u/jazzflautista

⚡️ Big News for EPA Homeowners: Up to $40k in Free Home Energy Upgrades! 🏡

Neighbors,

I’m excited to share a fantastic new opportunity for our community. I serve on Peninsula Clean Energy’s Board, and we have just launched a new $6 Million grant program specifically for East Palo Alto homeowners to help make homes more comfortable, energy-efficient, and sustainable.

This is an incredible deal—eligible households can receive up to $40,000 in fully funded upgrades!

What can the grant cover?

• 🔥 ❄️ Heating and Cooling systems

• ♨️ Water Heating

• 💨 Insulation and air duct sealing

• 🍳 Electrical Appliances for cooking and laundry

• 🔌 Electrical Wiring upgrades

Who qualifies? To ensure this help goes where it's needed most, there are income restrictions. You must make 80% or lower of the Area Median Income (AMI). For example, that is up to $156,000 for a family of four. Also, this grant is limited to certain census tracts in EPA - you will need to check with CRC to see if you qualify.

How does it work? All work will be completed by a qualified, licensed contractor. Our partners at CRC are handling the community outreach, screening applicants, and walking neighbors through the process step-by-step.

The ultimate goal of this program is to replace old, inefficient gas appliances with clean, electric ones, lowering both your energy footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

Ready to apply or have questions? Please reach out to Jacky Vera at CRC to see if you qualify: 📞 408-320-8139 📧 jacky.vera@crcommunities.org

Playoff game today!

Dragons vs Tigers!

MLK Park 5:30p!

The Newell Street Bridge will be replaced in the next year. Construction should start immediately, and is scheduled to finish in March of 2027.

This project is entirely run by the City of Palo Alto.

The new bridge will be wider, allow for more water flow, and better flood protection.

Sand Hill Property plans major East Palo Alto housing overhaul with

hundreds of new units

By Clare A. Fonstein – Reporter, Silicon Valley Business Journal

May 19, 2026

Sand Hill Property Company committed to replace all rent-stabilized units one-for-one without displacing residents.

Local developer Sand Hill Property Company is undertaking a major project in East Palo Alto, with plans to renovate existing housing and build additional townhomes and apartments.

Woodland Park Communities, an affiliate of Sand Hill Property Company, submitted pre-applications for two projects known as O’Keefe-Manhattan andWest Bayshore-Newell Improvements.

The O’Keefe-Manhattan Improvements and West Bayshore-Newell Improvements are aimed at updating and replacing buildings north of University Avenue and along West Bayshore Avenue and Newell Road.

The projects center around three main components: renovating existing apartments, creating new for-sale townhomes and developing new apartment buildings.

Throughout the Woodland Park neighborhood the existing buildings range between 50 and 100 years old, according to Michael Kramer, chief investment officer of Woodland Park Communities.

“We're eager to invest in bringing them up to a more modern standard,” he said.

For the West Bayshore-Newell improvements, Woodland Park Communities is proposing to renovate 315 units across eight apartment buildings as well as building two new apartment buildings with 253 units and 60 for- sale townhomes.

The O'Keefe Manhattan improvement project includes renovating 221 units across seven apartment buildings and building four new apartment buildings adding 392 net new mixed-income rental apartments as well as 114 new for-sale townhomes.

“Our hope is that we have a beautiful, comfortable neighborhood with highquality housing at a wide variety of affordability levels,” Kramer said.

He said the added housing will be built on vacant properties, existing parking lots or lower-density housing sites.

Woodland Park Communities has committed not to displace existing residents, saying it will guarantee residents the same rent-controlled pricing, Kramer said. All existing rent-stabilized units are planned to be replaced on a one-for-one basis.

The developer has been involved with East Palo Alto for over 10 years. “We bought these properties in early 2016 and have spent a lot of time learning about the community and understanding the desires of our residents and our neighbors,” Kramer said.

Woodland Park Communities has been hosting local meetings, listening sessions and resident discussions as the project takes shape.

Kramer said the plan is to eventually build out the project in phases.

“We'll do it slowly and deliberately over time to ensure that we can minimize the impacts to our residents and neighbors,” Kramer said.

A cost estimate for the projects was not available, but Kramer said it is planned to be funded through a standard mix of debt and equity financing. The firm is already at work on a neighboring improvement project along Euclid Avenue area of Woodland Park. The Euclid Improvements plan includes two newapartment buildings generating 550 units.

The Euclid Improvements were approved in 2024 with demolition and site work already underway. Kramer said the firm is expecting to start major construction later this year. He expects construction to take about three years to complete.

For the O’Keefe-Manhattan Improvements and West Bayshore-Newell projects, only pre-applications have been submitted so far, with formal applications anticipated to come this summer.

“It's very early on and we're still seeking feedback and input and making changes based on what the community wants,” Kramer said.

