Four residents were displaced Tuesday after a fire at a two-story duplex in Daly City, the North County Fire Authority said.

Firefighters found an entire first floor of a unit in flames at 11:51 a.m. at 141 Rio Verde St. on Tuesday, Fire Investigator Clyde Preston said.

Smoke and flames came from the side of the duplex’s first floor, and firefighters used hose lines to extinguish the fire, Preston said. Flames from the first-floor unit spread to the second-floor unit above.

No residents were found in the unit in need of rescue.

Four residents were displaced and received housing assistance through the American Red Cross. Investigators determined the fire started in the first-floor unit’s kitchen, with the exact cause still under investigation.

Colma is entering a new chapter as two of council’s longest-serving members seek reelection and two new faces enter the race.

Vice Mayor Helen Fisicaro, who has served on council for 32 years, and Councilwoman Joanne Del Rosario, who has served for 20 years, made their final pitches to voters at an Oct. 13 forum hosted by the Women’s League of Voters of North and Central San Mateo County and the Colma and Daly City Chamber of Commerce.

The two seats carry four-year terms.

“I believe there is value in having balance of new perspectives and experienced leadership,” Del Rosario said. “Continuity and institutional knowledge can help provide stability while supporting new ideas and ensuring that the lessons and progress of the past continue to guide us as we plan for Colma’s future.”

Fisicaro said she wants to continue working on Colma’s upcoming projects, such as improving Hillside and Serramonte Boulevard with better sidewalks, crosswalks and bike lanes.

Opponent Laura Walsh believes her experience as former city treasurer and trustee for the San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District will help her make the best decisions for residents.

Walsh’s husband, Thomas Walsh, currently serves on council.

Walsh said her work on the board has taught her to understand budgets, policies and work collaboratively.

“I have always believed that a strong community depends on people who are willing to participate and give back,” she said.

Elisabeth Aurora Jenson, co-founder of a marine technology business, is running for council for a second time. Jenson ran in 2024 but didn’t get enough votes to win a seat.

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She said her company has taught her management skills and how to maintain strong relationships. Jenson serves on the Daly City Public Library Association and the Colma Historical Association.

Veterans, seniors, parents and caretakers are a high priority as she envisions the town’s future.

“Listening to their struggles and triumphs enables us to know which programs are seeing results and which aren’t,” she said. “Colma has the ability to become a leader not only in community but in arts and culture. I think that we are in a corridor right here where we have a lot of people who come to Colma and, as the only necropolis in America, we have a lot to share with the world.”

If elected, Jenson wants to attract more people to Colma. She said she wants to diversify the town’s income and encourage more people to visit stores and car dealerships.

Colma relies on sales-tax revenue, which primarily comes from car sales.

Jenson proposed a voucher program to help potential car buyers travel to and from dealerships. Bringing in more cannabis stores could also increase revenue, she said.

Walsh said the best way to get more car sales is to have a sit-down restaurant nearby.

“After all, we know that buying a car is a big decision and you don’t want to take it lightly. So if we had a restaurant where people could go and talk about their decision before they buy a car,” Walsh said.

Fisicaro highlighted her experience in communicating with businesses. If there are issues, she wants to know about them so they can be successful, she said.

Del Rosario said the chamber of commerce regularly visits shops, which has helped build strong communication with businesses.

It has been a challenge to connect with the youth in town, and as part of the Age-Friendly Committee for Colma, a solution is yet to be found, Jenson said.

But Fisicaro said she wants more recognition for youth at council meetings for good grades, which will help them give back to the community.

Walsh said she wants a program that lets council members mentor children and show them what it’s like to serve on council. She said it could attract young people interested in politics and go beyond police or fire youth programs. She previously said she wants to bring more community events — such as a farmer’s market —to bring residents together.

Del Rosario recognized the recreation department, one of the town’s strongest departments, because many young people end up working there.

Fisicaro said residents need a thoughtful leader, and she has demonstrated just that.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to make decisions on council because of the fact that you might have to make a decision that’s not a popular one,” she said.

Del Rosario said being on council is about serving the people, not politics.

A fire at a two-story home in Daly City displaced seven people Friday night, the North County Fire Authority said.

Firefighters responded to 75 Marshall Way at 11:53 p.m. on Friday, where flames and smoke engulfed the garage and second floor of the single-family home, according to the North County Fire Authority.

Two cars parked in the driveway also caught fire. Heat and flames threatened the homes on both sides of the burning house, prompting firefighters to use hose lines to protect them.

The fire caused major damage to the garage, second floor, and dining room, with heat damage throughout the rest of the house, according to the fire agency’s unsigned statement.

No residents were injured, and firefighters stayed on the scene for over three hours salvaging any property and belongings. The seven displaced people arranged their own housing.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but firefighters believe it started in the garage, the North County Fire Authority said.

South San Francisco Mayor Mark Addiego told two council members it is “shameful” if they told District 3 candidate Sophia Cyris not to run.

During public comment at Wednesday’s council meeting, resident Sam Chetcuti said Councilmen Eddie Flores and James Coleman told Cyris not to run, something Cyris said at the Sept. 23 candidate forum.

“It reminds me of another one of your antics when you were first elected, and I’m glad it came to the light of day. That’s not the kind of politics that some of us are used to, but apparently it’s the new brand,” Addiego said to the councilmen after Chetcuti’s comment.

Council members usually don’t respond during the public comment portion of meetings. Flores and Coleman didn’t respond to the public comment.

Cyris is challenging incumbent Flor Nicolas and Woodside city planner Melanie Olson for a seat on council. At the Sept. 23 forum, candidates were asked whether anyone had asked them not to run.

Cyris said two council members told her to drop out of the race.

“One of them told me that I was not a true progressive if I were not to drop out of this race,” Cyris said. She did not mention which council members told her to drop out.

Olson and Nicolas said no one had asked them to withdraw from the race.

After hearing Cyris’s response, Chetcuti said he ruled out Vice Mayor Mark Nagales as one of the members who could’ve told her not to run because Nagales is running for the District 5 seat on the San Mateo Board of Supervisors against Daly City Councilwoman Juslyn Manalo. Chetcuti also ruled out Addiego, who is retiring and Nicolas, who is running for re-election.

Addiego said he was 100% certain Nicolas was not involved, arguing that an incumbent’s chances of losing depend on the number of challengers and how votes are distributed among the candidates.

“I’ve explained that to (Nicolas) more than once,” Addiego said.

Voters’ ballots may have been stolen on Wednesday, leaving San Mateo County and city officials concerned.

A U.S. Postal Service employee emailed the county clerk-recorder’s office that someone had stolen bins from a Daly City post office, San Mateo County Assistant Chief Elections Officer Jim Irizarry told the Peninsula Buzz.

The post office was looted, but vote-by-mail ballots did not appear to be the target. However, ballots may have been in the bins stolen, Irizarry said. The number of ballots potentially affected is unknown, he said. The location of the theft is also unknown, Irizarry said. Daly City has four post office locations.

The county is working with USPS to investigate the incident.

Residents should track their ballots to make sure their vote is counted, Irizarry said.

“With the midterm elections approaching, we cannot afford to leave residents wondering whether their ballots or other important mail are safe. This is simply unacceptable,” San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa said in a statement.

Canepa called for a complete investigation into the theft, stronger security measures and clear, timely communication with the public. The county elections office sent a press release about the theft the following day.

Daly City Councilwoman Juslyn Manalo, who is running for Canepa’s seat on the Board of Supervisors, said the theft alarmed her.

“It’s a very serious matter that needs to be monitored and looked into. People are exercising their rights to vote and in this democracy. People should feel secure in mailing their ballots and in this case we are seeing otherwise,” Manalo said.

