Are proposed city council sanctions in East Palo Alto justified?
- Henrietta J Burroughs
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
East Palo Alto City Councilmembers are shown at their September 2, 2025 council meeting
The U.S. is polarized and it appears that the East Palo Alto City Council is also polarized with charges and countercharges swirling.
The latest charge occurred at the council’s opening session this past Tuesday, September 2, after its summer recess.
During the council’s discussion on a proposed Inclusionary Housing ordinance, Councilmember Webster Lincoln wanted to make a motion to end the debate and call for a vote. Councilmember Carlos Romero asked a question of the city attorney and wanted to get his response.
Lincoln accused Romero of talking for 30 minutes and repeating himself. Romero responded by saying, “This is a question that had never come up yet. Now, you may be deaf and dumb, but let me tell you something.”
Mayor Martha Barragan intervened, saying to Romero, “This is your second time that you are aggressive towards a council member and out of line. I'm going to have to enforce taking you and stripping you from your privileges.”
As a result of these exchanges, a special council meeting is planned for Wednesday, September 10 for the purpose of sanctioning Romero for his conduct at the September 2 council meeting. The proposed sanction would reprimand Romero and strip him of his leadership roles on key regional boards until 2026.
Opponents of the sanctions argue that a double standard is at play. They point to past remarks by Vice Mayor Dinan, who they claim has referred to fellow councilmembers as "snarling dogs" on social media and dismissed the opinions of colleagues without children on policy matters. They argue that these comments, which are directly tied to his role as a civic leader, have not faced similar calls for accountability.
The move to penalize Romero is seen by some as disproportionate and vindictive. Supporters of Romero argue that the punishment is too severe and will harm East Palo Alto by silencing a "strong voice" on regional agencies where he has been effective. Romero's history of work on affordable housing, environmental justice, and transportation is cited as a reason to maintain his leadership roles. He has served on the City Council since 2008 and previously held the mayor's office. He was also recently elected vice president of the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and chairs the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Romero circulated a personal letter addressed to the East Palo Alto community and to his council colleagues in which he laid out “the actions that led up to this [deaf and dumb] comment, its intended meaning, and … why the proposed sanction is not commensurate with the alleged transgression.” See his letter here.
A major point of contention is the timing of the sanctions debate. It coincides with a discussion on amendments to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, a key policy that dictates how East Palo Alto will meet state housing mandates and preserve affordability. Critics allege that the disciplinary spectacle is a deliberate attempt to divert public attention from this crucial policy debate, especially after the Council recently voted to reduce affordable housing requirements for the Four Corners project.
The process for the sanction resolution has also drawn criticism. Community members, like Ravneel Chaudhary, who issued a press release today, claim that the special meeting agenda was not adequately publicized, with limited public notice on the city's website and bulletin board. The meeting was initially scheduled to occur before a Planning Commission meeting, giving the public little time to prepare, and was only rescheduled after residents raised concerns about potential Brown Act violations.
Community leaders are demanding a fair and transparent process, urging the Council to apply standards consistently to all members and to focus on issues that directly impact residents, such as affordable housing, rather than political conflicts.
Tonight’s meeting, which is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., will be held in person at East Palo Alto City Hall, 2415 University Avenue, and virtually via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86547293393
Webinar ID: 865 4729 3393
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