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News in East Palo Alto, CA

InMenlo · East Palo Alto, CA

The Other Side of the Creek: Stanford’s Chinese Workers and East Palo Alto’s Flower Farms

Editor’s note: “The Other Side of the Creek” is a series designed to capture the life and spirit just beyond San Francisquito Creek, the shared landmark separating Menlo Park from the communities to the south. The approach to the Oval along Palm Drive passes through grounds that Chinese workers helped lay out, plant, and care for. Some of those workers lived in a cluster of buildings in the Arboretum. The cabins are gone, but archaeologists have found pieces of dishes and traces of meals where people once lived. One of the Stanford estate’s gardeners, Jim Mok, began selling flowers while he still worked on the grounds. Decades later, across San Francisquito Creek in East Palo Alto, Wanda Ching and her brothers spent their summers helping their parents grow chrysanthemums. Their stories come from different generations and different farms. Together they show what it took to grow and sell flowers in a part of the Peninsula where much of the farmland has since disappeared.

Patch · East Palo Alto, CA

Man Arrested In Menlo Park Auto Burglary Investigation: Report

Police recovered stolen property after a license plate camera alert helped locate a suspect vehicle in East Palo Alto. MENLO PARK, CA — Menlo Park police arrested a 46-year-old Sunnyvale man suspected of multiple vehicle burglaries after recovering stolen property during a traffic stop in East Palo Alto, according to The Almanac. The investigation began after two vehicle break-ins at an apartment complex on Haven Avenue, where victims reported losing more than $1,500 worth of belongings, including sunglasses, electronic accessories and cash. Investigators linked a suspect vehicle to both burglaries and a separate break-in reported in July, the newspaper reported. Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonfor free with the latest updates from Patch. A Flock Safety license plate recognition camera later detected the vehicle near Bell Street and University Avenue in East Palo Alto.

Patch · East Palo Alto, CA

3 Arrested After Shooting Near East Palo Alto High School Injures 1

A man and two teens were arrested. EAST PALO ALTO, CA — A man and two teens were arrested after shots were fired early Saturday near an East Palo Alto high school and one person was wounded, police said. A ShotSpotter acoustic gunshot detection system reported weapons fire shortly before 6 a.m. in the 900 block of Garden Street near KIPP Esperanza High School. Two parked vehicles and an occupied residence were struck by gunfire and a 51-year-old East Palo Alto resident suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, police said on social media. Find out what's happening in East Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch. Officers responding to the gunshots saw several vehicles leaving the area, including one that reversed at high speed into a parked vehicle, then struck a police cruiser while making its escape. The vehicle was pursued to the 2100 block of Pulgas Avenue, where it struck multiple parked vehicles and became disabled.

Palo Alto Online · East Palo Alto, CA

East Palo Alto's first bond measure poised to pass

East Palo Alto’s Measure O, a $125-million bond that would help fund a new city hall, police headquarters and a larger library, received avid support and appeared to pass, according to Tuesday evening election results, which could fluctuate over time. The bond measure, which required approval from 66.6% of local voters to pass, received 73.8% of voter support, and raked in a total of 1,179 total votes as of 9:30 p.m. Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica said passing the bond is an important aspect in East Palo Alto’s “next phase.” “The bond measure will help our city, the public,” Abrica said in an interview. “Our city will save money in building the police department, the library will be the centerpiece and most importantly, the bond will help us rebuild our water and street infrastructure.” Measure O, the city’s first ever bond, is estimated at $105.26 per $100,000 of assessed property value, and the increased property taxes would likely kick in 2028-29, if approved.

Palo Alto Online · East Palo Alto, CA

Ruben Abrica and Ofelia Bello lead pack in East Palo Alto council race

Nonprofit leader Ofelia Bello and Council veteran Ruben Abrica took the lead in the East Palo Alto City Council race for two seats, according to early election night results. Seven candidates, including Abrica, Bello, Holifa Windom, Sam Jimenez, Deborah Lewis-Virges, Gail Wilkerson Dixon and Michael Mashack are running to occupy two seats on the council. Council member Martha Barragan opted not to run again and Abrica is an incumbent. The two winners will have the opportunity to shape the future East Palo Alto, which on the precipice of major development that could include the city’s first ever city hall, police headquarters, athletic park and thousands of new units on the westside. Abrica, who began serving the city in the 1980s, garnered 21.2% of the vote and 582 total votes as of 9 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the San Mateo County Registrar of Voters. He expressed gratitude toward voters and excitement over East Palo Alto’s future.

