In the news
Target, Apple board up stores
By the Daily Post staff Target this afternoon (May 31) temporarily closed 175 stores across the country — including those in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Mateo and Mountain […]
Month: May 2020
Palo Alto
UPDATED: City is considering closing parts of University and California avenues to allow for outdoor restaurant seating
UPDATE, SUNDAY, 4:30 p.m.: The Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce today (May 31) released a survey of businesses on University and California avenues showing strong support for creating pedestrian malls […]
Palo Alto
Car parade Wednesday for high school grads in Palo Alto
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Gunn and Palo Alto high schools will hold a joint car parade with Castilleja and Kehillah Jewish high schools on Wednesday to celebrate […]
San Mateo County
San Mateo County to allow church services, stores to reopen, beach access
By the Daily Post staff San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow today issued a new shelter-in-place order that allows churches and stores to reopen with restrictions starting on […]
Palo Alto
Palo Alto schools hit with a financial double whammy
BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent The Palo Alto Unified School District budget is facing a double whammy from COVID-19: At the same time the district is losing some of […]
Stanford
Stanford anticipates $267 million loss; layoffs likely
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Stanford expects to lose $267 million by the end of August because of COVID-19 and will likely lay off employees. President Marc Tessier-Lavigne […]
Palo Alto
Kou announces she’s running for re-election
By the Daily Post staff Lydia Kou, part of the slow-growth bloc on the Palo Alto City Council, announced today that she will be seeking a second term in November. […]
Portola Valley
Portola Valley residents complain to council about Stanford housing proposal
By EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Some Portola Valley residents are upset that a proposal by Stanford to build 37 homes near the Alpine Inn on Alpine Road is […]
Obituaries
Gerald Mervon Overman
April 11, 1927 – May 15, 2020 Gerald (Jerry) Overman, 93 years old, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2020. Jerry was born in Marion, Indiana and graduated from Marion […]
Menlo Park
City hopes to reopen pools by next month
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer As temperatures reached into the 90s yesterday (May 26), Menlo Park City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson told the city council that she is trying […]
Portola Valley
Showdown tonight over Stanford housing proposal
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer A showdown is expected tonight (May 27) between the Portola Valley Town Council and a community group that is perturbed over Stanford’s plans […]
Palo Alto
City may layoff 16 firefighters and cops if unions don’t give up raises
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto might have to lay off 16 police officers and firefighters if city unions don’t give up their raises. In total, the […]
Palo Alto
Palo Alto schools consider different scenarios for classes this fall
BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent Different scenarios are starting to take shape for what classes might look like in the Palo Alto Unified School District this fall in light […]
Apple
Apple reopening local stores
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer The Palo Alto Apple Store at 340 University Ave. and the Stanford Shopping Center Apple Store will reopen their genius bars today (Wednesday, […]
Palo Alto
Burglars take gas station’s ATM
By the Daily Post staff Burglars took an ATM from the Shell station at 3601 El Camino Real, but the machine was recovered later in a Fremont park, Palo Alto […]
In the news
COVID 19 Update: Newsom allows barbershops and hair salons to reopen, no word on when it will happen here
Gov. Gavin Newsom today cleared barbershops and hair salons to reopen, though it’s unknown when officials in San Mateo or Santa Clara counties will allow those businesses to reopen locally. […]
Palo Alto
Palantir is thinking about leaving Palo Alto
By the Daily Post staff Alex Karp, CEO of data analytics firm Palantir, told “Axios on HBO” that his company is “getting close” to deciding whether to leave Palo Alto […]
Los Altos
State asked if Los Altos mayor has conflict on natural gas vote
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer A state agency is looking into whether Los Altos Mayor Jan Pepper would have a conflict of interest if she votes on a […]
In the news
State will let churches reopen, now it’s up to the counties
