Vol. XXVI, Number 45 • Friday, March 4, 2005 ■ 50¢ Chef shares secrets Page 13 Check out the Weekly’s new online classifieds at fogster.com WeWeekend eEdition k l y www.PaloAltoOnline.com Enter the Dragon SmallSmall theatricaltheatrical troupetroupe hopeshopes toto findfind aa homehome inin PaloPalo AltoAlto PagePage 77 Kevin Hagen Worth A Look 11 Eating Out 13 Movie Times 19 Goings On 28 Crossword Puzzle 46 ■ Upfront Investigation prompts city to fire three employees Page 3 ■ Sports CCS basketball titles at stake this weekend Page 33 ■ Home & Real Estate Welcome to the neighborhood Section 2 Gilfix & La Poll Associates Special Needs Trusts: The Cornerstone of Estate Planning for Disabled Children Michael Gilfix, Esq. Gilfix & La Poll Associates Stanford Law School March 16, 2005 31 yrs. Experience Palo Alto Hyatt Rickey’s Co-Presenters: Camino Ballroom 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. • Public Benefits Retained • How SNTs fit with Revocable Living Trusts Ronald McDonald House • Choice of the SNT Trustee at Stanford • What SNT funds can and cannot be used for Seating is limited! FREE Seminar Call 650-493-8070 www.gilfix.com Page 2 • Friday, March 4, 2005 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis City to fire three utilities employees Dismissals part of a wider probe are line installer Filberto “Philly” into numerous allegations, includ- Other elements of the expanding by Bill D’Agostino and Jay Thorwaldson Castro and heavy equipments opera- ing claims that utilities workers probe reportedly regard allegations tor Brian Bingham. Their names used city equipment for unautho- of embezzlement, sexual harass- ore Palo Alto Utilities workers that was told he would be were revealed by Johnson, and con- rized outside work. It was unclear as ment, threatening physical harm, employees could be disci- fired, said he will not appeal the firmed by a co-worker not involved to whether the employees did the lying to the investigator and intimi- M plined or even fired, city city’s decision. in the investigation. outside jobs on their own time or dating co-workers. City Attorney officials said after confirming “There must be a better plan for Top city officials refused to reveal during their regular work days. Gary Baum said the investigation reports they are terminating three me in life,” said Johnson, a 41-year- or confirm the workers’ names or Assistant City Manager Emily has not supported earlier allega- crew-level workers this week as old line installer who previously positions. Harrison said the employees will tions that employees charged the part of an ongoing investigation of admitted publicly to using a city The three workers are the first remain on paid administrative leave city overtime while moonlighting. the department. truck for his personal use. slated for termination as a result of until termination hearings are held Harrison said she could not Byron Johnson, one of the three The two other workers reportedly the city’s widespread investigation within two weeks. (continued on page 5) BUSINESS Palo Alto’s money trees Not just a thing of beauty, greenery boosts the economy, research says by Jocelyn Dong rees — the heart and fiber of Palo Alto. Trees create the T famed character of the city’s residential boulevards and serve as the symbol of Palo Alto. At Christmas, there’s a whole lane dedicated to them. Palo Alto’s love affair with trees goes back to the founding of the city, so it’s no wonder that Palo Alto’s No. 1 tree group, Canopy, has invited a renowned expert to extol the virtues of the foliage this Saturday as the kickoff to Arbor Month in Palo Alto. But hers will be no poetic reading, nor botanical lecture. Instead, research social scientist Kathy Wolf of the University of Washington will present research that goes beyond Nicholas Wright the beauty — exploring how trees stimulate the economy. According to Wolf, money really does grow on trees. Wolf’s research has shown a con- nection between shoppers’ attitudes Mayor Jim Burch (second from left) and City Manager Frank Benest talk with residents at Palo Alto Cafe over coffee and orange juice Wednesday. and tree-lined business districts. She and her colleagues in the field of urban forestry surveyed people in Jim, Frank and a cup of joe large and small cities and found they were willing to travel farther and spend a longer time in shopping dis- Mayor, city manager hosts coffee on budget tricts lined with large trees and a full by Bill D’Agostino canopy. athered around a small metal table out- Finance Committee hearings will begin in “We’re going to preserve services in depart- Not only that, but shoppers per- side Palo Alto Cafe, Mayor Jim Burch May, but until then the city manager is using ments we think are more essential.” ceive merchants to be friendlier and G and a small but crowded group of resi- a