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Dear Equity Ally,
Nearly one year after the launch of San Mateo County’s Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement (OLSE), we are grateful for all the support and partnership that has helped us build this work. We wanted to share a few updates on our progress and invite you to stay connected.
Since launching in July 2025, OLSE has continued to develop a countywide approach to protecting workers, supporting fair competition, and helping employers understand their responsibilities. What began in the County’s unincorporated areas has grown into enforcement partnerships with seven cities: Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Mateo, and Half Moon Bay.
Over the past several months, the OLSE team has focused on outreach and education for workers, employers, service providers, and community groups; building systems to respond to worker questions and concerns; and launching initial enforcement efforts to address local minimum wage violations and other wage theft matters.
Some highlights from our first year include:
- Approximately 500 participants reached through OLSE presentations and workshops, and more than 1,000 businesses canvassed
- More than 250 intakes and inquiries handled through our free, confidential Labor Advice Line and direct contact with OLSE staff
- Nearly 60 workers receiving restitution as a result of wage theft investigations
We have also continued investing in practical tools and multilingual resources for the public. OLSE has developed and expanded a resource library that includes know-your-rights materials, minimum wage information, and guidance tailored to issues community members have raised with us. Through these materials, we hope to help workers better understand their rights while helping employers prevent violations before they happen.
Partnership remains central to this work. Community organizations, other County departments, advocates, and business groups have helped us reach workers and small businesses, share information, and build trust across the county. We are thankful to everyone who has invited us into community spaces, helped distribute materials, or connected people with our office.
As we enter our second year, we would welcome more opportunities to collaborate. If your organization, team, or network would benefit from a presentation, workshop, or conversation about local labor standards or worker rights, please reach out. We also encourage you to keep OLSE in mind as a resource for community members who may have experienced wage theft or local minimum wage violations in San Mateo County.
To learn more, request a workshop, or refer a worker, please contact us at OLSE@smcgov.org or visit smcgov.org/olse.
Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to building on this progress together.
Warmly,
Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement County of San Mateo
The Office of Racial and Social Justice
Shireen Malekafzali Taidi, Chief Equity Officer
Andrew Knaack, Equity and Belonging Associate
Caline Salame, Equity and Belonging Associate
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 The Community Data Dashboard presents key metrics that provide insight into the community’s current economic mobility conditions and trends over time. It demonstrates a Targeted Universalism approach to better understand the varied conditions that different populations experience. Economic mobility metrics are disaggregated by race and local jurisdiction, and by age, gender, and other factors when available. This disaggregated data shows which subpopulations may be most challenged and need targeted support, and what populations have strong outcomes that can we learn from.
This June, the Board of Supervisors will be presenting the following two proclamations:
- Proclamation designating June 2026 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Ally and Two Spirit PRIDE month
- Presentation of a proclamation designating June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth in San Mateo County.
Wednesday, June 17 @ 10:00am
County Courtyard - 455 County Center, Redwood City, CA
Join County Officials, the County of San Mateo Juneteenth Advisory Committee, and NAACP San Mateo to raise the Juneteenth flag with guest speakers, music and more to celebrate and promote awareness of the holiday.
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 We’re excited to invite you to be part of the San Mateo County Pride Celebration 2026! Our theme this year is Unite. Empower. Resist. Pride 2026
This year’s celebration centers belonging, visibility, healing, and community, creating a space where LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and allies can connect, access resources, and celebrate together.
We would love for you to join us in the following ways:.
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Volunteer at the Event (sign-up link) Volunteers support event logistics, set-up, and community engagement. It’s a meaningful way to contribute to a safe and welcoming experience for all.
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Help Spread the Word (flyer attached) Please share the event flyer with your networks to help us reach and engage our broader community.
We anticipate a strong turnout again this year and would truly value your presence and partnership in making this event a success.
In this episode, Ann Stillman reflects on her path to becoming Director, highlights the wide range of responsibilities within Public Works, and shares insights and lessons she has gathered throughout her career.
You can watch or listen at www.smcgov.org/openmike, or find the episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Past episodes are also available on these platforms.
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June provides an opportunity to reaffirm a core equity principle: achieving shared community goals requires strategies that account for differing needs and barriers. Through the lens of targeted universalism, we can work toward universal outcomes—such as belonging, health, safety, and opportunity—while recognizing that not all communities are positioned the same way to access them.
This month’s observances, including Pride Month and Juneteenth, underscore the importance of ensuring that inclusion is reflected not only in recognition, but in systems, practices, and resource access. The beginning of the summer season also highlights how environmental and seasonal conditions can disproportionately affect communities already facing structural inequities.
Advancing equity does not depend solely on large institutional changes. It also depends on everyday actions that strengthen accountability and inclusion: identifying barriers, improving accessibility, listening to impacted communities, and supporting responses that are informed by lived experience. Within our respective roles and capacities, we can each contribute to a more responsive and equitable community infrastructure—one that helps all people thrive.
Have feedback? We would appreciate feedback about what information you most want to hear from us. For feedback, please email us at equitysmc@smcgov.org.
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Volunteer with local organizations supporting LGBTQ+ communities, youth, older adults, and families.
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Attend Pride Month or Juneteenth events that uplift community voice, history, and belonging.
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Donate or help distribute summer essentials such as water, sunscreen, food, or school supplies.
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Share information about cooling centers, public benefits, community events, and local support services.
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Participate in public meetings or community conversations that shape programs, policies, and resource decisions.
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Support equitable change by asking who faces barriers and what actions can help remove them.
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Support local businesses and organizations serving diverse communities.
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Check in on community members affected by heat, isolation, or limited resources.
A moment of centering: Reflect on this month’s themes with two short questions:
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What does Pride mean to you personally?
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How do you or can you use the power of empathy to acknowledge and understand the experience of others who share different cultural background than yours? How can we use that understanding to move us towards shared prosperity for everyone?
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