From: Rob O"Connor
To: Council, City
Subject: Please support trees in Palo Alto
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026 8:04:11 AM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council Members
I am writing to address the cuts
under consideration to the Palo Alto Urban Forestry budget, including a 10% reduction to funding for the city partnership with Canopy.
When you walk into a neighborhood that has a great feel, it is because there are large trees and shade.
Without them it is just asphalt, concrete, grass, shrubs, wood, stucco and punishing summer heat.
Without the lovely large trees in the Palo Alto City Hall courtyard,
we would be
left with a hot and modestly unattractive concrete building instead of an inviting space to
congregate.
As a Palo Alto resident and lover of trees, I have seen over the years that it is nearly impossible to prevent a determined landowner from removing trees.
But we
can plant trees!!!
Planting a tree that many of us will not be present to enjoy at maturity, is nothing less than an act of love and commitment to our community.
Planting trees with Canopy is much more than hiring a contractor who plants a tree and never returns. Canopy partners trees with people, and helps residents choose an appropriate tree in the right location. But even more, Canopy tree plantings bring together community volunteers, families, and residents of all ages, introducing them to the physical process
and joy of tree
planting while creating an environment with cleaner air, cooler temperatures, greater climate resilience, and expanding the influence of nature in our urban setting. Canopy provides science based planting techniques along with young tree care, which in partnership with tree stewards and volunteers delivers an astoundingly high
survival rate for new trees.
We are living in an uncertain time that will require many difficult decisions by the Palo Alto City Council.
My request is that you find a way to fully support Urban Forestry and your 30 year partnership with Canopy. Trees are as essential as roads and our water systems.
In a
changing environment, they provide clean air and cool, beautiful neighborhoods and climate resilience.
We are living in a time of a thousand cuts, small and large, that make our lives just a little bit worse every day.
By fully funding Urban Forestry and Canopy you have the chance to enhance the joy, comfort and health of our community, and to make every day just a little bit better for Palo Alto residents.
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Best Regards
Rob O'Connor
Canopy Executive Board Member
788 Josina Ave
Palo Alto 94306
From: Alan Lee
To: Council, City
Subject: Please Maintain Funding for Urban Forestry Programs, including Canopy"s Partnership Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026 10:02:57 PM
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Dear City Council,
I’m writing to urge you to maintain funding for Canopy and Urban Forestry.
As a South Palo Alto resident, I have directly benefited from Canopy’s work. In December 2023, Canopy helped me plant several trees at my home. They organized a team of five volunteers who helped me dig through my rock-hard soil and get the trees planted properly.
Before working with Canopy, I had struggled to keep previous trees alive. What made the difference was not just receiving trees, but receiving the right trees and the education to care for them.
Evany Wang at Canopy gave me guidance that was practical and expert. She helped me choose native species, taught me how to support them, provided follow-up notes, and made sure I had the information I needed to care for the trees successfully. That guidance has helped me care not only for these trees, but for the rest of my plants as well. I’m happy to report that the trees are doing well.
The experience did more than add trees to my property. It helped me get to know my neighbors, learn about tree care, and feel more connected to the broader effort to make Palo Alto greener and more resilient.
This program is an efficient and meaningful use of time and resources. It supports residents, builds community, and contributes directly to a healthier urban forest.
Please maintain funding for Canopy and Urban Forestry. This is exactly the kind of community-based climate action Palo Alto should continue to support.
Sincerely,
Alan Lee
South Palo Alto resident
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From: Sarah Burgess
To: Council, City; Ed Fike
Subject: NonProfit Partnership Workplan
Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026 9:03:17 PM
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I appreciate the efforts being made to put together a transparent plan for the City to work with nonprofits. Having participated on behalf of Neighbors Abroad last year in the Phase I of this plan, I would like to offer the following observations:
It is impossible to gather all non-profits into a workplan for budgeting purposes, because “non-profit” is an IRS tax category, rather than a financial budgeting category. It is similar to trying to budget for all City payments to corporations or to partnerships. Or, to look at a group getting public scrutiny at the present time, all City contracts with consultants.
