I second your notion Carol and thank you John for voicing what I couldn't put into words so well!
   
  Not that long ago we DID have a meeting with the Menlo Park Police after the shooting at the market. In my opinion, the police have been very responsive to this community. Some of you on this list may recall that meeting - the statistics showed that there had really not been an increase in crime in the Willows compared to previous years - it seems that since we are all just more aware of it due to this email group. And at that meeting, I was appalled at the attitude about judging who does or does not look like they belong in the Willows - the ugly head of racism was all around me.
   
  Unfortunately, we live in a culture (America) where guns and violence are not seriously discouraged and disregard for other people's property has become common. It is a shame, but that is the way of our world. If I had my way, NOONE would have a gun. Period. But since I am not in charge, I can only say that I am saddened by what I see on the news (both local and national) and I don't think Menlo Park suffers as badly as other parts of the Bay Area. Not to say we should accept it, but I'm not sure that building a wall around us is the answer.
   
  My two cents. Caren Weinstein
   
  Carol Fitzgerald <weddings@carolfitzgerald.com> wrote:
          BRAVO John! I couldn't agree more, and with your entire message. Thank you for your eloquence and wisdom.
  

  Carol Fitzgerald
  
    On May 17, 2007, at 2:59 PM, John J Geibel wrote:

    
  I think that all of you are putting far too much into this episode. Yes it is frightening to have this happen nearby. And yes we all want a safe neighborhood for our families. But we are far safer in this neighborhood than when driving on the freeway. My daughter, wife, and a friend were driving back from SF the other day and just missed a tire that came over the divider on the freeway. The car behind her hit it and it flew 30 feet into the air and went over to on coming traffic where it caused a series of accidents and brought the whole freeway to a stop. Let us keep things in proportion. We all stand a much greater risk of being killed on the freeways then by being shoot to death in the neighborhood.
   
   Please do not consider any rash actions in response to the shooting. Over the last 30 years the area has become much safer. Also the police where right on top of this and caught the guys. That will go a long way toward keeping these kinds of activities to a minimum. Cell phones are great in this respect. The minute that we observe illegal activities, we can call 911 and report it. So stay allert and call the police when you do see illegal activities. Practice reading and remembering license numbers. It is good for the brain and helps if you ever witness activities like this.
   
  I also agree with the Mesters. The statements about East Palo Alto boarder on profiling and are racist which all of the liberals out there should find troubling and unacceptable.
  
 
    John J. Geibel - Statbio
   

  ----- Original Message ----
From: Ann Ryals <ryalshousehold@mac.com>
To: mester <Mester@relgyro.stanford.edu>
Cc: WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com; willows_neighborhood@yahoogroups.com; willows_block_captains@yahoogroups.com; city.council@menlopark.org; willowsmomsandbabes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 8:54:43 PM
Subject: [willows_neighborhood] Re: [willowsmomsandbabes] For All Concerned About the Chester Street Shooting

    Thank you so much! That has been a concern of mine looking at the response to a very frightening reality. My daughter's boyfriend's family lives in East Palo Alto along with many similar wonderful families who have to (and have had to for some while) live with this reality.
  

  I think it would be great to have a coalition of our communities working together both for the welfare of our families and for the future of the youth who have been ensnared in a lifestyle where violence is an acceptable form of self expression.
  

  Ann
    On May 15, 2007, at 9:51 AM, mester wrote:

          Dear All,

We have been away and just read the reports of the shooting this
weekend. We are grateful for the information circulated, and we are
relieved that no one, including the victim, was injured in this case.
We live on Arnold Way and have two small children. We enjoy taking
evening walks. Any of us might have been harmed or any of our
neighbors as well.

We too are frightened, angry and deeply concerned about the safety of
OUR streets, our children, and our neighborhood. Expedient AND
carefully considered steps must be made together to insure safety and
peace in our lives.

At the same time, statements such as "these people," "all the
residents involved were from East Palo Alto" and "protecting the
residents of the Willows...with street closures at the border" are
equally alarming and disturbing not to mention offensive and
incendiary. Are we to condemn an entire city and all its residents?
Is this what we wish to teach our children?

Let's remember many of the residents of East Palo Alto work in our
neighborhood, take care of our children and are our friends,
colleagues and valued members of our community. In searching for a
solution to the extremely troubling incidents that have occurred in
the Willows, let's not cloud the issue with blanket statements that
lead to even greater problems.

Let's find a way to work together and address the root issues here
which have more to do with the presence and threat of guns in our
community, the fear of related violence and criminal activity
REGARDLESS of residency of the victims or perpetrators, and the basic
need for safety in our neighborhood and the surrounding communities
than the need to exile an ill-defined enemy in the form of "these
people of East Palo Alto."

We believe directly involving the East Palo Alto Police Department,
the East Palo Alto city council and the East Palo Alto community will
improve our chances of finding a solution that works for everyone.
It can be done without violence and hatred and walls.

