Latest news with #SanMateoCounty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can a county fire a sheriff behind closed doors? Advocacy group threatens to sue for access
An open government advocacy group is threatening to sue a California county that is preparing to discuss firing its elected sheriff behind closed doors. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus, who serves one of the wealthiest communities in the country, has faced calls for her removal since an explosive November report from a retired judge found that she likely violated the county's policy on nepotism and conflicting relationships. The report alleged that, by 2024, Corpus had 'relinquished control' of the department to a subordinate. That led to a ballot measure last year that voters passed to empower the county Board of Supervisors to remove her from office, which they voted to do in June. Corpus appealed, leading to the scheduled August evidentiary hearing. As part of the removal proceedings, Corpus' legal team asked that the removal hearing take place behind closed doors. 'The county should decline,' wrote First Amendment Coalition attorney Aaron Field in a letter to the county Board of Supervisors. 'Barring the press and public from the removal hearing as Sheriff Corpus has requested would violate the First Amendment right of access to public proceedings, undermine a panoply of compelling public interests in administering the removal hearing transparently and needlessly shut San Mateo citizens out of a key phase of a process.' The hearing is scheduled to begin Aug. 18 and is expected to last about 10 days. CalMatters originally filed a request to open the June removal hearing to the public, a request that was denied. The First Amendment Coalition is making the same request for the August removal hearing. Corpus' removal — and her fight against it, including unsuccessfully filing for a restraining order to stop the proceedings — has roiled her department and the community for nearly a year. Several cities in her county have given her administration no-confidence votes, and the unions representing both her deputies and her sergeants have called for her removal. A San Mateo County spokesperson said the county had received the First Amendment Coalition's letter and would announce a decision soon. 'The county has consistently expressed its view that this should be a fully transparent process, including having the August appeal hearing for her removal from office be open,' said San Mateo County spokesperson Effie Milionis Verducci. 'However, the sheriff has blocked it.' The sheriff's department is still in turmoil, most recently when Corpus put a San Mateo County sheriff's sergeant on leave. That sergeant had testified extensively in a second county investigation into Corpus. The union representing San Mateo County Sheriff's sergeants objected, alleging the sergeant was put on leave as retaliation for his testimony. Corpus denied that her actions had anything to do with the report in a statement posted to the sheriff's office website. 'His temporary administrative leave is entirely unrelated to any comments or cooperation he may have provided in the Keker report,' Corpus said in the statement. Duara writes for CalMatters, where the article first appeared. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CBS News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Redwood City can now fine homeless residents if an encampment isn't cleared out
After a 6-1 vote, the Redwood City Council passed the anti-camping ordinance that would establish a window of clearing out an encampment site before enforcing penalties. "It was a really robust community engagement process," Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martinez Saballos, told CBS News Bay Area. "The process we set forth last night is really going to help us make sure that we never have to get to a place of enforcement and that we can connect people to housing and to shelter." Adapting to a similar enforcement plan by San Mateo County, the city must now provide two warnings and offer shelter within a 72-hour period. If they do not move, the unhoused individual could be charged with a misdemeanor and be fined up to $500. If the encampment is within 200 feet of a school or the Navigation Center, they will have 48 hours to vacate the encampment. Officials added that there will be a diversion program, and upon successful completion, can have their case dismissed. Gloria Cohn, who lives on BAIR Island, said she and her neighbors are concerned about their safety after seeing several encampment sites pop up near their homes. "People will sneak underneath there, light fires to stay warm, and then they get out of control. So, we had to call the Fire Department quite a few times," Cohn said. She has been living in the neighborhood for 10 years and said she has been witnessing encampments pop up for about five to six years. Cohn shared videos with CBS News Bay Area, showing smoke from fires that started at the encampment sites near the Whipple Avenue offramp. "As the fire department told me, all it takes is one ember to fly over and we have a disaster," she said. The area near the offramp is divided between Caltrans and Redwood City property. "We've contacted Caltrans; they're aware of the issue. I've contacted my state senator and my state assemblyperson. They know of the problem, but it hasn't been fixed for five years. We've suggested fences, and we've also suggested boulders so people can't access that area," she said. Cohn is optimistic after City Council passed the anti-camping ordinance in