Who Will Taste Victory? - The Spectrum Magazine - Redwood City's ...

Who Will Taste Victory? 

Who Will Taste Victory? 

City Council Candidates’ Final Days

Working for Redwood City’s Future 

Redwood City recently conducted a poll of 400 Redwood City residents. The poll provides valuable 

feedback from residents about their satisfaction with city services, and the direction that the 

City is going. The poll revealed that: 

• 92 percent of residents surveyed reported that they are satisfied with the quality of life 

in Redwood City. 

• 59 percent of the residents surveyed reported feeling a strong sense of community. 

• 4 out of 5 residents are satisfied with City services. 

• 3 of 4 residents feel safe walking in Downtown or in their neighborhood. 

Jeff Ira, Jeff Gee and John Seybert all have the experience, breadth and depth to guide our city through 

the challenging times ahead, and to create opportunities for the future. Please join us in supporting, and 

voting for Jeff, Jeff and John for Redwood City Council. 

Rosanne Foust, Mayor 

Diane Howard, Vice Mayor 

Alicia Aguirre 

Jim Hartnett 

Jeff Ira 

Barbara Pierce 

V O T E 

N O V. 

3rd 

V O T E 

N O V. 

3rd 

Paid Political Advertisement, Paid for by 

Friends of Jeff Ira, ID#970913 

Friends of Jeff Gee for City Council 2009, 351 Montserrat Dr., Redwood City CA 94065 ID#1315847 

John Seybert for Redwood City Council 2009, 3782 Jefferson Ave., Redwood City CA 94061 ID#1313963 

www.SpectrumMagazine.net

The Spectrum.NOV.2009 

Steve Penna 

Owner and Publisher 

penna@spectrummagazine.net 

Anne Callery 

Copy Editor 

writers@spectrummagazine.net 

Judy Buchan 

Contributing Writer 


Michael Erler 



Nicole Minieri 



James Massey 

Graphic Designer 

James R. Kaspar 

Cover/Cover Story Photography 

jkaspar@sonic.net 

Valerie Harris 

Internet Maintenance 

Welcome to the November 2009 edition of The Spectrum Magazine. Our feature this month is on the 

Nov. 3 election, and we have stories on candidates in the City Council, Redwood City School Board and 

Sequoia Union High School District races. 

Carrying on with the theme of this month’s issue, publisher Steve Penna will give his predictions for the 

outcome of all local races in his column, “As I Was Saying….” He will also talk about several campaigns 

and what the candidates have been up to during the last month of their campaigns. 

Many smaller businesses are struggling these days to stay afloat financially. The Movie Groove/Grind 

Coffee Shop is one of those. Contributing writer Judy Buchan brings you the story of many in our 

community who are rallying to help save them from closing. 

We also bring you our regular features on community interests, senior activities, financial advice, 

information from the Redwood City School District, parties around town, news briefs, community 

cultural events and the popular feature “A Minute With.” 

We encourage you to support our valuable advertisers by using their services when you are out shopping, 

dining or enjoying yourself in our community with friends and family. Many of them have special offers 

for you to cut out and present, so please take the time to look over their ads this month and use their 

coupons and discounts to save on services, food and beverages, and more. When you visit them, let them 

know you appreciate their support for our local community publication. 

We hope the information in this month’s issue will inspire and motivate everyone to go to the polls and 

vote on Nov. 3, regardless of how you will vote. After all, that is the one sure way your voice can be 

heard, and we are confident those running for office would appreciate you acknowledging their hard 

work by casting your vote. Vote! 

Contact Information: 

Phone 650-368-2434 

E-mail addresses listed above 

www.spectrummagazine.net 

Contents 

This Month’s Photo Shoot – 4 

RCSD Corner – 5 

Finances Top Concern for Candidates – 5 

“As I Was Saying...” – 6 

49er Willis Talks School Safety – 7 

Lights, Camera, Action, Coffee! All at the 

Movie Groove – 9 

Grants Awarded for Redwood City 

Child Care – 10 

Community Interests – 13 

Shop Redwood City – 14 

Sequoia District Hopefuls Talk 

Charter Schools, Budget – 15 

The People Speak: Letters to the Editor – 16 

Get to Know Your Redwood City Candidates – 18 

Nonprofits in Action – 23 

Challengers Discuss Quality of Life 

at Chamber Forum – 27 

Redwood City Candidates Talk City’s Future – 29 

Redwood City Candidates Bringing in Money – 30 

News Briefs – 31 

Finance: What Should You Do With Your 401(k) 

After a Layoff? – 33 

Senior Activities – 33 

A Minute With Paul Sanfilipo – 34 

The Spectrum 3

Inside The Spectrum: Cover Story Photo Shoot 

This month’s cover photo shoot was relatively easy to arrange. When those running for 

public office are offered the kind of exposure The Spectrum can bring them, schedules 

are flexible. Publisher Steve Penna e-mailed each candidate and they all set their 

calendars for Sunday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m. at City Hall on Middlefield Road. 

After Penna, Cherlene Wright was the first candidate to arrive, having just come from 

a family breakfast, and was sporting a slight cold. Cover story photographer James 

Kaspar then drove up and needed a little help with his equipment because he had not 

fully recovered from his recent knee surgery. Penna was happy to assist. 

John Seybert, Jeff Gee, Jeff Ira and Janet Borgens all arrived, in that order, at about 

the same time. All the candidates were planning to “walk neighborhoods” after the 

shoot, so it appeared this was a welcome distraction for them. 

In one manner or another, Penna knows all of the candidates on a personal level and 

he set the tone for the shoot, making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. In fact, 

everyone involved with the shoot was very comfortable, sharing jokes and laughter 

throughout, all while getting the job at hand done. Could that be practice for the future? 

The candidates were moved to different locations around City Hall and ended up 

on the sofas at Donato Enoteca, a restaurant adjacent to City Center Plaza. The entire 

shoot took around 45 minutes. Then all went on their way to inform voters on why they 

should be the choice. 

When people choose to enter into a political endeavor, they do so knowing that they 

open themselves up completely to our community and sometimes are ridiculed for 

doing so when residents don’t agree with their point of view or their votes on any given 

issue. For that reason, some potential candidates choose to forgo a council run. 

We commend those in our community who are willing to run. We also hope that once 

elected they will remember who they really are and not what their own press releases 

try to convince us they are, ending up believing it themselves. 

We in Redwood City are fortunate to have a group of five talented, knowledgeable 

and caring candidates running to lead us. We salute their efforts and feel confident that 

any one of them can step into an instant leadership role and do us all proud. 

Honor them and vote Nov. 3! 

The Spectrum Mag AD 4/2/08 4:23 PM Page 1 

Thank You 

for Supporting the 

Uccelli Family 

Through the Years 

We urge you to contribute 

and support our local 

non-profits who do 

outstanding work in 

our community. 

Peter and Paula Uccelli Foundation 

650-366-0922 


RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood City School District 

Test Scores Soar at Adelante School 

Learning to read, write and speak in two 

languages hasn’t stopped students at Adelante 

School from attaining one of the highest API 

(academic performance index) scores (852) in 

the Redwood City School District. In addition, 

the percentage of students reaching the level 

of proficient or advanced in language arts and 

math has risen dramatically in recent years. For 

example, the number of students at the level of 

proficient or advanced in language arts increased 

from about 45 percent in 2008 to nearly 64 

percent in 2009. 

Students enrolled in Adelante’s rigorous 

language program face a double challenge 

academically. Every student at the school is either 

an English speaker learning Spanish as a second 

language or a Spanish speaker learning English as 

a second language. Adelante’s two-way language 

immersion program brings native Spanish 

speakers and native English speakers together 

in a carefully planned educational program in 

which they learn and achieve in both languages. 

Children from both language groups work and 

study together throughout the school day. 

Brain research by Laura Ann Petitto and 

Kevin Dunbar from Dartmouth College in 

2004 shows that young children are able to 

easily manage and keep separate two language 

systems simultaneously. Children learn to 

speak spontaneously through teacher-student 

conversations, structured class activities and 

playground talk. The Petitto research also shows 

that children can learn to read and write in two 

languages simultaneously. 

Adelante follows the 90/10 program model 

that is commonly found in two-way immersion 

programs in California. Ninety percent of the 

academic instruction in kindergarten is in Spanish, 

with 10 percent in English. The percentage of 

English instruction increases while the percentage 

of Spanish decreases each year until fourth grade, 

where 50 percent of the instruction is in English 

and 50 percent in Spanish. The 50/50 percentages 

continue through sixth grade. 

“In an increasingly diverse and multicultural 

world, our school’s program offers Englishspeaking 

children one of the best opportunities 

to acquire a necessary second language to a 

high degree of proficiency,” said Linda Montes, 

principal at Adelante. “Spanish-speaking students 

have the opportunity to achieve at a high level of 

proficiency in English, as well as to maintain and 

fully develop their native language. Both groups 

of students do become bilingual and biliterate 

when they fully participate in the program from 

kindergarten to sixth grade.” 

All of the students attend Adelante by parent/ 

guardian choice. About 42 percent of the students 

are designated as English learners, and the rest 

are Spanish learners. In recent years, the demand 

for a school that allows children to become 

Adelante students study a California map 

(continues on page 32) 

Finances Top Concern for Candidates 

Redwood City Elementary School District 

Financial accountability with greater transparency 

was on the minds of four hopefuls running for two 

four-year seats on the Redwood City School District. 

There seemed to be little competition for 

the two seats, with only board President Maria 

Diaz-Slocum and Trustee Hilary Paulson on the 

ballot until the last day. Parent and local business 

owner Lea Cuniberti-Duran and Jack Hickey, 

Sequoia Healthcare District trustee who already 

announced his 2010 candidacy for a seat on the 

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, filed on 

the last day. The four candidates spent an hour 

discussing their thoughts on problems facing the 

district. Conservative financing while expanding 

programs seemed to be a consensus among the 

incumbents and Cuniberti-Duran, while Hickey 

made a goal of downsizing the district. 

Larger class sizes and reduction of many 

programs began in the Redwood City School 

District this year as part of a two-year budget 

reduction totaling $10.7 million. The financial 

situation is not expected to be better in the 

coming years. Each candidate offered different 

ways of dealing with the declining funds. 

Newcomer Cuniberti-Duran had a couple of 

ideas for raising money. First, she supported 

a grant writer. Such a position was reduced 

in recent budget cuts, a move Cuniberti- 

Duran thought should be reversed, allowing 

the district to aggressively pursue additional 

money. Secondly, the district could save money 

by creating one calendar, rather than the two 

drastically different start dates the district 

currently uses for the year-round and traditional 

school calendars. She felt the district could 

more wisely invest and save the money it has by 

learning from neighboring districts that spend 

less but produce higher test scores. 

Diaz-Slocum and Paulson both noted another 

parcel tax attempt may be coming. But Diaz- 

Slocum noted the district should focus on finding 

funding through partnerships with businesses or 

local organizations. 

Paulson said maintaining the reserves would 

be an important part of allowing the district 

to handle midyear cuts, which have yet to be 

announced but are widely anticipated among 

education officials. 

Hickey had a different approach, including 

having the district assertively go after the state 

for IOU money, which the district previously 

thought it lost. More importantly, Hickey said 

closing a school would save much money. Budget 

cuts meant larger class sizes, eliminating the 

need for some teachers. Continuing this trend, 

Hickey argued, would result in the need for fewer 

classrooms and justify the closing of a small 

school like John Gill Elementary. Doing so would 

eliminate the cost of a principal, electricity and 

other costs that go along with running a school. 

Simultaneously, the district could lease the site to 

generate money. 

These financial ideas and assurances were the 

top priorities for each of the candidates. 

The other goals were less uniform. 

Paulson wanted to continue the academic 

achievement growth the board had been 

successfully achieving in recent years. 

Diaz-Slocum agreed, hoping to focus on the 

achievement of all children. 

Cuniberti-Duran wanted to focus on making 

neighborhood schools a more viable option 

for families. In some instances, not having a 

preschool or after-school option at a neighborhood 

school drives parents to go to private schools. 

She argued that investing in meeting those 

neighborhood needs or offering a viable alternative 

could keep parents from placing children in 

private schools instead of local public schools. 

For Hickey, creating a property tax credit 

program, similar to a voucher program, combined 

with the elimination of class-size reduction were 

important goals if elected. 

Redwood City has a unique student makeup 

with a variety of ethnicities and families spanning 

the economic spectrum. Communication could 

be used to better bridge that gap, said Cuniberti- 

Duran, Paulson and Diaz-Slocum. Some work in 

the area has already begun with a districtwide 

group for Latino parents and a phone service 

that allows the district to call parents and send a 

message in Spanish. 

Hickey suggested having the district partner 

with a company to offer computers to families 

at a discounted price. Families would pay for the 

computers, but such a program, he explained, 

could help all in the family learn English. 

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the 

Daily Journal newspaper. 


As I Was 

Saying… 

Publisher | Steve Penna 

As you know, I am an election junkie and enjoy all 

aspects — campaigning, issues, personalities, the 

whole gamut. I also enjoy predicting the outcome 

of local races and have become quite good at it 

(pat on my shoulder). 

Predicting the outcome of this year’s City 

Council election has been more difficult for me 

than in years past. I personally know all of the 

candidates and am close to each one of them in 

one form or another, so removing my personal 

feelings and just paying attention to the issue at 

hand is tough. But then isn’t that how all news 

media writers should attack a story? 

So we have five candidates running for three 

seats, two of which are open seats due to Diane 

Howard and Jim Hartnett being termed out. 

Jeff Ira is currently on the council and is running 

for re-election. The other candidates are Janet 

Borgens, Jeff Gee and Cherlene Wright. 

This has not been an issue-driven campaign, 

and the decision to vote for a candidate surely will 

not be based on their views and opinions on any 

given issue but rather on popularity and leadership 

qualities. So a lot of factors go into determining 

who will win this election. It is expected that only 

25 percent of the registered voters will even bother 

to vote since there are no major issues on the 

ballot and all the races are related to the Redwood 

City area. You would think that would bring out 

more of us, but it won’t. 

Of those voting, up to 65 percent are expected to 

be absentee-ballot voters. In the last election with 

similar circumstances, November 2007, Barbara 

Pierce was the top vote-getter with 5,314, 

followed by Rosanne Foust with 4,798, Alicia 

Aguirre with 4,434, Ian Bain with 4,434, Kevin 

Bondonno with 3,147 and Joneen Nielsen with 

1,887. The top four were re-elected. Not as many 

votes will be cast this year, but the results should 

be similar. 

I can easily predict two of the winners: Seybert 

will gain the top vote-getter spot, followed by 

incumbent Ira. The third spot is proving to be a 

difficult prediction for me. And here is why. 

Gee will benefit from being on an unofficial slate 

with Seybert and Ira, on top of the ballot, the biggest 

fundraiser, having union support — which means 

phone banking and walkers — and being the only 

resident from Redwood Shores. That may just be 

enough to secure his victory. But the other two 

candidates have some leverage with voters as well. 

Borgens is a very popular volunteer and smallbusiness 

owner and is running a true grassroots 

campaign. She doesn’t have the war chest (I like 

that term) of the three above, and it has shown in 

her campaign strategy. She has gained the support 

of the firefighters and police officers but has not 

www.SpectrumMagazine.net 

gotten that message out to voters. She is also very 

popular with seniors, and that of course will help 

her. It appears she is counting on a large turnout 

on Election Day and if that happens, she could 

pull it off. 

Wright has gotten a few boosts to her campaign 

of late and has run with the smallest amount of 

contributions. She has gotten the police officers’ 

endorsement and the Teamsters union, of which 

she is a member. She has been resourceful with 

contributions and has depended on an aggressive 

e-mail campaign. In some weeks she has gotten 

an “open” rate of 40 percent from the messages 

she has sent out to voters. That is considered 

successful when compared to traditional mailings 

that only get a 2 percent to 5 percent return rate. 

This campaign method has been virtually untested 

in local races and it will be interesting to see how 

effective it is. 

Another factor that has to come into play in 

one form or another is the female-candidate vote 

that has notoriously decided or been instrumental 

in several council races in past years. Remember 

when Dani Gasparini and Janet Steinfeld won? 

Just look at the results of the last council election: 

Women finished first, second and third. How 

much that will come into play this year is yet to be 

determined, but I don’t think it will be that much 

since this is an election with voters coming out 

knowing who they want to vote for and support. 

I could go out on a limb and predict that Gee 

will win but my instincts tell me to wait. So that 

is what I am doing. If supporters of any three of 

those candidates really want to make a difference, 

they should do so by going to the polls on Election 

Day and voting. This race is still up for grabs. 

.… 

Redwood City School District — Two seats are 

up for grabs with current President Maria Diaz- 

Slocum and appointed Trustee Hilary Paulson on 

the ballot running for re-election. Parent and local 

business owner Lea Cuniberti-Duran and Jack 

Hickey, a Sequoia Healthcare District trustee who 

already announced his 2010 candidacy for a seat 

on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, 

filed on the last day and thus there is a race. 