If Council would like to support grants for community services, there should be a budget category for those grants, with an amount and a defined statement outlining the parameters for application. This would allow the creation of a simple application following these parameters, and with this, the transparency sought.
Gathering all non-profits into one bucket compares apples to oranges, services provided in lieu of city staff being compared to community enrichment; services for cultural enrichment compared to services for those less fortunate than most. The needs are all there, but they should not all share in the same funding allocation any more than they would if they were corporations billing for services or consultant fees. They need to be budgeted for by the service they provide to the city, not their IRS standing.
Trying to create this process has been so difficult because it just doesn’t make any sense.
Sarah Burgess
Co-Vice President, Oaxaca
President Emerita
Phone 650-996-3331
Web www.neighborsabroad.org
Email [email protected]
355 Alma Street, Palo Alto, California 94301
From: Winter Dellenbach
To: Council, City
Subject: Budget - Possible Canopy funding cut
Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026 4:23:01 PM
Dear Council Members -
It will be a surprise to none of you that I ask you to not cut Canopy’s budget.
As you know, I helped to write our current Tree Protection Ordinance and am a huge advocate for protecting and increasing our tree canopy given trees enormous impact on climate, health and beauty of our residents and City. Canopy was the key active partner in creating our new ordinance, lending its expertise over the year it took to complete it. It is now considered the gold standard ordinance in California.
That Canopy manages to do all it does for our City within its current contract is one of the best bangs on the buck in the budget. Its program in planting 10,000 trees in south Palo Alto (which has far fewer trees than in the north) is one blow-mind example of its work.
Given that we will lose thousands of trees over the next years due to massive development is all the more reason for a robust Canopy organization to be maintained. As a consultant with developers and in collaboration with our City Urban Forester, Canopy will help ensure we lose as few trees as possible.
While our Tree Protection ordinance has a No-Net-Loss of trees replacement requirement, it will be 2 or more decades before new trees will be large enough to substantially replace those lost, including many native mature trees we rely on for carbon sequestration and heat cooling.
Just as we need our tree canopy to literally help us survive, we need Canopy to keep doing its work on behalf of us all.
Winter Dellenbach
From: Sally O"Neil
To: Council, City
Subject: Canopy"s funding
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 5:41:46 PM
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Dear City Council,
I urge you to maintain full funding for Palo Alto's urban forestry programs, including the funding for Canopy's work.
As you know, trees are a long-term investment in our community's health. Cutting the funding today means that health will suffer over the next 10 to 100 years. Funding cuts mean that fewer trees will be planted and fewer trees will be cared for. The long-term effects are just that -- they will affect our lives and those of future Palo Alto residents.
Given that trees are part of the city's essential infrastructure, they deserve continued care, and that means funding.
Cutting expenditures is not an easy task, I know. But please do not put our tree budget on the chopping block.
Sally O'Neil
25-year Barron Park resident
Canopy volunteer and Board member
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From: Laura Martinez
To: Council, City
Subject: Urban Forestry Programs
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 1:10:50 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council,
My name is Laura Martinez and I have been a volunteer with Canopy for over 20 years. I support Urban Forestry Programs because:
Trees keep our neighborhoods cool and clean the air we breathe Planting trees helps us build community and protect public health for future generations I'm writing to ask that you maintain full funding for urban forestry programs, including Canopy's partnership.
Thank you,
Laura Martinez
Community Member and Canopy Board Member
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From: Brinda Govindan
To: Council, City
Subject: cuts to Canopy
Date: Friday, May 8, 2026 10:39:50 AM
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Dear City Council,
Please do not cut funding for Canopy from the city budget! Trees are essential for our well-being,and Canopy does a great job of stewardship in Palo Alto.
