Category archive

Uncategorized

Redwood City police seize illegal guns in separate traffic stops

in Crime/Uncategorized by
Redwood Ciy police announce new chief

Redwood City police traffic stops led to the seizure of an illegal gun on two separate occasions in the past week.

At 7:40 p.m. Sunday, police stopped a vehicle for an expired registration and discovered one of its three occupants was on probation. Police searched the vehicle and found a Glock 9mm under the driver’s seat, leading to the arrests of Redwood City residents Jose Cota, 21, Francisco Palestino, 22 and Angel Castanedagonzales (22), each on suspicion of illegally possessing a firearm, Redwood City police Lt. Nick Perna stated in a press release.

Then on Monday, May 28, just before 7 p.m., police responded to the area of Samson and Winslow streets on a report of a large fight where a firearm may have been brandished, Lt. Perna said. While en route, a patrol officer stopped a vehicle for not stopping at a stop sign. In the vehicle were five people and a loaded revolver in plain view under the front passenger seat, he added. Julio Garcia, 21, was arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing the firearm, while the other four occupants, all male juveniles, were released to their parents.

For tips regarding any Redwood City cases call the Tip Line at 650-780-7110.

Photo courtesy of the Redwood City Police Department

Two new members sworn in to San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

in Uncategorized by

Noelia Corzo and Ray Mueller were sworn Tuesday morning to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, representing Districts 2 and 3 respectively.

Family, friends, and supporters of the newly-elected Supervisors filled the board chambers, cheering loudly when each finished taking their oaths of office.

Corzo was sworn in first by her son and mother. Elected this November to replace Carole Groom as District 2 Supervisor, who declined to seek re-election after serving three terms, Corzo previously served on the San Mateo-Foster City School Board. She is the first Latina and only woman currently on the Board of Supervisors.

District 2 includes most of Belmont, San Mateo, and Foster City.

In her first remarks as a seated supervisor, she cited her difficult upbringing as the daughter of a single mother as informing her approach to public service.

Mueller was sworn in by his wife and children to represent District 3, which includes Menlo Park, unincorporated coastal communities, Emerald Hills, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Atherton, Portola Valley, Woodside, and parts of Belmont.

Mueller previously served on the Menlo Park City Council. He replaces Don Horsley, who declined to seek re-election after serving three terms on the board.

Mueller thanked his family and constituents for supporting him.

Starting this year, Supervisor Dave Pine was elected by his colleagues to serve as Board President. Supervisor Warren Slocum will served as Vice President.

Hillsdale Shopping Center tree-lighting rings in holiday season

in A&E/Community/Uncategorized by
Holiday season kicks off at Hillsdale Shopping Center

Hillsdale Shopping Center kicked off the holiday season with its annual tree lighting, the arrival of Santa Claus and an assortment of live entertainment on Friday, Nov. 18. But the holiday fun has only begun at the San Mateo shopping center, which is hosting events as well as opportunities to donate to local community members in need throughout the season.

If you haven’t yet snapped a photo with Santa, you can do so at Macy’s Center Court on the Lower Level now through Dec. 24. You can also explore Santa’s wonderland of interactive displays and games. Every Sunday and Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. through Dec. 14, pets are invited to join the photo with Santa.

Kathy’s Creative Kakes of San Mateo will host the annual Gingerbread House decorating workshop at Hillsdale Shopping Center from Nov. 28 through Christmas Eve on Saturday, Dec. 24. It will open daily during mall hours at the Nordstrom Court, Upper Level. Walk-ins are welcome based upon availability.

The Hillsdale Shopping Center is a good spot to donate to good causes during the holidays.

Samaritan House Giving Tree donations can be dropped off from 2-7 p.m. at Macy’s Center Court from Friday, Nov. 25, through Sunday, Nov. 27 and again on Dec. 5-6.

Donations for the Samaritan House Coat & Food Drive can be dropped off at any Customer Service Center during mall hours from Friday, Nov. 25, through Friday, Dec. 16. Only new coats and nonperishable food items will be accepted this year.

The San Mateo Consolidated Firefighters Toy Program will have collection bins at the Lower Level near the LEGO store starting Saturday, Dec. 3, through Wednesday, Dec. 22.

Hillsdale Shopping Center is located at Sixty 31st Ave. in San Mateo. The shopping center opens Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.hillsdale.com or call 650-532-1022.

