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 t

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

Screenshot of tiny homes courtesy of https://wicks.asmdc.org/videos Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), the keynote speaker at “A Conference on Housing” in Sacramento on Feb. 24, 2026 said solving California’s housing crisis at all levels -- and providing affordable, environmentally responsible homes for low-income families and communities of color -- can go hand in hand. Wicks, widely recognized as a leading legislative champion for housing production and affordability

Screenshot of the opening section of CA Assembly House Resolution (84) Both houses of the California State Legislature voted last week to pass two separate resolutions condemning President Donald Trump’s social media post depicting the Obamas as apes. Authored by members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), the resolutions passed respectively in the California State Assembly and Senate on Feb. 9. Assembly House Resolution (HR 84), introduced by Assemblymembe

A sharp rise in hate crimes alongside the Trump Administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies are fueling chronic anxiety and social withdrawal in immigrant and immigrant-descended communities of color. A new national survey of Pacific Islander communities finds that sense of fear is widening the health gap in what experts are calling a public health crisis. “What Pacific Islanders are experiencing is not just emotional harm. It directly affects their overall h

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M ore than 260 East Palo Alto youth participated in a project to create both a youth commission and a youth task force in their city. The project, which took place during the last five months of 2025, included listening sessions, workshops and surveys. The proposal that resulted was called the Youth Engagement Program Development Plan and it was presented to the East Palo Alto City Council at its first meeting of 2026 on January 6. The energy and excitement generated by the y

Babies from East and South Asian American communities and African immigrants are most vulnerable to hepatitis B infections. Minnie Zhou photo via Unsplash (copyright free) Health News Exchange For decades, U.S. public health policy has treated hepatitis B vaccination at birth as non-negotiable: every newborn, regardless of maternal risk factors, receives a first dose within 24 hours of life. The approach mirrors global guidance from the World Health Organization and has been

Make your donation now The East Palo Alto Center for Community Media would like to thank you for all of the support you have given us as we’ve striven to provide relevant, critical community news. As a nonprofit news organization, we need your help—now more than ever. As we count down the final hours of this year, we ask that you make a tax-deductible contribution to enable us to serve you better in the coming year. Your donation today provides the revenue we need to pay our

East Palo Alto seniors celebrate the holiday season at the the breakfast given in their honor by the East Palo Alto Police Department. Photo credits-David Rages The East Palo Alto Senior Center was full of laughter, music, and the smell of hot food at the annual holiday breakfast presented by the East Palo Alto Police Department, where more than 100 seniors and their families gathered to celebrate the season. City Manager Melvin Gaines opened the program by acknowledging the