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Red-light camera reforms vetoed by Gov. Brown

by Sandy Brundage

A bill sponsored by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, that passed the Legislature with wide bipartisan support got the governor's stamp of disapproval on Oct. 7.

Senate Bill 29 would have made it easier for wrongfully ticketed drivers to clear tickets, and would have created standards for camera warning sign placement and operation. It would have prohibited the use of the cameras for the purpose of raising revenue.

The legislation was a reintroduction of a bill the senator authored last year after San Jose resident Vera Gil suggested the legislation for his "There Oughta Be a Law" contest. She mistakenly got multiple red-light camera tickets for a stranger's car that had a nearly identical license plate.

Gov. Jerry Brown said in his veto message that rules for using red-light cameras should be overseen by local elected officials, not the state.

No council meeting

The Menlo Park City Council is taking Tuesday night, Oct. 11, off, following the Columbus Day holiday. But they'll return to council chambers the following week, on Oct. 18.

Senior safety seminar

How to care for elderly loved ones is a question facing many families. A seminar on "7 Key Things to Know Before Hiring In-Home Care in California" aims to help answer it.

Hosted at the Peninsula Volunteers Little House at 800 Middle Ave. in Menlo Park, the free seminar takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. Call 342-2600 for more information.

Candidates forum

The League of Women Voters will host a forum for the five candidates running for the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board of directors on Thursday, Oct. 20.

The forum starts at 6 p.m. in council chambers at the Menlo Park Civic Center at 701 Laurel St.

Parking plaza closed

Wondering what happened to parking plaza 2 in Menlo Park? The parking plaza between Oak Grove Avenue and Chestnut Street is fenced off so the city can repair its deteriorated pavement, according to Interim Public Works Director Chip Taylor.