Silicon Valley, Los Gatos Carmen Lowe Will Lose Her DEI Job

DEI is WASTE.
CARMEN LOWE

Hi So this is actually Carmen Lowe

Good evening, my name is Carmen Lowe

I’m a resident of Los Gatos

I serve on the Los Gatos Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission

But I come here tonight not in my capacity as a commissioner but as a resident

So first I want to thank the town council for taking on this really important discussion

About the potential loss of federal funding as a result of the executive orders

I truly do not envy the position that you’re in now

Because you’re having to make a risk calculus of how to navigate this environment to keep federal funding

that I understand is critical to the programs in our town in a really volatile environment

And with an administration that has made it really clear that they do not respect the rule of law

What we have seen from federal leadership is that obedience does not buy you safety

And it will not ensure our town’s federal funding

They are using tactics of fear-mongering

Of dividing our communities

Scapegoating our vulnerable populations

Making traditionally safe spaces like schools and places of worship into targets of ICE raids

Where the federal government has had court injunctions against their actions

They have not abided by those court orders or by the rule of law

So the town council

We understand that these funding decisions are very important

And as you’re making this risk calculus

It’s also really important to recognize

That it cannot be done at the expense of keeping our members safe

And signaling that you have people’s backs

And people are truly looking to you for guidance

Actions that you can take is that as you’re making these decisions about funding

And how you can potentially decrease risk to the town is to not be limiting any type of program

That has been viewed as being attacked by the federal government

Specifically regarding diversity and equity

Ways we can make our town more inclusive

Programs that relate to important environmental projects

and initiatives that provide services to our vulnerable populations

Further, I think it’s important that people are looking to you to make a statement

And to really reaffirm that the town of Los Gatos is committed

and to reassure us that we are committed to our civil and human rights

That town resources will not be used to target immigrant and other vulnerable populations

And we really should be reaffirming things like the Los Gatos Resolution of 2017-024

And that we’re going to be standing with the people who are currently being attacked

Thank you.