Correspondence: Updated 12/28/2023 — Alameda City Council, January 2, 2024

From: Zoë Ayoubi
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire resolution
Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 9:41:26 AM
Dear fellow Alamedans and Council Members,
My name is Zoe Noor and I’m writing to urge you to draft and pass and resolution to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. I grew up hearing stories from my family about the Holocaust and the stories coming from people in Gaza are disturbingly similar. Israel is not protecting it’s people by waging war on the people of Gaza. They are risking a broader war that could lead to the deaths of more Israelis. On the Palestinian side, there is ample evidence of Israel’s goal to ethnically cleanse the people of Gaza. To sit by and watch this unfold without taking a stand is a disgrace.

Despite all the destruction and devastation, we cannot lose hope. There are still so many lives that can be saved. President Bill Clinton said one of his biggest regrets was not doing enough to stop the genocide in Rwanda. He said if we had gone in sooner, 300,000 lives could have been saved.

The past teaches us the importance of collectively raising our voices against such crimes against humanity. One day, God willing, this will end. How will we be able to look in the mirror or in the faces of our children when the question is asked: what did you do to stop the genocide in Gaza?
With hope,
Zoe Noor
Alameda Resident
Mother of 3
From: Elise Hunter
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter in support of ceasefire resolution for 1/2/24 agenda item 10-D Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 5:09:49 PM
Dear Alameda City Councilmembers,
First, I must disclose that I am a member of the Alameda Municipal Power Public Utilities Commission (PUB). I am sending the letter below representing only myself as a resident of Alameda, California, and not
in my capacity as a PUB member.

I am writing as a concerned member of our community to urge you to support Mayor Ashcraft’s letter calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The recent escalation of violence has resulted in tragic loss of life and widespread suffering for innocent Palestinian civilians, and it is imperative that our city council takes a stand for peace and humanitarian values.

My four-year old daughter has now heard about the crisis, and every day she asks me if kids in Palestine are still getting hurt. It breaks my heart to tell her that they are.

I also tell her that our voices matter, and that we can share our concerns with our local leaders, and our advocacy and our leaders' actions can make a difference.

Ceasefire is a safety issue. The ongoing war in Palestine makes many of our community members less safe, including Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and Jews. In Alameda, our unofficial motto is “Everyone belongs here,” yet we are hearing that Palestinian, Arab and Muslim community members are afraid of being doxxed or losing their jobs for attending events or speaking out in solidarity with Palestinians.

During a recent walkout, students at Encinal High School reported feeling unsafe demonstrating solidarity with Palestine. The conflation of Zionism with Judaism has also led to Jewish community members feeling unsafe and targeted. Mayor Ashcraft’s letter
sends a message to impacted community members that their representatives hear their safety concerns.

Ceasefire is a moral issue. As a resident of Alameda, I believe that our community has a role to play in advocating for a peace in Gaza. The images and reports of civilian casualties, including children, are deeply distressing. It is clear that a lasting solution can only be achieved through diplomatic efforts and a commitment to dialogue. Our Congresswoman Barbara Lee has signed on to the congressional ceasefire resolution and was courageous in her disavowal of the war in Iraq.

Endorsing a ceasefire in Alameda not only follows her leadership, but adds constituent weight to her position and adds our city to the growing list of municipalities taking a moral stand.

Ceasefire is a local issue. US Campaign for Palestinian Rights estimates that Alameda taxpayers give $1,115,883 to fund Israel’s violence against Palestinian people. Those tax dollars could be coming back into our community for needed services. Additionally, Alameda is home to hundreds of union members and community members whose unions and community organizations have endorsed an immediate ceasefire.

I understand that international conflicts are complex, and our local government may have limited influence on global affairs. However, by taking a principled stand, Alameda can contribute to the collective voice advocating for peace and the protection of civilian lives.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and trust that you will consider the urgency of the situation. I look forward to hearing about any actions our city council may take to address this critical issue.

Sincerely,
Elise Hunter
From: Jessica Marron
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support Agenda item 10-D
Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 10:41:35 PM
Dear Alameda City Council members,
I am writing as a concerned member of our community to urge you to support Mayor Ashcraft’s letter calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The recent escalation of violence has resulted in tragic loss of life and widespread suffering for innocent Palestinian civilians, including the deaths of over 20,000 people in 82 days, and it is imperative that our city council takes a stand for peace and humanitarian values.

Ceasefire is a safety issue. The ongoing ethnic cleansing in Palestine makes many of our community members less safe, including Palestinians, Arabs, Muslims, and Jews. In Alameda, our unofficial motto is “Everyone belongs here,” yet we are hearing that Palestinian, Arab and Muslim community members are afraid of being doxxed or losing their jobs for attending events or speaking out in solidarity with Palestinians. During a recent walkout, students at Encinal High School reported feeling unsafe demonstrating solidarity with Palestine. The conflation of Zionism with Judaism has also led to Jewish community members feeling unsafe and targeted. Mayor Ashcraft’s letter sends a message to impacted community members that their representatives hear their safety concerns.

