Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What $33 million in cuts could mean for Palo Alto schools

You won't want to miss Improving Soil Health on the Palo Alto Patch calendar

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Friday August 21st Patch AM
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Morning Palo Alto! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What $33 million in cuts could mean for Palo Alto schools
  • How a court just reshaped downtown Palo Alto housing and parking plans
  • How Palo Alto's new 'living levee' could reshape Bay flood protection

Also on today's calendar: Improving Soil Health and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is full of holes but still holds water? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Clouds giving way to sun, with a high of 77 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 81, low: 57.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. School board faces deep cuts to budget (padailypost.com) — Palo Alto Unified School District is staring down $33 million in budget cuts next year, putting layoffs and program reductions squarely on the table. Trustees and the new superintendent are weighing reserve transfers, a possible parcel tax revote, and strategies to keep cuts away from classrooms as much as possible before layoff deadlines hit in March.
   

2. Court ruling boosts Palo Alto's efforts to build housing on downtown lot (paloaltoonline.com) — A new court ruling clears the way for Palo Alto and nonprofit Alta Housing to build a 72-unit affordable housing complex on downtown Lot T, replacing a public parking lot. The decision also supports the city's broader plan for nearly 290 below-market units and a new replacement parking garage.
   

3. A New Type of Levee Is Taking Root in Northern California (goodmenproject.com) — A new "horizontal levee" at Palo Alto's Baylands Nature Preserve is testing a greener way to protect the shoreline from rising seas while improving habitat and water quality. Researchers will study how the living levee handles flooding, supports wildlife like endangered salt-marsh harvest mice, and filters treated wastewater from the nearby treatment plant, potentially shaping future Bayfront protections.
   

4. Northern California course earns environmental designation (golfcourseindustry.com) — Baylands Golf Links in Palo Alto has earned Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary status, recognizing its efforts to protect wildlife habitat and water quality while maintaining strong playing conditions. Course superintendent Patrick Tuttle highlights ongoing work to balance golf with environmental stewardship that benefits the local ecosystem and community.
   

5. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan's official crash report finally released (nypost.com) — Palo Alto fire and police records detail the July 14 head‑on crash that seriously injured 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and temporarily shut down local traffic. The newly released report confirms airbags deployed, fluids spilled on the roadway, and medical details were redacted, while Shanahan has publicly accepted blame and since returned to coaching duties.
   

📸 Around Palo Alto

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Palo Alto

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Teleo posted a job opening for Logistics & Inventory Associate in Palo Alto. Apply here.
  • The Primary School posted a job opening for Associate Preschool Teacher 2024-2025 in Palo Alto. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Palo Alto here.

Ok Palo Alto! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A sponge (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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