First Youth Cultural Ambassadors on a Mission: Bringing Art, Poetry to the Community

Redwood City – Seven local high school students will serve as San Mateo County’s first Youth Cultural Ambassadors. The inaugural seven will seek to “build community through arts and culture with the goal of greater youth involvement in the community.”

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.

RFP: Youth Activities and Mental Health Services

The San Mateo County Probation Department seeks qualified providers of programs and services for youth in custody at the Youth Services Center-Juvenile Hall and/or Camp Kemp, as well as those who have been released back to their communities.

RFP: Youth and Family Programs

The San Mateo County Probation Department seeks qualified providers of community-based youth and family programs for juvenile probationers and at-risk youth.

Fake COVID Testing Sites

On January 25, 2022 the California Attorney General issued a statewide alert for consumers to beware of illegitimate COVID-19 testing sites. These sites may fail to provide test results and/or use the patients’ personal identifiable information to commit fraud. The AG’s alert offers tips on how to avoid testing site scams, as well as how to locate legitimate, verified testing sites. Attorney General Bonta Warns Californians to Beware of Illegitimate COVID-19 Testing Sites | State of California - Department of Justice - Office of the Attorney General Please report fake testing sites in San Mateo County to our Consumer & Environmental Unit. A complaint form can be obtained by calling (650) 363-4651. State and spell your name and address on the recording and a complaint form will be mailed to you. You can also fill to out here: consumer complaint form. Completed complaint forms should be emailed to smda@smcgov.org, sent by US mail to San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, 400 County Center, 3rd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 or delivered to our office.

Executive Order prohibiting price gouging of at-home COVID test kits

On January 8, 2022 the Governor issued a statewide Executive Order (N-2-22) prohibiting price gouging in the sale of at-home COVID testing kits. It is operative through March 31, 2022. It generally prohibits anyone who sold at-home testing kits as of December 1, 2021 from increasing prices by greater than 10 percent. Anyone selling testing kits who did not sell them as of December 1, 2021 is prohibited from charging 50 percent greater than what they paid for the kit themselves. Violating the Executive Order is a misdemeanor violation of Government Code section 8665, which is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment for up to six months, or both. This would also constitute a violation of the Unfair Competition Law. Please report illegal price gouging in San Mateo County to our Consumer & Environmental Unit.  A complaint form can be obtained by calling (650) 363-4651.  State and spell your name and address on the recording and a complaint form will be mailed to you.  You can also fill out the consumer complaint form.  Completed complaint forms should be emailed to smda@smcgov.org, sent by US mail to San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, 400 County Center, 3rd Floor, Redwood City, CA 94063 or delivered to our office.               

SMC Community College District Official Pleads Guilty

On January 5th, 2022, Jose Nunez, Vice Chancellor of Facilities for the the San Mateo County College District pled nolo contendere to two counts of the Education Code section 7054 felony: Use of Community College District resources for political purposes (the election of candidate Mohr for District Board and the bond measure for District projects). The defendant’s pleas were conditioned on his testifying fully and truthfully if called to testify as a witness in any proceeding or trial related to the DA’s Office ogoing investigation of the Community College District. There was no sentence limitation and the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 3 years, 8 months in state prison for the two felony convictions. The case was continued to July 15, 2022 8:30 to set a date for sentencing. The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the plea bargain for truthful testimony. The defendant remains out of custody on his own recognizance.

Another First: Applications now open for the San Mateo County Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission

Members of the public have the opportunity to make history by serving on California’s first county or city commission focused on the needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community. As of today, applications are being accepted for the newly established San Mateo County Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBT) Commission.

BAY AREA PROSECUTORS JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT

  BAY AREA PROSECUTORS JOIN FORCES TO COMBAT ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFTAs Organized Retail Thieves Turn to New Tactics,  Bay Area Prosecutors Form Alliance to Ensure Accountability STOCKTON – Today, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe announced an alliance between Contra Costa, Alameda, San Francisco, Marin, San Joaquin, and Santa Clara counties, law enforcement, and state agencies to combat the recent increase in organized retail theft. Each office has pledged a prosecutor to collaborate and participate in the joint effort.    

People v Neustaedter

People v. Randall Neustaedter On October 5, 2021, after less than a full day of deliberations, a jury found Defendant Randall J. Neustaedter guilty of 9 felony counts relating to the sexual assault of 3 different women who had been patients at his acupuncture clinic located on Woodside Road in Redwood City in 2015.

People v. Lamar Dekari Stevens

People v. Lamar Dekari Stevens  On October 5, 2021, a jury found Defendant Lamar Dekari Stevens guilty of 14 felony counts relating to the burglary and sexual assault of a 65 year-old victim in Menlo Park in 2017.  

People v. Victoria Soledad Garcia

People v. Victoria Soledad Garcia On September 22, 2021, a jury convicted Defendant Victoria Soledad Garcia of second-degree murder and felony dissuading a witness. The jury also found the special allegation of the use of a deadly weapon to be true.