Millbrae votes to recall councilmembers over housing issues

Millbrae residents voted to recall Vice Mayor Maurice Goodman and Council Member Angelina Cahalan due to disagreements over a local housing project, according to San Mateo County’s semi-official results posted Friday afternoon.

Over 70% of District 2 voters chose to recall Cahalan, while 29% voted no. Almost 79% of District 4 voted yes to recall Goodman. Polls for the local recall election closed on July 23.

Of 5,688 registered Millbrae voters, 2,208 cast their ballots, resulting in a turnout rate of 38.8%.

Goodman said in a text message he was “happy to see community engagement with the election, but was disappointed with the outcome.

“I’m disappointed at what the implications might be for other elected leaders who display political courage and represent the voiceless and hypermarginalized in the face of misinformation,” Goodman said.

The recall effort was sparked by the contentious La Quinta Inn and Suites project. San Mateo County is attempting to purchase the hotel to house homeless families and seniors. The effort has faced community pushback and prompted a legal battle between the city and the county.

In September last year, the Millbrae City Council voted to send a letter to the county opposing the county’s purchase of the property. Cahalan abstained from the vote, while Goodman voted against sending the letter.

Last year, the city sued San Mateo County over the project, arguing the state violated  Article 34 of the California Constitution, requiring low-income housing to go through a local vote before it can be approved.

San Mateo County asserts the project is exempt from Article 34 as it fits under recent updates to state law tweaking the definition of “low-rent housing.”

A San Mateo County Superior Court judge dismissed Millbrae’s housing lawsuit against the county last month without prejudice, ruling that the case was filed prematurely. The city may re-file the case at a later time.

The recall effort was spearheaded by a volunteer group who supported the conversion project “against the wishes of their constituents.”

Albert Yam, a pro-recall organizer, did not respond to a request for comment. But Laura Smith, a pro-recall Millbrae resident, previously told this news organization she believes the two councilmembers don’t represent the community’s voice.

“Based on what we feel is an unfair process and their very poor representation of the community, people felt that they should be recalled from office,” Smith said.