BY DAVE PRICE
Daily Post Editor

Many people missed the point about why the Department of Education is investigating the Palo Alto Unified School District. 

The feds want to know why teachers of the school district’s controversial ethnic studies class asked students to disclose their sexual orientation, gender identity, mental/physical health conditions, race, and family economic status without prior parental notification or consent. 

You might say, “This was for a class, so that makes it OK.”

Why would a student’s sexual preference matter in how a class is taught? Wouldn’t the gay student be taught the same thing as the straight one?

It’s creepy to think that adults working for the school district were asking kids about their sexual orientation and gender identity. It’s none of their business. It’s not the sort of thing an adult talks to a child about unless you’re talking about a doctor and patient.

School employees who thought this would be a good idea should be immediately fired. They obviously have a different reason for being around kids than teaching them. 

It’s time to shake up the status quo in the school district that thinks this kind of thing isn’t a problem.

The self-appointed
yard-sign regulator

The story of the woman cited for stealing a campaign sign in Los Altos raises more questions than answers.

Laurel McAndrews Frogley, 41, was cited by Los Altos police for removing a “Yes on Measure D” sign from the intersection of San Antonio Road and Hillview Avenue on Oct. 24. Measure D is the ballot initiative that would require voter approval to develop the downtown parking plazas.

Frogley said, through her attorney Joanna Sheridan, that she believed she was removing a sign that had been wrongfully posted on public property. Police said the land isn’t public and the owner wanted the sign there. 

Upon reading that, I wondered who appointed Frogley to be the political sign regulator in Los Altos? Where did she get the idea that this is her job?

Then later in her statement she said, “I meant absolutely no ill will and feel deeply saddened by what has happened, and it’s taken a severe toll on my mental state.”

It looks like she’s trying to turn this thing around and make people think she’s the victim. Come on. 

Meanwhile, a Measure D supporter, John Fennell, says about 60 “Yes on D” signs have been stolen. He said many have been replaced only to be stolen again. 

A last-minute trick
to influence voters

It’s funny how the very people who howl about threats to democracy have no problem engaging in election interference when it suits them.

On Friday, Menlo Park alerted the media that it received a letter from the state that warned that if Measure P is passed by voters, dreaded things could happen.

Mainly, the letter said that the state could impose the Builder’s Remedy, a provision in state law designed to punish cities that don’t agree to build a massive number of new homes. Menlo Park was once under the Builder’s Remedy and that resulted in the 39-story Russian towers proposal at Willow and Middlefield roads.

So the not-so-subtle message here is: You better vote “no” on P and settle for the eight-story public housing tower in downtown or you’ll get another 39-story skyscraper.

Of course, the Builder’s Remedy wouldn’t go into effect if the city found an alternative location for the housing it was planning to put downtown. That’s something the pro-Measure P people have been saying since the beginning. 

The state’s threatening letter comes just four days before the election. The state could have issued this letter in August, when P first hit the ballot.

The timing of this letter reeks of desperation. A late-October surprise. A sleazy attempt to influence an election. So much for democracy.

Shirley, you jest?
Don’t call me Shirley

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber put out a press release last week to remind employers they are required to give employees two hours off to vote. 

My first thought was, “Shirley, you can’t be serious?” Doesn’t the California Secretary of State know that 84% of California voters mail their ballots back for counting? They don’t need time off at work to vote. They can vote in the privacy and quiet of their home. 

But if you want a two-hour coffee break tomorrow, tell your boss you’re going out to vote. He’ll say, “Shirley, you jest.” And you can say, “I am serious — and don’t call me Shirley.”

Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.