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Politics & Government

Arleta Park Neighbors Organize to Form Neighborhood Watch

Meeting held this morning in response to rise in gang graffiti and drive-by shooting in Half Moon Bay neighborhood on August 14.

This morning's was attended by more than 50 people. The meeting was held at the foot of Grove Street and Railroad Avenue in Half Moon Bay.

Families gathered under the trees with their children and dogs to hear a resident tell her peers how they could mobilize as a form of prevention. Members of the Filbert Street Neighborhood Watch talked with the group about how they watch out for their community.

Councilmembers Rick Kowalczyk and John Muller addressed the crowd. While Councilmember Kowalczyk stressed that creating a neighborhood watch group could help to address the recent increase in graffiti as well as the recent gang activity market by the drive-by shooting earlier this month, Farmer John Muller took time away from his stall at the to speak for a few minutes about the importance of attending the at the . The meeting is being held by the city and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to address the issue of gangs and graffiti in Half Moon Bay.  

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Two representatives from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office attended the meeting. They answered several questions regarding how residents can deal with graffiti, reports of activity in the tree groves just south of Grove Street, and burglaries in the Arleta Park area.

The Sheriff's Office stressed that there are more than 25 officers available to respond to issues in Half Moon Bay and that residents should use common sense and intuition when deciding to call the police. Calling at the time an incident is occurring is best, they said.

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There will be many law enforcement professionals with expertise in understanding and dealing with gang activity at this Tuesday's meeting, they said, adding that the meeting will be the best place for residents to get up-to-date information on how to work with law enforcement on these issues.

A sign-up sheet was passed around to create an Arleta Park Neighborhood Watch list that can be used to notify neighbors when problems arise.

Neighbors can also join a Facebook group initiated by Councilmember Kowalczyk addressing the issue of graffiti clean up as well.

The community meeting on Tuesday, August, 30, will be held at the Ted Adcock Community/Senior Center in Half Moon Bay at 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Center is located at 535 Kelly Avenue.

See Lt. Lisa Williams, the head of the Half Moon Bay substation of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, address the issue of gangs in an with Half Moon Bay Patch shortly after the Sheriff for Half Moon Bay.

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