California churches can resume in-person services but worshippers will be limited to 100 people and they should wear masks, avoid sharing prayer books and skip the collection plate under state […]
Redwood City
Rest home where 13 died from coronavirus passed all inspections
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer State inspections as recently as January give no clue why 13 patients including former Stanford President Donald Kennedy would die from the coronavirus […]
Facebook
Three fires in one week at homeless encampment near Facebook
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer A grass fire in the homeless encampments along Bayfront Expressway, across from Facebook, cast smoke into Palo Alto and East Palo Alto on […]
San Mateo County
County puts 90 homeless in a hotel to combat coronavirus
The county of San Mateo has put 90 homeless into an undisclosed hotel, where they are being served three meals a day, in an effort to stem the spread of […]
Santa Clara County
North County will finally get Covid-19 testing
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Until now, Santa Clara County was only offering free coronavirus tests in the San Jose area. But yesterday, Joe Simitian, the county supervisor […]
Los Altos
Los Altos isn’t requiring masks
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer The Los Altos City Council has rejected a last-minute proposal by City Manager Chris Jordan to require people to wear masks in public […]
Facebook
Facebook is rethinking its commitment to help fund Dumbarton Rail Corridor study
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Facebook may be backing away from funding a study that would bring the Peninsula one step closer to seeing the Dumbarton Rail Corridor […]
San Mateo County
Sewer agency won’t block Daily Post’s attempt to get records about $875,000 payout to former general manager
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer The Redwood City-based sewer agency that fired its general manager and then gave him $875,000 says it won’t fight the Daily Post in […]
Redwood City
Specialty’s Cafe says goodbye with cookies
The Specialty’s Cafe and Bakery chain, which is closing its doors, offered customers one final farewell yesterday at its warehouse in Redwood City. Boxes of 90 frozen cookie pucks in […]
In the news
1970 law gives Newsom sweeping powers in a state of emergency; local official helped write the law
This story was originally printed April 24, 2020, in the Daily Post. BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent A California law that gives the governor sweeping powers during a state […]
Facebook
Facebook scales back village project
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Menlo Park’s largest development proposal just got a little smaller. Facebook announced yesterday that it is reducing the office space in its Willow […]
Obituaries
Obituaries
Marjorie Rose
On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Marjorie Rose, loving mother of four daughters, adoring grandmother of four grandsons and dear friend of many, passed away at the age of 87. Margie […]
Opinion
Opinion: Our leaders were repeatedly wrong about the coronavirus
OPINION BY DAVE PRICE Daily Post Editor We were told that this shutdown would last three weeks. We were told that the coronavirus was 10 times more deadly than the […]
Palo Alto
CVS thief likely has a healthy digestive system
By the Daily Post staff Palo Alto police said a man took $1,400 of probiotic digestive supplements and nasal spray from the Town & Country CVS. The thief grabbed 56 […]
Los Altos
City will use a lottery to decide which businesses get grants
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Los Altos will give $5,000 grants to small businesses using a lottery system. City Manager Chris Jordan will give council an update on […]
Menlo Park
Councilman: Unions unwilling to give up pay raises
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Menlo Park Councilman Ray Mueller said last night (May 19) that he was getting “heartburn” because the city’s unions did not want to […]
Redwood City
Man accused of trying to run over cops is arrested
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer A Redwood City man was arrested by U.S. Marshals today (May 19) after he tried to run over a police officer last month, […]
Los Altos
City manager proposes management salary freeze — but not for him
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Los Altos City Manager Chris Jordan has suggested a salary freeze for upper-level management next year but his salary is not included in […]
Redwood City
Another city might close streets to let restaurants have tables outside
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Redwood City is considering the idea of closing off sidewalks and streets in order to let restaurants re-open once that’s allowed. City Manager […]
