MAC Reviews Crime Stats, Avalon Mobile Park Situation

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) heard a very brief recap of 2023 crime trends and statistics from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office at their meeting on January 16. 

Deputy Ruben Pola told the MAC that his department focused on being proactive and shined a light on the ACSO’s Crime Prevention Unit. 

“Our mission is to protect and serve, and we do that in a very advanced way here at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office,” said Pola. “Specifically, our mission is to provide information to businesses and people. To promote a sense of community and response.” 

He said that the department is trying to focus on “effecting the root cause of crimes” and trying to prevent them from occurring by being out there in the community.

Pola also very briefly shared 2023 crime stats during the presentation. In 2023, in Castro Valley, ACSO said there were a total of 482 reported (195 arrested) “person crimes,” including homicide, sex offenses, assaults, and property crimes. 

There were 1,435 “property crimes” (302 arrested) including robbery, burglary, theft, car theft, vandalism, and stolen property. 

There were 475 reported cases of more serious “Society Crimes A” (27 arrested), which included drugs, animal cruelty, and weapons charges.

There were 215 reports (124 arrested) for “Society Crimes B,” including loitering, DUI, and disorderly conduct. 

Statistics reported within Castro Valley for 2023 within those categories include two homicides, 104 burglaries, 411 assaults, 318 car thefts, 404 drug violations, and 184 reports of vandalism. 

MAC members chastised the ACSO for not providing printed and more easily legible advanced statistics instead of a small slide in the presentation. 

“We’d like these figures maybe a week before so we can digest them,” said MAC member Al Padro. 

Pola said that one major area of focus for the ACSO this year has been homelessness outreach and encampment cleanups. He said the area at the intersection of Redwood Road and Grove Way with the Trader Joe’s, El Rancho, and 7-Eleven at the intersection saw an up to 30 percent decrease in revenue due to an atmosphere rife with panhandling, open substance abuse and multiple calls for police service. 

Pola said the department was able to utilize simple ideas like removing benches to solve loitering issues and improve the area. 

The MAC said that law enforcement, code enforcement, and other county departments would have to come together to help with homelessness issues, which everyone named one of- if not the largest- community concerns.

Mobile Home Park Issues 

In other MAC news, the council heard about an issue that is popping up all over the Bay Area as even the most modest housing becomes increasingly unaffordable- mobile home tenancy.

Many people own mobile homes but rent the land that they are on. When ownership of a park changes, rates can go up, and realistically, most of these mobile homes aren’t actually mobile in the sense they cannot be easily moved to another location. 

In addition to raising rates, mobile home residents say some property owners intend to close parks down and develop the land for other, more lucrative uses. County and some city councils are discussing new ordinances to protect such residents. 

According to the county, there are currently 19 mobile home parks with 550 spaces in the unincorporated areas. 

Residents of the Avalon, a 49-space park in Castro Valley, told the MAC that ownership changed hands in November, and they received notifications of rent increases of 100% or more.

Previously, a 4% cap on rent increases of the same owner was maintained. The new owner has said that the issue is complex, that there are different acclimations and rules for RVs, and that he was willing to work with residents. The matter will be before the Board of Supervisors later this month.

More than 15 speakers addressed the MAC, worried that they’d be driven from their long-time homes by corporate investors. 

One option would be to create an overlay area for mobile parks to provide extra protection under the law. 

MAC member Al Padro expressed that he wanted every resident to stay in their homes and encouraged the county staff to look into the overlay option and beyond to find a resolution. He also thanked the owners for their cooperative efforts as discussions continued.