the whole idea of a legal defense fund is great! although there have been no charges brought forward yet, i'm sure when they do come, these 3 will definitely need very good attorneys. after all they've been stealing from the city and the "kids" they helped so much for so many years, the hole they've dug for themselves is gonna be deep! i'm just glad to know that none of my money will be wasted defending these criminals.

Dear How Appropriate (perhaps more aptly called "Rush to Judgment") -

I too am glad none of YOUR money will be used in their defense.

The fund is a great idea and I thank Suzi, Beth and Mac.

Judy Faltz

> I too am glad none of YOUR money
> will be used in their defense.

If anyone of those who is ultimately accused ends up with a public defender--then ALL OF US will be contributing our money to each of that person's defense.

Indeed - that's how our system of justice works: all are entitled to a proper defense, the poor as well as the rich.

FYI: The two directors of the children's theater with $300k in revenues make $100k each.

If these were paupers, I would agree.

However, these were on good salaries and are still being paid.

We do not want a Mark Geragos or high profile career establishing defence type lawyer.

Any ordinary person in a similar situation would have to pay for their own defence. These people were doing their jobs, getting paid. I do not think they are a charity case.

Perhaps they should be raising "tens of thousands of dollars" to replace the money that was stolen from the theater instead of defending one or more thieves.

Is it me? Or are some missing the point?

Some people have these 3 Guilty.. Without even hearing the whole story. Without the investigation even being finished. No chance for the 3 CITY EMPLOYEE"S to tell there side, there STORY...

The public is then asked to help these people FIGHT THE CITY.

For the City is too big and powerful to fight. It is. They use your money to become this way.



How many times,by how many people do YOU have to hear that the CITY of Palo ALTO might be over the edge/top of treating there EMPLOYEE's fair and equally? And then some...

The ""POINT"" IS THIS NOT THE PROBLEM??
That People,Citizen's, Employee's have to fight for this right. The right to work in peace without being harrassed and attacked. For starters..

Having to ask the PUBLIC for help, Help to be treated fairly and above the Law at the Legal standard?
In a consistant, human way , for starters, again.
Having to ask help to ask not to become CPA roadkill like the rest.

Some get help? Some get no help,
A GIFT TO THE CPA GODS... I guess..

Maybe some City Employee's are worth fighting for and some NOT??

er, Fireman, cool off & hose yourself down. This isn't a case of "the city did the employees wrong". It's a case of "one or more employees MIGHT be ALLEGEDLY guilty of theft". Big difference.

It's hilarious that people are ready to throw money into...what?? They don't know, exactly. Defending a crook? Defending an innocent bystander? We don't know until the police complete their investigation.

Why not set your money aside in your own piggybank until the facts are known? If there is overwhelming evidence against someone, would you still defend them? Does your answer depend on how much you admire them?

""The City did the Employee wrong"" No one knows what the story is yet?
By past action it seems no one seems to think much of the stories that have been coming from the CITY?? Seems they have several stories per issue?

Seems like the City needs to hose itself down and cool off, or at least the people who pull the strings for the CITY..

People I think would like to know or feel that there City leaders will get the right story. The real story. I would guess not many do?

For less than 81 million......And please do not put it on the web page.. Quick before the over flowing storm drains and creek wash all the evidence away..

Have you been following some of the stories City Employee's have been telling or trying to tell? Now what was that Lady's name??? The one before Brandon. Both after myself. The Gentlemans name who Emily took under her wing??

Ever work of the CPA??? 1 day,3 weeks, 20 years?

Now is the City always wrong... NO It is not... Does the CITY do good things. YES..I loved working there for 12 years or so. I owe lots to the CPA/PAFD Do Employee's Do wrong.. Yes everyday.. Are we all people.. Yes.. Do we all make mistakes Yes.. Are there great people working in the CPA.. You Bet..

These are not the issues. What happens after these mistakes are made are the issue.
Who gets a second chance, Who gets off and who goes down and how far and hard they fall. Are the issue.
These Issues are.....Part of the whole problem..

ack! Apologies to everyone for having engaged. Will know better next time.

Misguided fool...
Please do not play that game.. If they have to listen to me. Then they have to listen to all..LOL... Right..

Please step back just a little and look at the whole picture. Not just a small part.

It is your City and you should be heard.

MF, when you go on a trip, a jorney. Do you listen to someone who has made the Jorney before you?? At least with a grain of salt? If you know of someone who has been there or tried. Do you seek them out to ask any questions? What it was like..

I am/was not asking for people to beleive me.. NO... Just to hear me is what I was asking for.
Then you can make your judgement.
I think many Employee's just need the right to be heard.

The City can take your voice away. If you do not think this. I do not know what to tell you.

The City has Billions to fight with. All the Lawyers there can ever need and want. Control the rules.. That is the breaker. I think it is called dealing from the bottum of the deck? Marked Cards?

The employee/public has what... Not much when you are looking down the barrel of a loaded city.

They do not even want to write anything down.. Remember?

MF

Maybe "" Defending one or more thieves""Replace the money that was stolen"" Might be a little HOT. Without all the evidence?

Hey its just my thought.. MF.. I am a crazy fool.. Listen to them. Want to read my story?

I think they feel the fund is needed for buying the space/avenue for there voices to be heard.. Above a whisper. With out the City Attourney covering peoples ears.

It has been my experience with the CPA. That if you go on a trip to find truth and justice with the CPA. It will cost you more than anyone can ever dream. More than it should.
They will do and spend all they have to.. It is not the money of the people who are hiding there actions and misdealings. It is yours.

