New Police Alert System for Residents
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Vol. XXVI, Number 54 • Wednesday, April 6, 2005 ■ 50¢ NewNew policepolice alertalert systemsystem forfor residentsresidents PagePage 33 www.PaloAltoOnline.com Norbert von der Groeben Check out the Weekly’s new online classifieds at fogster.com ■ Upfront Brutality trial pits police against police Page 3 ■ Title Pages Author extols the virtues of a stress-free life Page 21 ■ Sports Stanford baseball shares Pac-10 lead Page 27 apr.com REDEFINING QUALITY SINCE 1990 R eading between the emotional line makes the difference between finding a house and a home. PALO ALTO Investment property in prime downtown location with pride of ownership. Main house consists of two large units with sun room and two main entrances. Detached fourplex. All 2bd/1ba units with six carports. Lot size is approximately 15000sf. $2,850,000 PALO ALTO Three bedroom, two bath Craftsman style home in quaint Southgate neighborhood. High coved ceilings in living room and inviting front porch. Excellent schools. $975,000 REDWOOD SHORES Stunning, beautifully remodeled 3bd/2.5ba townhome with dramatic water and mountain views in a great location with easy access to major commute routes. Exciting architectural details. Pool and Spa. $819,000 apr.com | PALO ALTO OFFICE 578 University Avenue 650.323.1111 APR COUNTIES | Santa Clara | San Mateo | San Francisco | Alameda | Contra Costa | Monterey | Santa Cruz Page 2 • Wednesday, April 6, 2005 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Palo Alto police versus Palo Alto police Two police investigations conflict in trial of officers accused of beating African American by Bill D’Agostino The second investigation was per- In the San Jose courtroom, both the Lee approached him first, and was hen jurors begin deliberating the case against two Palo Alto police of- formed by an internal affairs team prosecution and defense attorneys later joined by Kan. The prosecuting ficers, there will be not one, but two, Palo Alto police department in- that included Lt. Dennis Burns, who tried to discredit the investigation attorney, Deputy District Attorney Pe- W vestigations to consider. testified this week. Burns, the acting most damning to their side, putting ter Waite, argued the officers did not The first investigation into the actions of officers Michael Kan and Craig Lee captain in charge of investigations, is Palo Alto police officials in the awk- have just cause to detain and beat on the night of July 13, 2003 landed them before the jurors. The officers are the highest-ranking Palo Alto police ward position of disparaging the work Hopkins, but made up reasons later. facing felony assault and misdemeanor battery charges for beating and pep- official to take the stand to date. His of fellow officers. The officers’ attorneys argue Hop- per-spraying 59-year-old Albert Hopkins. probe cleared the officers, a fact the Hopkins was sitting in his car on kins was in an area of high crime, That criminal investigation was conducted by various sergeants in the de- judge barred the jurors from learning the corner of El Camino Real and Ox- acted belligerently, spooked neigh- partment, many of whom testified last week. earlier in the case. ford Avenue on the night in question. (continued on page 10) CITY COUNCIL New alert upgrades to debut City to hire call center to notify residents during a crisis by Jocelyn Dong he next time a mountain lion roams a Palo Alto neighbor- T hood, residents will find out in a timely manner — at least, that’s the hope of the city’s police depart- ment. Starting in May, the city will debut some upgrades to the community- notification system that was roundly criticized nearly a year ago, when parents sent their children to school unaware a puma had been spotted in the area. Norbert von der Groeben That animal was eventually shot and killed. The new system will call upon an outside firm to phone residents with a recorded message during a crisis. The city’s current automated phone system can make about 2,500 calls an hour. But Palo Alto has some Roberta Durham and Doreen Pereira lawn bowl on Thursday at the Palo Alto Lawn Bowls Club, where green fees are being considered. 