Anti-gay slur investigated as hate crime

“It was unsettling, but I will not be intimidated and it won’t stop me from being outspoken on issues I care about,” Galisatus said. “This campaign is about representing all residents of Redwood City no matter their background. And on the City Council, I intend to be a leader who will stand up for all residents in our community, whether you just moved here or have lived here a long time and no matter what neighborhood or generation you belong to.” 

Redwood City Police Chief Dan Mulholland said an investigation is currently underway, and so far it appears no suspects have been identified.

“The police department takes these allegations very seriously and detectives conducting the investigation are treating the matter as a hate crime,” Mulholland said, adding that anyone with information should contact Lt. John Gunderson at (650) 780-7692.

“I am surprised and very saddened to hear this,” Mayor Ian Bain said in an email. “Our community is better than this, and no matter how heated the campaign gets, our candidates deserve better than this. Everyone who is running is a good person, and they should be treated with respect, not subjected to hurtful and personal attacks.”

Galisatus views the incident as part of a broader pattern — a rise in people acting in a hateful manner, he said, referencing anti-Semitic posters on U.C. campuses and incidents of swastikas being tagged on the Stanford University campus. 

Galisatus currently works for Stanford and is a graduate of the university. He’s also a Redwood City native and serves as co-chair of the San Mateo County LGBTQ Commission, vice chair of the Redwood City Complete Streets Advisory Committee and is the longest-serving current board member on the Redwood City Education Foundation, according to his website.

The other candidates in the race include Planning Commissioner Giselle Hale, longtime Councilwoman Diane Howard; Rick Hunter, accountant and former planning commissioner; community organizer Diana Reddy, Planning Commissioner Ernie Schmidt and local businesswoman Christina Umhofer. There are three seats up for grabs.

Reddy also said she has been the target of a personal attack during the race, though the incident is markedly different than the one involving Galisatus. Reddy was the subject of a mailer sent out by the California Apartment Association that she said misrepresents her views.

“Diane Reddy supports policies that remove private property rights, regulate single family homes and restrict control of your home,” the mailer reads. That summary of her views was printed on an image of an op-ed she wrote in this newspaper. 

“I never said any of those things in that op-ed and, when you read it, it’s clear where I’m coming from,” she said. 

The California Apartment Association has since sent out another mailer about Reddy that claims she wants to “end small business and end capitalism.” 

“It’s a fear tactic. The California Apartment Association is an outside organization with big money trying to influence a local election. How dare they,” she said. 

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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