Border crossing WEEKEND | 16 AUGUST 9, 2013 VOLUME 21, NO. 28 www.MountainViewOnline.com 650.964.6300 MOVIES | 19 High rent: Challenge for some, cakewalk for others MICHELLE LE MICHELLE LE The Madera apartment complex modeled its rental office after Sisters Cynthia, 15, and Briseyda, 11, share a room with their parents an Apple Store. The development’s “I am home” motto appears No place like home in a one-bedroom apartment. They worry that rent increases could throughout the complex. Our series on the high cost of force their family to move. housing in Mountain View continues this week with a look Huge demand for pricey at two very different apartment Struggling tenants new apartments complexes. face uncertain future By Daniel DeBolt By Daniel DeBolt room surrounded by members the 209-unit complex which of four other households in her cross the street from the opened in January at 455 West s rents in their once-af- building. “We are very con- downtown train station Evelyn Ave. “That’s usually not fordable neighborhood cerned about this situation,” AMountain View’s first the case.” Askyrocket, longtime said Pacheca, a teacher and new apartment complex in What’s more surprising is overlooking a courtyard. But apartment dwellers on Moun- community organizer. more than 10 years is luxurious what tenants here have been the rents here are rising and tain View’s California Street say The 1960s-era complex is and very popular. willing to pay for rent. A tenant now you can expect to pay they have no good options. like many on California Street, “We’re 100-percent occupied, on the second floor is paying $4,600 a month or more for a “They are my family, they are occupied by a mix of the which is really crazy,” said Jon $4,300 a month for a two- similar apartment in the com- not just my neighbors,” said working poor and young tech Moss, vice president of Pro- bedroom, two-bathroom apart- California Street resident Elena metheus Real Estate Group, of ment with hardwood floors See PRICEY LIVING, page 8 Pacheco, as she sat in her living See STRUGGLING, page 9 Mock-police Twitter account fools press lished on a satirical account run transplant who moved here from by a local computer programmer Pennsylvania two years ago. He MOUNTAIN VIEW MAN TWEETS FROM ‘ALTERNATE REALITY’ MVPD who tweets about an “alternate- said the fact that his story was reality Mountain View.” picked up says a lot about what By Nick Veronin made-up incident. It only took walked into and broken a window The story is at once humor- people will believe and what him 120 characters. in downtown Mountain View. ous and instructive, according people want to believe. Mountain View humor- The story reported that a man That tweet was not pushed out by to Matt Basta, who runs a fake “I think it’s pretty funny, but ist inadvertently duped — preoccupied with a YouTube the official Mountain View Police police Twitter account under the also sad that (a lot of) folks were Aa local news outlet into video, which he was watching on Department Twitter account, @ handle @MVPoliceBlotter. posting a real story about a his Google Glass headset — had MountainViewPD. It was pub- Basta is a Mountain View See TWITTER, page 12 INSIDE VIEWPOINT 14 | GOINGS ON 20 | CLASS GUIDE 21 | MARKETPLACE 25 | REAL ESTATE 27 apr.com EXPLORE THE NEW Where people, homes and a bit of imagination intersect S S S JEFF STRICKER & STEVE TENBROECK TIM ANDERSON CAROLYN BOTTS LOS ALTOS MOUNTAIN VIEW SAN CARLOS Located on a desirable street in North Los Altos, this remod- Beautifully remodeled 3bd/2ba home features a gourmet Ranch-style gem in sought-after San Carlos. 3bd/1ba with eled 4bd/2.5ba home with den offers 2633+/- sf. 17,475+/- sf kitchen, living room/dining room combo, wood-burning open and light-filled living areas, gleaming hardwood floors, lot. Open Saturday & Sunday $1,998,000 fireplace and laminate flooring. 2-car garage. $975,000 and stunning wood-burning fireplace. $898,000 S S S CLIFF NOLL SUE NYSTROM WALSH CLIFF NOLL SAN JOSE SAN JOSE MOUNTAIN VIEW 3bd/2ba home located on a tree-lined street, just minutes to Magnificent views of Silicon Valley. Updated 4bd/3ba home This stylish 2bd/2ba ground floor condo offers the conve- Westgate Shopping Center. Freshly painted interior and new offers expansive living room with views, wine room and FR. nience of a private entry directly from the street. A rare carpet. 8000+/- sf lot. $859,000 18,240+/- sf lot. Open Sat. & Sun. $815,000 opportunity. Open Sat. & Sun. $675,000 S S S MICHAEL GALLI CLAUDIA MONTALBAN DOROTHY LIU MOUNTAIN VIEW SUNNYVALE WEST SAN JOSE Rare top-floor unit. 1bd/1ba condo features an updated Luxurious 2bd/2ba third-floor condo overlooks the Sunken Move-in ready condo with Cupertino schools. 