Sincerely,

The Mesters

>Thank you Terry for the report.
>
>
>
>Quite frankly it does not matter to me whether this is gang related or
>domestic violence. The fact is these people were racing down my street and
>shooting a gun out of a car window a few feet from where my son was sitting
>in our home, in front of his bedroom window doing his homework.
>
>
>
>He could easily have been the victim in this case.
>
>
>
>Are we going to wait until one of our children is killed by a stray bullet
>before we see some action from the City in mitigating how these people end
>up in our neighborhood?
>
>
>
>These shootings are no longer isolated incidents.
>
>
>
>Had there been no access down Chester Street from East Palo Alto this
>shooting would not have occurred at this intersection. All the people
>involved in this shooting lived in East Palo Alto. It is a straight get-away
>for them to drive down Chester to Willow and disappear.
>
>
>
>It is time for us as a neighborhood to put a stop to the easy get away
>routes and cut through traffic that traverses the Willows. I highly doubt
>that the Vintage Oaks or Felton Gables neighborhoods have domestic violence
>and gang related (as was the case on Laurel) shootings occurring on their
>streets. It is time that the City steps up to the plate and protects the
>residents of the Willows by eliminating the spill over crime from East Palo
>Alto with street closures at the border.
>
>
>
>I plan to co-ordinate a meeting very soon.
>
>Please contact me off line: thprop@earthlink.net if anyone is interested so
>I gauge interest and find a suitable venue.
>
>
>
>Penelope
>
>903 Arnold Way
>
>(650) 281-8028
>
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
>From: WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com
>[mailto:WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Molakides,
>Terri W
>Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 3:41 PM
>To: WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com
>Cc: willows_block_captains@yahoogroups.com;
>WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RE: [WillowsNeighborhoodWatch] RE: [willows_neighborhood] incident
>on Chester?
>
>
>
>All-
>
>
>
>Last night, May 12, 2007 at 8:53 p.m., a shooting occurred on the 400 block
>of Chester in the Willows. Quick thinking residents called Police Dispatch
>(9-1-1) to report gunshots being fired from one vehicle towards another
>vehicle and provided an excellent vehicle description. The suspect vehicle
>was described as a White Jeep Cherokee, and was last seen traveling
>westbound on Arnold.
>
>
>
>This information was provided to responding police units and a few minutes
>later Menlo Park Officer Douglas saw a vehicle matching the description in
>the area of Willow Rd and Middlefield Rd. When Officer Douglas attempted to
>stop the vehicle, the driver failed to yield and continued north on
>Middlefield. The driver finally yielded to the police at Middlefield and
>Oak Grove. All of the occupants of the suspect vehicle were arrested and
>booked into San Mateo County Jail on a number of charges related to the
>shooting. Also recovered in the vehicle was the handgun believed used in
>the assault.
>
>
>
>The victim of the shooting returned to her residence in East Palo Alto and
>reported the incident to the East Palo Alto Police Department. Although the
>victim did not receive any injuries, her vehicle was struck several times by
>bullets. This was not gang related, but a family disturbance. All parties
>were East Palo Alto residents.
>
>
>
>Great job to those who called in to the PD, without the calls it is doubtful
>that the suspects and weapon would have been located so quickly.
>
>
>
>Terri Molakides
>
>Menlo Park Police Department
>
>
>
> _____
>
>From: WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Penelope Huang
>Sent: Sun 5/13/2007 11:43 AM
>To: 'cmlawrence'
>Cc: 'Eric Johnson'; willows_block_captains@yahoogroups.com;
>WillowsNeighborhoodWatch@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WillowsNeighborhoodWatch] RE: [willows_neighborhood] incident on
>Chester?
>
>Hi Craig
>
>
>
>You are correct.
>
>
>
>There were 4 shots fired in the 300 block of Chester.
>
>The police found shells on the sidewalk on the east side of Chester Street
>close to the traffic circle at Arnold Way.
>
>There was also a lot of broken glass.
>
>The assumption is that someone shot out of the passenger window of a car, at
>another car driving northbound on Chester towards Willow Road.
>
>
>
>As you know we live across from you at the intersection of Chester and
>Arnold. My son was in his bedroom which is on the corner, sitting at his
>desk in front of the windows when the shots were fired. If this incident had
>happened just a few feet further towards the intersection he could have been
>killed by a stray bullet as he sat in his bedroom doing his homework.
>
>
>
>Enough is enough.
>
>
>
>This is the third shooting incident in as many months (a couple of weeks ago
>on Menalto Avenue gunshots were reported and an actual shooting on Laurel a
>couple of months ago). It is an accepted fact that crime follows traffic,
>while there remain easy get away routes such as the access to Willow Road
>down Chester, Durham, O' Keefe, Gilbert, I doubt we will see any reduction
>in this type of crime. This same sentiment was echoed as we were standing
>outside with the police.
>
>
>
>I think it is time for a neighborhood meeting to discuss this.
>
>Penelope
>
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
>From: willows_neighborhood@yahoogroups.com
>[mailto:willows_neighborhood@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of cmlawrence
>Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 10:50 AM
>To: willows_neighborhood@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [willows_neighborhood] incident on Chester?
>
>
>
>All,
>
>My wife and I heard what we thought were gunshots Saturday night
>(5/12) on Chester near Arnold. We noticed some police cars there a
>little later on.
>
>Anyone know what happened?
>
>Craig & Kim
>407 Chester
>
>

-- 
John Mester
Hansen Experimental Physics Lab
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
Phone 650-723-4227
Fax: 650-725-8312
Email: mester@relgyro.stanford.edu
  
  
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