Vol. XXVI, Number 12 • Wednesday, November 10, 2004 ■ 50¢ Police searching for clues in home invasion rape case Page 3 Can you find the phony ad? Look inside for details. Norbert von der Groeben ■ Upfront Library debate reignited at council meeting Page 3 ■ ■ Sports Sacred Heart boys are CCS soccer champions Page 29 ■ Upfront Hit-and-run driver accepts plea bargain Page 5 apr.com REDEFINING QUALITY SINCE 1990 R eading between the emotional line makes the difference between finding a house and a home. PORTOLA VALLEY Adjacent to Windy Hill Open Space, this exceptional 3bd/3ba home offers serenity and privacy. Enjoy the dramatic great room and gourmet kitchen, sumptuous master suite, separate bedroom wing and stunning creekside level 1.05+/- acre lot. $3,149,000 MENLO PARK Gorgeous 3bd/2.5ba rebuilt home that is open and airy. Spacious and stylish interior with extensive and beguiling outdoor venues. 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Close to Briones Park and all schools. $849,000 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, November 10, 2004 • Palo Alto Weekly UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Library debate highlights quantity versus quality Palo Alto City Council shows little support for library “My gut feeling is that I would assessment and recommendation members opposed the plan, director’s consolidation plan love to keep the five libraries,” — listed a number of reasons why Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg Kishimoto said. the library’s current status quo is and other elected officials sought by Bill D’Agostino Since last week, when unacceptable. She argued the sys- to find middle ground between the Simpson’s plan was first unveiled, tem’s existing structure, with five opposing sides. It was hard to alo Alto Library Director Paula Simpson’s plan to dozens of Palo Altans have bom- thinly staffed branches, is eco- decipher the exact will of the close small libraries in favor of operating one cen- barded council members with e- nomically unsustainable — espe- entire political body, as many P tral branch will face an uphill battle for approval, mails about the future of the city’s cially as the city faces a projected expressed no clear preference. library system, arguing both sides $4 million-plus budget deficit next Monday night’s meeting was if Monday night’s City Council meeting is any indica- of the debate. year — and also fails to meet such not the decision point, but rather a tion. During the meeting, Simpson — needs as rooms for quiet study and chance for the council to hear Two of Palo Alto’s nine council members, Yoriko Kishimoto and Jack who conducted a six-month “lis- a computer lab. Simpson’s ideas and assessment Morton, openly opposed the plan. tening tour” to come up with her Even though the two council (continued on page 9) PUBLIC WORKS Cloudy skies for storm drains? Poor history with electorate cause for concern by Bill D’Agostino he ghosts of failed- elections past haunted T Palo Alto’s City Hall on Monday night, as the City Council nervously moved forward with a win- ter storm-drain fee elec- tion. The ballot measure will ask property owners to increase the average storm-drain fee to $10 a month, with possible annual Norbert von der Groeben increases for inflation. The current fee for a typical- sized property is $4.25 a month, but city officials said it is insuffi- cient to pay for a number of need- ed upgrades to the system of pipes, drains and pumps that carry rain- water from the city streets to the Tale of the tape city creeks. The actual fee for a homeowner or business owner Misael Vela, who helps maintain the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course, wrapped City Hall with 1,000 feet of yellow tape that read “City of depends on the size of the proper- Palo Alto: Temporarily Out of Order” on Monday, Nov. 8 before the council meeting. Temporary workers are claiming that city officials are ty. obstructing them from unionizing. The $10 fee would raise $17 million over 12 years to pay for is very unusual,” Hibbs said. for the laptop, a gray Hewlett CRIME seven construction projects around The victim, who is in her 40s, Packard Omnibook 6000. As of town. awoke at 2 a.m. Friday to a man Tuesday afternoon, the suspect was Although the nine council mem- Neighborhood shaken holding a knife in her bed. After the still at large. bers eventually voted unanimously assault, the man took a laptop and The victim lives at the home with to hold the election, they wrung by home invasion some money and stole her car, her two children, who were with their hands in self-doubt while which