Welcome to EPA Today News Briefs

Public Hearings on Romic

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is seeking public comment on Wednesday, October 10 regarding Romic. Please go here for more details.

The Levee is Fixed

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo was among the first to announce that East Palo Alto's Levee is now fixed. Read her announcement here.

New General Manager for the Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto has a new general manager. Tracy Mercer assumed his new duties at the hotel earlier this month. His last position was as the general manager at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, which is a luxury hotel in Japan.

Mercer brings 27 years of experience which he obtained from working in the hospitality industry in several countries. He succeeds Robert Whitfield who is now working for the Four Seasons in Hawaii. Look for more news in the next edition of East Palo Alto Today.

Immigration Raids Bring Grief

32 area congregations call on the U.S. Congress to halt ICE Raids. Click here to see what they are demanding.

Local Businesses Win Awards

East Palo Alto's Third Annual Business Expo was greeted with applause and awards. The applause came from those who attended the event which was held Thursday, March 29 at the new East Palo Alto Family YMCA on Bell Street. The awards were given to eight East Palo Alto businesses.

Rick Green, received an award on behalf of Circuit City, which was named the East Palo Alto Corporate Business of the Year. Guillermina Gonzalez accepted an award as the owner of El Galope Tacqueria, which is celebrating its 17th year as the small business which has been in the community the longest.

Six other businesses received monetary awards through Citibank's Women's Awards Program, which is coordinated locally with Start Up. The recipients of the grant awards included: Victoria Estrada of Vision Cleaning Services, Dee Uhila of Pacific Tonga Maa Tonga USA, Maria Hernandez of Salud en Casa Hernandez Cleaning Service, Terry Clark of California Alzheimer's Placement and Resource Service, Ines Alvisar of Decoraciones Alvizar and Henrietta J. Burroughs of East Palo Alto Today and the East Palo Alto Center for Community Media.

In thanking all who participated in the event, Raquel Medina, East Palo Alto's Redevelopment Agency Coordinator said, "Our City, the YMCA, Start UP, The East Palo Alto Belle Haven Chamber of Commerce, our local food providers and our local businesses all benefited from the information and materials you brought to our community.

Find out more in the upcoming issue of East Palo Alto Today.

A Tribute to Mrs. Barbara Mouton

Mrs. Barbara Mouton was the first mayor of East Palo Alto. During her funeral service on March 23, she was honored as the first mayor of East Palo Alto and as the inspiration for the incorporation of East Palo Alto as a city. Go here to see a slide presentation by Meda Okelo, showing some of those who attended her funeral to pay her tribute.

Should We Be Concerned?

Earthquakes aren't the only natural disasters for which area residents need to prepare. To get information on one more naturally occurring phenomenon that deserves our attention, click here.

New Library for Edison McNair Academy

Wednesday, March 7, 2007 marked a very special day for the students and the administrators at the Edison McNair Academy in East Palo Alto. To find out why, see the inside article on Edison McNair.

A Dream Fulfilled

An overflow crowd attended the grand opening of the East Palo Alto Family YMCA. For more details, click here.

A Day to Remember

People came from cities throughout the Bay Area to participate in East Palo Alto's first Peace and Unity March and Rally Saturday, February 3. To read what one East Palo Alto resident had to say about the event, see "East Palo Alto Peace and Unity March and Rally."

The East Palo Alto Community Meets with Dr. Emmett Carson

In a meeting room that was filled to capacity, Dr. Emmett Carson the new CEO and President of the recently merged Silicon Valley Community Foundation, met members of the East Palo Alto community and discussed the foundation's approach to grant-making.

See Community Reception for more details.

Stopping the Violence

Guests on "Stopping the Violence," an upcoming TV Show

East Palo Alto is seeing an upsurge in violence. Click here to get more details on what is being done to calm the immediate situation and stop future incidents.

