Around Town Around Town (September 21, 2005)

BYE-BYE VHS ... It's the end of an era -- Palo Alto libraries are no longer purchasing videocassettes, but rather spending their resources exclusively on DVDs. The library's budget is stretched thin and its space is limited, according to a monthly library report shared with the City Council last week. Not everyone is happy with the decision, which also includes "phasing out" the videotapes already in the collection. One elderly woman recently wrote a letter to the city, noting she had a VHS player but is "not ready to spend my limited Social Security income on a DVD player."

HRC ACCEPTS OUTSOURCING ... The ongoing debate about how to oversee the Palo Alto Police Department came to a head at last week's Human Relations Commission meeting. The City Council recently asked the commission to consider monitoring the department by reviewing demographic data and new policies. Commissioners reluctantly accepted the idea, but some warned they lacked the time or the expertise. Two commissioners resigned partially due to the new role. In response to the criticism, City Manager Frank Benest offered a substitute plan -- let the commission continue to monitor demographic data, as it has in recent years, but turn over the responsibility to monitoring new policies to a new group of experts. Last week, the commission voted to recommend that new idea to the City Council. It also concurred with Benest's plan to have a third group -- made up of the city auditor, the city attorney and others -- review internal investigations of officers. Much of the ongoing police debate was prompted by a the controversial 2003 incident when two officers, Michael Kan and Craig Lee, beat and pepper-sprayed a black motorist, Albert Hopkins, who had committed no crime. A trial against the officers ended in a hung jury earlier this year. They accepted a plea bargain, pleading guilty to an infraction -- unlawfully fighting in public -- and the district attorney's office did not retry them. At the meeting last week, the commission considered a request from Commissioner Adam Atito to demand the officers not be allowed back on the street. Police Chief Lynne Johnson told the commission such an action was not legal, since they had not been convicted. The commission rejected Atito's idea. "I was concerned it would undermine our credibility because it simply can't go anywhere," Commissioner Jeffrey Blum said.

GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH JOE ... Former Palo Alto Mayor Joe Simitian, now a state senator, will hold a town hall forum on Saturday. "He invites residents of the 11th Senate District to bring their questions, comments, and concerns about state government," according to a press release. The meeting will be held Saturday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Palo Alto City Hall (250 Hamilton Ave.).

OOPS ... To err is human. Last week we had a very regrettable, and embarrassing, typo in our Health and Fitness section. We listed the date of our own annual Moonlight Run as Oct. 1. It's actually Oct. 14. You'll find the Baylands awfully lonely and dark on Oct. 1. The Palo Alto Weekly's 21st annual Moonlight run/walk starts at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14. Event night registration is from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at City of Palo Alto Baylands Athletic Center, Embarcadero & Geng Roads (just east of the Embarcadero Exit off Highway 101). Pregistration is $20 per entrant (postmarked by Oct. 7, 2005) and includes a long-sleeve T-shirt. Late/run night registration is $25 and includes a shirt only while supplies last. Awards and prizes are given to the top three finishers in each division. For more information or to register, log onto http://www.paloaltoonline.com/moonlight_run/index-registration.shtml.

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