E. Palo Alto Landlord Hits Rock Bottom with Extreme Tactics

Christopher Lund is new to activism. "I have never found myself in this role before...but the more time I spent with the people in my neighborhood and the more I saw happening, the more outraged I became as a matter of conscience," says the tenant rights supporter who rents an apartment in East Palo Alto owned by Page Mill Properties. Mr. Lund has found out since starting his outreach to organize fellow renters that Page Mill Properties has a long history of making accusatory statements with no basis in fact...and that they are quick to act against anyone who stands in the way of their business strategy.

Specifically, Page Mill has employed Lt. Tim Morgan of the Palo Alto police department as security personnel. The lieutenant is easily recognized by activists as someone who showed up at a city of East Palo Alto Rent Board meeting, where he blocked an activist's car, and has even been spotted lurking with a concealed weapon at the home of Mr. Lund. In light of a policy that makes this a serious violation of the department's rules, the Palo Alto police department is looking into the matter.

But was Lt. Morgan also involved in the secret wiretapping of Mr. Lund's phone? Questions are beginning to surface, as it seems Page Mill Properties will stop at nothing.

Mr. Lund states, "The fact that I was taped without being told would appear to have been done on the basis of accusatory statements made to the police without any evidence". He wonders if there was even a court order authorizing the taping of the conversation when Page Mill called and attempted to entrap the activist into saying words that would make it appear as if he were trying to extort the company. In actuality, Page Mill had in previous conversations tried to bribe Mr. Lund.

Even if the wiretapping was done with proper legal authorization, why was a mainstream media reporter supplied with a copy of the taped coversatoin by Page Mill? What is Page Mill doing with the tape in their possession and why would they give the reporter a copy of the recording?

Champions of tenant rights are wondering who else in the Palo Alto police department might be working as a contractor for Page Mill as an investigator or by any other title. "Displacement Watch" activists are documenting the incidents, as the story gets stranger and the investigation of the relationship between Page Mill Properties and the Palo Alto Police department broadens.