Vol. XL, Number 21 Q February 22, 2019 City to ask Google to expunge confidential data Page 5 PaloAltoOnline.com IT’S PINEWOOD AND MITTY AGAIN INSIDE Nationally ranked teams THIS ISSUE ready for final Page 40 SpectrumSpectrum 16 EatinEatingg Out 20 Movies 21 HomeH 26 Puzzles 43 QA&E French photographer chronicles the City by the Bay Page 19 QShop Talk Can’t do yoga? Stretching studio to open soon Page 20 QTitle Pages Uncovering hidden histories of local black residents Page 24 Hybrid ablation and the minimally invasive Cox Maze procedures revolutionize the way we treat Atrial Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common FREE COMMUNITY TALK irregular heart rhythm, aff ecting over two million Americans each year. Without February 23, 2019 detection and treatment, atrial fibrillation 9:30am – 11:30am can cause stroke and heart failure. Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley Stanford Medicine experts are pioneering new treatments for 46100 Landing Parkway AFib, through medications and groundbreaking new therapies like Fremont, CA 94538 the hybrid ablation or the minimally invasive Cox Maze procedure. This event is free and open to the Join us for this free community talk to learn more about AFib’s public, though seating is limited. signs, symptoms, and all of the latest advances in treatment. If you plan to attend, please register at stanfordhealthcare.org/events SPEAKERS or by calling 650.736.6555. Paul J. Wang, MD Anson M. Lee, MD Director, Stanford Arrhythmia Service Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Co-Director, Stanford Center for Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery), Arrhythmia Research Professor of Stanford University School of Medicine Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine) and Bioengineering (by courtesy), Stanford University School of Medicine Page 2 • February 22, 2019 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com Lan Liu Bowling presents 135 Coleridge Avenue, Palo Alto OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY & SUNDAY 1:30 - 4:30PM EXQUISITE NEW CONTEMPORARY IN OLD PALO ALTO TuckedTu away behind its own gated entrance along sought-after Coleridge AAvenue,v this newly constructed contemporary is beautifully-crafted inside and ouout. Lovely oak floors unify all of the rooms including the great room, chef’s kikitchen and formal living room, while dazzling lighting and towering sky-lit cceilinge make for a spacious, light-filled home. Four bedrooms and 2.5 baths arare conveniently placed all on one level. High tech features include a steam sshowerh in the master suite, video camera intercom and distributed audio iinsiden and out. A wrap-around deck and yard are perfect for outdoor living. WWith its desirable location just 4 blocks to Town & Country Shopping and less ththan a mile from Stanford University, this fabulous new home offers the best of Silicon Valley living. LISTED AT $3,880,000 Lan Liu Bowling John Chung Broker-AssociateB Keller Williams (650) 520-3407 (650) 269-7538 [email protected] [email protected] CalBRE # 01248958 CalBRE # 01720510 Kw #1 Agent Worldwide - 2015 Kw #1 Team Worldwide - 2016, 2017 For more photos and information please visit: www.135Coleridge.comwww.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • February 22, 2019 • Page 3 INTERO – A BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY AFFILIATE IS PROUD ONCE AGAIN FOR THE $250,000,000 sale of the iconic I. Magnin building in San Francisco’s Union Square by HALL OF FAME AGENT EFI LUZON! The I. Magnin building, located at 233 Geary St. in San Francisco’s historic Union Square, was sold by Macy’s to Efi Luzon’s client Sand Hill Property Co., the well-renowned and most prolific developer in the Bay Area, located in Palo Alto, CA. “This is a transaction that was many years in the making,” said Efi Luzon, Senior Vice President of Intero Commercial. “I am proud to have represented my client and effectively navigated such a complex deal for such an iconic property.” Luzon’s $250 million transaction is the third largest transaction in the 16-year history of Intero. In fact, Luzon has the top-three transactions in the history of the company, which include: • Large multi-unit transaction in Palo Alto, CA - $412,500,000 • Vallco Mall Cupertino, CA - $320,000,000 • I. Magnin building San Francisco, CA - $250,000,000 • Number one agent in California Number two agent nationally - 2017 RealTrends & The Wall Street Journal EFI LUZON SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERO COMMERCIAL AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE LUZON TEAM 650-465-3883 WWW.EFILUZON.COM Page 4 • February 22, 2019 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis City to ask Google to expunge data In bid to woo telecom giant, Palo Alto shared businesses. While they didn’t fizzled once again, its desire to and non-disclosure agreement jump into a frozen lake like the cooperate with Google did not. (NDA)” that the city and Google confidential utility data over several years mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, Even