Embattled Livermore Commissioner Keeps Job After 'Ghetto' Remark

LIVERMORE, CA — Two weeks after Livermore Planning Commissioner John Stein uttered controversial remarks about a downtown affordable housing proposal, the City Council decided that he will keep his job.

The council voted 4-1 to give Stein a second chance after he said he didn't want downtown Livermore to become a "ghetto" and that the city shouldn't be the "go-to" place for low-income housing in the Tri-Valley, among other remarks that some described as classist or racist.

As a planning commissioner, Stein was appointed to his role — meaning the City Council has the power to remove him.

Councilmember Bob Carling, who unsuccessfully made a motion to oust Stein, cast the lone dissenting vote. He said that Stein, who was a Livermore councilmember for 15 years, made inexcusable and insensitive remarks inconsistent with the city's values — especially given Stein's long history as a public servant in the city. Carling declined a request for comment from Patch and deferred to his remarks made at the meeting.

Stein's remarks fueled division in Livermore.

Councilmember Brittni Kiick previously called his comments "classism at its worst."

Vice Mayor Trish Munro addressed Stein's assertions point-by-point last week.

"He talked about Livermore as, quote, 'The center of homelessness in the valley.' He went on to say that he did not want Livermore to become the, quote, 'go-to place in the valley for affordable housing.' And finally he used the word 'ghetto' to refer to the proposed Eden development. And in each case, he spoke in his capacity as an appointed official to make statements about our community and communal identity that run counter to our stated values."

"We're striving to be a welcoming and inclusive city, and I hope that doesn't mean that we welcome only the right kind of people, because how many of us would truly qualify as a member of the right kind of people club?" Munro said.

Others came to Stein's defense and noted that most people who testified in public comment objected to the affordable housing complex. His supporters said calls to remove him were unjustified and indicative of "cancel culture."

Stein apologized at the onset of a special meeting Monday night to discuss whether he should retain his position. He said that Livermore needs a balanced mix of housing types across the city and that people of all income levels deserve to have decent housing near their workplace.

Stein thanked those who supported him and those who sought to explain why they found his remarks offensive. He said he would accept the council's decision, whatever it may be.

"Livermore is a melting pot, and I hope that I have helped make it that," Stein said. "Those are beliefs I've held since I've come to Livermore 50 years ago. And over the past few years, I've realized there's an urgent need for affordable housing, and the only way it can be provided is through subsidized housing."

Stein was ultimately given a formal warning and assigned to complete a League of California Cities inclusion training within a week and tour the city's affordable housing complexes. Stein said he accepted those conditions and believed that they would make him a better planning commissioner.

Critics of Stein's remarks were dissatisfied with the council's decision.

Tri-Valley for Black Lives, which called for Stein's resignation, said in a statement that it "expected more from our leaders who claim to be committed to equity and inclusion."

"A public official who has served the community for decades should understand the impacts of racially coded language," the group said.

But to Mayor Bob Woerner, the council's decision was one of "compassion, really, and an understanding that people get a second chance," he said at the close of Monday's meeting. "However there aren't more chances after that."

The council will consider the Eden Housing project — the proposal at the center of Stein's controversial comments — on May 24. The development would be located on 2.5 acres at the corner of South L Street and Railroad Avenue.

— Bay City News contributed to this report