News Summary Residents near Frank Greene Middle School in Palo Alto are raising safety concerns due to construction vehicles parking on Middlefield Road. A construction worker’s TikTok video highlighted the tension between locals and contractors. Although neighbors aimed to ensure children’s safety, the incident led to the worker’s job loss. In response, barricades and parking restrictions have been implemented to improve visibility for drivers. As the community seeks more permanent changes, the need for effective parking regulations remains a pressing issue amid ongoing discussions with local officials. Palo Alto – Concerns about safety for students near Frank Greene Middle School have risen as neighbors along Middlefield Road complain about construction vehicles parked along their street. The issue gained widespread attention after a construction worker shared a TikTok video that shed light on the conflict between residents and contractors over parking restrictions. The worker, Charlie Trexler, who was employed by Cal Pacific Systems, documented in his video how residents placed garbage cans on the street to deter contractors from parking in front of their homes. Trexler moved one such garbage can to park near his worksite, leading to significant consequences for his job. Following the video post, he lost his position, expressing that he faced repercussions merely for trying to park legally as a construction worker. Residents, concerned about children’s safety, took action by contacting city officials and the Palo Alto School Unified District (PAUSD) via email on July 31. Their complaints expressed worries about visibility and the dangers posed by parked construction vehicles around the area, particularly for students walking to and from school. In a follow-up email sent in August, residents reiterated their safety concerns, making specific reference to Trexler’s video. Although PAUSD could not comment on Trexler’s employment status since he was not a district employee, they did acknowledge the neighbors’ complaints. On August 19, the district confirmed that construction company Swinerton Builders had installed barricades to create a safer walking area for students. Residents observed improvements in their ability to see when exiting their driveways since these barriers were implemented. In addition to barricades, signs prohibiting construction parking were placed along Middlefield Road for several blocks to accentuate the parking restrictions. However, a construction worker currently employed at the site noted that Swinerton had directed all construction workers to park farther away from the job site, requiring them to walk approximately 10 minutes to reach their work area. This additional distance to walk has caused frustration among workers who feel that they are often regarded as unwelcome in the neighborhoods where they are building. Affected community members expressed sympathy for Trexler’s situation and clarified that their intentions were not to jeopardize anyone’s employment but to ensure the safety of children using the roadway. Neighbors are now advocating for more permanent changes to local parking rules in hopes of creating a safer environment for students and residents alike. Trexler, who expressed dismay over losing his job and loss of income, indicated that this experience might deter him from seeking future work opportunities in Palo Alto despite his commitment to professionalism in his trade. As the situation unfolds, calls for improvement in parking regulations and construction site management continue to resonate within the community. At this time, requests for comments from both Swinerton Builders and Cal Pacific Systems have gone unanswered, leaving many uncertain about future parking and safety measures. 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