By Manuel Ortiz Escámez
A characteristic of the San Francisco Peninsula is its enormous ethnic diversity. Here, social groups from many nations coexist, and each group makes a very valuable contribution to the cultural and economic enrichment of this area; however, this diversity is not always reflected in the traditional media, much less in those in power.
For example, Redwood City has a Latino population of over 39 %, while the Asian population is over 11 %. However, these populations, and others like the African-descendant population, are completely invisible in the following photographs, which correspond to the eight chiefs of the city's Fire Department.
Inevitably, looking at these photographs, the following questions arise, which we should all ask ourselves, including City Administrator Melissa Stevenson Diaz, Mayor Diane Howard, Deputy Mayor Shelly Masur, Council members, and even the nine candidates for Districts 1, 3, 4 and 7 on the Redwood City Council.
Why do we not see women, Latinos, Asians, representatives of the Black community and other ethnic groups in the photographs of the Redwood City Fire Department commanders?
Let's not get confused. This question is not intended to be an attack on the people who, in recent days, have risked their lives to control the incessant fires in Northern California; which, incidentally, severely affected air quality on the Peninsula. No. To these people, all our gratitude.
Should we care about the lack of diversity? When responding to a call for service, does the leadership recognize some of the cultural and language barriers that may cause delays in providing emergency services? Are certain neighborhoods or residents treated differently? Are their institutional barriers to hiring and promotions in the fire department? These are just some of the questions that come to mind when I look at these photographs and listen to the stories in the neighborhoods that do not regularly show up at City Hall for council meetings.
These questions are directed at the Fire Department commanders who, as far as can be seen, and as far as Peninsula 360 Press has been able to ascertain with various first-hand testimonies to which we have had access, are a guild of white men who fail to understand one of the greatest values of the Peninsula and Redwood City: diversity.
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Manuel Ortiz Escámez is a sociologist and journalist. He lives in Redwood City.
In case you're interested in learning more about the fire department:
https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/fire-department/about-the-department/fire-stations
