Vigil in East Palo Alto protests Amazon, Facebook policies

Is there some way to bring new employers into the city while protecting the residents that already live here? Don't force our current residents to leave town because of gentrification. This is terribly unfair, especially to children and the elderly who may have huge problems moving to a new city.

I read this comment many times over
"Event organizer JT Faraji of East Palo Alto said that Facebook's offer will "(aid) in the criminalization" of his community because he thinks increased policing will lead to racial profiling"
Ignoring national stats that may/may not apply, what stats in Menlo Park support JT's statement. What I do not see is a plan from JT to provide support for the increased need for police for simple matters as traffic to more complex matters. I would have like to see JT state we want people from this neighborhood (M2) to be hired into the police department and then we will support it. That is a solution.

[Post removed; stick to the issue and don't slander an entire population with alleged anecdotal personal experiences.]

Roberto - what does Menlo Park have to do with this story?

@ Hmmmm - 50% of the article "Facebook has offered to pay $9.1 million over five years to enable the Menlo Park Police Department to expand its services in eastern Menlo Park. The money would go toward establishing a new police unit in the city's "Bayfront" or M-2 area, roughly bordered by the San Francisco Bay, University Avenue, U.S. 101 and Marsh Road."
This TJ person opposes that, fine, but where is the solution. At least fb had a solution....and yes, for MP. Amazon, is the EPA chapter of this article

Roberto, It is a well known and widely accepted fact that Menlo Park has an abusive police dept that racially profiles its own residents and the residents in near by cities. There where meetings all last year with serval residents in Menlo Park that have been complaining. There have been serval lawsuits filed against the MPPD in recent years one such law suit was by a Hiruy Amanuel in 2013. For every complaint there are probably ten unreported incidents do to the fact that the population being victimized doesn't know their rights and they have been intimated for an extensive period of time. Joining an abusive police department will not change a culture of corruption! Not even a little bit. Officers all need dash cameras in their patrol cars I've heard Mr. JT Faraji say that. I've heard him say they need more training about sensitivity and stricter policies and better more effective oversight committees. I think personally that they should replace the command structure that allows harassment to continue while they turn a blind eye. They need to have officers that get complaints filed on them in Belle Haven sent to my neighbor hood in Sharon Heights I guarantee those officers will not pull any of that stuff over here. If they did they would get fired before even returning to Laurel st.!
Companies like Facebook need to understand that if they support and fund police departments that have corrupt officers, and policies in place that aid in that corruption, that more and more people like Mr. Faraji will emerge. Do you really want a national spotlight on Menlo Park like Ferguson?? I know I don't..

This is not good that the city council caved in. Donald Trump was right when he said that we make bad deals in this country for the working class. The elites, you're time is coming. All we need is the inner city poor and the working class of Flyover Country to realize they are being pushed around by so called progressives, who, by the way, claim they support immigrants, but support social policies that result in the prepetuation of economic disparities.

Having lived very close to EPA for many years, including when it was the per capita murder capital of the United States, I for one am happy to see the recent changes and even gentrification if that is what it takes to chase out the gangs and other criminals. Gun fire used to be a nightly occurrence as did the police and ambulances raving the the scene of a drive by shooting or gang attack. I also find nothing wrong with people having to compete for a job and not getting an advantage because they live in the city. If that got reversed and Palo Alto or Menlo Park made it a requirement to hire residents first, over people who lived in RWC or EPA think of the uproar.

As for John's comments, they may be his opinion but that opinion is not shared by many. If you have proof of racial profiling or "brutality" bring it out, otherwise share it as your opinion and not "a given fact". Lawsuits prove nothing until they have been heard in court and a decision made. I can accuse anyone of anything but it does not make them guilty until I prove it in a court of law. Sure people sue the police, happens all the time. Criminals are always looking for an easy buck, that is why they become criminals.