THE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER FOR MENLO PARK, ATHERTON, PORTOLA VALLEY AND WOODSIDE

FEBRUARY 5, 2020 | VOL. 55 NO. 22 WWW.ALMANACNEWS.COM STRIVING

Meet the seven state Senate candidates who want to represent you in Sacramento

Page 14

FOR THE SENATE

Belle Haven center project fast-tracked | Page 5 Woodside affirms equestrian tradition | Page 5 Viewpoint | Page 23 COVER STORY

Meet the seven state Senate candidates Striving for the Senate who want to represent you in Sacramento

By Kate Bradshaw These are among the top priorities of get out of the way and let the free market live in San Mateo County, though the Photos by Magali Gauthier each candidate: dictate community outcomes. district’s most populated city — Sunny- , a Democrat from Menlo Under ’s “top-two” primary vale, with about 153,000 residents — is in n March 3, and in the weeks lead- Park, wants to help California become system, the two candidates with the most Santa Clara County. ing up to it, the voters of Cali- a national and international leader in votes, regardless of party, will advance to One of the most significant tensions Ofornia’s 13th Senate district will environmental innovation. the general election on Nov. 3. between Peninsula communities and have a tough task. With seven candidates Michael Brownrigg, a Democrat from The voter registration deadline for the their elected representatives in Sacra- vying to become the district’s next Senate Burlingame, wants to take up the fight for primary election is Feb. 18. Register to mento has been over Senate Bill 50, a lawmaker, voters will decide which two an inclusive brand of local control that vote at registertovote.ca.gov. proposed law that would have required will move on to the November general permits community growth. There are 40 state Senate districts, and cities to have relaxed zoning standards election ballot. Alex Glew, a Republican from Los District 13 is particularly diverse and for housing development near transit and And that election will determine who Altos, wants to push the government to multifaceted. It covers 23 cities and 13 in jobs-rich areas. Although the bill died will represent an area that has a vibrant invest in infrastructure and get back to unincorporated areas from South San on the Senate floor last week, it raised population of nearly 1 million and is home the basics of doing things people can’t do Francisco to Sunnyvale and along the deep questions about governance and to many of Silicon Valley’s largest compa- for themselves. coast between north of Pacifica and Ano what should be done to fix the problems nies. The Senate seat is now held by former , a Democrat from Moun- Nuevo State Park. It’s home to some that have come with the explosive job San Mateo County Supervisor , tain View, wants to dig into anti-poverty of the world’s largest tech companies, growth and stunted housing production who is being termed out of office. policymaking in support of society’s venture capital firms and billionaires on the Peninsula. The candidate pool offers voters five underdogs. but also to coastside farmworkers and a Should the state intervene in local com- Democrats, a Republican and a Lib- Shelly Masur, a Democrat from Red- growing number of residents struggling munities’ governance to ensure housing ertarian, though their perspectives, wood City, wants to tackle school fund- to make ends meet. growth? To tackle homelessness? To when it comes to how they would tackle ing problems and expand affordable Politically, it’s a Democratic strong- reduce greenhouse gas emissions? If so, the issues facing the region, are more health care access. hold. As of last October, 50.48% of the how, and how forcefully? nuanced than party lines might suggest. Annie Oliva, a Democrat from Mill- district’s voters were registered Demo- Those questions aren’t going anywhere. They have unique areas of expertise brae, spurred by a family member’s crats, 15.05% were registered Republi- They remain at the heart of the District and policy goals that they aim to take experiences on the streets, wants to end cans, and 30.44% declared “No party 13 race this year and ripple across the with them to Sacramento, based on past homelessness in California. preference,” according to the California unique and varied priorities and policy- career, civic, nonprofit or philanthropic And John Webster, a Libertarian from Secretary of State Office. making goals each candidate hopes to efforts. Mountain View, wants the government to About 82% of the district’s residents take to Sacramento. A

