Immigration status?

Not every Hispanic is illegal.. With the name Aletheia. I should be asking you that.

My Problem is not immigration status or ethnicity. There are many wonderful people living there. Why bring that up? My problem is the fact that we have a known violent felon, with a long criminal past, living here in Palo Alto. There are families with children living in Buena Vista (an RV park owned by the city of Palo Alto) right next to this violent man. It is hard to believe that his grandmother was unaware of his drug use and violent behavior. Any way to screen who gets to live there?

@Aletheia: "Immigration status?"

And yours?

(I'm 6th generation, since we all have to know everything immediately, per Aletheia)

Diaz's past history and criminal background justifies the added precaution of not releasing him on bail.

It is immaterial whether Diaz is a US citizen or undocumented immigrant as a crime has been committed and it must be brought to trial.

However...in the event he is an undocumented immigrant, it should be brought to public attention & ICE should be notified in the event he is released.

How does a person with the name Aletheia have the nerve to ask about immagration status. ???

From the PA Weekly reportage...
"Court records show that Diaz previously served time in prison for assault and other charges stemming from cases in 2007, 2008 and 2012 in Merced County. He has two prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and three convictions for participating in a criminal street gang, among other charges.

In the 2012 case, he pleaded no contest to burglary, being a felon who was previously convicted of a violent felony, obstructing or resisting arrest on an executive officer and battery on a peace officer. He received a 40-month sentence in prison.'

^^^ A lifetime criminal regardless of immigration status....and a very violent individual according the the PAPD arrest account.

^^^ That many priors indicates this individual is beyond rehab despite what his grandmother told The PA Weekly.

A leopard does not change its spots.

There are countless undocumented immigrants from Latin America who are law abiding and simply trying to make ends meet. I have no problem with them being in America.

On the other hand, the bad hombres (of which there always is a number of them) should be turned over to ICE immediately following an arrest for a VIOLENT crime.

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Nayeli....for names & general locations of registered sex offenders in PA go to:

Web Link

There is no database on violent criminals in PA...too broad a category.

What a horrific recounting of this man's violent history and it's terrible consequence for Tim, Alan and the other man. I am grateful no one else was hurt that day.

The point isn't the accused's documentation status, it's the unspeakable violence he unleashed on innocent people at at Buena Vista. Remember that studies shows undocumented immigrants are more law abiding than the general population of citizens.

The irrelevant tangent about sex offenders is beside the point. It has nothing to do with anything germane and only hurts all residents at Buena Vista who have enough to contend with right now.

These maps are well known as being notoriously inaccurate which can be seen from the very website offered by one of the commenters. Nine offenders are shown in Palo Alto, yet it's noted there are actually 21:

"According to our research of California and other state lists there were 21 registered sex offenders living in Palo Alto as of July 03, 2019. The ratio of number of residents in Palo Alto to the number of sex offenders is 3,232 to 1. The number of registered sex offenders compared to the number of residents in this city is a lot smaller than the state average."

Rather than making them targets of fear and suspicion, residents at Buena Vista deserve our sympathetic support as we would have for any other neighbors in town.

> These maps are well known as being notoriously inaccurate which can be seen from the very website offered by one of the commenters. Nine offenders are shown in Palo Alto, yet it's noted there are actually 21:

^^^ Agreed to a certain extent as some of the registered sex offenders are listed as transients + the 3980 ECR location is the shopping center at San Antonio & ECR.

On the other hand and being residents of Midtown, a number of us are well aware of the 94303 listing as that happens to be a neighbor's grown son who resides in the immediate area within walking distance from the Safeway.

This is sad we know this guy and he has been telling us that he has been trying to tell social security he needs help and don't know where to turn because he has had his head injury (being shot in Merced walking out his door) and ever since he has been getting violent and he said to us he has been feeling like a different person but social security denied him help. Also sad for all people who got injured and for Timothy he was very nice except occasional drunk scenes. We remain to pray for everyone involved.

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> This is sad we know this guy and he has been telling us that he has been trying to tell social security he needs help and don't know where to turn because he has had his head injury (being shot in Merced walking out his door) and ever since he has been getting violent and he said to us he has been feeling like a different person but social security denied him help.