Monday night's council meeting. "I, of course, and my community would like stricter laws, because of the fire and the safety," she said. She, along with dozens of neighbors, gathered at City Hall to support the ordinance. Many neighbors, however, were against it. "We are creating fear. It doesn't make sense to criminalize people for being poor," Roberto Tito Alvarez, the founder of ChaseLove, said. He leads a nonprofit organization that conducts outreach for the unsheltered in Redwood City. "A lot of this is trauma that needs to be reviewed," he said. "Not come here and criminalize our community for the circumstances that they're in." District Two Councilmember Chris Sturken, who also represents BAIR Island, was the only member who voted against the ordinance on Monday. He shared his concerns as an individual as he is not authorized to speak on behalf of the city. "While the ordinance is well-intentioned, it is misleading. I did not want to set the expectation for the community and for my neighbors in BAIR Island, for business community, that encampments are going to be cleaned up tomorrow. Because that's just not realistic," he said. "This is not a solution to homelessness. It creates a revolving door where people are forced to go into shelter and when their time expires in the shelter, many of them end up right back on the street right where they started worse off than before," he added. Instead, Sturken said the goal should be to build more affordable housing. "Building more housing at all income levels. We have seen an economic slowdown, a slowdown of development proposals and we need to do everything we can to incentivize there to be new housing development in Redwood City. "We need stronger tenant protections to keep people from being unhoused to begin with." As of June, officials said there are 141 unsheltered individuals living in Redwood City. They added, however, it's a 42% decrease when compared to the 2022 data of 245 unhoused individuals. They make up about 15% of the total unhoused population in San Mateo County. City officials also added that there are 29 total encampments recorded as of June. "We can still do more to build affordable housing, to build permanent supportive housing, which the county is helping us look at maybe building sites through proposition 1," the mayor said. "This is really about the 25% of our unhoused population who are just outright rejecting any sort of housing. That's who we're really talking about with this ordinance," he added. City leaders also said that the cost for an encampment sweep, depending on its size, can range from $800 to upwards of $20,000 or more. They said, however, many of the encampments are on the smaller end in Redwood City. Additionally, Redwood City Police are currently patrolling the encampment sites. Council said the cost to conduct the sweeps will go down after the police enforcement team is replaced by civilian teams. Meanwhile, Cohn said it's always been about community safety. "Living across the street from supposedly 11 fires over the last two and a half years. It really becomes a public safety issue, not an inhumane issue," she said. While the City Council said this is a more empathetic approach and another tool in their toolbox, others said the real issue is the lack of affordable housing for all. Meanwhile, the city agreed to establish a standing committee that will be open to the public, in which members would monitor the progress of this new ordinance and check in on a quarterly basis. Additionally, San Mateo County executives clarified on Monday night that since implementing their enforcement, they have not made any arrests or written any citations yet.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus in court over misconduct accusation
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus made her first court appearance after a civil grand jury accused her of misconduct. Corpus was at the Redwood City courthouse Tuesday morning for a hearing that only lasted several minutes. The sheriff did not speak, but through her attorneys denied the accusations against her. Last month, the county's civil grand jury accused Corpus of one count of conflict of interest over the hiring of Victor Aenlle, whom she allegedly had a close personal relationship with. The grand jury also accused the sheriff of three counts of retaliation following the termination of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan, the transfer of Capt. Brian Phillip and the arrest of Deputy Carlos Tapia, president of the Deputy Sheriff's Association. Thomas Mazzucco, Corpus' attorney, had previously said the civil grand jury's accusations were "related to politically motivated complaints by the upper echelons and union leadership" at the sheriff's office. Corpus has been facing months of scrutiny and calls to resign following the release of an independent report by retired judge LaDoris Cordell into allegations of abuse of power at the sheriff's office. The report prompted the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors to call for a special election in March to temporarily amend the charter to remove a sheriff from office for cause. Eighty-four percent of voters approved the amendment, which is also known as Measure A. Last month, the board initiated the process to remove Corpus from office, a process that is expected to take several months. If found guilty of the grand jury's accusations, Corpus faces removal along with potential penalties that could permanently bar her from seeking an elected position in the state. Corpus' next court appearance is scheduled for July 21.