This election has the best potential to cause 

serious ramifications for not only the school district 

but also the entire community. Diaz-Slocum is 

a shoo-in and will be re-elected easily. If you 

had asked me a month ago whether Hickey has a 

chance of winning, I would have replied he probably 

will. He has name recognition, is a current elected 

official in a respected position and is listed first on 

the ballot. How much better could it be? 

Regardless of what the “status quo” or the “inthe-know” 

members of our community think, he 

has been elected before and could easily be again, 

as he has been re-elected to his current office. That 

was before a series of rough and in some instances 

unnecessary and downright win-at-all-costs-mentality 

hit pieces went out against him to voters via e-mail. 

I always think it is odd when supporters of a 

candidate campaign against another candidate 

instead of for the qualifications that the candidate 

they support would bring to the seat. But I guess 

that is politics today. 

These e-mails have single-handedly killed 

the possibility of a Hickey win. That is, unless 

voters are totally dissatisfied with the district and 

want chaos and four unproductive years ahead 

of them. The Hickey naysayers encourage a vote 

for Paulson instead. Why they don’t consider 

Cuniberti-Duran is obviously because she was not 

handpicked — the status quo loves to do that — 

and is not an incumbent. 

But Paulson has major baggage. She was 

instrumental in working with the Friends of 

Redwood City group and defeating Measure V 

the Marina Shores project near Pete’s Harbor. 

Some will not forget that, and I am not talking 

about residents who are uninvolved in the election 

process. She has a lot of making up to do and it 

could hamper a win for her, giving it to Cuniberti- 

Duran, but that is not likely. 

Changes need to occur in the district and 

unfortunately will not with the two incumbents 

winning. But that is what will happen. So give 

another snap to the status quo. 

.… 

Sequoia Union High School District — With 

the highest nongraduate rate in the area, another 

district that is ripe for new leadership is Sequoia. 

Current Trustees Gordon Lewin and Sally 

Stewart decided not to run for re-election, 

opening up the field for eight candidates: Nohema 

Fernandez, Bob Ferrando, Jacqueline Wallace 

Greene, Beth Injasoulian, Virginia Chang Kiraly, 

Alan Sarver, Chris Thomsen and Noria Zasslow. 

All of these candidates are virtually unknown in 

most communities in the district, so it is a tossup. 

But how refreshing it is that so many are willing to 

step up and try to make a difference. They should 

all be commended and hopefully they will run 

again when the other board members are up for 

re-election and give us a choice. 

If voters do not just vote for the top two 

candidates on the ballot, Thomsen and Chang 

Kiraly, the winners should be the two candidates 

(continued on page 32)

49er Willis Talks About School Safety 

Pausing at the red 

sign, 8-year-old 

Angel Quiroz took 

note of the message 

to stop and look both 

ways before walking 

on a carpeted 

crosswalk. 

Those weren’t 

the only safety 

precautions Quiroz 

took. He had an 

adult, San Francisco 

49ers linebacker 

Patrick Willis, 

with him. Willis 

took Quiroz’s hand 

after stepping 

between him and the 

stopped car and the two walked across along the 

crosswalk together. 

The second-grader from Fair Oaks School in 

Redwood City was pretty sure he’d spend time 

with the Pro Bowl player, who visited to talk 

about transportation safety with students. But 

Quiroz was overly happy to have the chance 

to spend the one-on-one time with Willis, who 

signed the little boy’s shirt after they walked the 

carpeted crosswalk. 

Willis’ visit was part of FedEx’s Air and 

Ground Players of the Week program in which 

NFL fans can vote for their favorite players 

weekly through the season. The program partners 

with Safe Kids USA, a national nonprofit that 

works to prevent accidental injury among 

children, to make weekly donations in the player’s 

name to local area schools. Willis was one of 

many people who stopped by Fair Oaks to present 

a $10,000 donation from FedEx to Safe Kids 

Santa Clara County/San Mateo County, which 

will fund pedestrian safety improvements around 

the campus. In addition, students sat through a 

presentation and some activities on transportation 

safety, including train, bicycle, pedestrian and bus. 

“It’s great for such an important person in the Bay 

Area to be willing to take time out of their day to 

highlight safety,” said Principal Guadalupe Guzman, 

who noted many of the children do walk to school. 

Willis echoed Guzman’s sentiments. 

“It’s important, any time you can give back,” 

said Willis, who spent about an hour hanging out 

with kids participating in safety activities. “They 

look up to professional athletes. This is probably a 

lesson they will never forget.” 

Even if the visit by Willis lasted only one 

morning, the school community should have 

a lasting impact thanks to the grant funds. 

The school, located in a high-poverty area, is 

congested with parked cars making it difficult to 

see children as they cross the street. 

Currently, Safe Kids Santa Clara County/San 

Mateo County is working with the Redwood 

City Department of Public Works and the school 

district to discuss ways in which safety can be 

improved, said Ben Arias, Safe Kids Santa Clara 

County/San Mateo County coordinator. Those 

improvements could come in the way of signage, 

restriping crosswalks, creating areas where 

cars cannot park to increase visibility and also 

education to parents. 

Arias noted many children are walking to 

school with parents but the parents are jaywalking 

or not being completely safe, making parental 

education important. 

Quiroz walks to school with his parents daily. 

He noted his parents hold his hand. 

Third-grader George Ahio walks with his dad 

to school, while 7-year-old Jasmine Aguilar walks 

all by herself. She stays safe by checking both 

ways before crossing the street, she said. 

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the 

Daily Journal newspaper. 

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The Redwood City Education Foundation thanks these generous supporters for 

helping us provide music, wellness, and innovative enrichment programs to our 

public elementary and middle school students in the 2008/2009 school year. 

MAJOR PROGRAM SUPPORTERS 

Catholic Healthcare West/Sequoia Hospital 

Kaiser Permanente 

Palo Alto Medical Foundation 

Redwood City Civic Cultural Commission 

Silicon Valley Community Foundation 

Wells Fargo 

Westly Foundation 

Oracle 

MAJOR COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS 

Pacific Athletic Club 

Peninsula Covenant Church 

LOCAL BUSINESS PROGRAM PARTNERS 

Platinum 

Chavan & Associates 

FastSigns of Redwood City 

L. Coe Consulting 

Gelb Music 

Gold’s Gym 

Hayes Group 

Hellbent Marketing 

Outside-the-Box Mobile Ads 

Prudential California Realty 

Tom’s Outdoor Furniture 

Gold 

Family Vision Care 

Gelb Music 

General Pencil 

Silver 

City Pub 

Crouching Tiger Restaurant 

Edward Jones 

Fox Theatre 

Gourmet Haus Staudt 

Sigona’s Farmers Market 

Skateworks 

Spectrum Magazine 

John McAffee, State Farm Insurance 

Bronze 

Natalie Salon 

Red Lantern 

Suisha House 

Main Street Coffee Roasting Company 

GIVE AS YOU SHOP PARTNERS 

Amazon.com 

Chin’s New Chinese Restaurant 

Jigsaw Java 

Key Markets 

Ralph’s Vacuum and Sewing Center 

Whole Foods Market 

Celebrate Art 

Corazon Al Sur 

Kepler’s Books 

MAHRZ the salon 

Ray’s Auto Repair 

BENEFIT FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE SPONSORS 

Lead Sponsor Wells Fargo 

Platinum Sponsor Pacific Shores 

Gold 

Guckenheimer 

Kid Kare Medical Associates 

Port of Redwood City 

TDA Investment Group 

Silver 

A-1 Party Rental FastSigns of Redwood City 

Hellbent Marketing 

John Sieling 

Bronze 

DMB Redwood City Saltworks Lyngso Garden Materials 

Informatica 

Provident Credit Union 

Patelco Credit Union 

San Mateo Credit Union 

Solutions 2 Projects 

Spanner Family 

Stanford University 

Friends 

Allied Waste, BlogHer, Gelb Music, John Martin, Outside the 

Box, Pearl Law Group, Pete’s Harbor, Seaport Industrial Association 

Raffle Donors 

Anvil Paper, Ashfield Hansen Interior Design, Bette Greenberg, 

Crouching Tiger Restaurant, Family Vision Care, Fox Theatre, 

Gold’s Gym, Gourmet Haus Staudt, Main Street Coffee Roasting 

Company, Natalie Salon, PDI Dreamworks, Red Car Auctions, 

Red Lantern, Redwood Massage, Sigona’s Farmer Market, 

Skateworks, Suisha House, Tesla Motors, Tom’s Outdoor 

Furniture 

RCEF PO Box 3046 Redwood City, CA 94064 

www.rcef.org info@rcef.org 


Lights! Camera! Action! Coffee! 

All at the Movie Groove 

As the last lights in the theater were dimmed, 

it became apparent to the audience that Audrey 

Hepburn, the blind heroine, was running out of 

options to foil Alan Arkin, the evil intruder in 

the classic “Wait Until Dark.” Hepburn, thinking 

that perhaps she was at last free of Arkin, stepped 

gingerly across the floor in the darkened living 

room. Though we in the audience were expecting 

something, we were definitely not ready for Arkin 

to lunge out of the shadows with a very large 

knife, only to miss Hepburn by inches. I was 

one of many in the audience who stood up and 

screamed. When I returned home that night, I 

slept with my light on. 

converter boxes. Once they saw the on-demand 

channels, things changed.” 

Is the slumping economy also part of the problem? 

“Ten years ago,” Sapienza said, “the same thing 

happened then in the economy. People made an 

effort to cut back on going out, staying home with 

rented movies. While they have been cutting back 

on movie rentals, it’s starting to pick up again.” 

In February, Sapienza added the Grind Coffee 

Bar, just next door to the Movie Groove. The 

Grind has brought some 20 customers to the 

Movie Groove, Sapienza said. “It’s taking a while 

to work,” he added. 

As word spread of the struggling situation at 

“It’s an excellent place to find almost 

any movie you can imagine.” 

By Judy Buchan, 


Scott Sapienza, owner of the Movie Groove 

at 1200 El Camino Real (at Jefferson Avenue) 

laughed as I recalled that long-ago encounter 

with absolute fear. “We rent that movie every 

Halloween,” he told me. 

Sapienza knows his movies. He watches movies 

only once. “That way, I remember everything 

from that one viewing so I can tell my customers 

about the movie,” he said. 

Sapienza found his love of movies while 

working at Wherehouse when movie videos were 

first coming onto the market. In 1985, he opened 

the Movie Groove and gradually built a following 

among such groups as Redwood City School 

District parents, the Redwood City Mothers Club 

and the Unitarian Church. 

While he laughed as he mentioned that his 

Unitarian church customers promised to pray for 

him on Sundays, he stressed that the business is 

“all about entertainment.” 

And his customers have no hesitation about 

letting the Internet world know about the Movie 

Groove. One Internet reviewer wrote, “Forget 

Netflix! You get a personal touch when you rent 

movies at the Movie Groove. The staff and owner 

always give you the red carpet treatment while 

you browse and also give great advice on what 

you might like to watch.” 

The Movie Groove has twice been voted 

the Peninsula’s best video rental store. Their 

collection of over 29,000 titles on DVD and VHS 

includes rare, foreign, hard-to-find, independent 

and out-of-print titles, and is constantly growing. 

Like any other businessperson, however, 

Sapienza is now up against changing times, 

changing technology and changing methods of 

delivering movies to consumers. While the Movie 

Groove still maintains its loyal following, the 

digital age has brought new business challenges. 

Not only must Sapienza deal with the impact of 

subscription services like Netflix and the delivery 

of movies via the Internet, the digital television 

age poses another hurdle to overcome. 

“We are struggling now,” Sapienza said. 

“The digital TV conversion this year meant that 

many people who did not have cable had to get 

the Movie Groove, customers began to spread 

the word to come back to one of Redwood 

City’s favorite gathering places. E-mails began 

to circulate around town, urging one and all to 

“come back to the Movie Groove!” 

Sapienza, who works 16-hour days, four days a 

week, said that the cyberspace help is paying off. 

“We’re doing better now, but we’re not out of the 

woods yet.” 

And satisfied customers are still out there 

touting the service at the Movie Groove and the 

Grind. “It’s an excellent place to find almost any 

movie you can imagine,” wrote a reviewer on 

Yahoo. “They recently added on a coffee bar. My 

wife and I go there on a regular basis and usually 

end up renting something we never even planned 

on, thanks to the friendly staff suggestions!” 

Another coffee fanatic put it this way: “I’ve 

had some of the best coffee in the most amazing 

places, both in the states and abroad. But I cannot 

tell you how great it feels to come home and have 

a place like the Grind to go to. Recently made 

my trip here, so conveniently located right next 

to the Movie Groove, and I had myself a rather 

large iced ‘Euro Trippin’ with cream and sugar 

and it was delish! I’m going to go as far as to 

say it was a revelation. And those are big words 

considering I’m more of tea person, but I think 

that will quickly change. In a world dominated by 

mediocre chain coffeehouses it’s comforting to 

know that the real deal is making a comeback!” 

So if you’re a movie or coffee fan, you have 

a distinct choice. You may go to national chain 

businesses to satisfy your craving. Or you could 

choose to patronize the Movie Groove and Grind, 

a local, independent business that has become 

a wonderland for film buffs, a valuable archive 

for film history and a comfortable gathering 

place where everybody knows your name. 

In this sometimes impersonal age of instant 

communication, having a positive place to hang 

out with a great tour guide like Scott Sapienza is 

not such a bad thing. 

By the way, if you need a scary movie to rent for 

Halloween, be sure to pick up “Wait Until Dark” 

at the Movie Groove. And don’t be surprised 

when Alan Arkin jumps out of the shadows. 

Owners Scott Sapienza and Simon Vivian. 


Grants Awarded for Redwood City Child Care 

Thirteen child care programs 

received grants from the LaBerge/ 

Dale Child Care Fund for the 2009 

year. The purpose of the grants 

is to enhance and broaden child 

care services in Redwood City. 

The awards this year focused on 

activities that foster active play and 

discoveries in nature. 

Since 1993 the grants have been awarded 

annually by husband and wife Georgi LaBerge 

and Warren Dale with financial support from 

family and friends. 

“Recently we’ve become concerned about 

preschoolers who are overweight and the impact 

that has on their health, energy and ability to 

learn,” said Dale. “We agree with child care 

experts who say that lack of active play and 

connection to the natural world are partly the 

cause. Thus, our grants support providers who 

encourage outdoor learning opportunities.” 

Child care center grant recipients are Kiddie 

Garden Preschool, Family Service Agency 

Childcare Center, Noah’s Ark Preschool, Open 

Gate Nursery School, Peninsula Covenant 

School and St. Matthias Preschool. Seven family 

child care providers received grants. They are 

Bonnie Maffei, Diane Sands, Gloria Avila, Judy 

Davenport, Marina Barajas, Michelle Ortiz and 

Pam Guardado. The awards range from $200 to $400. 

A number of the grants provided the supplies 

and tools needed for children to plant and care for 

gardens on the grounds of their facilities. Other 

child care providers received funds for active 

play equipment such as wagons, sand and water 

tables, balancing and jumping equipment, and 

playground balls. 

LaBerge and Dale established the fund when 

they married in 1992. The couple requested that 

guests donate to the fund in lieu of wedding gifts. 

Since that time, they have raised funds through 

personal donations and contributions from 

friends and family. Since the fund’s inception, 

nearly $29,000 has been awarded to 79 child care 

facilities in Redwood City. 

587 Canyon Road 

Redwood City 

(650) 369-1646 

www.canyoninn.com 

Est. 1973 

Proud Chamber of Commerce member 

Try our Hacksaw and Guacamole Burgers! 

◊ Full Menu – Hamburgers, 

Sandwiches, Salads, Soups, 

Daily Homemade Specials 

and much, much more! 

◊ Kids Menus ◊ 

◊ Name that Sandwich or Burger 

– Don’t see what you want on our 

menu? Don’t worry, you can ask at 

the counter and we will make it! 

◊ WiFi available ◊ 

◊ Patio Area Available for Kids’ 

Birthday Parties/Team Parties/ 

Adult Special Events! 

◊ Flat screen/HD, baseball 

package - we get any game! 

Head to the hills - Emerald Hills 

Celebrate with us! 

It’s our 

36th Year! 

From our family to yours. 

Drop by and say “hi!” 

10% Discount 

with this ad 

Hamburgers voted best by 

Sequoia High School Baseball Team! 

Pizza: 

Choose your own toppings 

or 

make your own sandwich/hamburger. 

Thursday Nite SPECIALS: 

could be Prime Rib, but always 

something special. Call for details! 

Sundays are special at Canyon Inn: 

SPECIAL BREAKFAST BUFFET 

9:00 A.M. ‘til 1:00 P.M. 

GIVE MOM and DAD A BREAK and 

BRING THEM TO OUR HOME 

ON THE HILL! 


