EPA Today Online

The Dream and the Dreamers

2012-01-24T21:42:00.000-08:00

The Rights of Crime Victims and Their Families

2012-01-24T10:11:00.000-08:00

Reforming the Political Process

2011-11-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Talking with Henrietta: Meet the Candidates - Part 2

2011-11-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

Talking with Henrietta: Meet the Candidates - Part 1

2011-11-05T21:57:00.000-07:00

TALKING WITH HENRIETTA - The Power of Political Districts

2011-09-11T22:24:00.000-07:00

When are we going to deal realistically with riotous conditions?

2011-08-09T19:32:00.000-07:00

Fires and looting have hit the streets of London. As of today, London has experienced three days of rioting, which has caused England’s Prime Minister David Cameron to cut his vacation short and return to the city. When these types of disturbances occur, there is one key question that is always asked: Why? Why is the rioting occurring? The answer, which various community members in London give as seen in the above video, sound all too familiar.

Unfortunately, the scenes from the rioting are also all too familiar. They are reminiscent of the disturbances that swept several cities in the United States after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. They are also reminiscent of the Los Angeles riots that hit Watts, a decade ago, after the not guilty verdicts that were handed down during the prosecution of the officers who beat Rodney King. It wasn’t long ago, when America was worried about “the long, hot summer” and the potential spark for a riot that the summer months brought.

After Dr. King’s assassination, the government ushered in the Voting Rights Act and the “Great Society” legislation to fight the “War on Poverty.” But over the years, there have been major cutbacks to that legislation, and we know how the “safety net,” spoken of by the Reagan administration, had major holes that too many of the poor fell through. With the high level of unemployment in this country, and cutbacks in social programs, this country probably has a greater level of poverty now than it did when the war on poverty began.

Whether it is in London, England or in America, the script for rioting seems to be the same and a theme throughout the script can be summed up in one word “frustration.”

In previous years and in all too many cases, disturbances in America followed the fatal shootings by the police of men of color. True to form, the current riot in Tottenham and in other cities in North London followed the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, a 29 year-old father of four. The police said that Duggan shot at them, but the latest investigation into the shooting revealed that Duggan did not have an available gun to shoot, since it was found in his sock.

Given the unanswered questions surrounding Duggan’s shooting, young people in the community are in an uproar and are protesting what they consider the harassment of young men of color by the police. As the above video excerpt shows, community leaders also cite widespread frustration over the lack of summer jobs, high unemployment, cuts in social services and glaring disparities between the country’s affluent communities and their impoverished neighbors. There is frustration with the police and frustration over inequities in housing, employment, healthcare, income and education.

People who feel that they have a stake in their surroundings, don't burn things down around them. What is happening in London reflects a situation where high expectations are met with few opportunities for the fulfillment of those expectations.

Isn’t it time we find a way to change the same, old script that is playing out. It’s the same script, highlighting the same theme that has been around for decades. If the script stays the same, how can the public expect a different outcome? The Tottenham riot of 2011 could, obviously, have occurred in America. Fortunately, it is not occurring in this country. But we must learn the lessons of the past and find meaningful and lasting ways to change the conditions that spark riots rather than put Band-Aids or temporary fixes on riotous conditions. If you let certain conditions simmer, then certain outcomes should not come as a surprise. It will be interesting to see what the British will do to address the riots taking place in their country. This is London’s second major riot. So, how long will it take the British to learn the lessons from their past? The actions taken by our neighbors across the pond might be instructive

TALKING WITH HENRIETTA - What Do Our State Legislators Do?

2011-06-20T23:32:00.000-07:00

Talking with Henrietta: Addressing Urgent Priorities

2011-06-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

TALKING WITH HENRIETTA - Looking toward the Future

2011-05-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

Talking with Henrietta: Ending Sexual Assaults

2011-05-02T23:37:00.000-07:00

Talking with Henrietta: Politics and Education

2011-04-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

TALKING WITH HENRIETTA - Unions Are Under Attack

2011-03-31T00:18:00.000-07:00

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLkbzmVWNBY

Talking with Henrietta:Halting the Rising Number of Foreclosures

2011-03-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Lesson of Bell, CA

2011-03-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

Voters turned out en masse in Bell, CA on Tuesday, March 8, and voted overwhelmingly to recall four top public officials in their city who were accused of corruption. In an impoverished city that was facing a huge deficit of $4.5 million, the four city officials, namely, the mayor, the city manager, the assistant city manager and the police chief were paying themselves between $376,000 to $787,637 annually. These salaries were among the highest for city officials in this nation.

Like East Palo Alto, the city of Bell is 2.5 square miles and its population, though, larger than East Palo Alto's, is similar in size. In spite of Bell's size and its budget difficulties, the city's former police chief was making, at $457,000 more than the police chief for the City of Los Angeles, whose salary is listed at $279,834. Los Angeles which has a population of 3.7 million, is the largest city in California. It has been said that the scandal that took place in Bell was a wakeup call for the city's citizens to pay closer attention to what is going on at the top levels of their city's government. It was certainly a wakeup call that captured the nation.