She said the timing of the theft has her worried after her husband found a shopping bag full of her campaign mailers, which included recipients’ addresses, next to a pole on Brunswick Street on Sept. 30.

Manalo said she reported the incident to the post office, and it remains under investigation.

Daly City Councilwoman Pamela DiGiovanni, who is seeking reelection, said every vote should count, regardless of who voters support. She urged people to check the status of their mail-in ballots.

People can check their ballot status at https://WheresMyBallot.sos.ca.gov.

If they are concerned, voters may ask for a replacement ballot at https://smcacre.gov/elections/request-replacement-ballot or in person at any vote center in the county. Online requests for a replacement must be submitted by Oct. 27.

The San Bruno post office, at 1300 Huntington Ave., was also robbed of bins in August. A person entered the post office and stole four bins of mail and assaulted an employee. At the time, USPS offered a reward of up to $150,000 for information on the incident.

A man accused of firing multiple shots outside St. Augustine Catholic Church in South San Francisco is set to stand trial, a prosecutor said.

The selection process for 12 jurors and alternates began Wednesday, and they will decide the fate of Debari Charvel Augustine, Chief Deputy District Attorney Shin-Mee Chang said. Opening statements are estimated to start Monday, Chang said.

Augustine, 24, of Antioch, is being charged with eight felonies, including two counts of attempted murder. He is accused of shooting at the church with an unregistered and illegal assault rifle on Jan. 30, 2024, and faces up to a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted, Chang said.

The church was closed at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2024, with two female parishioners locked inside, according to Chang. Augustine allegedly tried to force his way inside before firing multiple shots outside the church, Chang said.

The two women hid and called 911. Police found a rifle leaning against a statue of St. Michael. Officers used license plate readers to find the car Augustine was driving and arrested him that same day.

Augustine was found eligible for mental health diversion, but his attorney decided not to pursue a hearing, according to Chang.

Shots were fired outside a San Bruno home on Thursday after a woman’s former boyfriend arrived to check on her, a prosecutor said.

Dion Khalil Cain, 33, of San Francisco, is charged for negligently discharging a firearm and possessing a handgun as a convicted felon after shooting his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend’s car, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Cain was arguing with his girlfriend at her San Bruno home on El Camino at 9:15 p.m. when her former boyfriend came to check on her, according to the DA. Cain told the man to leave, then ran into the bedroom and grabbed a gun, Wagstaffe said.

The ex-boyfriend fled to his car, and Cain chased the car barefoot, firing nine rounds at the car, according to Wagstaffe. The victim’s identity has not been disclosed because Cain’s girlfriend refused to provide his name.

Cain pleaded innocent on Monday and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 5, 2027.

Cain was previously convicted in 2016 for a burglary in Los Angeles, according to Wagstaffe.

Election season is underway, and ballots have been mailed to voters who will choose among candidates vying for a seat on Pacifica City Council.

Five candidates are running across three city council districts proposing solutions to the city’s budget deficit, lack of affordable housing, solutions to protect ecosystems and navigating new development.

Sam Casillas and Margo Meiman are running to represent District 5, which includes Pedro Point and Lower Linda Mar. They will face off to fill the seat of Sue Beckmeyer, who is termed out after serving two consecutive four-year terms.

Pacifica Mayor Christine Boles is seeking a second term representing District 2, which includes Manor. Boles, the only council member seeking reelection, will face Dan Urban.

In District 3, Cindy Abbott is running unopposed for the seat held by Mary Bier, who is termed out, representing the Sharp Park area.

District 2

Christine Boles

Despite budget constraints and limited city employees, Christine Boles said deciding to seek reelection wasn’t easy.

“I had to really weigh thinking about running again because I’m tired and it’s been a cost to my family, and certainly to my income,” Boles said.

Budget cuts eliminated many city employee positions, leaving council members to take on extra work. Boles describes the city’s staffing as “bare bones,” noting that no employees are dedicated exclusively to issues like housing or climate, but she wants to complete the initiatives she started in her first term.

Boles, 62, an architect, said she wants to keep working to address sea-level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, and other hazards.

Boles said she wants to explore an offshore reef designed to reduce wave energy, support beach stability and create marine habitat. The concept could also benefit fishing and potentially provide a venue for better-quality surf competitions, she said.

“This concept has been used in other parts of the world, but never in such a rough coastal environment as ours,” she said. “If this is something that works, it can be something that can be replicated in other parts of California and the world.”

Boles said Pacifica has failed to build enough affordable houses in recent decades. She supports increasing residential density, including larger complexes, higher height, reduced setbacks and less parking in areas with access to transportation.

Boles is also pursuing several initiatives that have received less public attention.

Addressing Pacifica’s unhoused issue is one of them. She has begun speaking with local churches about developing housing on church property, which has become easier under certain state laws. She’s also discussed rehabilitating Sharp Park Golf Course with San Francisco supervisors. The city and county of San Francisco own the golf course.

“It’s so important because the neighborhood of West Sharp Park — there by Clarendon — is flooding regularly now with these increased storms, and so this could really be a win-win for the golf course and for the city,” Boles said.

Boles was first elected to council in 2022.

Boles’ endorsements include Rep. Sam Liccardo, state Sen. Josh Becker, Assemblymember Marc Berman, Supervisor Ray Mueller, San Mateo County Democrats, California Working Families Party, Climate Action California and the Sierra Club, among others.

Dan Urban

Despite being a new face to Pacifica, Dan Urban says his background in sales, cooking and food service will help bring the change the city needs.

“We’re no better off today than we were four years ago or eight years ago. Something’s got to change, and I feel like my transferable skills speak to that,” Urban said.

Urban, 62, switched careers from sales and hospitality to chef, then to regional operations management in the food industry.

I think a lot of the skills that I acquired along the way have prepared me for this,” Urban said. “I think it’s transferable to what we’re trying to do and what needs to be done in Pacifica.”

Urban said residents are divided between those who want to preserve the city’s character and those who support attracting more businesses to generate revenue.

“We need to put an emphasis on local businesses, keeping the ones that are here here, and then bringing other businesses into Pacifica so that we can be packed with visitors on the weekends and the evenings to increase our revenue,” Urban said.

Urban proposed attracting high-tech companies to open satellite offices in Pacifica while supporting a strong small-business presence.

Pacifica’s crumbling pier could become an attraction like the waterfront areas in San Diego or Santa Cruz, Urban said. He is against spending city funds to restore the pier and would prefer to pursue grants and bond funding.

He also sees Palmetto Avenue as Pacifica’s best opportunity to establish a more defined downtown, with additional dining options among his goals.

Urban has also spoken publicly about his sobriety, drawing a parallel between his recovery and the accountability he believes is needed on city council.

“You have to hold yourself accountable before you hold others accountable, and there are people on the City Council right now who do not admit that they’re wrong. They just don’t,” Urban said.

Urban has addressed traffic as another issue during his campaign. He argues that housing and traffic are interconnected and that new housing must be matched with transportation to meet the state’s housing requirements. He said he is open to several potential solutions — intersection improvements, signal light synchronization, lane reconfigurations and measures to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Urban has been endorsed by the San Mateo County Association of Realtors.

District 5

Margo Meiman

After more than two decades in the classroom, Margo Meiman believes her teaching experience offers a new perspective on council. Although teaching and public service are different, both are fundamentally people-oriented, she said.

Meiman, 61, sees opportunities to expand Pacifica’s commercial base with hotels and restaurants while preserving what she describes as the city’s “small town, coastal vibe.” She says city officials should focus on developing ideas rather than dwelling on the obstacles to implementing them.

