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Residents press council on gentrification, representation and legacy‑resident protections
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the council to address displacement and the economic and cultural erasure of long‑time East Palo Alto residents, asking for stronger representation on boards and policies that prioritize 'legacy citizens.'
At the Oct. 7 meeting several residents used public comment to press council on gentrification, displacement and representation. Gail Wilkerson (identified on the agenda) said longtime residents who built the city are being erased and urged the council to reinstate policies that prioritize legacy residents rather than favor a “narrow circle of chosen voices.”
"These are the people who built East Palo Alto," Gail Wilkerson said, calling for greater recognition and attention to long‑time Black residents and other legacy community members. She described economic displacement, the loss of historic Black business districts and concerns about hiring practices and language requirements that she said disadvantage people who remained in the city.
Other commenters, including Donna Rutherford and Larry Moody, urged inclusive outreach and praised youth engagement work; Moody suggested more advanced facilitation and broader recruitment to ensure diverse youth representation. Council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff and consultants will continue to work on broad outreach and inclusion measures as the youth engagement process proceeds.