Ceasefire is a moral issue. As a resident of Alameda and person of Christian faith, I believe that our community has a role to play in advocating for liberation and an end to apartheid in Gaza, the West Bank, and the rest of occupied Palestine. The images and reports of civilian casualties, including children, are deeply distressing. It is clear that a lasting solution can only be achieved through diplomatic efforts and a commitment to dialogue. Our Congresswoman Barbara Lee has signed on to the congressional ceasefire resolution and was courageous in her disavowal of the war in Iraq. Endorsing a ceasefire in Alameda not only follows her leadership, but adds constituent weight to her position and adds our city to the growing list of municipalities taking a moral stand, alongside cities like Richmond and Oakland.

Ceasefire is a local issue. US Campaign for Palestinian Rights estimates that Alameda
taxpayers give $1,115,883 to fund Israel’s violence against Palestinian people. Those tax dollars could be coming back into our community for needed services. Additionally, Alameda is home to hundreds of union members and community members whose unions and community organizations have endorsed an immediate ceasefire.

Ceasefire now!
Sincerely,
Alameda resident
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Meeting and Item 10-D on Jan 2 City Council Agenda Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:17:43 AM
From: Rabbi at Temple Israel of Alameda <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 9:51:30 PM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]> Cc: Tony Daysog <[email protected]>; Malia Vella <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Meeting and Item 10-D on Jan 2 City Council Agenda Dear Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft,
Thank you for meeting with Jewish Alamedans and myself today. I am sorry that illness kept me from attending in person.

As I said during our meeting, I do not believe a letter on behalf of our city is an appropriate use of council time. I recognize that you placed it on the agenda from a place of deep concern for all civilians affected by the conflict. On the other hand, I disagree with you that there is only one morally appropriate response to the state of war Hamas created on October 7.

I was involved in peace activism for many years prior to attending rabbinical school. While serving as the Program Chair for the US Section of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, I was selected to co-lead a fact-finding mission to Israel and Palestine. Yet, despite my years of work on the issue, other American activists distrusted me so much that they got the trip scuttled by cutting off funding. Why did people who had worked with me for years distrust me so much? First because I’m a Jew and second, because I didn’t want to use rhetoric that painted all Israelis / Jews as Evil.

Ultimately, after using an extraordinary amount of personal time on peace activism, I formally cut ties with the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. Though I remain quite proud of many of its accomplishments during my time as a member (especially UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and subsequent resolutions that insist on women’s involvement in peace-building), I realized that the primary thing being accomplished by its activism on Israel and Palestine was making Jews less safe globally.

Similarly, my activism with the US Conference of Mayors was as an outsider, lobbying local mayors and working with a national coalition of activists to promote the passage of the resolution Calling on Congress to End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Bring the Money Home to the Needs of Our Cities.

That was 10 years after those wars began, not two months. Additionally, my political perspective has widened since 2011. It is quite difficult for citizens, even locally-elected politicians, to affect foreign policy. I deeply understand how frustrating that is, as the proper functioning of the UN and international norms was what I cared about most as an activist.

I am willing to participate in listening sessions that help bridge the divides between communities on the island. I believe in the power of well-facilitated dialog. I do not believe your letter, or the public comments to the agenda item at the January 2nd Alameda City Council Meeting, will improve the quality of life for citizens of Alameda or civilians anywhere in the world. It will only increase division and animosity between people here in Alameda and will not have any affect on US foreign policy.

All this referral does is legitimize anti-Israel and anti-Jewish bias, by making it seem that the primary impediment to peace is Israel and Israel’s military choices. As Superintendent Scuderi said in his letter to the AUSD community, we aren’t going to figure out the solution to the war in Alameda. The most we can do is hold space where everyone is truly welcome.

Respectfully,
Rabbi Cynthia Minster
Temple Israel of Alameda
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: No to City Council Taking a Position on International Issues Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:18:00 AM
Attachments: image001.png
From: Sharon Alva <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 11:00:31 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] No to City Council Taking a Position on International Issues Dear Councilmember Spencer,

I have been an Alameda resident for 22 years, and a local realtor for 18 of those years. I raised a son in town into adulthood, himself a proud Alamedan.

The city council has been charged with addressing the many challenges of education, housing, base development, and climate change. Appropriately the council has not been dealing with international issues that do not relate to the specific responsibilities with which it has been tasked. The council has not taken a position on the Syria war, Ukraine/Russia war, the conflict in Yemen, or Myanmar. I can’t imagine why that should change. The council in not in a position to address international issues, no matter the personal feelings of its members. And if a letter about the Israel/Gaza conflict goes out, there should be similar letters demanding a ceasefire in every other conflict. Why take a position only about one that involves Israel, the only Jewish state in the world? Choosing ONLY this conflict in which Alameda has a position shows a clear bias.

Other cities that have taken a position on the tragic war in Israel/Gaza have resulted in heightened antisemitism. The videos of vitriolic antisemitism at the Oakland city council have made their way around the world. Whether the speakers were simply misinformed or truly and deeply antisemitic their words, through social media, have tainted the city.

Many of our own leaders, including Governor Newsom, expressed horror at the video footage of the October 7th atrocities. Yet at the Oakland city council meeting antisemites accused
Israelis of killing their own people. Are we to have a similar spectacle here in Alameda?