Thank you,
Brinda Govindan
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From: Tom Holzer
To: Council, City
Subject: Urban forestry budget cuts
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026 10:21:07 PM
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Dear Council
I am writing to you to reconsider your proposed cuts to urban forestry in Palo Alto, and particularly the support you provide to Canopy. Trees are a major factor in making Palo Alto a wonderful place to live. I cannot tell you how many times I have hosted visitors who remark on the wonderful foliage we have. I always tell them that I think of my good fortune whenever I am outside (walking, biking, driving, walking the dog, etc)..
More importantly, trees are one part of Nature that are compatible with urban development.
But trees must be protected and nurtured. They require a long-term investment of money and effort. I strongly urge the Council to continue to support non-profits like Canopy.at their current levels. Future residents will thank you.
Tom Holzer
15 Phillips Road
[email protected]
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From: Guadalupe Aceves
To: Council, City
Subject: Stand up for Palo Alto Trees
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026 3:09:34 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council members,
I am writing in support of maintaining full funding for urban forestry programs, including the partnership with Canopy.
I began volunteering with Canopy 30 years ago as I knew the importance and benefits of trees in our community. Through my volunteer work with Canopy, I passed on the love of trees to my three children who are now adults. Planting trees along the 101 freeway walls, local parks, schools and homes has brought communities together in the healthiest way possible.
Trees are cool!
Trees clean the air we breathe!
Trees provide vital habitat!
Trees protect public health
I ask that the City of Palo Alto maintain full funding to the Urban Forestry budget, Including Canopy Partnership.
Please protect what we have built.
In community,
Guadalupe Aceves
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From: Susan Rosenberg
To: Council, City
Cc: JP Renaud
Subject: Canopy
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026 1:44:28 AM
Dear Palo Alto City Council,
Don’t repeat Palo Alto’s ugly history of reduced funding for our trees.
Working closely with the City of Palo Alto staff, Canopy has profoundly changed the health of the urban forest by leveraging your funding in ways far beyond your capacity.
Canopy was a budding urban forestry nonprofit thirty years ago but is currently seen as a leader in the field.
Now is not the time to reduce funding.
Thank you,
Susan Rosenberg
Canopy Co-founder
From: yuet berry
To: Council, City
Subject: Funding for Canopy
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 9:46:33 PM
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Hi city council
I’m writing to support full funding for urban forestry programs. Canopy is a vital part of our community in keeping us green and planting trees to keep us healthy in our neighborhoods. Please provide full funding to Canopy & programs like it.
Thank you so much for considering,
Yuet Berry
From: Virginia Smedberg
To: Council, City
Subject: trees in our city!
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 9:06:22 PM
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Dear fellow Tree City dwellers,
Our "urban forest" is one of our resources - and I think it must be given at least as much weight as streets and infrastructure in budget planning.
I am writing to ask you to maintain full funding for urban forestry programs. And I would ask that you include Canopy's partnership - they have played an important role in making and maintaining this forest.
cheers - virginia smedberg
441 Washington Ave (under the just-blooming Catalpas whose blossoms smell like grape candy!)
EARTH without ART
is just EH
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From: dedra hauser
To: Council, City
Subject: Please don"t cut back on urban forestry funding Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 6:59:39 PM
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To all City Council members,
I urge you to fully fund our urban forestry programs. Trees are not amenities. They are critical infrastructure and one of the best investments we can make in holding back climate change.
When I moved to the peninsula I chose to live in Palo Alto because of the street trees and the beautiful canopy that differentiated Palo Alto from most of the surrounding
communities. As a landscape designer and long-time volunteer at Canopy I have helped to expand, improve and maintain these trees, and to grow the canopy in East Palo Alto and southern Palo Alto. Cuts in funding for tree maintenance cost me thousands of dollars when my street tree fell on my garage and cut off the electricity several years back.
I know you have difficult choices to make when the budget needs to be cut. But it would be very shortsighted to further cut city spending on this crucial resource.