East Palo Alto
Apartment and retail project up for approval
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer East Palo Alto City Council tonight (May 19) will vote on a housing and retail project for the corner of Runnymede Street and […]
Redwood City
City wants to buy armory near Red Morton Park
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Redwood City Council met in closed session last night (May 18) to talk about acquiring two pieces of property. The first is the […]
Palo Alto
Council outlaws sales of vaping devices, which is expected to close 5 stores including Mac’s Smoke Shop
ROLL CALL VOTE Alison Cormack, yes Tom Dubois, no Eric Filseth, yes Adrian Fine, no Liz Kniss, no Lydia Kou, yes Greg Tanaka, yes BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff […]
Palo Alto
City manager to take a voluntary $71,203 pay cut
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto City Manager Ed Shikada said he is volunteering for a 20% pay cut because of city financial issues caused by the […]
Redwood City
Police arrest 18-year-old for allegedly stabbing relative with a dart
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer An 18-year-old Redwood City man has been arrested for throwing a dart at his aunt and then stabbing her with a kitchen knife, […]
Palo Alto
Newsom backing down over lockdown, restaurants to reopen sooner
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a dramatic relaxation Monday of rules to reopen the state, a move that could allow nearly every county to proceed more quickly, and he offered the […]
Santa Clara County
County to allow car parades, curbside retail pickup
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Santa Clara County hasn’t seen an increase in the rate of COVID-19 cases since allowing construction and gardeners, so car parades and curbside […]
Santa Clara County
County officials defend slower reopening than other counties
BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent Santa Clara County officials hope to announce further loosening of COVID-19 related shelter-in-place restrictions by the end of this month, but they weren’t making […]
Palo Alto
Construction crane sprouts in downtown Palo Alto
A towering construction crane has been set up to construct the new building at 429 University Ave. that will replace several small shops including Shady Lane. The 28,547-square-foot development owned […]
Caltrain
Hillsdale Caltrain station closes until fall
Caltrain’s Hillsdale station in San Mateo closed Saturday, and could remain closed for up to six months to accommodate work on a rail crossing at 25th Avenue. The work will […]
Palo Alto
Palo Alto reopens municipal golf course
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto’s Baylands Golf Links is open for play, weeks after other golf courses in the area reopened following shutdowns due to the […]
East Palo Alto
Zoom malfunctions during crucial sewer board meeting on housing development
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer A breakdown in the Zoom conferencing platform created chaos when the East Palo Alto Sanitary District board was trying to make a crucial […]
San Mateo County
2 running for seat on community college district board
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Two newcomers will face off for a seat on the San Mateo County Community College District board of trustees. Menlo Park resident John […]
San Mateo County
Stay-at-home order loosened in one county; curbside retail, car dealers, pet groomers, public pools OK
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer In order to catch up with state guidelines, San Mateo County is peeling back some of its stay-at-home order and allowing for curbside […]
Palo Alto
Controversy erupts over how far e-cig ban should go
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Residents and business owners are sending Palo Alto City Council angry letters about a proposal to exempt smoke shops from the city’s ban […]
In the news
Local heart doctor indicted on sex charge
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer A federal grand jury has indicted a former top heart doctor at the Palo Alto VA Hospital and Stanford on a charge of […]
San Mateo County
County to allow retailers to offer curbside pickup
San Mateo County today plans to ease restrictions on conducting business as health officials work to curb the spread of the coronavirus. County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow plans to […]
Palo Alto
It’s never too late to graduate — Palo Altan earns college degree at age 91
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto resident Rosemary Finnerty was supposed to walk across a stage Saturday as the oldest graduate of Notre Dame de Namur University […]
Opinion
Opinion: Gov. Newsom, when does this ‘moment’ end?