Not only should the residents of Bell pay closer attention to their city's politics and issues, but the same could be said for the residents of all cities. To paraphrase, the late governor of Arizona, Barry Goldwater, who was a presidential contender in the 1960's, "Vigilance is the price of liberty."

Enough can't be said about the importance of going to or at least following city council meetings, following the issues affecting one's city and keeping tabs on the votes of city officials and other political representatives. Because of the scandal in Bell, California's Controller John Chiang has a website that allows visitors to search for the salaries and compensation packages of public officials in all cities in California. His website is http://www.sco.ca.gov/compensation_search.html

So, here is a quick quiz. Do you know what your public officials are making? Do you know how they are voting or the legislation and programs that they are supporting? What they are making, how they are voting and the issues they are supporting might determine the future and the quality of life in your city. What happened in Bell rightfully captured much of this nation's attention. What happened in Bell should not be forgotten.

Making More Happy Endings a Reality

2011-01-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

Happy endings are what most American movies are based on. One can easily cite the movie The Blind Side, which tells the story of a young, homeless teenager who makes it big in football. Not only do Americans love stories with happy endings, but, maybe most people around the world are captivated by stories of people who survive and later thrive despite overwhelming odds. The story of the rescue of the Chilean miners captivated the world. Could our love for happy endings be part of why the story of Ted Williams, the homeless, talented panhandler, so quickly captured our nation’s attention?

As many people know by now, Williams was discovered standing by a thoroughfare in Ohio, carrying a sign, which said that he had an amazing voice. A local web producer challenged Williams to give a demonstration of his vocal abilities, and the video the producer made of Williams’ demonstration was uploaded to YouTube where it became an overnight sensation.

Williams has already appeared on national television shows and has signed several contracts to do voiceovers for leading national firms—a real turnaround for someone who has a rap sheet and has spent a good portion of his life fighting an addiction to cocaine and alcohol. The discovery of William’s talent gives us all an uplifting, heartwarming story with which to start the year.

But as uplifting as it is, Williams’ story also raises a serious question? How many other Williamses are there out there who are panhandling, homeless or living marginal lives of simple desperation? How many other homeless are there on our streets who might possess amazing talents which could make positive contributions to society, if they could be supported and given a chance?

Ted Williams’ story is, obviously, exceptional. But it highlights the fact that there might be many, that are out there to be discovered, who are leading and living wasted lives. How can we reach more Ted Williamses? How can we assist them before they become panhandlers or develop a rap sheet? Of course, it needs to be said that the Ted Williamses of the world also have to do more to help themselves.

We can probably all name groups that are working with the homeless and the near homeless, that are working with those who have drug and alcohol addictions, that are working with school drop outs and with those in gangs. There are, fortunately, many groups working to help those who are just subsisting and in danger of falling over the edge turn their lives around. Many commendations should go to all of the organizations that are focused on making the happy endings, we love to see in our movies and on our computer monitors and television screens, a fact of life for so many of the desperate around us.

Since instant success has its own dangers, we can only hope that Ted Williams is successful in making the most of the opportunities he is now being given. His story highlights how it takes a village of caring individuals to save a soul. We must find more ways to extend that village of caring so that more people have access to the opportunities which make for the happy endings that so many of us love to see.

Too Fat to Fight: A Way to End Wars

2010-09-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

The American military just released a report, which showed that 27% of young potential recruits were rejected because they were too fat to fight. So, the rising levels of obesity in this country are taking a serious toll, even on the American Armed Services. It was stated in the report, which was released this past spring, that this increase in obesity among the country's youth was seriously undermining the ability of America's military services to protect the country.

The report said that even those slim enough to serve were weaker and had less stamina than recruits from previous generations. One Pentagon director told the Army Times last year, "Kids are just not able to do push-ups. And they can't do pull-ups. And they can't run."

So, some are beginning to conclude that the current obesity levels of both male and female recruits are posing a threat to America's national security.

But many of us adhere to the idea that for every negative, there is always a potential positive. So, I couldn't help but see the humorous side of things. For instance, do you think, this might be a way of ending wars. Philosophers, politicians and social scientists have always been engaged in the theory of how to end war, which is an inhumane activity that mankind imposes on itself, anyway.

So, just think, if we could increase the standard of living throughout the world, especially in what former Pres. George Bush called the Axis of Evil: Iraq, Iran and North Korea and make sure that everyone was well fed, then our so-called enemies might be less inclined to fight.

Perhaps, we've been doing it all wrong. Instead of torturing people at Guantánamo Bay and at the Abu Ghraib prison, maybe we should just feed our enemies tons of food. In this way, everyone would just get too fat to fight. This might end terrorism and the animosity that the United States faces around the world. As we feed people, there would be less reasons for them to fight, since they wouldn't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, and if we give our enemies too much food, they would not be in good enough shape to fight anyway.

Instead of relying on the sale of arms and worrying about nuclear weapons causing a world threat, we can simply use our resources to give everyone food, and those nations that have held traditional animosities towards the United States could be given an excess amount of food.

Well, feeding the world is a thought and a good thought if it will end war. At worst, this country might be accused of killing everyone with kindness.

