10/01/2025
September 2025 Newsletter
Dear Sue,
This month, I had the honor of representing District 4 on a global stage, joining housing leaders from across the country in Vienna for the Global Policy Leadership Academy’s Social Housing Field Study. Vienna’s approach to housing where over 60% of residents live in high-quality, permanently affordable homes was nothing short of inspiring. I saw firsthand how thoughtful design, strong tenant protections, and inclusive planning can create communities that are both beautiful and equitable. I look forward to sharing some of the lessons learned, and I’m excited to explore the possibility of applying some of them right here in San Mateo County.
Back in the District, we’re continuing to listen deeply and act boldly. Our Child Care Town Halls have been a powerful reminder of the challenges families face and the strength of our community when we come together. Parents, providers, and advocates continue to share their stories, and their voices are shaping the policies we need to ensure every child has access to safe, affordable, and nurturing care. We are also looking forward to launching our Measure K listening sessions for non-profits and community-based organizations. These sessions will help define District 4’s Measure K giving strategy.
And as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to recognize the incredible contributions of Latino communities across our district and county. Their leadership, resilience, and cultural richness are woven into the fabric of our neighborhoods. This month is a time to honor that legacy and to recommit ourselves to equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.
Whether we’re learning from global models or listening to local voices, District 4 is moving forward with heart and purpose. Thank you for being part of this journey.
With gratitude,
Supervisor Gauthier
District 4
STATE ACTION, LOCAL IMPACT
Thank you to Senator Becker and Assemblymember Papan for securing $102M for the Coastal Resiliency Project from Prop 4.
This funding will make a real difference for cities like East Palo Alto, Redwood City and Menlo Park that sit on the bay in face of sea level rise due to climate change. To learn more, please read NBC Bay Area’s coverage.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
Measure K Listening Sessions
We are excited to launch Measure K Listening Sessions to hear directly from the organizations serving District 4. These conversations will help set the priorities of my office, ensuring Measure K funds meet the greatest needs and opportunities in our communities.
This is about uplifting your voices to guide real action. In the coming weeks, we’ll share dates and locations, and I hope you’ll join me in shaping the future of District 4.
Board of Supervisors Approves Transitional Housing for Foster Youth
On September 9, the Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of a home at 3335 Spring Street in Redwood City to support foster youth ages 16–21. The home will provide safe housing for six young people at a time, along with life-skills training, mental health support, and job development through the Housing Youth Services Program.
This project is a vital step in our fight against youth homelessness and a commitment to giving every young person the stability they need to thrive. To read more about the project, please visit here.
CELEBRATING LATIN AMERICAN HERITAGE IN D4
North Fair Oaks was recently highlighted as a destination for some of the best food from Michoacán. Last year, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum reflected on her time in Redwood City in the 1990s and declared it home to the best carnitas, a recognition that still resonates today.
Community leader Juan Carlos Prado gave ABC7 a tour of some of our local gems. Congratulations to these standouts:
• Panadería Michoacán: a favorite where fresh conchas and bolillos carry forward sweet traditions across generations.
• Chavez Supermarket: founded by a family from Aguililla, Michoacán, Chavez grew from its Redwood City roots into a neighborhood staple known for authentic flavors and community connection.
• Connoisseur Coffee Co.: local gem where small-batch roasts and community gathering brew together.
• Empanadas El Sur: Inspired by Argentine flavors and her father’s legacy, El Sur serves empanadas that bring heritage and innovation to every bite.
Our community’s traditions are known across borders, and these businesses carry those roots forward in ways that nourish both culture and connection. Stay tuned for next month as we highlight restaurants in Menlo Park.
SPOTLIGHT ON DISTRICT 4’S SMALL BUSINESSES
I had the joy of visiting Eskina, a new restaurant in the heart of North Fair Oaks.
Supporting local businesses like Eskina is about uplifting our community’s resilience and pride. I encourage everyone to stop by, share a meal, and experience the richness of what NFO has to offer.
Have a business you want to spotlight? Send your recommendations to my office at smc_supgauthier@smcgov.org so we can keep uplifting District 4 restaurants each month.
LISA IN THE NEWS
After attending StreetCode Academy’s Tech Tournament, I was energized to co-author an op-ed with Olatunde Sobomehin, CEO of StreetCode Academy, on what we call “tech apartheid,” the divide between those who have access to technology and those who are systematically shut out. That’s why we are fighting to break down barriers, to make sure our kids, families, and elders not only have access to technology, but also belong in shaping it.