Josh Becker state he thinks should be a leader not Key issue: Environment only in the nation but the world. osh Becker, a venture capitalist for Age: 50 “I think what we do here has an Jgreen businesses, a former CEO of City: Menlo Park impact well beyond our borders, if we the legal analytics firm Lex Machina Education: Williams College, B.A.; get people like me up there who have and a philanthropist, has had a varied , J.D., M.B.A. been part of innovative technologies career path. He said it’s that very path and innovative policy in this area,” he he’s covered, one that marries experi- Career: former CEO at Lex Machi- said. ences in the nonprofit, for-profit and na; founder of the Full Circle Fund; He’s crafted a detailed environmental government sectors, that’s led him to co-founder of New Cycle Capital policy plan, saying he would push to run for office. Years in district: 20 make state agencies carbon neutral by After college, he went into consulting Family: wife, two children 2030; propose incentives for people to before he left to work on the ground in Key endorsements: Gov. Gavin buy the cleanest electric vehicles and war-torn Guatemala and El Salvador. Newsom, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, disincentives to discourage people’s There, he helped rebuild homes, open a Congressman Ro Khanna. purchase of the worst polluting vehicles; market and build a school. Campaign funds raised: $932,379 support more bike lanes; protect “com- “That experience, for me, made me Independent spending: $500,000 munity choice” energy programs; sup- want to make my life about service,” he from Reid Hoffman through the port annual reporting of greenhouse said. Committee for a Positive Change in gas emissions by cities of more than He later returned to the U.S., where he Support of Josh Becker for Senate 75,000 people; and promote cleaner worked in the Washington, D.C., politi- 2020. alternatives to freight transportation, cal world as a press secretary before “I’m running to be not just a good vote which he said is the single largest con- heading to Stanford, where he com- tributor to diesel particulate matter and pleted a joint law and business schools on climate change, but to be He said he’s a collaborator and an nitrogen oxide emissions in California. program. While there, he helped create the environmental climate leader innovator who, over the years, has taken He said he favors prizes and incentive the “Board of Fellows” program, which in the state Senate.” on a number of varied challenges facing programs to spur innovation. trains MBA students to serve on non- the state. He is a founding trustee at His first policymaking priority as a profit boards. Becker’s not new to local politics. He the University of California at Merced, senator would be to create incentives In 2000, he created the Full Circle ran unsuccessfully for the state Assem- serves on the San Mateo County County for the development of new technology Fund. The fund focuses on mak- bly in 2010, then started campaigning Child Care Partnership Council, is to remove carbon from the atmosphere, ing grants to innovative nonprofits again in 2016 for the District 24 Assem- an appointee to the California State such as awarding contracts to inno- throughout the Bay Area working on bly seat. He dropped out of the race Workforce Development Board, and is a vative businesses, he said. One idea: housing affordability, economic oppor- after his father fell ill. His father later board member of the local environmen- Cement production generates about 7% tunity, education and technology and died of brain cancer, and afterward, tal nonprofit Menlo Spark. of the world’s carbon emissions. The which now also supports health and the Becker helped to start a biotech com- Becker said he wants to be the envi- environmental programs. pany to research cancer cures. ronmental leader in the Senate, in a See JOSH BECKER, page 18

14QThe AlmanacQAlmanacNews.comQFebruary 5, 2020 COVER STORY

Michael Brownrigg “I think local officials are not unfairly Key issue: Local control demonized, but we are made to be the ike Brownrigg is a former diplomat Age: 58 only scapegoat of the housing crisis, and Mand venture capitalist who now City: Burlingame that’s not right.” works in social impact investing and sits Education: Williams College, B.A. “If we don’t get more help to invest in on the Burlingame City Council. Occupation: Burlingame City Coun- quality-of-life investments, like transit, He’s running, he said, because as a cil member, former diplomat, man- like housing, like child care, then I worry 30-year resident of the district, “I love aging director at Total Impact Advi- that the Peninsula that I grew up on, this place, and I don’t think we’re on a sors (on hiatus during the campaign) that’s been this home of innovation and good trajectory.” prosperity, will erode,” he said. “And we Years in district: 30 Brownrigg grew up in Los Altos Hills need more help from Sacramento, not before attending Williams College and Family: wife, four children less.” later entering the foreign service. After Key endorsements: Central County For example, he said, the state could working as a diplomat in Syria and Hong Firefighters, California Refuse Recy- offer jurisdictions low- or no-cost infra- Kong, he returned to the Bay Area with cling Council Northern District, structure money. wife Marty, a pediatrician, and they’ve San Mateo County Supervisor David “It’s pretty tough politically to go to raised their four children in Burlingame. Canepa your residents, none of whom say, ‘I want He worked in finance and investment, “I’m a Peninsula kid, born and raised. I’ve Campaign funds raised: $815,203 more big buildings and traffic; sign me most recently at Total Impact Advising, seen the changes and I think I know what Independent spending: $460,000 up for that!’ ... But you can get people to which he’s taken a leave of absence from the point where they realize we have to makes this place special, and I think that from his mother, Linda Brownrigg, while he’s campaigning. through Californians Supporting do this because we need a place for our Over the past 18 years, he’s become gives me an advantage as we start to Brownrigg for Senate 2020 teachers and our young people and our more involved in local politics, first think about how to grow in a way that nurses and our working families.” serving eight years on the Burlingame protects what’s special, and yet makes year of the largest bull market ever, and Yet it’s even tougher to follow up after Planning Commission before beating room for people, which is the most I think there are a certain number of leg- residents have allowed new density by incumbents to gain a City Council seat. islators who have never seen hard times, asking them for another parcel tax to important thing.” He’s now in his 10th year on the council. and I think hard times will come,” he support, for instance, the resulting over- His campaign strategy has involved More recently, he said, he and his said. loaded schools or other infrastructure, meeting constituents at nearly 100 council colleagues worked to implement Based on the success of his efforts to he added. house parties across the district, in line new zoning for a new neighborhood add new housing in Burlingame, he’s The state could also help with invest- with his campaign hashtag on Twitter, and supported an affordable housing a vocal proponent of local control and ing in transit, specifically by supporting #NeighborhoodStateSenator. development in the heart of downtown opposed SB 50. Caltrain’s business plan, getting BART On the City Council, he’s seen the city Burlingame. The city is now on target to “Nobody will push harder for respon- around the Bay, getting another trans- through times thick and thin: He talks expand its housing stock by 20% over the sible local control than I will because I bay rail line, supporting express lanes about how, early in his tenure, during next decade, he said, adding, “That’s a have 10 years of pushing back against with rapid-transit buses, and developing the recession, he negotiated with labor profound accomplishment for any city.” bad ideas from Sacramento,” he said. better first- and last-mile transporta- groups to defer raises to bridge the eco- Seeing Burlingame through tough He said he emphasizes the word tion options. (“Because, newsflash, nomic downturn and got the community times gives him an edge over com- “responsible” because all stakeholders 65-year-olds are not going to get on Lime to step up philanthropic contributions to petitors who have led only in times of need to step up to address the housing support the library. growth, he asserted. “We’re in the 10th crisis, and Sacramento needs to help. See MICHAEL BROWNRIGG, page 18

