Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Mullin to Present of $3.2M to City of South San Francisco for Neighborhood Park

South San Francisco, CA  September 22, 2022

Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Mullin will be presenting the City of South San Francisco a check in the amount of $3.2 million to help build a new park at the site of a triple homicide that took place December 22, 2010, with arrests made in 2012 for what is known as the ‘Eighth Lane Shootings’ . The area, located on Linden Avenue between 8th Lane and Pine Avenue, is currently open space with trees planted dedicated to the three young men who were gunned down and killed: Gonzalo Avalos, 19, Omar Cortez, 18, and Hector Flores, 20. Three other victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries during this horrific violent crime. Assemblyman Mullin had been the Mayor of South San Francisco at that time.

From the City of South San Francisco

Situated in the historical Old Town Neighborhood, this is a highly visible public site due to its centralized location and cultural significance. This densely populated area is considered one of South San Francisco’s most socio-economically disadvantaged communities, composed of renters and Latinx families. Two Title 1 schools are located within the neighborhood, with many children living in poverty. Approximately 38.3% of students are eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals in the South San Francisco School District. The City has higher rates of youth living in households below the poverty level when compared to San Mateo County. On average, 43.7% of the students are socio-economically disadvantaged.

 

An important feature of this park will be a memorial grove that acknowledges the history of violence and showcases the City’s ongoing commitment to its community’s well-being and long-term improvement of this area. Also important to this project will be space dedicated for public art that honors the cultural diversity and the history of our community.