Tech must be a tool for community, equity, and justice. That’s the vision behind StreetCode’s Tech Tournament and the work we’re bringing forward: innovation rooted in culture, community, and power. Read the full op-ed here.
Supervisor Jackie Speier and I hosted our third town hall in San Mateo to hear directly from Mid-County residents. Parents and providers shared their stories and challenges, including a father expecting his first child who described the stress of navigating child care options. He told us about the difficulty of reaching providers to secure care for when he and his wife return to work, a struggle many families face.
Stories like his are at the heart of why these town halls matter. They give us the chance to hear the lived experiences behind the numbers, and they shape the policies we fight for. For me, it all comes back to making sure families, especially working mothers, have the support they need to raise their kids without having to sacrifice their own well-being. Learn more in The Almanac’s coverage of the event, and for a broader perspective on the issue, check out KQED’s coverage.
Join us at our next Child Care Town Hall on the Coast. If you aren’t able to attend, take our survey here.
SEPTEMBER AT A GLANCE
I was honored to welcome the Zambia Delegation to San Mateo County for a roundtable on climate resilience, sustainability, and innovation. Climate change knows no borders. Zambia’s Minister of Transport & Logistics, Frank Tayali, reminded us that this work can bring change and opportunity to 73 tribes in Zambia and neighboring countries. His words reinforced a simple truth: global partnerships, not aid, are the key to building resilience, creating jobs, and uplifting communities across borders. And as President Hichilema reminds us: “Instability anywhere is instability everywhere.”
I had the opportunity to attend the Social Housing Conference in Vienna, where I connected with housing leaders from across the world. It was an inspiring space to learn from innovative models, share our own challenges, and explore how we can continue to bring bold, people-centered housing solutions to San Mateo County.
As part of my ongoing work to bridge San Mateo County and Santa Clara County, I joined Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga at Canopy’s Planting Hope event. Together, we uplifted the importance of collaboration between our counties and reaffirmed our shared commitment to sustainability and community well-being. When we work across county lines toward the same cause, our impact is stronger, and our communities thrive.
I was excited to join our community in Redwood City for Fiestas Patrias, celebrating Mexican Independence and Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month. A beautiful day of culture, tradition, and pride that reminds us of the strength and richness of our community.
I visited Family Connections and All Five, two centers on the frontlines of child care in our community. What I saw was powerful, families working with providers for quality care and educators holding it all together with limited resources. Child care is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline. We need to treat it like the essential infrastructure it is, and I am committed to making sure every child and family in District 4 has access to it.
I attended AbilityPath’s Creative Spotlight, a collaboration designed to lift up and celebrate the value of neurodiversity in art. Art has the ability to shift how we see the world, to connect us across differences, and to remind us that every voice and every perspective matters. Their art challenges us to see beyond limits and embrace the richness of neurodiversity as a strength.
I had the joy of welcoming a new piece of public art in Redwood City. What used to be a traditional walkway between the Hall of Justice and the County Jail is now alive with color and light. Contemplative Canopy, a mural by artist Kseniya Makarova, transforms this space into one of reflection and inspiration. This mural joins the growing collection of public art that continues to brighten and connect our County.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
November 4, 2025 Statewide Special Election
Your voice matters! Make sure you’re ready to vote. Here are a few key dates to keep in mind:
• Register to Vote: Deadline is October 20, 2025. After this date, you’ll need to register in person at a Vote Center.
• Ballots: Vote-by-mail ballots will begin arriving in October.
• Vote Centers:
• October 6: 555 County Center, Redwood City
• November 1: 550 Bell Street, East Palo Alto and 1455 Madison Ave, Redwood City
• All open on Election Day, November 4 (7am–8pm)
• Drop Boxes: 46 locations open starting October 6. Please find your nearest location here.
• Vote by Mail: Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, November 4, and will be accepted through November 12.
4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl: Banned Books Week
Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, October 8 at 5pm, the Redwood City Library Foundation hosts its 4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl during Banned Books Week. Enjoy discounted drinks and small bites at participating pubs, each spotlighting a banned book and sharing facts about censorship. It’s a fun evening with fellow library lovers, while supporting local businesses and our libraries.
Get your tickets here.
Fellowship Opportunity in East Palo Alto