>> Court records show that Diaz previously served time in prison for assault and other charges stemming from cases in 2007, 2008 and 2012 in Merced County. He has two prior convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and three convictions for participating in a criminal street gang, among other charges.

In the 2012 case, he pleaded no contest to burglary, being a felon who was previously convicted of a violent felony, obstructing or resisting arrest on an executive officer and battery on a peace officer. He received a 40-month sentence in prison.


When did the alleged 'head injury' occur? Based on his criminal background, this shooting was most likely due to his prior gang affiliations and previous record of violence.

SSI cannot be blamed for what happened at BV Park and his excuse does not hold water. If anything, he should have been kept in prison.

Diaz was not reformed or rehabbed by any meaning of the word.

>> The irrelevant tangent about sex offenders is beside the point. It has nothing to do with anything germane and only hurts all residents at Buena Vista who have enough to contend with right now.

Fair enough but there are registered sex offenders residing in other parts of Palo Alto and the public has a right to know of their general whereabouts....especially in terms of proximity to schools and playgrounds.

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No sympathy for Diaz whether he is here legally or illegally. And the head wound defense is not going to hold any water regardless of what his public defender alleges.

His past criminal history shows a pattern of violence, criminal activity and his arrest records speak for themselves.

He is what they call a lifer. Best he be locked-up for life with no parole or time-off for 'good behavior'.

The head injury happen way before his past Criminal history believe 2004 he mentioned. He talks about this openly how he tried to get help and everyone labeled him as some violent person when he says he blacks out. Now for the drugs they are saying he was on or what not I cant speak on because I did not notice it but I did notice he get upset fast as he recognized and a professional he seen helping him get Social Security even wrote in his report how the location of his injury is a part of the brain that if hit to hard in past can cause future anger problems. I have never did my research but to see this all unfold I most definitely am not going to judge as easy no more. FYI he is definitely a resident of the united states 3 generations (Grandma they speak of is American). He was a resident of this park a long time and was never this violent to anyone I seen he always would help people. Prayers as I said for them all because both sides are sad to see unfold especially when you know both parties and know the suspect was someone screaming since 2011 for help (I know because I started working at my job that year he mentioned him waiting on a appeal)

>> The head injury happen way before his past Criminal history believe 2004 he mentioned. He talks about this openly how he tried to get help and everyone labeled him as some violent person when he says he blacks out. Now for the drugs they are saying he was on or what not I cant speak...

^^^ Subject to speculation. The unfortunate shooting may have been tied to prior unrecorded criminal activity and/or gang associations. Alcohol abuse can often lead to blackouts and violent behavior. The drug use factor (possibly street meth) does not help his case and any combined use of alcohol + drugs only exacerbates the problem.

While self-medication is often the result of inadequate medical attention and access to proper treatment, it is also a recreational outlet for some and various combinations of alcohol and controlled substances can prove incendiary.

His inability to procure Social Security Disability benefits does not hold water as this is purely a moderate living stipend for those with verifiable physical or mental disabilities. There is no mention in your account of him ever seeking drug/alcohol counseling or even trying to check himself into a substance abuse treatment center where further medical diagnostics could be confirmed.

Instead, he chooses to blame everything on not receiving SSI benefits. Seriously?

Isadore Christopher Diaz was born in Merced County, CA on October 24 1987. This information was secured through public records available in CA. Let's stick to the facts and stop bashing immigrants.

Agreed. Immaterial whether he's an undocumented immigrant or US citizen.

So long as the guy is locked-up & put away for the rest of his life.

No need for SSI benefits in Del Norte, Soledad, Folsom or San Quentin.

Just a reminder, accused are assumed innocent until proven guilty. That is still the system of justice in this country though we all benefit from an occasional reminder of this.

> Just a reminder, accused are assumed innocent until proven guilty.

Yes. In America, the burden of proof rests with the prosecution.

Defense (most likely a public defender) will probably try to run with an 'SSI defense' declaring that had the defendant been awarded early social security benefits, this crime would never have taken place.