So, just think, if every person in the world could just get enough food, then, no one would go hungry. Obesity rates would rise, as they are rising now in all industrialized countries. Many young people of military age, like many in this country, would get too fat to fight. If this happens, then what country would need a military? Feeding everyone too much food could even lead to the end of the current military build up and the arms race around the world. After all, no nation would need a military, especially one that's in fighting shape, if everyone was just too fat to fight?

Thinking about the Unthinkable Again

2010-09-14T07:17:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite expressions is, "Life is what happens when you've made other plans." I was vividly reminded of this expression on Thursday, September 9, when my crew and I were planning to tape a television show with East Palo Alto's Chief of Police Ron Davis and San Mateo's Chief of Police Susan Manheimer.

When it was time for the taping to start, Davis was present, but Manheimer had not arrived. We wondered where she was and whether something had happened. Unfortunately, something disastrous had happened. This time, life intervened in the form of a huge gas explosion that took place in San Bruno. At the time, we had been told in the studio that a plane had crashed. It was just this past February, seven months ago, that a small plane did crash in East Palo Alto. You can read my blog about the event in the Feb 19, 2010 blog entry.

Well, the day after the taping with Davis and the audience members in the studio, it was learned that Chief Manheimer was several blocks from the studio when she was informed of the explosion and she turned around and proceeded to San Bruno.

We now know that it was a horrendous explosion that completely destroyed 37 homes, led to at least four deaths, and turned hundreds of lives completely upside down. It's absolutely unthinkable the way lives can be destroyed and changed forever in one moment in time.

As life would have it, this Saturday, September 18 is Disaster Preparedness Day in San Mateo County. Coming so soon after the enormous disaster in San Bruno, this event will provide us with another opportunity not only to think about the unthinkable, but to try to prepare for it. Given that the unthinkable is never far away and can happen at anytime, as we've seen with the San Bruno explosion and the East Palo Alto plane crash, it makes sense to do what we can to prepare for what we don't want to think about and don't want to happen.

Just as life is what happens, when we've made other plans, those involved in these two recent disasters can testify that disasters happen, too, in spite of whatever plans we've made. But as ironic as it sounds, while we don't know when the next disaster will happen, just as we prepare for events in our lives, we really should start preparing for disastrous events, too.

So, how many disasters will it take to happen around us for some of us to start the preparations? Who knows? But click on this link for more information about the San Mateo Disaster Preparedness Day event. Perhaps I'll see you there.

By the way, we did complete the taping of the television show I mentioned earlier. The show is called Redefining the Role of the Police, and you can see an excerpt from it here.

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You can get more information about my shows from Talking with Henrietta on Facebook. While you're at it, why not follow East Palo Alto Today on Facebook and sign up for EPA Today Updates here.

The Handwriting is on the Wall

2010-04-29T00:46:00.000-07:00

The City of East Palo Alto has been looking for a new city manager for several months. Now, the name of the city's Chief of Police Ron Davis is appearing as a finalist for the chief of police position in several major cities. So, it seems it might be just a matter of time before East Palo Alto loses its current police chief.

Earller this week, it was announced that Davis was one of 11 semifinalists in the running to be the next chief of police in Seattle, WA. Two days ago, it was announced that he was one of six candidates in the running for that same position in New Orleans,LA. Now Davis is one of three finalists for that position. At the pace things are going, it looks like it's only a matter of time before he is going to get an offer that will be difficult for him to refuse.

Davis might continue to exclaim how he is committed to East Palo Alto, but it's obvious that the clock is ticking quickly and given his resume and his accomplishments in the city, he has the background, the talent and the ambition to operate in a much bigger arena than the one offered by East Palo Alto which encompasses two square miles.

For many, the five years that Davis has spent in East Palo Alto has reaffirmed the city's initial decision to hire him. But if he continues to be on the shortlist in major cities which are seeking a new police chief, then East Palo Alto residents might as well begin to tell him, "Goodbye."

Of course, being on a shortlist doesn't guarantee that one will be chosen. San Jose's Chief of Police Rob Davis, just this week, lost his bid to become the new chief of police in Dallas, Texas.

Yet, as far as Ron Davis is concerned, the temptations are coming fast and furious and if he is open to accepting the next best offer, and it looks as if he is, then East Palo Alto will not only need to look for a new city manager, but it might soon be on the market for a new chief of police as well. The countdown has begun.

President Obama Needs to be Out in Front More Often

2010-03-21T22:33:00.000-07:00

March 21, 2010 might well become an historic day, itself, since it marked the passage of the historic health care reform bill - HR 3590. Even the president's critics might agree that the enactment of the bill, which brings comprehensive health care to all Americans, was a big victory for President Barack Obama. The bill's supporters claim that the reforms the legislation will bring puts the bill on par with the historic bills that created Medicare and Medicaid.

HR 3590 could not have been passed without the intervention and direct action of Obama, himself. Two months ago, health care reform seemed all but dead, but it was resurrected as Obama directly campaigned for the bill. As he spoke in support of the bill in location after location across the country, the American people saw the style and oratory that got Obama elected as the nation's president. In canceling his planned trip to Indonesia and Australia days before he was set to depart, Obama, obviously, realized that he could not be on the sidelines and get the bill passed.

