Headlines – Page 9 – Palo Alto Matters – Community voices for sustainable solutions

Keene: City to hold off on evictions of First Baptist groups

by paloaltomattersAugust 15, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Elinor Aspegren, Shawna Chen and Jocelyn Dong / August 15, 2017

Pastors, others say allowing churches to rent space to various community groups should be allowed

Unhappy over the City of Palo Alto’s planned eviction of a dozen nonprofit organizations and businesses that have been using First Baptist Church in Palo Alto as their home, members of the groups and their supporters turned out in force on Monday to plead with the City Council to change zoning rules to allow them to stay.

Guest Opinion: A Palo Alto son asks: ‘Would I raise a family here?’

by paloaltomattersAugust 14, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Aldis Petriceks / August 14, 2017

Recent college graduate says Silicon Valley culture is ‘placing blinders over our collective vision’

For many today, Palo Alto feels more cardboard than community; more ideal than reality. Silicon Valley’s culture is fixated on status, not service; on power, not people. We might benefit by pulling those blinders back. We might come together in unexpected ways, by engaging our community as much as we do our work — or, God forbid, our phones.

For College Terrace Market, a shaky start

by paloaltomattersAugust 11, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Sue Dremann / August 11, 2017

Mandated grocery store faces hurdles of competition, signage

College Terrace Market, the longed-for grocery store at 2100 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, finally opened on June 14, but the hoped-for crowds of customers have been slow to materialize.

Push to redesign rail corridor tests ‘Palo Alto process’

by paloaltomattersAugust 9, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Gennady Sheyner / August 9, 2017

Some planning commissioners fear new stakeholder group could slow city down in race for cash

As Palo Alto moves ahead with plans to transform the rail corridor, city officials are struggling to reconcile two seemingly competing goals: catching up to other communities in a race for Santa Clara County funds and engaging in the type of prolonged deliberative process that has long been synonymous with City Hall culture.

$800 million pension gap feared

by paloaltomattersAugust 7, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Daily Post – by Elaine Goodman / August 7, 2017

City to take small step toward solving deficit

An agreement in which city workers will pay more toward their pension costs is expected to save Palo Alto $1 million a year — a small step toward bridging an employee pension gap that could be as large as $800 million.

Editorial: Serious or mollifying?

by paloaltomattersAugust 4, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Palo Alto Weekly editorial board / August 4, 2017

FAA report raises hopes on airplane-noise reduction, but with a long and uncertain time table

The good news is that a long-awaited response to recommendations made eight months ago by a “select” committee of elected officials appointed by local Members of Congress suggest an acknowledgment by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the South Bay’s air traffic noise problems are real and can’t be ignored.

FAA report looks to change SFO arrivals path

by paloaltomattersJuly 31, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Sue Dremann / July 31, 2017

Federal agency evaluates the feasibility of 104 recommendations submitted in October

A new flight path that would reduce noise over Palo Alto and surrounding cities is being developed by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to a recently released report….

New housing money available

by paloaltomattersJuly 28, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

The Daily Journal – by Samantha Weigel / July 28, 2017

$24M in new tax revenue open to developers of affordable units, largest amount in county’s history

San Mateo County is putting its money where its mouth is and, when it comes to voters’ frustration with the housing crisis, that translates to nearly $24 million.

This week, the county’s Department of Housing announced its largest round of annual funding for developers looking to build or preserve homes for those making low incomes, former foster youth or people with mental illness….

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Palo Alto’s brick-and-mortar retailers face steep challenges

by paloaltomattersJuly 27, 2017September 25, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Sue Dremann / July 27, 2017

Downtown Palo Alto stores are struggling with high costs, difficulties in finding employees who will work for minimum or low wage and a parking shortage, among other problems, a panel of business owners said Wednesday morning during a discussion on the future of retail….

Planning commission unanimously recommends office-cap extension

by paloaltomattersJuly 27, 2017August 29, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Elinor Aspegren and Shawna Chen / July 27, 2017

The Palo Alto Planning and Transportation Commission supported the city staff’s recommendation to extend the 50,000 square foot office-cap ordinance on Wednesday. Despite concerns about its long-term effects, all five commissioners present passed the motion with little debate….