26,000 households, and a number of those have more than one phone line. At the current rate, it would take at problem. We want to help,” said at the field during a bright, beauti- COMMUNITY least a half-day to alert the whole club president Terry Hogan. ful day last Thursday. Like most city of an emergency situation. “We’re agreed we should pay of the club’s 124 members, they In about six weeks, the city is ex- Lawn bowlers more. Everybody should do their were retired seniors. A few were pected to contract with the Bay Area part to get us through this thing.” glad to explain the nuances of the call center DCC to provide addition- Despite the president’s claim deceptively simple game to a vis- al phone power, enabling the city to debate green fee though, many members said last iting stranger. reach hundreds of residents at a time, week they were opposed to the “First you hold the ball and pray according to Sheryl Contois, police Future of Palo Alto’s historic new fee, concerned the higher like hell,” said a cheerful Al communications coordinator. The price would drive players away. Pereira, who travels from Belmont cost of the service is $15,000 a year. lawn bowling club up in the air There is already a $55 annual to play with friends in Palo Alto. In addition, the city will create its by Bill D’Agostino membership fee. To play, two teams compete by own phone directory, foregoing the “The club’s been in existence rolling numerous balls — techni- one used by the police dispatch cen- alo Alto’s lawn bowling contentious issue being the possi- since 1936 and never charged,” cally “bowls” — from one end of ter — which doesn’t contain cell- green is a quiet oasis on Em- bility of charging green fees. former club president Peter Knopf the 120-foot green to the other. phone numbers or Stanford Univer- P barcadero Road, one of the The idea of having players pay said. “They don’t charge fees in Players try to land their black and sity numbers. city’s most frenzied thoroughfares. a $2 fee for every game stems San Francisco. They don’t charge brown bowls near a smaller, white The city’s new database will allow Pale green benches, framed by red from the city’s $5.2 million pro- fees in any other club I know of.” ball, known as the “jack.” The each household to specify two phone pergolas, surround the specially jected deficit for 2005-2006. The Membership dues are also pro- bowls are lopsided to allow players numbers to be called: one during the manicured field. city owns the park and pays posed to double next year. The to curve them into tight spots. day, and another in the evening, Con- But currently, the historic club $50,000 to $60,000 a year to club’s board will discuss the pro- At the end of each round, the tois said. That will cut down on hav- that plays at the site is vigorously maintain the green. posals at its May meeting. team with the bowl closest to the ing to call multiple phone lines per debating its future, with the most “We don’t want to be another Around 25 people were playing (continued on page 10) (continued on page 10) Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, April 6, 2005 • Page 3 S YMPHONY I N F LOWERS XVI 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 ATHERTON (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Our Jay Thorwaldson, Editor GARDEN TOUR Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Jennifer Aquino, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor Friday & Saturday April 22 & 23 Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Townby Don Kazak Robyn Israel, Arts & Entertainment Editor 10 am to 4 pm RAIN OR SHINE Don Kazak, Jocelyn Dong, Senior Staff Writers Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers ◆ Four beautiful Gardens Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer ◆ Horticultural Speakers Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer Criticism with a smile Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor ◆ Musical Interludes & Online Editor ob Holmgren has a sly sense just fun to have a say. I’m not inter- ◆ Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections of humor. He is quick to see ested in changing the minds of Plein Air Painters Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jim Shelby, B the lighter side of things that hordes of people.” Jill Slater, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, the rest of us sometime take too se- But he pokes wicked good fun at For tickets & information Contributors riously. the Daily News and, once so far, at Tai Khandaker, Carol Palinkas, Editorial Interns The 59-year-old Menlo Park pho- the Weekly, for how it covered the Call (650) 329-8187 Naomi Brookner, Photo Intern DESIGN tographer started a blog in mid-Feb- recent buy-out of the Daily News E-mail:[email protected] Carol Hubenthal, Design Director ruary about his careful reading of chain by Knight-Ridder. Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director the Palo Alto Daily News. The com- He’s not a journalism professor Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior Designers; ments and funny photographs are a and he has no pretense about what TICKETS: $25 before April 15 Mindi Casillas, Ben Ho, Dana James, hint at how he looks at things: In a he is doing. But he is smart and fun- $30 at the garden gate Scott Peterson, Designers discussion of storm drains, he post- ny.