Obama the President might have to become Obama the campaigner more often if he is to get passed the other major legislation he promised the country. His administration is already being pressured to enact sweeping immigration reform legislation as well as legislation that will bring sweeping financial reforms. Just as the health care reform bill faced considerable opposition, these other two areas might also demand that Obama become visibly active on the campaign trail once again, if the reforms the nation voted for him to make are to become a reality. Having Obama, himself, in the forefront of proposed legislation allows him to give more than lip service to the reforms he promised. Being out in front not only allows him to actively walk his talk but, as we saw with the health care reform bill, it also gives the proposed legislation his administration wants to enact important and needed support.

See other articles about HR3590 on the homepage of the East Palo Alto Today website at www.epatoday.org

California's Students Might End Up As Winners Anyway

2010-03-04T22:32:00.000-08:00

The State of California lost its bid to become a finalist in the federal Race to the Top competition. Thus far the applications of 15 states and the District of Columbia were chosen to go on to the next round of the competition to receive a portion of the $4.35 billion the Obama administration set aside as education stimulus funding designed to assist students in low performing school districts. In order to receive the money at the end of the competition, the winning states must show that they have enacted tough measures with respect to testing standards, data collection and teacher training programs that will improve the achievement levels of low performing students.

Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted applications this past January to enter the competition. It is expected of the 16 selected this week, less than six states will be chosen next month to go on to the final round of the competition. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said that most of finalists will go home losers, since so few will end up with any grant money.

But, as of right now, we tend to agree with California Senator Gloria Romero, Chair of the Senate Education Committee who said, "...this is not just about the money -- it is about a vision for public education that is best for our children... we made Herculean strides to even be able to compete and I am proud that we did not abdicate on this responsibility."

Currently, California ranks 48^th among the nation’s states when it comes to student test scores. With this kind of ranking, it is obvious that the state’s public education system is overdue for some needed reforms. In the long term, the fact that California is no longer in the running might be immaterial. What is most important is the fact that the state’s legislators finally joined ranks and passed needed educational reforms as they strove to be a part of the Race to The Top competition. If any of these reforms lead to improvements in the state’s public education system, then California’s 6.3 million children may, indeed, end up as winners after the competition is long over.

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California Assembly member Ira Ruskin and State Senator Joe Simitian talk about the reforms the California State Legislature passed and the state’s governor signed into law on January 7, 2010, on the current edition of Talking with Henrietta. You can see a video excerpt from their discussion here. In this excerpt, they talk about the impact of the state's finances on both the higher education system as well as the state's public education system.

To read California's application to the Race to the Top competition, go here.

The Unthinkable Disaster Occurred!

2010-02-19T13:49:00.000-08:00

Click to see a video excerpt from the show Emergency Preparedness: Creating a Master Plan

Would you believe that I just did a show talking about East Palo Alto's Master Emergency Disaster Plan? On the show, I talked with several people who are involved with the creation and the execution of the plan. I asked them to give several examples of the type of disasters the plan covered and to discuss what would happen if a disaster struck East Palo Alto today. Ryan Zollicoffer, the Menlo Park Fire Protection District's Emergency Services Coordinator, who was one of my guests on the show mentioned that a plane crash was a good example of a man-made disaster. My other guest Captain John Chalmers said that while the master plan has not been approved yet, the City of East Palo Alto had a plan in place if a disaster struck East Palo Alto.

Well, a disaster actually occurred! A plane crashed in East Palo Alto this week -- two weeks after we taped the show and three days after the show stopped airing. In my last blog, I wrote about the possibility of an earthquake striking urban centers of this country. Well, since that writing an earthquake struck on February 10, in what many would consider an unlikely place, a Chicago, Illinois suburb.

Hypothetical situations no longer trump the reality. Let no one doubt that what we only talk about can become the new reality and reality packs a more powerful, emotional and physical punch than any fiction can. Again, it's no longer "if," it's a matter of "when" and that, I have to admit, can seem just a little scary, especially since the "when" actually arrives as a real disaster. But at least we have some idea of what can happen and we know it's not fictional.

Many condolences to the families of the victims of the plane crash, to all of the East Palo Alto residents whose lives were turned upside down by the crash and to all, inside and outside of East Palo Alto, who are still reeling from what happened.

It's time we begin to calm whatever fears we might have about the unexpected and get involved in an emergency planning process on a personal level and on a citywide level. The unthinkable disaster can and does occur.

To hear an audio of the plane crash from the East Palo Alto Police Department's ShotSpotter recording, click here. For more information, go to www.epatoday.org, the website for the East Palo Alto Today newspaper.