Kind of like the 'Twinkie Defense' that Dan White's attorneys used in the Moscone/Milk murder trial...an defense based on a sugar rush.

Prosecution will cite defendant's background of violence, gang activity and prior prison time as indicators of his true make-up.

The Twinkie defense was not based on a sugar rush. White had been a health food nut. It used White’s recent frequent eating of twinkies along with other evidence that White was suffering from depression. And that this depression gave him “diminished capacity,” which if proven made the killing a manslaughter.

This is not to say that the actual defense argument is valid. It is creating something from nothing. if White didn’t eat twinkies, the lawyer could have argued that being a health food nut was evidence of depression.

But it was effective.

> ...this depression gave him “diminished capacity,” which if proven made the killing a manslaughter.
>> This is not to say that the actual defense argument is valid. It is creating something from nothing.

Common sense would seemingly dictate that a defendant not receiving early Social Security benefits + a history of drug abuse & criminal activity does not nullify a murder charge if the forensics and evidence prove guilt.

Instead of (or in addition to) expending most of his efforts seeking early Social Security benefits (at 32), the defendant should have been pursuing medical treatment as he probably qualified for Medi-Cal being a US citizen.

His excuse/argument/defense doesn't hold any water.

First, I’d like to thank Ashley for her comment setting the record straight regarding the statement of Diaz’s head injury due to a gunshot wound. This has altered his life, the cause and onset of his anger issues along with ongoing medical problems. Diaz’s criminal history did not begin until after his injury occurred in 2004, Diaz served his time for his past offences and should be taken into consideration. Due to the media’s comments stated and law enforcement releasing Diaz’s past criminal history in detail. And of course, they failed to mention Diaz’s earlier head injury causing the behavior of anger and violence. It is my opinion that Diaz does not stand a chance of a fair trial unless there is a change of venue. I personally, know Diaz as a loving, caring person who changed his life around and was recently baptized in his new life and religion. Diaz has shown my family and I much love and always lending a helping hand. We too reciprocate the same affection towards Diaz. I'm sure Mr. Woods has friends and family who care and feel for him as we do for Diaz. I pray for him and his family as well as for Diaz and his family. To those people who talk about the system they think they know but don’t. The system that is supposed to rehabilitate but doesn’t it just doesn’t happen. Inmates don’t get rehabilitated; they get worse the longer they stay the more institutionalized they become. Making it harder for them to make it out here in society. That’s your tax paying dollars down the drain because they don’t see any rehab counselors or get any type of counseling. You may say who cares lick him up and throw away the key but Diaz has a right to a fair trial. They say “innocent until proven guilty” my opinion on that expression is it should be changed to “guilty until proven innocent”. I know and can speak on this matter due the fact I am a retired CA State Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation employee and my husband is a retired peace officer. So, we know the system all too well I’m not bashing the system just keeping it real. In closing I have to say; it’s already a sad situation don’t add racism to the injury Diaz was born in the US and very much a Mexican AMERICAN.

JFirst, I’d like to thank Ashley for her comment setting the record straight regarding the statement of Diaz’s head injury due to a gunshot wound. This has altered his life, the cause and onset of his anger issues along with ongoing medical problems. Diaz’s criminal history did not begin until after his injury occurred in 2004, Diaz served his time for his past offences and should be taken into consideration. Due to the media’s comments stated and law enforcement releasing Diaz’s past criminal history in detail. And of course, they failed to mention Diaz’s earlier head injury causing the behavior of anger and violence. It is my opinion that Diaz does not stand a chance of a fair trial unless there is a change of venue. I personally, know Diaz as a loving, caring person who changed his life around and was recently baptized in his new life and religion. Diaz has shown my family and I much love and always lending a helping hand. We too reciprocate the same affection towards Diaz. I'm sure Mr. Woods has friends and family who care and feel for him as we do for Diaz. I pray for him and his family as well as for Diaz and his family. To those people who talk about the system they think they know but don’t. The system that is supposed to rehabilitate but doesn’t it just doesn’t happen. Inmates don’t get rehabilitated; they get worse the longer they stay the more institutionalized they become. Making it harder for them to make it out here in society. That’s your tax paying dollars down the drain because they don’t see any rehab counselors or get any type of counseling. You may say who cares lick him up and throw away the key but Diaz has a right to a fair trial. They say “innocent until proven guilty” my opinion on that expression is it should be changed to “guilty until proven innocent”. I know and can speak on this matter due the fact I am a retired CA State Dept of Corrections and Rehabilitation employee and my husband is a retired peace officer. So, we know the system all too well I’m not bashing the system just keeping it real. In closing I have to say; it’s already a sad situation don’t add racism to the injury Diaz was born in the US and very much a Mexican AMERICAN.

