Google's Brin does some good -  Co-founder of Google, Sergey
Brin has been outed as the cash behind a real estate outfit
which has been helping small businesses in his local security
survive.  According to the Wall Street Journal, Brin built the
Passerelle Investment Company which has been buying up downtown
property in Los Altos, which is near where he lives.  He has
been renting out the stores at below-market rates to stores he
thinks that families in the community need. There is a kids'
bookstore, a children's playspace, and a child-friendly coffee
shop, for example.  The outfit has been buying up run down
properties, renovated them and attracted new tenants.  However
the local mayor, Val Carpenter, says she has mixed feelings
about all this. Passerelle is "now the 500-pound gorilla
downtown." While the firm's moves have "energised" the town,
there are those who are worried about supporting such growth
because they want the city to keep its old character and aren't
as interested in children-focused busines