NBC Bay Area · East Palo Alto, CA

East Palo Alto tenants worry about safety, smells after apartments flooded

Residents of an East Palo Alto apartment complex are expressing concerns about the safety of their building and communication with their property management after recent flooding waterlogged their apartments. When storms hit on October 22, residents at the Woodland Park Apartments at 430 East O'Keefe Street said they began noticing water pouring into their homes. Watch NBC Bay Area News free wherever you are Rachel Anderson, who has lived in that apartment complex for five years, said the issues escalated by October 23. "The roof caved through -- the roof that they’ve been fixin' on for the last couple of months -- so it finally caved through," Anderson said. "And when it came through, all the water was coming through, and it was coming through the walls," she continued. Tenants said this left their walls and floors soaked. The property owner vacated residents from their homes. East Palo Alto Mayor Webster Lincoln said that the city red-tagged all 58 units in that building.

Palo Alto Online · East Palo Alto, CA

East Palo Alto councilmember caught messaging developer before policy vote

During a July debate over affordable housing, East Palo Alto City Council member Mark Dinan was involved in a message exchange with a developer who stood to financially benefit from the subsequent decision, according to documents obtained by this publication. The WhatsApp messages were revealed in a series of videos that the Weekly has received, which show project applicant Owen Byrd communicating with Dinan and another developer, Mike Kramer of Sand Hill Property Company, during a July 7 discussion over the city’s inclusionary housing rules, which require developers to devote a portion of units in new developments to below-market-rate housing. The topic has over the past years polarized council members, like Dinan, who consistently favored loosening the requirement and the council’s more senior members, Vice Mayor Ruben Abrica and Councilmember Carlos Romero, who supported maintaining the existing rules.

Palo Alto Online · East Palo Alto, CA

ICE detains individual in East Palo Alto in targeted arrest

An individual was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside Cardenas Market in East Palo Alto, the San Mateo County Rapid Response Hotline confirmed this morning. The hotline stated that the arrest was a targeted operation and that there is no ICE raid or detention of people on the street. ICE is no longer present at the market, the hotline added. The family of the detained individual declined to release more information to the media about their legal assistance or the current location of the detainee. Faith In Action Bay Area, which manages the hotline, said its team is in the process of providing legal support and other resources to the family. An individual called in the ICE sighting around 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, and the hotline was able to make contact with the family within 15 or 20 minutes. A hotline operator said this type of targeted arrest is not uncommon.

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Palo Alto Online · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto sees housing surge as state laws, local policies take effect

When Palo Alto’s elected leaders convened in January 2023 for a special retreat to set goals for the year, they kicked things off with an unusual exercise. Every council member was asked to create an aspirational headline that they would like to see run in the paper on the last day of that year. Not surprisingly, housing was on top of everyone’s mind. Vicki Veenker, who was completing her first month of council duties, offered: “Wave of Paly and Gunn alums move to Palo Alto.” That would mean, among other things, that the city has net its goal for making housing affordable at all levels, Veenker explained. Councilmember Ed Lauing, who had also just joined the council for the first time, suggested a headline about Palo Alto securing $250 million for an affordable housing fund.

San José Spotlight · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto plans upgrades for famed Bryant Street ‘bike boulevard’

Palo Alto’s most iconic bike boulevard is slated to get a hefty upgrade next year, with city officials approving a suite of traffic circles, curb extensions and other improvements on Bryant Street. Following nearly two years of design work, analysis and neighborhood outreach, the City Council signed off Monday on a list of road improvements in the Professorville neighborhood. Collectively, they aim to further enhance the allure of Bryant Street for local cyclists. Bryant Street made history in 1982, when it became the nation’s first “bike boulevard” behind the leadership of former Vice Mayor Ellen Fletcher. The newly approved projects include traffic circles at the Bryant Street intersections with Lincoln and Kingsley avenues and an update to the existing traffic circle at Bryant and Addison avenues. Bryant Street will also be furnished with high-visibility crosswalks between Homer Avenue and Embarcadero Road.

Palo Alto Daily Post · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Allen Wood

, a beloved husband and father, exceptional space engineer, and creative inventor, passed away in October 2026 in Palo Alto, California, at the age of 91. Allen earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1963, where he was also a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He was proud to have served in the Army through ROTC, active duty, and the reserves. Allen spent his entire career as a research scientist at Lockheed Missiles and Space, bringing curiosity and resourcefulness to his work. He was an early champion of electric vehicles. In the 1970s he built his own electric motorcycle and rode it to work, gaining the attention of the Palo Alto Times and Electric Auto Association. An adventurous outdoorsman, Allen was an enthusiastic scoutmaster for Troop 14 and a leader at Camp Oljato. He planned and led week-long backpacking trips in the Sierras.