Supporting Our Future by Supporting Education 

Hilary Paulson & Maria Diaz-Slocum 

for 

Redwood City 

School Board 

Under their leadership on the Redwood City School Board… 

...Test scores have consistently increased. 

...Qualified, excellent teachers have been retained. 

...Open communication has increased with parents. 

...Fiscal responsibility has been ensured. 

As leaders who support education, join us in voting for 

Hilary Paulson & Maria Diaz-Slocum 

Mayor 

Rosanne Foust 

Vice Mayor 

Diane Howard 

Council member 

Alicia Aguirre 


Jim Hartnett 


Jeff Ira 



Get Out 

& Vote 

Nov. 

3rd 

Paid Political Advertisement, Paid for by 

Friends of Jeff Ira, ID#970913 

Friends of Jeff Gee for City Council 2009, 351 Montserrat Dr., Redwood City CA 94065 ID#1315847 

John Seybert for Redwood City Council 2009, 3782 Jefferson Ave., Redwood City CA 94061 ID#1313963 


Re-Elect 

JEFF IRA 

for 

Redwood City Council 

• EXPERIENCE • LEADERSHIP • INTEGRITY • 

“I feel very honored and privileged to have such broad-based support from family, friends, neighbors, 

community and business leaders. Thank you for your encouragement through the years.” 

Wide Community Support and Endorsements/Community Leaders and Organizations for Jeff Ira 

California State Assembly 

Jerry Hill 

San Mateo Board of Supervisors 

Mark Church 

Rich Gordon 

Rose Jacobs-Gibson 

Redwood City Council 

Diane Howard 

Brent Bretschgi (Former Mayor) 

Dick Claire (Former Mayor) 

Dani Gasparini (Former Mayor) 

Jim Hartnett 

Rosanne Foust (Current Mayor) 


Alicia Aguire 

Ian Bain 

Redwood City School Board 

Jan Christensen, Superintendent 

Maria Diaz-Slocum 

Chris Bohl (Former) 

Hillory Paulsen 

Dennis McBride 

Shelly Masur 

Alicia Macaway 

Sequoia Union High School 

District Board 

Don Gibson 

Lorraine Rumley 

Olivia Martinez 

Sally Stewart (Former) 

Redwood City Boards 

Committees and Commissions 

Rachel Holt, Planning Commission 

Keith Bautista, Board of Building Review 

Kevin Bondonno,Housing & Human 

Concerns Committee 

Janet Borgans, Planning Commission 

Barbara Britschgi, Civic Cultural Commission 

Tom Cronin, Planning Commission 

Marc Manuel, Housing & Human 


Ralph Garcia, Planning Commission 

Tom Gilman, Architectural Review 

Steve Howard, Architectural Review 

Jeri Joseph, Parks & Recreation 

Commission 

Jeri Richardson, Housing & Human 


Bonnie Miller, Housing & Human 


Lorianna Kastrop, Port Commission 

Betty J. Moran, Senior Affairs Commission 

Dick Dodge, Port Commission 

Jeffrey Gee, Planning Commission 

Nancy Radcliffe, Planning Commission 

John Seybert, Planning Commission 

We Support Jeff Ira for City Council 

Bruce Codding, Planning 

Commission (Former) 

Marie Walsh, Senior Affairs Commission 

Reina Banagan, Library Commission 

Larry Aikins, Port Commission 

Billy James, Library Commission (Former) 

John Dempsey, Housing & Human 


Rudy Madrigal, Library Commission 

San Mateo Board of Education 

Ted Lempert 

Memo Morantes 

San Mateo County Elected Officials 

Greg Munks, Sheriff 

Tom Huening, Controller 

Carlos Bolanos, Undersheriff 

Warren Slocum, Assessor 

Lee Buffington, Treasurer 

San Mateo County Organizations 

COPE-San Mateo County Central Labor 

Council 

San Mateo County Association of Realtors 

Tri-County Apartment Association 

Building Trades Council 

Redwood City Firefighters 

San Mateo Daily Journal 

Peninsula Coalition 

John Adams, Cheryl Angeles, Max Keech, Bonnie Wolf, David Amann, John Anagnostou, Frank Bartaldo, Alyn Beals, Pat Becker, Robert Boland, Bill Butler, William 

Conklin, Sandra Cooperman, Maria Diaz-Vivian, Bob & Deanna Dooley, Dee Eva, Art Faro, Tom Fernandez, Bob Franceschini, Gino Gasparini, Anthony W. Gibbs, Greg 

Greenway, Ted Hannig, Greg & Lori Hart, Rob & Kim Hunt, Dave Hyman, Fred & Jackie Ira, Andrew & Cynthia Kidwell, Christina Lai, Rick & Denise Lewis, Vera Lindeburg, 

Matt Matteson, Lori McBride, Clem Molony, Allan Mueller, Bob O’Brien, Al & Karen Pace, Mario Rendon, William Richarson, Bill & Shirley Royer, Melanie Seybert, 

Jill Singleton, Nita Spangler, Pat Aviss, Marilyn Territo, Vince Truscelli, Paula Uccelli, Stacey Wagner, Cathy Wright, Carol Wong, Barry Jolette, Arron Pellarin, Max Keech, 

Robert Hoffman, Ed Everett (Former City Manager), Don Horsley, Mike Scanlon, (Transportation Executive-SamTrans) - (partial list) 

Paid for by “Friends of Jeff Ira” 

Campaign ID#970913 


Community Interests 

Redwood City Frowns on Jail Site Recommendation 

County leaders led Redwood City astray by recommending only one new jail 

site just outside city borders rather than first winnowing the bigger pool down 

to a few for greater consideration, Mayor Rosanne Foust said. 

“It was always understood through this process there would be two or three 

sites on the short list,” Foust said. 

Foust, who represents the city on the county’s jail planning committee, told 

the council she was “biting her tongue quite a bit” because she was surprised 

and uncomfortable that a single site was delivered to the sheriff without 

warning the day before the committee met Sept. 15. 

The Jail Planning Unit recommended the 3.5-acre motor pool and adjacent 

land to Sheriff Greg Munks. While the recommendation is far from concrete, 

city leaders say the choice shows little consideration was given to other viable 

sites despite community outreach meetings in July and a list of measures. 

The guidelines the county used inevitably lead back to the motor pool site, 

said Councilman Jim Hartnett. 

“The criteria almost points you to where you want to go,” Hartnett said. 

Councilman Jeff Ira said it is inarguable that the motor pool is the best site 

based on the criteria, so the city must ask the county to re-evaluate the criteria. 

Foust asked the council to send the county a message that the city is willing 

to work with them but that jeopardizing nine years of downtown revitalization 

with five hours of committee time is unbelievably disappointing. 

Councilwoman Barbara Pierce also suggested having members meet with 

individual county supervisors to argue their position. 

Regardless of what the council does, Foust said her mind is made up. 

“No matter what this council decides, I as an individual am going to 

vigorously oppose this site,” she strongly said. 

Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos and analyst Bob Livengood attended the 

council meeting but did not comment. 

Despite the city’s disappointment, it has no legal say in the decision. 

The site is county-owned property, near the County Government Center 

parking garage, and currently houses vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office. 

Redwood City also houses the former Dodge dealership at 640 Veterans 

Blvd., which was also on the short list of viable sites. The appearance of 

two possibilities both rankled and worried Redwood City residents who told 

the Sheriff’s Office at the community meetings to let another city share the 

burden of housing the incarcerated. 

While officials have maintained they were open-minded to ideas, the 

favoring of the motor pool site was no secret. Its proximity to the Maguire 

Correctional Facility on Winslow Street means inmates won’t be a risk to 

public safety during transportation and the county won’t need to spend 

money to duplicate services such as kitchen and laundry, according to the 

planning unit’s findings. 

The land around the motor pool also offers the possibility of future 

expansion if necessary. 

As currently conceptualized, the new facility will be five stories with 

capacity for between 650 and 750 beds and programming including re-entry 

services, job skills and mental-health treatment. Those awaiting trial or 

deemed more serious offenders will still be housed at Maguire, connected to 

the Hall of Justice, for easy transfer to court. All releases and bookings will 

also be done at Maguire. 

The project is currently ballparked between $130 million and $140 million, 

depending upon how and where it is built. 

Munks has said he hopes to have a site formally chosen by next March, 

followed by approval of the Board of Supervisors and groundbreaking in 

2011. Lt. Deborah Bazan of the planning unit is attending jail design school 

in Colorado and expects drawing up plans will take at least a year. 

While a number of cities like San Carlos and Burlingame balked at their 

inclusion on the site list for a new jail, Redwood City’s fight has been the 

most vocal and began long before the finalists were picked. The existing 

women’s correctional facility on Maple Street had long been considered a 

strong contender as a site for rebuilding, but the county tipped its hand about 

a neighboring location when it went into confidential negotiations for the 

former Cemex site without first asking or informing the City Council. Munks 

said the rush was to make a deadline for $100 million in state construction 

money that was ultimately offered but declined because it came with too 

many strings attached. He later said it was poor judgment. 

The Cemex plan eventually went south, with the owner pulling out of 

negotiations. 

The motor pool is a bad choice because it is immediately adjacent to two 

high-density housing sites, is a valuable piece of property that could better 

generate revenue for the county, blocks a planned new street connection and 

doesn’t help the city’s image, said City Planner Jill Ekas. 

City staff said the Sheriff’s Office should add the extra criteria of a site 

not adversely impacting downtown, neighborhoods or planned communities 

before it decides on a recommendation whether or not it is in Redwood City. 

“We are not NIMBYs. We prepared a piece of information that didn’t say 

build a new jail,” Foust said. 

Instead, she said, the city just wanted equal consideration. 

Tim Griffith Memorial Foundation ‘Imagine the 

Possibilities’ Fundraising Gala 

Imagine the Possibilities, the Tim Griffith Memorial Foundation’s annual 

gala fundraising event, raises money in support of Tim’s House, a transitional 

housing facility for young men in substance abuse treatment, as well as other 

grant recipients working toward a healthy and thriving community. On Saturday, 

Nov. 21, supporters of the Tim Griffith Memorial Foundation will gather at 

the San Mateo Elks Club to celebrate and fundraise for the organization’s 

work promoting healing and hope in the community. Exciting silent and live 

auctions, a delicious dinner, compelling video and recipient speakers and a 

volunteer award presentation combine for a festive and enjoyable evening. 

The evening will be emceed by Eric Snyder, with returning auctioneer Steve 

Bowerman and the executive director of the Service League of San Mateo 

County, Mike Nevin, leading the Fund-a-Need portion of the evening. This 

year, the foundation is very excited to announce their first-ever matching 

grant. Community philanthropist and TGMF donor Shirley Yates will match 

all donations made during the Fund-a-Need appeal up to $10,000. 

In September 2004, 21-year-old Tim Griffith was killed in a senseless and 

devastating act of violence. Tim’s mother, Stacey Redman, created the Tim 

Griffith Memorial Foundation (TGMF) in 2005 in an effort to carry Tim’s 

memory forward, honoring his eternal spirit and light. The mission of TGMF 

is to offer healing, help and hope to individuals, families and communities 

in the San Francisco Bay Area. In service of this mission, TGMF focuses its 

efforts on three distinct areas that touched Tim’s life and the lives of those 

who loved him: grief support, substance abuse treatment and the promotion 

of peaceful resolutions. 

For more information on the Tim Griffith Memorial Foundation, call 650- 

369-1804 or visit www.remembertim.org. 

Saltworks Ends Open Space Contract 

Cargill is not renewing its land conservation contract with Redwood City for 

the former Saltworks property, essentially confirming it no longer wishes to 

restrict it to open space in return for a lower property tax bill. 

Cargill Inc. Vice President William Britt filed the nonrenewal notice with 

the city Oct. 2. The notice ends a contract — more commonly referred to as a 

Williamson Act contract — dating back to April 30, 1970, between the Leslie 

Salt Company and Redwood City. 

The California Land Conservation Act promotes agriculture and open 

space by saving landowners 20 percent to 75 percent in property tax annually. 

The act, passed in 1965, protects nearly 16.9 million of the state’s 29 million 

acres of farm and ranch land, according to the Department of Conservation. 

The act creates an arrangement between counties and cities to voluntarily 

restrict the land to agricultural and open-space uses for a rolling 10-year contract. 

Cargill’s cancellation prevents the land from being in noncompliance if it is 

developed. 

How much property tax Redwood City will receive for the land now is 

being learned from the Assessor’s Office and should be available soon, said 

city spokesman Malcolm Smith. 

(continued on page 32) 


Shop Redwood City: In Wintertime Shop Redwood City! 

Check out our Best of the Best selections below. Shouldn’t you make the commitment to shopping locally 

during the holidays? When you are out shopping, dining or enjoying some entertainment, you will benefit 

because your sales tax dollars stay local and help us all. These businesses not only provide excellent service 

but also contribute to our community. 

Auto Care: 

Redwood General Tire – 1630 Broadway – Redwood General Tire was 

founded on the principles of good customer service and quality products at 

fair prices. Whether you are looking for a new set of tires or need repair work 

on your vehicle, this Redwood City 

institution has been providing quality 

vehicle services since 1957. They even 

have free Wi-Fi Internet hookups so 

you can work while you wait for your 

vehicle to be serviced. 

Eating and Catering: 

Canyon Inn – 587 Canyon Road – 

“The Canyon Inn is famous for their 

hamburgers, and they also serve pizza, 

sandwiches, pastas and South-ofthe-Border 

dishes. There’s a Sunday 

breakfast buffet from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Reserve their closed patio for your 

next party — they have heaters, fans 

and a big-screen TV, for no additional 

charge. They do catering too!” 

Little India – 917 Main St. – “There are good restaurants. There are bad 

restaurants. There are okay restaurants. Then there are those places, the 

magic ones. You come back again and again because the food doesn’t just 

taste good and satisfy hunger, but helps heal the heart and soul.” Senior 

citizens receive $1 off and children under 12 dine at half price. www. 

littleindiacuisine.com. 

Deseo Tequila Lounge and Restaurant – 851 Main St. – “We went there 

and it was fabulous! My friends were very impressed by their food menu, 

and I have to say the burger I had was tasty. They also have 21 big-screen 

televisions to view sporting events and more. This place has it all! I am so 

happy that Redwood City finally has such an upscale place for watching your 

favorite sports team, having a drink with friends or dancing the night away. 

Let’s all get out and support them!” Start booking your holiday events now. 

Financial Institutions: 

San Mateo Credit Union – Three Redwood City locations – SMCU is 

member-driven and does everything possible to ensure that all of your 

financial priorities are anticipated and fulfilled. Offerings include free autoshopping 

assistance, members-only car sales, low-rate home loans and lines 

of credit. Call 650-363-1725 or 888-363-1725 or visit a branch for additional 

information. 

Home Improvements: 

Lewis Carpet Cleaners – 1-800-23-LEWIS – Founded in 1985, Lewis 

Carpet Cleaners has grown from one small, portable machine to a company 

of six employees and five working vans. The Lewis family works and lives 

in Redwood City and is committed to our community. Ask about their 

Spectrum special: Get 100 square feet of carpet cleaned for absolutely 

nothing. Call today and get your home ready for the holidays. 

Legal Services: 

Hannig Law Firm – 2991 El Camino Real – Hannig Law Firm LLP 

provides transactional and litigation expertise in a variety of areas. The 

professionals at HLF are also committed to supporting and participating in 

the communities where they live and work. 

Personal Improvement: 

Business Profile of the Month 

St. Regal Jewelers – 850 Main St. – As you begin your holiday 

shopping, listen to what customers are saying about this fine 

downtown jewelry store. 

“This is a great jeweler! Phil, the owner, is amazing. He crafted 

a ring on time and on budget. He has an incredible eye for detail. 

I can’t say enough. I would never go anywhere else.” 

Whether you are looking for men’s or women’s fine quality 

jewelry, make sure you shop local, and shopping local does not 

get better than this. 

Every Woman Health Club – 611 Jefferson Ave. – A women-only, bodypositive 

fitness center in downtown 

Redwood City offering a variety 

of classes, weight and cardio 

equipment, personal training and 

spa services. Flexible pricing, with 

several options available for members 

and nonmembers. Visit www. 

everywomanhealthclub.com or call 

650-364-9194. 

Re:Juvenate Skincare Clinic – 1100 

Laurel St., Suite F, San Carlos – 

Whether you are seeing a Re:Juvenate 

clinician for acne, sun damage, skin 

tightening, wrinkle reduction or laser 

hair removal, the process starts with 

a complimentary consultation with a 

member of the aesthetic staff. Call 650- 

631-5700 and mention The Spectrum Magazine. Perfect timing for a fresh 

look for the holidays. 

Specialty Businesses: 

Bizzarro’s Auto Auction – 2581 Spring St. – Services include auto auctions, 

consignment vehicle sales, appraisal services and even ways to donate your 

vehicle to charities. Increase your fundraising efforts with a live auction 

— Bizzarro’s is your one-stop auction team with spotters, clerks, sample 

catalogs, bid numbers, etc. Call 650-363-8055 for details on all of their services. 