Alexander Glew Key issue: Infrastructure of life. It attracts people who are used to a much lower quality of life, you know — we he sole Republican candidate in a pre- Age: 56 have a vast number of immigrants coming Tdominantly Democratic district, Alex City: Los Altos here. For them, this is perhaps heaven. But Glew is an engineering consultant who Education: U.C. Berkeley, B.S. and for the people who are here, it’s not.” sits on the Los Altos Design Review Com- Masters in Mechanical Engineer- Regarding private sector growth, he said mission and is part of the South Peninsula ing; Stanford University, Masters that the state and counties need to have Area Republican Coalition. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and clearer plans for infrastructure investment. He’s also not a newcomer to local poli- Engineering Cities continue to attract more jobs with- tics: In 2018, he ran for the District 24 state Career: Engineer out creating that infrastructure, he noted. Assembly seat and lost to Marc Berman, Years in district: 25 “The big companies are smarter than the with Berman earning about 76.6% of the local municipalities; they seem to always votes. Family: Wife and three golden come out ahead on the deals,” he said. Glew said his guiding principles are retrievers “I’m a Republican. I run a business. I’m his values of freedom, liberty and choice Key endorsements: California GOP, very pro-business. But I don’t believe that and that he believes problems should “be Santa Clara County GOP and San there is a unbridled right to increase popu- first addressed by the people closest to the Mateo County GOP lation just to feed workers to these entities.” problem.” Campaign funds raised: $3,100 If a county doesn’t have an infrastructure A big part of choice, he said, is getting to “I’m a Republican. I run a business. Independent spending: None plan to accommodate job growth, then choose one’s neighborhood. I’m very pro-business. But I don’t believe another county should be eligible for that “People buy into a neighborhood and politicians say single-family homes are growth, he said. raise their kids there or retire there based that there is an unbridled right to bad. People want lower taxes; the politi- He favors the state staying out of health on choices, but these choices are being increase population just to feed cians really don’t listen,” he said. care, preferring a marketplace approach. removed for them,” he said. He said that workers to these entities.” The lack of investment in infrastructure, Citing “The Cure that Works,” a book by cities should be able to control their own even while cities have continued to grow, economics professor Sean Flynn, he sup- densities — voicing opposition to the laughable if it weren’t our state and our he said, has worsened the quality of life ports widespread health savings accounts premise of the controversial housing bill people and our problems and so much and made the average commute in the Bay and more competition to give people SB 50. money. It’s just sort of sad.” Area more than an hour each way. choices about where to seek medical ser- The state should be investing in big Sacramento, he asserted, is out of touch “Now, as all of this degrades the quality vices. Those services should come with infrastructure projects, like dams, trains with what people like — cars, single family of life for the people, it affects the industry clear price tags to help people make deci- and highways, he said. homes and lower taxes —, and it spends and it affects the economy,” he said. “Peo- sions about how and whether to save costs Talking about the high-speed rail proj- too much time on “minuscule things that ple eventually get tired of commuting two in seeking health services, he added. ect, he said: “That a government the size sort of pander to popular culture” rather hours a day and move to Texas or another Some of his other policy goals include of California ... can’t figure out how to than “the basics” of investing in transpor- state. changing the state pension system to a plan for a train speaks to the inability of tation and water systems. “California has a net outflow of people defined contribution program that func- the government to think in a long-term “People like cars; politicians say cars who were born and raised here,” Glew said. tions more like a 401(k) system and to and disciplined manner. ... It would be are bad. People like single-family homes; “They just get fed up with the low quality allow PG&E to face more competition. A

