City Questions 'New Vision' for High-Speed Rail
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Palo 6°Ê888]Ê ÕLiÀÊÓ{ÊUÊ>ÀV Ê£È]ÊÓä£ÓÊN xäZ Alto City questions ‘new vision’ for high-speed rail Page 3 www.PaloAltoOnline.com The wisdom of teens Through art, kids refl ect on growing up in Palo Alto Page 14 SUPPORTLOCALJOURNALISM.ORG Pulse 10 Spectrum 12 Eating Out 23 Movies 26 Puzzles 53 NArts Interior designers offer art exhibitions Page 20 NSports Another kind of dance for Stanford Page 28 NHome The ‘orchid lady’ shares her secrets Page 33 Page 2ÊUÊ>ÀV Ê£È]ÊÓä£ÓÊUÊ*>ÊÌÊ7iiÞ UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Palo Alto skeptical about ‘new vision’ for high-speed rail City worried its concerns will be ignored under pending The rail authority’s original design But while the plan provides numer- officials indicate that the authority’s envisioned four tracks running along ous carrots to the Peninsula, includ- latest revisions to its business plan are agreement between transportation agencies the Caltrain corridor, with high-speed ing a potential funding source for unlikely to change that. by Gennady Sheyner trains running on the inside tracks the long-awaited electrification of Palo Alto’s skepticism over the lat- and Caltrain on the outside tracks. Caltrain, city officials have indicated est plans by the authority bubbled new proposal by the Califor- out of the statewide conversation. Rail authority board Chair Dan that they aren’t willing to bite just yet. up Thursday morning, March 15, nia High-Speed Rail Author- The revised business plan, which Richard and board member Jim The project continues to face intense at a meeting of the council’s Rail A ity to invest in rail improve- top officials from the rail authority Hartnett said Tuesday that the new scrutiny in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Committee, which approved a letter ments in the northern and southern discussed at a crowded public hear- plan, which the authority plans to Atherton, three cities that have sued to Caltrain summarizing the city’s sections of the controversial rail ing in Mountain View Tuesday night, release later this month, will rely the rail authority over its environmen- concerns about the new proposal system is facing skepticism from March 13, will emphasize the “blend- heavily on existing rail infrastruc- tal documents. The Palo Alto City from the authority. The city and its Palo Alto and neighboring cities, ed” approach — a design under which ture and that it would call for “early Council called for the project to be partners in the Peninsula Cities Con- where some elected officials argue high-speed rail and Caltrain would investments” in the Bay Area and in terminated, as the city’s official posi- that their cities are still being left share two tracks on the Peninsula. southern California. tion. Early reactions from Peninsula (continued on page 6) EDUCATION COMMUNITY Teachers question stiffer graduation rules Parents assert Palo Alto failing minority, low-income students by Chris Kenrick move to stiffen graduation jects they love and thrive in. requirements, by itself, will “I disagree with the belief that A not boost the achievement helping more students with ‘A-G’ of struggling students, high school can be accomplished simply by teachers said Tuesday, March 13. changing the graduation require- Department heads from Gunn and ments,” Kathy Hawes, chair of Palo Alto high schools met with the Gunn’s math department, said. Board of Education to discuss a “Changing the requirement will proposed phase-in of stiffer gradu- only result in more students meet- ation requirements, so by 2018 they ing ‘A-G’ if we change our program Kelsey KienitzKelsey would fully align with entrance cri- in a significant way. teria for the University of California “When students in my class have and California State University. difficulty I don’t make the quiz The proposal to stiffen require- harder with the expectation they’ll ments would not affect the vast work harder and do better. I ask, Sabina Davis and Alan Lewis play in an open practice session at the Palo Alto Table Tennis Club majority of Palo Alto students, who ‘What can I do differently to im- at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto in early March. The club is one of the sponsors of the already meet or exceed the UC/ prove my instruction?’” Mayor’s Challenge. CSU prerequisite coursework, the Teachers from an array of disci- so-called “A-G requirements.” plines discussed recent efforts to boost Rather it is aimed at raising expec- the achievement of struggling stu- ‘Mayor’s Challenge’ takes tations for — and performance of — dents. At Paly, for example, student- the roughly 20 percent each year who teacher ratios in “regular lane” math graduate without fulfilling them, a classes are 12:1, compared to 37:1 in on neighborhood unity group that is disproportionately low- advanced