Civic Cause
Jul 14, 2026, 7:38 PM
East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto is a city of 30,000 on the San Francisco Bay's western shore — a historically underserved, majority Latino and Black community surrounded by Peninsula wealth, once infamous as the nation's murder capital in 1992 and since a story of resilience and redevelopment. Incorporated 1983, five-member Council.
CivicCause organizes issues, meetings, elections, and public activity around East Palo Alto so you can see what is happening locally and how it connects to broader county decisions.
Part of the San Mateo County network. View county hub.
Daily Summary
2026-07-24
East Palo Alto City Council has an upcoming meeting on 2026-07-21
The East Palo Alto City Council met on July 21, continuing its role in shaping key local policies and projects. This meeting followed recent council decisions including the rejection of a Temporary Housing Development Incentive Program that would have eased affordable housing standards for small projects. That vote maintained the city’s existing requirements for affordable housing development.
Also in recent local news, the council is planning construction of East Palo Alto’s first potable water storage tank, a 3-million-gallon facility aimed at improving water pressure and infrastructure resilience. Residents concerned about housing and infrastructure should watch for future council meetings where these topics and the ongoing Woodland Park redevelopment and sea level rise risks remain central. These issues will continue to influence city planning and community safety efforts in the months ahead.
News: At eleventh hour, East Palo Alto kills ordinance that would have lowered affordable housing standardsNews: East Palo Alto plans construction of 3-million-gallon water storage tankMeeting: East Palo Alto City Council • East Palo Alto City Council
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Top Issues in East Palo Alto
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Sea Level Rise — Two-Thirds of the City Could Flood
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Created by CivicCause
East Palo Alto faces one of the most severe sea level rise threats of any Bay Area city — and the burden falls disproportionately on a community of color that did not cause the climate crisis. Already, half of East Palo Alto sits within a …
The Woodland Park Redevelopment — Housing vs. Displacement
active
Created by CivicCause
The most urgent and contentious development decision facing East Palo Alto in 2026 is Sand Hill Property Company's West Bayshore Newell Improvements Project. Sand Hill is proposing to build more than 1,300 residential units and renovate or…
Sheriff's Office Aftermath — Rebuilding Accountability & Trust
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Created by CivicCause
San Mateo County is still working through the fallout of one of the most dramatic law enforcement governance crises in the Bay Area in recent memory. In May 2025, an independent investigation found evidence of conflicts of interest, misuse…
The VLF Funding Crisis — A $157 Million Injustice
active
Created by CivicCause
San Mateo County is fighting one of the most consequential — and least publicized — fiscal injustices in California. The dispute centers on "in-lieu VLF" replacement funding that counties and cities receive tied to a vehicle license fee re…
Civic Activity
View All Civic ActivityRecent chronological updates from civic sources connected to East Palo Alto.
Elections
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Upcoming meetings
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Recent meetings with summaries
Meeting archiveEast Palo Alto City Council
6/23/2026 • 6:30 PM
East Palo Alto City Council
RecentSummary availableAgenda available
What's Scheduled East Palo Alto City Council's 2026-06-23 agenda is scheduled to cover FY 2026-27 budget and 2026-31 CIP, Comply with SB 707 by adopting formal policies addressing disruptions of telephonic or internet s…
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
7/7/2026 • 9:00 AM
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
RecentSummary availableAgenda available
What happened AC Transit Board of Directors' 2026-05-13 meeting centered on Consider receiving a report on the FY 2026-27 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets and provide direction to staff... and Consider authorizing…
Recent news
East Palo Alto plans construction of 3-million-gallon water storage tank
Palo Alto Online • 2026-07-23
The East Palo Alto City Council weighed location options for its first ever potable water tank – a 3-million-gallon storage structure that has the potential to improve local water pressure …
At eleventh hour, East Palo Alto kills ordinance that would have lowered affordable housing standards
Palo Alto Online • 2026-07-22
The East Palo Alto City Council majority voted on Tuesday to reject a Temporary Housing Development Incentive Program, which would have exempted projects with 20 or fewer units from stringe…
Around Town: A mission to Israel, schools to watch
Palo Alto Online • 2026-07-19
Read about East Palo Alto Mayor Webster Lincoln’s mission to Israel and new state recognition for two Palo Alto middle schools.
CivicCause budget overview
East Palo Alto Budget Overview
East Palo Alto's FY2025-26 General Fund is in deficit and reserve-supported, while the all-funds budget remains positive because of capital and enterprise fund activity.
Budget status · FY2025-26 adopted
$35.7M revenue$38.4M spendingDeficit