Sincerely,
Dedra Hauser
410 Stanford Avenue
From: richard d
To: Council, City
Subject: Urban Forestry budget
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 4:30:00 PM
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I'm a recipient of 3 Urban Forestry trees. Please don't cut a budget that provides health and beauty to me, my children and my grandchildren. Please think long term.
Thank you,
Richard DeFrancesco
230 Chestnut Ave.
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From: Susan Hartzell
To: Council, City
Subject: Canopy
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 3:33:46 PM
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Please do not cut the budget for Canopy. Our urban forest is one of the gems of Palo Alto, and the envy of our neighboring towns. It keeps us cool, it keeps us quiet, it keeps us calm. Let’s celebrate, not economize.
—Susan Hartzell
Susan and Harry Hartzell
850 Webster Street Apt 430
Palo Alto, CA 94301
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From: David Cortesi
To: Council, City
Subject: Support for urban forestry and canopy
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:35:30 PM
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I urge you to retain full funding for our urban forestry programs and our partnership with Canopy.
David Cortesi
850 Webster st. #621
Palo Alto 94301
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From: Pallavi Tibrewal
To: Council, City
Subject: Maintain Full Funding for Urban Forestry and Canopy Partnership Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:30:49 PM
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Dear Palo Alto City Council Members,
I am writing to urge you to maintain full funding for Palo Alto’s urban forestry programs, including the City’s longstanding partnership with Canopy.
Palo Alto’s urban forest is critical infrastructure for climate resilience, public health, and community well-being. As recent City and Canopy reports highlight, while new tree plantings are increasing, older native trees—especially oaks—are declining in several neighborhoods, underscoring the need for sustained investment and long-term stewardship. () Canopy has been a key partner to the City for decades, working with residents and volunteers to plant, monitor, and care for thousands of trees, particularly through initiatives like the South Palo Alto Tree Initiative. Their community-based model not only expands tree canopy but also ensures trees survive and thrive through ongoing care and education.
Beyond planting, Canopy plays a critical role in advancing tree equity, engaging youth, and building community ownership of Palo Alto’s urban forest. Their work reflects a broader mission to “grow and sustain equitable urban forests for all,” combining environmental impact with community engagement and workforce development.
Reducing funding at this stage would risk reversing progress and weakening a proven partnership that has delivered measurable results. Sustained investment is essential to protect Palo Alto’s existing canopy, expand it where gaps exist, and ensure resilience in the face of climate challenges.
I respectfully ask the Council to prioritize and maintain full funding for urban forestry programs and the City’s partnership with Canopy. The long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits far outweigh the near-term costs.
Thank you for your leadership and commitment to Palo Alto’s future.
Sincerely,
Pallavi Tibrewal
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3130 Louis Road, Palo Alto
From: Stepheny McGraw
To: Council, City
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Restore Urban Forest Funds!
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 2:24:59 PM
Please restore and sustain Palo Alto’s funds for trees and urban forest protection. The State mandated 6000 plus housing units need trees to counteract all that extra cement and extra population’s additional heat. When one walks City streets on hot days, especially in the summer, the difference between our older homes with gardens and the mammoth, new mausoleum-style houses with only mulch and a few succulent/native plants is palpable. No gardens, no trees and a hell of a lot of additional heat.
We are, after all, still Palo Alto. Not Cement Alto.
Stepheny McGraw
3303 Thomas Drive
From: Julia Brubaker
To: Council, City
Subject: Support for crossing guards
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026 12:13:07 AM
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Dear Honorable City Council Members,
Our city is facing very difficult budget decisions, but I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. Crossing Guards have been crucial to the safety of thousands of Palo Alto children, including my own.
I have 3 students in the district and am so grateful to our crossing guards. My middle schooler took a hard fall on his skateboard just after crossing and the crossing guard ran to his side and called 911. She took such good care of him. I cannot imagine keeping our kids safe without them.