Soon after the council meeting there were antisemitic confrontations and vandalism in Oakland, clearly related to the actions taken by the city council. Alameda already has a serious problem with antisemitism in our schools
in 2021 and again in 2022. Are we to add to that by
opening the floodgates with this discussion.

I urge you to stop this before it starts. I hope the council can spent its time addressing local needs, protecting all the citizens of Alameda including the Jewish Community that already feels threatened.

Thank you for your service to the people of Alameda.

Sharon Alva

Sharon Alva
San Francisco East Bay
415.572.8759
[email protected]
DRE #01755862

From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Divisive Letter
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:18:54 AM
From: Patti Stein <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 3:54:30 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Divisive Letter
Dear Councilmember Spencer,
The war in the Middle East can only be resolved there. Here in Alameda, our family has always felt safe as Jews. The letter being proposed about a cease-fire only serves to divide the people on our Island.

As my local representative, I urge you to continue to accept and respect the Jewish population in Alameda by not endorsing a letter that has an underlying message to eliminate the Jewish people.

I strongly support peace, but a ceasefire and peace are two different things.

Please support the safety and well-being of every person in our community, by not adopting a letter that is hurtful to many.

Thank you,
Patti Stein

For further information, please see : https://buff.ly/47oCTpc From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Concerns over proposed ceasefire resolution Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:19:40 AM
From: Maxim Gurevich <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 2:17:14 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Concerns over proposed ceasefire resolution Dear Council Members,
My name is Maxim Gurevich and I have been a resident of Alameda for more than 6 years.

I am writing to you regarding the proposed agenda item about the Middle East conflict and the call for a ceasefire, scheduled for discussion in the upcoming meeting. As a concerned member of our community, I appreciate the Council's willingness to engage with significant global issues. However, I wish to express my reservations about the appropriateness and potential impact of bringing this specific topic to our local government forum.

The Middle East conflict, with its deep historical roots and complex geopolitical implications, poses a challenge to even the most seasoned diplomats and experts.

The recent refusal of Hamas to consider a permanent ceasefire, as detailed in a Reuters report
, underscores the intricate nature of these issues. Furthermore, influential figures like Senator Bernie Sanders have publicly questioned the practicality of a ceasefire, highlighting the complexity of finding a solution that accommodates all parties.

My concern is that addressing such a contentious and multifaceted topic in our local council could inadvertently lead to division within our community. This is not a theoretical risk but one grounded in real examples. In other cities, such as Ottawa ,
Brooklin, and Oakland, it has been linked to increased antisemitism and community discord. Additionally, the recent vandalism of a menorah in Oakland serves as a stark reminder of how local actions can unintentionally contribute to a rise in hate crimes.

Furthermore, I believe our local government, like the City of San Jose, should focus on issues where we can have a direct and meaningful impact. The complexities of international conflicts like the one in the Middle East often exceed the purview and expertise of city governments, which are better suited to addressing immediate local civic matters.

The recent congressional hearing on antisemitism involving the presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT highlights the challenges of addressing complex and sensitive issues like the Middle East conflict. This hearing, intended to address rising antisemitism on college campuses, resulted in a significant controversy, with the House of Representatives condemning the presidents' responses as evasive and dismissive, and leading to at least one resignation. The incident underscores how even well-intentioned discussions on such topics can lead to misunderstandings, divisiveness, and unintended consequences, even among seasoned leaders and experts.

In addition to the points raised, I wish to highlight the impact of our actions and discussions on the younger generation. Our community's youth are not only observant of our actions but also form their understanding of complex global issues based on the examples we set. It is crucial, therefore, that we approach topics like the Middle East conflict with a sense of responsibility, aiming to educate rather than polarize.

I urge the Council to reconsider the inclusion of this item on the agenda. Our community’s strength lies in our unity, respect for diversity, and the ability to address local challenges effectively. Engaging in a discussion that may not only polarize our community but also distract from pressing local issues could be counterproductive to these goals.

In no way do I diminish the significance or the humanitarian aspects of the conflict.

Like many in our community, I am deeply moved by the plight of all affected.

However, I believe that our efforts to foster peace and understanding are best directed within the scope of our local community, where we can make the most significant and positive impact.

I am open to and respectful of different viewpoints and welcome further dialogue on how our community can constructively contribute to global peace and understanding, within the appropriate context.

Thank you for considering my perspective. I trust in the Council's wisdom to lead our community with a focus on inclusivity, respect, and constructive engagement.

Sincerely, Maxim
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: City Council Meeting Agenda Item 10-D: Gaza Ceasefire Letter Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:20:19 AM
From: Yifah Yaron <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 2:00:42 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] City Council Meeting Agenda Item 10-D: Gaza Ceasefire Letter Dear Alameda City Council Members,
I reside across the Bay in Foster City. I hope you will read my concerns regarding item 10-D on your upcoming meeting agenda.

I want to highly urge you to vote NO on sending a Gaza Ceasefire letter.

