Hi Justin,
I hope you are doing well. Thank you for hosting a City Clerk’s Office Open House at Belle Haven Community Campus. I wanted to follow up on a couple of concerns.
First, I noticed that important events such as the City Clerk’s Office Open House were not announced during the seniors’ Wednesday informational sessions today. This gives the impression that the city is not making a genuine effort to keep seniors informed. While staff may rely on email and marketing companies for outreach, many participants are still not receiving timely information.
Second, in your August 1, 2025 email (logged in the city records), you stated: “We are working to schedule an emergency drill for all participants, and are targeting that to be scheduled for early to mid-September.” Seniors have not received any updates on this, and I wanted to check whether you have any news or a timeline to share.
Thank you for your attention to these matters, and I look forward to your response.
Best regards,
Eduardo
On Aug 1, 2025, at 12:33 PM, Murphy, Justin I C wrote:
Hi Eduardo,
Thank you for your emails.
The July 30 incident was a false alarm to the buildings security system that occurred when a contractor doing work on the roof inadvertently triggered the alarm. The contractor was changing an air conditioning filter, which is normal and regular maintenance required for any buildings operations. While it was not a drill, it was not an emergency situation. In an abundance of caution, staff proceeded to evacuate the building, and went room-to-room to inform those in attendance what to do. Staff also followed up with participants personally after the alarm was resolved to inform them of what happened, once we had more information.
We are working to schedule an emergency drill for all participants, and are targeting that to be scheduled for early to mid-September.
In regard to the electrical outlets referenced below, a project manager was onsite yesterday scoping out the work to replace/construct the outlets and install push buttons on some of the interior doors in the coming months.
I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of City Councilmembers Taylor and Wise in meeting with the seniors on May 9 and June 27. Staff is using the input from the June 27 meeting to help guide actions and subsequent updates for the seniors.
Sincerely,
Justin
[CMP_Email_Logo_100dpi_05d92d5b-e8e3-498f-93a6-d0da509bd602111111111.png]
Justin I. C. Murphy (he/him)
City Manager
City Hall
701 Laurel St.
tel 650-330-6725
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From: Eduardo Lopez Hernandez
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2025 8:23 PM
Subject: Continued Safety Concerns at Belle Haven Community Campus
Dear Mr. Murphy,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing for the fourth time this week to express my deep and growing concern regarding the incident that occurred at the Belle Haven Community Campus on July 30, 2025. While many seniors believed the situation was part of an emergency drill, we have since learned it was, in fact, a real emergency caused by a repair issue within the building.
This miscommunication placed vulnerable individuals—including seniors and children—at serious risk. What happened was not a drill; it was a real threat to public safety, and it revealed serious shortcomings in the City’s emergency preparedness. Residents were neither properly notified nor evacuated, and many were left confused or unaware of the danger. This is unacceptable in a facility that primarily serves elderly and mobility-limited residents.
Adding to the concern is the fact that the Belle Haven Community Campus is barely a year old, yet it has already required frequent repairs—almost monthly. This pattern suggests poor planning, design, or oversight, and raises serious questions about the building’s long-term safety and suitability for the community it serves.
Despite repeated reassurances from Deputy City Manager Nicole "Nikki" Nagaya that the City prioritizes safety and resiliency, the events of July 30 tell a different story. Words and intentions must be matched by action, and right now, we are witnessing a troubling lack of urgency, transparency, and preparedness. We have submitted two petitions highlighting ongoing safety concerns—including repeated incidents where seniors have tripped over ground-level electrical outlets—yet City staff and Council have not responded with the seriousness these concerns deserve.
This continued inattention—despite our petitions, emails, and community outreach—raises painful questions. Is the lack of response due to the racial or economic makeup of this community? Is it due to incompetence? We do not claim to know the answer, but the outcome is clear: our community is being put at risk, and we cannot remain silent.
The residents of Belle Haven are not statistics—they are our parents, grandparents, children, neighbors, and friends. We will continue advocating on their behalf until meaningful, concrete steps are taken to make this facility truly safe and secure for all.
We urge you to treat this matter with the seriousness it demands, and to respond with action, not just words.
Sincerely,
Eduardo
