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Vol. XXVII, Number 34 • Friday, January 27, 2006 ■ 50¢ Check out the Weekly’s new online classifieds at fogster.com WeeklyWeekend Edition Breaking barriers, www.PaloAltoOnline.com cleaning 'house' Page 11 Nicholas Wright Nicholas Worth A Look 13 Eating Out 15 Movie Times 31 Goings On 35 Crossword Puzzle Section 2 ■ Upfront EPA chief vows to dismantle gang Page 3 ■ Sports Stanford tennis prepares for historic NCAAs Page 40 ■ Home & Garden Ready for the Big One? Section 2 In Business Drop that remote. Back away from the burger. When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, we know it can be a challenge to get kids to choose fruit over candy bars and physical activity over computer games. That’s why Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital offers a wide range of resources that help families encourage healthy habits. Take Yves, for example. After participating with his family in the Packard Pediatric Weight Control Program, he’s significantly reduced his weight and gained self-esteem and confidence in the process. Ranked as one of the top ten pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S.News & World Report, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is a world class hospital devoted entirely to the care of children and mothers. Best of all, we’re located right in your backyard. To learn more about Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and how to help keep your family fit and healthy, visit www.lpch.org. L U C I L E PA C K A R D C H I L D R E N’S H O S P I T A L Page 2 • Friday, January 27, 2006 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Chief: Slain officer’s legacy will be gang’s dismantling Davis pledges 'greater resolve' Chief” in East Palo Alto’s City Hall such as getting restraining orders The chief also said he had a goal Community Room, which was at- against gang members, starting an of reducing the city’s homicides by to make East Palo Alto safer tended by more than 60 residents. “America’s Most Wanted”-type tele- 60 percent for the year. There were by Bill D’Agostino May, 38, was shot on Jan. 7 while vision program for local criminals, 15 in 2005. The chief said the city responding to a fight at a taqueria forcing gang members to remove shouldn’t grow more accustomed to t his first community meeting “We’ll start with Sac Street and near Sacramento Street. The alleged tattoos as a condition of probation, an ever-increasing level of violence. since Officer Richard May we’ll move on to the next gang to the killer, Alberto Alvarez, 22, is a sus- and renaming Sacramento Street, “Richard’s death is very tragic, A was killed in the line of duty, next gang to the next gang,” Davis pected member of the gang that’s Davis said. but I think the obligation I know I East Palo Alto Police Chief Ron said. “I think this is going to be, in my named after the one-block, dead- “Piece by piece, person by per- have as the chief is that he will not Davis made a bold pronouncement: opinion, probably Richard’s legacy.” end road. son, action by action we will disrupt die in vain,” Davis said. “We have He will rid the city of the brutal The chief made the comments Officers will employ “very un- and permanently dismantle the Sac an even greater resolve to make the “Sac Street Gang.” during the monthly “Chat with the conventional means,” the chief said, Street Gang,” he added. (continued on page 8) SCHOOLS More surveys bring more questions Some wonder if school district is collecting information for bond measure by Alexandria Rocha n a city that is no stranger to surveys, the Palo Alto school I district will launch a series of forums and online questionnaires next month to find out what the community thinks of its offerings, performance and future. The district plans to run three on- line surveys — one each for teach- ers, parents and students — and hold three community forums at the middle schools in February. The in- formation gathered will then be used Norbert von der Groeben to create a telephone poll, where 400 random Palo Alto residents will be questioned in March about district services. The district will pay Gene Breg- man and Associates $27,000 to con- duct the surveys and workshops. While district officials say they Gina Robles, a banquet server at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley, practices during a banquet rehearsal Thursday. The hotel opens Monday. simply want to gather information, some parents think there is more be- hind the project. With the surveys and workshops Four Seasons’ late opening a boon for East Palo Alto coming on the heels of a school Late opening spells forfeiture of veloper that the opening did not for September, and delayed once board study session about facili- occur as scheduled and that the more. In October, hotel manage- ties and a possible general obliga- multi-million-dollar tax break city is declaring the developer to ment said the Four Seasons ex- tion bond, some parents suspect the by Lauren McSherry be in default,” said City Attorney pected to open by March. This district is attempting to gauge