | 4bd/3ba Denise Welsh | 650.209.1566 Lisa Walker | 650.888.5038 Janis Ahmadjian-Baer | 650.740.5390 License # 00939903 License # 01229593 License # 00980993 MOUNTAIN VIEW $1,898,000 SAN JOSE $1,699,000 SUNNYVALE $1,350,000 1711 Fordham Way | 3bd/2ba 1711 Willowhurst Avenue | 3bd/2ba 1478 S. 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If important to buyers, buyers should conduct their own investigation. 2 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q March 23, 2018 QA+E BRIEFS Healthy Teeth and Gums That Last a Lifetime! • Experienced and Gentle Dentist, and Friendly Staff • New Patients Welcome! • Free Consultations and Second Opinions • Saturday Appointments Available COURTESY OF THE PALO ALTO ART CENTER Ceramic artist Shin Young Taek will lead a teapot-making demonstration at the Palo Alto Art Center on March 27. Voted Best ‘JOSEPH AND THE Art Center (1313 Newell Road) Dentist AMAZING TECHNICOLOR through April 1. The residencies will feature workshops, demon- DREAMCOAT’ strations and a final exhibition. THE THE The biblical tale of the dreamer A free opening reception will be VOICE Best of Don’t Wait! VOICE Best of MOUNTAIN Joseph, his jealous siblings and held on Friday, March 23, 6 to 9 MOUNTAIN his rise to power in Egypt form p.m. Go to tinyurl.com/yc88njhx. Call 650.969.6077 VIEW VIEW 2016 2017 the basis of the classic Andrew for your appointment today! 2014 Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical comedy “Joseph and the Amazing ‘BLUE: THE SONGS OF JONI MITCHELL’ Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Menlo- Conveniently located 650.969.6077 Atherton High School is perform- Australian singer Queenie van in Downtown Mountain View ing the show through Sunday, de Zandt, along with musical dentalfabulous.com March 25, at its performing arts director Max Lambert and a 756 California Street, Suite B center, 555 Middlefield Road, live band, explores her love of all Mountain View 94041 Atherton (Friday and Saturday at things Joni Mitchell in two per- cross street: Castro, next to Bierhaus 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.). Fun formances at Stanford Universi- fact: Playing the lead role is East ty’s Bing Concert Hall Studio (327 Palo Altan and M-A senior Wes- Lasuen St.) on Saturday, March 24, ley Barker-Mouton, grandson of at 8 and 10 p.m. Using voice overs Barbara Mouton, the first mayor and storytelling, van de Zandt of East Palo Alto. Tickets are $14 reinterprets Mitchell’s music, www.demartiniorchard.com adults/$10 seniors and students. revealing the stories behind some 66 N.