Publication Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Bringing pride to Palo Alto's streets
Bringing pride to Palo Alto's streets
(January 26, 2005) Café owner heralds plan to help the homeless
by Bill D'Agostino
A section of Caracas, Venezuela known as Los Palos Grande has at least two obvious similarities to Palo Alto -- they're both affluent regions whose names mean something akin to "large tree."
Jean Paul Coupal, the gregarious owner of Palo Alto's Coupa Café, is trying to add one more commonality: he wants to start a program in Palo Alto where homeless adopt downtown blocks.
Although city officials and other merchants are skeptical, Coupal -- who opened the Venezuelan coffee shop eight months ago on Ramona Street -- is aiming to start the worker program, which he's tentatively titled "Project Pride Palo Alto," on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.
In return for tending plants and cleaning streets, the homeless man or woman would receive tips, clothing and food, explained Coupal, who divides his time between Palo Alto and Caracas.
As envisioned by the cafe owner, the program would clean up the messy areas of downtown, reduce panhandling and give local homeless a sense of pride.
"They're going to build up a relationship with the businesses in the area," Coupal said, comparing downtown Palo Alto to a garden in need of tending.
The city sweeps the downtown streets once a week but between that time trash and dirt build up, especially from the nearby bars, Coupa manager Brady Barksdale noted. "Seven days a week, I want my place to look pretty."
"The city wants to clean that up, the merchants want to clean that up, but the question is, who's going to do it?" asked Norman Carroll, who recently moved off the streets into the Palo Alto Hotel, courtesy of the regional "Housing First" program. He is working with Coupal on the Pride program, and has contributed numerous ideas.
Others are also in favor, hoping it could lead to permanent employment or at least good word-of-mouth.
"After you do Craigslist-handyman stuff, you don't have a lot of references," said Scott Burgess, also a new Palo Alto Hotel resident.
Downtown merchants working alongside Coupal are supportive but hesitant, wanting firmer facts before committing
"The details are kind of sketchy right now," said Marc Dickow, the owner of Jungle Digital Imaging. An official with the City of Palo Alto echoed that notion, saying it was too early to tell what role the city would play.
"What happens in other countries is not necessarily relevant to what can happen here, legally," noted Bell's Books owner Faith Bell.
But Coupal is primed and ready to go. "This is all going to get done without paperwork, without bureaucracy," he said, expressing impatience with constant committee meetings that lead to no results.
Told Coupal is aiming to begin the program on Feb. 14, Bell laughed.
"Knowing Jean Paul, he might," she said. "He's going to just plow it on through."
Staff Writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com.
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