“For example, someone is talking about bringing in concerts and using city space to put on concerts and bring in food trucks,” Meiman said. “Of course, you think about all the reasons why that would be difficult to do. No, we should think about the reasons why it would be great to do so.”

Meiman describes herself as an environmentalist and supports exploring an artificial reef — a structure that could help mitigate rough waves — with funding from university and international research programs.

“Pacifica is ground zero for sea level rise, and we are positioned well to be a guinea pig for some of these solutions,” Meiman said. “I don’t think it’s pie in the sky to imagine attracting some research dollars to look at that kind of solution.”

Meiman recognizes pressure on cities to meet state housing requirements. She supports infill housing, which adds housing in areas with existing infrastructure rather than expanding into undeveloped land. She sees potential for housing or another development on 1.6 acres of city-owned land behind Sanchez Library.

Although Palmetto Avenue is often considered Pacifica’s downtown, Meiman sees a different alternative.

“If we really want to have this notion of a downtown for Pacifica, let’s try and find space for that in the Linda Mar area where the beach is,” she said. “Linda Mar is where the vast majority of out-of-town visitors come to visit Pacifica.”

Meiman’s biggest focus is San Pedro Creek, which empties into Linda Mar Beach and has suffered from chronic water pollution and high fecal bacteria levels for several years. She says federal funding could help replace aging sewer laterals and mains along the creek.

If elected, Meiman says she plans to use social media and newsletters to update residents on city developments and city council discussions.

“I love Pacifica and I want the best for Pacifica’s future,” Meiman said. “We’ve been able to raise our kids here and I want Pacifica to be thriving so that future families can thrive here as well. I think I’ve got the right blend of skills and experience to help guide the city through the challenging times that we have ahead of us.”

Meiman’s endorsers include the Sierra Club, San Mateo County Labor Council, California State Senator Josh Becker, San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller and Pacifica Mayor Christine Boles, among others.

Sam Casillas

If elected, Sam Casillas wants to use his nonprofit experience to push his goal of preserving open spaces in the city.

“I want to be able to run to be able to actually start enacting a lot of programs that will secure the city financially and also build climate resiliency because we’re ground zero,” Casillas said. “The only action that I’ve seen our city council doing is hard armoring.”

Casillas recently made headlines after spray-painting a negative political sign against his campaign. He was cited for vandalism and the sign has since been restored. He denied any malicious intent.

Casillas, 59, works in commercial operations for a pharmaceutical company but previously spent two years in the Peace Corps.

“I’ve always been sort of civically minded,” Casillas said.

Casillas is involved in several different local organizations, including Pacifica Land Trust, where he serves as president. The nonprofit focuses on preserving and protecting open spaces in the city. Through the Land Trust, he has become more involved in climate-resilience research and wants to apply what he has learned to council if elected.

Casillas says he has seen insufficient accountability and strategic planning from council.

“I want to be able to run to be able to actually start enacting a lot of programs that will secure the city financially and also build climate resiliency because we’re ground zero,” Casillas said. “The only action that I’ve seen our city council doing is hard armoring.”

Casillas identifies nature-based solutions and housing development as two of his central campaign issues.

Like Meiman, he wants to reduce pollution in San Pedro Creek and create meadows and mini-wetlands that could act as biofilters. He also plans to closely monitor the proposed 125 mixed housing units proposed at Higgins Road.

“The problem with that is it’s in the middle of eucalyptus forest and on top of the mountain,” he said. “You’re basically building in a fire zone — in a severe fire zone —which will put the current homes and neighborhood in danger. I want to be able to use that property instead for fire mitigation for the existing homes and infrastructure.”

Casillas is pushing for the abandoned Sea Bowl to be labeled as a historical designation so the building can’t be knocked down for condos. For the rest of the property, he proposed negotiating with the builders to infill with mixed-use development and some residential.

“I definitely love the open space and the recreational assets that we have,” Casillas said. “Our environment is our economy. It’s a very friendly place as well. Here in the community, neighbors really look out for each other.”

Former Pacifica mayors Sue Digre and Mike Vasey, councilmember Mayra Espinosa, California Working Families Party, San Mateo County Democrats, North Coast States Carpenters Union and others endorse Casillas.

District 3

Cindy Abbott

15-year-long Pacifica volunteer Cindy Abbott is running because she believes city officials have not adequately considered residents’ input over the last five years.

Abbott, 68, said public participation has become a procedural formality rather than a meaningful part of local decision-making. She said experience as executive director of the Sanchez Arts Center and previous director at Macy’s helped her develop problem-solving skills that could benefit council.

She said she wants to improve the shortage of activities and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.

“We have not focused as a city on commercial development,” Abbott said. “Even though we’ve had a number of economic development plans over the past several years, they’ve never been implemented.”

Abbott is the only candidate running unopposed, and she says the circumstance has given her more opportunities to listen to residents and learn about their concerns.

“It’s changed the dynamic where I can just simply be listening to people and having more learning sessions,” Abbott said.

Pacifica’s beaches and nature trails are major attractions, but Abbott wants the city to offer more reasons for visitors to stay longer rather than make day trips. She pointed to recreational businesses such as the newly opened Replay Classic Arcade in Rockaway as examples of attractions that could broaden the city’s appeal.

Abbott said Pacifica lacks a single, clearly defined downtown and views Park Mall as a viable site for economic growth.

“There’s a lot of open vacant land there,” Abbott said. “I think there could be some really good connections between affordable housing, maybe family-oriented affordable housing, and redeveloping that shopping center area.”

Abbott also cited climate change and coastal hazards as concerns for Pacifica, where she has lived for 30 years. She supports implementing measures from the city’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, including nature-based solutions.

“We need to be thinking about nature-based solutions, and how do we make sure that we don’t put more people in harm’s way? They consider how to, instead of trying to engineer things, which is really expensive to do in the first place — and then requires constant maintenance in the future, which the city won’t be able to afford properly,” Abbott said.

Abbott has been endorsed by the Sierra Club and 350 Silicon Valley Action.

A 28-year-old man is facing murder charges in connection with a fatal crash that killed two people, including a Daly City resident, last weekend, according to a prosecutor.

Alvaro Fabian Caballero-Arteaga, of San Francisco, is accused of running through a red light while speeding on Oct. 4 and crashing into another car, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Caballero-Arteaga, whose driver’s license had been suspended for drunk driving, allegedly was driving too fast to stop at the intersection of Flournoy Street and San Jose Avenue when he broadsided the other car, killing the driver, Rhiannon Lawler, the DA said.

Caballero-Arteaga had a blood alcohol level of 0.15%, according to Wagstaffe. Investigators learned that his license was suspended Feb. 21 in Alameda County for drunk driving.

Lawler, 46, of San Francisco, died at the scene. Her husband, Augustin Garcia, 50, of Daly City, the passenger, died on the way to the hospital, according to Wagstaffe.

Lawler’s brother, Jason Nava, started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.

“Rhiannon was a mother, daughter, sister, friend and confidante who meant so much to so many,” Nava wrote on the GoFundMe campaign. “This heartbreaking loss has left her family grieving while also facing the painful responsibility of planning final arrangements and honoring her memory with care and love.”

Caballero-Arteaga remains in jail without bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 15.

A Pacifica City Council candidate claims critics are targeting him after being captured on camera Friday spray-painting a negative political sign against his campaign, an incident that led to a citizen’s arrest and citation.

In the video, Sam Casillas appears to use white spray paint to alter a campaign sign that reads, “I would prefer that Sam not serve on City Council.” He’s seen replacing the word “not” with a heart. The sign has since been restored.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of Oct. 2 at Arami Point near Rockaway Beach in Pacifica and was recorded by resident David Blackman, who created and put up the sign.

