Winter Class Guide PAGE 23 DECEMBER 6, 2013 VOLUME 21, NO. 45
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23andMe faces class action suit AFTER FDA WARNING LETTER, WOMAN ACCUSES COMPANY OF ‘MISLEADING’ PRACTICES By Nick Veronin
T COURTESY CITY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
A new luxury apartment complex at 100 Moffett Blvd. got the City Council’s OK. This rendering shows the view from Castro Street.
Prometheus gets OK for apartments NEIGHBORS LOSE FIGHT OVER PARKING FOR LUXURY UNITS NEAR TRAIN STATION By Daniel DeBolt
T
he City Council on Tuesday approved a 184unit luxury apartment project for one of the city’s busiest intersections, despite outcry from neighbors who fear increased numbers of cars parking on their streets. Replacing a Santa Clara County-owned social services office and health clinic at 100 Moffett Boulevard and Central Expressway is another luxury
apartment project by Prometheus Real Estate Group. Prometheus officials say it will be similar in its level of luxury to the Madera complex at 455 West Evelyn Ave., where occupancy is near 100 percent and monthly rents are advertised between $3,502 and $8,000 — yes, $8,000 — for oneand two-bedroom apartments. Like Madera, the complex will be built over an underground garage and range from two to four stories in height, with
stoops facing the street and public walkways bisecting the site and its courtyards. Council members voted 5-2 to approve the project, with members Jac Siegel and John McAlister opposed. Both expressed sympathy for neighbors’ parking concerns. Other council members said the complex would be a benefit to the neighborhood. In their complaints, neighSee PROMETHEUS, page 10
he local biotech firm, clearance or approval in viola23andMe, which captured tion of the Federal Food, Drug the spotlight for selling and Cosmetic Act.” DNA sequencing kits directly “Specifically, the FDA is conto consumers, was hit with a cerned with the unsubstantiatclass action lawsuit less than a ed medical claims being made week after the by 23andMe,” Food and Drug FDA spokesAdministration woman Susan ‘We still do demanded it Laine said in an cease marketing email. “Results not have any its flagship prodfrom this test uct. lead conassurance that may First came the sumers to make letter from the major medical the firm has FDA. Signed decisions that Nov. 22 by analytically or may be irreAlberto Gutiversible without errez, director clinically validated input from a of the Office of qualified health the PGS for its Invitro Diagnoscare professiontics and Radiointended uses.’ al.”Then came the logical Health at the Center ALBERTO GUTIERREZ, FDA OFFICIAL lawsuit. Filed on for Devices and Nov. 27 by Lisa Radiological Casey in the U.S. Health, the letDistrict Court, ter warned the company that Southern District of California, it was marketing its “Saliva the suit cites “unfair business Collection Kit and Personal See 23ANDME, page 8 Genome Service (PGS) without
Taqueria La Bamba evicted, La Costeña relocates EPICENTER OF BURRITO SCENE TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW BUILDING By Daniel DeBolt
A
fter a court dispute with an affordable housing developer over relocation expenses, Taqueria La Bamba is being evicted this week from its longtime location at 2058 Old Middlefield Way. Owner Leo Muñoz said that
INSIDE
ROEM development corporation Eden Housing — the affordable housing developers the City Council picked to build 48 studio apartments on the site — backed out of a deal to help relocate the taqueria last week. A ROEM official denied Muñoz’s charge. “I can tell you our goal has
always been and still is to relocate 100 percent of all the tenants fairly and under the requirements of the project,” ROEM’s Derek Allen said Monday. The City Council had required that ROEM also relocate 48 apartment residents and sevSee LA BAMBA, page 13
VIEWPOINT 18 | GOINGS ON 34 | MARKETPLACE 36 | REAL ESTATE 38
MICHELLE LE
Oscar Muñoz, co-owner of La Bamba Taqueria, packs up his restaurant Dec. 2, the day before he is evicted.