com- Michael Lawson. time staff say the hotel is ready to munity sentiment about another bal- he Four Seasons Hotel in lion — whichever came first. The Under the agreement, the city hold its “official opening” along lot measure. After all, this type of East Palo Alto will finally developer leveraged the deal by waived the hotel transit-occupan- with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. extensive information gathering is T open Monday, but construc- claiming they needed to project cy tax of 12 percent that the Four Hotel management has remained often linked to such matters. tion delays that pushed back the certain profits to attract investors Seasons would have been required mum on why it’s taken the hotel so However, district officials say the debut numerous times may have and warning it might not be able to pay. The city’s 2004-05 budget long to open. upcoming queries have nothing to cost the hotel developer an $8.4 to proceed with the project oth- estimated the tax would bring the “As with any project you meet do with those concerns. million tax break. erwise. But the tax break hinged city $2 million annually from the certain challenges that take longer “This is not connected to the bond. The Four Seasons, along with on the hotel operations starting by hotel. to resolve than anticipated,” said It’s not a survey about facilities,” LDW Resort and Hotel Develop- Jan. 1, 2006. The Jan. 1 opening isn’t the first Robert Whitfield, general manager. said Jerry Matranga, the district’s ment, hammered out a contro- New Year’s Day came and went deadline missed by the hotel devel- Whitfield added that the man- business manager. versial grant agreement with the without the opening, and the city oper. A celebration of the hotel’s agement of the Four Seasons is Matranga said the online surveys city in September 2003, in which has since declined to extend the completion was originally slated separate from its developers, which for teachers, parents and students will East Palo Alto waived its hotel agreement. for last summer, then postponed is responsible for completing the deal with a variety of issues, includ- taxes for 42 months or $8.4 mil- “The city has advised the de- until the fall. It was rescheduled (continued on page 8) ing technology, course availability, (continued on page 8) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, January 27, 2006 • Page 3 Nicolino’s 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 Valentine’s (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson ReaderReaderWire comments via e-mail, voice mail and U.S. mail EDITORIAL Celebration Jay Thorwaldson, Editor to, weighed and analyzed, because Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Keep district competitive Jocelyn Dong, Associate Editor The Palo Alto Unified School they represent the voice of the Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor District and the Palo Alto Educa- people. Fresh ideas come from dis- Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor senters, not sycophants. Rebecca Wallace, Arts & Entertainment Editor tors Association are about to sign Celebrate Early on Saturday, February 11th Don Kazak, Senior Staff Writer an agreement after five and a half I urge all our council members Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers Friday, February 10th “SWEETHEART SHOW” Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer months of negotiating. to worry less about civility and Neapolitan Favorites Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer more about insularity. Respect Monday, February 13th Marjan Sadoughi, Photo Intern This agreement probably Classic Opera & Broadway Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor & represents the best that could be those of us who dare to question, “CUPID’S DINNER” Online Editor Highlights Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections reached under the present circum- complain and criticize. It’s our right 5:00 - 10:00 Cammie Farmer, Calendar Editor and responsibility to speak out. 2 shows Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn stances. However, I hope that the Romantic Strolling Gypsy Violinist Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jill Slater, Susan future for Palo Alto and its teachers We’re not attacking, we’re prac- 6-8pm or 8:30-10:30pm Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, Contributors Cyrus Hedayati, Adena DeMonte, Rachel Hill, looks brighter. ticing democracy. Tuesday, February 14th - Valentine’s Day Editorial Interns The past several years have Pat Marriott FOUR COURSE SPECIAL DINNER MENU SELECTIONS DESIGN seen the compensation for Palo Alto Dennis Drive, Palo Alto (tax and gratuity not included) Carol Hubenthal, Design Director $44.95 per person Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director teachers fall from the top three in Two Great Shows to Select From Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior the surrounding area to 10th posi- Fiber fears Designers; Opera & Broadway tunes featuring Dining & Dancing with the Dana James, Sarah McAleer, Scott Peterson, tion.