About an hour after defacing the sign, Casillas says he called the police after Blackman confronted him while walking his dog and charged toward him with clenched fists. When police arrived on the scene, Casillas was issued a citation for vandalism

In a statement to the Peninsula Buzz, Casillas said he spray painted a heart as a theatrical gesture.

“I never denied that I painted the heart on the illegally erected sign on Arami Point,” Casillas said. “My intent was not malicious but rather light-hearted.”

Despite conflicting accounts of the arrest, Casillas said he was never handcuffed or taken to jail. He also said the citation carries no criminal penalties and does not list a specific court date.

Casillas says Pacifica’s current leadership does not want him to win the November election and is “upset” about the changes he wants to make if elected to council.

“Upset enough for the owners of these signs to plant hidden cameras and then track me down while walking my dogs in my neighborhood and threaten me to the point where a witness had to intervene and for me to call the police for fear of my safety,” Casillas said.

The Peninsula Buzz contacted the City Manager’s Office for comment, but did not receive a reply at the time of publication.

In a post to Nextdoor, Blackman — a lifelong Pacifican and local developer with a few “No on Sam” signs around the city — says his disdain for Casillas comes from personal experiences with his conduct and concerns about his judgment. He said his signs meet legal requirements and are on private property with the owner’s permission.

“You don’t have to like my signs or agree with my opinion,” Blackman wrote. “But I believe a person seeking public office should respect people’s property and their right to disagree with him.”

Casillas, 59, is running to represent Pacifica’s District 5 on city council against lifelong educator Margo Meiman to replace Sue Beckmeyer, who is termed out. He is the current president of the Pacifica Land Trust.

“When I knocked on doors since this incident, I was heartened to find that voters do not care about my heart being painted in the wrong place, because my heart is in the right place when it comes to Pacifica,” Casillas said.

A San Bruno man faces up to eight years in prison after a jury found him guilty on Tuesday of sexually assaulting his step-niece, a prosecutor said.

Isidro Pulido Vasquez Jr., 31, was convicted of child molestation following a nine-day trial, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Pulido Vasquez lived in San Bruno with his 12-year-old step-niece’s family. On Feb. 18, 2025, while the girl’s mother and aunt weren’t home, Pulido Vasquez got into the girl’s bed to watch a movie, the DA said. He reached under the covers, underneath her pajamas, and fondled her, according to Wagstaffe. The victim said, “No,” and left the bed.

The girl told her friends about the assault before telling her aunt a month later. When confronted by the aunt, Pulido Vasquez denied fondling her and claimed he had only hugged her, Wagstaffe said.

Pulido Vasquez Jr. is set to be sentenced Nov. 19. He is in jail on no bail status, having previously posted a $100,000 bond.

With ballots set to be mailed soon, seven Daly City candidates are vying for residents’ votes, answering questions about Flock cameras, the housing crisis and district elections.

Three at-large seats are up for grabs in the Nov. 3 election, with incumbents Rod Daus-Magbual, Teresa Proaño and Pamela DiGiovanni running again. Attorney Thomas Nuris, business owner Asia Su, Chief of Staff for Supervisor David Canepa Tony Bayudan and resident Barry Rodriguez have also thrown their hat in the ring for a seat on council.

At a candidate forum Wednesday, Daus-Magbual said that if reelected, he plans to continue advocating for social justice and work with organizations. He is seeking a third term on council. He previously served twice as mayor and also as vice mayor. Daus-Magbual is an ethnic studies professor at Skyline College and executive director for Pin@y Educational Partnerships, a nonprofit educational program.

Proaño, currently vice mayor, said she is ready to roll up her sleeves to help combat any challenges the city may face as it grows. She said she’s ready to tackle parking, overcrowding, illegal dumping and fixing aging streetlights. Proaño is running for a second term. She works as an assistant to the president at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary.

As a firefighter’s daughter, DiGiovanni said public service has always been important to her. She said being involved in the community is important to representing residents, and her office is wherever the community is. DiGiovanni is running for a third term. DiGiovanni has been censured by council after an investigation revealed harassment and misuse of a city car.

ARE THEY QUALIFIED

DiGiovanni said that during her time in office, she has created policies with legislators at all levels. She previously served on the planning commission. But the real crux of being qualified is having a connection with the community.

“The community is the upper tier, and that’s who we serve,” DiGiovanni said.

She said building relationships is essential to understanding people’s needs.

Proaño also boasts her many years of service in the community, which she said has helped her build relationships. She previously served on the Recreation Commission and Planning Commission. Living, working and raising a family in Daly City has given her insight into the community, she said.

Daus-Magbual said his experience as a teacher makes him a prime candidate. He said he teaches his students to fight for their rights and take action to create the type of future they want.

“For me to take everything that we learn from the four walls of our classroom and bring it right here, that’s the reason why I’m qualified,” Daus-Magbual said.

He previously served as a library board trustee and planning commissioner and is now on the board of West Light Energy, a clean-energy nonprofit in San Mateo County.

Rodriguez — a former representative for SEIU 1021, one of San Francisco’s largest labor unions —said he has experience working with budgets and interacting with supervisors, congress members and assemblymembers. He also worked on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign for mayor of San Francisco.

Bayudan brings 10 years of experience working alongside Canepa, who represents Daly City on the Board of Supervisors. He said he has built relationships with commissions focused on youth and seniors. As chief of staff, he said he has mentored over 200 interns, passing the baton to future leaders.

Nuris pointed to his previous election victories as evidence of his experience in public office. He brings 33 years of experience as a former trustee of the Jefferson Union High School District, one year as a San Mateo Community College District trustee and as chairman of the Board of Directors of Seton Medical Center and Seton Coastside. He is currently chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

“I have worked with budgets of half a billion dollars in the community college district. So I know how to run a city. I can bring my strength and my leadership to this board,” Nuris said.

Su started her business, ATS Ventures, a private investment company, at age 24 and has spent her career solving problems. She said running the business has taught her how to balance budgets, find problems and solve them.

“I make sure people have a paycheck to put food on their table,” Su said.

When issues arise, she said, she analyzes numbers to find a solution — a skill she believes would be valuable if elected.

IMPROVING COMMUNITY CENTERS

Daus-Magbual and Proaño said council is working to bring a new community center that would provide child care and a space for events near City Hall. The project is in the early stages.

The city needs more community outreach to hear what residents want, DiGiovanni said.

Su said she would analyze city expenditures and determine whether contracts could be renegotiated to free up funding for public recreation centers.

Youth and senior programs need more attention and finding creative ways to make money could help them flourish, Nuris said.

Rodriguez and Bayudan said community centers and parks, such as Westlake Park, should be improved.

“Rather than creating a new [community center], maybe focus on what we have to do [to make] some improvements and go from there,” Bayudan said.

FLOCK CAMERAS

All seven candidates said license plate readers help keep residents safe but acknowledged privacy concerns.

Laws and policies help prevent data from being shared with ICE, and Flock cameras have been shown to reduce crime, Su said.

“I think that it’s a valuable tool for our public safety and it’s something good for our community,” Nuris said.

Proaño said two trailers were stolen from her neighborhood and police used the cameras to trace them to Oakland.

“We have to look at the positive, not just the negative,” Proaño said.

Police Chief Cameron Christensen has assured council that Flock data is not being shared with ICE or used to target people of color, DiGiovanni said.

Daus-Magbual acknowledged concerns about being monitored but said Christensen’s assurance gave him some sense of security.

DISTRICT ELECTIONS

Unlike other cities, Daly City Council doesn’t hold district elections, so council members represent the city at large instead of specific neighborhoods.

DiGiovanni said council members should not represent specific areas because any resident should be able to approach them about any issue. Residents should not have to be redirected to someone else, which delays solving issues, she said.

