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By Stuart Soffer

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About this blog: Growing up in Brooklyn, NY I lived in high-density housing and experienced transit-oriented services first hand. During high school and college summers I worked in Manhattan drafting tenant floor plans for high-rise office buildi...  (More)

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Santa Cruz Avenue Success Story

Uploaded: Dec 14, 2017
Last week I stepped into Bistro Vida on Santa Cruz, where owner Ali El Safy and I continued our usual jesting and banter. I’ve known Ali at least 20 years.

Ali and Bistro Vida have taken great advantage of the new outdoor pads. During recent warmer days it was an oasis for us to drop anchor at dusk on the couches for some refreshment.

Ali and I have a habit of gently insulting or kidding each other. For example, seeing an imaginary cockroach on the desert tray in response to learning that there are no tables available. Ali came to the US from Egypt 25 years ago with no funds (so he says). I’ve followed as Ali steered his son Zane into the best schools in our area. But today he proudly proclaimed that Zane was accepted as a transfer student into Cornell, in Computer Science. Well done, Ali. This is what it's about.
Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by John di Maria , a resident of Atherton: other,
on Dec 15, 2017 at 12:07 am

Great job proud papa we love the story and we love vida


Posted by Steve Cavallo, a resident of Menlo Park: Allied Arts/Stanford Park,
on Dec 15, 2017 at 10:46 am

Wonderful news happy holiday and merry christmas to you and your son


Posted by Martin Engel, a resident of Menlo Park: Park Forest,
on Dec 15, 2017 at 1:15 pm

Stu, you should not make this story a one-off. I'm sure there are many such stories in Menlo Park, and not only on
Santa Cruz. It is one of the exemplary virtues in the US for people to come here from elsewhere, often as struggling emigres, and make their lives (and often the lives of others) a success. (My parents were such a story 70 years ago.)

Menlo Park, like many other Peninsula towns, are melting pots in the great American tradition. You, Stu Soffer, are eminently qualified to capture these stories in Menlo Park, and we all need to read them, especially in these trying times. Thanks for doing this story.


Posted by Stu Soffer, a resident of Menlo Park: Linfield Oaks,
on Dec 15, 2017 at 1:28 pm

Martin Engel: Thank you for your feedback and encouragement.

Indeed you're right; this was not intended to limit the good news where it's due.

I'm open to suggestions for additional stories.


Posted by olga , a resident of Portola Valley: Ladera,
on Dec 16, 2017 at 5:05 pm

Excellent school I went to Cornell and my parents came here from Romania and work very hard for me and my sisters


Posted by Judy , a resident of Portola Valley: Portola Valley Ranch,
on Dec 18, 2017 at 12:34 am

Godbless America


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