Message from the Mayor

Published on February 22, 2024

The Importance of Community & Connection During These Challenging Times

Our community suffered the loss of two community members this week and my heart breaks for the families of those lost and our entire community as we mourn together. At a time when there is tremendous conflict worldwide, I urge all of us to come together in community to check on one another, and renew our focus and commitment to our youth, to our families, and to one another. 

While the investigation is ongoing to determine all the details of Monday night’s fatality collision involving a bicyclist on Embarcadero Road at Newell Road, I want to thank the responding police officers and firefighters for their professionalism, support and empathy for all involved. Detectives in the Police Department are continuing to investigate the case. 

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Transit Police are still investigating Tuesday morning’s train collisionwhere another human life was taken from us way too early near the Meadow Drive crossing, I appreciate the Palo Alto Unified School District’s quick response ensuring that students, parents and staff have the support they need. 

As work has been ongoing, the loss of another community member’s life has created renewed urgency of the Youth Wellbeing & Mental Health Task Force, a group I established last month that is committed to supporting and uplifting young people in Palo Alto. The Taskforce brings together stakeholders and industry experts from the school district, Stanford University, local nonprofits, and youth in our community, to study what are the current greatest needs, learn about gaps in services and current services offered, with the goal of making recommendations on policies or programs to the City Council for both immediate and lasting impacts. While the task force does its work, I encourage all of us to commit to getting help if you need it and preventing suicide in the community.

I believe it is an important time to focus on hope, help and community strength and togetherness. Know you are not alone, if you or someone you know needs help and support, find resources available below or reach out to a friend, neighbor, family member, teacher or me. 

I encourage all of us to take the time we need to mourn, heal, focus on self-care, wellness and mental health.

Greer Stone
Mayor

Mental Health, Wellbeing and Wellness Resources

The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 9–8–8.

Youth well-being and mental health services

Youth-led support groups, with faculty guidance, and on-site mental health services offered by our local schools.

Gunn Wellness Center: Gunn High School, P-231, (650) 354-8214, linktr.ee/gwellness
Paly Wellness Center: Palo Alto High School, Main Tower Building, linktr.ee/palywellness

allcove Palo Alto, (650) 798-6330, info@allcove.org, allcove.org/centers/palo-alto/

Children’s Health Council (CHC), (650) 688-3625, www.chconline.org

Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS), (650) 424-0852, www.acs-teens.org

The Gronkowski Center, (650) 961-9300, www.paloaltou.edu/gronowski-center

For a summary of these and more community resources available, go to /BeWell.