Daily Mail · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Millionaire mom sues son's elementary school after bad report card

An outraged millionaire mom has sued her son's elementary school over a bad report card. Weiwei Luo filed a civil lawsuit against Palo Alto Unified School District after claiming her son's teacher, Holly Harrison, had been unfair in her comments on his 2025-2026 report card. Harrison, a teacher at Walter Hays Elementary School, wrote that Luo's son, named only as KL, is 'working on his responses to peers when he is frustrated or upset.' She also wrote that '[KL] is developing his ability to listen to others’ perspectives and collaborate with humility. We will keep working on this!', and that the boy needed to work on 'showing respect and cooperating with others.' Luo, who lives in a $5.6 million Palo Alto home, claimed that this was an unfair characterization of her son based on an incident that saw KL stick his tongue out at another boy while playing tag during recess.

Yahoo · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Historic Squire House in Palo Alto listed for the first time since 1999, asking $20M

Palo Alto is no stranger to historic homes: More than half the city's housing stock is over 50 years old, and close to 400 properties here have been listed on the Palo Alto Historic Inventory. But not every historic house has a history like the Squire House. This video created with the assistance of AI. This mansion has everything a good story needs: ties to not only one of the United States' biggest companies of the early 20th century, but also to Stanford University and to a U.S. president. There's also its famous (and famously cheeky) architect, its near demise - and unlikely rescue - and its status today as a registered landmark and legally protected property. Now, Squire House's next chapter is beginning: As of this November, 900 University Ave. is for sale for the first time since 1999, asking $19.988 million.

San José Spotlight · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Housing project bolsters Palo Alto’s vision for future of San Antonio

Palo Alto’s plan to transform a stretch of San Antonio Road into the city’s newest residential community received a boost Monday, when the City Council reviewed and largely supported a proposal to demolish three commercial buildings and construct a 200-apartment complex next to the Mountain View border. Located just north of Middlefield Road in an area dominated by commercial and industrial uses, the proposed building at 720 San Antonio would feature parking and other amenities on the bottom two floors and apartments on the upper six floors. It would also include a fitness room, a pool lounge and club room, according to project applicant. In a nod to the recent shifts in work habits, the apartment complex will also include a co-working space. “The co-working space is for the residents to do the work from home in this new era,” said John Kosi, principal at BDE Architecture, which designed the project.

The Stanford Daily · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Stanford and City of Palo Alto celebrate Veterans Day at historic World War I building

Stanford and the City of Palo Alto hosted a Veterans Day celebration at MacArthur Park on Nov. 9, honoring veterans, active service members and their families. Ceremonies were led by Capt. Chris Rieping M.S. ’27, and included a keynote speech by Lt. Col. Tyler J. Jensen of U.S. Army Special Forces. The event’s location was especially significant — MacArthur Park was built in 1918 as a Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) hostess house for soldiers and their families during World War I. One year after World War I concluded on Nov. 11, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson established the date as Armistice Day. The holiday was then renamed to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all American veterans of all previous wars. Michelle Landrey Cline ’93, MBA ’98, current president of the Stanford Alumni Association was in attendance. Landrey Cline said in her speech that 45 graduate degree recipients were veterans or active duty service members last June.

Patch · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto Libraries Will Mark Native American Heritage Month

Families can learn about the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe through storytelling, crafts and educational programs. PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto libraries will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with storytelling, crafts and educational programs highlighting Indigenous history and culture. The November events include a presentation about the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, traditional crafts and a virtual book discussion, according to a Palo Alto City Library announcement. The programs include: Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch. Nov. 10: A virtual Brown Bag Book Club discussion of "The Sentence" by Louise Erdrich. Nov. 14: Storytelling and a clay pinch-pot craft activity at the Children's Library. Nov. 21: A presentation by the Muwekma Ohlone Preservation Foundation, followed by storytelling and crafts at Mitchell Park Library.

Patch · Palo Alto, CA

Nearby: Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto Offers Up To $20K For Interactive Downtown Art

The city is offering project budgets of up to $20,000 for installations at its 2027 Code Festival. PALO ALTO, CA — Palo Alto is seeking artists to transform downtown public spaces with interactive displays of light, sound and technology for its 2027 Code Festival. Through its Public Art Program, the city is accepting applications from artists and teams worldwide for two opportunities: a featured installation at Lytton Plaza and up to five additional artworks downtown. The Lytton Plaza installation has a $20,000 project budget. Organizers want an interactive artwork that uses technology to engage visitors, particularly at night. Find out what's happening in Palo Altofor free with the latest updates from Patch. For the other installations, selected artists or teams can receive project budgets of up to $9,000 each. The temporary artworks may incorporate light, sound, motion, projections or other interactive technology in downtown plazas, alleys and public spaces.