|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
When neighbors are informed, communities thrive. Reliable local journalism helps residents make sense of complex issues, participate meaningfully in civic life, and hold institutions accountable. It builds the shared understanding that allows a community to move forward together.
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the stories that made the greatest impact in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside — stories that sparked public conversations, elevated unheard voices, and led to meaningful change.
Earlier this year, reporter Arden Margulis examined how the Atherton and Menlo Park police departments shared sensitive license-plate data with federal and out-of-state agencies. His reporting revealed that the practice did not comply with California law, raising urgent questions about privacy and transparency. The coverage prompted officials to review procedures, strengthen oversight and begin conversations about better safeguarding community data.
Later, Margulis reported on one of Menlo Park’s biggest challenges: the future of downtown affordable housing. His work, including this story, explained the city’s complex process for inviting development proposals and clarified what’s at stake, from workforce housing to long-term economic vitality. By unpacking a technical and often opaque issue, The Almanac helped residents understand how these decisions shape our community.
Jennifer Yoshikoshi chronicled San Mateo County’s search for a trustworthy horse-boarding vendor at Wunderlich County Park, a place treasured by equestrians and hikers alike. Her article explored the tensions around stewardship of Folger Stable, balancing historic uses, environmental concerns, safety and the need for dependable management — and sparked conversations about protecting an essential part of our rural heritage.
These stories, and dozens more published throughout the year, reveal the lasting impact that trusted local reporting has in our community. They inform civic decisions, elevate diverse perspectives, and ensure that power is held to account.
The Embarcadero Media Foundation exists to keep independent, community-focused journalism strong. Your gift supports the Almanac and the other local newsrooms we operate in the Mid-Peninsula and Tri-Valley areas. Together, we’re sustaining something irreplaceable: informed communities and connected neighbors.
As we look toward 2026, we remain committed to producing reporting that strengthens and serves the community we all share.
If you value this work, please consider donating today.