“If someone comes to me, I like to be able to say, ‘let’s see how we can help you’ instead of saying go speak to so and so,” Proaño said.

Daus-Magbual said he would support district elections so neighborhoods such as Bayshore, which feel isolated, can be better represented. Rodriguez and Bayudan agreed, saying many pockets in the city aren’t fairly represented.

District elections could cause council members to prioritize their individual neighborhoods over the city as a whole, Nuris said.

Su said district elections would help councilmembers understand neighborhoods’ niche issues.

HOUSING CRISIS

Daly City has lost nearly 4,000 residents because of rising housing costs, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

But many developments are underway in Daly City that will provide more affordable housing, Proaño said. Council doesn’t have a magic bullet to solve it but has taken steps to keep residents in Daly City, Daus-Magbual said.

Council passed an ordinance giving residents who live and work in the city a preference for 70% of affordable housing units, whether for rent or for sale. Residents must still meet income requirements.

DiGiovanni said renter protections are needed and that council should monitor rent increases.

Land for new housing is difficult to find, and Su said council should consider increasing the number of units in existing places. Bayudan agreed, saying some rundown developments could be revamped.

Nuris said council should create more incentives to attract developers. The city needs more mixed-use projects, and Rodriguez said council should analyze income requirements to determine how to improve them.

Ballots are set to be mailed on Oct. 5.

A woman died after jumping from a freeway overpass in San Bruno following a car chase and standoff with South San Francisco Police, police said.

The woman, who had multiple outstanding arrest warrants, climbed the guardrail of the Sneath Lane overpass above Interstate 280 on Monday and jumped into traffic below, later dying from her injuries, police spokesman Brian Blake said in a statement.

Police found a car at 8:30 p.m. that was involved in a chase with another police agency. When officers tried to contact the woman, she brandished a pair of scissors while entering the driver’s seat of the car. An officer tried to stop her with a Taser, but failed.

The woman fled, driving into San Bruno and rammed several police cars multiple times while attempting to evade officers, Blake said.

Officers laid spike strips, which punctured the car’s tires on the Sneath Lane overpass. The woman barricaded herself inside the car and did not respond to officers or members of the Crisis Negotiation Team.

Police deployed pepper-ball projectiles into the car and the woman fled on foot toward the guardrail. Officers used sponge rounds and a K-9 to try to stop her, but she continued toward the guardrail, according to Blake.

“Moments later, the woman intentionally climbed over the guardrail and landed on the freeway below,” Blake wrote.

Officers immediately stopped traffic on the freeway and administered medical assistance. The woman was transported to a trauma center where she died from her injuries, Blake said.

Police did not name the woman and the incident remains under investigation.

“Does my house look like trailer trash?”

As she unlocked the door to her motorhome, Dana Fink extinguished her freshly lit cigarette before entering her tightly packed living quarters.

“It’s more boho than most motorhomes, but that’s because that’s who I am,” she said. “We redid it this way to fit us.”

Inside, there’s clutter but not a mess.

Stray seashells lay on the ground, with stuffed bears occupying the couch. Old family photos are plastered all over the limited wall space, along with signs referencing witches. A TV takes up a large part of the living area, and it works — her husband Ken’s favorite place to watch White House briefings and Fox News.

A bird sings from the right-hand corner of their motorhome while a white spotted Yorkie named Bella runs around.

Dana and Ken bought the motorhome for $7,000 about a decade ago and named it “Diamond,” a tribute to the home her grandfather built for her grandmother in San Francisco’s Diamond Heights.

Living in their motorhome costs the couple $1,500 a month between gas, propane and essentials. They disagree with being described as unhoused, and would rather be called “relocated.”

“I’m here because my husband is f—ing sick,” Dana said. “Would I choose to be here over the summer? Absolutely. I’m healthier. I’m happier. I love the freaking ocean. But I’m here for a reason.”

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For the Finks, the motorhome is more than a vehicle. For now, it’s their home, their refuge and their way of staying close to Stanford Medical Center.

Since September 2024, Ken, 74, has been battling an aggressive form of stage-four bladder cancer that has since spread throughout the rest of his body. He’s undergone chemotherapy at Stanford Medical Center for the last year, but the treatment hasn’t been working.

For Dana, the threat of losing her husband looms large daily.

“I’m scared s—less,” Dana said. “That’s a slight f—ing understatement. I’m really good at compartmentalism, especially when he’s listening. But I’m scared. After so many years of being with somebody, you don’t have a singular identity anymore.”

Instead of driving a 280-mile round trip from their home in Calaveras County to Stanford for Ken’s treatment, they essentially cut the middleman, packed their motorhome and settled at Linda Mar Beach.

But Dana — a self-proclaimed “beach gypsy” — had other reasons to choose the beach.

“The ocean’s always been my thing,” Dana said. “It keeps me grounded, and it’s probably the only thing that’s kept me from completely losing my mind.”

There’s no question that Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica is an attraction on bright, sunshiny days during the Peninsula’s summer months. The soothing sound of waves crashing almost creates a zen-like atmosphere — it’s laid-back, yet eventful.

It’s a destination with intense appeal for different walks of life — an open-book secret for surf enthusiasts and a reliable time for out-of-town tourists to cross off a TikTok bucket list item, the world-famous beachside Taco Bell Cantina.

But beneath the crisp sand and tequila-laced Baja Blasts lies a double-edged sword — the beach has also become the center of a growing dispute over overnight parking and the people who live in vehicles.

At one point, several RVs and motorhomes set up shop for overnight stays in the beach parking lot. Pacifica residents described the scene on social media as encampments and viewed the developments as another concern hanging over the cleanliness image of their city.

The outrage turned to action. A community petition launched on June 29 and currently has nearly 1,400 signatures supporting the removal of motorhomes and RVs taking up space — hard-to-find parking, too – in the beach lot.

In late July, the California Coastal Commission approved the City of Pacifica’s request for an Emergency Coastal Development Permit, allowing the city to close the beach overnight.

“The City applied for a Coastal Commission Emergency Permit for the overnight closure of the parking lots due to the escalating public safety, vandalism and dumping consequences from allowing vehicles to remain continuously and function as long-term residences,” the city wrote in an unsigned statement. “The growing concentration of vehicles in the lots overnight has also degraded public access and reduced the public’s ability to access and enjoy the area.”

At one point, five or six motorhomes and campers were stationed near Linda Mar Beach. After the closure, they adhered to the ruling and vacated.

Everyone except for the Finks.

In Dana’s mind, the beach closure is the ultimate travesty. She didn’t think of her and her husband as a nuisance to the community — the two of them spend time picking up trash left on the beach and enjoy the constant back-and-forth with locals.

Why us, she thought.

Dana Fink has always had a rebellious side.

At 15-years-old, she abandoned her life in San Mateo to become involved with Carnaval San Francisco, the public celebration that produces street parties, parades, music and dancing.

It was there, in the 1980s, that she met Ken Fink, an employee for Butler Amusements and a jack-of-all-trades. He was George “Bud” Butler’s right-hand man for decades, and he built his reputation as a handyman extraordinaire who could solve any issue while setting up for a state or local fair in California.

Dana was enamored by him, but there was an issue

He was a married man with two children, a tough hurdle to crack.

But when Ken’s first marriage dissolved, a patient Dana — she says she waited a decade for her prize — seized the opportunity.

“I went to his house to take a shower and never left,” she laughed.

Dana, short and outspoken with a no-nonsense attitude, and Ken, a soft-spoken man with long, biker-club-style hair, seem like unlikely counterparts. But the pair settled in Calaveras County and have been married for more than 30 years.

Now, the duo is battling the most challenging moment of their lives.

