These are the local news stories from January 7 to 13 that you should know to stay up to date. Without a doubt, 2023 has started full of challenges, one of the most urgent being climate change, as proof that things are not going well at all has been the severe storms that have hit the West Coast, particularly the Bay Area, where sinkholes, landslides, blackouts and flooding have not given respite to thousands of residents who desperately seek not to lose their possessions and their lives.
It is therefore important to follow the recommendations of local and state authorities, as well as have a safe evacuation plan for you and your entire family, and stay informed of what is happening in your area.
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After a series of severe storms and a lull in high winds and rain, now is the time to prepare for power outages, road closures and other problems that could come with the next wave of storms, San Mateo County said.
“With a slight change in the weather, now is the time to prepare for the next wave of storms,” said Adam Ely, who is leading the county’s response to the series of storms that began over New Year’s weekend.
“Prepare an emergency kit in case you lose power. Make sure to pack some water and food in case you get stuck in your car,” Ely suggested. “And make sure you have a working flashlight.” More severe weather is on the way.
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On the afternoon of Saturday, January 7, Christina Corpus was sworn in as the new Sheriff of San Mateo County, a milestone for the daughter of immigrants from Nicaragua and Mexico, as she became the first woman and Latina to hold the position in the county.
From San Mateo College, the current Sheriff thanked all those who voted for her and brought her to office, in addition to congratulating each of the officials elected in San Mateo County during the last elections in November and all the mayors and police chiefs of each of the cities that make up the county.
"I learned that nothing is impossible when people come together. This community can accomplish so much more when we put our minds to it," Corpus said after being sworn in by Elizabeth K. Lee, presiding judge of the San Mateo County Superior Court.
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Officials with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) have called on all state residents to be prepared for the possible eventualities that may arise from the next storm, which is expected to be one of the most intense on record in recent decades.
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Since storms began to hit San Mateo County on New Year's Eve, it has provided aid and resources to local residents and cities. The local council gave a look at some of that assistance in numbers, often in partnership with cities, nonprofits and others.
Thus, San Mateo County recorded until January 10:
236 displaced people temporarily accommodated in hotels
2 thousand 1 meals served to displaced residents
160 homeless individuals enrolled in the Inclement Weather Program, which expands shelter capacity
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Following the disappearance of a 3-year-old girl in the city of Millbrae on January 1, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office reported on Thursday that the minor was located safely in Mexico.
Little Andrea Flores was abducted by her father, Víctor Flores Enríquez, who did not have custody, on the first day of the year at 581 Magnolia Avenue in Millbrae.
The authorities stated that the minor was safely recovered and reunited with her family, thanks to the joint work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Mexican authorities, last Saturday, January 7.
Without further information on the matter, it was stated that Andrea is already back in the Bay Area, and that, so far, the whereabouts of the kidnapper are unknown.
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City Manager Melissa Stevenson Diaz announced plans Friday to begin the hiring process for Redwood City's next police chief, following the announcement of Chief Dan Mulholland's retirement scheduled for May of this year.
In response, the city hired Teri Black and Company, a leading public sector executive recruiting firm, to conduct the search, but not before seeking community input on the desired professional attributes, skills and experience for the next police chief.
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An East Palo Alto police officer was injured Thursday night in a shooting.
On Thursday at 11:00 p.m., the officer conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Charger in the area of Fordham Street and Purdue Avenue for a vehicle code violation.
Police said the driver fled the stop and officers pursued the suspect on foot to the 2700 block of Fordham Street, where a fight ensued and the suspect shot an officer.
The officer was able to assist in detaining the suspect. No shots were fired by officers, according to police.
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A 31-year-old man convicted of first-degree murder in a fatal shooting in East Palo Alto in 2011 has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office said Friday.
Christian Fuentes, one of the suspects in the July 13, 2011, murder of 19-year-old Catherine Fisher, was convicted by a jury in September and sentenced Thursday to life in prison, prosecutors said.
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