police later recovered in East their father that morning. She was debating the exact size of the pro- Police search for man who broke into home, raped woman Palo Alto. taken to a nearby hospital and is posal. Police said her front door was currently recovering. “We’re just off on the wrong by Alexandria Rocha unlocked at the time of the attack. Police Agent Dan Ryan said the foot,” Councilwoman Dena Detective Marianna Villaescusa crime does not seem connected to ike most residential neighborhoods in Palo Alto, it’s not Mossar said, concerned that the said the car, a 1998 Nissan other recent sexual assaults in San public doesn’t know enough about uncommon to see people walking their dogs or jogging Pathfinder, was intact when police Jose, Mountain View and Los the proposal. L late at night near Duveneck Elementary School. discovered the vehicle. The stereo Altos. Ryan said the suspect in The City Council will give final was left untouched and it was those cases was described as a approval to the election in Melanie Hibbs, whose family has raped in her Alester Avenue home parked by a curb in the 1800 block Hispanic man. The woman assault- lived on Alester Avenue for nine — across the street from Duveneck, December. Ballots will then be of Stevens Drive. ed last Friday couldn’t see her mailed to property owners in years, describes the area as “safe, a kindergarten through fifth-grade The vehicle has since been tested attacker clearly because it was dark. quiet, typical.” school. February. for fingerprints and any uncovered However, she said he could have Council members debated the That sense of security was shat- “These things happen and we evidence was sent to the county been a 6-foot black man wearing a tered last week when a woman was don’t expect them to happen. This crime lab. Police are still searching (continued on page 9) (continued on page 9) Palo Alto Weekly • Wednesday, November 10, 2004 • Page 3 703 HIGH STREET, PALO ALTO, CA 94302 (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson EDITORIAL Our Jay Thorwaldson, Editor Marc Burkhardt, Managing Editor Jennifer Aquino, Associate Editor Allen Clapp, Carol Blitzer, Assistant Editors Keith Peters, Sports Editor Rick Eymer, Assistant Sports Editor Town by Don Kazak Robyn Israel, Arts & Entertainment Editor Don Kazak, Jocelyn Dong, Senior Staff Writers Bill D’Agostino, Alexandria Rocha, Staff Writers Norbert von der Groeben, Chief Photographer The election lingers on Nicholas Wright, Staff Photographer Tyler Hanley, Assistant to the Editor ast week’s election won’t be over ning by just 143 votes. & Online Editor until thousands of provisional In addition to lingering resentment, Sue Dremann, Staff Writer, Special Sections L and absentee ballets are counted the community is rife with rumors Jeanne Aufmuth, Dale Benson, Lynn Comeskey, Tim Goode, Jim Shelby, in both Santa Clara and San Mateo about other plans, and fears about Jill Slater, Susan Tavernetti, Robert Taylor, counties. who will be pushed out of the com- Contributors It was a quaint idea that we would munity. Many feel enough is enough. Tony Burchyns, Erin Pursell, Mari Sapina-Kerkhove, Editorial Interns know the winners on election night. The Service Employees International Carien Veldpape-Heithoff, Photo Intern Palo Alto school officials are biting Union (SEIU), representing city DESIGN their fingernails, being just a few hun- workers, also worked hard for Evans, Carol Hubenthal, Design Director dred votes short of the magic two a staunch union supporter. Judith Alderman, Assistant Design Director Diane Haas, Lynda Lumish, Sue Peck, Senior thirds needed on their Measure I par- Designers; cel tax. Your Mindi Casillas, Elise Eisenman, Ben Ho, Meanwhile, the East Palo City It was a quaint idea Dana James, Scott Peterson, Designers PRODUCTION Council race remained too close to that we would know the Jennifer Lindberg, Production Manager call into this week. Just 129 votes sep- methods Dorothy Hassett, Joan Sloss, Sales & Production arate three candidates vying for the winners on election Coordinators ADVERTISING third of three four-year seats. Mayor night. Michael Howard, Advertising Manager Donna Rutherford held a slim, 40- last for Cathy Norfleet, Display Advertising Sales Assistant vote lead over City Councilman Du- Evans has something else going for Michelle Bayer, Jasbir Gill, Colette Jensen, ane Bay, with challenger Everardo him: People see him as being willing, Display Advertising Sales Kathryn Brottem, Real Estate Advertising Sales Luna 129 votes behind Rutherford. even eager, to criticize what’s wrong days. Joan Merritt, Real Estate Advertising Asst.