Partly cloudy and windy. High 63F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..
Partly cloudy and windy this evening. Cloudy with diminishing winds late. Low 51F. WNW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Updated: May 26, 2026 @ 11:00 am
Editor,
At the May 19 Board of Supervisors meeting, San Mateo County Manager Mike Callagy reportedly described Article 34 as “a racist, segregationist provision of the Constitution that I think we’re all embarrassed by and definitely needs to be changed in the 21st century.”
Regardless of where residents stand on Article 34 or affordable housing, we should be careful not to let emotionally charged labels replace thoughtful public discussion.
I support affordable and workforce housing. But I also believe residents have every right to ask questions about proposed ballot measures and how they may affect voter authority and local city decision-making.
San Mateo County’s own polling reportedly shows 67.1% of residents expressing probable or definitive support for the measure, while a meaningful percentage still have concerns or unanswered questions.
That should not be viewed as a problem. It should be viewed as an opportunity for transparency.
I sent questions to the county seeking clarification on issues including city authority and whether County Counsel has provided legal guidance regarding matters raised during public discussion.
Those are fair questions. They deserve clear answers.
Residents of all viewpoints should feel comfortable participating in public debate without concern that asking questions will lead others to assume motives that do not exist.
Good government is not built on labels or assumptions. It is built on transparency, accountability and the common-sense belief that informed voters make better decisions.
Taso Zografos
San Mateo
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