Clipper BayPass pilot to give ‘unlimited transit access’ to 50K Bay Area residents

in Community/Uncategorized by
BART is appealing to riders to weigh-in via a survey on fare increases in 2024 and 2025 that it says will help it continue to provide “safe and reliable service.” The agency is also considering offering low-income Clipper START customers an increased discount of 50 percent—which is up from 20 percent, on Jan. 1, 2024. Customers can find the online survey here. BART began implementing its Board-Approved Inflation-Based Fare Increase Program in 2004, which institutes below-inflation, small fair adjustments intermittently over time. Amid “recent rapid inflation,” BART said the program’s formula “calls for a single 11.4 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2024.” The agency is looking to sidestep that larger, at-once increase by spreading it out over two smaller increases “of up to 5.5 percent each in 2024 and 2025.” The agency last increased fares by 3.4 percent on July 1, 2022. According to BART, it is also examining the possibility of offering larger discounts for Clipper START program riders, which is for adults with a household income that’s 200 percent of the federal poverty level or less. Again, the discount would increase from 20 percent per trip to 50 percent per trip. “Money from the fare increases will go towards our operating and capital budgets, funding train service, enhanced cleaning, additional police and unarmed safety staff presence and capital projects such as purchasing new train cars,” said BART. Again, find the survey about BART’s scheduled fare increases through March 26 here. Those responding can enter to win a $50 Clipper card.

A new pilot program will give 50,000 residents in the Bay Area free rides on bus, rail and ferry services throughout the nine-county region.

The Clipper BayPass will initially be distributed to students at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, UC Berkeley and Santa Rosa Junior College, according to BART. All Santa Rosa JC students will have access to the pass, while about a quarter of students will be invited to participate in the pilot at the other campuses, where alternative transit pass options are offered.

After the rollout to colleges, the pilot program will expand to include all residents of select affordable housing communities managed by MidPen Housing, according to BART.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission in partnership with all Bay Area transit agencies launched the two-year pilot program to study the impact of the Clipper BayPass.

“This limited distribution, which will be based on random assignment, is designed to measure the impact on travel of an all-system pass when compared to students not using Clipper BayPass,” according to BART’s statement.

The pass is being implemented on recommendations of an 18-month study led by the MTC and BART that focused on creating a “more customer-friendly transit fare system in the Bay Area,” BART stated.

“MTC will provide funds to transit agencies to offset the revenue impacts of the Clipper BayPass pilot, which is expected to conclude at the end of 2024,” according to the transit agency.

Firefighters battle blazes in area of Edgewood Rd and Crestview Dr

in Community/Uncategorized by
Firefighters respond to blaze at Edgewood Rd and Crestwood Drive

Cal Fire CZU is asking community members to avoid the area of Edgewood Road and Crestview Drive due to a couple of fires.

The fires were reported at about 2:24 p.m. today. One, called the Colton Fire, was contained to several acres and no longer poses a threat, while the other, called the Edgewood Fire, is not contained and had grown to about 20 acres as of about 5:45 p.m.

The Edgewood fire was burning in a north, northwesterly direction, toward Canada Road and areas just south of the town of Woodside proper, according to Cal Fire CZU Battalion Chief Ethan Petersen. The hope is that relatively light winds will work in firefighters’ favor.

“There is active structure defense going on in that area…and there are also active aircraft flying, multiple large air tankers as well as helicopters,” Petersen said. “Additional air resources has been ordered from throughout the area to really try to put a significant amount of retardant on the ground and slow the progress of this fire.”

Evacuation orders are in place for areas surrounding the fire. Click here for map-assisted updates on evacuation orders.

Check back for updates.

 

Medical Equipment Loan Program launches at San Carlos Farmers’ Market

in Community/Uncategorized by
Medical Equipment Loan Program launches at San Carlos Farmers Market

Need to borrow a wheelchair, walker, cane or crutches? Look no further than the San Carlos Farmers Market.

On Sunday, San Carlos Mayor Sara McDowell joined the San Carlos Parks & Recreation Department and other community advocates in celebrating the launch of the Medical Equipment Loan Program (MELP) at the Farmers’ Market.

MELP is a relatively new nonprofit partnership involving local Rotary Clubs, Villages of San Mateo County, and the City of San Carlos, that lends donated equipment to people who need them at no cost.

“In our short 6 months of operation we have loaned out over 100 pieces of equipment, and we have a couple hundred more in our inventory in two storage lockers in San Mateo,” officials said.

For more information about MELP or to volunteer, email BRS.Rotary.MEP@gmail.com or call (650) 590-9112.

Photo courtesy of the San Carlos Parks & Recreation Department

Arsenal found at home of San Mateo man who randomly opened fire at passing vehicle

in Crime/Uncategorized by
San Mateo police find arsenal at home of man who randomly opened fire at passing vehicle

A search of the home of William Boulier, 38, of San Mateo, who was arrested on suspicion of randomly shooting at a passing vehicle near his home Monday, uncovered an arsenal of guns along with gun parts and gun manufacturing equipment, police said.

Police responded to the area of S. Norfolk Street and Kehoe Avenue at about 11:21 a.m. Monday on a report of a suspect on foot who shot at a random passing car before fleeing southbound on S. Norfolk St. Officers responded and met with the victim, whose vehicle was struck numerous times by the gunfire.

Police began a search for the suspect and were told a person fitting the description was seen in the area of Parkside Plaza.

