Around Town Around Town (May 04, 2005)

COMMISSION OMISSION ... Everyone, we suppose, leaves out details in job interviews. Nancy Chillag, who applied for a spot on the Palo Alto Public Art Commission, left out a doozy last week. Chillag was previously a member of the Art Commission in Menlo Park, but resigned last August after the City Council repealed an ordinance forcing developers to pay a fee or install public art on their property. Palo Alto has for years considered such a fee. While interviewing the six commission candidates last Monday night, Councilwoman Hillary Freeman, apparently oblivious to Chillag's high-profile resignation, asked her if Menlo Park had a similar "percent for art" fee. Chillag told the story about how the council had one but rescinded it, but failed to mention her own notable role in the proceedings. Eventually, the entire commission resigned in protest, but she was the first. In her written application for the Palo Alto spot, Chillag mentioned that while on the Menlo Park commission she was "always jealous of the Palo Alto collection" because there's "something for everyone" and a diversity of artists. "I also like the fact that a number of pieces are controversial and prompt debate in the community," she wrote. The City Council was expected to appoint the four new members on Monday night; three commissioners reapplied but commission Chair Patrice Langevin decided against it.

SO WHY SO MANY SUV'S? ... It's easy being "green" in Palo Alto. In fact, public pressure almost demands it. The Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group's recent survey of county residents -- a survey used to drum up support for the troubled BART-to-San Jose project -- asked locals how many considered themselves environmentalists. Countywide, 25 percent said they were "strong" environmentalists, 44 percent said "moderate," and 31 percent said they were not environmentalists, according to survey results. But in Palo Alto, 35 percent said they were strong environmentalists, 48 percent said moderate and only 17 percent said no.

ZIPPITY DO DAH ... San Francisco's 94114 barely edged Palo Alto's 94301 in Forbes' annual list of the nation's most expensive Zip codes. The two Bay Area Zip codes were 90th and 91st respectively, with the median home in 94114 costing $915,812 in 2004 but the average residence in 94301 worth $915,129. Topping the list was Atherton's 94027, our neighbor to the north. The average home there cost $2,496,553 in 2004.

MIA FOR VTA ... At a public meeting held by the Valley Transportation Authority in Palo Alto last week, there were more VTA employees than members of the public in attendance. The group was so small Controller Susan Stark asked the four people who came to the Lucie Stern Community Center to sit in a semi-circle to hear the presentation. During her talk, it became clear why there were so few in attendance -- the VTA is not proposing any major service cuts or increases in its 69 bus routes or three light rail lines in Santa Clara County. Stark outlined the VTA's proposed $338.7 million budget for 2005-06. One of the biggest challenges for VTA, she explained, is the increasing cost of gas -- it costs the VTA $1 million for every 20 cents the cost of gas rises.

FROST WILL BE WARMER THIS WINTER ... Victor Frost, the bear-like homeless advocate and candidate for City Council who has lived on Palo Alto's streets for seven years has found a home. Frost, who maintains a sidewalk spot next to Whole Foods' parking lot, moved into the Palo Alto Hotel two weeks ago through the regional Housing First program. The multi-agency program, coordinated through Catholic Charities and the Alliance for Community Care, removes the stressor of life on the streets by providing housing first. Other issues, such as drug abuse, mental illness and employment are addressed later. "The management is cool; the room is small and clean. It's strange to be in a bed, and getting rid of my accumulative hypothermia," he said, holding up reddened hands. "This is a springboard to get my life together." He is currently working his book, "Love on the Tracks," and plans to run again for the council this year from his new home. Frost will pay $50 each month to InnVision for the room, he said.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.