We have seen the vitriol that has ensued when calls for ceasefire in Gaza have arisen in other City Councils. Look no further than Oakland where we witnessed pro-hamas statements and blatant denial of the atrocities of Oct 7. In the Foster City and Santa Clara meetings there were repeated statements denying Israel's right to exist since 1948 and false declarations that Israel
is an apartheid state (it is not).

Please consider how scary it is for Jews across the Bay Area to hear such inflammatory rhetoric.

Please also consider that attendance in city council meetings and advocacy of your council's statements on the war is organized partially by AROC, an organization that has been advocating for BDS of Israel for years, and after Oct 7, stated that it "holds the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence . . .".

Although the letter is well intentioned, a call for a ceasefire is an empty declaration: How will this be enforced? How will you guarantee that Hamas does not execute another Oct 7 as they have promised to do "again and again"? Are you aware that the ceasefire in early December was broken by Hamas? Are you aware that a subsequent ceasefire proposal in late December was rejected by Hamas? These are real questions requiring serious deliberation and not to be taken up by a city council on the opposite side of the globe.

I urge you to focus on ways to bring the community together and focus on your City's issues, rather than letting your council meetings become platforms for rhetoric on complex foreign policy issues.
.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yifah Yaron
Foster City, California
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd:Thank you for putting item 10-D on agenda
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:20:49 AM
From: Cam Bui <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 1:52:29 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Thank you for putting item 10-D on agenda Hello city council, thank you for adding item 10D onto the January 2nd agenda. I appreciate that you are willing to discuss the need to call for ceasefire.

Your constituent,
Cam Bui
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: Please support a ceasefire in Gaza!
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:22:02 AM
From: Ashraf El-Nakhal <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 12:33:23 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please support a ceasefire in Gaza! Hi City Councilmember Trish,
My name is Ashraf El-Nakhal. I am a resident and homeowner in Alameda. I have 3 children who attend Alameda Schools. I am deeply disturbed by the death and destruction that the Israeli military is placing on the people of Gaza. As an Arab American, I feel unsafe seeing images of innocent children brutally killed and maimed as a result of the aggression with the United States government fully backing this aggression. I am unable to sleep at night knowing that my voice is being silence in this mass murder of civilians. There is no justification for this, and will not resolve anything or make us safer. Not calling for an immediate end to the aggression creates division within the community. The lives of Arabs or Palestenians matter just as much as those of any other race, whether they be Israeli, black, white or anything in between. I would make the same request if our Tax dollars were used to murder innocent civilians in Israel or anywhere else in the world. Ultimately, there is no such thing as Palestinian or Israeli, there is only one race, the Human Race. Please help us stay united and call for a permanent ceasefire!
Thanks,
Ashraf
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fwd: item 2024-3687
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 7:22:34 AM
From: Beth MacLean <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2023 11:15:41 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>; [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] item 2024-3687
Dear Mayor and City Council,
I strongly urge you not to bring the ceasefire resolution forward to a vote.

My family and I have lived in Alameda for 19 years. We are longtime and active members of Christ Episcopal Church. Our grown children were educated in the Alameda School District, and we remain active community members. I have Jewish and non-Jewish friends in Alameda, and am greatly concerned for both should you consider this resolution.

The reasons we are concerned enough to write to you are threefold: 1) the resolution itself, and the public discourse around it is divisive and serves no positive outcome for our community; 2) the public hearing will spread hate that will further traumatize our Jewish community; and 3) the underlying political history and current situation is complex and not a local matter, no matter how it is framed, and is beyond the scope of your mandate.

Mayor Ashcroft has stated, “[W]hen Alamedans hear about someone in need they ask, ‘How can I help?’” This is a time for the City Leaders to ask the same. “When we see our Jewish and Palestinian community frightened and in pain, ‘How can we help?’” The answer must not be to encourage anti-semitism and false facts and further divisiveness that threatens the safety and well-being of our Jewish neighbors.

In advance of the January 2 meeting, it is your duty to watch the entire video of what happened at the Oakland City Council during public comment on its ceasefire resolution, which is exactly what you are bringing to Alameda. It made international news, and not for a good reason. This Alameda City Council meeting will inevitably make at least the national news, and hateful remarks that unfortunately are likely to be spoken will be viral and forever associated with our island.

Sincerely,
Beth MacLean
Alameda resident since 2004
Mom of 2 AUSD graduates
From: Jeanne Nader
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella; Tracy Jensen; City Clerk Subject: [EXTERNAL] Agenda Item 10-D - January 2nd Council Meeting Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:06:08 AM
Dear Alameda City Councilmembers,
I am writing to you as a long time resident of Alameda and concerned member of Alameda Families & Friends for Ceasefire. Please support Mayor Ashcraft's letter calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. If we do not speak out about the tragic and enormous loss of life and suffering of innocent Palestinians, then where is our humanity? It is imperative that our City Council takes a stand for peace and humanitarian values.

During a recent walkout, students at Encinal High School reported feeling unsafe demonstrating solidarity with Palestine. The conflation of Zionism with Judaism has also led to Jewish community members feeling unsafe and targeted. Mayor Ashcraf t's
etter sends a message to impacted community members that their representatives hear their safety concerns.