Opinion BY DAVE PRICE Daily Post Editor When the coronavirus shutdown began on March 19, I was among many people who expected it to last for a few weeks as […]
Palo Alto
Downtown Palo Alto Walgreens permanently closing
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Walgreens at 300 University Ave. in Palo Alto will permanently close on June 9, the company said today (May 13), leaving a major […]
Palo Alto
Councilman’s proposal to cut salaries to balance the budget goes nowhere
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Councilman Greg Tanaka said at Palo Alto’s council meeting yesterday (May 12) that the city would solve a lot of its budget problems […]
Menlo Park
Move to close Santa Cruz Avenue to cars advances
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer The Menlo Park City Council yesterday (May 12) gave City Manager Starla Jerome-Robinson the go-ahead to come up with a plan to close […]
Menlo Park
City wants to sell land in order to help budget
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer The Menlo Park City Council wants to try to sell property it bought last year in order to boost its coffers that have […]
In the news
Restaurants given rules for reopening — guests must be screened
The state wants restaurants to screen guests for symptoms, have servers wear masks and keep diners at least 6 feet apart under guidance released today (May 12) to prevent the […]
Palo Alto
City gives details about the closure of residential streets
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer The city of Palo Alto has rolled out its plans to ban cut-through traffic on three neighborhood streets to allow pedestrians more space […]
Palo Alto
Palo Alto requires masks, pastor asks for clarification
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer A Palo Alto pastor, who is broadcasting his services over the Internet to observe social distancing, is worried he will have to give […]
Palo Alto
Supporters defend College Terrace library; proposal to cut city’s PR budget goes nowhere
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto residents who live in the College Terrace neighborhood begged the city not to shut down their library for two years at […]
Menlo Park
Menlo Park needs to cut $18 million from budget
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Menlo Park City Council tonight (May 12) will look at cutting $18.24 million from its budget, including $1.14 million from the administration. Upper […]
San Carlos
San Carlos takes first step toward closing part of Laurel St. to cars
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer San Carlos City Council decided tonight (May 11) to move forward with the idea to close down the first three blocks of Laurel […]
Redwood City
Sequoia Hospital resumes non-conoravirus medical procedures
By the Daily Post staff Sequoia Hospital announced today (May 11) that it is gradually increasing the number of non-coronavirus surgeries again. On March 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom banned what […]
Palo Alto
Ban on developer-friendly parking rule extended for nine months
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto City Council tonight (May 11) rejected City Manager Ed Shikada’s advice by extending the city’s ban on downtown developers paying cash […]
Menlo Park
Car bans proposed for Santa Cruz Ave. downtown, Menalto, West Menlo and San Carlos’ Laurel St.
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer City councils in Menlo Park and San Carlos are considering the idea of closing prime downtown streets to cars to allow restaurants to […]
Los Altos
Arrest in Los Altos murder
By the Daily Post staff Los Altos police announced this afternoon that they’ve made an arrest in last Monday’s murder of mason Roberto Mario Rivera in the backyard of a […]
Palo Alto
City Council begins budget hearings — will anybody mention the union pay raises?
By the Daily Post staff Palo Alto City Council tonight will hold the first of three evening hearings on cutting as much as $39 million from the city budget, but […]
In the news
Musk reopens Tesla plant, dares authorities to arrest him
Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed today that his electric-car company has restarted its Fremont factory, a move that defied local government orders to contain the coronavirus. In a tweet, Musk […]
Mountain View
Motorcyclist killed on 237 identified
A motorcyclist who died in a late-night crash Highway 237 in Mountain View was identified today by the Santa Clara County medical examiner’s office as 56-year-old San Jose resident Dwight […]
In the news
More charges for ex-cop accused of sex crime
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer A former San Mateo police officer who is facing charges in Santa Clara County for trying to set up a date with a […]
Palo Alto
Musk threatens to pull Tesla out of California
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is threatening to move his electric car company — including its headquarters in Palo Alto — to either Texas or Nevada because Alameda County officials won’t […]
Palo Alto
City might bring back developer-friendly parking program
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer The city of Palo Alto might start allowing developers of commercial buildings to write a check to the city if they don’t provide […]
East Palo Alto
Can father and daughter serve on the same elected board?