PAUSD school children walk and bike to school in large numbers, requiring this support at critical intersections. The warranting process for getting an Adult Crossing Guard assigned is rigorous, so we really only have them where we know they are most needed. As the city has densified, traffic has increased, requiring greater reliance on mode shift. It is increasingly important that we do what is necessary to maintain public streets that are safe for all residents, and especially school-bound children.
Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and support fully funding School Crossing Guards.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Julia Brubaker
Parent at Greene Middle School and Walter Hays
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From: Pawan Bir Kohli
To: Council, City
Subject: Ongoing budget cuts of crossing guards
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 7:19:59 PM
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Hello
As a resident of Palo Alto with twins biking to Gunn High School everyday I urge the city council to not decrease the number of crossing guards.
Our children’s safety should be more important than other budget items.
Please do not decrease the crossing guards
Thanks
Pawan Bir Kohli
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From: M O"Neill
To: Council, City
Subject: crossing guards safety - please don"t cut this vital resource Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 6:22:45 PM
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[email protected]
Dear Honorable City Council Members,
Our city is facing difficult budget decisions, but I’m writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. These crossing guards play a direct and meaningful role in keeping children safe—including my own.
Each morning on Louis Road, I watch the crossing guard step into the street, stop traffic, and create a moment of calm in what would otherwise be a busy, unpredictable intersection.
Before the guard was there, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable letting my kids ride to school on their own. Cars move quickly through that area, and it only takes one distracted driver for things to go wrong. Now, because of that consistent, watchful presence, my kids have the independence to bike to school safely. It’s a small daily interaction, but it makes a real difference—for them and for me.
Our kids walk and bike to school in large numbers, and they rely on this support at critical intersections. The process for assigning an Adult Crossing Guard is already rigorous, which means they are placed where they are truly needed. As our city grows and traffic increases, this kind of safety infrastructure becomes even more essential.
Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and continue fully funding School Crossing Guards. Their impact is immediate, visible, and deeply felt by families like mine.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Matt O'Neill - resident on Loma Verde Ave
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From: Tom Welsh
To: Council, City
Subject: Please do not cut the crossing guard budget
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 5:38:00 PM
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Dear Honorable City Council Members,
I strongly urge you not to cut the crossing guard budget. For the past nine years, my two kids and I have biked to and from Palo Alto public schools every morning and afternoon. Having the crossing guards at the busiest intersections is crucial for our safe arrival at school and back home.
Although there is a budget shortfall, raising the incremental revenue that we need is preferable to making cuts to public safety that directly affect our kids. I am not sure why there is a budget shortfall, but child safety should not be subject to cuts as a result.
Thank you for your service and for prioritizing our children's safety.
Best,
Tom Welsh
Leland Manor neighborhood of Palo Alto
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From: Asha Weinstein Agrawal
To: Council, City
Subject: Support for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 5:10:30 PM
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Dear Honorable City Council Members,
I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards. Crossing Guards have been crucial to the safety of thousands of Palo Alto children, including my own son (now at Paly, formerly Addison and Greene).
PAUSD school children walk and bike to school in large numbers, requiring this support at critical intersections. The warranting process for getting an Adult Crossing Guard assigned is rigorous, so we really only have them where we know they are most needed.
As the city has densified, traffic has increased, requiring greater reliance on mode shift. It is increasingly important that we do what is necessary to maintain public streets that are safe for all residents, and especially school-bound children.
Eliminating any of the crossing guard positions would put children walking and biking to school at risk. Further, some parents would likely chose to drive their children rather than risk a less safe walk or bike commute, thus adding more traffic to city streets at a congested time.
Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and support fully funding School Crossing Guards.
Thank you.