Again, I ask, how is Alameda a Sanctuary City if we're not protecting and supporting all our residents? As an Arab American, I personally feel that I must suppress my concern for people in Gaza - even though I've been a community activist in Alameda for almost 30 years.

Endorsing a ceasefire in Alameda not only follows her leadership, but adds constituent weight to her position and adds our city to the growing list of municipalities taking a moral stand.

Ceasefire is a local issue. US Campaign for Palestinian Rights estimates that
Alameda taxpayers give $1,115,883 to fund Israel’s violence against Palestinian people. Those tax dollars could be coming back into our community for needed services. Additionally, Alameda is home to hundreds of union members and community members whose unions and community organizations have endorsed an immediate ceasefire.

Sincerely,
Jeanne Nader
305 Spruce St., Alameda
510-928-0357
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire resolution
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:31:58 AM
From: Ailsa Steckel <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:01:33 AM
To: CityCouncil-List; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire resolution

Dear Mayor and City Council,
Like many members of the East Bay Jewish community, I feel dismayed and apprehensive about your decision to include a ceasefire resolution on your January 2nd agenda. Resolutions that were passed by Oakland and Richmond have led to a greater tolerance for hate speech and acts of anti-Semitism against Jews and Jewish institutions.

You were elected to make informed decisions about matters that affect the lives and well- being of the residents of Alameda. rather than to deal with complex issues on platforms of foreign policy. Your most fundamental responsibility is to keep your constituents safe. Safety and a feeling of security are at stake with the proposed divisive resolution, which would fan the flames of hatred and violence toward Jews in your community and in the larger Bay Area.

Jewish families in Oakland and Richmond have felt the impact of the hostility, which is not focused just on Israel but has been generalized to Jewish people. Divisiveness is not going to lead to more peaceful lives for anyone. And the resolution would have no power to affect the conflict in the Middle East.

I hope that you have watched the frightening video of the Jew-hatred and vitriol that spewed out at the Oakland City Council meeting and seen the denial and justification of the rapes, killings and kidnappings of the October 7th massacre. Similar things are likely to be venomously repeated at the City Council meeting, resulting in increased hostility toward Jews in the community.

We need to learn not to shout at each other but to listen to many viewpoints and try to understand each other without demonizing people with different perspectives. I hope you keep that in mind and vote against the resolution.

Sincerely,
Ailsa Steckel
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fw: AJC Northern California Urges You Not To Bring the Israel-Hamas War Home Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:34:51 AM
Attachments: image001.png
From: Oleg Ivanov <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2023 10:46:34 AM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Cc: CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] AJC Northern California Urges You Not To Bring the Israel-Hamas War Home

Dear Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft and Alameda City Council Members, As a representative of AJC (American Jewish Committee) Northern California, I am deeply concerned by the consideration of a resolution concerning the Israel-Hamas war at the meeting of the Alameda City Council. Here are just a few reasons to vote no on considering any resolution related to the Israel-Hamas war:

1. Resolutions like this have caused harm and sowed division in every city where they have been considered; the public comments on the resolution will inevitably elicit extreme and antisemitic opinions that will create strife in the community (even if the resolution is not passed.)

2. Such resolutions do nothing to further the cause of peace either in a geopolitical conflict halfway around the world or here in our community.

3. Similar resolutions in Richmond and Oakland fomented hateful rhetoric , promoted
antisemitic conspiracy theories, and caused the Jewish members of those communities to feel unsafe there.

This is not acceptable in any community. Please help ensure that Alameda remains a safe place for all of its residents.

Sincerely,
Oleg Ivanov

Oleg Ivanov, PhD
Assistant Director
AJC Northern California
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
[email protected]

415.777.3820 (Office)
415.596.1983 (Mobile)
AJC.org
facebook.com/AJCSanFrancisco
twitter.com/AJCGlobal

From: Gaby Dolphin
To: City Clerk
Cc: Jeanne Nader; Trish Spencer; Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Malia Vella; Tracy Jensen; Tony Daysog Subject: [EXTERNAL] Cease fire
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:35:29 AM
I support the Mayor's proposed letter asking for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Gaza conflict.

No one wants to inflame potential divisions in our own community based on a conflict so far away, however, the world has shifted.

We, as a community, are called to a higher purpose. Every person, every community, is faced with a profound moral choice: Either we say "no" to this human capacity to brutalize our own species (both here and abroad), or we unleash the unholy monstrosity into the world...again.

This is it. We stand at the crossroad....while infant bodies are pulled from the bombed out rubble of what was Gaza.

Mayor Ashcraft - I salute you. You are of the highest caliber. Your willingness to take this stand as our Mayor is one for the ages. THIS is history.

Warmest wishes,
Gabrielle "Gaby" Dolphin
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:50:44 AM
From: Judith Klinger <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2023 10:33:44 AM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; CityCouncil-List
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire Resolution

Dear Mayor Ashcraft and Councilmembers:

Since I retired from teaching at AHS and leading the Alameda Education Association, I’ve missed participating in Alameda affairs (I live in Oakland), but I did want to reach out about the Israel-Hamas resolution you are considering.

There are many reasons for a city council not to weigh in on this matter, and here are mine: I urge this body not to consider a ceasefire resolution.