The beach has offered Dana something she says she can’t find at home.

“This is my therapy,” she said.

But life at Linda Mar hasn’t been without problems, and it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.

Dana and Ken have faced harassment from several locals who object to their setting up shop in Linda Mar. In one incident, a group of high school-aged children doused their motorhome in ketchup.

“I come out, and there’s ketchup on the side of my motorhome,” Ken said. “What are we in, the f—ing third grade? I mean, Jesus Christ.”

On another occasion, someone loosened the vehicle’s septic tank. In both cases, they declined to press charges, reasoning that there was no need to ruin a kid’s life over it.

“I’m not going to get bullied out of here,” Dana said. “I’m just not. We’re not parasites. Everybody’s story is different.”

Emilio Moreno has experienced similar harassment in his motorhome.

A retired automotive engineer from Detroit, Moreno drove his rig to Northern California last April to begin a new life—one centered around surfing. He’s in the water every day, even with a shattered collarbone he has yet to have repaired.

Like the Finks, Moreno stayed in the Linda Mar lot before it was closed at night, and he, too, encountered problems with preteens tagging his motorhome with graffiti.

“It’s exactly like Karate Kid, the first movie,” Moreno said. “It’s exactly like it. I’m like I’m the new kid in town. Everybody wants a piece of me or something.”

Moreno caught the perpetrators on video, but nothing has come of the exchange. He recently enrolled in Pacifica’s Safe Parking Program — a city initiative Dana is hesitant to join herself because of a lack of proximity to the beach.

Now that the beach is closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the Fink’s have to relocate each evening and return before sunrise. In some cases, their only option is to park in residential areas.

Dana says Mayor Christine Boles suggested Linda Mar Boulevard — near the fire house — as an option to stay for the night, but Pac Bay Christian School put up signs to keep them away.

“People they supposedly don’t want in their parking lot are now scattered throughout their neighborhood, sleeping in front of their house,” Ken said. “Why do you want to take what you don’t want at the beach and put them on your front porch?”

The new arrangement has left the Finks frustrated, and they’re hoping Pacifica City Council and the Coastal Commission take necessary steps to lift the restriction.

“Open up the beach,” Dana said. “I mean, they got the people that they wanted to leave left, and there were people here taking advantage of it.”

For now, Dana is preparing for her next step: a head-on battle to support Ken through his cancer fight.

He’s slated to begin a new round of chemotherapy treatment at Stanford on Oct. 1. If that’s unhelpful, a clinical trial would follow.

But Ken’s cancer continues to spread, and quickly.

In a perfect world, the beach is where they’d like to call home.

“It’s got healing properties: the salt air, the sound,” Dana said. “This is my therapy, and they took it away.”

Daly City Councilwoman Pamela DiGiovanni refused to cooperate with the mandatory training she was ordered to complete after council gave her another chance to address wrongdoing found in two investigations, including harassment of city employees and misuse of a city car for personal errands.

Council voted 4-1 on Monday to censure DiGiovanni for not completing the training she was assigned last year after two $100,000 investigations council issued. DiGiovanni voted no on the censure and said she won’t complete the training, arguing that the accusations are politically motivated with the November election looming.

“It’s all bias anyway. Political bias,” DiGiovanni said.

Mayor Glenn Sylvester said council could consider other ways to address the situation, including determining whether any criminal violations occurred if DiGiovanni does not adhere to council’s directives.

“I don’t want to go there,” Sylvester said.

Councilmembers urged DiGiovanni to take accountability for her actions. Councilman Dr. Rod Daus-Magbual compared DiGiovanni’s character to President Donald Trump.

“We want accountability,” Daus-Magbual said. “We want it really bad and as an elected official, along with my colleagues here, we’re trying to keep accountability. We want this at the federal level, all the way to the local level.”

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The city hired third-party investigator Ellis Investigations in April 2023 after receiving multiple complaints about DiGiovanni. Attorney Investigator Karin Bailey sustained 18 of 21 of the allegations. DiGiovanni refused to be interviewed for the investigation after her attorney, Geoff Carr, advised her not to participate.

Bailey found that DiGiovanni kept a city-owned car for two years and used it for personal errands including birthday parties, dance classes in South San Francisco, a golf tournament, a Mother’s Day celebration and trips to the grocery store.

DiGiovanni also accepted paid meals and borrowed money from city employees, according to Bailey. In one instance, she borrowed $500 from an employee to purchase a tablet for her first council meeting in 2018 because she couldn’t afford one, Bailey said. The employee later asked her to repay the money, but, according to Bailey, DiGiovanni refused.

Weeks later, DiGiovanni crumpled the money into a ball and threw it onto a counter, and the employee said she counted it and found only $200, according to Bailey. DiGiovanni gave the employee the remaining $300 weeks later, crumpled it into a ball again, and threw it through her car window, the investigation stated.

Bailey also found allegations that DiGiovanni acted unprofessionally at events to be true. She interviewed 20 witnesses whose names were redacted, except for Daus-Magbual.

DiGiovanni said the investigation lacked substance because the interviews were not conducted under oath.

“Nonetheless, the investigation proceeded under the good faith expectation that witnesses would answer truthfully,” Bailey wrote.

Bailey’s findings were based on interviews and evidence including documents, text messages, emails and photos.

In January 2024, council urged DiGiovanni to apologize to city employees and attend workplace anger-management training after the investigation’s findings.

Another independent investigation, which exceeded 200 pages, was conducted in April 2025 after council continued to receive complaints from city employees.

Council censured DiGiovanni in October 2025, removing her from all committees she served on, restricting her use of city vehicles, mandating training on harassment and anger management and placing the city manager in oversight of any direct interactions with city employees for six months.

DiGiovanni was set to complete her training by Aug. 7, 2026, but she requested more time, according to City Attorney Rose Zimmerman. DiGiovanni said on Monday that she couldn’t complete the training because she had multiple blood clots and almost died.

“What I went through was a death experience, so it takes 10 months to a year to recover from almost dying,” DiGiovanni said.

Council received an update on May 11 that DiGiovanni had not completed the training and Sylvester asked her to find a way to reschedule to complete it.

Daly City residents asked council on Monday to take action and remove DiGiovanni from council.

“This is a position of public trust, and unfortunately, the trust has been broken,” Luis Landons said during public comment. “It’s time for Daly City to reach a conclusion regarding this matter and for the people’s voices to be heard.”

This is not the first time Landons has spoken during public comment, alongside others such as Stephanie Balon.

“I’m completely disheartened,” Balon said. “After five years of investigation, I call for action to address these egregious issues.”

Balon previously spoke after Councilwoman Juslyn Manalo said DiGiovanni assaulted her in 2022. Manalo said she went to the hospital after DiGiovanni allegedly slammed a door on her back. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said his office investigated the incident and declined to press criminal charges.

“It is not political to protect our community members. This investigation cost $100,000. It would be a shame for that to go to waste,” Recreation Commissioner Fernando Montanes said.

Resident Amelia Clark said she was surprised that people thought DiGiovanni was difficult to work with, saying the councilwoman was simply vocal about her opinions.

Councilwoman Teresa Proaño said the investigation was not a “witch hunt” and not politically motivated.

“There are issues, and it’s our responsibility to protect the employees, to protect the people. People who are abused need to be heard, and the worst thing to hear is that this investigation happened and that people are insinuating that they’re going after her,” Proaño said.

Proaño said DiGiovanni also “abused” her at an event where she said DiGiovanni snatched a microphone out of her hand.

Proaño asked whether the public was waiting for the third or fourth investigation before recognizing that DiGiovanni had hurt people.

Council will discuss at a future meeting how to proceed after DiGiovanni said she wouldn’t complete the training or apologize.