after Google shifted its Fiber signed Oct. 17, 2012, and by Gennady Sheyner Palo Alto’s managers and Utili- sights elsewhere, the city provid- three later non-disclosure agree- ties employees boogied to the ed the search giant with sensitive, ments, were obtained by the hen Google announced build Fiber to the Home, a mu- Village People’s “Y-M-C-A” in confidential information about community-organizing group in March 2010 its plans nicipal fiber network, had stalled, a video for Google’s amusement. the city’s transmission systems, The Partnership for Working Wto bring ultra-high- and officials here, like elsewhere, Its efforts turned out for manholes, infrastructure-main- Families and labor think tank speed internet to a few lucky were pinning their hopes on the naught, as Google chose Kansas tenance plans and properties — Working Partnerships USA communities, Palo Alto officials Mountain View-based giant to City, Missouri, in 2011 to show- at least four times, according to through public-record requests literally danced with joy. deliver 1-Gigabyte-per-second case its fiber-optic service. But newly released documents. The city’s decadelong effort to internet to all residents and while Palo Alto’s hopes for fiber The first “confidentiality (continued on page 10) CITY HALL Future of auditor’s office uncertain City considers using consultants to staff small but critical operation by Gennady Sheyner ith City Auditor Har- riet Richardson con- W cluding her Palo Alto tenure this month, city officials are preparing to hire a consul- tant to manage the office while the City Council considers its long-term future. The small but busy office has been wracked with controversy over the past year, hampered by in-fighting between Richardson Veronica Weber and several members of her staff and by uncertainty over its fu- ture. Last May, the council’s Fi- nance Committee briefly flirted Lunar light show with outsourcing its services The Super Snow Moon, the biggest full moon of the year, rises this past Tuesday above Hoover Tower at Stanford University. entirely, a proposal that it ulti- mately scuttled after criticism from former city auditors and several members of the council including transportation’s woes, and members of the community. ECONOMIC INDICATORS sky-high housing costs, and a At one point, staff from the “yawning income divide,” remain auditor’s office had even consid- troubling but are, in a sense, “old ered taking legal action against Report: Inequality on the rise in Valley news.” the city, though they ultimately More disquieting, he wrote, are chose not to once the council Index of region highlights spiking housing costs, income gap indicators that the region’s “fun- decided to retain the positions. by Gennady Sheyner damentals” — which have driven Despite the internal discord, the area’s economic vitality — the auditor’s office has been on espite a sizzling economy by Joint Venture Silicon Valley, flowing to area companies and could be changing. the frontlines in recent years in and an influx of wealth, paints a troubling picture of a re- average annual earnings reaching Among the factors, he wrote, identifying problems and rec- D Silicon Valley remains a gion where home prices continue $140,000, more than double the large companies are “acquiring ommending solutions to key mu- bastion of inequality, with more to skyrocket, where tech giants national average. smaller ones at a pace we’ve never nicipal programs, including Palo residents now struggling to afford are voraciously gobbling up start- In his introduction of the an- seen, changing the messy way in- Alto’s increasingly costly ani- the growing costs of housing, ups and where more people are nual report, Joint Venture Presi- novation has typically happened mal-services operation (which child care and transportation, ac- leaving than coming in. dent and CEO Russell Hancock here, perhaps even stifling it.” was just outsourced to the non- cording to a newly released snap- These trends are casting a called this year’s report a “Ror- “Fewer startups are getting profit Pets In Need), its buggy shot of the regional economy. shadow over the region’s continu- schach test,” with plenty to both their seed funding,” Hancock business-registry system and its The 2019 Silicon Valley Index, ous economic expansion, with cheer and worry about. Hancock which was released last week $50 billion in venture capital noted that some of the challenges, (continued on page 12) (continued on page 8) www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • February 22, 2019 • Page 5 Upfront 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 QUOTE OF THE WEEK :K\\RXFDQ·WÀQGWKH (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson (223-6505) &LW\&RXQFLODJHQGD EDITORIAL Editor Jocelyn Dong (223-6514) Associate Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511) Sports Editor Rick Eymer (223-6516) I am happy that staff made sure this Arts & Entertainment Editor Karla Kane (223-6517) Home & Real Estate Editor remained confidential and not public.