By Andrea Hernandez. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
Through a livestream, Giselle Hale was officially appointed, by unanimous vote, as Mayor of Redwood City, to serve in the position for the next two years and relieve Diane Howard, who has held the position since 2018. In turn, Hale will be replaced as Vice Mayor by Diana Reddy.
During the event, Hale thanked her family, friends and Diane Howard who have supported her on her journey to become mayor.
He also spoke about the priorities he will have during his administration, such as the Redwood City housing program, which he considers essential since he highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the housing problem.
She also said she is especially interested in encouraging access to mental health programs, which she believes have a "stigma" in the United States, but are highly necessary due to the ravages left by the pandemic and the ones she experienced personally.
“During the first year of COVID, my oldest daughter was diagnosed with multiple learning differences. Even in normal times, this would be a challenge for any parent. Getting her tested, getting on the right waiting lists, and reading to understand her options was overwhelming. In terms of her medications, it triggered mental health episodes for the family. Not being able to help my daughter when she needed it was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever had, and it led to a personal struggle with depression and anxiety. When I realized she needed support, it wasn’t easy to find. But with the help of a persistent husband and my friends, I was able to find it. She and I are both doing well now, but the experience made us realize how quickly things can change. It’s what gave me the motivation to help heal our community.”
In response, she mentioned that there is an initiative in San Mateo County that seeks to raise awareness and increase access to mental health services.
Ultimately, as mayor, Hale hopes to create a community where people of all ages, incomes and backgrounds can thrive, grow and retire.
Who is Giselle Hale, the new mayor of Redwood City?
Giselle Hale comes from humble roots, she began working at the age of 14 to support her family's solvency, she has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin from which she graduated with honors and later obtained a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
In 2014, Hale began serving as a Redwood City Planning Commissioner, and before her daughters were school age, she supported education, joining the board of directors of the Redwood City Education Foundation in 2017, a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide quality public education for all students in the Redwood City School District.
You may be interested in: Do Not Divide Redwood City: Citizens
