Palo Vol. XLI, Number 47 Q August 28, 2020 Alto Families create pandemic pods as learning alternative Page 5 www.PaloAltoOnline.comwww.Pwww.PaloAltoOnline.coa l o Alt o O nline. c o m Read up-to-the-minute news on PaloAltoOnline.com QNews New policies restrict police use of force Page 5 QArts Filoli unveils outdoor sculpture exhibit Page 22 QEating Out Nut House calls it quits, for now Page 26 Designed to adapt. Ready for your emergency. We continue serving our community’s adults and children. As one of the most advanced trauma centers in the world, we are uniquely equipped to handle all cases at all times, even in unprecedented circumstances. No one anticipated COVID-19, but our systems have allowed us to adapt while maintaining the highest standards for safety. Our new infection control procedures include digital technology for triaging your condition, allowing for separate spaces for COVID-19 patients. Emergency teams use fresh personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as extra air filtering and cleaning methods to sterilize your exam room before and aft er your visit. We are ready for your emergency. stanfordhealthcare.org/emergencyready Marc and Laura Andreessen Emergency Department Pediatric Emergency Department 1199 Welch Road • Stanford, CA 94304 900 Quarry Road Extension • Palo Alto, CA 94304 U.S. News & World Report recognizes Stanford Health Care among the top hospitals in the nation. Ranking based on quality and patient safety. Page 2 • August 28, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.com ED_COVID19_PAW_LAC_10x13_AD_v7print.indd 1 8/4/2020 9:39:05 AM www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • August 28, 2020 • Page 3 SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS Enjoy local takeout, delivery and outdoor dining options Whether you are joining us for a mojito and outdoor dining or ordering LaBoToGo, we are here to continue serving our An Updated and Fresh Chez TJ neighborhood and community. Will Be Reopening In September. Tuesday-Saturday OUTDOOR DINING Visit ChezTJ.com to find out more. 4-9PM & TAKE-OUT La Bodeguita del Medio Tuesday – Sunday 4:30pm – 9pm 463 S. 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California Avenue, Palo Alto 650 328-5700 650.328.0407 (650) 600-8310 OsteriaToscanaPaloAlto.com www.terunpizza.com Page 4 • August 28, 2020 • Palo Alto Weekly • www.PaloAltoOnline.comWWW.CAFFERIACE.COM UpfrontLocal news, information and analysis Crews work round-the-clock to control wildfire With tens of thousands of residents evacuated, battle were growing unchecked. than what we have in front of us firefighting resources thin, Cal to contain CZU Lightning Complex fire continues 24/7 The California Department today,” said Ian Larkin, chief of Fire chiefs immediately assigned of Forestry and Fire Protection, the San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit of their limited crews strategically to by Kate Bradshaw and Jocelyn Dong known as Cal Fire, had just 350 Cal Fire, on Aug. 20. “I want to protect the communities in high- personnel to deploy to a fire that thank all the firefighters out there est risk first. rom the start, fire crews Santa Cruz Mountains. Whip- officials soon started calling doing their job today. They’re Typically, there would be 10 trying to battle the CZU ping winds quickly spread five “unprecedented.” working extremely hard. There to 20 times the current number F Lightning Complex wild- of those brush fires to several “This fire is historic for an area are some heroic efforts out there of personnel dispatched to fight fires faced a stacked deck. A hundreds of acres each. Because like San Mateo-Santa Cruz. We to save people and property every a fire of this magnitude, Cal freak lightning storm in the wee of the mountainous terrain and have not seen fires burn like this minute this fire is burning.” Fire Operations Section Chief hours of Sunday, Aug. 16, had dense forest, firefighters couldn’t in this unit for many, many years, With hundreds of wildfires sparked 22 separate fires in the even reach numerous blazes that and those fires were much smaller across the state, stretching (continued on page 29) LAW ENFORCEMENT City backs restrictions on police use of force New policies to emphasize de-escalation by Gennady Sheyner ith the shooting of Ja- cob Blake in Wisconsin W spurring a fresh wave of protests against police brutal- ity, the Palo Alto City Council agreed on Monday to revise the Police Department’s policies on use of force and vowed to pursue broader initiatives to promote ra- cial justice. By a unanimous vote, the coun- cil endorsed a set of revisions to Magali Gauthier Magali police policies that largely com- ported to recent recommendations from the city’s Human Relations Commission. The goal was to Jaimi Haydel watches her son Davis, 3, look through some stamps in the indoor kindergarten craft space she has created in a storage better align the city’s official poli- room in her Atherton home. cies with those in the 8 Can’t Wait platform, a project of Campaign Zero, a nonprofit that focuses on EDUCATION reducing police violence. The campaign calls for a ban on chokeholds and requirements that For a better educational experience, parents officers prioritize de-escalation, provide warnings before shoot- band together to create pandemic pods ing, exhaust all alternatives before shooting, intervene when they see Families take matters into their own hands as distance learning rolls out this fall excessive force, avoid shooting at moving vehicles, follow a use-of- by Elena Kadvany force continuum and report all aimi Haydel has trans- parents have formed a pod to- checks and ongoing coronavirus committed to this as their sole incidents of force. formed her Atherton back- gether for the entire school year. testing), a daily schedule and fee education for the entire year — In debating the changes to po- J yard into an outdoor kin- One parent happens to be a structure, all of which she’s re- even if their schools reopen in lice policies, the council at times dergarten classroom. credentialed teacher, so she’ll viewed with a lawyer. person. struggled to reconcile the recom- She installed sun shades, or- be in charge of academics — Starting in September, the “With all the uncertainty go- mendations of the Human Rela- dered a second picnic table and and paid for it — while Haydel six kindergarteners will attend ing on right now, I wanted to tions Commission, which sup- created a “mud kitchen” for has taken on the role of school the backyard school on week- make a decision and be done ported broader restrictions on use hands-on, messy learning for administrator, developing safe- day afternoons. For half of the with it. I also wanted to be of force, and those of department her 5-year-old son and five oth- ty protocols (all of the families children in the pod, including leadership, who urged the council er kindergarten students whose have agreed to temperature Haydel’s son, their parents have (continued on page 32) (continued on page 35) www.PaloAltoOnline.com • Palo Alto Weekly • August 28, 2020 • Page 5 Upfront 450 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306 QUOTE OF THE WEEK (650) 326-8210 PUBLISHER William S. Johnson (223-6505) EDITORIAL Editor Jocelyn Dong (223-6514) Associate Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511) Sports Editor Rick Eymer (223-6516) Arts & Entertainment Editor Karla Kane (223-6517) It seemed entirely bizarre. Home & Real Estate Editor Heather Zimmerman (223-6515) Express & Digital Editor Jamey Padojino —Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County health officer, (223-6524) on CDC’s new testing guidelines. See story on page 9. Staff Writers Sue Dremann (223-6518), Elena Kadvany (223-6519), Gennady Sheyner (223-6513) Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier (223-6530) Editorial Assistant/Intern Coordinator Lloyd Lee (223-6526) Contributors Chrissi Angeles, Mike Berry, Carol Blitzer, Peter Canavese, Edward Gerard Fike, Around Town Yoshi Kato, Chris Kenrick, Jack McKinnon, CRUSHING IT ... An online to redesign four rail crossings, Sheryl Nonnenberg, John Orr, Monica Schreiber, Jay Thorwaldson dating network that recently residents can now attend OUR TEAM IS IN MOTION FOR YOU launched at Stanford University community meetings on the ADVERTISING aims to help students overcome complex project without leaving Vice President Sales & Marketing an obstacle many people face their homes. 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