| The Palo Alto History Project |
| Micki Schneider 367 University Avenue |
| 2006 |
| Micki Schneider: A Rough Ride It was a trying couple of years for Micki Schneider, who at the end of 1998 was just one step away from the pinnacle of Palo Alto politics. Schneider was originally elected to the City Council in 1993 after turns on the Finance Committee and Public Arts Commission. The owner of Spirals specialty arts store at 367 University Avenue, Schneider’s first term went relatively smoothly as she supported downtown businesses, the sit-lie ban, Sand Hill Road’s Measure O and a new shuttle service. But Micki’s bad run began in 1996 when she was attacked by a homeless man outside Noah’s Bagels on University Avenue. The attack came while the police chief, Gary Fazzino, Schneider and other city officials were making a tour of a popular downtown homeless hang-out. The attacker, Anthony Feipel, was angry that the council members had thrown some trash away which he claimed were his possessions. Schneider was bruised but not seriously hurt. In 1998, Schneider was elected for a one-year term as Vice-Mayor of Palo Alto, but a few weeks later she was the victim of a viscous verbal attack from T.J. Watt, a frequent bomb-thrower during the City Council’s Oral Communications period. Because of the incident, no one was surprised when she was part of a group that lobbied fellow council members to change the rules of Oral Communications --- the 3 minute open mike period that marks the beginning of City Council meetings across California. The rule change called for repetitive speakers at Oral Communications to hold their remarks until the end of the meeting --- an obvious attempt to lower the higher profile stage that came with speaking at the commencement. But a week later, after harsh editorials and letters opposing the idea from Palo Alto press and citizenry, she reversed herself and dropped her support of the measure. In September the basement of Schneider’s Hale Street home was flooded during the San Francisquito Creek Flood. And because her residence had not been part of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Map of homes in danger of flooding from the creek, her family had not purchased flood insurance. While she suffered monetarily, things got worse the following week as Schneider upset many homeowners still waiting for help from the city as she praised the Fire Department for pumping out her basement the day after the flood. That fall, with attacks and floods behind her, Schneider busied herself in gathering support for her appointment as mayor for 1999. The mayor of Palo Alto is selected by the City Council members themselves to serve a one-year term. Generally the Vice-Mayor is chosen to be successor. While the step up is nearly automatic, there have been times in rare years when the Council has turned to someone else. 1999 turned out to be a rare year. The Palo Alto City Council was coming off a difficult 12 months. Criticism of City Hall abounded following the controversy over historic regulations and their perceived insensitivity to homeowners’ plight following the flood. Adding the possible retirement of City Manger June Fleming, members felt they needed a stronger, more seasoned politician at the helm. When Schneider polled her colleagues to find out if she could count on their support, she learned that former mayor and long-time councilman Gary Fazzino was the preferred candidate. "I'm terribly disappointed," Schneider told reporters "I very much want to be Palo Alto's next mayor.” But she was soon forced to pull out of the race as Fazzino took over. Six months later, Schneider was off the council completely. Needing to care for her ailing mother in San Diego, Schneider resigned her seat. It was no secret that Schneider’s frustration with politics had grown since the toppling of her campaign to be mayor and likely contributed to her giving notice. And there was one final disappointment. A year later, Schneider had to sell Spirals --- her University Avenue business due to the doubling of the rent. Lots on Palo Alto’s University Avenue had become nearly 5th Avenue class real estate. "I think it's a 911 crisis for small businesses in downtown Palo Alto,” she told the public. "The whole downtown will change radically because of the rents." It has since been a Zonal Home Interiors and now a fancy Italian restaurant, Madison and Fifth. Since those days, Schneider has set up shop in the La Jolla section of Greater San Diego and Spirals has flourished again, but for Micki Schneider, a once rising star in local Palo Alto politics, it was a rocky and rapid decline. -Matt Bowling |
| Micki Schneider in 1997 |
| Micki in 1999 |
| The inside of Micki Schneider's Spirals store in La Jolla |
| The Spirals store is now a Madison & 5th |
| Spirals' former Palo Alto location now hosts a Madison & 5th Restaurant. |
| The Spirals store now located in La Jolla, California |
| The map below shows the Downtown East area |
| The site of the attack on Micki |
| Gary Fazzino |
| Sources: Palo Alto Historical Association, Palo Alto Weekly |