calculus, according to math income, African-American or Hispan- department head Radu Toma. Residents could meet and find new connections at the first citywide athletic tournament ic. For students with “explicit” plans Gunn also has lower class sizes in by Sue Dremann that differ from the four-year college its lower math lanes, and both high track, the new proposal would offer schools said they are experimenting hat if the mayor issued for the Palo Alto Family YMCA. reduction and way of life, residents an opportunity for customized “alter- with online learning for students in an invitation — and no- The table tennis tournament, said, but the means for achieving native graduation requirements.” programs like the Khan Academy. W body came? the first of the mayor’s challeng- connection seems as varied as the The reform proposal is backed by Special-education teachers reported On March 25, the Mayor’s Chal- es, is focusing on five locations city’s 34 neighborhoods. the Parent Network for Students of there have been positive early re- lenge — a series of athletic events throughout the city (see map). “I like the mayor’s plan to en- Color, the Student Equity Action sults under a newly strengthened designed to bring neighborhoods The challenge is open to all age gage neighborhoods with each Network and We Can Do Better “inclusion model,” in which special- together — will kick off with an groups and there is no age limit. other; it’s always a good idea to Palo Alto, a group lobbying to re- ed teachers come into mainstream open-play table tennis competi- So far three neighborhoods increase contact and meet others duce academic stress. classrooms to co-teach classes in tion, which will take place at five are represented — Barron Park, within one’s community,” South- Teachers did not explicitly en- history, science, English and alge- venues around Palo Alto. Green Acres and Triple El — and gate Neighborhood Watch coordi- dorse or reject the proposed new bra. The challenge came out of dis- Hannah said she hopes there will nator Jim McFall said. policy, which has been recommend- The high schools also reported cussions with Palo Alto Neighbor- be many more signups, even on “Within a specific neighbor- ed by Superintendent Kevin Skelly. they are extending library hours and hoods (PAN) leaders who said res- event day. Yeh lives in the Duve- hood, I feel even more strongly But they cautioned that many new in-school tutoring opportunities for idential relationships have shifted neck/St. Francis neighborhood. about the importance of connect- supports would be needed to foster students. Still, some worried such toward less discourse and less in- Some residents said they thought edness and communication. The success should the new require- measures would not be enough. teraction, Mayor Yiaway Yeh said. the challenge is a good idea, but more we know our neighbors, the ments be adopted. “What else can we offer instead As of Thursday, out of the city’s others seemed uncertain about better the neighborhood, as well as Several also said they worried of just the same thing over and over 64,000 residents, only 15 people whether it would create a strong the quality of life. about the “opportunity costs” in the again?” asked Paly counselor Selene had signed up for the inaugural incentive to be more connected. “I believe getting to personally new policy — for example, forcing Singares. “That guy that kept push- event, according to Stephanie Han- Neighborhood building, in what- struggling students into extra aca- nah, director of communications ever fashion, is an asset to crime (continued on page 6) demic periods at the expense of sub- (continued on page 5) *>ÊÌÊ7iiÞÊUÊ>ÀV Ê£È]ÊÓä£ÓÊU Page 3 GRAND OPENING SPECIAL Upfront 450 CAMBRIDGE AVE, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 QUOTE OF THE WEEK 25% (650) 326-8210 ‘‘ PUBLISHER William S. Johnson OFF EDITORIAL Jocelyn Dong, Editor Carol Blitzer, Associate Editor Total Purchase Keith Peters, Sports Editor Tyler Hanley, Express™ and Online Editor (excludes alcohol) Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor If we want a healthy community, we need Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor `>ÞÀ`>ÞÊÎ\ääÇ\ää«ÊUÊÊ >ÞÊ->ÌÕÀ`>ÞÊEÊ-Õ`>Þ Tom Gibboney, Spectrum Editor to constantly work on our relationships. Sue Dremann, Chris Kenrick, Gennady — Penny Ellson Palo Alto Pizza Now Offers Gluten Free Pizza Sheyner, Staff Writers , of the Greenmeadow Commu- Eric Van Susteren, Editorial Assistant, Internship nity Association, on building a sense of community Coordinator through the Mayor’s Challenge. See story on page 3. Ó{xäÊ*>ÀÊ Û`°ÊUÊ*>ÊÌ]Ê Ê{ÎäÈ Veronica Weber, Staff Photographer "«iÊÇÊ`>ÞÃÊUÊ££>« Kelsey Kienitz, Photo Intern Dale F. Bentson, Colin Becht, ‘‘ /i\ÊÈxäÎÓn£ÈÈÓÊÊ>Ý\ÊÈxäÎÓnÓÇxx Peter Canavese, Kit Davey, Iris Harrell, ÜÜÜ°«>>Ì«ââ>°V Sheila Himmel, Chad Jones, Karla Kane, Kevin Kirby, Jack McKinnon, Jeanie K.