MF
Take a look at who is defending themselves with public funds. Defending there actions and there leadership skills. With public funds. Defending there way of doing Business the CPA way. With the PUBLIC's money.

A real look, a close look.

Just follow the green back road. It will lead you to a place many have tried to keep you from finding.

Go through the smoke... It is there if you want it... It just cost huge amounts of money for the truth to see the light in... THE CITY OF PALO ALTO

Say what you want.... Remember someone might ask to see your proof..

I have been trying to find someone who cares about the truth in the CPA staff and leadership...... No one is home.. There are in the house. They just do not want to open the door and face the PUBLIC..
See it is too hard to make the rules when outside people are watching.... So just pretend no one is home.
Maybe no one is really there???
They left with COMMON SENSE.. Retired early, it just became too hard to stomach what has been going on for far too long. In Palo Alto

Question; How many good employee's have left,where forced out or retired early in the CPA??
Answer; Far too many.
Seems lots of good Employee's left/are gone to make room for the not so good ones??

MF, Hope,pray, wear garlic around your neck. Do anything you can and hope you never end up where these 3 people are, a long with many others good. CPA Employee's have been.
You will need all the money you can get your hands on.
How much Public money/funds do you think these people will spend keeping there ego's fat&happy. To protect there power, meal ticket.
And to do this they must get you to believe them.
Do not be fooled, ask to see both hands.. Ask them to write it down.. Good Luck

What will be done with the money raised if no wrongdoing is found?

I'm proud to say that I have donated to the defense fund. These city employees have been placed on apparently indefinite leave while the police department investigates a POSSIBLE crime. It is only common sense for any "person of interest" to be represented by a good quality criminal defense attorney during the questioning and investigative period.

I am only personally acquainted with Pat Briggs, and have been since she first joined PACT in 1962. I was one of the "alumni" for whom the Theatre was a second home and Pat a second mother -- one of the first of literally thousands of Palo Alto children whom Pat and the other Theatre employees have guided and taught over the 46 years since. I have absolute faith in Pat's honesty and will continue to support her in any way I am able.

I'm disgusted by all those whose postings seem to assume that an investigation is tantamount to a guilty verdict. Shame on you!

Lyn,

Will you still feel the same if the police find something that says that they did steal? I just wonder if the love for the theater is as blind as it seems. I agree that they are innocent until proven guilty, but I don't quite understand the many comments claiming that they were done wrong by the city. They are being paid and obviously there must be something that shows that they possibly did something wrong or they would not have been placed on leave or whatever they call it. I don't think that one should come to a conclusion either way until the investigation is complete, right?

Palo Alto Parent:

"What will be done with the money raised if no wrongdoing is found?"

Well, I hope it will be used to take down PD Chief Lynne Johnson, City Attorney Gary Baum, HR director Russ Carlsen and CM Frank Benest (although he's already on the way out!).

For all posters on this thread, if you haven't been the victim of the "Palo Alto Process", you have no basis to speak.

I have.

I've contributed.

Have you?

Albert,

I regret to inform you that you are dead.

palo alto is awesome.

Palo Alto is SPINELESS.

To Fireman,

Do you notice that no one really responses to any of your posts. It is because you are all over the place! No one cares really cares either.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Children,

The whole theater thing has really polarized the community. We normally look the other way when city hall gives no-bid contracts, pays high salaries across the board, spends half a million dollars on a website... in other words, we don't care about lots of important things.

But for some reason, we all have to chime in on an ONGOING investigation. If you are being publicly investigated, many people are going to assume that something fishy is up. That's natural. What we need to be careful of is prejudging before the facts come in.

If the people being investigated are your friends, that doesn't mean they didn't do anything wrong. And if they are not your friends, that doesn't mean that they did anything wrong.

I think we all can agree on something... someone had their hand(s) in the cookie jar and we are going to find out.

Until then, the only facts I know are that the two directors make $100k each and that some equipment has been stolen. Until then, i'm holding judgment.

Gene, if you had worked for the same company for over forty-five years, and you worked days and nights until late, and most weekends and no every other Friday off - and you had college degrees in your expertise - and you got a few weeks vacation every year, what would YOU be making, presuming you are not working at McDonald's! As for your remark about "someone had their hand(s) in the cookie jar, howabout signing your name so that when all of this is over, you could be sued for libel.

Gene,

Right On!!!

Tim... You might not care.... But I think some do....Again Tim there are so many scams and cover ups that is is hard to get them all straight.
Also the truth or the story you are told. Is so distorted to hide and mislead the public. To cover up the trail that they leave. That it is very hard to follow.

One fast way.... FOLLOW THE MONEY>>>> What do you have to say about the written truth.. Yes the written trail that you and others are too fearful to follow. To fearful to hear

Steve is that ""HAD or HAS"" there fingers in the cookie jar..??

Also... As said before, here.. I have no dog in this fight...

I just hate to see a dog thrown into the pit with no chance.

Arms and legs chainned. With tape wrapped around its jaws. So not to make any noise..
Seems you are OK with this...

How would you respond.. Do you think the CITY wants TO RESPOND??

If they where/are righht and none of this is true. Do you not think they might stand up and address these issues in public.
In a open forum...

Who is hiding?? ME or THE CITY?????

I am right here... Give me a time and date ..LETS HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL IPO in PA...
MY FACTS VS YOUR/There FACTS... Maybe with enough people looking the real facts might some how slip out?