I attended both the Alameda County Central Democratic Committee’s and the Oakland City Council’s hearing on such resolutions, and it was absolutely heartbreaking. Not because reasonable people were reasonably debating a complex issue, but because the hearings were simply forums for hatred.

I sat through hours of people heckling rabbis, laughing at Jewish community leaders, shouting social media memes that Zionists are evil; that Jews have all the money, that Israel, not Hamas, raped, killed and mutilated its own people; that Jews aren’t Semites and have no connection to the Holy Land; that Hamas is a powerless, benign force, etc. And Zoom attendees? Some had swastika backgrounds and dollar sign backgrounds. I saw few people modeling the peace they were advocating for.

When I sought to share my talking points about Hamas (five facts from Palestinian sources) with a red-headed, freckle-faced young man, he accepted my paper and tore it up. Then laughed at me.

It broke my heart: I’ve always assumed that speaking face-to-face, human-to-human can move us from positions to shared interests. Not in a mob, it appears. The atmosphere in the room was akin, honestly, to a Trump rally with people chanting, “Lock her up! Lock her up!” It was a mob drunken with righteousness.

This is what you will inviting to the City of Alameda (and beyond) if you put a ceasefire resolution on. Is this what you want? Is this the wise way forward for sweet Alameda? The history of the Holy Land is complex and complicated — it is a history of battle and strife, as it’s an ancient trade-route crossroad. Did you know the term “Armeggedon” comes from a plain in central Israel called Meggido, next to a mountain the word for which in Aramaic and Hebrew is har. “Har Meggido” was the name of this plain where important trade routes crossed. Hellish, gruesome clashes between ancient tribes broke out often enough that, by the time of the Christian Bible, the name had become equated with the end of the world.

The last 75 years of history, since the establishment of the State of Israel, is a product of that long, fractious history. Without this Body understanding all that history, to wade into the debate, no matter how noble a desire, will add to, not lessen hatreds.

I would absolutely encourage this body to aid the path to local peace around this war. Creating a space where the local Jewish and Muslim leaders can speak to each other and share each others’ pain, perhaps? Or a forum where people of all faiths who want to listen to each other and replicate the peace we all presumably want, perhaps? But a resolution that changes nothing in the actual war, and creates a forum for hatred here at home, I would urge, is neither wise politics nor wise humanity.

Thank you so much for your time,
Judith Klinger
From: Trish Spencer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Fw: [EXTERNAL] Vote YES on Sending Ceasefire Letter Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 11:55:31 AM
From: Robyn Jamner <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 28, 2023 10:32:26 AM
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft; Tony Daysog; Tracy Jensen; Trish Spencer; Malia Vella Subject: [EXTERNAL] Vote YES on Sending Ceasefire Letter

Dear Mayor Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Daysog, Councilmember Spencer, Councilmember Jensen, and Councilmember Vella,
I am writing in support of the council voting yes to authorize Mayor Ashcraft to send a letter in favor of a ceasefire. I am a Jewish resident of Alameda who is a songleader and music educator at a prominent synagogue in the East Bay. My own Jewish values have led me to stand unequivocally in favor of a ceasefire.

As the grandchild of two Holocaust survivors, I understand the intergenerational fear and trauma within my community. I am horrified both by the attacks on October 7 and by the ongoing mass casualties and population displacement in Gaza. This violence will not make anyone safer; in the long run, only ceasefire and de-escalation can make everyone safer.

Mayor Ashcraft’s letter is incredibly thoughtful. I appreciate that she condemns the actions of both Hamas and Israel, and that she calls for the release of all hostages and the establishment of lasting peace.

Some people might say that this issue is outside the scope of the city of Alameda. I would argue that this is very much a local issue. There are people in Alameda with deep connections both to Israel and to Palestine, and this letter is a way of expressing support for those who are in harm’s way. Furthermore, our federal tax dollars are directly funding the ongoing invasion and bombardment of Gaza. If we do not speak up and put pressure on the federal government, our silence can be taken as support.

Some members within my community believe that Mayor Ashcraft’s letter will lead to divisive and hateful rhetoric. Antisemitism is a real and present threat, but sending a letter to the federal government in support of a ceasefire will not stoke hatred that does not already exist. We must stand against antisemitism, and we must also work through fear and discomfort as a community to stand up for what is right. These two things are not in opposition. In fact, I believe that one is not possible without the other.

Thank you for public service and your thoughtfulness regarding this incredibly difficult situation.

Sincerely,
Robyn Jamner
From: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
To: Lara Weisiger; Jennifer Ott
Subject: Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Vote YES on Sending Ceasefire Letter Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 12:31:02 PM
Forwarding fyi and to be included with my council referral. Thank you.

Marilyn
Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft
Mayor, City of Alameda
510-747-4745
Begin forwarded message:

From: Robyn Jamner <[email protected]>
Date: December 28, 2023 at 10:32:41 AM PST
To: Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft <[email protected]>, Tony Daysog <[email protected]>, Tracy Jensen <[email protected]>, Trish Spencer <[email protected]>, Malia Vella <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Vote YES on Sending Ceasefire Letter
Dear Mayor Ashcraft, Vice Mayor Daysog, Councilmember Spencer, Councilmember Jensen, and Councilmember Vella,
I am writing in support of the council voting yes to authorize Mayor Ashcraft to send a letter in favor of a ceasefire. I am a Jewish resident of Alameda who is a songleader and music educator at a prominent synagogue in the East Bay. My own Jewish values have led me to stand unequivocally in favor of a ceasefire.