DiGiovanni was elected to council in 2018 and reelected in November 2022. She is running for reelection this year along with Daus-Magbual, Proaño, Tony Bayudan, Thomas Nuris, Barry Rodriguez and Asia Su.

Two new faces and an incumbent tried to win over South San Francisco District 3 voters on Thursday, with candidates speaking on residents’ biggest concerns.

Melanie Olson, a Woodside city planner; Sophia Cyris, a former Youth commissioner; and Councilwoman Flor Nicolas all identified affordability as the city’s biggest issue.

Olson, 33, has worked as a city planner for four years and has served on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission for five months. In an interview, Olson said her master’s in urban planning and experience in Woodside distinguish her from her opponents.

Olson said on Thursday that the lack of affordability has led to displacement, and the city needs to prioritize the people who work and live in South San Francisco by ensuring available housing remains affordable.

“How can we enjoy the resources that we have if we can’t afford to be here comfortably?” Cyris said at the forum moderated by Margie Gator, a board member of the League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo County.

Cyris, 19, a senior at San Francisco State University studying political science, said South San Francisco has many vacant spaces, but the cost of buying or renting remains a problem.

Nicolas, who has been on council since 2018 and became the first Filipino mayor in 2023, said affordability is a personal issue for her, as she also calls South San Francisco home.

“We want this to be the home for everybody. Not just for the ones who are here but also our children,” Nicolas said.

She said there needs to be economic mobility and a balanced housing supply.

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When asked about the Municipal Services Building at 33 Arroyo Drive, a location listed as a potential site for affordable housing in the city’s housing plan, Nicolas said it’s important to know the results of a study being made to determine the best way to renovate the building.

But Olson said the building would best serve as senior housing because it’s close to public transportation and the library.

“We could include personalized senior services for our people to retain what residents are concerned about,” Olson said.

The Municipal Services Building formally served as a community hub and housed city services and departments until all the programs were moved to the Library and Parks and Recreation Center.

Cyris said the building should partially serve as a senior center, as residents wanted the site to remain a community center.

“The advocacy from residents and the organization from our residents needs to be heard and rewarded. I think the city should be organizing better talks with those residents because they are truly fighting for a better South City,” Cyris said.

Cyris served as a youth commissioner in middle school and recently worked for a local congressional office. She said she wants to help the city refocus on its long-time residents amid concerns about growth.

When asked how council would make sure residents can afford to live and work in South San Francisco, Nicolas said there sources and rules are already in place, such as density bonuses and inclusionary zoning, that allow for balanced housing.

Cyris said the city should consider rent stabilization and that a board could be created so residents could be heard more.

But there is a way to balance housing projects while also bringing jobs closer to people, according to Olson. If the city were to change the zoning in certain areas, more housing could be built with lower storefronts creating both housing and jobs, she said.

Another candidate who asked residents to vote for her was Aysha Pamukcu. She is running for the District 1 seat, currently held by Mayor Mark Addiego, who will retire at the end of his term. Pamukcu is running unopposed, along with Councilman Eddie Flores, who represents District 5.

A suspect was arrested after a man was stabbed in San Bruno on Wednesday afternoon, police said.

Officers received a call from a good Samaritan at 1:05 p.m. reporting that a person had been stabbed on the 700 block of Kains Avenue, according to San Bruno Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol.

Police found the victim being tended to by a good Samaritan in a parking lot behind businesses, Smithmatungol said. The victim was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, where they are currently in stable condition.

During their investigation, officers suspected that a 32-year-old San Francisco man was behind the incident and arrested him.

South San Francisco City Council is considering whether to allow cannabis storefronts east of Highway 101.

During a study session on Sept. 9, Council discussed where cannabis storefronts could open — after making it a priority earlier this year — since they are not currently allowed. The city currently allows only weed delivery, testing, manufacturing, distribution and indoor cultivation, according to associate planner Cecelia Mariscal.

Council had the option to look into allowing cannabis businesses on El Camino Real and Highway 101. Most disagreed with permitting storefronts on El Camino Real because it would be too close to residential areas.

“I think east 101 is a natural place to start and hopefully we get all that freeway business. A lot of people, I guess, want to get off the freeway and get high and then get back on,” Mayor Mark Aadiego said.

Councilman Mark Nagales said there would be neighborhood pushback if council moved forward with allowing cannabis storefronts since they would be too close to schools.

“I think if we decide to move forward with this, we do need to get feedback from the community to see how they would feel to have [storefronts] within residential areas,” Nagales said.

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He recommended a phased approach, with the council reevaluating in a couple of years to gauge the community’s appetite.

Councilman Eddie Flores, who represents District 5, which covers east of Highway 101, agreed with Nagales. He said children who go to the library, parks, recreation centers, and organizations on El Camino Real would be exposed to the storefronts. Flores said allowing cannabis businesses east of Highway 101 would bring potential customers traveling near SFO.

Only Councilman James Coleman was open to storefronts on El Camino Real because, although they would be close to where minors hang out, dispensaries require ID to enter — unlike supermarkets, where alcohol is visible and minors could still enter.

Council agreed to cap the amount at two storefronts and use a lottery process, while still prioritizing existing businesses.

Farhad Doctor, the founder and CEO of Sticky Thumb Delivery, which has been around since 2020, said a lottery system to pick which business gets a storefront would be unfair, as big businesses may skew the pool.

“They have the money to do this and it actually could adversely create an unfair playing field,” Doctor said during public comment.

City employees will now draft an ordinance for council review at a future meeting in 2027.

A man was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Thursday after a jury found him guilty of molesting his niece, a prosecutor said.

The victim’s father, a Pacifica resident, asked San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Sharon Cho to impose the highest possible sentence on Wilfredo Juan Colins for his actions, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

“What this man did to my family is irreversible. We loved him, trusted him, thought he was one of us, and he betrayed us in the worst way. He hurt a child numerous times — that justifies asking for the maximum penalty that the law allows,” the victim’s father said in court.

Colins, 39, of Fremont, was previously sentenced to 17 years in prison. However, he already has about four years of good-time credit in jail, reducing his sentence, Wagstaffe said.

Colins molested his niece from the age of 12 to 16 between September 2018 and March 2021, according to the DA. Colins started molesting the victim when the family lived in Fremont and continued after they moved to Hayward and then Pacifica, Wagstaffe said.

Colins raped the victim again in 2022 and strangled her multiple times, according to Wagstaffe. The victim told her sister, but she didn’t do anything.

A year later, the victim’s parents noticed her grades were dropping and that she was depressed. The victim then told her mother what Colins had been doing to her, and she reported it to the police.

Colins was arrested in January 2023. Colins now must register as a sex offender and is not allowed to contact the victim for 10 years.

For generations of Pacifica families, the gym at St. Peter Catholic Church has been more than a place to play basketball.

“I’ve grown up with St. Peter’s basketball,” said Mike Herold, a Pacifica resident. “Some of my best sports moments growing up —now being a coach of my two sons — have taken place in that gym.”

It’s where children pulled on their first jersey, where parents watched their sons and daughters discover competition, and where former players eventually returned as coaches.

That tradition is now on hold.

St. Peter’s suspended its CYO boys basketball program for the 2026-27 season, the church announced Sept. 3 in a letter to the parish community, citing unsuccessful efforts to reach an agreement with the Catholic Youth Organization after changes to CYO eligibility requirements.

The decision has left families searching for answers.

Families and players’ displeasure flowed through the church doors when roughly 40-50 people appeared at Sunday mass on Sept. 13 wearing their green St. Peter’s Celtics jerseys and gear.

“We are confident that under new athletic leadership, St. Peter’s athletic program will resume its partnership with CCCYO for the 2027-2028 season and thrive once again,” St. Peter’s Rev. Jerome Foley said in a statement to the community.