February 5, 2020QAlmanacNews.comQThe AlmanacQ15 COVER STORY

Sally Lieber Key issue: Tackling poverty support SB 50 because there wasn’t enough affordable housing tied to it. But ally Lieber, former Mountain View Age: 58 she wants to focus on other policies that SCity Council member and state City: Mountain View don’t “suck all the air out of the room.” assemblywoman, stands out among Education: Attended City College The service workers who are now com- the candidates as the only candidate and Foothill College, muting in from the Central Valley and with experience as an elected official in Stanford B.A. south Santa Clara County won’t always the state Legislature. She served in the Occupation: Volunteer and consul- be so willing to endure the schlep, she Assembly from 2002 to 2008. tant with community organizations asserted. Her path there was a nontraditional Years in district: 26 “At some point, Stockton, Fresno one: She worked as a wallpaper hanger in and Merced are going to become more and San Francisco for 10 years, Family: husband, dog attractive for the support workers of our earned a GED and attended community Key endorsements: National Nurses society to go ahead and work there, and college at San Francisco City College and United - California Nurses Associa- we’re going to be in real trouble trying to Foothill Community College before tion, SEIU California, Sierra Club recruit health care and home care work- attending Stanford. She won a seat on the California. ers,” she said. “We can’t solve all of our Mountain View City Council in 1998. Campaign funds raised: $252,085 housing needs by having spillover into During this period, she said, the state “I’m to a point in my political service Independent spending: None agricultural areas of the Central Valley.” experienced major budget shortfalls and, that political footsie is not what I want A good start would be to invest in rail since funding was so lean, the Assembly state money and yield better outcomes. infrastructure so it takes less than two was “a slaughterhouse for good bills.” to do anymore. I’m not angling for higher “There’s a lot of that that needs more hours to commute by BART to the Pen- Serving in the Assembly during that office. My interest is in policy and work,” she added. insula from the East Bay, she said. That time taught her that a crisis can strike trying to make the machine of While working on statewide issues, she includes a better connection to Caltrain and throw off one’s legislative goals. “You government operate better.” also focused on helping individuals in her in the South Bay to better serve afford- can have the best-laid plans and an earth- district of about 440,000 constituents. able housing growth in communities like quake could happen during your term of wage, worked to create the San Fran- For example, she once got Caltrans to Gilroy and Morgan Hill. office. Experience counts for a lot.” cisco Bay Restoration Authority and remove tread marks on the road that a Tech companies should permit more Still, she said, she became known authored the state’s first bill on human constituent believed resulted from her people to work remotely, she said, and as a collaborator with other Assembly trafficking, the California Traffick- husband’s fatal car accident and found there should be a clearer pathway estab- members and learned from more senior ing Victims Protection Act. That law traumatizing. lished for how they can be involved in policymakers such as Jackie Speier, now made human trafficking a felony and If elected to the Senate, she said, her helping solve the problems to which they a member of Congress. assisted victims. Shifting funding from first bill would be an anti-poverty mea- contribute. It shouldn’t be considered an “Being there for six years was an educa- prosecuting women for prostitution to sure. “It doesn’t do anyone good to have act of philanthropy but rather a reliable tion,” she said. “It taught me a lot about considering them to be victims of sex so many kids growing up in poverty in source of funding, she said. And, just as the policy process.” trafficking, she said, was one example our state,” she said. She set the stage to raise the minimum of a policy shift that can both save the Regarding housing, she said she didn’t See SALLY LIEBER, page 18