Castle Insurance – 643 Bair Island Road, #104 – Castle Insurance 

is an independent insurance agency representing a carefully selected 

group of financially sound, reputable insurance companies. Visit www. 

insurancebycastle.com or call 650-364-3664 for a free quote. 

Terry Finn and Madonna’s Bail Bonds – 234 Marshall St., Upstairs #3, 650- 

366-9111 – Finn and Madonna’s provide bail bonds to any court jurisdiction, 

jail or police agency in California and in many other states. Interested parties 

representing incarcerated subjects are encouraged to contact the licensed bail 

agent on duty at the above office for immediate bail bond assistance. 

Michelle Glaubert, Realtor at Coldwell Banker – 650-722-1193 – Michelle 

doesn’t want to be one of the real estate agents that pass through your life; 

she wants to be the only Realtor in your life! “People like my honesty and 

my follow-through,” says Michelle. “They know they can count on me and I 

absolutely refuse to let them down.” Visit her online at www.glaubert.com. 

Saf Keep Storage – 2480 Middlefield Road – At Saf Keep, you and your 

belongings are safe and secure. A friendly and reliable team is ready to assist 

you with a variety of storage products and services to suit all your storage 

needs. Visit www.safkeepstorage.com to see exactly what products and 

services are available. 

Schoenstein Physical Therapy – 363A Main St., 650-599-9482 – The 

clinical approach of this independent, community-based practice focuses 

on thorough physical therapy assessment, specific treatment strategies and 

patient education. Individualized treatment programs are designed to help 

meet patient goals of restoring function, returning to sport or occupation and 

maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 


Sequoia District Hopefuls Talk Charter Schools, Budget 

Sequoia Union High School District 

Financial transparency and a better job at communicating with the public 

topped the priorities of eight hopefuls looking to lead the Sequoia Union High 

School District in the coming years. 

With an incumbent-free election for two four-year terms, the race to join 

the Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees drew the largest 

number of candidates. Trustees Gordon Lewin and Sally Stewart decided 

not to run for re-election, opening up the playing field for eight candidates 

— Nohema Fernandez, Bob Ferrando, Jacqueline Wallace Greene, Beth 

Injasoulian, Virginia Chang Kiraly, Alan Sarver, Chris Thomsen and Noria 

Zasslow. Over two days, seven of the eight candidates came to discuss 

issues facing the district. Zasslow declined to respond to e-mail and phone 

invitations. 

Financial transparency and an efficient use of funds was the top priority for 

Chang Kiraly, Ferrando, Fernandez, Injasoulian, Wallace Green and Sarver. 

Thomsen agreed finances are important but felt it is important to support 

schools to address the achievement gap and increase the graduation rate. 

Charter schools came up amongst the candidates’ answers often. 

Sequoia is home to a number of charter schools. Opening such schools is 

not always a welcoming process. Most recently, the opening of Everest, which 

welcomed its freshman class this fall, was controversial. It was first declined 

locally, then by the county, before ultimately becoming approved by the 

state. Many of the candidates were open to charter schools but had varying 

thoughts on how the alternative public schools should be handled. 

Chang Kiraly was open to charter schools, but not duplication of them. 

Everest, she noted, is a duplication of Summit Preparatory, a charter school 

in Redwood City. She encouraged open enrollment, which gives students a 

choice to decide which campus they would like to attend. 

Thomsen, on the other hand, felt Summit is a proven model. Given the level 

of interest proven by the number of applications, the district is not meeting 

demand for smaller school environments, he said. More than that, turning 

down a charter that clearly would be approved by the state means the district 

lost any possible control, he said. 

Ferrando agreed and was equally concerned by the money and time spent 

on lawsuits, which is not going to education. While charter schools work for 

some children, Ferrando noted it is not a solution to all. But the district does 

need to do a better job of working with charters, he said. 

Wallace Greene wanted a more inclusive approach to charter schools, 

allowing the district to better plan and possibly bring successful aspects 

of the models into traditional schools. Creating a unified memorandum of 

understanding, a more comprehensive one that all schools could use, would 

also be a benefit, she said. 

Given the number of charter schools, Superintendent Pat Gemma suggested 

creating a campus clustering multiple charter schools, allowing each to have 

its own space while sharing amenities like a cafeteria or multipurpose room. 

Building a campus in East Palo Alto was part of the district’s successful 2008 

bond measure attempt. 

Fernandez was unsure of the decision to move forward on such a campus 

when support for charter schools within the district is contentious. She feels 

there has not been enough input on the topic. 

Diversity is a large issue within the district as well. Sequoia spans a 

number of cities and includes large differences in economic opportunities and 

a variety of ethnicities. Meeting the needs of these students while bridging 

communication within a variety of communities can be difficult. Each 

candidate approached how to do that differently. 

Chang Kiraly thought reaching out to East Palo Alto has been the biggest 

problem. Families in East Palo Alto are struggling to make it and often want 

to be supportive but have less time to be involved. She suggested utilizing the 

new facility on Green Street could be a starting point for the district to reach 

out to the community. 

Sarver described the diversity as an asset, but he saw it in a greater 

spectrum including the diversity of offerings at the campuses. He also agreed 

the East Palo Alto area was lacking in support and outreach. But the cluster 

campus could aid in this, he said. 

Ferrando felt the various campuses each housed a cross-section of the 

district’s community and wanted to study the problem to find the root of any 

issues before moving forward. That being said, he was afraid clustering was 

not the right way to go. 

Wallace Greene disagreed. Having a clustered campus could be a 

community catalyst needed in East Palo Alto. Having the small schools 

together will allow each to build on each other’s success. 

Thomsen was supportive of smaller school communities, allowing those 

within the school to be more involved with the needs of each other. 

Shifting the focus from things being the same and instead looking at the 

differences as a gift from which all can learn was Injasoulian’s hope. Doing 

such creates an environment conducive to success for more students, she said. 

Fernandez felt the differences should be celebrated, embraced and utilized 

in the schools. 

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Daily Journal newspaper. 

Advertise with The Spectrum 

650.368.2434 


P.S. The People Speak: Letters to the Editor 

Ummm, you got it wrong 

Dear Editor, 

We would like to take this opportunity to correct some misperceptions 

about Sheryl Muñoz-Bergman that may have arisen due to your editorial 

in the October issue of The Spectrum. Ms. Muñoz-Bergman is a citizen 

of Redwood City and a devoted mother to two school-age boys. She works 

hard in her personal life and professional capacity to ensure that the most 

disadvantaged members of our society are treated fairly, legally and 

compassionately. She is a tremendous asset to our city, and we only wish 

there were more people like her living here. 

Elaine Park, Jennifer Byde Myers, Lea Cuniberti-Duran and Shannon Des 

Roches Rosa, Redwood City 

Fox Theatre news makes me sad 

Dear Editor, 

I am so sad to hear the news about the Fox Theatre. I just can’t believe it. 

$1,300,000 is a pretty significant number for an individual person, but what is 

it to a huge city like Redwood City ? 

I have lived in Redwood City my whole life and have been watching it 

grow and change for 36 years. What I have seen happen downtown in these 

last five years is nothing short of amazing. I believe we have two significant 

things to credit that to: John Anagnostou and the Fox Theatre. When 

Redwood City was dying, and I mean dying, John gave it life by finding its 

heart (the Fox) and giving it reconstructive surgery. I don’t know what the 

Fox would be without John, or what Redwood City will be without the Fox. 

I saw a quote where the mayor said, “This is a huge opportunity for 

somebody who sees that Redwood City has a vision.” Well, John has had 

that vision and shouldn’t someone help him? We are pushing so many other 

projects and developments in Redwood City, aren’t we? It seems like we are 

painting the car when the transmission is failing. 

I understand very well we are in low economic times. I am a Realtor. What 

I know firsthand though is that our downtown really started to sell Redwood 

City to homeowners. We are bordered by towns like San Carlos, Menlo Park 

and Woodside that have not only perfect school districts but lovely downtowns. 

What is going to happen if we lose our downtown that has come so far? What 

do we have left? Can we guarantee that the next buyer can continue John 

and Monte’s work? C’mon, Redwood City, help the Fox. When the economy 

recovers, as it always does, we should be ready to become the next place to 

be. We can’t do that if we don’t help these prime merchants stay open. 

Vicky Costantini, Redwood City 

Council action makes me pleased 

Dear Editor, 

I couldn’t be more pleased by the Redwood City Council’s decision to move 

forward and consider the Saltworks project. 

Anyone looking at the projected population growth in the state and on 

the Peninsula can plainly see how badly we will need new housing over the 

coming decades. And, anyone who really cares about the environment and 

opposes the pollution of urban sprawl understands we have to build these 

homes close to jobs and transit, not out in the East Bay or Central Valley. 

For Cañada College, we have great challenges recruiting qualified teachers 

and staff because of the high cost of housing in the area. After three years of 

talking, it’s nice to see our leaders finally launching the process to get this 

much needed project on the road to study and possible approval. 

Thomas Mohr (president of Cañada College), Redwood City 

A Fox Theatre bailout could be “foxy” 

Dear Editor, 

There have been a few trial balloons sent out to use taxpayer money to 

bail out the Fox Theatre venue that is currently set for a foreclosure auction. 

Vicky Costantini said, when arguing that Redwood City should help bail out 

the owners of the Fox Theatre, “It seems like we are painting the car when 

the transmission is failing.” That would be a mistake for a variety of reasons. 

John Anagnostou and Michael Monte were speculators that saw a good 

investment in 1998 to piggyback on the city’s redevelopment plan. Instead 

of fixing the transmission, they painted the building and did a lot of surface 

work. In 2007, they borrowed $4 million at 12.5 percent interest over the next 

15 months to rebuild the transmission — infrastructure: ADA access, fire 

escape, installed air conditioning. This should have been completed years 

ago, before they painted the car. 

What’s wrong? Our experienced real estate salesman, investor and his 

partners stiffed the city of tax revenue, then stiffed their investors, yet 

Anagnostou bought out his father’s investment, minimizing their family 

loss. These are “foxy” investors who would have the public believe they 

were victims cannibalized by afternoon concerts across the street and that 

reconstruction kept people from walking several blocks to the Fox. Our 

underfunded owners “did not have the ‘war chest’ of $1 [million to] $2 

million needed to attract big-name acts.” How many tickets do you have to 

sell in a small theater to break even? 

Monte said, we “have too much debt … with high interest rates.” This 

refrain of prime or subprime borrowers by experienced investors is hollow. 

Redwood City should not bail out Fox investors, as they violated their fiduciary 

responsibility to pay their city assessments and the taxpayer is stuck. 

Jack Kirkpatrick, Redwood City 

Outsiders annoy me 

Dear Editor, 

I am deeply disturbed by the kind of personal attacks being made by 

outsiders and single-issue zealots against Redwood City’s elected leaders in 

regard to the Cargill property proposal. Other than the fact that my family 

and I live in Redwood City, go to the schools here and shop at the local stores, 

I have no dog in this fight. I make no financial gain by sticking up for our 

elected officials. This is the same garbage that always comes to the surface — 

when no concrete ideas for an alternative solution can be created, attack the 

individual and shift the focus. It is a slimy political move that seems to work 

in a lot of cases. 

It’s obvious what’s happening: People who are bent on controlling the 

way we run our city, but lack concrete ideas for improving it and solving its 

problems, are reduced to attacking the individuals who dedicate their time 

and energy to making our city a great place to live. Incapable of bringing 

ideas to the table and participating actively in the work of bettering our 

community, they have little choice but to become upper-deck bomb throwers. 

All of us welcome an exchange of ideas and a civil debate on the tangible 

proposals for making progress in Redwood City. Tangible means real, 

workable solutions, not just theoretical solutions. That’s the way in which 

residents can and should behave as responsible citizens. But personal attacks, 

particularly when they are joined by outsiders who have no other agenda but 

to control us from afar, are a despicable practice. We owe it to ourselves as 

residents of Redwood City to reject that negative approach and support the 

public servants who are attempting to do something positive for us. Go to the 

town meeting, get involved in a positive way, but quit these malicious attacks! 

Its malice destroys your credibility! Go out and do something positive. 

John Nelson, Redwood City 

Let your opinion be heard! 

Send your letters to letters@spectrummagazine.net or 

Opinions & Letters, The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, 

Redwood City, CA 94064 

Letters to the editor should be no longer than 300 words. 

Columns should be no longer than 750 words. Illegibly written 

and anonymous letters will not be accepted. Please include a 

daytime phone number where we can reach you. 


Parties Around Town Cañada College Olive Festival – Sunday, Oct. 4 

Left to right, from top: Mayor Rosanne Foust gets a treat from daughters Julia and Lydia. Volunteer Norma Zimmer with candidates Janet Borgens and Cherlene Wright. 

Candidates John Seybert and Jeff Ira. Candidate Jeff Gee with Miss Redwood City–San Mateo County Outstanding Teen Elyse Vincenzi and Miss Redwood City Sandra Robles. 

Councilwoman Alicia Aguirre and Planning Commissioner Nancy Radcliffe. San Mateo County Community College District Trustee Karen Schwarz and Julie Mooney. 

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GET TO KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES 

FOR REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL 

Vote Tuesday, Nov. 3 

Planning Commissioners Janet Borgens, Jeff Gee and John Seybert, 

council incumbent Jeff Ira and Housing and Human Concerns Committee member 

Cherlene Wright are all vying for three seats on the Redwood City City Council. 

Current members Diane Howard and Jim Hartnett are being termed out, so at least 

two new faces are assured in the outcome of the November election. 

Janet Borgens 

Q: Should Redwood City become a sanctuary 

city? Why or why not? 

A: No. It would be a slap in the face of legal 

immigrants if we did not respect the hard work 

and struggles they endured that made this country 

what it is today. We provide services that provide 

information so everyone who chooses to respect 

the laws and the process can have the opportunity 

to become a citizen. 

Q: What projects is the Redwood City 

Redevelopment Agency presently working on? 

A: Currently the downtown precise plan, Bradford 

Street senior housing, Cedar Street housing, Main 

Street, El Camino corridor. 

Q: The Port of Redwood City would like 

to expand. Will the proposed Cargill Salt 

property development stop it? 

A: The port is very involved in the process and 

has made its priorities and opinions known. This 

is an important asset to our city and I think that 

we need to keep the port’s interest and concerns 

in the discussion as we move forward. 


Q: How will you as a council member help the 

growing senior population in our city? 

A: I have long been involved in helping our seniors. 

Housing for our seniors is a must. Providing 

transportation opportunities for getting around 

town must also be considered, including shuttles 

and vans. I am working on developing a senior 

“parking sticker” program for downtown to ensure 

that seniors feel welcome. I will also work with 

disability organizations to provide housing for 

those aging in our community with special needs. 

Q: Can Redwood City continue to pay 

employees health and retirement benefits 

without going bankrupt? 

A: These benefits are contractually negotiated. 

We need to take a look at the private sector when 

it comes to retirement benefits. I will work to 

make sure that we have negotiated packages that 

ensure the city’s future financial stability while 

remaining competitive with the private sector. 

Q: What solutions can you bring to the table in 

regard to youth violence and gang activity? 

A: I support our police department programs to 

divert youth away from crime, gangs and drugs. 

We need to make sure that all neighborhoods 

have access to information that will help them 

to identify any gang activities that arise in their 

neighborhoods. I also support our neighborhood 

watch program and communication with parent 

groups, youth groups and schools. 

Q: What is our city’s most pressing need and 

how would you meet that need? 

A: Balancing the budget, economic development, 

and growth and retention of our current 

businesses are the most pressing needs. If we 

can “entice and invite” new businesses to locate 

into Redwood City, we would have a new source 

of revenue. Raising prices or rents in a down 

economy is not beneficial to the consumer or 

the business. The only way we can maintain 

the services that we currently provide to the 

community is by finding new revenue sources. 

We cannot continue to provide the same level of 

services with our current budget restraints. State 

grabs will continue to stress the available funds. 

We need to get creative. I would invite the vacant 

building owners to provide a marketing plan 

that shows us that they are actively searching for 

tenants. Now’s the time to partner with or offer 

incentives for relocating back to our downtown.

Jeff Gee 



A: No. Redwood City is not, and should not 

become a sanctuary city. The immigration issues 

in our country are much broader and larger than 

just our city limits. 



A: Our Redevelopment Agency continues to 

promote and advertise our downtown. This 

includes the summer concert series, movies, 

dancing on the plaza, lunchtime programming 

and special programs such as the Zoppe Italian 

Family Circus. While the RDA was initially the 

lead sponsor of these programs, partnerships 

and sponsors have come forward to continue and 

expand these efforts. Target has sponsored Family 

Days on the plaza, and a number of local business 

and nonprofit groups have helped sponsor movies, 

concerts and festivals. The collaboration and 

sponsorships between the RDA, business and 

nonprofits will need to continue. 