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer The East Palo Alto Sanitary District’s board decided last night (May 7) to hire a lawyer to give them a second opinion about […]
Santa Clara County
Why Santa Clara County waited to recommend masks
By the Daily Post staff Santa Clara County health officials have offered an explanation as to why they delayed their recommendation that residents wear masks or face coverings. On April […]
In the news
Bay Area counties block Newsom’s reopening plan
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attempt to allow some businesses to reopen was blocked on Thursday by health directors in six Bay Area counties — including San Mateo and Santa Clara — […]
Los Altos
UPDATE: $10,000 reward offered in Los Altos murder
FRIDAY, 5:30 p.m. — Police corrected the spelling of the name of the victim of Monday’s shooting on Highlands Circle. He’s Roberto Rivera, 48, of Union City. Police said he […]
In the news
School trustee tried to change board’s mind about switching to pass/fail
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer It looks like the decision to switch to pass/fail grades in the Sequoia Union High School District is final despite the efforts of […]
Palo Alto
City manager breaks the $400,000 pay ceiling — UPDATED with list of 2019 city salaries
BY ELAINE GOODMAN Daily Post Correspondent Palo Alto’s payroll grew by 2% last year, to $126 million, and for the first time an employee took home more than $400,000 in […]
East Palo Alto
Potential loss of $20 million housing grant puts pressure on EPA Sanitary District
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer East Palo Alto City Council has decided it needs to sit down with the East Palo Alto Sanitary District in order to find […]
Palo Alto
City to cut $39 million from budget
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto City Council will be making $39 million worth of budget cuts in three special meetings next week in anticipation of the […]
Menlo Park
Art gallery talked out of reopening by police
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Despite publicizing that she would open up her art gallery yesterday (May 5), the owner of Art Ventures Gallery at 888 Santa Cruz […]
Atherton
Atherton considering license-plate readers
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Atherton’s City Council today (May 6) will consider whether it wants to buy 16 license plate readers to be placed around the entrances […]
Mountain View
School board member Gutierrez to run for city council
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Mountain View-Whisman School Board member Jose Gutierrez announced yesterday that he is running for Mountain View City Council this fall. Gutierrez, who has […]
Santa Clara County
County wants to ramp up testing for COVID-19, hire people to track victim’s contacts
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Before Santa Clara County businesses are allowed to reopen, the county wants to ramp up testing to see who has the COVID-19 virus. […]
Los Altos
City manager proposes raises for employees as recession begins
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Economists say a severe recession will result from the coronavirus shutdown, but that’s not stopping Los Altos City Manager Chris Jordan from proposing […]
Palo Alto
Burglar takes safe, security video from pizzeria
By the Daily Post staff A burglar stole a safe from Papa John’s at 3898 El Camino Real in Palo Alto and made off with the restaurant’s security footage. Sgt. […]
Caltrain
UPDATE: Man who died on Caltrain tracks is identified
MAY 5, 3 p.m. — The coroner has identified the victim in yesterday’s Caltrain incident as Jack Preston Newton, 75 of Redwood City. MAY 4, 5:30 p.m. — A person […]
Burlingame
Associate of Tiffany Li used fake name, sentenced for passport fraud
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer A man who worked with Tiffany Li, the woman who was acquitted of orchestrating the death of her ex-boyfriend, was sentenced today (May […]
Palo Alto
City eyes three streets where car traffic will be reduced for social distancing
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Palo Alto officials are rolling out “gentle” plans, as one council member put it, to ban cut-through traffic on three streets, while the […]
Palo Alto
Man shot to death in Los Altos; police looking for shooter
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer Los Altos police are looking for the killer of a man who was shot in the backyard of a home at 1025 Highlands […]
San Mateo
Police looking for hit-and-run driver in fatal crash
Police in San Mateo are asking for the public’s help in finding a driver believed to have struck and killed a 58-year-old man early Sunday morning. Police were called shortly […]
Caltrain
County supervisors to decide on replacing Tasers, putting $100 million Caltrain sales tax to voters
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (May 5) will vote on updating the sheriff’s office Tasers and whether it will […]
In the news
3 arrested after police say they were caught stealing a catalytic converter
Readers of the Daily Post’s Police Blotter know that there’s been a jump in catalytic converter thefts in Palo Alto and San Mateo County. Now, three men have been arrested […]
Menlo Park
City allows construction to resume on Monday
BY EMILY MIBACH Daily Post Staff Writer Menlo Park will join all other cities in the Bay Area in allowing construction to start back up come Monday (May 4), City […]
Stanford
Brush fire hits the Dish area
BY SARA TABIN Daily Post Staff Writer A CalFire helicopter and Palo Alto firefighters put out a brush fire that scorched five acres on the hillside east of Stanford’s Dish […]