Shelly Masur Key issue: Education Another way the state could help com- munities to build more housing is to edwood City Vice Mayor Shelly Age: 55 offer affordable housing tax credits and RMasur brings to the candidate pool City: Redwood City increased support for construction of unique credentials as an education expert Education: Macalester College, B.A.; middle-income housing, which is gener- with a background in public health. She City University of New York-Hunter ally difficult to finance, she said. holds a master’s degree in public health College, Masters in Public Health. To tackle homelessness, Masur said, she and worked early in her career to support Occupation: nonprofit executive (on favors a “housing first” approach, which women’s reproductive rights. hiatus during the campaign) provides housing to homeless people As founding CEO of the Californians Years in district: 21 without requiring that they adhere to Dedicated to Education Foundation, Family: husband, three adult chil- regulations such as being clean, sober or which she led for five years before leaving dren, two dogs. employed. earlier this year to run for office full time, “If you don’t have a home, how are you Masur said she’s built relationships in Key endorsements: , going to go to a regular appointment Sacramento and regionally in the educa- state senator; Marc Berman, state with a therapist? How are you going to tion sector. assemblyman; California Democrat- make sure you take your meds every Before that, she spent 10 years on ic Legislative Women’s Caucus. day? How are you going to make sure you the school board of the Redwood City “We live in the economic engine of Campaign funds raised: $429,460 have regular food? ... The list is endless School District. If elected, she said, she California, and in essence, that’s really Independent spending: $5,526, because you have to spend all your energy hopes to work on the Senate’s education Fund Her PAC to think about where you’re going to be.” committee. the economic engine of this country. Masur, who has served as Redwood Education represents about half the We’re also a district of vast disparity. We City, a community that has become a City’s representative on Caltrain’s Local state’s budget, she noted, adding that in the have some of the wealthiest people in Peninsula leader in housing production, Policy Maker Group, said that one of her Legislature, “I think it’s important to have the world, and we have some very, very Masur said that another key priority for priorities is to fund grade separations, for people who understand education policy poor families. And how we continue to her is getting affordable housing built to traffic and safety reasons and are able to invest and work in it.” build communities that value everybody address the region’s housing crisis. “It’s a critical piece of the puzzle in terms “I really believe that our schools are The intersection of housing and educa- of getting people around and not just the foundation for our economy and and make space for everybody — that’s tion strikes home for Masur: Her daugh- people who live directly on the Caltrain our democracy, and we have to invest in a challenge, but it’s something that I’m ter, a first-year teacher, is currently living line,” she said. them,” she asserted. “In California, we’ve committed to, that I have worked at home because she can’t afford the cost Masur said she also wants to declare a changed almost everything in education on my whole life.” of local housing. climate crisis and move up the state’s goal in the last eight years. We’ve changed Masur stood apart from the other to reach zero carbon emissions by 2030. how we fund our schools, how we assess right now, she said, the state should con- candidates as the sole supporter of the She also wants to make health care more students, how we look at how schools are tinue to pay down pension liabilities for revised version of SB 50. affordable and accessible. doing.” teachers and other government employ- She said that the bill’s author, Sen. “California is the fifth largest econo- Yet California continues to chronically ees. When the state shifted pension costs Scott Wiener, who has endorsed her, my in the world. We should be able to underfund its schools, she said. “We’ve to cities, school districts and employees, was responsive to her input and that of move forward in ensuring that everyone got to continually work toward moving it created “havoc for all of us in local gov- other leaders in Peninsula cities when he has access to health care in some way,” from the bottom 10 to the top 10 in public ernment,” she said. “It’s the responsibility made a revision to allow cities to develop she said. “We all benefit when everyone education,” she emphasized. of the state to come back and fund what within two years their own zoning plans has access to health care and when we But at the same time, rather than work it took away.” to allow increased housing, as well as to don’t defer health needs. ... It’s just on creating new education programs As a council member in Redwood not exempt the less populous counties. cheaper.” A