The Haitian Earthquake is Another Wake-up Call

2010-02-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

     Many, whose families and friends were not affected by the earthquake and tsunami that hit the Pacific Islands in Tonga and Samoa on September 27, 2009, might already have forgotten about that disaster. How easy it is to put unpleasant events behind us if they do not affect us directly. Now, the devastating earthquake that took place in Haiti on January 12 is another serious wake-up call for everyone who lives in an earthquake area.
     Of course, this might include most of America. What might surprise many is the fact that there are earthquake faults throughout the Midwestern United States and even in the Atlantic region of this country. Geologists say that the time might be overdue for an earthquake to occur in other major urban centers in this country.
     We all know, too well, the danger posed by hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides and other natural and man-made disasters. So, no area of this country is safe from a potential disaster. How many times have we heard that we must prepare ourselves and our families with enough food and medical supplies to survive on our own for 72 hours in case a disaster occurs. The majority of us have probably not done this.
      But it is not a question of "if" a disaster strikes, it is becoming all too clear, it's now a case of "when" the disaster strikes. We're told, "Don't panic. Simply prepare." Of course, there are those who will always say, "What will be, will be." This might be true, but we have choices and, given the choice, an ounce of prevention and planning is always better than a pound of trying to manage when you're in the middle of the creek without a lifeboat, life preserver or paddle.
      The U.S. Federal Government is now requiring all cities and municipalities to have emergency preparedness plans. Residents should be required to have them, too. The life saved might be one's own. It might also be the life of a friend or a loved one.
     For more information on my show which talks about what one city is doing to prepare for a natural or man-made disaster, log onto www.epatoday.org/tv.html and read about Emergency Preparedness: Creating a Master Plan. You can now also see a slideshow I posted that features the guests who appeared on my show in October 2009. That show, called Dealing with a Natural Disaster, discussed the earthquake and tsunami that hit the Pacific Islands.
     Now I need to ask, "Are you prepared for any impending disaster that might affect you and your family when it strikes in your area?" Have you done anything at all to stock up on non-perishable food and medical supplies? If you haven't made any preparations, why not?

The Connection between Third Graders and Future Prison Inmates

2009-10-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

It is shocking to think that a child who can't read by the third grade is a prime candidate for becoming a prison inmate. But looking at the reading levels of elementary school students might very well become a reliable way to predict the number of potential criminals in the future.

The idea of using reading proficiency to predict criminality was shared by East Palo Alto's Police Chief Ron Davis on the most recent episode of the Talking with Henrietta show, titled "The Fight Against Crime: Is It Working?"

On the show, Davis quoted statistics provided to him by David Lewis, one of the founders of Free at Last, an East Palo Alto nonprofit agency that works with parolees. The statistics showed that, compared to other third grade students in San Mateo County schools, only 10 to 25 percent of East Palo Alto third graders are reading at or above the 50th percentile mark.

Unfortunately, current research shows that those who cannot read are more at risk -- than their counterparts who can read -- for winding up in prison.

If this sad correlation between the inability to read by an early age and future imprisonment is true, then the educational priority for the East Palo Alto school district and school districts throughout the country is clear: make sure all students can read by the third grade.

Certainly, this would be a cost-effective and surefire way to reduce the prison population in the future.

To see Chief Ron Davis make the connection between reading levels and incarceration in a video excerpt from the show, click on the video below. Go here to get more information about the entire one hour discussion on "The Fight Against Crime: Is It Working?" You can post your views on the subject below.

Funding for Domestic Violence Shelters - A Necessity

2009-10-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

In the State of California, October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It is encouraging that California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger chose this month to restore funding to domestic violence shelters throughout the state.

Due to the state's budget shortfalls and the cutbacks in state funding several shelters have all ready closed. Now with statewide funding to domestic violence shelters restored, it is possible that these shelters might reopen.

Just a few years ago, the California Research Bureau reported that there were 197,000 domestic violence calls received by law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The bureau's report stated that more than 51,000 people were arrested and domestic violence incidents resulted in 197 homicides.

Given the fact that a downturn in the economy can lead to increased family stress and an increase in domestic violence, it is not surprising that law enforcement officials are currently reporting an increase in domestic violence calls not only in California but also in the nation as a whole. So, this is certainly not a time to short change social services within the state, especially in an area as critical as domestic violence, where it can be an issue of life or death. Many political observers can give a multitude of reasons why Schwarzenegger can be criticized, but the fact that the governor restored money to domestic violence shelters is one act for which he should be applauded.

You can read more about the restoral of state funding to shelters by going here

Click here and scroll to the third picture description to get information about a recent Talking with Henrietta show called Protecting Women Against Violent Crime that discussed domestic violence locally.

A New Vision for East Palo Alto: A Lovely Little City by the Bay

2009-05-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

In the State of the City Address that he delivered on May 4, East Palo Alto Mayor Ruben Abrica presented a vision of East Palo Alto that could rival, on a much smaller scale, the image of San Francisco. He shared his belief that East Palo Alto could one day have a new reputation and a new image as the little City by the Bay. He asked his listeners to think of East Palo Alto as a City by the Bay with a strong spirit, next to a beautiful creek, the San Francisquito Creek.

Certainly for many that description brings to mind a lovely little city with parks, a protected and preserved Cooley Landing with walking trails, shops, recreation areas, a lively waterfront and scenic bay views. It's a futuristic vision for East Palo Alto and it would be a real reversal of the image that many have of East Palo Alto as a problematic place with inner city problems.

The vision Mayor Abrica put forth is certainly one toward which the city could strive. Being known as the little City by the Bay would certainly be a lovely appealing image and a positive description for East Palo Alto. It's certainly a vision worth thinking about. So, do you think Abrica's vision of East Palo Alto, as a lovely little City by the Bay, could ever become a reality? Is it a vision that the city could and should strive to achieve? Would it be a reality that you would want to pass on to the next generation?

