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Public commenter accuses Alameda board of stigmatizing remarks and demands apology
Summary
At the March 26 meeting of the Alameda Social Service Human Relations Board, a public commenter identified as Miss Thomas accused board members of labeling her mentally ill during prior remarks, called the conduct 'stigmatizing' and demanded a public apology; the chair acknowledged the disruption and reconvened the meeting.
A public commenter identified by the chair as Miss Thomas criticized members of the Alameda Social Service Human Relations Board on March 26, saying board members had 'no right' to make public statements about her mental health and demanding a public apology.
Miss Thomas told the board she is a 30-year educator and said she was unfairly characterized at an earlier meeting. "You are not a doctor. You are not an evaluator. You are not a therapist," she said. "Raising my voice is not a diagnosis. Passion is not a diagnosis. Being hurt, frustrated, or speaking forcefully after being ignored for 4 and a half years is not a diagnosis." She called the prior remarks "arrogant, reckless, stigmatizing," and said the board had failed to listen and follow up on concerns she raised.
The board paused the meeting after the public comment; the chair apologized for the disruption and reconvened the session at 7:41 p.m. The chair said, "Thank you very much, Miss Thomas," and added, "I'm very sorry," in response to the speaker's remarks.
Miss Thomas urged the board to review contracts and a five-year plan and to engage directly with the community she said the board represents. She told members they had shown "cowardice" and called for the board to acknowledge the comments and behave "like adults who are capable of listening to public comment without resorting to insults, stigma, and character attacks." The meeting proceeded to its next agenda item without a recorded formal apology vote or further public exchange on that issue.
The meeting record does not show a formal board statement or action in response beyond the chair's immediate apology and reconvening of the agenda. The board later moved on to approve minutes and routine agenda items.
