Redwood City Police have gotten to the bottom of what initially appeared to be a hate crime targeting local LGBT advocate and City Council candidate Jason Galisatus.
Galisatus recently contacted the Redwood City Police after noticing the word “#gay” spray painted on his landlord’s fence. Galisatus, believing it to be a hateful message for him, also mentioned the discovery at a community forum.
Police launched an investigation into the matter. With the help of Google maps, they were able to determine that the message was on the fence three months before Galisatus moved to the property and therefore could not have been aimed at him. The investigation is no longer active.
Galisatus has expressed relief at the findings and regrets any pain it may have caused the LGBT community. He says he had never noticed the graffiti until that day.
“I am glad we are having this important community dialogue,” Galisatus told Climate Online, noting that all other candidates for the Redwood City Council were quick to condemn the possible show of hate. “I am so proud and grateful that all seven candidates and our community spoke in a singular voice that hate has no place in Redwood City.”