Domestic violence-related assistance calls have gone down 32 percent since 2004 in the county, but activists say that may be skewed by underreporting of cases, especially within immigrant communities.
Despite a depleted police force and rising crime, the council rejected Councilman Ash Kalra’s recommendation to provide neighborhoods with funds to hire private security personnel and deploy other safety measures.
Financial scams in San Mateo County are disproportionately affecting senior citizens, leading to a surge in seniors seeking help from local authorities.
A couple years after Jose Cabrera was released from prison and got help from the David Lewis Reentry Center, he returned to work for the center as a case manager — now helping others get another chance at life.
The David Lewis Reentry Center helps formerly incarcerated persons with services to aid their reintegration into society. But despite its apparent success, the program has continually struggled to find funding.
Overall crime has dropped in East Palo Alto as gentrification continues, but one problem persists — the city has struggled to lose its unwanted reputation as a center for gang activity in San Mateo County.
Eugene “The Wolf” Jackson is working with a coalition to fund after-school boxing programs, golf programs, music programs and other initiatives for the youth of East Palo Alto.
In 2006, voters approved a parcel tax that would equally fund public safety measures and violence prevention programs. The city is now racing the clock to use unspent prevention money before the tax expires.
Despite a reported drop in gang-related violent crimes, San Jose is hosting town hall meetings to listen to community concerns about gang members selling drugs outside schools and wall graffiti marking turf.