Officers responded to set up a perimeter in the area, but did not locate him. Detectives joined the search and while canvassing the area to interview possible witnesses, they learned of the shooter’s identity, police said. With a search warrant, a San Mateo police SWAT team was dispatched to the home of Boulier in the 1300 block of Norfolk Street.

“While awaiting authorization of the search warrant, the subject returned to the home and was contacted by waiting patrol officers,” police said.

Boulier was taken into custody without incident and arrested on suspicion of assualt with a firearm and booked into Jail.

After the arrest, detectives searched Boulier’s residence and located about 10 functioning firearms, parts and pieces for an additional 10 firearms, over 30 loaded and unloaded gun magazines, thousands of varying brands and calibers of ammunition, and gun manufacturing equipment, police said.

“The firearms and gun parts were both serialized and unserialized (‘ghost guns’),” police said. “All these items were collected as evidence and firearm charges are pending.”

Photos from the scene Monday courtesy of the San Mateo Police Department

Lucid Motors opens studio, service center in Millbrae

in Uncategorized by
Lucid Motors opens studio, service center in Millbrae

Lucid Motors, makers of luxury electric vehicles, has opened a new studio and service center at 355 Adrian Road in Millbrae.

Headquartered in Newark, Lucid’s first car is the Lucid Air, a luxury sedan named the 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year that starts at $77,400. The Lucid Air Dream Edition, which costs $169,000, “features an official EPA estimated 530 miles of range or 1,111 horsepower,” the company said.

The Lucid Air is produced at Lucid’s new factory in Casa Grande, Ariz.

Millbrae’s studio hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lucid’s only other Bay Area location is at West Valley Fair in San Jose, where it has a studio.

Learn more about the company here.

Bay Area stakeholders laud passage of Infrastructure Bill

in Uncategorized by
Bay Area stakeholders laud passage of Infrastructure Bill

Bay Area officials have lauded passage of the federal $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, saying the bill will help fund a wide range of local projects.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Chair Alfredo Pedroza and Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Executive Board President Jesse Arreguín said the bill will help “fuel” Plan Bay Area 2050, the long-range regional plan for transportation, housing, the environment and the economy that the agencies adopted last month.

Pedroza, who is also a Napa County supervisor, said that the increased transit capital funding will “help modernize our existing transit network,” while the expansion of nationwide grant programs to the tune of $140 billion will allow the Bay Area to compete for money that can help largescale new projects come to fruition.

Bay Area cities and counties will also be able to compete for funding via a $4.5 billion fund for bridge repair projects throughout California, to “upgrade bridges along local streets and roads” per an MTA statement. Funding is also dog-eared for airports, ports and inland waterways.

The Bay Area is also expected to see $4.5 billion out of an approximate $475 billion reauthorization of the central federal transportation program spanning the next five years, per the statement. This represents a 56 percent increase over the existing Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act from 2015.

Other facets of the bill, such as $65 billion for expanding broadband service, $65 billion for upgrading the power infrastructure and $71 billion for resilience, water storage and environmental remediation, will help narrow the digital divide for low income households, reduce greenhouse emissions and equip shoreline cities to adapt to rising sea levels, said Arreguín, who is also the mayor of Berkeley.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s resilience, remediation and water storage sections include—among other initiatives—more than $8 billion for reservoirs, water recycling and ecosystem restoration in California and other western states; $3.3 billion for the reduction of wildfire risks; and increased funding for the San Francisco Estuary Partnership and restoration projects around the bay.

California and other states will be able to cultivate digital equity plans to subsidize Internet service costs for low-income households as part of the bill’s $65 billion investment to help expand broadband service.

Nationwide, $17 billion will be set aside for Army Corp of Engineers flood control projects; $1 billion for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants; and $1 billion for state and local government grants to develop cybersecurity plans.

The bill’s power infrastructure and clean energy sections will direct $65 billion toward creating a new Grid Deployment Authority; provide states with grants to prepare the electric grid against extreme weather; establish four regional clean hydrogen hubs; fund state and local governments via grants for energy efficiency and conservation projects; and fund a competitive grant program for states or regional partnerships to update building energy codes.

MTC serves the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area as the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency, while ABAG functions as the council of governments and the regional planning agency for the Bay Area’s 101 cities and towns and nine counties.

Photo courtesy of MTC

27-year-old man shot in San Mateo

in Crime/Uncategorized by
Man exposed self to teen

A 27-year-old man was injured in a shooting in San Mateo Thursday afternoon, police said.

Police responded just after 3 p.m. to the 1000 block of College Avenue on a report of a person requesting assistance from police, and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local trauma center.

San Mateo police are investigating. No arrests have been announced, but police say they’ve learned the incident was “isolated and targeted.”

“The San Mateo Police Department is working vigorously to bring all responsible parties to justice,” police said.

Anyone with information or surveillance footage related to this shooting is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Kurt Rodenspiel (650) 522-7662 or KRodenspiel@cityofsanmateo.org. Anonymous tips can be submitted here or by calling (650) 522-7676.

Photo by Getty Images

1 2 3 6
Go to Top