Bay area new briefs for May 10, 2023

Hundreds of people surrendered weapons and received $50 for each non-working firearm, $100 for handguns, shotguns and rifles, and $200 cash for assault weapons and ghost guns. Organizers didn’t ask questions about where the weapons came for and were concerned only about getting them off the streets.

The surrendered weapons included nine assault rifles and four untraceable ghost guns. Another gun buyback event is being planned for later this year.

— from staff reports

Trail workday set this weekend 

The city’s Open Space and Parklands Advisory Committee will join other community members for a trail maintenance workday on the Ahni Trail on Saturday.

The group will do a variety of tasks, including removing invasive species and trail repair. The work will be done from 9 a.m. to noon at the trail, also known as Cattle Hill. Participants should meet at the east end of Fassler Avenue near the parking lot.

Participants are asked to dress in layers, bring their own water, gloves and sunscreen, and to consider that no restroom is available on site.

Organizers ask anyone with round pointed shovels, pruning loppers, mattocks, and hand pruning shears to bring them along. Some tools will be provided.

For details, email

pattona@ci.pacifica.ca.us.

— from staff reports

HMB meeting focuses on farmworkers

Farmworkers, policymakers and the public will gather on May 20 to discuss issues important to the people who plant and harvest our food. The meeting will cover clean water, housing and health care, and will focus on specific policies that could improve the lives of San Mateo County farmworkers. 

Invitees include federal, state and local elected officials; representatives from Coastside organizations including ALAS, Coastside Hope and Puente de la Costa Sur; and Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers.

The meeting is presented by the San Mateo County Democrats, and will be emceed by Gloria Rodriguez of ABC 7 News.

In the first hour, elected officials will review policies that are in place or in progress. The second hour will feature leaders of Coastside organizations and will invite questions, comments and discussion from the audience. 

The meeting runs from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. It will be held at the Cabrillo Event Center at 530 Kelly Ave. in Half Moon Bay. The meeting is free to attend, and will be translated into Spanish and Mandarin.

— Eileen Campbell