https://www.ehpcares.org/ The Ecumenical Hunger Program put out a letter this week addressing the CBS News story that ran about their tax filings. I got a copy of it and wanted to share it with the community along with a little context from my own experience. For over 50 years EHP has been feeding and helping families in East Palo Alto. The CBS piece made it sound like they were just handing out money for personal stuff with no oversight. That’s not what happened. Back in 202

A school born at a picnic table now sends nearly every graduate to college It’s graduation time and Eastside Preparatory School graduates are simply beaming. Photos courtesy of eastside.org In 1976, East Palo Alto lost its only high school. Students were bused out to schools in wealthier neighboring cities, where they were quietly placed in non-college-track classes. By the numbers, the results were devastating: 65% of East Palo Alto students dropped out of high school. Fewer

Sister Annie Pearl Green peacefully transitioned from this life on May 29th, 2026, and was received by Jesus in that glorious city not made by man. A faithful servant of the Lord, she lived a life anchored in love, humility, and unwavering faith. Her gentle spirit and devotion to God and family touched all who knew her and leaves a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. Her favorite book in the Bible was John 14. Sister Annie Green was the matriarch of the family w

20 states, led by California and Massachusetts, are suing the USDA to remove provisions that tie SNAP food aid funding to the support of the Trump Administration’s anti-DEI policies, including “gender ideology,” and immigration enforcement. A woman at a farmer’s market. (USDA photo/Wikimedia Commons license) A federal court judge in Massachusetts June 5 issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump Administration from restricting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(Art by Roxsy Lin.) In 2024, Kaiser Permanente announced the rollout of Abridge. Described in a press release as “ambient listening technology,” the AI-powered scribe is designed to help clinicians including mental health providers securely capture clinical notes during patient visits. But what the description fails to indicate is that the tool records entire medical appointments, including deeply personal mental health sessions. During these sessions, mental health professio

To prepare voters, the California Secretary of State mailed reminder cards and Voter Information Guides. The guides contain information on what is on the ballot and how to vote in the upcoming primary election. Photo courtesy Solomon O. Smith/CBM Voters in California have two major elections coming up this year: the state primary election on June 2, 2026 and the midterm election on Nov. 3, 2026. To help make sure eligible state residents understand the voting process, the sta

Gubernatorial candidate Tony Thurmond on the campaign trail ....Photo courtesy https://www.tonythurmond.com/ There are eight candidates running to be governor of California this year. California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond is one of them. Currently, Thurmond’s poll numbers show him at the bottom of the list with 1.1% of the vote, with the leading candidate Xavier Becerra at the top of the list with 19% of the vote. But Thurmond’s ranking in the polls d

Lorreen Pryor, president and chief executive officer of the Black Youth Leadership Project (BYLP), stands among supporters of the Stop the Hate program at the State Capitol. Holding the sign is Fxxi Irvin, mentor and counselor for BYLP. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey. On April 28, Black-led organizations from across California that fight prejudice, hostility, or violence directed at individuals based on their race, ethnic origin, or skin color, joined with other anti-hate gr

If you’re on social media, you know posts from friends and family might not be the only ones on your newsfeed — scammers are there too. FTC data shows that losses to scams on social media have been increasing dramatically since 2020 — people reported losing $2.1 billion to these scams in 2025 alone. The FTC’s new data spotlight brings to light some of the insights about what scams people experience on social media. Keep reading to learn how to scroll past the scams. Here’s wh

A new survey of California voters by UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies also finds widespread bipartisan support for the state taking steps to protect democracy and expand voter access. Photo courtesy American Community Media SACRAMENTO — Eighty nine percent of California voters believe American democracy is under strain. Overwhelming majorities, including significant numbers of Republicans, also support state action to protect democracy and expand voter access.

This pictorial graphic shows how the East Palo Alto City Council voted on the proposal that would give the mayor of the city the final say over the creation of the city council agenda. Design by HJB A contentious proposal to give the mayor final authority over the setting of the East Palo Alto City Council’s agenda failed this week after a heated debate that exposed deep divisions among the city's council members and residents. The amendment, which was to be added to the cou

Ravneel Chaudhary is shown at the East Palo Alto City Council meeting on April 7, 2026, sitting with other East Palo Alto residents, as they opposed the city council's decision to use Flock cameras in East Palo Alto. - Photo- East Palo Alto City Council video On Tuesday, April 6, 2026, East Palo Alto residents showed up to City Hall after work ready to speak about the city’s contract with Flock Safety. Many came directly from their jobs or rearranged their evening schedules t

Presentation at ribbon cutting on April 7, 2026 for roundabout ribbon cutting at Pulgas and Runnymede in East Palo Alto. Photo - David Rages, II East Palo Alto is trying a new way to slow traffic near school locations - the installation of roundabouts on several city streets. Recently, the city installed a roundabout at Pulgas Avenue and Runnymede Street and another at Pulgas and Beech Street. A ribbon cutting for the Runnymede roundabout took place this April 7. The city’s r

Board of Supervisors President Noelia Corzo warned the shortfall could exceed $1 billion over the next decade if the issue is unresolved. Photo courtesy San Mateo County A coalition of more than 250 elected officials, public safety leaders, educators, health advocates and community members gathered on Tuesday of this week at Redwood City’s Fire Station 9 with a unified message: the State of California must restore funding San Mateo County says it is legally owed — or essent

Image published under CC License 1.0 Courtesy American Community Media Immigration arrests of Asian immigrants have surged since the launch of President Donald Trump’s second administration. That’s according to a new analysis by the advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate. The report released found that arrests of Asian immigrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 increased nearly fourfold compared with th

Farm Workers Day becomes law. Design AI-generated Last week, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), through their voices and votes, supported Assembly Bill (AB) 2156, which proposed renaming César Chávez Day to Farm Workers Day. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on March 26, allowing it to take effect immediately before the March 31 observance. Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson),

AI generated With global attention focused on the conflict in Iran, it’s no surprise scammers have already added that situation to their story lines. Some recent reports to the FTC about imposter, romance, and fake charity scams include an Iran twist. The details change, but the scammer’s goal is always to trick you into paying or sharing your personal information. Here are some examples of these scams — and how to protect yourself. Scammers contact you unexpectedly about a

Graphic AI generated The East Palo Alto City Council approved a new Residential Permit Parking Program (RPP), with one dissenting vote. The program addresses the longstanding concerns community members expressed at previous council meetings. The newly approved RPP lays out the guidelines for where and how RPP areas can be established, the authority of the director of the Department of Public Works, the issuance of residential permits and guest parking permits, the display of

Graphic- courtesy California Black Media A new report released by Black Women Organized for Political Action through its Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment (BWOPA-TILE) and Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) is shedding new light on the barriers Black women and Latinas face in California’s health care workforce — and the steps advocates say are needed to close those gaps. The report, Pathways and Priorities in California’s Healthcare Workforce: Insig