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Asha W. Agrawal
Parent of a Palo Alto High School freshman
From: [email protected]
To: Council, City
Cc: "Lara Anthony"; "Rachel Vazquez-Reina"
Subject: City Budget for TONIGHT
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 4:52:36 PM
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Honorable City Council,
The Safe Routes to School Partnership in Palo Alto is founded on maintaining a balance among the 6E’s: Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Equity and Engagement (which includes Enforcement). It is not possible to achieve and sustain traffic safety without all of these. The City, PAUSD and PTA partners collaborate effectively on the first three, but only the police can effectively enforce vehicle code (which includes management of Crossing Guard service) on critical public street intersections that make up the city’s school commute routes.
The proposed FY2027 budget eliminates funding for Adult Crossing Guards. Please remember that each approved Adult Crossing Guard location undergoes a rigorous warranting process. If clear safety need for Crossing Guard support did not exist at these locations, the guards would not be there. Eliminating Adult Crossing Guards at any of these locations will create risk. For instance, The East Meadow/Alma crossing carries k-12 students to Hoover and Fairmeadow ES, JLS MS, and Gunn HS on foot and on bikes to school twice each day. In the morning, school commutes converge with morning commute traffic where hundreds of students cross a multi-lane crosstown expressway posted 35MPH. The intersection is challenging, and many parents would not let their students walk or bike without an Adult Guard present—for good reasons.
Understanding the difficult budget problems that you are grappling with, I would not put undue pressure on you. However, I feel compelled to request that you please give these proposed cuts another look. (See PAUSD and CoPA Resolutions Endorsing the Safe Routes to School Partnership Consensus Statement.)
PTA Transportation Safety Representatives, value their ongoing partnership with the city and PAPD. Please give appropriate heightened review to a budget decision that very likely will have important effect on the safety of school-bound children in our community. Please define what alternate plan is in place to keep these school crossings safe before
cuts are made.
Finally, I understand that the City School Transportation Committee (CSTSC) was informed that these cuts were coming at their 4/23 morning meeting. There was a City School Liaison Committee meeting that evening, but only e-bikes, not this proposed city
budget cut, was on the agenda. It is disappointing that, though city staff knew PTA Reps and high level PAUSD staff would be present, city staff did not agendize this important cut for discussion that evening. That would have been an excellent opportunity to open a conversation with PAUSD about cost sharing.
Thank you
for or your service to our community and for giving our concerns your usual thoughtful attention.
Sincerely,
Penny Ellson
(former PTA Safe Routes to School Chair, 17 years, speaking as an individual)
Virus-free.www.avg.com
From: Helene Grossman
To: Council, City; City Mgr
Subject: Do Not Cut School Crossing Guards
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 4:42:09 PM
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Dear Council Members and City Manager Shikada,
I urge you to reject the proposed elimination of four school crossing guards, including the guard at Alma and Meadow.
This is the wrong place to cut.
The City is proposing to save about $102,500 – less than 0.01% of the City’s $1.05 billion operating budget – by eliminating crossing guards who directly protect children on their way to school. The City will barely notice this savings in its overall budget, but a child could pay the price at a dangerous crossing.
Alma and Meadow is not a minor location. It is a heavily used route for Gunn students biking and walking to school. Alma is a fast, high-volume corridor where cars move quickly and make rushed turns. The crossing guard creates a protected moment that allows students to cross safely.
Palo Alto has been here before. Just a few years ago, two students were seriously
injured in traffic collisions, and there were calls for stronger safety measures, including crossing guards. At that time, the City stated that “Community safety is our number one priority.” City Manager Shikada stated that the goal is to “ensure the environment is as safe as we can make it.”
But here we are, proposing to balance the budget on the backs of children biking and walking to school.
We can do better than this. Crossing guards are one of the most direct, visible, and practical ways the City protects students on their way to school.
Please restore this funding and keep all four crossing guards in place, including at Alma and Meadow.
Student safety should be protected before an accident – not only after one.
