No on Measure Y

Oct 29, 2020
Oct 29, 2020 Updated Apr 13, 2025
7

Editor,

In the past, San Mateo hasn’t been as welcoming to different groups as it is now. As recently as the 1940s, prospective homeowners were banned from buying homes in San Mateo unless they were of Caucasian descent.

(7) comments

Christopher Conway Oct 29, 2020 7:15am

Black Americans were not prevalent on the peninsula in the 1940's. It was only after WW2 and the influx of blacks from the south to the shipyards in San Francisco did the black presence increase on the peninsula. In the 1960's and 1970's, over 50 years ago, any limitations on ownership was deemed illegal. We are in 2020, and these housing activists want to go back 60 + years to find a reason to vote against Measure Y. That is what we call desperation. Anybody with standing in the 1950's who was discrimminated against please come forward and get justice. If your family was not even in the area and were not affected by the policies of the day, you have no argument and you have no standing. Vote Yes on Y and No on R, let's take control of our city and give a straight arm to socialized housing advocates, out of town developers and those racial equity/social justice warriors who are using race as means to divide us.

Oct 29, 2020 1:53pm

You forgot to mention that it was Grandfather Bohannon who wrote the discrimination rules for his San Mateo housing. New York Times 8-14-2020 “The Black Lives Next Door”

Christopher Conway Oct 30, 2020 6:30am

How many years are you going back and didn't we address this issue in the 1970's, Sorry, but your not going to use that excuse in 2020.

JustMike650 Oct 29, 2020 2:01pm

Chris, you should apologize to the Cullen - Mack - Williams and Cherry families, to name just 4.

Noah's Ark was here before all the Conway's' or WASP's.

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-s-remarkable-williams-family/article_9614fac2-ff0e-11e7-be5a-bb59faa5c6f9.html

I am AMAZED at your lack of City of San Mateo historical acumen.

Christopher Conway Oct 30, 2020 6:32am

Not true, we were here before Noah and his Ark. When did your little anonymous family come here? Probably can't say cause you can't let anyone know who you even are. Must be sad to just stay anonymous and not come out of the shadows in which you lurk.

Terence Y Oct 29, 2020 10:53am

Blah-blah-blah. Racism this and racism that. The racism argument has been used for everything from ice cream to apple pie so much it no longer means anything. However, action means something. Maybe if Brenda and Jim Sell can set an example and convince like-minded folks to sell their houses for pennies on the dollar so people can purchase their homes and live in the community, I might give their letter more credence. Until then, vote YES on Y and NO on R.

raayan Nov 1, 2020 10:26am

Thank you for this perspective that recognizes that under the status quo (if measure Y were to pass) we would not be able to build the kinds of housing that are affordable for our most essential workers. Vote no on Measure Y.

Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.

We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.

A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!