CBS News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus accused of conflict of interest, retaliation
The civil grand jury in San Mateo County has accused embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus for alleged misconduct, prosecutors announced Monday, as she faces potential removal by the Board of Supervisors. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe's office said the grand jury on Friday returned an accusation against Corpus that includes one count of conflict of interest in violation of the County Charter. The conflict of interest allegation stems from the hiring of Victor Aenlle, whom she allegedly had a close personal relationship with. The grand jury also accused Corpus of three counts of retaliation over the termination of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan, the transfer of Capt. Brian Phillip and the arrest of Deputy Carlos Tapia, who is the president of the Deputy Sheriff's Association. Prosecutors said the grand jury returned an accusation following a month-long hearing in which 32 people, including Corpus, testified under oath. The hearing was conducted by Wagstaffe's office, which acted as an advisor to the civil grand jury. Corpus has been facing months of scrutiny and calls to resign following the release of an independent report by retired judge LaDoris Cordell into allegations of abuse of power at the sheriff's office. Following the report, the Board of Supervisors called for a special election to temporarily amend the charter to remove a sheriff from office for cause. In March, 84% of voters approved the charter amendment. Earlier this month, the board initiated the process to remove Corpus from office, a process which is expected to take several months. The sheriff has repeatedly denied the allegations against her and has refused multiple calls to resign from local leaders and the Deputy Sheriffs' Association. Corpus has also filed a $10 million lawsuit against the county alleging discrimination and harassment. Prosecutors said Corpus is scheduled to appear in court on July 15 to answer the accusation, in which she is entitled to a trial by jury.
CBS News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus indicted for alleged conflict of interest, retaliation
The civil grand jury in San Mateo County has indicted embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus for alleged misconduct, prosecutors announced Monday, as she faces potential removal by the Board of Supervisors. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe's office said the grand jury on Friday returned an accusation against Corpus that includes one count of conflict of interest in violation of the County Charter. The conflict of interest allegation stems from the hiring of Victor Aenlle, whom she allegedly had a close personal relationship with. The grand jury also accused Corpus of three counts of retaliation over the termination of Assistant Sheriff Ryan Monaghan, the transfer of Capt. Brian Phillip and the arrest of Deputy Carlos Tapia, who is the president of the Deputy Sheriff's Association. Prosecutors said the grand jury returned an indictment following a month-long hearing in which 32 people, including Corpus, testified under oath. The hearing was conducted by Wagstaffe's office, which acted as an advisor to the civil grand jury. Corpus has been facing months of scrutiny and calls to resign following the release of an independent report by retired judge LaDoris Cordell into allegations of abuse of power at the sheriff's office. Following the report, the Board of Supervisors called for a special election to temporarily amend the charter to remove a sheriff from office for cause. In March, 84% of voters approved the charter amendment. Earlier this month, the board initiated the process to remove Corpus from office, a process which is expected to take several months. The sheriff has repeatedly denied the allegations against her and has refused multiple calls to resign from local leaders and the Deputy Sheriffs' Association. Corpus has also filed a $10 million lawsuit against the county alleging discrimination and harassment. Prosecutors said Corpus is scheduled to appear in court on July 15 to answer the accusation, in which she is entitled to a trial by jury.