2bd/1ba with kitchen and bath, designer carpet + in-unit laundry. Secure Garden Golf Course. Spacious floor plan with wood-burning remodeled kitchen + pantry for extra storage. Freshly painted underground parking. Pool and spa. $498,000 FP, new carpet and paint. Open Sunday. $489,000 + new floors. Huge balcony. $365,000 MAKE YOUR MOVE ##!"#!#"! #& &%"$!$" $) $(!"!(#*!($! #&#$"#( '!#*!!($!" LOS ALTOS ⎮ 167 South San Antonio Rd 650.941.1111 APR COUNTIES ⎮ Santa Clara ⎮ San Mateo ⎮ San Francisco ⎮ Marin ⎮ Sonoma ⎮ Alameda ⎮ Contra Costa ⎮ Monterey ⎮ Santa Cruz 2 ■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■ August 9, 2013 the world always looks 7PJD FT Best of AROUND TOWN Mountain View Brighter Voice For 5 Years Running! Asked in downtown Mountain View. Photos and interviews by Sofia Biros from behind Do you tend to fix things that A Smile! break, or simply buy replacements? “I fix what I can, but when it comes to clothes, I buy new Smiles Dental invites you to meet ones.” Dr. Tavarez on Joy Montgomery, Los Altos th rd Friday, August 16 & Friday, August 23 Invisalign for your free Invisalign Consultation. FreeConsultation! Dr. Kathleen Tavarez considers it her personal obligation to provide the highest quality Dr. Kathleen Tavarez of orthodontic care to her patients. She is on “I absolutely fix things. I have Orthodontist $ the cutting edge of clinical & technological a 100 value! a bicycle that is about 20 years Dr. Tavarez has been orthodontic advances so that she can old and it’s a tank. It has all specializing in provide her patients the benefits of the most Some restrictions may apply. orthodontics since 1992. Call for details. Offer good replaced parts. It’s really good proven & advanced orthodontics. for 60 days. for the environment but it’s also kind of a ‘guy technical’ 100 W. El Camino Real, Suite 63A Mountain View ( Corner of El Camino & Calderon ) thing. We like to go out and fix www.SmilesDental.com | 650.564.3333 things.” Stephen Hays, Mountain View Facelift Without Surgery? “I prefer to fix it but if the challenge is too much, I’ll give it away and buy something new.” Cathie McGee, Jacksonville, Fla. YES...with “I fix everything that’s broken.” Lift, tighten and tone Richard Perez, Miami non-invasively! Non-surgical No downtime “I tend to fix them, but it Natural results Medical, Pediatric, Surgical & Cosmetic Dermatology depends on what it is. I usually look at cost.” David Hackett, San Francisco Schedule your free consultation to get started www.menkesclinic.com | 650.962.4600 HaveHave aa questionquestion forfor VoicesVoices AroundAround Town?Town? E-mailEmail itit toto [email protected]@mv-voice.com August 9, 2013 ■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■ 3 VOTED BEST AUTO -PDBM/FXT NCRIMEBRIEFS REPAIR 2012 PARTY GOES BAD FOR MV MEN Two Mountain View men were arrested — one of them for NOT JUST AUTO REPAIR assaulting a police officer — after officers broke up an apartment BUT AUTO CARE party at a complex located at 280 Orchard Ave. Entrust the care of your Hybrid vehicle to us, and According Sgt. Sean Thompson, public information officer for the Mountain View Police Department, neighbors called the cops enjoy expert service and a whole lot of TLC in a after midnight on July 31, complaining of noise. Police showed relaxing and stress-free environment. up and told the young revelers to be quiet. However, neighbors also called the apartment’s tenant, who was out of town, Thompson said. The man, realizing that his daughter had thrown a party while he was away, called police and told them he wanted everyone out. Officers returned to the house at about 12:20 a.m. and told everyone they needed to leave, Thompson said — a direction that upset two particularly intoxicated young men. As 20-year-old Dominic Azoulay and 19-year-old Angel Chav- erri left the party they allegedly hurled homophobic slurs at the “Service Excellence with a Personal Touch” officers. According to Thompson, one of the officers determined Schedule your appointment by calling us today: Azoulay was intoxicated, as the man was slurring his speech and wobbly on his feet. The officer decided to place him under arrest Thorough checkup 650-961-0302 for public intoxication. but without pressure to Open Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm Apparently, this further angered his friend, Chaverri, who protested, leaning forward and allegedly striking the officer on do unnecessary expensive the shoulder. Chaverri was then arrested for battery on a police work. Car returned officer as well as public intoxication, Thompson said. humming. See CRIME BRIEFS, page 11 — M. S., Los Altos 2037 Old Middlefi eld Way, Mountain View deansautomotive.com NPOLICELOG AUTO BURGLARY COMMERCIAL BURGLARY 700 block Continental Cl., 7/31 700 block Continental Cl., 8/1 Find us on Facebook 700 block Continental Cl., 8/1 500 block Showers Dr., 8/1 2009 2010 2011 2012 1000 block N.