As for projects, the housing fund remains active 

with the acquisition of a property on Heller Street. 

The site has been cleared and the neighborhood 

process is underway to determine the future use 

of the site by developers of affordable housing. 

Other projects in the pipeline include the Cedar 

Street apartments, 15 studio apartments for 

extremely low-income individuals, and the 

Bradford Street senior housing/child care project. 

Also, with the completion of the Hoover mobility 

study, grant funding is being pursued to construct 

improvements in the neighborhood through 

California’s Safe Routes to School program. 

With the ongoing economic crisis, the RDA 

will need to be nimble and flexible to ensure we 

stay focused on creating a vibrant downtown. The 

evolution of our downtown into a vibrant district 

of entertainment, retail, restaurants and housing 

remains my focus. However, tactics may need 

to adjust to reflect economic realities faced by 

individual property owners. 




A: No. Projects in Redwood City need to be in 

context with the surrounding neighborhood, 

adjacent land uses and the overall context 

of the city. The key term in the question is 

“proposed.” Every major project that has been 

proposed in Redwood City has gone through a 

community engagement process. This process 

includes consultant studies, urban design studies, 

neighborhood meetings, public hearings and other 

opportunities for our community to be active 

participants in the process. Every project that has 

gone through the community engagement process 

has evolved and has been transformed into a 

better project for Redwood City. The Cargill 

project is just a proposal at this point. 



A: 2010 will be a milestone year in our country. 

Next year, over half of the population in the 

United States will be over the age of 60. As our 

population ages, we need to provide different 

opportunities and services than those that exist 

today. The mix of services that we provide 

through our city programs will likely need to 

change to reflect these demographics; the types 

of projects that we seek in Redwood City will 

need to change. For example, progressive care 

facilities, transportation (e.g., shuttle services), 

volunteer opportunities and partnerships (e.g., 

with schools and colleges) are all opportunities to 

keep our senior community active, engaged and 

provided for. 




A: Yes. However, we need to be vigilant in 

budgeting and anticipating committed health 

and retirement benefit costs. As a trustee on my 

company’s 401(k) and retirement committee with 

over 1,200 plan participants, I fully understand 

the sensitivities related to the discussions about 

the cost of retirement benefits. With accounting 

rules put in place a couple of years ago, the costs 

of retirement benefits now need to be accounted 

for and budgeted. These costs need to be reviewed 

on a regular basis (more than once a year), and as 

with any budget process, costs anticipated, funds 

identified and adjustments made so that we can 

live within our means. 



A: The keys to the future of our youth are hope, 

opportunity and a desire to belong. We need to 

create culture where young people feel a sense of 

belonging to our community, are optimistic about 

the future, and that opportunities exist. We can 

achieve many of these goals through partnerships 

with our schools, local nonprofit service agencies 

(e.g., Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center and 

their peer counseling program) and with Cañada 

College. For example, many of our young people 

are probably not aware that if you attend Cañada 

College for two years and meet basic achievement 

requirements, students are guaranteed the ability 

to transfer to a UC campus. 

The visibility and involvement of our Youth 

Advisory Council can also be expanded and 

elevated. Transforming this city board into a 

“Youth Leadership Council” with a focus on 

developing leadership skills in our young people, 

involving them in city issues and asking them to 

be ambassadors will further these goals. 

As for the issue of gang activity, continued 

collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office, state and 

national law enforcement is critical. Gang activity 

is highly influenced from outside of our city limits. 



A: The most pressing issue is how we maintain 

our quality of life in Redwood City. The 

challenges and opportunities can be put into two 

buckets: fiscal and physical. 

Fiscal. With the on-going downturn in our 

economy, and the state fiscal mess, we will likely 

have several years of projected deficits. The 

magnitude of the numbers is not small — we 

are looking at millions of dollars, not including 

any future state take-aways. Unlike our federal 

government, we are not able to print money 

or run a deficit. This means that we will need 

to look at how we deliver city services in an 

efficient manner, and may need to prioritize the 

services that we provide our community. As a 

businessperson, I will bring practical, real-world 

solutions to budgeting, forecasting and the fiscal 

oversight of our finances. Recently, I was given 

the responsibility to turn around a business unit 

that had been losing money for over three years. 

I will complete this turnaround in less than six 

months. I update my budgets every quarter, 

with a rolling 18-month look ahead so that I can 

anticipate where my business is headed and make 

adjustments timely and appropriately. 

Physical. We have many challenges and 

opportunities over the next several years that 

will change our physical environment. AB32, 

California’s Global Warming Solutions Act, 

requires all of us to reduce our greenhouse 

gas emissions by 15 percent by 2020 and has 

a long-range goal to reduce these emissions 

(continues on next page) 


GET TO KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES FOR REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL 

(Continued from previous page) 

by 80 percent from 1990 levels by the year 

2050. The actions required include improving 

our environment, reducing dependence on oil, 

diversifying our energy sources, saving energy, 

creating new jobs and enhancing public health. 

My work as a planning commissioner in 

shaping our new general plan is consistent with 

AB32 and our own goals of creating a sustainable 

community. Walkable neighborhoods, housing 

along our transit corridors, increasing the 

diversity of our transportation choices, increasing 

our mix of housing are all consistent with AB32 

and SB375, California’s Sustainable Communities 

and Climate Protection Act. 

With major projects being considered, 

including Stanford University, high-speed rail, the 

downtown precise plan, our new general plan and 

the proposal for Cargill, I will bring my expertise 

as a planner, architect and construction expert 

to ensure that decisions affecting our physical 

environment are thoroughly considered, and that 

the tough questions are asked so we can make 

informed decisions. 

Jeff Ira 



A: Absolutely not. We never have nor should be. 

We have taken an oath to uphold the laws of the state 

and our nation. We need to honor that pledge. 



A: The RDA has so much going on right now. 

They have actively been working with businesses 

and the merchants to promote downtown. They 

have also been active in purchasing property that 

can be utilized for housing projects. However, 

what is really weighing heavy on them right now 

is how to deal with the $5 million hit from the 

state raiding our redevelopment funds. 




A: No. The projects at the port can proceed as 

planned. Any proposed development at Cargill 

must take the port’s plans into account and be 

compatible with them. 



A: We need to continue to support the senior 

center and all the programs that are taking 

place there. We need to continue to work on 

transportation alternative plans for our seniors. 

We need to integrate all our great senior programs 

and volunteers to help create intergenerational 

programs. The seniors are a wonderful resource 

and we need them to help us with our youth. 




A: Certainly in the short run. The program as 

a whole is not sustainable. One of the reasons 

the deficit is continuing longer than expected 


is the increased pension costs as a result of 

the investment loss at the Public Employees 

Retirement System. In addition, the rising medical 

costs have created a large liability to the city. 

These are issues that need to be addressed and 

worked out with the city’s employees. We need 

long-term solutions that will make permanent 

changes this year and in the future to sustain our 

financial health. 



A: This needs to be approached both on an 

enforcement side and a preventive side. We 

have the gang task force team that is out in the 

community and our neighborhoods. In addition 

we have a multitude of programs and activities 

through the library, parks and recreation programs 

and all the activities at our PAL building. These 

are designed to prevent our kids from getting 

involved with gangs, show an alternative way of 

life and create a safe environment for the kids. 



A: Ninety-two percent of the people surveyed 

recently are happy with the way the city is going 

and are happy with the quality of life. The big 

challenge ahead is how to cut $6 million to $8 

million from our budget and still maintain that 

quality of life. We need to re-examine what 

services we provide and how to deliver those 

services in the most efficient way. We need to 

evaluate our services and programs to make sure 

they are accomplishing what was intended and we 

need to consolidate and coordinate our activities 

to make them efficient. We also need to work on a 

regional level to do the same. 

We need to be creative about exploring new 

revenue sources and analyzing everything from 

a fresh perspective. We need to be fair and 

equitable and honor our city goals and objectives 

when making any cuts. 

John Seybert 



A: No. In 2001, when I joined the Planning 

Commission, and again this August when I filed 

as a candidate for City Council, I raised my right 

hand and took an oath to support the laws of our 

land and I have every intention of upholding that oath. 



A: The RDA is currently working on projects 

to promote and ensure vibrant activity in our 

downtown as well as supporting other projects. 

Current projects include a child care/senior 

housing project on Bradford Street, apartments 

on Cedar Street and property acquisition in 

the Heller Street area that could be used for 

housing. Additionally, we need to look for 

opportunities for the RDA to be a catalyst for 

achieving our community’s vision for downtown, 

as I will describe later in this questionnaire. 

The Redevelopment Agency also continues to 

provide support for our regionally renowned 

cultural events that are incredibly popular in 

our downtown. Fortunately, we have also been 

able to develop partners to sponsor various 

events, a movement that will be critical in these 

challenging economic times. 

The RDA is facing a challenging grab of 

approximately $5 million by California to fix their 

economic woes. We need to continue to work 

with other cities to fight these unfair grabs by the 

state, and also consider creative ways to protect 

the funds so we can use them to achieve our 

community’s vision. 




A: No, and we can’t allow it to. Although 

Redwood City has been facing challenging 

economic times like the rest of the region, state 

and nation, the diversity of the economic engine 

that drives our community has helped us weather 

some of the storm. One of the critical elements to 

Redwood City’s economic diversity is the success 

of the Port of Redwood City. The port not only 

benefits Redwood City’s economy but is critical to 

the entire South Bay area. As a council member, 

I will use my business experience, Planning 

Commission experience and collaborative 

relationships I have developed, including wide 

support from people who are involved in our port, 

to ensure protection of this valuable economic asset. 

As with the wide range of projects I have 

reviewed as a planning commissioner since 2001, 

it is important to always consider compatibility 

of neighboring land uses when considering a new 

project. While there are years of study ahead on 

the Cargill development, one of the many issues 

that will need to be uncovered in a transparent 

public planning process is the effect of any 

development on our port. 



A: I believe we can help our growing senior 

population by working with them to shape the 

future of the city they’re handing off to us to 

steward in the future. We can do this by honoring 

the rich history and wisdom they bring to our 

community. As a city council member I would 

seek input from our seniors to understand 

the issues that are facing our city in order to 

maximize the likelihood that we avoid repeating 

the mistakes of the past. I believe the wisdom of 

our maturing population can be easily overlooked 

as we push forward, and without honoring their 

viewpoint we run the risk of making decisions 

from a less than fully informed position. 

In a more tangible way, I support a variety 

of measures that ensure accessibility to our 

community for our aging population. Offering 

senior parking placards (which are safer than 

stickers as they do not permanently advertise 

vehicles as being owned by seniors), shuttle 

services to crucial areas, housing options for 

seniors and opportunities for our seniors to use 

their valuable life experience to pour into the lives 

of the next generation of leaders are just some 

of the ways our community can help our senior

population and in turn improve the quality of life 

for our entire community. 




A: In the near future, yes, but we also need 

long-term sustainable solutions. It is no surprise 

that like most other “service organizations,” 

our budget is just over 80 percent direct and 

indirect personnel costs. In an environment of 

collaboration we need to develop innovative 

and sustainable long-term solutions that address 

employee costs, including pensions, medical 

benefits, salaries/overtime, etc. My business 

experience, overseeing finance and HR for a 

multimillion-dollar, 100+ employee, nonprofit 

organization is well suited to understand and 

address the complex budgeting and personnel 

issues that will be faced by our City Council in 

the years to come. 



A: In the area of enforcement, our police department 

and schools need to be given every resource 

available to combat youth violence and gang 

activity. The violence and crime of gangs affects 

the quality of life in our entire community and 

threatens the opportunity for us to achieve our 

vision for a thriving community, and we cannot 

look the other way from this critical problem. 

While we appropriate resources to law 

enforcement and schools, the youth and gang 

violence issue also needs attention in the area 

of prevention. This is an area where I believe, 

as a city council member, I could use the depth 

and breadth of my relationships with education, 

nonprofits, faith-based groups, youth sports, 

seniors and student leaders to creatively develop 

solutions for our at-risk population through 

a series of local and regional summits on the 

subject. We need to bring together a wide range 

of expertise and develop creative opportunities to 

provide children hope in a future that will keep 

them out of gangs. 



A: During the campaign, I have talked about the 

most pressing need that we must address and the 

most pressing need that we get to address. While 

we must address our city’s financial situation, with 

a level of fiscal responsibility that is needed now 

more than ever, including economic development and 

cost reductions, I will use this space to talk about 

the most pressing need we get to address as a community. 

When I joined the Planning Commission in 

2001, the Downtown Task Force was completing 

its work, and our community’s process to develop 

a master plan for our downtown (downtown 

precise plan) was just beginning. Throughout 

the process to develop our community’s vision 

for a thriving, 24/7 downtown, our community 

knew it would take entertainment, great public 

space, restaurant/retail and market-rate housing 

for our downtown to be truly successful. Marketrate, 

transit-oriented housing is missing in our 

downtown. I have often described our downtown 

as a four-legged table missing one critical leg: 

housing. While it may have some appearance 

of being stable, we need to press forward with 

our community’s vision by completing our plan, 

taking action on our plan and achieving the 

results we all desire. 

The leadership of our city council in the 

coming years will be critical to achieving our 

community’s vision for downtown. We need 

leaders who have experience dealing with 

complex land use issues; I bring eight years of 

Planning Commission experience to the city 

council, including two consecutive terms as 

chairman. We need leaders who can collaborate 

both locally and regionally on the issues that our 

downtown will face; my list of endorsements 

shows the breadth and depth of collaborative 

relationships I have built over the past number of 

years. Finally, we need leaders with courage, as 

our community’s vision for a thriving downtown 

will have detractors; I have shown the willingness 

to make tough decisions for excellent, marketrate 

housing projects in our community. I believe 

I am the candidate best suited to work together 

with our community to achieve our vision for a 

thriving downtown. 

Cherlene Wright 



A: No, absolutely not. We cannot choose which 

laws to enforce and which not to. All elected 

and appointed government officials and law 

enforcement personnel take the same oath, 

to protect and defend the Constitution of the 

State of California and the Constitution of the 

United States. I’ve taken the oath four times: as 

a probation officer, as an appointed member of 

the Redwood City Housing and Human Concerns 

Committee, as a member of the Certified 

Emergency Response Team (CERT) and as a 

candidate for City Council. That being said, 

I am supportive of programs that proactively 

help undocumented immigrants achieve their 

citizenship, and will continue to support those if I 

have the honor of being elected. 



A: The Redevelopment Agency is currently 

providing funding for many of the downtown 

events, including the very popular Friday night 

concerts. In addition, they recently provided 

partial funding for the purchase of a small 

apartment building for low-income housing and a 

permanent housing solution for some of Redwood 

City’s longtime homeless residents. 




A: No, because as a community, we cannot allow 

that to happen. As the only South Bay deepwater 

port, the industry that comes through the 

Port of Redwood City, as well as the businesses 

located there, contributes greatly to our diverse 

economy. As we begin the lengthy process of 

studying, reviewing and considering the proposed 

development, we must make the health of the Port 

of Redwood City and the industry there a top priority. 



A: The wants, needs and goals of our senior 

populations are in a constantly changing state. 

Today’s seniors are active, contributing members 

of our community who deserve to be treated 

with respect and deserve to have their message 

heard and carried forward. As a council member, 

I pledge to stay informed and involved with all 

segments of our community, including the senior 

population. I will be accessible and responsive 

and I will work with and for the seniors as I will 

for all citizens of Redwood City. 




A: Yes, currently we can. However, in the long 

term we will have great difficulties if we don’t 

make some structural, wide-reaching changes to 

our budget. At present, our most pressing issue is 

the money that has been taken by the state from 

our general fund and our redevelopment fund. 

That being said, we also need to acknowledge 

that our salary and benefits package costs equal 

approximately 80 percent of our overall city budget. 

Considering that statistic, it is only logical that we 

need to look at possible savings to these costs. 



A: As a deputy probation officer who spent 

several years working with gang members, I 

bring a practical experience to this issue that 

my fellow candidates do not have. Addressing 

a community’s youth violence issues, including 

the gang activity, is not easy and requires a mix 

of programming, education and enforcement. 

It takes strong leadership and experience, and 

knowing what has worked in other communities. 

Parents and community members must be 

educated, youth must be engaged and involved 

and city leaders must be committed to the 

process. I bring experience in all these areas, and 

experience working with schools, community 

organizations and families to better communities. 



A: Though Redwood City has many pressing 

needs, without a head-on approach to the city’s 

financial situation none of the other needs can be 

addressed. We need to consider expanding our 

partnerships with private businesses as well as the 

possibility of consolidating services within our 

city and with neighboring communities. We need 

to look at the amount of money being spent on 

consultants, and consider if all of those services 

are necessary and appropriate. 

We need to control our spending, seek out 

new sources of revenue, and deal effectively 

with the state take-aways. We cannot consider 

these avenues one at a time; they must be 

considered concurrently and decisively. 



