East Palo Alto, a city once notorious for its high homicide rate, celebrated a significant milestone at the start of 2024: a year without a single murder.

This achievement marks a dramatic shift for a city that was once dubbed the “murder capital” in 1992, with the highest per-capita homicide rate in the U.S.

The transformation of East Palo Alto is attributed to a combination of factors, including economic growth, youth and ex-offender mentorship programs, and a renewed trust in law enforcement. The city’s mayor, Antonio López, believes that creating a supportive environment that offers alternatives to violence has been key to this change.

The city’s evolution also coincided with a shift in law enforcement strategy, with a focus on community policing to build trust and relationships with residents. This approach, coupled with the city’s tight-knit community, has led to improved investigations and clearance rates. In 2022, all five homicides that occurred in the city were solved.

East Palo Alto had long been burdened by poverty; though only a strip of Highway 101 separated it from its wealthy Silicon Valley neighbor, Palo Alto, the income disparity between the two cities was vast.

Yet, over three decades, East Palo Alto blossomed. Commercial development popped up, including a new Four Seasons hotel. Property values rose and new families moved in, precipitating what some would call gentrification.

“Oftentimes we hear about gentrification being so negative, right?” says Rev. Deborah Lewis-Virges of Saint Mark AME Zion Church. “I think we’re a prime example of it having a positive impact,” she added, noting that newcomers included Black, Asian, and Latino homeowners.

Despite the city’s progress, questions remain about whether this success can be sustained or replicated in larger cities. However, local leaders remain optimistic, viewing the achievement as a collective effort and a testament to the power of community collaboration.

Read more at MSN News.