variety of formats — like the coffee and Resident Rod McNall advised the City more knowledgeable and the quality dents discussed the state of the city’s budget upcoming Budget 101 forums — to get Council to stop listening so much to “pressure of products higher in centers with when a car alarm began loudly blaring. advice from citizens. groups,” but rather to care about the larger pic- trees. Most intriguing, they also “Why can’t the city do something about that?” Among the expenditure-eliminating or rev- ture and hear the silent majority. He cited the claimed to be willing to spend about Burch said jokingly on Wednesday morning. enue-raising ideas floated by residents who example of neighborhood projects that try to 9 to 12 percent more of their pre- That remark was one of many humanizing attended the 9 a.m. coffee: capping employees’ “calm” traffic, using speed bumps, traffic barri- cious disposable income. moments in the get-together organized by City salaries (which Benest kidded would be fine as ers and other devices. The research was conducted by Manager Frank Benest, who sought advice on long as it wasn’t his salary), spending less on “I think the majority of Palo Altans aren’t con- showing people photographs of the city budget. “traffic calming” projects and starting a “business cerned about traffic calming,” he said. business districts they’d never visit- The City of Palo Alto is facing a projected license tax.” One person asked if the city should But the question raised an interesting ques- ed, Wolf said. No other information $5.2 million deficit for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. just cut a certain percentage across the board. tion — if the majority is silent, how can the was provided to the subjects. Layoffs are expected, along with cuts to a vari- Cutting exactly the same ratio from every council members listen? The reason for their preferences, she believes, stems in part from past ety of popular programs the city offers. department would be “stupid,” Benest said. (continued on page 5) (continued on page 6) Palo Alto Weekly • Friday, March 4, 2005 • Page 3 Upfront 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Jennifer Aquino, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors ReaderWireReader comments via e-mail, voice mail and U.S. mail Keith Peters, Sports Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Robyn Israel, Arts & Entertainment Editor Course not up to par Big job for Burch Don Kazak, Jocelyn Dong, Senior Staff Writers Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers I would like to express my support Every day while I’m sitting in front Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer for the redesign of the Palo Alto of Whole Foods Market panhandling Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer Municipal Golf Course. Our golf course for dinner I see our beloved mayor, Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor & Online Editor and surrounding areas are in desperate Jim Burch, drive by and wave. Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections need of upgrading. This does not put food on my plate Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn Current land values and correct at the end of the day. Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jim Shelby, Jill Slater, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, utilization can easily support a pro- His “State of the City” speech on Contributors posal of this nature. policy initiatives was a clear indicator Molly Tanenbaum, Jamie Schuman, Editorial Soroush Kaboli that Burch is out of touch with the Interns Naomi Brookner, Photo Intern Barbara Drive, Palo Alto core issues and people of Palo Alto. DESIGN He listens but is not responsive to the Carol Hubenthal, Design Director Alma Plaza idea needs of the people or the rest of the Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director City Council. Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior I would like to suggest that consider- How to Create an Outdoor Room What are the core issues? Jobs are Designers; ation be given to offering the Alma Mindi Casillas, Ben Ho, Dana James, what we need. We need a day-labor Plaza site to the Mountain View Market, Scott Peterson, Designers program set up like the one in San PRODUCTION 340 Castro St., Mountain View. Francisco. It works and there are Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager This is a Chinese grocery that fills a Dorothy Hassett, Joan Sloss, Sales & Production more than 2,000 people who get niche unserved by the chains, including Coordinators work. ADVERTISING Trader Joe’s. My wife and I walked out We need to put money on the Michael Howard, Advertising Manager with makings for half-a-dozen meals Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Assistant and change from a $20.