The Brief
- East Palo Alto recorded zero homicides in 2025, marking the second time in three years the city has reached that milestone after decades of being labeled one of the nation’s most violent communities.
- Officials credit community partnerships, youth programs and increased policing, even as officers work out of aging temporary facilities.
- City leaders are pushing a proposed Civic Commons project with a new police department, city hall and community spaces, while raising funds and considering a voter-approved bond.
EAST PALO ALTO, Calif. – East Palo Alto recorded zero homicides in 2025, a milestone city leaders say reflects years of progress for a community once labeled one of the most violent in the nation.
It marks the second time in the past three years the city has reached that goal, police said, underscoring how far East Palo Alto has come.
From violence to progress
The backstory:
In the 1990s, East Palo Alto was known as the per-capita murder capital of the United States.
“Every little act of violence, people are thinking, ‘Yeah, that’s the murder capital.’ That was so many years ago,” Police Chief Jeff Liu said. “Can we move forward from that? Can we build a new reputation — a safe reputation?”…