NEW HOME & GARDEN MAGAZINE MARCH 28, 2008 VOLUME 16, NO. 12 INSIDE: HEALTH & FITNESS | PAGE 25 650.964.6300 MountainViewOnline.com School Police see dip bus fares to jump in gang crime DEPARTMENT’S ‘GANG SUPPRESSION TEAM’ TEACHERS ALSO AGREE CREDITED WITH KEEPING NUMBERS DOWN TO FORGO RAISES AS DISTRICT TRIMS BUDGET By Daniel DeBolt by 6 percent in 2006, and another 7 percent in 2007. By Casey Weiss espite two murders in Feb- One bust that may have made ruary involving gang mem- an especially big impact was the acing a loss of $3 million in Dbers, police say gang-related January 2007 arrest of the “zip-tie next year’s budget, local school crime in Mountain View has actu- robbers,” a group of seven gang Fadministrators plan to double ally been on a slow and steady members active in Mountain View school bus fares for several hundred decrease since 2005, likely thanks who were robbing stores from here students and eliminate one route to the efforts of a special unit within to San Jose. all together. Teachers, meanwhile, the department. “You will have some very high- have agreed to skip a raise in order “The slow decrease is, in part, due end gang members stirring the to help balance the books. to the gang suppres- pot and it tends to The Mountain View Whisman sion team,” said police ■ INSIDE get bad,” said Bruce school district hopes to reduce its spokesperson Liz Barsi, a former officer transportation costs by $100,000, Wylie. “It absolutely A TALK WITH A of the gang suppres- which administrators say is impor- has had something to GANG MEMBER sion team and cur- tant as they face the cuts likely do with that.” rent board president under the current state budget Police formed the See p.13 of the Community proposal. The district hopes to save gang suppression Health Awareness another $500,000 through salary team following Mountain View’s Council, which councils at-risk negotiations with staff members only gang-related murder in recent children and youth. “Maybe these and the teacher’s unions. years, the shooting of Alejandro members move on, but the cycle “If we have to remember one Fernandez in 2004. By 2005, a continues. We haven’t been very thing in this cost-cutting, it is that group of specially trained detectives successful at getting at the root of this is another sign of the state and patrol officers started collec- that cycle that keeps repeating.” inadequately funding us, and it tively tracking gang activity. As criminals like the zip-tie rob- is embarrassing,” Superintendent Police say gang-related crime bers are tracked and prosecuted, Maurice Ghysels said at last week’s DANIELLE VERNON peaked in 2005 with 71 incidents, police are compiling a list of known meeting. “It is disheartening to see WIND UP: Joe Squatritto (left) and Ira Duran (top) of Duran nearly double the number from gang members in the city, and that kids don’t have better access.” Construction build a non-functional windmill behind the historic previous years and nearing the all- its number has risen since 2005. Approximately 500 of the 4,300 Rengstorff House on Friday, March 21. time highs seen in the 1990s. But Currently, police say, there are 26 students in the district use the then gang-related crime dropped registered active gang members buses. By cutting a bus route, the in Mountain View, although they district will have an extra driver say it’s nearly impossible to have to transport special education stu- an exact number, and difficult dents, who currently use a private, Google buys Pear Avenue Theatre to distinguish which are serious more expensive provider. criminals and which are just “pos- Under the fare hike, full-year ARE TECH TITANS IN A FIGHT OVER REAL ESTATE? ers” — young teens trying to fit in. passes will increase from $180 to “We certainly haven’t noticed a $360 for the 2008-09 school year, By Daniel DeBolt are for the building that houses has a large campus a block south decrease in gang members,” Wylie and half-year passes will cost $200. the Pear Avenue Theatre play- of Pear Avenue on La Avenida. said. “Their numbers appear to Trustees decided on the changes n what may be a competition house. Some speculate it may be Google’s headquarters, and a have increased.” last Thursday after debating equity, with Microsoft over real estate part of a strategy to block Micro- dozen other Google buildings, The significant gang crimes this safety and transparency regarding Iin the North Bayshore area, soft from buying up all of the are less than a mile away. year include the non-fatal stabbing the new costs. Google recently purchased the property in the neighborhood. In an e-mail, Google spokes- of a perceived Sureño in January. The school will also stop serving building that houses a small local A Microsoft sign recently person John Murchinson said Alleged Norteños George Oseida, four stops: California/Mariposa, theater group at 1220 Pear Ave. appeared on another Pear Avenue 21, and Jacob Dewitt, 19, were It is unclear what Google’s plans building, and Microsoft already See GOOGLE, page 9 See BUDGET, page 10 See GANGS, page 13 INSIDE GOINGS ON 22 | MARKETPLACE 29 | MOVIES 20 | REAL ESTATE 34 | VIEWPOINT 14 We bet you’ve never seen this headline in any recent media coverage of the real estate market. Yet it is fact—92.7 percent of all mortgages in the United States are current. What’s more, the “sub-prime mortgage crisis” refers to a tiny portion of sub-prime mortgages. Sub-prime mortgages represent only a fraction of all mortgages—and the vast majority of these are current. • Percent of U.S. mortgages that are current 92.7% • Percent of U.S. mortgages that are sub-prime 13.2% • Percent of sub-prime mortgages that are current 76.8% Source: Mortgage Bankers Association, 3Q07 Report Crises may sell newspapers, but at Alain Pinel Realtors, we conduct business based on market realities. Our clients are enjoying historically low mortgage rates.* Credit-worthy buyers can easily find attractive mortgage packages. And our lending partner, Private Mortgage Advisors, funded 23 percent more loans in 2007 than in 2006. If you’re considering selling or buying a home, call us. Get the facts. And make your decision based on Bay Area market reality. * Source: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Historical performance and data provided is not necessarily an indication of future performance. 2 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ MARCH 28, 2008 Voic es YOUR SMILE SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU. IF YOU LET IT. AROUND TOWN Asked in Downtown Mountain View. Pictures and interviews by Nicole Baldocchi. What would you like to see the city put in the train depot? “ Bathrooms. They need rest- rooms here.” Latisha Alexander, San Jose STRAIGHT TEETH ARE WITHIN YOUR REACH… Ask us how! Invisalign Day – April 4, 2008 ~PLUS~ Complimentary Consultation with $250 Off David R. Boschken, D.M.D. Invisalign Treatment Dr. Boschken is an Elite Provider for Invisalign (top 1% in the world). He has treated over 850 Invisalign patients. Call today to schedule your “ You have to have a coffee shop. You FREE Invisalign® Consultation. can’t live without a coffee shop.” 650-964-2626 Lynn Jacobson, Palo Alto 100 W. 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We never forget it’s your home.® For more information or to pre-register for the workshop call (650) 230-2900 ■ Fee is just $20 per household with pre-registration, or $25 at the door ■ No credit cards accepted ■ Refreshments will be provided Got a question for Voices Around Town? E-mail it to [email protected] MARCH 28, 2008 ■ MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE ■ 3 LocalNews WWWDEMARTINIORCHARDCOM .3AN!NTONIO2D ,OS!LTOS ■ CRIMEWATCH "^® >zÁ jj^P°z¾^ BATTERY, THEURKAUF look at them or a description. The two men ^Y>¥® ¥^^-^w¸¨^® Dz­¶¬­Çc®°w¥¸®Ço­Ç­Çc left. The woman did not see a weapon and c>®y®« ^®->°®¶yo ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 3/21 A relative of a student pushed a school could not be sure it was even a weapon staff member and then left. An investiga- pushed into her back. 453"8#&33*&4 "41"3"(64 tion is in progress.