From the Archives

Local gun dealers were angry about a new state law slated to go into effect Jan. 1, 2002 and said they were passed by officials less concerned about gun safety for lawful buyers than about killing gun sales.

Starting Jan. 1, 2002 all firearms sold, transferred or manufactured in California must come with trigger locks. The bill was signed by Gov. Gray Davis in 1999 but did not go into effect until 2002.

The lock, which typically sells for under $10 in gun stores, fits around both sides of the trigger to prevent its use. But most locks in stores didn’t meet California certification standards, leaving dealers frustrated at having to replace their inventory.

Few renters can afford homes

San Mateo matched national averages in owner-occupied houses but fell short in the number of residents who can afford a home, according to census data released the week of Dec. 31, 2001.

Two-thirds of American households owned their homes in 2000, and the increase in owner-occupied homes far outweighed the rise of people living in rental units. But in San Mateo, the ratio was about equal, because homes were the minority of housing units. Homes were barely more than one-third of the cities’ 91,166 housing units. Of 37,338 houses in the city, 20,119 owners live in them.

Many residents don’t have the hefty incomes often required to buy a house in Bay Area cities and those that do often choose to live in them rather than rent them out. High home prices coupled with the lack of homes for rent left few options for those tired of sharing apartment walls but unable to manage a downpayment and mortgage payments.

County ‘WedCam’ shows weddings on Web

Prospective brides and grooms who choose to tie the knot at the county clerk’s office began to have the option of saying "I do” on the Web beginning the week of Dec. 31, 2001.

San Mateo was the only county to offer a "wedding cam,” a Web site that lets loved ones anywhere in the world watch the ceremony live via a computer.

The county clerk’s office performs about four civil ceremonies each day, according to deputy county clerk Theresa Rabe.

The free service utilizes a confidential link and password system to ensure only those invited can view their nuptials.

"It’s specific to the ceremony. We’re not looking for voyeurism,” said Rabe.