Betrayal of Trust: Councilmember Romero’s Defense of a Predator

Charged with child sex abuse, East Palo Alto employee gets character reference from council memberA former East Palo Alto city employee is accused of repeatedly molesting and supplying drugs to a 13-year-old he met while working for the city, according to San Mateo County prosecutors in newly obtained court documents

City Council Update - February 24, 2026

Last night’s East Palo Alto City Council meeting was packed with significant updates. Here is a streamlined summary of the key decisions: Financial & Administrative Updates * Debt Reduction: Council approved a staff recommendation to retire redevelopment debt, a strategic move designed to save the city money. * Council Term Limits:

Flock Safety Cameras

There has been significant discussion recently regarding Flock safety cameras. Some have argued that East Palo Alto should disable these license plate readers, fearing they could be used by ICE for immigration enforcement. However, the facts are straightforward: ICE does not use Flock cameras, nor do they need them to

Improved Test Scores at Costaño School of the Arts

I have been tracking the Ravenswood School District’s CAASPP performance for several years, and this year brings some very encouraging news from Costaño School of the Arts. CAASPP tests are state exams testing basic proficiency in subjects like Math and English. Test scores have risen dramatically; while they remain

CAASPP Testing Results for East Palo Alto's Schools.

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is the state's official system for academic testing. Established in 2014, it replaced the older STAR program to align with more rigorous academic standards designed to prepare students forcollege and career readiness.   The CAASPP is primarily a computer-based assessment

Measure JJ: The Hidden Tax Hitting East Palo Alto Renters' Wallets

The Impact of East Palo Alto's 2.5% Rental Tax (Measure JJ) East Palo Alto imposes a 2.5% tax on gross rental income. Although originally presented to voters as a fee paid exclusively by landlords, the economic reality is that this is a tax paid by tenants.