16QThe AlmanacQAlmanacNews.comQFebruary 5, 2020 COVER STORY

Annie Oliva Key issue: Homelessness are hesitant with the new laws. She favors investing in transportation nnie Oliva’s drive to run for office, Age: 60 instead — and suggested a train line Ashe said, is inspired in part by her City: Millbrae recommended to her by a local business family’s experience with homelessness. Education: Notre Dame de Namur owner, to run between San Bruno and Her son has been homeless and strug- University, B.S. Tracy. That would allow more workers gled with mental health and addiction Occupation: Realtor, Millbrae City to be able to get to Peninsula jobs from problems. Council member the East Bay and beyond. “When those bring you down, they Years in district: 60 “If we can accomplish better public bring you all the way down,” she said. transportation for people that need to After her son got on board with her run Family: husband, three adult come into the district, and they can use for office, Oliva proposed a seven-step children that other than a car, I think that would approach for tackling homelessness in Key endorsements: San Mateo be great for the environment as well,” she California. County Association of Realtors, San said. Key among these policy proposals Mateo County Supervisor David For Oliva in particular, the call to are to expand conservatorship, through Canepa, San Mateo County Trea- reform PG&E carries personal reso- which people in some situations would surer Sandi Arnott nance. In the 2010 San Bruno pipeline be required to use shelter or undergo Campaign funds raised: $401,058 explosion that gutted a neighborhood treatment, and to promote transitional Independent spending: $409,000, and killed eight people, several of her jail-diversion programs that give low- “It’s pretty incredible to think that California Association of Realtors childhood schoolmates died and three level offenders who are mentally ill or it takes an IPO to put a down of the agents in her San Bruno real estate struggle with substance abuse the option payment on a home today.” she said. “Yeah, I made a mistake, and office were displaced, she said. to receive treatment instead of being nobody was hurt, thankfully, and we “My mom (lives) about a half-mile incarcerated. Marshall Realty, in 2012. During a fixed it. ... It was a painful time. I didn’t away from the explosion,” she added. “It Homeless people in California are 2016 audit, an investigator told her that take it lightly. I still don’t take it lightly.” was horrific. It was scary as all heck. So unsheltered at nearly twice the rate of the business was not registered under While she’s made a name for herself you can only imagine from the experi- the rest of the country, and the numbers her real estate broker’s license, which supporting first-time homebuyers, when ence we had that night how I feel about of people experiencing homelessness are she later remedied. She was also held it comes to mandates from Sacramento PG&E. ... I can’t forgive PG&E for what up in San Mateo County by 21% and in to account for authorizing four bank regarding the area’s housing problems happened. People that died in that explo- Santa Clara County by 31% since 2015, transactions that year, over the phone, — whether it’s the specter of SB 50 or sion I went to grade school with. They Oliva said. that the California Bureau of Real Estate renter protection provisions such as rent need to be watched.” Another component of tackling home- characterized as careless. Her real estate control and just-cause eviction require- When asked what should be done to lessness is decreasing the cost of building broker’s license was revoked, but she ments that passed last year — she’s not a reform the utility, she said, “I don’t want housing, she said. She favors stream- has a restricted real estate salesperson believer. to comment on what I think the solution lining permitting and project review license under which she continues to Among the Democratic candidates, is. I think right now there’s revisions processes at the city level to expedite work. Oliva has spoken most strongly in sup- and that’s definitely moving in the right development and reforming the Cali- Oliva said these incidents happened port of preserving property rights. She direction.” fornia Environmental Quality Act to while she was visiting her son, who was opposed SB 50 and favors leaving zoning If she were elected, the average resident limit when people can file lawsuits over receiving treatment, and the bureau decisions up to local jurisdictions. in the district would be unlikely to see development proposals as part of the reported that she took a number of steps For example, she said, Millbrae’s height many changes except, perhaps, an accen- environmental review process. to ensure that it wouldn’t happen again: limits are, in part, tied to the city’s prox- tuation of positive aspects of Peninsula “It’s pretty incredible to think that it changing business practices; taking imity to the San Francisco International life, she said. She identifies her politics takes an IPO to put a down payment on a courses in trust fund handling, ethics, Airport, so a “one-size-fits-all” approach as “very moderate.” home today,” said Oliva, a San Bruno real risk management and office manage- to zoning doesn’t work. “Common sense, I guess, would be the estate agent who said she’s carved a niche ment and supervision; and getting assis- She opposes the state’s new laws that set biggest change,” she said. “There’s just so in her practice by appealing to first-time tance from industry professionals. restrictions on rent increases and said the many laws that come into effect that homebuyers. “I took this very, very seriously, and I reason there are so few rental opportuni- don’t make sense, and I’d like to be the Oliva took over her father’s business, did everything that they told me to do,” ties on the market is because landlords one that listens to everybody.” A

