Love yourself, love what you eat WEEKEND | 18 NOVEMBER 30, 2012 VOLUME 20, NO. 46
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MOVIES | 21
Bullis loses round in legal fight BATTLE BETWEEN CHARTER SCHOOL AND LOS ALTOS DISTRICT CONTINUES WITH NEW RULING By Nick Veronin
members in the ongoing districtcharter school dispute. he Los Altos School DisRaymond Cardozo, the district appears to be the trict’s lawyer, shared Mesel’s victor in the latest round sentiment. “I’m very pleased with of court decisions in its ongoing both rulings,” he said. legal battle with Bullis Charter But according to Arturo GonSchool. But if the history of this zalez, lawyer for Bullis, Mesel years-long disagreement over and Cardozo might not have long facilities allocation is any indi- to celebrate, as he is certain that cation, this is merely another both rulings will be overturned chapter in the dispute. by an appellate court. Before the pro-district par“There is no question that ent organization, the the trial court has Huttlinger Alliance, erred,” Gonzalez had even sent out a said. Trial courts ‘There is no are “over worked press release touting the decision, the and under-funded,” charter school’s legal question that he said. “They don’t team had already set the resources the trial court have appeals in motion to they used to have, challenge two sepaand from time to has erred.’ rate rulings recently time, judges make ARTURO GONZALEZ, handed down by mistakes.” ATTORNEY FOR BULLIS Superior Court Judge The way GonPatricia Lucas. zalez explains it, the The first of Lucas’ district is simply tryorders, filed on Nov. 13, compels ing to “intimidate Bullis Charter the charter school to turn over School and bully the parents” by information on donations it col- asking for information on donalected that might have been used tions collected by the charter to fund its legal team over the school to fund its legal costs. past four years and also levies a “In our view that information sanction of about $51,000 against is completely irrelevant and is Bullis. being sought only for harassThe second order, filed on Nov. ment and publicity purposes,” 21, denies Bullis’ attempt to force Gonzalez said. “The sanction is the district to provide Bullis with completely unjustified.” the facilities and equipment to The real issue, according to which officials from the char- Gonzalez, is that the district has ter school say they are legally not complied with an appeals entitled. court ruling from November “The ruling yesterday was a 2011, which instructed the dismajor win for LASD and a major trict to provide BCS with “reawin for the families whose chil- sonably equivalent” facilities. dren depend on LASD schools,” That’s not how LASD lawyer said Noah Mesel, a representative Raymond Cardozo sees things. for the Huttlinger Alliance — an He said that the district complied organization that says it represents the interests of community See BULLIS, page 8
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ON TRACK FOR HOLIDAY CROWDS
MICHELLE LE
A Mountain View holiday tradition is on again as resident Ernie Bianco brings his model trains out to his front yard for a display that always draws a crowd. Since 1977, Bianco and his son have run the model trains at 2387 Adele Ave., changing cars and trains daily on two tracks. The display can be seen every night except Mondays until Dec. 25, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., possibly staying out later as crowds grow. The Biancos take Monday nights off to watch football. More photos are on page 9
Council ponders big changes after slew of car-pedestrian collisions By Daniel DeBolt
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ouncil members finally weighed in on the community’s discussion of bike and pedestrian safety last week, with some members pushing for big changes, including narrower streets and 15 mile-perhour speed limits near schools. Council members made the comments in a Nov. 20 study session following months of community-wide discussion after three children were hit on the four-lane road in front of Graham Middle School in
INSIDE
recent months, and three pedestrians were struck and killed by cars on California Street and Shoreline Boulevard earlier this year. The most impassioned remarks came from council member Ronit Bryant. “We have lots of great plans, the time has come to move forward and do it,” Bryant said. “I would really like to see the schools and public works and the city and the neighborhood all working together. Studies are great, but let’s put stuff on the ground and let’s see how it works.”
Graham Principal Kim Thompson said she was motivated to speak in front of the council because three of her students were hit on the four-lane stretch of Castro Street in front of her school, a road seen by many as wide enough to encourage unsafe speeds. “I’ve never experienced anything quite like this,” Thompson told the council. “I was behind the car that hit one of my students, so I saw it happen. It’s a very short (stretch of road) See PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, page 6
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