We also live on the border of Atherton and when we drive the BMW no one bothers us. We also have an older commuter car, and when we pull out into Atherton a police cruiser will follow us along El Camino. The police wait at spots that are exit and entrance points to Fair oaks, such as Fifth and El Camino or Middlefield rd going into Fair Oaks, and by Selby Lane School. These aren't just peoples maids or gardeners, but simply people driving older beat up cars, which evidently is probable cause to stop by the Atherton PD
Profiling Atherton
61–66 of 66 posts
Re: Profiling Atherton
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
And no poor non-Hispanic people driving through on El Camino, getting from A to B? I don't know the local geography, but I would assume that a main thoroughfare would get _some_ non-residents.
ECR is not a great road to take for any distance, since it has stoplights everywhere. It's parallel to two expressways (101 and 280), so it's really only applicable to maybe a 5 mile radius, otherwise you'd take another road. As far as I can tell, there are ~no poor people living in Atherton, Palo Alto, or most of Menlo Park, unless you count startup founders, retirees who live on low retirement incomes in $5mm prese…
For long-range through traffic, 101 is better, but routes through Atherton are ideal ways to access to parts of town with businesses which may be relevant to minority residents, such as Chavez Supermarket (great taqueria). It's also possible to transfer from 101 to 280 on routes which take you through Atherton. I've done it many evenings myself.
Re: Profiling Atherton
#63I've taken a few minutes to update Profiling Atherton with the most recent month's worth of data from Menlo Park, the city just south of Atherton. Lots of confiscated cars, but the ethnic mix is much closer to what you'd expect in Silicon Valley.
Re: Profiling Atherton
#64I got pulled over in Atherton. I was driving a filthy 15 year old Toyota I'd bought for $800. The cop said he'd only pulled me over because "dirty cars are often stolen." I didn't get a ticket since I hadn't done anything wrong, but I really don't think he had reasonable suspicion for that stop. I'm not Hispanic, but he was basically profiling me for driving a poor person's car.
I guess I had better wash my 12 y/o car before I drive through Atherton again. I only have to go through there about once a month though.
Re: Profiling Atherton
#65I've lived in Atherton since 1988 and decided to create a Hacker News account just so I could comment on this issue.
First, I applaud Kent Brewster's compilation of the data and I believe his suggestion of racial profiling was done with good intentions. Racial profiling is a terrible thing and it should be pointed out if it exists.
Having said that, racial profiling is not the reason that 175 of 182 people cited for driving without a license (DWOL) were Hispanic. I do agree that being cited for misdemeanors instead of citations is wrong. That's something that either needs to be stopped or perhaps has an explanation.
Anyone living in the Peninsula or South Bay knows that a lot of gardening, moving, and repair work is done by Hispanic people. These are the people being pulled over by the cops. They aren't local residents being pulled over.
It shouldn't be surprising that many of these workers are illegal immigrants. With the exception of some loopholes, it's not possible for illegal immigrants to have a driver's license. One California State Assemblyman estimates there are one million illegal immigrants DWOL in California (see http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2013/01/...)
Since the Trayvon Martin ruling happened recently, I can understand that people's awareness of racial profiling is much greater. But in this case, it's really about illegal immigration and that these workers aren't allowed to have driver's licenses. Remember, they aren't being cited for drunk driving, speeding, or illegal U-turns. They're being cited for not having a license, which they don't have.
By the way, I've been pulled over in Atherton (my home town) three times for speeding. And I'm not Hispanic.
Re: Profiling Atherton
#66Speculation: by booking them for misdemeanors rather than infractions they can run them through an immigration database.