GET TO KNOW YOUR CANDIDATES FOR REDWOOD CITY CITY COUNCIL 

(Continued from previous page) 

Two more questions and 

answers to inform you of 

the views and opinions of 

the candidates. 

1. Much has been made about rising employee 

costs being a major factor in budget problems 

for individual cities in San Mateo County. Do 

you believe this is true for Redwood City? If so, 

how should it be addressed? 

Borgens: Decreased property tax revenue, lower 

sales, TOT [transient occupancy tax] revenue 

and rising employee costs are part of the issue. 

Now is the time for us to work together with our 

labor groups in crafting long-term, sustainable 

solutions to continue to provide quality services 

to our residents while respecting the needs of our 

employees and their families. 

Gee: A public-sector career usually meant 

job stability and retirement benefits. These 

differences were blurred during the dot-com 

boom. Taking away retirement benefits from 

retirees should not be taken lightly. We must 

decide to be either a traditional public-sector 

employer or transition to a competitive, privatesector 

employer, with the respective trade-offs. 

Ira: Wages and benefits equal 80 percent of 

the budget. Since we have a structural deficit, 

then these need to be addressed with long-term 

solutions. We are currently working with our 

unions to address this situation. We have been 

diligent to give them complete information and ask 

for their ideas and input. 

Seybert: Yes, over 70 percent of the budget is 

personnel. We need to collaborate with employee 

groups on ways to increase efficiencies and reduce 

costs with the realization that we all need each other to 

have a successful city. My professional experience 

in finance and HR is well-suited for this issue. 

Wright: The state’s choice to balance its budget 

by taking money from the local coffers is our 

biggest budgetary issue. Rising employee costs are 

a factor in the city’s overall rising budget, but our 

current crisis has been caused by the state take-aways. 

2. The county has recommended the motor pool 

site, near the Redwood City border, for a new 

jail. What position, if any, should the city take 

on the recommendation and the planning process? 

Borgens: There are tremendous opportunities for 

both the city and the county to engage in mutual 

opportunities in and around the county’s campus. 

I recognize the overcrowding issue at the existing 

facilities, but downtown Redwood City is not the 

place to solve those issues. I am disappointed in 

the process and feel we should take a step back. 

Gee: A new jail should be approached as an 

opportunity to re-vision the County Government 

Center. A comprehensive master plan for the 

county’s facilities should be developed that is 

contextually appropriate to Redwood City’s 

downtown. The master plan should provide the 

physical tenor that this is the county seat. 

Ira: We will be asking for a delay in the decision, 

which will allow us to meet with staff and the 

supervisors to re-evaluate the decision from a 

nonoperational perspective. I feel confident that 

we can find an alternate location. 

Seybert: I believe this site would have negative 

impacts on the transit-oriented housing we must 

develop to achieve our community’s vision for a 

thriving downtown. We should work with the county 

to find a site that suits their needs but does not impact 

the opportunity for housing on the Peninsula. 

Wright: A jail facility at the motor pool site 

is counter to Redwood City’s plans for the 

downtown area. However, if the site is chosen, it 

is important for Redwood City to take part in the 

planning process and advocate for the least impact 

on our downtown. 


Nonprofits in Action 

The Nonprofits in Action section will now be 

printed every other month in The Spectrum 

Magazine. However, the section will continue 

to appear each month online at www. 

spectrummagazine.net. 

Advocates for Children 

Advocates for Children, CASA of San Mateo 

County, is actively seeking caring and consistent 

adults to mentor and speak up for the best 

interests of these children. Over 130 children are 

waiting for someone who cares. If you would like 

to become a volunteer advocate or just want to 

learn more, visit www.AdvocatesFC.org or call 

650-212-4423 for more information. 

City Talk Toastmasters 

Join the City Talk Toastmasters to develop 

communication and leadership skills. The club 

meets Wednesdays 12:30–1:30 p.m. in the Council 

Chambers at City Hall, 1017 Middlefield Road. 

Call Manny Rosas at 650-780-7468 if you would 

like to check out a meeting, or just stop in. Visit 

www.toastmasters.org for more information about 

the Toastmasters public speaking program. 

CityTrees 

CityTrees is a nonprofit working with the Public 

Works Department to enhance and care for 

Redwood City’s urban forest. They usually plant 

or prune on the third Saturday of each month. 

Check www.citytrees.org for a listing of events, 

dates and how to join. 

Family Connections 

This parent-participation preschool focuses on 

low-income families. Family Connections parents 

stay involved in their children’s education and, 

as a result, their children are more prepared 

for kindergarten and beyond. They are always 

looking for volunteers to play with the children 

while moms and dads attend parent-ed classes, 

organizers to help coordinate fundraisers, 

and people from the business world to initiate 

new corporate partnerships. Check www. 

familyconnections.org for more information. 

Family Service Agency of San 

Mateo County 

Family Service Agency of San Mateo County 

provides employers with mature, ready-towork, 

experienced workers who are 55 and 

older. Employers contact the service because 

they appreciate the superior work ethic and the 

commitment to quality that mature workers 

possess. Contact Barbara Clipper at 650-403- 

4300, ext. 4368, to place your job order. For those 

who are at least 55 and looking for work, Family 

Service Agency provides a range of services for 

qualified participants. Contact Connie Tilles at 

650-403-4300, ext. 4371, if you are looking for work. 

Friends for Youth 

Do you like to play video games, shoot hoops, 

watch baseball games or just have fun? Then 

you have what it takes to be a mentor! As a 

mentor, you can hang out with a young person 

like Reggie. He’s a 12-year-old who loves pizza, 

baseball and cars. He lives with his grandmother 

and three sisters and would love to hang out 

with a guy and have fun. If you are interested in 

becoming a mentor, you are invited to attend a 

one-hour information session in Redwood City. 

For upcoming sessions, call 650-482-2871 or 

e-mail mentor@friendsforyouth.org. 

Funders Bookstore 

If you haven’t wandered into the Funders 

Bookstore, you have missed one of Redwood 

City’s hidden treasures. This volunteer effort 

supports the San Mateo County History 

Museum and provides a community bookstore 

for everyone’s pleasure. The collection includes 

hardback first editions, trade paperbacks, 

children’s books, cookbooks and an entire 

room of $1 paperbacks. Open Tuesday through 

Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the lower level of 

the San Mateo County History Museum at 2200 

Broadway, with the entrance facing Hamilton 

Street. 

Habitat for Humanity 

Habitat for Humanity International seeks to 

eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from 

the world and to make decent shelter a matter 

of conscience and action. Habitat for Humanity 

Greater San Francisco partners with working 

families and the community to build affordable 

ownership homes in Redwood City. Contact 

Jennifer Doettling, communications director, at 

650-568-7335 or jdoettling@habitatgsf.org. Visit 

them at www.habitatgsf.org. 

Hearing Loss Association of the 

Peninsula 

This organization of hard-of-hearing people 

and their relatives and friends is devoted to the 

welfare and interests of those who cannot hear 

well but are committed to participating in the 

hearing world. A day meeting is held on the first 

Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Veterans 

Memorial Senior Center, 1455 Madison Ave. A 

demonstration of assistive devices is held on the 

first Wednesday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the 

Redwood City Public Library, 1044 Middlefield 

Road. Call Marj at 650-593-6760 with any questions. 

Nursing Mothers Counsel 

Nursing Mothers Counsel provides free 

breastfeeding education and assistance by highly 

trained counselors (moms who breastfed for at 

least six months). To speak with a counselor 

(no fee), call 650-327-MILK (327-6455). NMC 

also has breast pumps and breastfeeding 

supplies available for purchase and rent. Call 

650-364-9579. If you’d like to become a trained 

counselor, call 650-365-2713. Visit them at www. 

nursingmothers.org. 

Optimist Club of Redwood City 

Optimist International’s mission has been 

“bringing out the best in kids” for over 80 years. 

The Optimist Club of Redwood City meets every 

Tuesday at 12 p.m. at Alana’s Cafe, 1020 Main 

St. For information, visit www.optimist.org 

or call President Ed Rosen at 650-366-7589 or 

Membership Chair John Butterfield at 650-366- 

8803. Or just come join them for lunch to learn 

more about how you can make a difference to the 

youth in our community. 

Peninsula Hills Women’s Club 

Founded in 1960, Peninsula Hills Women’s Club, 

a member of the General Federation of Women’s 

Clubs and the California Federation of Women’s 

Clubs, is a philanthropic organization serving the 

community through charitable, educational and 

service programs. Meetings are held the third 

Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. For additional 

information, contact PHWC, P.O. Box 1394, 

Redwood City, CA 94064. 

Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA 

In addition to sheltering and finding new homes 

for stray and unwanted animals, PHS/SPCA has 

vital programs for people. The shelter’s mobile 

spay/neuter clinic offers owners free “fixes” for 

their pets. PHS/SPCA also provides a free animal 

behavior help line in English and Spanish. Call 

650-340-7022, ext. 783 or 786. And domestic 

abuse victims who wish to leave their abusive 

situation but are fearful of doing so because they 

have pets can receive temporary sheltering for 

their pets through PHS/SPCA. Call 650-340-7022, 

ext. 330. 

Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club 

The Peninsula Sunrise Rotary Club meets weekly 

at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and to hear a speaker 

at the Waterfront Restaurant at Pete’s Harbor in 

Redwood City. The club, with 22 members, has 

frequently been honored as an outstanding small 

club by Rotary District 5150, which includes San 

Mateo, San Francisco and part of Marin counties. 

For more information or to join, call Brandy 

Navarro at 650-367-9394. 

Rebuilding Together Peninsula 

RTP provides free home repair and renovations 

for low-income families, seniors and people 

with disabilities. RTP’s mission is to promote 

independent living in safety and warmth through 

volunteer partnerships with individuals and 

groups in the community. RTP is currently 

seeking skilled volunteers and construction 

captains for its annual National Rebuilding 

Day. If you are interested in volunteering, call 

650-366-6597. For more information, visit 

rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org. 

Redwood City Art Center 

The Redwood City Art Center promotes 

creativity and community by providing art 

education, exhibitions, studio space for artists 

and outreach to the local community and schools. 

For scheduling or donation, contact artreach@ 

redwoodcityartcenter.org. For more general 

information, visit www.redwoodcityartcenter.org 

or call 650-369-1823. Or visit in person at 2625 

Broadway, Redwood City. 



Nonprofits in Action (Continued from previous page) 

Redwood City Eagles #418 

The Fraternal Order of Eagles supports our police, 

firefighters and others who protect and serve. 

They have provided support for medical centers 

across the country. They raise millions of dollars 

every year to help handicapped kids, uplift the 

aged and make life a little brighter for everyone. 

The Eagles meet on the second Tuesday of each 

month at the Eagles Hall, 1575 Marshall St., at 6 

p.m. for a social hour and dinner meeting. They 

play cards on the third Thursday and would love 

to have you join them. For more information, 

call President Ryan Herbst at 408-489-6582 or 

Secretary David Tomatis at 650-575-3225, or visit 

www.foe418.org. 

Redwood City Education 

Foundation 

The Redwood City Education Foundation is an 

all-volunteer, nonprofit organization dedicated to 

providing students in the Redwood City School 

District with a strong education that lays the 

foundation for future success. They raise private 

money to provide enrichment programs to all 

students in the district. Their funding is focused 

on academic achievement, music and art, and 

health and wellness. For more information, check 

out www.rcef.org. 

Redwood City Rotary 

Redwood City Rotary performs many service 

projects, provides college scholarships and 

donates to international relief efforts. The club 

meets each Tuesday at 12:15 at the Sequoia 

Club, 1695 Broadway, to hear speakers and plan 

community benefits, including the annual July 4 

raffle that raises $80,000 for 12 local charities. For 

more information about joining, contact Dr. Paul 

R. Piccione at drpaul@woodsidewellnesscenter. 

com or 650-703-5957, or visit www. 

redwoodcityrotary.org. 

Redwood City Seniors Softball Club 

These recreational and tournament-level senior 

men and women play slow-pitch softball all year 

long. Membership is open to anyone at least 50 

years old within the calendar year. Many of the 

players are in their 60s and 70s and still going 

strong. Club members play every Tuesday, 

Wednesday and Thursday morning at Griffin 

Field at Red Morton Community Park. For more 

information or to join the club, contact Joe Kirby 

at 650-366-5299 or joekirbyis@comcast.net 

(include “Senior Softball Club” in the subject line). 

Redwood City Sunrise Lions Club 

This group is small but has a growing 

membership. All members either live or work 

in our community and share a common goal of 

making our city a better place to live. One of over 

44,000 Lions Clubs in 199 nations, the club has 

been vigorously active helping eyesight-impaired 

youth in our schools and seniors who are hearingimpaired. 

The Lions meet every Wednesday at 

Bob’s Court House Coffee Shop, 2198 Broadway, 

beginning at 7:15 a.m. Call Bill Gibbons at 650- 

766-8105 for more details. 


Redwood City Women’s Club 

Founded in 1909 as a member of the General 

Federation of Women’s Clubs and the California 

Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Redwood City 

Women’s Club will celebrate its centennial in 

September. The club meets the first Thursday 

of each month, September through June, at the 

clubhouse at 149 Clinton St., Redwood City. 

Social at 11 a.m., lunch at noon, followed by a 

meeting and program. For information, call 650- 

363-1266 or visit rwcwc.com. 

Sequoia High School Alumni 

Association 

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each 

month at the Sequoia District Board Room, 

480 James Ave., at 7 p.m. All alumni and 

friends of Sequoia are welcome to attend. 

For more information call Nancy at 650-592- 

5822, visit sequoiahsalumniassoc.org or e-mail 

sequoiaalumni@earthlink.net. 

Sequoia Stamp Club 

This club was established in 1947 and invites 

community members to visit. The club meets 

at the Community Activities Building, 1400 

Roosevelt Ave., every second and fourth Tuesday 

at 7:45 p.m. There is a program every meeting and 

refreshments are served. Contact Hank at 650- 

593-7012, e-mail sequoiastampclub@yahoo.com 

or visit www.penpex.org. Sequoia Stamp Club 

sponsors a free stamp show at the same location 

on the first weekend in December. 

Soroptimist International of South 

Peninsula 

Soroptmist International is the world’s largest 

service organization for business and professional 

women, where “improving the lives of women 

and children” has been their mission since 1921. 

Soroptimists work through service projects to 

advance human rights and the status of women 

locally and abroad. They meet the second 

Thursday of every month. For more information, 

call their president, Maria, at 650-366-0668, 

Monday–Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

Sustainable San Mateo County 

Established in 1992, this local nonprofit is 

dedicated to the long-term health of our county’s 

environment, economy and social equity. 

Programs include an annual report, an annual 

awards event, sustainabilityhub.net, green 

business workshops and more. If you would like 

to volunteer, contact the SSMC office at 650-638- 

2323 or e-mail advocate@sustainablesanmateo. 

org. For more information, visit www. 

sustainablesanmateo.org. 

Woodside Terrace A.M. Kiwanis Club 

Since October 1956, the Woodside Terrace A.M. 

Kiwanis Club has been devoted to community 

service in Redwood City. Through the decades, 

the club has provided funds to help many 

worthy community programs and continues to 

add more community projects. The club meets 

every Tuesday evening 6–7 p.m. at Harry’s 

Hofbrau, 1909 El Camino Real (one block north 

of Woodside Road). They invite you to come to 

their meetings and check out the club’s Web site at 

www.wtamkiwanis.org. 

Woodside Terrace Optimist Club 

This club provides an opportunity for seniors to 

stay involved and be useful. The club’s funds are 

raised by a card, candy and necklace sale held 

on the fourth Wednesday of each month in the 

main lobby at 485 Woodside Road, open to the 

public. Lunches/meetings are at 12:30 p.m. on the 

second and fourth Wednesdays of each month in 

the Assisted Living Dining Room at Woodside 

Terrace. Guests are welcome. Please call President 

Jack Murphy at 650-780-9891 or Millie Cole at 

650-366-1392 for reservations. 

YES Reading 

YES Reading recruits and trains community 

volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring for 

elementary and middle school students reading 

below grade level. YES Reading operates several 

reading centers on the Peninsula and in the South 

Bay, including a site at Selby Lane School in 

Atherton. If you are interested in becoming a 

reading tutor for a child who needs your help, call 

408-945-9316, e-mail info@yesreading.org or 

visit www.yesreading.org. 

Editor’s note: If you are connected with a nonprofit 

organization and want your information printed in The 

Spectrum, send it to writers@spectrummagazine. 

net or The Spectrum Magazine, P.O. Box 862, 

Redwood City, CA 94064. Let our community 

know your contributions and maybe they will 

want to join you. 