Last season, 253 third-through eighth-graders participated in St. Peter’s basketball program, which fielded more than 20 teams. The boys season was scheduled to begin in November.

Athletic leadership was equipped with decades of experience

In many ways, Johnny Harrington’s life has revolved around sports.

The 42-year-old Pacifica native is a familiar name in local sports circles, having spent two decades immersed in athletics. His lengthy resume reflects a chameleon-like versatility, shifting from coaching football at Terra Nova to serving on the boards of Pacifica Cages and Pacifica American Little League and working as a Division I basketball referee.

Throughout all those stints, he’s remained a constant staple on the sideline, coaching the St. Peter’s Celtics. There’s history — he once donned the deep, vibrant green uniforms himself during the 1990s and his own children later followed suit.

“The reason why I do this is to create memories for the kids who aren’t going to play high school sports,” Harrington said. “These are the only moments they have. They love wearing the jersey.”

When the opportunity to become St. Peter’s athletic director came up in February, Harrington didn’t flinch in accepting. Michaela Christensen, Harrington’s sidekick, joined him as assistant athletic director.

A decades-long volunteer with St. Peter’s basketball, Christensen has a resume with plenty of mileage of its own: former Terra Nova Booster Club president and flag football coach, former AYSO board member, and current Local 1481 Education Union board member.

In their roles, Harrington and Michaela were involved in several meetings with the parish advisory council, led by Foley.

Foley leads the parish advisory council and has served as St. Peter’s pastor since June 2014. Foley, 68, grew up in San Francisco’s Sunset District, attended St. Gabriel’s Elementary and entered the seminary before being ordained in 1984.

In the dozen years since he arrived, parishioners have described Foley’s leadership style as “old school.”

Harrington and Christensen described Foley as difficult to reach during their tenure. Harrington said he never had Foley’s phone number or email address and that the two met approximately three times between February and July.

The Peninsula Buzz contacted St. Peter and Foley and asked to discuss the athletic program’s suspension, the CYO eligibility changes, the athletic directors’ positions, the program’s finances and the gymnasium repairs. Neither Foley nor a church representative responded before publication.

“Since Father has taken over, he’s not too big on the extras,” Christensen said.

Christensen pointed to the disappearance of several parish activities, including the Men’s Club, Women’s Club and Sunday pancake breakfasts. St. Peter’s website still lists a 55-and-over social club, holiday boutiques and rummage sales among its activities.

CYO made some changes

The dispute began with a change that came from outside St. Peter’s.

Since its founding years, CYO San Francisco has allowed players to participate in local programs based on where they live and attend school, with eligibility generally tied to the city and neighborhood served by the respective program. During the offseason, CYO alerted programs about a possible shift in those previous requirements, and followed suit by officially enacting the changes in early July.

As a result, players must now be enrolled in religious studies at St. Peter’s or be a paying member of the Boys and Girls Club of Pacifica — the latter would add another $50 membership fee on top of the existing cost of the basketball program.

The rules adjustment forced parish leadership and their athletic department to sit down and convene to establish a concrete plan for how to move forward with the change. Harrington says when he presented St. Peter’s with the option of requiring players to sign up for the Boys and Girls Club of Pacifica, Foley wasn’t in favor — nobody could afford the increase, he argued.

“He questioned what the Boys and Girls Club was,” Harrington said. “He’s never heard of it before.”

It was back to the drawing board, and the athletic committee sent a survey to poll 250-300 families about a possible price increase. According to Harrington and Christensen, 97% of respondents supported the option and wouldn’t mind a spike in prices. Some families even offered to sponsor a scholarship-type fund for those who couldn’t afford the increase.

“Even with a price increase, we were going to get a lot of people to play,” Christensen said.

When the athletic committee brought the survey results back to Foley, Christensen said he rejected the proposal.

“We said, ‘Hey, the community is willing to do this. That’s how important it is to them,’” she said. “He said, ‘Absolutely not. I told you that I don’t like that CYO was forcing this on us. I don’t like that they’re forcing everyone to pay.’”

According to Harrington and Christensen, Foley reluctantly said he would think about it.

St. Peter’s suspends the program

A week went by, and crickets —the two St. Peter’s athletic directors hadn’t heard any information about the program’s future. After two weeks, Foley emailed the parish community on Sept. 3 to announce the suspension of the athletic program for the 2026-2027 season.

The statement also referenced the church leadership’s desire to move forward with different athletic management in preparation for restarting the programs next year.

“While this news is disappointing for our St. Peter Community, we have already begun the search for a new athletic director with the support of CCCYO leadership,” the statement said.

Harrington and Christensen stated they learned their tenure with the program had ended through the parishwide announcement rather than a direct conversation with Foley.

Christensen said neither received a formal notice explaining they had been removed from their positions.

“That struck me in the wrong way,” Harrington said. “Don’t point the finger that we’re not having the season because of me. That’s exactly what that email basically said.”

The announcement was later posted to St. Peter’s Facebook page. The post was subsequently removed after commenters criticized the decision.

Harrington and Christensen also said Foley has indicated that he would prefer the next athletic director to be Catholic.

The two former athletic leaders said they were surprised by that preference, noting that their children were baptized at St. Peter’s and that Harrington was married in a Catholic church.

Could financial issues be holding St. Peter’s back?

The financial picture raises other questions.

Christensen said St. Peter’s CYO basketball generated more than $30,000 for the church over the past three years.

“The program pays for itself,” Christensen said. “If it is a financial reason, it’s not because of the program.”

The suspension of the program — even if it’s resumed next season— could prove to be costly in the long run.

“It’s going to shrink the program,” Christensen said. “People are going to find other places to play. People are going to find other things to do, and it’s going to make it even harder for it to be at the capacity it is now. We’re one of the bigger programs in CYO.”

Foley announced on Sept. 15 that the entire gymnasium roof will be replaced, with construction beginning in the last week of September and concluding in October. The church also plans to repair storage rooms damaged by previous leaks and mold. Foley says the cost will exceed $100,000.

According to public documents, Central Roofing Inc. pulled a permit for the roof work on July 13, with construction finally beginning on Sept. 21. The work is expected to take approximately one to one-and-a-half weeks to complete — weeks before the expected start to the boys’ season, which is set to begin in November.

Harrington and Christensen said they had planned a two-week basketball camp during the summer but were not allowed to hold it in the gym because of the roof.

They said the camp would have qualified St. Peter’s as an official athletic program under CYO rules, potentially eliminating the Boys and Girls Club membership requirement.

The camp did not take place, leaving the 90 children who had registered without a chance to participate.

“We’re not asking them to coach,” Harrington said. “We’re not asking them to mop the floors, or do the scoreboard. We’re asking them to open the gym. Let’s do our best to team up and make it work for the kids.”

What’s next?

The deadline for St. Peter to register with CYO for the boys’ season is Oct. 30.

Despite no longer being at the helm of the program, Harrington remains involved in efforts to change Foley’s mind.

“I don’t think he understands the impact of all these young kids — that he’s actually taking a lot of memories away from,” Harrington said.

Harrington says he knows seven people who could take over as athletic director and plans to send a list to the parish advisory council.

The decision has since moved beyond the parish and into the wider Pacifica community.

An online petition calling on the church to “save St. Peter’s CYO sports programs” had collected nearly 750 signatures as of Sept. 16.

Another protest for current and former families is set for Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Peter.

“I have faith [the program] will come back,” Harrington said. “I hope Father and St. Peter’s will do the right thing. I don’t want history to repeat itself with all these other programs that got deleted. They will make the right choice for the kids, and the community is there to help them make that decision.”