Racially charged flyer posted in Santa Cruz

At a recent Santa Cruz housing event, a man in support of “No on Measure M” passed out what some are calling an inappropriate and racially insensitive flyer that included a picture of what are presumed to be Latino gang members.

“Yes on Measure M” has strongly condemned the flyer telling KION it had clear racial undertones.

“There is this idea that outside immigrants or people that are brown or have criminal records are going to come in and take over Santa Cruz or provide difficulty for landlords to exist or continue in the rental market,” city council candidate Drew Glover said.

The man who passed out the flyers said he was not trying to involve race in his message.

“Of course was not the intent of it at all,” landlord Darius Mohsenin said. “It was basically to point the focus on dangerous gangs or criminal element that could be living next door to you.”

The man who handed out the flyer, has donated to “Santa Cruz Together” in support of the “No on M” campaign. They have since notified him they will withdrawal his donation.

Mohsenin defends the flyers, saying it was blown out of proportion because he also had flyers with pictures of Caucasian gang members.

He also tells KION he regrets handing them out.

“I do, i do it was obviously a mistake I was thinking in multicultural, multiethnic, multiracial Santa Cruz, bay area people look beyond this stuff.”

In response to the flyer, “Students United with Renters” is hosting a march Friday they’re calling “A March Against Racist Slumlords.”