Correction: lock not lick

This incidence is just another reason that the Trailer Park should have been sold and shut down years ago instead of an endless crusade of harassment of the owner by the City Council and ignoring Barron Park Palo Alto residents who waned it shut down for decades. A new apartmnent building for professionals who work at the local technical companies would have been a much better use of the property. The City Council has turned Barron Park into a dumping ground with all the low income housing and apartments that are here now.

> The City Council has turned Barron Park into a dumping ground with all the low income housing and apartments that are here now.

Agreed. Though intended as a humanitarian gesture to provide below low-income housing provisions, BV has become an ongoing source of aggravated issues & added visual blight to the Barron Park neighborhood.

[Portion removed]

As for Mr. Diaz, a very unfortunate incident that perhaps speaks volumes of the BV environment.

So let's see now...according to winter dellenbach, ashley & Diaz/M Bueno, the defendant is an OK guy whose prior criminal record can be attributed to a previous head injury and the inability to collect early Social Security disability benefits at age 32. In others words, his past criminal record would have been zilch had he succeeded in collecting early SSI retirement benefits.

First of all, it can often take 2-3 years of red tape for an applicant to verify & qualify for SSI and the process often involves the assistance of a labor attorney as well as contacting one's local legislative representative to get the ball rolling.

Did the defendant actually explore all of the proper channels or is this just another questionable alibi designed to trivialize his prior arrest/conviction record and get escape a murder conviction?

Palo Alto Weekly has not shutdown comments to this story like they did last week... not fair journalism! Great use of tax dollars for buying Buena Vista mobile home park, if this was in North Palo Alto, this trailer park would have been closed. Why, Why does the city constantly insert itself and why were the owners not allowed to sell the land they owned to whom ever they wanted. [Portion removed.] Buena Vista was dressed-up and flaunted in the local papers as an idyllic community... as the old saying, can't put lipstick on a pig. Funds would have been better used to help the residents in East Palo Alto.

Same with the tax dollars used to build the shelter next to Palo Alto Medical Foundation.. loitering, issues, not safe to walk in the area.

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Kind of ironic that in an upscale community like Palo Alto, the BV trailer court is reflective of those in other more impoverished crime-ridden CA areas.

The trailer courts in Sunnyvale and San Jose are far nicer and less problematic. Go figure.

The residents with adjacent properties in Barron Park have every reason to be perturbed.

> It is my opinion that Diaz does not stand a chance of a fair trial unless there is a change of venue. I personally, know Diaz as a loving, caring person who changed his life around and was recently baptized in his new life and religion.

VS

>>"A Santa Clara County Superior Court judge on Monday decided that a man accused of stabbing a fellow Buena Vista Mobile Home Park resident to death and beating another one is too dangerous for release." (PA Weekly)

^^^^Hmmm. Do we run with M Bueno's assessment OR Judge Wilson's decision?

To "The color of money"... I never stated Anything about SSI OR Diaz using that as a crutch because he didn't. One person commented that he tried and failed. He never mentioned anything about that to me personally. However, Diaz has tried other avenues for help to no avail. It's not as simple for people with challenges and mental health issues to receive help. Unfortunately Diaz's head injury has caused mental health issues and are very real. Whether are not Diaz uses that towards his defense is his porogitive and justifiable. No one knows his life and just feeds off social media and until it hits close to home you or anyone else will know what he goes through on a daily basis. Dealing with his injury, pain, confusion...
I will stand by Diaz no matter what and how anyone thinks or feels! I would never judge anyone unless I knew all the facts and could speak on it. No one has the right to play judge and jury!