Thank you,
Helene Grossman
From: Jennifer Bruno
To: Council, City
Subject: Crossing Guard Funding
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 4:33:31 PM
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Dear Honorable City Council Members,
I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for the Palo Alto Police Department’s Adult Crossing Guard program as you navigate very difficult budget decisions. Crossing guards are an essential part of keeping our streets safe, and they protect thousands of Palo Alto children every day—including my own.
My child is six years old, and I bike with him to school each morning. At this age, every intersection feels like a small test of independence for him and a moment of vigilance for me. I genuinely hope that as he grows, biking or walking to school will feel normal and safe for him on his own—but I also know that that vision depends on the continued presence of crossing guards at key crossings.
Palo Alto Unified School District students rely heavily on walking and biking to get to school. Our Adult Crossing Guards provide critical support at the intersections where traffic is most complex. The process for assigning crossing guards is deliberately rigorous, which means they are already placed only where they are truly needed. As our city has grown denser and traffic has increased, the need for safe, supported routes to school has only become more important. Ensuring safe public streets—especially for children traveling to and from school—should remain a clear priority.
I respectfully ask that you prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and fully fund the School Crossing Guard program.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
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Jennifer Bruno
Parent at Ohlone Elementary
From: Allie H
To: Council, City
Subject: Fund crossing guards
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 4:08:24 PM
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Dear Honorable City Council Members,
Our city is facing very difficult budget decisions, but I am writing to urge you to preserve funding for Palo Alto Police Department Adult Crossing Guards.
Crossing Guards have been crucial to the safety of thousands of Palo Alto children, including my own.
PAUSD school children walk and bike to school in large numbers, requiring this support at critical intersections. The warranting process for getting an Adult Crossing Guard assigned is rigorous, so we really only have them where we know they are most needed. As the city has densified, traffic has increased, requiring greater reliance on mode shift. It is increasingly important that we do what is necessary to maintain public streets that are safe for all residents, and especially school-bound children.
Please prioritize public safety in your budget deliberations and support fully funding School Crossing Guards.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Alexandra Horevitz
Nixon Elementary parent
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From: Rachel Vazquez-Reina
To: Council, City
Subject: Crossing Guard Funding
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 2:07:36 PM
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Dear Finance Committee Members,
I am the PTA Council Deputy Chair for Safe Routes to School, but I am writing today in my individual capacity to urge the Finance Committee to please direct City staff to find alternative budget cuts rather than reducing crossing guards, as currently proposed.
Our children and families depend on crossing guards to get to school safely. When crossing guards aren't present, the safety for our children is directly impacted. In addition, having fewer crossing guards results in more families choosing to drive their children to school because they feel less safe walking and biking. That in turn has numerous negative downstream impacts in our community, affecting the environment, traffic congestion, the physical and mental well- being of our children and young people who would otherwise enjoy active commutes, and it makes it less safe for others to walk & bike to school since there are more cars on the road.
I recognize and appreciate that you are juggling many important and competing priorities in a difficult budget year, but I implore you to please find alternative cuts as opposed to reducing critical safety infrastructure for our children.
Thank you for your service and for prioritizing our children's safety.
Best regards,
Rachel Vazquez-Reina
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From: Kyla Farrell
To: Council, City
Subject: Please keep our crossing guards
Date: Monday, May 4, 2026 1:35:34 PM
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Dear Finance Committee Members,
I’m writing as a PAUSD parent and community member to urge you to avoid cutting crossing guards and instead find alternative budget reductions.
Crossing guards are essential to student safety. Reducing them makes walking and biking less safe and pushes more families to drive, increasing traffic, congestion, and environmental and health impacts.
I live near the intersection of Loma Verde Ave and Louis Road, a busy crossing for families heading to Palo Verde, JLS, and Ohlone. Our crossing guard keeps traffic flowing, encourages helmet use, and provides a steady, trusted presence for hundreds of families. As a parent of elementary school children, they give me the confidence to let my kids bike to school independently and navigate this intersection safely.
I understand this is a challenging budget year, but I strongly ask that you protect this critical safety support for our children.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kyla Farrell