Thousands Urge Mill Valley Mayor To Step Down Amid Backlash

MILL VALLEY, CA — The backlash continues for Mayor Sashi McEntee after she said a question about Black Lives Matter was "not of immediate local importance" during a Monday council meeting. Online petitions urging the mayor to step down have garnered thousands of signatures.

During the meeting, city officials read a public comment from someone who said a "white silence is violence" sign was taken down within 12 hours in downtown Mill Valley.

"Our question is simple: What is Mill Valley doing to show that Black Lives Matter?" he asked.

"It is a council policy that we do not take action on issues that are not of immediate local importance," she said in response.

A video of the mayor's remarks was uploaded to YouTube. The video was widely shared on social media, causing "Mill Valley" to trend on Twitter.

By Tuesday evening, McEntee responded to the criticism and issued a statement. But the backlash continued when she failed to directly apologize.

A petition launched Tuesday on change.org called for McEntee to either apologize or resign, while another petition launched Wednesday urged her to resign. As of late Friday afternoon, the first petition, "Mill Valley Calls For Mayor To Apologize Or Resign," had 9,510 supporters, while the second petition, "Mayor Sashi Mcentee To Step Down," had 8,390.

"As a black male attending school in Mill Valley, I do not want my mayor to so passively dismiss the BLM movement and consider it unworthy," Bryan Phillips wrote.

"Issues that are not of immediate local importance?" Alvaro Pastor questioned. "I have biracial children that live in Mill Valley and they are of immediate local importance!"

"I don't really want an apology," Celimene Pastor wrote. "I'd like to see her resign. Mill Valley can do better."

On Wednesday, Alan Piombo, acting city manager and chief of police, condemned the killing of George Floyd in a letter to the community. He added that the issues surrounding Floyd's death were of "immediate local importance" in the city.

"This tragic event in Minneapolis, and the ensuing protests around our country once again shine a light on the challenges that persist in our communities, and the important responsibilities we all have to identify and call out deeply rooted, systemic inequalities in our society," Piombo said.

"To that effect, let me be clear — discrimination and systemic racism are of immediate local importance, here in Mill Valley."

McEntee issued a second response Wednesday in which she apologized for her remarks.

"I deeply apologize for my choice of words at the council meeting," she said. "This is a sensitive moment, and I didn't acknowledge the community's deep sense of hurt and anger. For that I am truly sorry. I stand with the protesters and those calling for justice for the Floyd family."

In response to the initial Black Lives Matter question during the council meeting, McEntee noted that she directed staff to set up a public portal on the city's website so that people who live and work in Mill Valley can help identify and develop solutions to address systemic inequities and injustices in the community.

McEntee also said she will add to the council's agenda a review of existing racial inequities and injustice in the city and county in an effort to develop a plan to address them, including the feedback from the portal and suggestions the city has already received.

In response to McEntee's apology, the organizers of the first online petition renamed the petition to "Mill Valley Urges Mayor To 'Commit To Action.'"

"We appreciate your apology and believe you are now aware of the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement to the citizens of Mill Valley," they wrote. "This is a first step, and we are looking forward to meaningful and consistent action from you toward fighting racial discrimination. It is no longer okay to be passive in the face of racial injustices. You must be anti-racist. Mill Valley needs you to do better."

On Thursday, however, McEntee retweeted a comment that some took as a third statement on the situation.

The comment she retweeted said: "Lol. They can only cancel you if you accept your cancellation. Long as I'm breathing my work continues."

"Elected officials get cancelled through elections, @Sashi," Josh Drimmer responded on Twitter.

"When Election Day comes for you, I will be very interested in joining the opposing campaign," Twitter user Socially Distanced Zaidi wrote.

Read McEntee's full second statement below:

In reading the many thoughtful letters I have received from the community, I want to respond further.

First, I deeply apologize for my choice of words at the council meeting. This is a sensitive moment, and I didn't acknowledge the community's deep sense of hurt and anger. For that I am truly sorry.

I stand with the protesters and those calling for justice for the Floyd family.

As to the question of how Mill Valley shows that black lives matter, I ask the community to join with me in the conversation.

I've directed staff to set up a public portal on our website so that those who live and work in Mill Valley can assist us in identifying and developing solutions to address systemic inequities and injustices in our communities.

I will be adding to our agenda a review of existing racial inequities and injustice in our city and county so we can develop a plan to address them, including the feedback from the portal and suggestions we have already received.

I invite the public to have further conversation with social distancing for Councilmember on the Plaza Thursday at 5 p.m.

I believe our shared humanity is stronger than our differences. I stand with you ready to find the solutions to heal our community.

Also see:

• Mayor's Response To Black Lives Matter Question Sparks Outrage
• Acting City Manager Condemns Killing Of George Floyd