John Webster Key issue: Big government to severely punish people that took or Age: 74 enjoyed pictures of teenagers in sexy ibertarian John Webster is running poses, etc.. In other words, those laws Lbecause he wants to dramatically City: Mountain View were used to enforce our culture’s stan- change the way the state government is Education: University of Washing- dard of what is an appropriate depiction run. His belief, he said, is that “it’s just as ton, BSEE; Santa Clara University, of children, even where there was no real evil for the government to steal money masters in computer science. ‘Child Abuse’ involved. from the rich and successful to sprinkle Occupation: Software engineer “The Law Enforcement agencies should free benefits on everybody else as it is for Years in district: 12 be going after the people that commit- me to steal money.” Key endorsements: Not listed ted the original abuse, if indeed there He didn’t have concrete responses to was actual abuse, and not wasting time a number of proposed laws, like SB 50, Campaign funds raised: None and taxpayer’s money on enforcing what because, as he put it, “Since I’m not actu- Independent spending: None amounts to ‘thought’ crimes.” ally in the Legislature now, I don’t get the In addition to his overall anti-gov- wording of intended laws.” about trash in the ocean, but “as far as the ernment stance, he appears to have At nearly every level, he favors letting human-caused impact of carbon dioxide, some personal grievances with law the free market dictate outcomes for I think that’s being totally overblown,” he enforcement. He was arrested in 1990 people’s lives. Webster said he doesn’t said. in a sting operation for what he calls think homeowners should pressure the Things he opposes include rent control, “talk-thought crimes.” In a series of government to restrict the housing sup- “It’s just as evil for the government to health care for all, taxes and “too much tape-recorded conversations with a ply to elevate costs so that they benefit. steal money from the rich and successful democracy.” female undercover police officer, he Instead, he favors making zoning easy to sprinkle free benefits on everybody According to his website, he also discussed running away with her, rais- to change and letting supply and demand appears to oppose enforcement of child ing children and “arranging pleasant else, as it is for me to steal money.” play out. pornography laws. sexual experiences” for them within the His positions include: People should He writes: “The original justification family, he said. have the right to build backyard granny Families should pay tuition for their for punishing a person who purchased “I have a 15% chance of actually suing flats and rent them out. People should children’s schooling. Parents should be (or possessed) kiddy porn was that he the government for millions,” he said. “If be allowed to build cheaper housing or the ones to decide at what age vaping is was supporting an industry that abused I did that, then maybe I could encourage mini-houses. Taxation should be based appropriate for their children. children to produce the pictures. Once a young lady to run off with me and start on people’s uses of government services. And the environment? He’s concerned those laws were in place, they were used a family again.” A

February 5, 2020QAlmanacNews.comQThe AlmanacQ17 COVER STORY

MICHAEL BROWNRIGG 2030. That would require cre- 2045, then the rest of the country funding stream for early child- but he believes he has the expe- continued from page 15 ating carbon-free energy and doesn’t get there until 2075, and hood education and early child rience and track record to reducing demand for fossil the developing world, where care; and add a four-year degree serve the district well, he said. scooters to get to BART,” he fuels while taking aggressive most of these emissions will program to a community col- He said he’s guided in his noted.) steps to sequester carbon in come from, won’t get there until lege in District 13. decision-making by asking Along with investments in the atmosphere, he said. To 2100. And that’s game over for It’s often “a bridge too far, no himself questions such as transit to curb car emissions, start, he wants to put together your kids and my grandkids,” he pun intended,” for local work- “What is true north? What are he said, he’s on a mission to an 18-month blue ribbon task said. ing kids going to community we trying to accomplish?” and make the power grid greener force to figure out how to create He also wants to require the college who then want a four- “What’s best for the kids?” — with more power storage to or store 10 gigawatts of energy meetings of public agencies year degree to have to commute giving extra weight to the last make a switch to all-electric in seven years. that spend more than $50 mil- to San Jose, Oakland or San of those questions. “That helps power more viable. He’s push- “If the richest, greenest gov- lion to $100 million to be tele- Francisco, he said. you make decisions. You’re not ing an ambitious goal: for ernment in the world can’t get vised, with recordings that are The state’s challenges are trying to solve for multiple the state to go carbon-free by to zero carbon energy until searchable; create a permanent complicated and numerous, variables,” he said. A