See Mayor Abrica's State of the City Address here. What do you think?

Who is being treated unfairly?

2009-04-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

An ongoing battle over rent increases has raged for months between the City of East Palo Alto and Page Mill Properties. The battle has been fought in court with the city losing two of the court cases brought against it by the company. This entire issue has pitted the rights of the tenants against the right of the landlord to raise rents.

An East Palo Alto tenant group and local activists protested the rent increases with marches from East Palo Alto to Page Mill Poperties' administrative offices in Palo Alto.

In an interview with East Palo Alto Today, Page Mill Properties' General Counsel Jim Shore said that Page Mill Properties would now like to work positively with the City of East Palo Alto. You can read his remarks in the East Palo Alto Today article which discusses the latest court ruling in the ongoing legal battle.

Since the interview, Page Mill Properties has filed another lawsuit against the city charging that the East Palo Alto Rent Stabilization Board wrongly denied 44 claims from Page Mill Properties for exemption from rent control.

Now an article has appeared on the SFGate.com website alleging that Page Mill Properties has been treated unfairly. We'd like to know if you would agree. You can read all of the articles that have appeared in East Palo Alto Today and on the EPA Today website about Page Mill Properties and the rent issue.

Given all that you know about the current dispute between Page Mill Properties and its tenants and the company's legal battles with the City of East Palo Alto, whom do you think is being treated unfairly? Is it the City of East Palo Alto? Is it Page Mill Properties' tenants? Or, is it Page Mill Properties? We would like to have your comments on this issue. You can post your comments below.

Updated 4/20/09 at 6:21 p.m.

The Role of City Government

2008-05-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

At the May 20 East Palo Alto City Council meeting, council members voted three to two to allocate money to several local groups which sponsor cultural programs in the city. Throughout the meeting, Council member Peter Evans argued that the city was functioning improperly as a welfare agency and was misusing taxpayers’ money by supporting community programs sponsored by the city's nonprofit agencies. He stated that the city should concentrate solely on providing municipal services, like fixing the streets. The council ignored his arguments and decided, instead, to establish guidelines it could use to determine future funding for local agencies that request city assistance.

So, what do you think? Do you agree with Evans that the city should focus on providing municipal services only? Or do you believe it is a function of local government to allocate money to social service agencies that need assistance in providing needed community services? You can log in and post your opinion below or you can email your opinion to epatoday@epatoday.org. Either way, we might print your views in EPA Today’s Letter to the Editor column.

Should the city appeal?

2008-03-04T12:50:00.000-08:00

After hearing numerous stories by East Palo Alto tenants that newly requested rent increases would bring personal hardship, the East Palo Alto City Council voted to impose a six month moratorium on the rent increases brought by Page Mill Properties, the city’s largest rental landlord. The requested rent increases would have raised the monthly rent from $100 to $300 on approximately 1,300 apartment units.

Many of the tenants who received the rent increases are low-income, disabled and like many seniors, on fixed incomes. In ruling against the city, Judge Beth Larson Freeman said that the city’s moratorium violated several state laws. Representatives for the city said that the moratorium allowed for a cooling off period in which critical issues affecting both the tenants and the landlord could be settled. The city now has the option of appealing the judge’s decision. Given the stakes involved for the tenants and for the landlord, do you think the City of East Palo Alto should appeal the judge’s decision and try to keep the six month moratorium?

Electing East Palo Alto's new mayor

2007-12-04T22:10:00.000-08:00

After a spirited series of discussions that took place over several months, the East Palo Alto City Council modified Resolution 738 which specified how the mayor of East Palo Alto should be selected.

Some thought the resolution stipulated that the position of mayor would rotate annually and go to the next city council member who had not previously served as mayor. If this interpretation had prevailed, then City Council Member Peter Evans would have automatically become mayor. But, at its meeting on Tuesday, November 20, the East Palo Alto City Council ended the debate. By a 4 to 1 vote, the council took away any confusion about the resolution by modifying it to state that the new mayor would be elected by the majority vote of the council.

So, at its last meeting on Tuesday, December 4, the East Palo Alto City Council elected by a 3 to 2 vote Vice Mayor Patricia Foster as East Palo Alto's new mayor. City Council Member Donna Rutherford was elected as the city's new vice mayor.

Given the long debate over the issue, do you approve of the changes the East Palo Alto City Council made to Resolution 738? Do you believe that the vice mayor or the council member who has not served as mayor should automatically become mayor or do you think the city council should elect as mayor the council member who gets the most votes?

Is a civilian review board necessary?

2007-10-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, October 2, a recommendation was made during the East Palo Alto City Council meeting to create a civilian review board in East Palo Alto. It was said that a board composed of East Palo Alto residents who had civilian oversight of the police department would give the department greater transparency, would create a safer environment for residents and police officers who file complaints against the police and would foster more trust for the police. This body would be appropriate for the city, it was said, since a similar body existed in East Palo Alto previously.

