Gun Buyback: Give the Gift of Safety this Holiday Season

Redwood City – The County of San Mateo and its partners are holding a gun buyback on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. The event will be held at 1000 Skyway Road in San Carlos from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants must transport firearms unloaded in a vehicle trunk or, for trucks and vans, in a locked container.

Residents Urged to Sign Up for New SMC Alert System

Redwood City — Thanks to an improved emergency alert and warning system, those who live and work in San Mateo County can now get messages via text, email and voice that include maps, images and multiple languages.

San Mateo County Public Review Draft 2023-2031 Housing Element Now Available

The County’s Planning and Building Department seeks consultant services to support the creation of a collaborative Midcoastside Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Plan) for the unincorporated Midcoast and City of Half Moon Bay.

Draft Plan Charts Course for Locating New and Protecting Existing Housing

Redwood City — As the Peninsula faces an acute housing shortage, the County of San Mateo is exploring where to plan for growth and ways to expand and protect the supply of affordable housing into the next decade. The final plan will help shape the region’s future: communities that long relied on relatively affordable housing to draw new residents who fueled job and economic growth can no longer count on that advantage.

County Launches Effort to Expand Parks Access

Redwood City — The Board of Supervisors today voted to provide an annual County Parks pass to individuals and families with low incomes. The 5-0 vote will ensure all residents regardless of means have access to all County Parks.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Approves Minimum Wage Hike to $16.50 an Hour

Redwood City — In a victory for workers, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors today voted to increase the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour beginning next spring.

County Honors Marine as Veteran of the Year

The County’s Veterans Commission today a honored U.S. Marine and former firefighter as the San Mateo County “Veteran of the Year.” George Smith was honored before 250 attendees during the 7th annual Veterans Recognition Event for going “above and beyond” in service to his community.

Investing in the Arts

The County's new Office of Arts and Culture will see an infusion of $100,000 to help launch countywide programs and projects. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, voted 5-0 to allocate the funds from the Measure K local half-cent sales tax. The funds will be used as a match for specific grants as well as to support numerous programs and projects, as outlined here:

To End Homelessness, A Focus on Prevention

Millbrae – County of San Mateo leaders today announced a bold local strategy to  reinforce the safety net for the county’s most vulnerable residents: $4 million annually to prevent evictions. “We will end homelessness in San Mateo County,” Mike Callagy, the County’s chief executive, said to an audience of more 300 at the “Our Year of Working Together to End Homelessness” Summit in Millbrae.

People v. Jowy Omar Roman

On October 21, 2022, after 40 minutes of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Jowy Roman of Assault on A Peace Officer. On January 22, 2020, police went to the Defendant’s home to serve an arrest warrant and search warrant stemming from the Defendant’s years-long molestation of a minor victim. When officers arrived, the Defendant hid in the shower with a knife. Officers entered bathroom and the Defendant stabbed one officer in the chest which resulted in minor injuries. The knife did not penetrate the officer’s Kevlar vest. During the Defendant’s attack, a second officer shot the Defendant once in abdomen. The jury trial began with the Defendant facing 28 counts related to the molestation of the minor victim, with the 29th count being Assault on A Peace Officer for the January 22, 2020 incident. Midway through the victim’s testimony, the Defendant pled guilty to all 28 counts relating to the molestation. The Defendant is facing a minimum of over 100 years in prison on those counts alone. The trial continued on the one count concerning the Assault on A Peace Officer. The prosecutor was Sexual Assault DDA Nicole Sato, and the Investigating Officer was Clara Leong of the Foster City Police Department.

To Reduce Gun Violence, County Launches “Cutting-Edge” Effort to Remove Guns from the Hands of Felons, Stalkers

Redwood City – A coalition of top local elected and civic leaders today launched a new initiative to improve public safety by boosting efforts to remove guns from the hands of felons, stalkers, and other people prohibited from firearm possession. The launch of the new San Mateo County Gun Violence Prevention Program comes with a pledge of $2 million in funding over the next two years.

RFP for Midcoastside Transportation Demand Management Plan Consulting Services

The County’s Planning and Building Department seeks consultant services to support the creation of a collaborative Midcoastside Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan (Plan) for the unincorporated Midcoast and City of Half Moon Bay.