Advertise with 

The Spectrum 

Call Us Today 

650.368.2434 


Magazine


FISCAL 

RESPONSIBILITY 

NEEDED NOW 

MORE THAN EVER 

WORKING 

TOGETHER 

TO ACHIEVE OUR 

COMMUNITY’S VISION 

BUILDING 

PARTNERSHIPS 

FOR A BETTER TOMORROW 

VOTE FOR 

JOHN 

Nov. 3rd 

Join us in supporting John Seybert for City Council (partial list of endorsements) 

State Leaders 

Hon. Joe Simitian, State Senator 

Hon. Leland Yee, State Senator 

Hon. Ira Ruskin, State Assemblyman 

Current/Past City Council 

Hon. Mayor Rosanne Foust 

Hon. Vice Mayor Diane Howard 

Hon. Alicia Aguirre 

Hon. Jim Hartnett 

Hon. Jeff Ira 

Hon. Barbara Pierce 

Hon. Brent Britschgi 

Hon. Judy Buchan 

Hon. Dick Claire 

Hon. Dani Gasparini 

Hon. Jack Greenalch 

Hon. Georgi LaBerge 

Hon. Paul Sanfilipo 

Current/Past School Leaders 

Marion McDowell 

Jan Christensen, Superintendent 

Dr. Pat Gemma, Superintendent 

Hon. Maria Diaz-Slocum 

Hon. Alisa MacAvoy 

Hon. Shelly Masur 

Hon. Dennis McBride 

Hon. Hilary Paulson 

Hon. Don Gibson 

Hon. Lorraine Rumley 

Hon. Chris Bohl 

Hon. Patricia Wright 

Organizations 

RC Fire Fighters Assn. 

RC Police Officers Assn. 

SMC Central Labor Council 

RC National Little League 

Community Leaders 

Hon. Don Horsley, Retired Sheriff 

Larry Aikens, Port Commissioner 

Arnoldo Arreola 

Barbara & Dave Bartoshuk 

Bill & Trudy Bergler 

Kevin Bondonno 

John Casterman 

Tom & Maria Cornell 

Dick Dodge, Port Commissioner 

Rev. Hal Draeger 

Rich & Dee Eva 

Jeff Gee, Chairman, Planning Comm. 

Rudy Helin & Joan Herlihy 

Bob & Jeannie Lutticken 

John Nelson 

Nancy Radcliffe, Planning Comm. 

Paula Uccelli 

Political advertisement paid for by: John Seybert for Redwood City Council 2009, FPPC ID# 1313963 - www.johnseybert.com 

CITY OF REDWOOD CITY HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN PROGRAM 

Help keep 

our homes 

healthy 

and our 

neighborhoods 

safe. 

Apply Today for a 3 % Low-Interest Home Improvement Loan. 

Call (650) 780.7290 or visit www.redwoodcityhousing.org 

AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS AND LANDLORDS 


Challengers Discuss 

Quality of Life at Chamber Forum 

Redwood City City Council 

the downtown corridor. Borgens, too, also suggested expanding marketing to 

“our town, around town” to fit the missing link. 

Gee suggested a job, rather than a campaign, recommending an economic 

development leader to help the city avoid future missed opportunities like 

the Smart Car dealership that was looking for a Bay Area home. He also 

asked the room to consider where they were — the Pacific Athletic Club 

in Redwood Shores. How many had ever patronized a business on Dolphin 

Drive, he asked. 

Seybert called downtown a “pebble in a pond,” with its success rippling 

through the rest of the city. 

Ira, who served as mayor while the city revamped the historic courthouse 

plaza, acknowledged the needs of other merchants but said the city is defined 

by Broadway, much as Burlingame has Burlingame Avenue or San Carlos has 

Laurel Street. 

“The heart and soul of a city, whether I like it or not, is downtown,” Ira said. 


The challenges facing Redwood City might be multiple but they all revolve 

around the quality of life, according to the five residents hoping to join the 

City Council in November. 

Transportation, jobs, housing, the city’s budget — each is an important 

element to protecting and improving the city, the candidates agreed at a 

forum held Wednesday morning by the Redwood City–San Mateo County 

Chamber of Commerce. Identifying the key priority and why they are the 

best person to tackle that issue are where Janet Borgens, Jeff Gee, Jeff Ira, 

John Seybert and Cherlene Wright differentiated themselves. 

Gee, current chair of the Planning Commission and self-proclaimed 

“registered pragmatist,” declined to commit to only one issue, although he 

said quality of life is the theme running through them all. Instead, he said, 

the city needs to think outside the box for financial fixes because “the lowhanging 

fruit, the easy choices” are already taken. He suggested knocking on 

doors and meeting with merchants to keep retail afloat and let residents know 

the city wants to help. 

Ira, an incumbent seeking a final term, echoed Gee’s thoughts and warned 

that the city is in danger of hitting a point when “cuts become so deep and 

hurt so bad.” Eventually, cuts lead to layoffs, which in turn impact city 

services and programs residents rely upon or enjoy, like the library and 

outdoor concert series, he said. 

That every union agreed to freezes is a testament to the City Council and staff, 

said Ira, adding that slashing jobs and programs can’t be the only solution. 

The city needs courage to make needed cuts, but at some point has to say 

no, he said. 

Wright, a member of the city’s Housing and Human Concerns Committee, 

headed directly to housing, particularly for the workforce of nurses, police 

officers, probation officers and the like. Approximately 38,000 commuters 

come to Redwood City daily, contributing to residents’ quality of life through 

work and dollars without the benefit of sharing that experience, she said. 

Businesses are also hesitant to locate in Redwood City if there is nowhere 

for their employees to live, Wright said. 

Borgens, a planning commissioner, used her own small business 

experience to tell chamber members that housing is good but creating a tax 

base is the first priority. Economic growth and development will lead to 

housing and other opportunities, Borgens said. 

Seybert drew a line between what the council gets to do and what it needs 

to do — definitively putting the budget in the latter category. Seybert wants 

to finish the vision for downtown with quality housing. Not doing so, he said, 

will eventually lead to a downtown that “falls back to its old ways” rather 

than an area that attracts and retains business and visitors. 

Despite a general push by the candidates for efforts in the downtown area, 

one attendee wanted to know what they could do for merchants outside the 

vicinity, who are made to feel like the city’s redheaded stepchild. 

Wright agreed that the effort should be to shop Redwood City, not just 

shop downtown. The change is a small shift but can go far to help business 

owners who are frustrated and feeling overlooked because they are outside 



Redwood City Candidates Talk City’s Future 

Whether Redwood City’s future holds development, high-speed rail, a balanced 

budget, a nearby new jail or downtown housing remains unclear. 

What is crystal, though, is that the five candidates hoping to fill three seats 

on the City Council all believe they are the best individuals to help shape that future. 

Janet Borgens, Jeff Gee, Jeff Ira, John Seybert and Cherlene Wright are 

vying for a spot on the council in the November election. Current Council 

Members Diane Howard and Jim Hartnett are being termed out, assuring at 

least two new faces. While only Ira has time on the council — he is running 

to keep his current seat for a final term — all the candidates have dipped, 

if not full-on jumped, into the waters of city politics through time on other 

committees and commissions. Borgens, Gee and Seybert are each current 

planning commissioners. Wright is on the Housing and Human Concerns 

Committee. Borgens has also sat on that committee as well as the Senior 

Affairs Commission. Gee also served on the city’s Architectural Review 

Committee and Recycled Water Task Force. 

While many echo the concerns and plans of each other, the five contenders 

sat down to set themselves apart from one another and explain why they are 

the best fit to lead Redwood City. 

The budget and overall economy are priority issues for each candidate. 

The city recently balanced its budget through a mix of cuts, union concessions 

and novel fixes like cutting one firefighter per truck on all companies. But the 

state continues to shake up local finances, and rising employee costs coupled 

with the economy continue to keep the city’s bottom line tenuous. 

The question, Ira said, is “How do we maintain the quality of life in tough 

financial times?” 

Eighty percent of budgets are salaries and benefits, giving the city only 

a small area of wiggle room, and residents don’t want to stomach cuts to 

programs and services. Ira predicts four more years of structural deficit, 

although Gee countered it is likely closer to five or six years. 

The first round of cuts and layoffs have not been “too bad” but it’s a hard 

haul that requires long-term budget changes rather than temporary stop-gap 

solutions, he said. 

The city needs to decide if it wants to compete with the private sector as an 

employer or go back to the traditional roots as a place where people can find 

stable work with good benefits but with pay that is less competitive than the 

private sector, Gee said. 

Borgens believes the city needs to rethink its bottom line, work close with 

labor groups and find new revenue sources because the traditional money 

pools are gone. 

“We need to give the best service we can for what we can afford,” she said. 

The in-house solution by firefighters to prevent browning out a station is a 

strong example of efficiency and collaboration, which should be replicated, 

Seybert said. 

Wright also suggested using city staff rather than consultants for tasks like 

public outreach and partnering with local colleges for Web work. 

“There are some creative ways around nonfixed costs,” she said. 

While all the candidates are interested in looking forward, at least one 

issue hearkens to the past: the Cargill Salt site. The fight over the parcel 

colored last November’s election as groups squared off over development, 

open space and whether to amend the city charter as a way to facilitate either 

option. Wright headed up grassroots committee Citizens to Protect Redwood 

City, which argued against a charter amendment rather than a specific stand 

on development. Ira sat on the council, at times accused by environmental 

groups as having already made a pro-development decision. And the others 

were planning commissioners, equally involved in the history leading up to the 

submission of the 50-50 balanced plan proposed by developer DMB Cargill. 

The plan is now being evaluated for adequacy and could return to the 

council to begin the arduous approval process early next year, when the City 

Council has been reconfigured. 

None of the candidates committed to a position on the site, saying it is 

impossible without hours of study and unbiased opinions. Besides, they 

agreed, the final product won’t look like the proposal as it stands now. 

“There is no way in the world that will be the plan,” Ira said. 

Ira is glad to have something in black and white but said the plan is 

deficient in buffer zones, playing field space and adequate flood control. 

While making a decision, Wright said city officials need to be extremely 

careful with the community and remember how highly passion runs on this 

matter. Like Ira, she said the effort now is not to lob an early opinion but to 

get down to work. 


“There hasn’t been a project in the last 10 years that looks like the original 

submission,” Wright said. 

The ball is actually in the city’s court now, Borgens said. 

“We drive the engine now to decide what we as a citizen want on that 

space,” she said. 

Lessons learned from prior fights over the now-defunct Marina Shores Village 

development should be used now, said Ira, who chalked up the resulting Measure 

Q referendum as “by far the biggest mistake” of the City Council. The 

council “totally misread the community” and ended up dividing it, he said. 

“Obviously, we would do everything completely over,” he said. 

Similarly, Borgens said she would revisit the shadow study of the 

downtown precise plan, which led to attorney Joe Carcione suing the city. 

The lawsuit, which claimed the building heights cast too great a shadow on 

his property, forced a costly redo of the plan. 

“We should have paid more attention,” Borgens said. “I would definitely 

scream and yell.” 

Unlike Borgens, Wright was not on a commission or council that signed off 

on the plan but she also pointed to the shadow study. 

“The advice given to the council was a little aggressive,” she said. “We 

were given legal advice that we won’t lose.” 

Wright also noted the eminent domain used for land now housing the 

downtown theater. While the outcome was fabulous, she said she has 

personal philosophical problems with using eminent domain for a private, 

for-profit business. 

Seybert and his opponents also said the high-tech parking meters dotting 

downtown came too soon, leading to confusion and frustration by drivers. 

One problem, he added, was an omission rather than a decision — an 

omission of not going after economic development more aggressively and 

marketing the city soon enough before the economic slide. 


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Redwood City Council Candidates Bringing in Money 


With less than one month left before the November election, three of five 

Redwood City City Council candidates are bringing in donations of roughly 

equivalent amounts while two surpass the nearest contender by more than $10,000. 

Janet Borgens, Jeff Gee, incumbent Jeff Ira, John Seybert and Cherlene 

Wright are vying for three seats on the City Council. With two members 

being termed out, the council is assured of at least that many new faces. 

Borgens collected $12,620 in monetary contributions and $1,674.43 in 

nonmonetary goods for a $14,294.43 total through Sept. 19, according to her 

campaign disclosure statement. 

The funds are primarily contributions from individuals, ranging from $100 

to $500, but also includes $250 from the Tri-County Apartment Association. 

She received a Web page from Jerry Pierce — husband of Councilwoman 

Barbara Pierce — with the monetary equivalent of $400. 

Borgens has spent $6,733.24 on advertising, yard signs and filing fees, 

leaving her with $5,896.62 in her war chest. 

Gee far out-collected his opponents with $25,527 to date, including a 

$3,384 loan to himself. Gee spent $13,195.45 through Sept. 19. He has 

$11,295.55 left. 

His donors include Undersheriff Carlos Bolanos, who gave $250 to date; 

Councilwoman Diane Howard and her husband, Steve, who gave $250; 

former Sheriff Don Horsley, who gave $250; and former City Manager Ed 

Everett, who gave $100. The Building and Construction Trades Council gave 

$250; the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association, Local 104, gave 

$300; and the Tri-County Apartment Association gave $250. 

Gee’s nonmonetary contributions include $400 in Web services from 

Jerry Pierce and $229 in cookies from City Baking. He spent $1,117.38 for 

campaign T-shirts, $1,110.71 for tote bags and $1,110.25 for lawn signs. 

Ira raised $12,396 to date and spent $6,236, leaving him with a $11,233 

cash balance. Contributions include $250 from the Building and Construction 

Trades Council, $500 from the Tri-County Apartment Association, $200 

from Mayor Rosanne Foust, $100 from Redwood City School District Trustee 

Dennis McBride, $100 from former Sheriff Don Horsley and Redwood City 

School Board Trustee Alisa MacAvoy. 

He also received $500 in Web services from Jerry Pierce and $306 in 

advertising from real estate agent Max Keech. 

Ira paid Jeff Gee $1,111 and John Seybert $612 for campaign literature and 

$3,438 to J&N Printing for mailers. 

Seybert has received $23,048 to date, including a $1,000 loan to himself. 

He has spent $6,879 and ends with a $17,387 cash balance. Seybert’s contributions 

include $1,000 from Preston Butcher, CEO of Legacy Partners, $250 from the 

Building and Construction Trades Council, $250 from Councilwoman Diane 

Howard and $100 from former City Manager Ed Everett. He also received 

$400 worth of Web design services from Disruptive Solutions. 

Seybert’s expenses include $150 to the San Mateo County Central 

Labor Council and $300 to the Sequoia YMCA for meeting space. His 

miscellaneous cash increases of $1,491 for joint mailing and automated phone 

call expenses were divvied up between the campaigns of Ira and Gee. 

Wright took in $9,377.77, including $1,555.77 in nonmonetary 

contributions, and spent $6,078.81 to date. She has an end cash balance of 

$3,176.87. Wright’s contributions this period are primarily from individuals, 

ranging between $100 and $500. She also received $250 from the Tri-County 

Apartment Association. Her campaign received $48.62 worth of milkshakes 

for precinct walkers and her expenses include $1,232.05 for door hangers, 

$927.50 for lawn signs and $250 to the Redwood City–San Mateo County 

Chamber of Commerce for a golf tournament sponsorship. 


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News Briefs 

Man Arrested in Shotgun Incident 

A 19-year-old man was arrested by Redwood City 

police for the shotgun shooting of a 26-year-old man. 

David L. Cruz was taken into custody without 

incident during a traffic stop, according to police, 

and was booked into the San Mateo County jail 

on charges of attempted murder, assault with a 

deadly weapon and false imprisonment. 

Redwood City police officers and San Mateo 

County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene 

of a shooting that occurred at the intersection of 

Hilton and Cedar streets. A male victim suffering 

from a gunshot wound was found at the scene 

and transported to a local hospital for treatment. 

A second male victim escaped injury by fleeing 

the scene but was subsequently located and is 

cooperating with the investigation. The gunshot 

victim received treatment for non-life-threatening 

injuries and is expected to recover. He is also 

cooperating with the investigation. 

The shooting occurred in an area of known 

gang activity; however, the exact motive is 

unknown. It is believed two additional persons 

of interest were with Cruz at the time of the 

shooting; however, their identities are unknown 

and the investigation is ongoing. 

As many as three shots were fired during the 

incident and the suspects were seen jumping over 

neighborhood fences to get away, police said. 

There is no known motive for the incident. The 

area where the crime occurred is a high-gangactivity 

neighborhood, police said. 

Anyone with information about this crime is 

encouraged to contact the Redwood City Police 

Department at 650-780-7100. 

‘Horseplay’ Leads to Assault Charges 

Two men returning from a Giants baseball game 

on Caltrain were assaulted by a renowned judo 

artist and his friend, who broke one’s leg, beat 

them both seriously and demanded $20 for the 

return of a cell phone, according to prosecutors. 

Robert Eugene Davis, 22, of Redwood City, 

and Matthew Walker, 25, of Tacoma, Wash., 

encountered the men at the Menlo Park Caltrain 

station and began friendly horsing around that 

turned more severe, said Chief Deputy District 

Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. 

