A good catch WEEKEND | 19 JULY 5, 2019 VOLUME 27, NO. 24 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 22 Judge finds witness tampering in ADA lawsuit RICO CASE FINDS LAWYERS ATTEMPTED TO SILENCE WITNESS By Mark Noack 450 businesses in the greater Bay Area and reportedly upward of wo defendants have been 2,000 across the state over acces- caught tampering with sibility violations. Businesses Ta witness in a lawsuit in Mountain View have been against a San Jose law firm that targeted in these suits, including has sued thousands of California Ava’s Market, Blossom True Val- small businesses for minor acces- ue Hardware and (as of March) sibility violations. A federal judge Taqueria La Espuela. While the last month determined that an Mission Law Firm has attracted attorney and a compliance con- scorn in the business commu- sultant linked to the Mission Law nity, it has rarely been challenged Firm had illegally eavesdropped in court over its practice. on a phone call with a witness That changed when Tanya and later coached him to act Moore and her colleagues were dumb on the stand. hit with a civil suit last year. SADIE STINSON The Mission Law Firm, head- Burlingame-based attorney Moji FRIDAYS IN THE PARK WITH PYT ed by attorney Tanya Moore, Saniefar filed a sweeping case has become notorious for filing against the Mission Law Firm Young thespians from Peninsula Youth Theatre perform “The Relectant Dragon” outside the Mountain countless lawsuits against small and its roster of frequent ADA View Center for the Performing Arts on June 28. Family-friendly free performances will be held every restaurants and shops, includ- plaintiffs, alleging they were Friday at 6:30 p.m. through Aug. 16. ing ones in Mountain View, essentially operating a criminal for violations under the federal enterprise that should be treated Americans with Disabilities Act under the Racketeer Influenced (ADA). and Corrupt Organizations Dense housing projects kick off Many small business owners (RICO) Act. describe the lawsuits as essen- Moore’s attorneys did not transformation of East Whisman tially being a shakedown. These respond to a request for com- so-called “drive-by” lawsuits ment by the Voice. By Kevin Forestieri buildings to urban mixed-use. seen — the Middlefield project have seized on asphalt cracks, The case is personal for Sani- The two proposals, located would include two seven-story table heights and faded parking efar: her father’s restaurant in wo developers are seeking on Logue Avenue and East buildings, while the Logue proj- lines to threaten large violation Fresno closed as a result of one to build some of Mountain Middlefield Road, would bring ect proposes an 11-story building fees. In most cases, the business of Moore’s suits, and it took her TView’s densest housing a combined 831 housing units to that would stand 128 feet tall. owners agree to pay out-of-court family three years to fight the projects to date, kicking off East Whisman, and both prom- The projects are a sign of settlements to avoid the legal cost case. That case against her fam- plans to dramatically change the ise a mix of rental and owner- changes to come for East of defending themselves. ily’s restaurant later fell apart East Whisman area of the city ship units. The projects are also Court records show that from light industrial and office among the tallest the city has See EAST WHISMAN, page 15 Moore’s firm has sued more than See ADA LAWSUIT, page 14 $830K needed for overnight parking at Foothill College, president says By Elena Kadvany Locally, the Foothill-De Anza be as easy as some people think, Community College District is Nguyen said. The college would early 20 community col- remaining publicly neutral but ‘The question is whether this is a good idea have to increase its limited leges and districts as well watching closely as Assembly that should be required of all.’ nighttime security, potentially Nas the Community Col- Bill 302, which was proposed by contracting out the work, lege League of California and by Assemblyman Marc Ber- PRESIDENT THUY NGUYEN, FOOTHILL COLLEGE and consider how to accommo- Association of California Com- man, D-Palo Alto, makes its way date students who might have munity College Administrators through the state legislature. children or families who would have formally come out in oppo- In an interview, Foothill Col- about the financial and opera- is a good idea that should be sleep in a vehicle with them, she sition to a state bill that would lege President Thuy Nguyen tional challenges created by the required of all,” she said. said. The bill would also require allow homeless students to sleep called Berman’s effort “admi- bill. Rolling out safe overnight overnight in campus parking lots. rable” but said questions remain “The question is whether this parking at Foothill would not See OVERNIGHT PARKING, page 9 INSIDE VIEWPOINT 17 | ARTS & EVENTS 18 | GOINGS ON 23 2 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q July 5, 2019 Healthy Teeth and Gums Voic es That Last a Lifetime! AROUND TOWN • Experienced and Gentle Asked in downtown Mountain View. Photos and interviews by Ray Levy-Uyeda Dentist, and Friendly Staff • New Patients Welcome! What issues should be discussed in the • Free Consultations and next presidential candidate debate? Second Opinions • Saturday Appointments Available “Probably green energy policy. I Voted Best don’t feel like that was addressed in the last two debates.” Dentist Adam Brown, Mountain View THE THE Best of VOICE MOUNTAIN Best of Don’t Wait! 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It truly is an existential crisis.” Fresh news Melissa Stahl, Mountain View delivered daily Today’s local news & best bets Sign up today at MountainViewOnline.com/express HaveHtifHave aa questionquestion forfor VoicesViVoices AroundAAround Town?Town? E-mailEmail itit toto [email protected]@mv-voice.com July 5, 2019 Q Mountain View Voice Q MountainViewOnline.com Q 3 LocalNews QCRIMEBRIEFS QPOLICELOG MVPD ARRESTS FREMONT FIRE SUSPECT AUTO BURGLARY COMMERCIAL BURGLARY Top news 1100 block N. Rengstorff Av., 6/24 700 block E. Evelyn Av., 6/28 A woman accused of starting a 5-acre fire with a flare gun in 2900 block N. Shoreline Blvd., 6/24 CRIMINAL THREATS the East Bay was arrested in Mountain View last week, according 1600 block N. Shoreline Blvd., 6/25 1200 block Terra Bella Av., 6/24 and local a statement released Monday. 800 block California St., 6/25 Fremont police sought the arrest of the 43-year-old woman 1100 block Castro St., 6/25 RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY after she was suspected of starting a vegetation fire in the hills east 800 block California St., 6/25 1800 block W. Middlefield Rd., 6/24 best bets of Mission Boulevard on Sunday, June 23. Witnesses described 200 block Hope St., 6/25 STOLEN VEHICLE how she got into an argument with a man and, as the altercation 400 block Bryant St., 6/26 600 block Rustic Ln., 6/25 escalated, fired a flare out of a modified pellet gun at him. 1000 block N. Rengstorff Av., 6/26 2400 block Charleston Rd., 6/26 VANDALISM The flare missed the victim, but landed in dry brush and 2000 block W. El Camino Real, 6/26 200 block S. Rengstorff Av., 6/24 sparked a brush fire. Thirty people were evacuated from about 300 block Hope St., 6/27 800 block California St., 6/25 a dozen residences and structures close to the fire, which grew 900 block Villa St., 6/27 Hwy 85 & E. Middlefield Rd., 6/27 to 5 acres before it was contained after three hours. No one was injured in the blaze. The local news The woman fled the area on foot, heading towards the hills, and could not be located, according to the statement. Police officers you care about found what they called a “modified flare gun” at the scene. QCORRECTION Fremont police received a signed warrant for the arrest of the is one click woman on June 24 for assault with a deadly weapon, unlawfully Due to an editing error, an incorrect headline ran on last week’s away.