Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Calls House Republican version of the law ‘unacceptable’.
U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) Wednesday decried a GOP plan to renew the Violence Against Women Act as undoing many of the protections enshrined in the original law. The Act is up for reauthorization in Congress, and House Republican Sandy Adams (R-Fla) introduced a bill, H.R. 4970, to that end. But the proposal is a big step back for women's safety, said Eshoo in a statement. “Since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has been an essential tool in protecting victims of domestic and sexual violence, and it has always been bipartisan,” Rep. Eshoo said. “The House Republican’s version of VAWA unwinds the long-standing commitment to lifesaving assistance for the most vulnerable victims. It eliminates confidentiality protections for …
County Supervisor Liz Kniss announces plan to fund bridge over Highway 101 and link to Bay Trail.
A proposed bicycle and pedestrian bridge that would connect Palo Alto to the Baylands could get a $5 million shot in the arm if a proposal introduced Wednesday by Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss is approved by the Board of Supervisors. Flanked by Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greg Scharff, former mayor Yoriko Kishimoto, and other elected officials, environmental leaders and bike advocates, Kniss beamed as she delivered the news. “I think we’re going to make one of the most exciting announcements I’ve ever been able to make in my public life,” said Kniss. PHOTOS: Artist Renderings of Proposed Bike Bridge The Adobe Creek Bridge over Highway 101, which is already being studied by the City of Palo Alto as part of its Bicycle & Pedestrian …
High-speed charger can boost a battery in 30 minutes.
Drivers of electric vehicles have another place to charge up in Palo Alto. Palo Alto Mayor Yiaway Yeh Tuesday joined city staff and representatives from 350Green in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Stanford Shopping Center, where another charging station came online. The new station is a first-in-Silicon Valley DC-powered fast-charger, capable of boosting a Nissan Leaf to an 80 percent charge in 30 minutes, according to City of Palo Alto Utilities Communications Manager Debra Katz. “This event represents a historic step on the path to making electric vehicles a truly convenient alternative to gas-guzzling cars,” said Katz, who Tuesday joined City Planning and Transportation Commissioner Arthur Keller, 350Green’s Obrie Hostetter, and the mayor …
The utility company confirms that the furry creature was responsible for the Monday morning outage.
A Mountain View squirrel apparently woke up a little hungry Monday morning because when it ate into a wire, it caused a power outage to 3,192 homes, the utility company confirmed Tuesday. According to Pacific Gas & Power Spokeswoman Monica Tell, the lights went out at approximately 6:09 a.m. and by 8:05 a.m. power had been restored to 1,200 customers. With the exception of one household—who regained power at 2:56 p.m.—the rest of the customers had lights by 8:46 p.m. "We do have situations where animals, like seagulls, do sometimes cause an outage," Tell said. "It's not very common, but it does happen." Residents around the city—from Moffet Boulevard and Central Expressway all the way to California Street and Ortega Avenue—were affected. …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
New contract requires police to contribute to their pension, medical costs.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Bill by State Sen. Joe Simitian would boost fines for using cell phones while driving.
The California State Senate Monday passed a bill authored by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) that would increase the fines on motorists who talk or text while driving. The bill, SB 1310, passed on a 24-9 vote, and increases the fines for breaking the hands-free and no texting laws from $20 to $30 for a first-time offense, and from $50 to $60 for subsequent offenses. The extra money from the tougher law would be used to fund a distracted driving education program in the California Office of Traffic Safety, according to a statement released by Simitian’s press office Monday. The total cost of a first offense, including penalties, would rise to roughly $199, depending on the county. Second offenses would cost about $371. Also, a second …
‘Lytton Gateway’ won approval from Council Monday night.
The plan to transform the corner of Lytton and Alma into an architecturally significant ‘gateway’ downtown moved a step closer to breaking ground tonight. The ‘Lytton Gateway’ project, a mixed office and retail building at 101 Lytton Avenue, won approval from the Palo Alto City Council, according to The Daily News. An earlier version of the plan that went before Council in March called for a five story building—the top floor being residential—and a parking garage deemed too small to accommodate the occupants. So Council lopped off the top story and asked for a revised plan. The applicant, “Lytton Gateway LLC,” returned Monday with a proposal that called for a 52,163 sq. ft. mixed-use four-story building in addition to public benefits worth…
Friday, May 11, 2012
Proposal by VTA for dedicated bus lanes would be boost for alternative transportation.
A sweeping proposal to run dedicated bus lanes along El Camino Real heads to City Council next week for a preliminary review. The plan, by Valley Transportation Authority, is part of the agency’s larger effort to upgrade its bus service along El Camino from Palo Alto to San Jose. The El Camino Real Bus Rapid Transit Project (BRT) would either add two dedicated rapid transit bus lanes along the median of El Camino Real, or continue running the busses with cars in the existing mixed-flow lane. VTA is not proposing rapid-transit lanes in Palo Alto, per se, but the design alternative is included in the staff report, and could potentially be selected if council expressed interest. Council on Monday will begin the process of making a final …
Ravenswood Health Center, in East Palo Alto, gets big boost from U.S. Health and Human Services.
An East Palo Alto family health center this week was awarded more than $7 million of federal money to fund a project to assist patients with chronic conditions and living below the poverty level. Ravenswood Family Health Center, located 1798A Bay Road in East Palo Alto, serves southeast San Mateo County and was one of 26 awardees nationwide to receive $7.3 million from the U.S. Health and Human Services department. This is the first time an award for this type of project has been distributed through the federal department, according to Andres R. Connell, executive director of Nuestra Casa, who works with Ravenswood to provide community support to patients. Ravenswood was chosen from an original 20,000 applicants that was then dwindled …
City Hall was packed with supporters who demanded, successfully, that a staff proposal to shutter Animal Services be rejected.
TGD
10:34 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
A man being abused by a woman? Good luck. I went through it and the cops just laughed (called me a wimp), the DA won't do squat and defend yourself? Automatic guilty. Everyone's answer? You're the man act like one. P.S. Women's advocates or any other outlet do not help men, not even legally. more ›