Crime & Safety

Safety Concerns Prompt Gate Closure On Cary Drive

Gate that provides a short cut between Cary Drive and Bancroft Middle School to be locked Jan. 9, school district says.

A gate that had been left open as a shortcut between Cary Drive and Bancroft Middle School is scheduled to be locked starting Monday due to safety concerns.

The gate closure notice was issued some weeks ago by the San Leandro Unified School District but the effective date was delayed. The notice read in part:

"Due to safety concerns for students, staff, families, and you – our neighbors – the San Leandro Unified School District has decided to close the Cary Drive entrance to the Bancroft Middle School Campus effective January 9, 2012.

We recognize that this might be an inconvenience to a few of our neighbors, but we feel that everyone’s safety is our first priority."

Find out what's happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

School district officials said the only gate being locked is the one north of the track field at Cary Drive. Families and neighbors will still have access to the courts and fields via Bancroft Avenue just as they do now.

The gate-closure decision prompted some feedback on a neighborhood mailing list, with one person in the Estudillo Homeowners Association suggesting that neighbors could drive away the bad element. The writer said in part:

Find out what's happening in San Leandrowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

What if everyone grabs a friend or pet and takes a walk or run around the Bancroft track in the mornings (6:30-7:30) and/or evenings (6-8pm)? We could all get in shape, catch up with a friend and keep our neighborhood safe.

School Board trustee Mike Katz-Lacabe told participants on one neighborhood discussion list that "there have been at least three incidents where people were assaulted/attacked in this area."

"I know some people use this as a shortcut and as a dog walking area, so I'm sorry for the inconvenience," he reitierated.

San Leandro Police spokesman Lt. Jeff Tudor said the department's crime database noted many nuisance calls and some minor assaults in the area but no serious attacks in 2011.

Tudor, who grew up in the city and attended school here, said he remembers that the gate used to be locked to force people to walk around the long way.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.