Some people might say that this issue is outside the scope of the city of Alameda.

I would argue that this is very much a local issue. There are people in Alameda with deep connections both to Israel and to Palestine, and this letter is a way of expressing support for those who are in harm’s way. Furthermore, our federal tax dollars are directly funding the ongoing invasion and bombardment of Gaza. If we do not speak up and put pressure on the federal government, our silence can be taken as support.

Thank you for public service and your thoughtfulness regarding this incredibly difficult situation.

Sincerely,
Robyn Jamner
Mayor and Council members,
Mayor Ashcraft has requested a referral (Item 10D) that the Council write a letter supporting a ceasefire in Gaza. While the events in Gaza are horrific, we strongly support the statement of Rabbi Cynthia Minster that “the silent majority of our community respects political differences including the distinction between items within the purview of the City and beyond it. I urge you to continue working on the local issues that belong on the Council agenda. Citizens should advocate at the federal level on foreign policy.

The only thing local resolutions accomplish is increasing division within our community.”

Keith and Karen Miller

From: Yosra El-menshawi
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support for ceasefire letter!!!
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 2:33:39 PM
Dear Alameda City Council Members,
I want to express my gratitude to the proposed letter drafted by Mayor Aschraft calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and addressing the safe return of the hostages. I also want to strongly URGE each of you to support this letter as it has an immediate impact on each of us as humans and community members.

I am a resident of Alameda and a Child Psychiatrist who works with youth and their families who are impaired by their mental illnesses. As a mental health worker, I am aware of the impact that this genocide is having on many of us thousands of miles away. Vicarious trauma- being exposed to traumatic stories, watching people's physical pain and emotional heartbreak has been horrifying. We are bearing witness to fear, terror, despair, starvation, and what mirrors a genocide. Our nervous systems are being shocked, and this truth holds for every individual regardless of whether they are in support of the Palestinian people, Israel, Arabs, the Muslim or the Jewish communities.

I realize this topic may elicit feelings of anger, grief, hopelessness, and helplessness; however, the solution is not more violence and destruction. A lasting solution can only be achieved through diplomatic efforts and dialogue. I pray we can set an example as a community willing to come together despite some differences in beliefs and experiences to unite on our shared goal of protecting our sense of humanity.

This letter for a cease fire is a proactive way to give a sense of agency and power to so many of us who feel helpless as we sit ideally watching the suffering of Palestinians and the families of hostages. This action will be a form of us processing these powerful feelings. I am grateful for those whose heart has not hardened against the tragedies we are witnessing, and are willing to have the courage to speak up! In community ,
Yosra El-menshawi
From: Dan Laufer
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Fwd: Note from an Alameda resident re: ceasefire resolution Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 3:40:12 PM
Hi there- I wanted to share an email I sent to the Mayor with you as well. I'm an Alameda citizen that is strongly opposed to the city taking positions on international issues as outlined below.

Best,
Dan
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dan Laufer <[email protected]
>
Date: Tue, Dec 26, 2023 at 2:30 PM
Subject: Note from an Alameda resident re: ceasefire resolution To: <[email protected]
>
Mayor Ashcraft-
I'm writing to you as an Alameda citizen (since 2019) who voted for you in 2022. I appreciated your attendance at the South Shore menorah lighting. And I have recently expressed pride to friends and family that Alameda's city council and school system stood out amongst its Bay Area peers in its good judgment to stay neutral on international issues.

So I was surprised and saddened to see your decision to discuss a resolution calling for a ceasefire at the next city council meeting. I think this decision is misguided for the following reasons:

1. By declaring that you must speak out against "intense suffering" you commit yourself to issuing statements about a wide range of issues and conflicts across the world where you lack expertise and open yourself to charges of hypocrisy. Should we expect statements on the 20 million displaced people in Ethiopia who lack food and shelter next week? How about the Sudanese genocide? Syria's massacre of its own citizens? How about Nigeria's genocide? The Russia/Ukraine war? If this is the only global statement the City of Alameda chooses to make, then why?

2. You mention the need to "set an example of ethical leadership." With all due respect, leadership isn't identifying a bad situation but it's providing solutions. There was a ceasefire in place on October 6th that Hamas broke and again during the most recent truce and just this week Hamas has rejected Israel and Egypt's proposal for a ceasefire. Hamas has also stated unequivocally that they plan to continue to attack Israel. What do you suggest Israel do? I understand the number of civilian casualties is devastating but as Antony Blinken and John Kirby have stated, this is a direct reflection of Hamas intentionally putting civilians in harm's way. Hamas is cynically doing this to drive outrage against Israel. We should hold Israel to a high standard but what will this statement positively accomplish other than reward Hamas for their cynicism?