Given the “Chat with the Chief” meetings that East Palo Alto Police Chief Ron Davis holds in the city, the monthly community beat meetings that take place throughout the city, the recent policies and programs designed to improve the East Palo Alto Police Department’s relations with the community, and the reduced crime rate within the city, do you think a civilian review board is necessary? Would civilian oversight of the police department improve the police’s effectiveness and lead to more trust and cooperation between the residents and the police? Tell us what you think.

Robbing Peter to Pay Paul

2007-07-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

On July 3, the East Palo Alto City Council voted to allocate $45,000 to the East Palo Alto Boxing Club, a nonprofit organization within the city that teaches boxing skills to the city’s youth. The organization also encourages its young participants to set personal goals, maintain high standards and stay out of trouble.

When the city council agreed to allocate the money to the boxing club, it requested that the city’s staff provide the council with potential funding sources from which to take the money. At the council's evening meeting on July 17, the staff suggested three city funded areas: the fund for children and seniors, the technology fund and the council’s budget allocation fund.

One resident remarked, during a community forum after the suggestions were made, that if the council followed through on the suggestions, then it would be robbing Peter to pay Paul, since the boxing club’s funding would be taken from other city programs.

So, we’d like to know whether you think the council should take the money that it plans to give to the boxing program from other funded programs. If the council does what the staff suggested, would it, in fact, be robbing Peter to pay Paul?

Making Community Improvements

2007-05-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Is it hard to make major community improvements? The Hewlett Foundation recently released a report that said it is. The report covers the foundations' 10 year, $20 million effort, through its Neighborhood Improvement Initiative (NII), to bring substantial improvements to three local low-income communities: West Oakland, East Palo Alto and the Mayfair area of East San Jose.

The NII was "an ambitious effort" that was designed to bring community change by reducing poverty and developing new leaders, better services, more capable organizations, and stronger connections to resources. One of the report's conclusions is that the effort to bring community change is not for everyone or for every foundation. The report stated, "Some will find the work too messy, politically charged an/or hard to assess."

Do you agree with the report's findings? Is it hard to bring lasting community changes without a lot of strife and political infighting?

The East Palo Alto Levee is fixed!

2007-05-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

photo by Mike Alexander, MPact News 2003

It has been a project that has been underway for years. Now the East Palo Alto Levee has been repaired. After last year’s winter storms left a 37 foot crack in the levee, the East Palo Alto City Council declared a local emergency and called upon the Governor of California and the U.S. Government to provide financial and technological assistance to get the levee repaired. Officials feared that further breaks in the levee during a major storm would put one third of East Palo under water.

In announcing that the levee repairs are now complete, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo said, "I'm thrilled that the repairs are finished and that the residents of East Palo Alto are now better protected from catastrophic flooding."

Are you relieved to hear that the levee has been repaired? Did the break in the levee and the state of emergency that was declared worry you in anyway? Did you fear that the worst would happen? Or, do you think the work should have been done sooner?

Do poverty programs cause more poverty?

2007-05-01T22:58:00.000-07:00

In the East Palo Alto City Council meeting held on May 1, City Council member Peter Evans said that he did not support the existence of nonprofit programs in East Palo Alto that feed the hungry and help the poor. He said that these programs cause the people who use them to become dependent upon them.

In Mr. Evans' words, " As long as we support nonprofits saving us, we will never be saved." Do you agree with Council member Evans? Do you think poverty programs lead people into poverty by creating the very problems that they are designed to solve?

The Bible as literature in local schools

2007-04-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

Some people support introducing the Bible in English classes as required reading. They think it should be taught as a part of the Bible Literacy Project. The Project has created a text called, “The Bible and Its Influence,” which looks at the Bible within an historical context. Some of the project's supporters, like Chester Palesoo, who is a member of the Ravenswood City School Board in East Palo Alto, say that if the Bible is taught in the classroom, then students would be taught morals and such teachings would cut down on violence within the community

Others fear that bringing the Bible into the classroom would encourage some teachers to use it as part of a Christian agenda. Still others think the Bible as literature can be taught without a religious agenda behind it.

What do you think? Do you think the Bible should be taught as literature? Do you think, if the Bible is taught as literature, then the Holy Books from other religions should also be taught?

Will Imus' firing make a difference?

2007-04-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

Talk show host Don Imus was denounced for his demeaning comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team and fired by CBS. Will his firing serve notice to others that sexist and racist statements will not be tolerated in the media?

Since his firing, more attention is being focused on rap artists for similar comments that they make? Should the public now express the same kind of outrage, that was expressed toward Imus, at music studios for producing and distributing lyrics that are just as insulting and demeaning to women, in general, and to black women, in particular?

Were you concerned?

2007-04-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Map of Seaport Blvd Redwood City, CA 94063, US

Redwood City’s scrap yard fire Saturday sent a plume of smoke into the air that could be smelled up and down the Peninsula from Millbrae to South San Jose. A telephone alert sent out to 16,000 area residents from several city police and fire departments warned people who were susceptible to breathing problems to stay indoors until the smoke from the fire dissipated. Were you concerned by all of the smoke? Do you think more should have been done by local emergency services?