East Palo Alto Family YMCA Opens to the Public

The East Palo Alto Family YMCA had a successful opening on Saturday, January 20. The parking lot in front of the building was full, and as soon as one car pulled out of a parking space, another one pulled in and family members emerged. "I am really jazzed," said Sharifa Wilson, Chair of the Board of the East Palo Alto Family YMCA. "This building has been 10 years in the making. People are impressed by the quality of the building and the equipment," she said. See YMCA Opening for more details. Click here for information about membership benefits.

A Local Hero

Mrs. Barbara Mouton, East Palo Alto's first elected Mayor, was selected by television station KQED to be a recipient of its Local Heroes Award. Mrs. Mouton was one of six awardees selected by the station in honor of Black History Month which is celebrated in February.

She and the other award recipients will have their profiles presented in sixty second spots throughout the first week in February.

Mrs. Mouton was interviewed at the Community Development Institute by KQED TV producer Jim Yager. She will receive her award at a dinner at KQED on February 6. In speaking about Mrs Mouton, Goro Mitchell, the Executive Director said, "She is a legend.It is an honor to work with her in this community."

Newly Released Statistics

East Palo Alto Police release Jan 2007 crime statistics, which continue to show an overall decrease in crime. See chart.

Councilmember Evans Censured

The East Palo Alto City Council finally took action to censure City Councilmember A. Peter Evans. The vote came at the council's meeting the evening of January 9 with Councilmember Evans abstaining. It was the council majority's third try. During the meeting the the East Palo Alto City Council apologized for the conduct and actions that led to Evans censure.

A Call for Unity

Representatives of East Palo Alto's Somoan and Tongan communities held a press conference Thursday, January 11 to announce that they are united in the citywide effort to put an end to youth violence. Speakers at the conference included Mayor David Woods, former Mayor Ruben Abrica, Police Chief Ron Davis and other local leaders. The press conference was held after last month's fatal shooting of 16 year old Maikeli Iongi and 19 year old Melevea Fifita in a separate incident. During the meeting, Samoan Chief Mau said, "This generation is a generation that needs peace in its life. Peace comes from family. We want unity and peace with all races, and all nationalities in East Palo Alto."

See the attached police report about several of the suspects who were arrested in one of the incidents.

David Woods Elected East Palo Alto's New Mayor

In a step against tradition, the East Palo Alto City Council voted to elect city council member David Woods as the city's new mayor. The vote was taken at the council's regular Tuesday evening meeting on December 5. Vice Mayor Peter Evans was in line to become mayor, but the council said it was not comfortable electing him as mayor given the possibility that he might be censured, given the harassment charges filed against him. Read more about the election in the upcoming issue of East Palo Alto Today.

It's Now Official

In an official "Statement of the Vote," which was issued on December 5, 2006 Warren Slocum, San Mateo County's Chief Elections Officer, certified the results of the November 7, 2006 Gubernatorial Election. The Statement showed that with 251 votes cast, Ruben Abrica and David Woods were certified as the newly elected East Palo Alto City Council members while John Bostic, Larry James Moody, and Marcelino Lopez were certified as official members of the Ravenswood City School District Governing Board.

Measure C passed with 152 votes yes with 74 no. Measure D was defeated with 182 no votes with 44 yes and Measure E was defeated with 150 no votes to 78 yes votes.

Acting School Superintendent Fails to Receive Permanent Appointment

At the urging of several of the Ravenswood City School District's newly elected board members, the Ravenswood trustees decided not to appoint Maria Meza-De La Vega as the school district's permanent superintendent. New board members Larry Moody and John Bostic convinced the trustees before their evening meeting on November 28 to leave the permanent appointment of the district's superintendent for the newly elected board.

A New Tradition is Set.

Amid caroling and cups of hot chocolate, the switch was turned thrown to light the 30 foot Community Tree standing at the entrance to the Four Seasons Hotel in East Palo Alto. Mayor Ruben Abrica said, "This is the beginning of a new tradition. It's so good to see the Four Season's Hotel reach out to the [East Palo Alto] community." Children's choirs representing three groups - African American, Latino and Pacific Island - performed at the event, which was held on Monday, November 27.