3. You mention the need to "amplify citizens' voices" to elected officials. On this point, I strongly disagree, There is an established channel for citizens to advocate on federal positions.

The role of Mayor is not to lobby for select citizen interests but to advocate directly for the city's interests of which this does not qualify. I appreciate there is a vocal group advocating for this resolution but because I - and other Jewish citizens - don't feel comfortable being as vocal that means our interests get superseded. Should the next aggressively outspoken group expect to have their position amplified as well?

4. Most importantly, this makes Alameda Jews less safe. Already, I feel unsafe taking my children to synagogue and other public Jewish events - such as the menorah lighting. I feel the need to assess people lurking nearby and evaluating their threat. These are not merely imagined fears as synagogues across the country have received bomb threats, been shot at, and graffitied - including here in the Bay Area (a couple notable examples here and here if you
haven't been following along).

By passing this resolution you validate the false impression that Israel is perpetrating THE biggest injustice in the world. And like it or not, there are people who will blame Alameda Jews for this conflict and feel justified to take action. For what benefit are we trading our safety for?
I will reluctantly attend the next city council meeting to express my sentiment in person. I say reluctantly because at numerous rallies and other similar public events around the country, citizens advocating for Israel have been harrassed and in some instances physically attacked - in one case lethally so. I do not want that and would much prefer to stay home and avoid any confrontation. But in the spirit of ethical leadership, I feel obligated to advocate against this misguided resolution.

Respectfully,
Dan Laufer
From: Lara Gabrielle
To: City Clerk
Subject: [EXTERNAL] No to Ceasefire
Date: Thursday, December 28, 2023 4:29:09 PM
Dear City Council,
I urge you to vote no on the ceasefire resolution at your January 2 meeting.

Hillary Clinton says those who call for a permanent ceasefire do not understand Hamas.

A ceasefire existed on October 6. Hamas broke it.

A ceasefire existed a few weeks ago. Hamas broke it.

The message of a ceasefire is this: that the status quo in Gaza is acceptable. That it is ok to ritually execute LGBTQ+ Palestinians, that it is ok to call for the slaughter of Jews worldwide. That it is ok to shoot people who try to access aid, that it is ok to illegally take unilateral power after a free and fair Palestinian election, then suppress further elections for 18 years. Indeed, calls for a ceasefire are part of the worldwide psychological warfare of Hamas.

Here in the Bay Area, these kinds of resolutions put Jews in danger, as their neighbors and friends turn on them. Anti-Zionist groups calling for a ceasefire, like Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, are loud, but they are in the minority. More than 90% of American Jews identify as Zionist, which means they support Jewish self-determination in the Jewish indigenous homeland. These resolutions endanger our community. During Hanukkah, a public menorah was vandalized and thrown into Lake Merritt, with antisemitic writing where it once stood. The silence and lack of courage from our Bay Area political leaders in the face of these incidents have been a chilling throwback to other times in Jewish history.

These resolutions accomplish nothing but to endanger Bay Area Jews. Please use your logic, don’t be intimidated, and don’t cave to the mob. Please vote no.

Thank you,
Lara F.

From:

To:

Subject:

Date:

Rebecca
CityCouncil-List
[EXTERNAL] Re Gaza ceasefire letter
Thursday, December 28, 2023 6:59:43 PM
Dear City Council,
I write to share with you the letter I have sent to Mayor Ashcraft:

Dear Mayor Ashcraft,
I
am Jewish resident of Alameda just a degree of separation from people who were abducted and killed on 10/7. They are friends of my friends. I want to see a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons and I want the hostages to come home. I agree with much of your letter but I object to language characterizing the IDF’s operations as “seemingly unrestrained violence” and the assertion that they accomplish nothing for the safety of Israel. 10/7 is what unrestrained violence looks like. Unrestrained violence does not entail warning Gazans to evacuate areas ahead of strikes, nor humanitarian aid. At the same time, there is nowhere near as much restraint as there should be and the tragic and horrible casualty numbers demonstrate that. It’s also true that while we will learn in time whether the war is ultimately counterproductive to Israeli security, in the short term dismantling Hamas infrastructure and reducing its capabilities to attack Israel via indiscriminate rocket fire in civilian areas or otherwise has some impact on Israeli security. If you are going to mention “seemingly unrestrained violence” you should say “in Gaza and southern Israel,” which has been subjected to about 12,000 rocket attacks during this war and whose residents have also been subject to mass displacement (as well as northern communities). It does not diminish the suffering of Gazans to acknowledge that. And to assert it serves no U.S. security interests in the complex environment of the Middle East, when Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis are armed and funded by Iran, is overly simplistic and unexplained in your letter.

I would ask you to consider revisions to your letter with relation to the points identified above to focus on ending the suffering of the people of Gaza and of Israel. It will be less divisive if you steer clear of sweeping assertions you do not need to make to support a ceasefire. The reality is that even if you don’t want your letter to make anyone feel unsafe, it will. But so will not sending it. I urge you to minimize the divisiveness of your letter by basing your call for a ceasefire on ending the humanitarian suffering.

Sincerely,
Rebecca

Alameda City CouncilJanuary 2, 2024

Alameda City Council
January 2, 2024