If traumatic brain injury is used as a defense:

(1) The prosecution will argue that...

Sociopathy, alcoholism, and drug abuse are the types of psychiatric disorders associated with criminal behavior, not traumatic brain injury..

While substance abuse, traumatic brain injury, and crime are indeed interconnected, it cannot be concluded that traumatic brain injury causes criminality and violence.


(2) The defense will counter with...

Traumatic brain injury patients should be expected to commit crimes because they have poor cognitive skills, impulsivity, and increased aggression, as well as low tolerance for frustration and poor judgment.

Posted by And Now You Be The Jury, a resident of Stanford

>> If traumatic brain injury is used as a defense:

>> (2) The defense will counter with...

We've seen speculation. If it is correct that the defendant attempted to seek help for mental illness and incapacity, or, that others knew the situation but were unable to help, then, we can chalk up this pathetic situation as more lives lost and ruined due to our "de-institutionalized" non-system for dealing with mental illness and disability. Chalk up another one for Lanterman-Petris-Short. Web Link

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Parental common sense would dictate that you'd NEVER let your children wander over there (BV) to play with other children. Too dangerous.

I'd never let my kids go over to this trailer park to play even if I was there to watch over them.

Sounds like asking for trouble...too many questionable people residing there.

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> A review (when BV was under private ownership). Maybe things have changed.

Apparently not.

Blight is blight & the area should have been redeveloped towards something more PA appropriate.

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> Hardly. It is amazing that when an opportunity presents itself for below-poverty level residents to reside in a city like Palo Alto, the inhabitants merely accept the offering and do absolutely nothing to improve its surroundings ON THER OWN.

> Still the same old run-down shanty-town. Don't these folks take any pride in their surroundings?

^^^ Possibly attributable to a lack of personal/community interest in one's own neighborhood combined with substance abuse and mental health issues.

BV is essentially a homeless encampment with trailers & it is understandable why some Barron Park residents are not too keen on its presence.

Posted by A Logical Assessment, a resident of Barron Park

>> Proximity to Buena Vista trailer park also decreases the value of surrounding homes in the adjacent area

Would the current Barron Park neighbor homeowners have been able to purchase the homes they did if the trailer park hadn't been there depressing the value of surrounding homes? Perhaps many in BP have BV to thank for the fact that they were able to afford those houses.

Posted by Same Old...Same Old, a resident of Adobe-Meadow

>> Blight is blight & the area should have been redeveloped towards something more PA appropriate.

I see. It is no longer "appropriate" to live in PA if you are not rich.

Posted by Nothing Has Changed, a resident of Barron Park

>> It's got to come from within & I suspect that living in squalor (albeit in PA) is a pervasive mindset for the majority of them & totally acceptable.

I see. You think that wanting to live in squalor is probably genetic.

Posted by Another World On Los Robles Avenue, a resident of Adobe-Meadow

>> BV is essentially a homeless encampment with trailers & it is understandable why some Barron Park residents are not too keen on its presence.

Since it is essentially a homeless encampment, why not push them out into a real homeless encampment, right? Is this what some folks refer to as "the homeless problem"?

===

I guess July 11th must be "National Uncharity Day".

>> Would the current Barron Park neighbor homeowners have been able to purchase the homes they did if the trailer park hadn't been there depressing the value of surrounding homes? Perhaps many in BP have BV to thank for the fact that they were able to afford those houses.

^^^ I'm sure the Barron Park residents adjacent to BV are feeling deeply grateful to their trailer park neighbors for enabling them to purchase a home in PA. Seriously?

> It is no longer "appropriate" to live in PA if you are not rich.

^^^ During pre-Prop 13 one did not necessarily have to be rich. Today...you have to be pretty well-off to afford/buy a home in PA.

> You think that wanting to live in squalor is probably genetic.

^^^ Not genetic. More indicative of lack of personal pride.

> Since it is essentially a homeless encampment, why not push them out into a real homeless encampment, right?

^^^ No one is advocating that extreme. However the BV residents could strive to be better PA neighbors by keeping the place picked-up & not creating unnecessary disturbances of the peace...regardless of their 'personal issues'.

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?