Friday Nights: " At the Movies"

2007-04-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight it is Friday Nights: "At the Movies." Next Friday there will be a TV taping at the Media Center in Palo Alto called, "How to Get Out of the Game," which was a very popular workshop during the Teen Summit this past March.

The Friday night events are the idea of the Peace and Unity Coalition to give the youth in East Palo Alto something to do. Marina Latu, one of the Peace March organizers said that several students showed up at one of their coalition meetings with a suggested list of things that they would like to see for young people in the community. “We chose Friday nights,” Marina said, “because the youth said that there are a lot of programs during the day, but nothing on Friday nights. We, definitely, want to get the kids off of the streets.”

We think the Friday night events are a good idea. What do you think? Can you think of other events and activities that you would like to add for the youth in the community?

Would you like to be a community journalist?

2007-04-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in writing? Would you like to attend meetings and submit a written or videotaped report? Do you take pictures of events in the community? If your answer is yes to any of the above, then we’d like to talk with you. East Palo Alto Today is interested in training and working with more community journalists.

You can be a community journalist if you have an idea for a story. For example, if there is an issue in your neighborhood, in a community organization or in your place of employment, and you’d like to see the idea written as an article in EPA Today, then contact us. You probably know of someone in the community who has a new job, is being promoted, celebrating a special birthday or a special anniversary. We’d like to hear about that, too.

There is even another option. You might know someone who may be interested in being a community journalist for the paper. It could be a relative or friend who takes pictures and has a good eye for capturing people and places. Ask them to send us their pictures. We’ll print them in East Palo Alto Today and/or put them on the newspaper’s web site. We’re even interested in people who have web skills and are looking for ways to donate their skills to help the community. So, think about it. You probably have much more to offer than you realize and we’d like to hear from you. Call us at (650)327-5846, ext.311 or contact us by email at epatoday@aol.com

The East Palo Alto City Council was not convinced

2007-04-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

After submitting 1,200 petitions to the East Palo Alto City Council, members of Youth United for Community Action (YUCA), an East Palo Alto youth group, failed to convince the city council to allow community members to be a part of upcoming negotiations with the developers bringing a supermarket to the city.

YUCA wants to have residents sit in on the negotiations between city staff and the developers in order to obtain a Community Benefits Agreement from the developers. YUCA believes this agreement would provide residents with good paying job opportunities, affordable housing, youth programs and other services when the supermarket project was completed.

While the city council agreed with the concept of community benefits, council members said that there were enough existing structures in the city process through which the community could give input to the council. They also said that there were city regulations in place to support the type of benefits YUCA wanted from the developers. So given these reasons and similar ones, the East Palo Alto City Council said that it was not, at this time, in favor of changing the current city process to give residents a seat at the table during actual negotiations.

With whom do you agree? Do you support YUCA or do you agree with the city council?

Local immigration raids

2007-04-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

Many people and organizations are expressing outrage over the wave of immigration raids taking place locally. Members of many families are being separated from each other. You can see from a recent video excerpt some of the problems the raids are creating and how some of the children in these families are being affected. To see the video excerpt, click on the second video picture on the left and watch the video play at the top of this column.

Do you know families affected by the raids? Do you think there should be changes in the way the raids are carried out and the way people are being deported from this country? Are you disturbed by what is taking place?

A video excerpt: "What Can We Expect Next?"

2007-03-30T21:14:00.000-07:00

The picture above comes from the latest video excerpt that discusses what some community activists in East Palo Alto have done and are currently doing. The complete one hour video,"What Can We Expect Next?" can be seen locally on Channel 27 from now until April 15. To see the excerpt, click on the appropriate picture in the video list to the left under the "Welcome" message and watch the video play at the top of this column. You can also copy the following link into your browser http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56QpP88HLes

After you've seen the excerpt, let me know what you think about it by posting your comments below. For more information about the one hour TV shows from which the video excerpts were taken, click on the television link on the left side of this page.

Taking on leadership roles

2007-03-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

On March 15 of this year, East Palo Alto lost one of its prominent citizens, Mrs. Barbara Mouton. During her funeral celebration, she was described by community resident and activist William Webster as the architect of East Palo Alto's incorporation in 1983. Webster said that the notion of East Palo Alto becoming a city was Mrs. Mouton's idea.

Do you think in East Palo Alto now there are others who are of the caliber of Mrs. Mouton who are rising out of the city's younger generation? Have you seen younger people among you who are doing things that would inspire you to think of them as the future leaders of East Palo Alto?

Will there be visible improvements?

2007-03-28T22:44:00.000-07:00

In many ways, a new year usually inspires high hopes and expectations. It is a time when people make resolutions and outline the changes that they'd like to make in their life. In some respects, cities and communities can do the same thing. We see this when city mayors make their State of the City address or a state's governor makes a State of the State address.
Within the first three months of this year, the East Palo Alto community declared that it was on a new path. We wrote about this new path in our From the Editor's Desk column on page 7 in the February-March 2007 issue of East Palo Alto Today.
We wonder if you agree with us? Do you think, now that the city's Peace March and Rally and the Teen Summit are over, that the quality of life in the City of East Palo Alto will remain the same or will residents see visible improvements? Are there more positive changes to come?