Quality of Life – Page 4 – Palo Alto Matters – Community voices for sustainable solutions

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.

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….

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….

Retailers want more parking

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

Palo Alto Daily Post – by Matt Niksa / July 27, 2017

A shortage of parking is hurting retailers and restaurants in downtown Palo Alto and in the California Avenue district, not only because it reduces the number of customers but it is also making it hard to keep workers, panelists said at a discussion on local retail issues yesterday.

Editorial: Facebook’s proposed ‘village’

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

Palo Alto Weekly – by Palo Alto Weekly editorial board / July 14, 2017

Massive development proposal will only worsen housing, transportation problems

It’s hard to imagine a better example of how messed up our region’s planning processes and development policies are than Facebook’s latest proposal to build nine new office buildings totaling 1.75 million square feet, likely to be occupied by up to 10,000 new employees, while eventually constructing 1,500 rental apartment units.

Judge gives Edgewood Shopping Center developer a break

by paloaltomattersJuly 13, 2017August 29, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Daily Post – by Emily Mabach / July 13, 2017

A judge has ruled that a development company temporarily doesn’t have to pay the city of Palo Alto a $5,000-a-day fine for failing to provide a grocery store in the Edgewood Shopping Center.

Big league politics undermine community solutions

by paloaltomattersJune 30, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Matters – June 11, 2017

On a national and even global scale, enmities are fueled around the clock by extreme partisan politics, social media bullying and “fake news.” We’re all up in arms about it. But even as we rally to resist, those same tools of division are intensifying conflict and blocking compromise here at home. Distorted battle lines, name-calling and oversimplification of complex challenges are demonizing local interests, dividing our community and impeding balanced and sustainable solutions.

Marriott hotels approved in south Palo Alto

by paloaltomattersJune 13, 2017December 19, 2017Leave a comment

Palo Alto Weekly – by Gennady Sheyner / June 13, 2017

Plan to bring 294 hotel rooms to San Antonio Road scores a victory

Palo Alto rolled out the welcome mat on Monday night to two new Marriott hotels, which won the City Council’s approval despite heated opposition from the surrounding neighborhood.

By an 8-1 vote, with Councilwoman Lydia Kou dissenting, the council approved a proposal by T2 development for two hotels — a sleek and urban AC Hotels by Marriott and the more traditional Courtyard by Marriott — for a site at 744 and 748 San Antonio Road, near the Mountain View city border.