SALLY LIEBER wetlands as our shock absorbers JOSH BECKER unit for every job created. accountable and to being continued from page 16 for sea level rise.” continued from page 14 One reason for the imbal- accessible as Hill has been. RVs, she added, are likely to ance, he said, is that it contin- PG&E, he said, is disproving cities today have to prove that remain a part of the region’s state could offer a contract to ues to be more profitable for the concept of “too big to fail.” there will be enough water avail- housing mix “for the foreseeable the first company to produce cities to support commercial “They’re too big and they’re able to support new growth, they future,” so she favors the devel- “carbon-negative” cement, or development over housing. He failing,” he said. should also be required to dem- opment safe parking facilities, as cement made using carbon said he wants the state to help He said he’s interested in onstrate that there is housing well as other initiatives such as dioxide, he said. pay developer impact fees for exploring a co-op model for available before they permit new Oakland’s “Tuff Shed” program On the topic of housing affordable housing so that cit- the utility, with PG&E poten- job centers to be built, she said. to rapidly offer housing for the policy, he did not support ies don’t lose out on funding tially becoming a poles-and- She wants the state’s surplus homeless. the revised Senate Bill 50 and for needed infrastructure. wires company. properties, particularly the sur- Regarding health care, she noted that it would likely have In the area of transportation, “I think the investor-owned face parking lots of public agen- said, she supports Medicare for been litigated and, as a conse- he said he would fight for the utility model is broken,” he cies, studied and considered for all and expanding MediCal to quence, wouldn’t have taken region to secure state funding said. “They’ve lost the trust of affordable housing development. cover undocumented adults. effect for three or four years. for Caltrain grade separations the public, and we have to find One place she’s wary of devel- The state should also consider He stands apart from other — projects to separate the a new model.” oping, though, is on areas that increasing reimbursement rates candidates, however, with one rail line from the more than He said he’s considering have historically been part of for community organizations of the bolder proposals to 40 Peninsula roads that cross hosting regular “Java with the Bay or will be part of it in the that provide health care, she address the district’s skewed it. It’s estimated that build- Josh” events — modeled on future. added. jobs-housing balance: He pro- ing grade separations at all of Hill’s “Java with Jerry” ses- “Compact development around “I feel like we should have the poses that large employers those Caltrain crossings would sions — in different cities. He’s Caltrain is really the answer,” she same health care security that with 1,000 or more workers be cost around $11 billion. also considering creating a dis- said. “We have to have the Bay Canadians do,” she said. A required to fund one housing Becker cites Santa Clara trictwide book club to explore County finance documents in the history and problems fac- stating that only 6% of locally ing the district — with books generated tax revenue comes such as Richard Rothstein’s Donald Alexander Lucas back to the 14 cities of Santa “The Color of Law,” Jessica Clara County. Trounstein’s “Segregation by May 24, 1962 – January 28, 2020 “We need that money back Design,” or Randy Shaw’s Donald Alexander Lucas was born May 24, 1962, Road. He then founded RWI Group in 1993 and for Caltrain grade separa- “Generation Priced Out,” he in Stanford, California to Lygia and Donald Leo Lucas Venture Group in 2007. He believed in the tions,” he said. said. Lucas. He grew up with his sisters Nancy and Allie power of venture capital to make the world a better If elected,he said, he’s com- “It would be an incredible dis- in Atherton, and would later raise his family there place. He invested in companies such as Oracle, mitted to carrying on Sen. trict to represent,” he added. A with his wife Sarah. He attended St. Joseph’s School, Cadence, Palantir, Avinger, MightyNetworks, Jerry Hill’s work to hold PG&E Charles Armstrong and Bellarmine. He received his Berkeley Lights, Bossa Nova Robotics, Katerra, Pallet B.A. from Santa Clara in 1984 and embarked on his Shelter, and Finicast. He believed in supporting 30-year career in venture capital. his entrepreneurs with any resources needed and Don met the love of his life, Sarah, over spring loved representing his companies by sporting their break at the Vintage Club logo wear. Fueled by his James Madden in Indian Wells. They daughter Mary’s diagnosis April 7, 1947 – December 1, 2019 married in 1988 and began of Type 1 diabetes, Don building their family. was most proud of his role We are sad to They named their first as a founding investor in announce the passing daughter Mary after Don’s Dexcom, the continuous of James Madden. grandmother Mary “Gogo” glucose monitor that helps His love, laughter, Lucas, the most pivotal millions today. The Lucas person in his young life. Family hosted “Spring and generosity will be His grandmother instilled Fling” in Half Moon Bay for dearly missed. Please in him a love of God, 12 years, an annual two-day join us in celebrating gardening, good spirits, and event that raised money for his life on Sunday family. Jack soon joined diabetes research. He then February 9, 2020 1-4 pm his sister, followed by Kate welcomed into his office at Redwood City Elks and finally Henry. Don loved his children fiercely Beyond Type 1, which his wife co-founded in 2014. Lodge, 938 Wilmington and was so proud to raise them as members of the Don adored his community at church and looked Way, Redwood City, community he loved. He was a lifetime member forward to each Sunday. He and his family attended CA. Afterward, we at the Menlo Circus Club and was the “mayor of Nativity, St. Denis, and Our Lady of the Wayside. will be meeting at one of Jim’s favorite haunts to Draeger’s,” always greeting the team by name. He He dedicated the gardens at St. Denis to his congregate and see friends, the Dutch Goose. Join often could be found hiking the Dish, lunching in grandmother Gogo, and most recently enhanced the booth at Evvia, or popping into the Palantir the grounds at Our Lady of the Wayside. us there to relax and have a burger and a beer. The buildings to grab an update and a new company There will be a memorial mass at Sacred Heart back room of the Dutch Goose is reserved from 4 t-shirt. His favorite nights were those spent with School in Atherton at 11am on February 8, 2020, PM to 6 PM. RSVP for either or both gatherings: family and friends, though he rarely made it past with a reception to follow. Donations can be made [email protected] 9pm. to the Donald A. Lucas garden fund at our Lady of [email protected] Don was a proud second-generation venture the Wayside Church in Portola Valley or to Beyond capitalist, initially joining his father on Sand Hill Type 1 in San Carlos. PAID OBITUARY PAID OBITUARY

18QThe AlmanacQAlmanacNews.comQFebruary 5, 2020