Big Brother is watching

Ravneel Chaudhary -

As a resident and community organizer, I have experienced firsthand how public trust in East Palo Alto is being undermined, not by disagreements, but by the control of information and the suppression of dissent.

Vice Mayor Dinan has used his online presence to shape narratives, silence opposing views, and give political insiders an advantage. Ahead of the July 8 City Council meeting, he posted in his private Facebook group, EPA Neighbors, and also messaged me directly: “Reminder that City Council, not the general public, is voting tonight.” While this was part of a longer message, the intent was clear: to discourage public participation in the second reading of the Residential Parking Permit (RPP) ordinance. Though framed as a clarification, the comment was dismissive of public input and reflects a broader pattern of exclusion. It suggested that public opinion was irrelevant and that residents had no meaningful role to play in the decision-making process. 

Even before Dinan was elected, residents and local organizers raised concerns about being excluded from online community spaces he manages. Over the years, multiple community members, particularly younger residents of color including Black, Latine, and Pacific Islander voices, have been removed or blocked from his private Facebook group, EPA Neighbors, after expressing disagreement with his political positions. While concerning in any context, the issue becomes more serious when that group is used by an elected official to communicate about city matters. A platform that filters out critics and limits who can participate in civic discussions cannot serve as a fair or transparent channel for public information. Although these actions may appear minor on the surface, they reflect a broader national pattern in which public officials use digital spaces to control messaging, suppress dissent, and avoid community accountability. When this happens at the local level, it quietly undermines the foundations of democratic engagement. 

As a member of the City Council’s agenda-setting committee, Dinan has early insight into upcoming items. Before the second reading of the RPP ordinance, he posted the expected date on his Facebook page, well before the official agenda was available on the city website. While this may not violate the Brown Act, sharing public information early in a closed, selectively moderated group creates unequal access and undermines transparency. 

During the council meeting, Dinan also cited data from a drone study conducted by Christopher Kao, a current Planning Commission alternate, which was published in The East Palo Alto Sun, a blog that Dinan personally runs. While Kao authored the article, Dinan’s use of the study to support official city policy raises serious concerns. When unofficial surveillance data informs city decisions, the line between public input, personal influence, and privacy becomes dangerously blurred. 

After the second reading, Dinan took to social media to claim that most public commenters were just youth from YUCA (Youth United for Community Action), who would not be affected by the ordinance. Apart from mimicking Trump’s behavior of attempting to smear and discredit social justice organizations, this is a slap in the face to residents, who stayed past midnight to express their concerns and hear the council’s decisions firsthand. Dinan also accused opponents of spreading misinformation and fabricating facts. These dismissive comments erase the contributions of residents who spent countless hours reviewing city reports, gathering signatures, and speaking with staff. This is not just narrative control, it is an attempt to delegitimize dissent and silence the people. 

East Palo Alto deserves leadership that informs and includes everyone equally, not one that filters and reshapes public participation to fit a political agenda. 

About the author:

Ravneel Chaudhary is a community organizer and East Palo Alto resident who advocates for transparency, accountability, and inclusive civic engagement.

******************

Please click on the box below and make a donation. Whatever amount you give will enable us to "Keep Community Media Alive!"