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High Tension in South San Francisco Politics
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SSF candidate: Kamala Cynthia Silva Wolfe
Unlike Daly City, South San Francisco is not known for outwardly ugly politicking but an e-mail making the rounds in the City since last year is recirculating again in the context of the fall council election.
The e-mail in question was issued by council candidate and the only non-incumbent in the race Kamala Cynthia Silva Wolfe.
The e-mail, sent perhaps erroneously through a community e-mail list, details an exchange between the City Council and Wolfe’s mother during a City Council meeting regarding concerns over a possible soundwall.
The e-mail states: “Then council weighed in on additional ideas, back and forth, and MOM is raising her hand. Well the public comment part is over and done with, yet mom would not have any of it. She had something to say, some questions to ask. (Mom knows all of the council personally).
Finally the Mayor SENIOR GONZALEZ , said 'si, i vill det ou speak zut only da 3 minutes'.
Anyway MOM, thank you so much. You did such a wonderful presentation and I didn't get a chance to tell you last night. Even though the council are a bunch of idiots saying we have to wait another 5 yrs or whatever, I couldn't get the smile off my face from having witnessed your performance.”
The portion of the e-mail quoting then Mayor Pedro Gonzalez is a phonetically spelled version of the Mexican-born official’s statements in what has been interpreted as mocking of Gonzalez’s heavy accent.
The e-mail quickly made its way around town and even to Gonzalez himself who responded to Wolfe in a conciliatory e-mail stating:
As the only Hispanic member of our City Council, I am proud of my heritage and my ability to address both our Spanish speaking residents as well as our English speaking residents. I am also proud of the fact that I have never mocked the communication style or ability of any member of the community. You certainly have a right to express yourself, but in a community as diverse as South San Francisco, I would ask that you remember that our differences should be embraced, not criticized.
Subsequently Wolfe did issue the following apology:
My sincere apology to anyone that may have been offended by the contents of a private family email that accidentally was sent to cpft.
Thank you to those that have replied with understanding and forgiveness and would like to move forward.
To those that choose to let this fester, if you are without error, please step forward and
throw the first stone.
Respectfully humbled,
Kamala Silva Wolfe
This election will be Wolfe’s third attempt to win a city council seat. But the email exchange has done little to engender support among South San Francisco’s political establishment.
Contact Bruce Balshone at bruce.examiner@gmail.com
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