All you can eat, vegan-style
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WEEKEND | 20
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California Newspaper Publishers Association
JULY 1, 2016 VOLUME 24, NO. 23
www.MountainViewOnline.com
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Council backs plan to close Castro at train tracks quent, said Councilman Chris Clark. “Rengstorff and Castro — n a decision with big impacts for the city’s scenic down- they’re disasters right now. Doing town, the Mountain View nothing is not an option; it’s only City Council backed plans to going to be getting worse,” he close Castro Street to car traffic said. “I get that closing Castro sounds bad, but when you look at the Caltrain crossing. In a 5-2 vote at a special meet- at other options, this is the only ing held Wednesday, June 22, the one we can fully control.” The decision was a personal council gave its support to a $45 million package to counterbal- matter for many downtown busiance the road closure by build- ness leaders, who described the ing a new underpass for cyclists street closure as a threat to their and pedestrians across Central livelihoods. Business groups, Expressway and the train cor- including the city’s Central Busiridor, as well as improvements to ness Association and Chamber of Commerce, urged reroute vehicle traffic council members to along Evelyn Avenue. At the late-night ‘I may be a delay the decision for further studies. meeting, a large showThe relationing of Castro Street simpleton ship between local business owners and representatives on this, but political and business leaders suffered urged the council to delay the decision I need to see a similar setback earthis year when the for fear the closure the data.’ lier council spearheaded would harm the city’s a regional push for a vibrant downtown COUNCILMAN $15 minimum-wage dining hub. But counJOHN MCALISTER increase. Local mercil members asserted chants and restaurathey needed to provide the “high-level” direction to teurs are still coping with that guide other upcoming improve- cost increase, said Julie Smiley of ments for the city’s downtown the Central Business Association. “Cutting the artery to the transit center and infrastructure. The city still needs to conduct heart of downtown would be a significant analysis for the proj- detriment to the business comect, and construction is expected munity,” she said. “Don’t make a to be years away. The full project decision on this until there (are) is unlikely to be completed until more detailed business studies.” In preparation for the Wednes2021, according to a city traffic day meeting, the city comconsultant. Council members defended missioned a $30,000 economic their decision as the most sen- study that gave very general sugsible and manageable solution gestions for defraying business for a troublesome intersection impacts. Among its key findings, where trains, motorists, cyclists the report gave assurances that the Castro Street district could and pedestrians converge. Redesigning the track cross- persevere through a prolonged ings at Castro Street and at construction project. But many business owners Rengstorff Avenue, another notorious spot, would soon made it clear they felt the report become a necessity as the rail was downplaying the potential corridor begins seeing trains See CASTRO, page 12 that are faster and more freBy Mark Noack
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INSIDE
NATALIA NAZAROVA
GO FOURTH AND HAVE FUN The Midpeninsula has so many options for Fourth of July festivities, from Mountain View’s signature fireworks show and San Francisco Symphony concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre to Redwood City’s grand parade, Palo Alto’s chili cook-off and Woodside’s old fashioned, western-style Junior Rodeo. Our round-up of local options starts on page 17.
Matichak joins City Council race PLANNING COMMISSIONER HIGHLIGHTS QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUES IN HER ELECTION BID By Mark Noack
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ou nta i n’s View’s upcoming City Council election just got more competitive: Planning Commissioner Lisa Matichak said she intends to file her first official documents late this week to run for one of four open seats in November. Returning for another attempt after an u nsuccessful 2014 campaign, M a t i c h a k , Lisa Matichak 59, said she believes her platform of quality-of-life issues and balanced
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growth will find new resonance with voters at a time when Mountain View is undergoing rapid change. At the top of her priority list is preserving Mountain View’s “second to none” status as a pleasant place for residents, meaning ample parks, limited traffic and development that is more rigorously scrutinized. “I’m running because I really care about Mountain View and I’m passionate about making it a great place to live,” she said. “The city is growing and evolving, but we can’t lose sight of what makes it a great place to live.” This could be seen as a pivotal time for Mountain View, as city officials promote hous-
ing growth, especially in the heart of the North Bayshore tech center, in an attempt to mitigate what many describe as a severe jobs-housing imbalance. But while the city’s development is surging, many residents say the local housing market has become increasingly inhospitable for those with modest incomes. Average housing rental prices have gone up by 50 percent in the last five years. During the 2014 election, Matichak opposed housing growth in North Bayshore over concerns it could harm the baylands wildlife habitat. But today she acknowledges her See MATICHAK, page 7