2 years later, victims of farmworker shooting honored in Half Moon Bay

“I think, for most of us, we reached a point in the mourning process where it’s more personal at this point,” Half Moon Bay City Manager Matthew Chidester said. “We wanted to create a space where people could reflect on their own, if they wanted to.” 

On Jan. 24, Ayudando Latinos A Soñar — a Latino cultural arts and programming organization that provided many essential services to displaced families, survivors and other affected individuals in the aftermath of the shooting — is hosting a memorial service.

The community vigil will take place at 636 Purissima St. from 6-8 p.m. and feature a farmworker musical accordion performance and speeches from elected officials and Chinese and Latino community leaders, according to a press release. 

“It’s such a sad day,” ALAS Executive Director Dr. Belinda Hernandez Arriaga said. “We have been there with the community, with the farmworkers, the survivors, we’ve been closely working with them. I think one of the most special stories is, we’ve worked on ways we can build community in a safe space of the arts [and] mental health support.” 

The mass shooting — which was the largest in the county’s history — also forced the county and city of Half Moon Bay to reconcile with the squalid and untenable living conditions in which many coastal farmworkers and their families were living. 

That discovery led to expedited work on two affordable housing projects designated for farmworkers. One, at 880 Stone Pine, is set to open 49 new homes this May, including for families who were displaced in the aftermath of the shooting. 

Another, at 555 Kelly Ave., was approved by the Planning Commission last year and applicants are continuing to work to garner necessary funding. 

While the tragedy will always be felt, the community has been resilient and come together to push for change, Supervisor Ray Mueller said — who represents the coastside on the Board of Supervisors. 

In addition to partnering with the city to build new housing, the county has worked to conduct a survey of working conditions on every farm and ranch in the county and is getting ready to announce $2 million in funding to become available for improving existing farmworker housing, Mueller said. 

“I think the impacts are always going to be felt. It’s part of the history of the community,” he said. “If you look at where we are from that standpoint, we have built housing. We have funding on the way to improve existing housing. We’ve done a survey of every piece of housing out there. We’ve done that all in 2 1/2 years.” 

The city of Half Moon Bay is also intent on using the tragedy as a catalyst for positive change in the affordable housing sphere, Chidester said. Alongside that, Half Moon Bay also established the Farmworker Memorial and Remembrance Advisory Committee, which is in the planning stages of a farmworker memorial. 

Once a design concept is chosen, Half Moon Bay will work on raising funds for that project, Chidester said. 

“We’re hopeful people in the community and throughout the county will be interested in memorializing not just what happened, but recognize the contribution of farmworkers throughout the county of San Mateo, the food, the culture brought through farmworkers,” he said. 

For those looking to get involved in helping the farmworker community in other ways, helping ALAS thrive — including direct donations, volunteering at ALAS’ food pantry or outreach programs — is a good place to start. 

“We’re working to make sure they just know they have a home,” Hernandez Arriaga said. “I  think that’s what ALAS has given them during that time. … It’s a home for them. It’s a safe space.”