Editor,
In San Mateo County, where diversity is one of our greatest strengths, Black History Month signals a call to confront the persistent disparities within our communities — disparities that will worsen under the policies of the new administration.
This year’s theme, African Americans and Labor, highlights the profound contributions of Black workers, from enduring exploitation as enslaved individuals to shaping industries as shipbuilders, educators, military officers and CEOs. It also marks the centennial of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, the first Black union to receive a charter in the American Federation of Labor, a reminder that labor rights and civil rights are deeply intertwined.
Acknowledging history is not enough. We must take meaningful action. San Mateo County has a history of Black resilience, from struggles against redlining and segregation to the ongoing fight for representation and justice. These stories must be centered in our schools and community discussions — not just in February, but year-round. This is especially crucial as diversity, equity and inclusion programs are dismantled, heritage months erased and curriculums censored to exclude the realities of enslavement and the transatlantic slave trade.
Beyond federal policies, local leaders must do more than issue statements — they must act. City councils and government bodies must actively uplift and include Black and underrepresented voices in decision making. Instead, we’ve seen officials who advocate for equity face recall efforts and anti-racist initiatives come under attack.
As Black History Month concludes, we must reaffirm our commitment to advancing equity, equality and justice for all. Black history is American history — something that even presidential executive orders cannot erase.
Ally Chan
Foster City
Maryann Moise
Portola Valley
Victoria Sanchez De Alba
Pacifica
The letter writers are members of the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee Executive Board and wrote this on its behalf.
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(5) comments
None of you are black...
Meaning what?
The only disparities between races is the disparate in decision makings. Why is at after 200+ years that the only races that have made little progress is that of the black & Latino communities? Why do Asians and Indians flourish? Latinos struggle because they are uneducated, and they refuse to assimilate by simply learning English. Blacks struggle because they perpetuate and ignore the need to have a father in every home, which is the very reason Asians and Indians succeed. Diversity could be a strength but it is NOT NOT NOT one of our communities greatest strengths. It is one of our greatest weaknesses because people like Ally Chan, Maryann Moise and Victoria Sanchez De Alba continue to make excuses for the plight of blacks instead of offering solutions and formulas for success.
I understand the frustration but this sounds like a lot of generalizing and oversimplification.
Three men brought Equity to the Equity Focus Area of North Central, when they gave Humboldt Street bike lanes - as the county's Equity Framework required them to do.
It was two BIBOC council members Nicole Ferndandez and Danielle Cwirko-Godycki that took bike lanes away from low-income children and residents. It was the BIPOC council members that attacked an Equity Focus Area. This way of course they can complain for the next 20 years that nobody gives them any credit and their neighborhoods are still "neglected and underserved'.
Then they proposed inviting weed shops to San Mateo downtown.
Danielle Cwirko-Godycki ran on the platform of
- Infrastructure and Public Safety
- Community Empowerment
- Responsible, Community-Centered Development
and her first big decision is to rob children of Infrastructure and Safety, neglecting the majority of the community and proposing irresponsible development.
That is really not the kind of "Diversity and Inclusion" people were looking for.
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