On Sept. 29, the four men began talking at the 

station because one victim with a martial arts 

background noticed Walker’s judo jacket. 

Walker, who stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 

275 pounds, recently won his category in the 

President’s Cup judo tournament. 

The two men began “horseplaying,” Wagstaffe 

said, but Walker declined to stop once it grew 

more rough. 

The second victim photographed the incident 

with his cellular phone in an effort to get Walker 

to stop, but Davis allegedly grabbed the phone 

and demanded $20 for its return. When the first 

victim then took out his phone to call police, 

Walker threw the phone to the ground and he and 

Davis attacked both men, Wagstaffe said. 

One man suffered facial lacerations and a 

broken leg. The other was knocked unconscious 

and had facial lacerations. 

Police arrested Walker and Davis nearby and 

discovered the cell phone in the trash. 

Both were charged with two counts each 

of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. 

Walker was found ineligible for a court-appointed 

attorney and ordered back to court Oct. 5 to 

identify a retained lawyer. 

Davis pleaded not guilty alongside his retained 

attorney and was also ordered back to court Oct. 5 

to set a preliminary hearing date. 

Walker remains in custody in lieu of $100,000. 

Davis posted a $50,000 bail bond and is free from 

custody. 

‘Check Into Cash’ Robbed of Cash 

Police are looking for two young men who 

robbed a Redwood City check-cashing business at 

gunpoint. 

Two men between 17 and 20 years old were 

spotted loitering in the area of a Marshall’s and 

Target parking lot in the 2500 block of El Camino 

Real, police said. 

One man appeared to be a lookout while the 

other went inside a Check Into Cash store and 

produced a handgun, police said. 

Both suspects then fled the area on foot and 

were last seen headed southeast through the 

parking lot. 

They both were wearing dark clothing. 

Anyone with information is asked to call the 

Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100. 

Embezzler Sentenced to Prison 

A woman who said she wrote herself more 

than $400,000 in unauthorized checks from her 

employer because of personal financial straits was 

sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to 

repay the funds. 

Maureen Rivera, 31, received the maximum 

time allowed under the terms of a negotiated deal 

offered by the court the morning of her May 11 

jury trial. Prosecutors sought five years and four 

months in prison but the judge countered with 

the four-year term. He also offered a chance at 

jail and probation if full restitution was made by 

sentencing. 

Rivera pleaded no contest to felony grand 

theft by an employee and two counts of felony 

embezzlement. She was originally charged with 

117 counts of felony embezzlement. 

Rivera tried first to continue the sentencing date 

but, after the request was denied, she received prison 

with credit for 24 days and the restitution order. 

Rivera worked as an accounts payable 

administrator for Neopost Mailroom Services in 

Redwood City between 2001 and 2007. According 

to the District Attorney’s Office, between Jan. 25, 

2006, and Dec. 10, 2007, Rivera wrote more than 

100 unauthorized checks and deposited the money 

into her personal bank account. On Dec. 12, 2007, 

the company’s finance director reportedly found 

three of the checks and confronted Rivera, who 

tearfully said she and her husband were having 

financial difficulties. 

The remaining checks were discovered during 

the investigation of those three, according to the 

prosecution. 

In February 2001, Rivera was convicted in 

Santa Clara County of two felony theft charges for 

similar crimes from a prior employer, said Chief 

Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. 

Rivera was immediately taken into custody 

after sentencing for transfer to prison. She had 

been out of custody on a $500,000 property bond. 

Redwood City Man Pleads Guilty to 

Smuggling Methamphetamine 

A Redwood City man has pleaded guilty in 

federal court in San Francisco to plotting 

to distribute more than 13 pounds of 

methamphetamine and has agreed to accept a 

sentence of at least 17 years and six months in prison. 

Franco Perez, 38, entered the plea before U.S. 

District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco 

and will be sentenced by Breyer on Jan. 13. 

U.S. Attorney Joseph Russoniello said that 

Perez admitted during the plea that he helped 

coordinate the smuggling of more than 13 pounds 

of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United 

States inside the transmission of a pickup truck in 

November 2008. 

Russoniello said the shipment was intercepted 

in Los Banos in Merced County by federal drug 

agents and the California Highway Patrol. 

He said Perez admitted during the plea that the 

shipment was intended for distribution in the San 

Francisco Bay Area and elsewhere in Northern 

California. 

Perez was one of nine people indicted on 

a variety of heroin and methamphetamine 

trafficking charges by a federal grand jury on 

Jan. 29 and arrested on Feb. 4 in a sweep that 

authorities called Operation Smack Down. 

Under federal law, the mandatory minimum 

sentence for the conspiracy conviction is 10 years 

and the maximum is life in prison. 

U.S. attorney’s office spokesman Joshua Eaton 

said prosecutors and defense lawyers agreed in the 

plea bargain to a recommended sentencing range 

with a minimum term of 17 years and six months. 

If the judge gives a sentence above or below 

the recommended range, either the prosecution 

or defense can set aside the plea and have a trial 

instead on all the charges originally filed against 

Perez. Those charges include methamphetamine 

and heroin sales and money laundering in addition 

to the conspiracy count. 

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650.368.2434 


As I Was Saying…Continued from p6 Community Interests (Continued from p13) 

endorsed by the teachers’ association, Wallace Greene and Sarver. I would 

have to go with Chang Kiraly and Sarver to be elected. Either way, do not 

expect much change in the district. 

Measure X is just a formality to change the City Charter that no one cares 

about and it will pass. 

Measure Y, another charter change, would, if passed, increase the rates of 

the business tax for three consecutive years. Voters are tired of taxes and feel 

this will unfairly tax local businesses that will then pass it on to us. This will 

not pass. 

If you have not made up your mind about whom you will be voting for in the 

City Council race, there are still two opportunities to see all the candidates 

at community forums. The League of Women Voters is holding a forum on 

Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on Middlefield Road. This 

forum will be open to a live audience and will also be taped and broadcast 

on Peninsula TV. A coalition of citizen groups is holding a forum on Oct. 29 

at 7 p.m. at the Fair Oaks Community Center, also on Middlefield Road near 

Woodside Road. 

Get out and vote! 

As I was saying… 

.… 

.… 

.… 

The Saltworks site is a 1,436-acre parcel of land whose potential 

development has long been debated in the community. Last year, the dispute 

erupted into a full-out war between organizations like Save The Bay, 

Redwood City and a smattering of grassroots groups who took no side other 

than opposing a ballot measure that would have significantly changed the city 

charter. Both ballot measures failed. 

Developer DMB Cargill has submitted the so-named “50-50 Balanced 

Plan” which calls for 50 percent of the site to be preserved for permanent 

open space, public recreation and tidal marsh restoration and the remaining 

half to be developed into housing, schools, parks and retail and transit 

facilities. Consultants are currently reviewing the plan before bringing it to 

the city to begin evaluating the merits. 

RCSD Corner (Continued from p5) 

proficient in two languages has increased. It is the only program of its kind in 

the Redwood City School District. 

This school year, more than 125 parents applied for their child to 

enter kindergarten through sixth grade at Adelante, and over 100 new 

kindergarteners enrolled for the 2009–10 school year. 

Students at Adelante are learning more than just language proficiency, 

says Principal Montes. “Students at Adelante learn two languages with ease, 

but the bridging of cultures and ethnic and racial differences also requires 

intentionality on our part as instructors.” 

Besides strong academics, relationship-building across ethnic and cultural 

groups is also a focus of the school, and parents get involved along with their 

children. English- and Spanish-speaking parents arrive at the campus daily 

to work in the classrooms, to organize the primary-grade take-home reading 

program, to teach Art in Action, to collect recycling materials, to organize 

fundraisers and to drive on field trips, among other things. 

In 2007, Adelante was awarded a Title I Academic Achievement Award by 

the California Department of Education for making significant progress toward 

closing the achievement gap among demographic subgroups. 

Parents who are interested in enrolling their children in Adelante for the 

2010–11 school year should contact the school for more information at 650- 

482-5999. 

Saturday, December 5, 2009 10 am to 7 pm 

• Play in the Snow! 11:00 am to 4:00 pm 

• Photos with Santa! 11:00 am to 4:00 pm 

• Ice Sculpture Demonstration 10:00 am 

• Musical Entertainment throughout the day 

• Vendor Booths 10:00 am to 4:00 pm 

• Children’s Parade 4:30 to 5:30 pm 

• City Tree Lighting 5:45 pm 

• Fireworks Spectacular 5:50 to 6:00 pm 

• CalTrain Holiday Train arrives at 6:30 pm 

• Movie Night at Courthouse Plaza 

Presented by the Redwood City 

Downtown Business Group Diamond 

Sponsors Redwood City Civic Cultural 

Commission Redwood City 

Redevelopment Agency 

Schedule subject to change 

Shop early for the Holidays NOW! 


Finance: What Should You Do With Your 401(K) After a Layoff? 

By David Amann, Special to The Spectrum 

As you’re no doubt aware, the long and 

deep recession has resulted in the highest 

unemployment rate in decades. But if you’ve 

been laid off, or if you fear a layoff may soon be 

coming, you’re less interested in statistics than in 

your immediate financial future. How will you get 

by until you land a new job? 

This is a scary question, of course. And it can 

cause you to look at all your available financial 

resources, including your 401(k), which may well 

be the largest single financial resource you have. 

But before you cash out your 401(k), make sure 

you understand what’s involved. Your former 

employer is required to withhold 20 percent of 

your account balance to prepay federal taxes. 

Also, all your 401(k) proceeds will be taxed as 

ordinary income. And if you’re under age 59½ 

when you liquidate your 401(k), you may also be 

subject to a 10 percent penalty. And worst of all, 

the money may not be available to you when you retire. 

Obviously, if you have no other financial 

resources, you may have no choice but to tap into 

your 401(k) plan. 

However, if you can find an alternative way to 

tide yourself over until you’re working again, you 

may be better off in the long run by not cashing in 

your plan. 

If you decide against the “cash-out” option, what 

can you do with your 401(k)? Here are two possibilities: 

Keep the money in your former employer’s 

plan. in your former employer’s plan. If your 

former employer permits it, you may able to leave 

your money in your 401(k). You won’t have to 

pay any immediate taxes, and your money can 

continue to grow tax-deferred. But you may no 

longer be able to add funds to your account. 

Roll your money over to an IRA. over to an 

IRA. If you roll over your 401(k) assets to an 

IRA, you’ll avoid paying immediate taxes, and 

your money can continue to grow tax-deferred. 

Furthermore, you can fund your IRA with many 

types of investments, as opposed to a 401(k), 

which may offer only a handful of choices. And 

when you can afford it, you can make additional 

contributions to your IRA. Also, when you 

retire, you may find that an IRA gives you more 

flexibility in making withdrawals than a 401(k). 

While there are some clear benefits to keeping 

your 401(k) with your former employer or moving 

it to an IRA, neither choice helps you answer 

the question of how you’ll make it, financially 

speaking, until you’re working again. If you’ve 

built up a cash cushion in the preceding years, you 

can turn to it now, of course. And if you’ve created 

an investment portfolio outside your 401(k), take a 

close look at it. You can consider adjusting your 

investment mix to add more income-producing 

investments, if appropriate. Keep in mind that 

your portfolio should reflect your risk tolerance, 

long-term goals and time horizon. 

A layoff is never easy, and it can force you to 

make some tough choices. But if you can help 

protect your 401(k) today, you’ll be helping 

yourself tomorrow. 

Editor’s note: This article was written by David 

Amann of Edward Jones for use by The Spectrum 

Magazine. 

Senior Activities 

The Veterans Memorial Senior 

Center, 1455 Madison Ave., 

Redwood City, provides the 

following activities that are open 

to the public during the month of 

November. 

Friday Movies for Everyone 

Every Friday, 1:15 p.m. 

Come to the VMSC in November for a free 

featured movie in our state-of-the-art movie 

theater! 

Nov. 6: “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” 

Nov. 13: “My Life in Ruins” 

Nov. 20: “The Proposal” 

Nov. 27: No movie (holiday) 

Veterans Celebration 

Friday, Nov. 13, 6–9 p.m. 

$10 general admission 

Join us for a special evening honoring our U.S. 

military veterans. Program will consist of a nohost 

bar to benefit the VMSC, appetizers and a 

special USO presentation by the Singing Blue 

Stars of the USS Hornet. For more information or 

to sign up, please call Christina at 650-780-7343. 

Thanksgiving Gathering Luncheon 

Thursday, Nov. 19, 12–1:15 p.m. 

Redwood Room 

$8 per person 

Spend an afternoon at the VMSC and celebrate 

the blessings in your life with your VMSC 

friends. This special luncheon will provide a full 

Thanksgiving feast along with entertainment and 

a few surprises. 

Before & After: The Life of a Soldier 

Presented by Henry Hensleigh 

Thursday, Nov. 19, 1–2 p.m. 


Free 

Join us for a fascinating and inspiring 

presentation from a decorated World War II 

veteran who will share his story of fighting in five 

major battles and his life after the war. 

Senior Center Decoration Day 

Monday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. 


Free 

Get into the holiday spirit by decorating the 

VMSC with your friends and family. A winterthemed 

extravaganza will take over the room and 

lobby of the VMSC! Complimentary pizza lunch 

will be provided for those who volunteer. No signup 

required! 

Save the Date! 

Holiday Gift Bag Assembly 

Monday, Dec. 7, 9:30–11 a.m. 


Free 

Celebrate the holiday season by helping seniors 

and children in need throughout the community. 

Volunteers are needed to assemble gift bags that 

will be delivered to homebound seniors and a 

local children’s center. Coffee, hot cider and 

breakfast goodies will be complimentary to all 

who volunteer. No sign-up required. 

Beating Those Holiday Blues 

Thursday, Dec. 10, 1–2 p.m. 

Sunset Room 

Free 

We are told that the holidays are a time of joy and 

happiness. But if that’s the case, how come so 

many of us feel blue? This lecture will talk about 

the holiday blues and provide tools for working 

through them. 

West Bay Community Band Holiday 

Concert 

Saturday, Dec. 12, 7–9 p.m. 

Theatre 

$10 early-bird reservations, $15 at door 

The VMSC is happy to welcome back the West 

Bay Community Band for a very special holiday 

concert. Enjoy a no-host bar 7–7:30 p.m., with the 

concert starting promptly at 7:30 p.m. To receive 

the discounted price of $10, please call 650-780- 

7264 and your name will be placed on our VIP 

will-call list. If your name is not on the list, your 

cost will be $15 at the door. 

To learn more about the Veterans Memorial 

Senior Center, call 650-780-7270. Redwood City 

Parks, Recreation and Community Services 

Department provides recreational facilities and 

activities for all ages and interests, and supplies 

building and custodial services for city buildings. 

Redwood City Parks also operates the Veterans 

Memorial Senior Center and the Fair Oaks 

Community Center, providing social, educational 

and cultural activities, as well as information, 

referral and counseling services to persons living 

in Redwood City and neighboring communities. 

Redwood City Parks is more than you think! Its 

Web site is located at www.redwoodcity.org/parks. 


A Minute With: Paul Sanfilipo 

Paul Sanfilipo was born in San Francisco and moved to Redwood City at the ripe old age of 6 

months. He has been a complete local boy since then and attended Mt. Carmel School, Sequoia 

High School, College of San Mateo, Cañada College and San Jose State University. 

He has been in the mortgage financing industry for 32 years and owns the Redwood City–based 

American Coast Mortgage. 

Paul is very community-minded and is involved with the Peninsula Celebration Association, the 

Miss America organization (including Miss Redwood City), Sequoia High School Alumni Association, 

the Elks Lodge and the Optimists. He was elected to the Redwood City City Council in 1997 and 

served one term. 

His hobbies include singing, dancing, and playing and watching baseball and basketball. 

Do you miss being on the City Council? 

Yes. 

Worst thing about it? 

Lack of speed for things getting done. 

Best thing about it? 

Working for the community. 

Which living person do you most admire? 

Loan officer who trained me. 

Election Day makes me feel? 

Proud to be free to make choices. 

What talent would you most like to have? 

Play the piano. 

Something few know about you? 

I raced a cable car on foot in San Francisco and 

beat it! 

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? 

I’ll get to it. 

Favorite song? 

“Quando, Quando, Quando” 

Favorite movie? 

“It’s a Wonderful Life” 

What is your motto? 

Tell the truth. 

Thing you cannot handle? 

People who don’t tell the truth. 

What will you be remembered for in 100 years? 

Someone who always wanted to help others. 

Anyone you got on your mind? 

My parents. 

Memorable moment? 

Singing at Harvey’s in Lake Tahoe, Silver Slipper 

in Las Vegas. 

First word that comes to mind? 

Hello. 

I still can’t believe? 

I’m answering these questions! 

What is your idea of perfect happiness? 

Being at peace with my surroundings. 

What or who is the love of your life? 

My immediate and extended family. 

You currently feel? 

Happy to be alive. 



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