As our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and community in Newton, Connecticut affected by the senseless tragedy of Friday, as Mayor of San Mateo I want to address our community on the issue of school safety.
In the short term, as today's events unfolded, the San Mateo Police Department increased their presence at our local elementary and middle schools in the San Mateo-Foster City School District to conduct safety checks and reassure students, educators, and parents.
Although the events in Newton were ultimately deemed to be a localized event, our police officers took the opportunity to review crucial emergency response procedures within our local schools.
I want to personally thank San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer and all her officers for their sensitive response to this situation to reassure our local community.
In the long term, the City of San Mateo Police Department has worked consistently with the school district to constantly update emergency security plans, and review the layout of our schools to increase the overall safety of our campuses.
While we can never be 100% protected from the dangers of this world, our Police Department and entire City Staff are dedicated to doing everything we can to provide our school district with the tools necessary to protect our children.
I have also been in touch with School Board Trustee President Lory Lawson and Superintendent of Schools Cynthia Sims to renew our commitment to work with our school board to provide any City resources that are needed to help them keep our children safe.
As a parent of kids in our public schools, and as Mayor of San Mateo, I extend my deepest condolences to the community of Newton, and remain committed to protecting our children in this uncertain world.
We MUST be proactive and not put our safety plan in place after the fact.
But, the 'gun' problem is just a leading indicator of the real or root cause problem. First, I am a supporter of the 2nd Amendment, which is NOT to arm ourselves for home protection, nor for hunting. Our forefathers had just won a civil war against their government...England, and the oppressive metrics imposed on them. They felt that this 'new' government and citizens should have the right to bear arms for a militia as a just in case this new government became oppressive and unwilling to listen to their constituents (their citizens) The cat is out of the box, or Pandora's Box has been opened. IMHO, we focus too much on the in-animate object...the device that was used to harm/kill The real problem is with the person using that device. I also believe in gun control and the banning of certain types, but go back to the 2nd Amendment and that the real problem is the 'person'. Everything that 20 year old 'adult' did was illegal. Killing is against the law. Using a gun to kill is against the law, etc, etc, etc So laws do NOT stop most of these types. What does? Proactive is tough, as how far is 'enough' ? Again, we are catching up with the rest of the world in regards to individuals and organizations becoming terrorists in order to make whatever statement they are after.