May 12, 2026 Council Meeting Summary

Term Limits Coming to the November Ballot

The Council voted 4–1 to place a term limits measure before voters in November 2026. Under the proposal, council members would be limited to three consecutive four-year terms, with any partial term of more than two years counting as a full term. Councilmember Romero cast the lone dissenting vote, expressing concern that running the measure alongside a potential $120–125 million civic center bond creates unnecessary political risk. Mayor Lincoln and Vice Mayor Abrica were designated to write the argument in favor.

Why it matters: Voters will have a direct say in how long council members can serve, and the outcome could reshape the city's political landscape for years to come.

Commission Seats Filled

The Council appointed Christopher Kao to the Planning Commission regular seat and Isabel Lopez Ysmael to the alternate seat. Goolrukh Vakil and DeVan Taylor were appointed to two regular seats on the Rent Stabilization Board. Public Works and Transportation Commission appointments were deferred after none of the applicants appeared at the meeting on time.

Why it matters: These volunteer bodies play a meaningful role in land use, housing policy, and tenant protections — filling vacancies keeps them functional.

City Facing a $4.7 Million Budget Gap

The proposed FY 2026-27 budget carries a $4.7 million General Fund deficit, driven by uncertain state property tax backfill, slowing assessed value growth, flat hotel tax revenue, and rising personnel costs. Staff proposed covering the shortfall through one-time reserves rather than cuts. The Council flagged the possibility of raising the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel tax) from 12% to 14%, which could generate roughly $400,000 annually.

Why it matters: The Council will need to identify structural fixes.

Police Department Near Full Strength

Chief Jeff Liu reported the department is effectively at full authorized staffing for the first time in years, with only one sworn vacancy remaining. Highlights included the promotion of two community service officers to full officers, two new detectives, a dedicated traffic enforcement officer, and an embedded mental health clinician. A department video from the Cinco de Mayo event has surpassed 350,000 views on social media.

Why it matters: After years of vacancies straining patrol capacity, the department is in a stronger position to deliver consistent public safety services.

City Hall Modernization Underway

The City Manager's Office presented a budget focused on completing ongoing projects rather than launching new ones. The biggest investment is a $1.2 million first-year draw from the five-year IT Strategic Plan, funding cybersecurity improvements, a financial software evaluation, a website overhaul, and document management systems. HR has reviewed over 350 job applications this year and is updating personnel policies that haven't been touched since the 1980s.

Why it matters: These behind-the-scenes investments are expected to significantly improve staff efficiency and service delivery over the next several years.

The East Palo Alto Police Department is providing an update regarding the ongoing investigation into the recent shooting in our community. The victim survived the incident and continues to recover. The suspects initially remained outstanding.
Flock Safety cameras in East Palo Alto identified both vehicles involved in the incident. Flock technology tracked the suspect vehicle as it left the city and traveled through Hayward, Tracy, and ultimately to Stockton. There, a San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle and the suspect.
A handgun and methamphetamines were recovered from inside the car. The suspect, Taje Jakkar Holliman, a 35‑year‑old male, had been released from state prison to Post‑Release Community Supervision (PRCS) on April 18, 2026.
Holliman was taken into custody and booked into the San Mateo County Jail.
This remains an active investigation. While we continue working to bring this case to a full resolution, additional details cannot be released at this time.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the East Palo Alto Police Department.  

Shooting Investigation in the 2300 Block of Clarke Avenue
 
East Palo Alto — On Saturday, May 9, 2026, at approximately 3:40 PM, officers with the East Palo Alto Police Department responded to a ShotSpotter activation reporting gunfire in the 2300 block of Clarke Avenue. Officers subsequently received additional reports of a shooting involving two vehicles in the area.
During the initial response to the shooting incident, police also received a separate call reporting a victim suffering from a gunshot wound at a residential address in East Palo Alto. Officers responded to the location and confirmed the individual was connected to the shooting incident.
Upon arrival at both scenes, officers located evidence confirming that a shooting had occurred.  Both victims are currently listed in stable condition.
Detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including identifying all individuals involved and determining a motive.
This incident is still under investigation, and some details are being withheld from public disclosure at this time in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or may have information related to the case is encouraged to contact the East Palo Alto Police Department at (650) 321-1112. Anonymous tips may also be provided by calling (650) 409-6792 or by email at epa@tipnow.org.
 
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Big Party at Bell St Park today with live music, food vendors, and many community organizations.

Open Studio at Oleg Lobykin’s sculpture Studio in East Palo Alto

Sunday May 3rd 11-5 pm

1270 East Bayshore Road
East Palo Alto, CA 94303

I wrote this up a couple of years ago and it is still valid. EPA pays a lot for animal control services and gets very little in return.

On Tuesday night, we will be discussing Animal Control and I encourage people interested in this issue to show up. It should happen early in the evening, so you shouldn't have to sit through much to make your voice heard.