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Written Communications (Updated 07-19-2023)

Cupertino City Council
July 18, 2023

Document
Written Communications (Updated 07-19-2023)
Meeting
July 18, 2023
Body
Cupertino City Council
Original file
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Text extracted from the city's file for reading and search. Open the original on cupertino.legistar.com. That file is the official record.

CC 07-18-2023

#4

Second Reading
Ordinance Regulation of
Lobbying Activities

Written Communications
1 Lauren Sapudar
From: Peggy Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2023 3:34 PM
To: City Council; Christopher Jensen; Kirsten Squarcia
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 CC Meeting Agenda Item4-Second Reading of Lobbying Ordinance changes CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear City Council, City AƩorney Jensen and City Clerk Squarcia,

During the 7‐6‐2023 Council discussion of the first reading of the Lobbying Ordinance modificaƟons, Council approved changes that were in addiƟon to and also slightly differently worded than what was proposed by staff.  Because of these changes, I request that you include a “final” redlined version of the modificaƟons so the public can see what exactly was changed, for clarity.

REQUEST:  Please provide a red‐lined (or black‐lined) version of the final approved changes to this ordinance.

Thank you,
Peggy Griffin
CC 07-18-2023

#8

Highway Safety
Improvement Program
Grant Funding

Written Communications
From: David Stillman
To: Peggy Griffin
Cc: City Clerk; Matt Morley; Pamela Wu; Chad Mosley
Subject: RE: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item8-HSIP Grant for 17 roadway segmentsQ Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 9:35:40 AM
Good morning Peggy, please see responses below in red.

David Stillman​​​​
Transportation Manager
Public Works
[email protected]
(408) 777-3249

From: Peggy Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2023 4:35 PM
To: David Stillman <[email protected]>; City Council <[email protected]> Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item8-HSIP Grant for 17 roadway segmentsQ

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND THE ATTACHMENTS (TOGETHER PLEASE) AS WRITTEN COMMUNICATION FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear Director Stillman and City Council,

I’d like to congratulate the staff for successfully winning a $3.2M grant for road safety improvements, realizing that the city will need to come up with $356,180 of matching funds. That said, the material for this item needs to include additional information.

You are asking the Council to approve the acceptance of a grant that requires matching funds and commit the city to the requirements associated with this commitment.

REQUESTS – PLEASE PROVIDE:

1. Provide the map of the 17 roadway segments that are to be improved using this grant. a. I’ve attached the map from page 7of8 of the 6-21-2023 Bike Ped Agenda Item 4 presentation which I’m assuming is the map. This is the only map available.

2. Provide a list of what will be done for each of these 17 roadway segments. Per the staff report, high friction pavement treatment and radar speed feedback signs will be installed.

3. Provide the grant acceptance document containing the requirements. We have not received these from Caltrans; once final documents are received they will be publicly available.

QUESTIONS:

Q1: Are the only requirements for accepting this grant the following:
a. Provide local matching funds of $356,180
b. Bid documents completed by Aug. 30, 2024
c. Project completed by June 30, 2025
Q2: Are there any other requirements? The dates above are not strictly required; staff suggested these dates as milestones to Caltrans. State-mandated milestones are:

1.       The Construction (CON) phase must be allocated by 3/31/2026; and

2.       The project must be completed and closed out by 3/31/2028.

There are other requirements related to reporting and invoicing and which are standard for State- administered grants.

Q3: What does “bid docs completed” mean exactly? “bid docs” are plans, specifications and estimates. “completed” means ready to bid.
a. Does it mean the RFP is posted or sent out? No, it means the documents are completed. b. Does it mean the bidding is closed and a contractor selected? See above

Q4: Financing…IMPORTANT
a. Does the city receive the money first before expenditures or does the city have to spend the money before it can be reimbursed? The City must spend the money before it is reimbursed. Once work or portion thereof is completed, the City submits an invoice to Caltrans, and receives reimbursement for 90% of the cost. The City invoices Caltrans regularly to ensure our out-of-pocket expenses are not excessive. b. When will the $3.2M be received by the City? When the City invoices for work that has been completed.
c. If the money is received before expenditures are made, where will it be placed i.e. which fund? Not applicable
a. Will it have a separate, new fund name?
b. Will this mean it will appear on the Treasurer’s Monthly Report of receipts, disbursements and balances?

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From: Peggy Griffin
To: David Stillman; City Council
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item8-HSIP Grant for 17 roadway segmentsQ Date: Sunday, July 16, 2023 4:35:49 PM
Attachments: MAP of 17 Segments-Page 7of8 from 2023-06-21 BikePed ITEM4 A - Presentation.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND THE ATTACHMENTS (TOGETHER PLEASE) AS WRITTEN COMMUNICATION FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear Director Stillman and City Council,

I’d like to congratulate the staff for successfully winning a $3.2M grant for road safety improvements, realizing that the city will need to come up with $356,180 of matching funds. That said, the material for this item needs to include additional information.

You are asking the Council to approve the acceptance of a grant that requires matching funds and commit the city to the requirements associated with this commitment.

REQUESTS – PLEASE PROVIDE:

1. Provide the map of the 17 roadway segments that are to be improved using this grant. a. I’ve attached the map from page 7of8 of the 6-21-2023 Bike Ped Agenda Item 4 presentation which I’m assuming is the map.

2. Provide a list of what will be done for each of these 17 roadway segments.

3. Provide the grant acceptance document containing the requirements.

QUESTIONS:

Q1: Are the only requirements for accepting this grant the following:
a. Provide local matching funds of $356,180
b. Bid documents completed by Aug. 30, 2024
c. Project completed by June 30, 2025
Q2: Are there any other requirements?

Q3: What does “bid docs completed” mean exactly?
a. Does it mean the RFP is posted or sent out?
b. Does it mean the bidding is closed and a contractor selected?

Q4: Financing…IMPORTANT
a. Does the city receive the money first before expenditures or does the city have to spend the money before it can be reimbursed?
b. When will the $3.2M be received by the City?
c. If the money is received before expenditures are made, where will it be placed i.e. which fund?
a. Will it have a separate, new fund name?
b. Will this mean it will appear on the Treasurer’s Monthly Report of receipts, disbursements and balances?

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
Roadway Segments – Proposed Locations

CC 07-18-2023

#9

Cristo Rey Bike Lanes
Project Cost Sharing
Agreement

Written Communications
From: David Stillman
To: Peggy Griffin
Cc: City Clerk; Matt Morley; Pamela Wu; Chad Mosley
Subject: RE: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item9-Bike Path on Cristo Rey Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 10:16:17 AM
Hi Peggy,

The section within Cupertino is continuous, between the eastern city limit (1450 feet west of Foothill) and the Forum. There will be no gaps in the bike lane other than at the roundabout, and that’s due to operational considerations. The 1450’ segment immediately west of Foothill is in Los Altos; MidPen should be coordinating with them for that piece.

Thanks,
David

David Stillman​​​​
Transportation Manager
Public Works
[email protected]
(408) 777-3249

From: Peggy Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2023 9:55 AM
To: David Stillman <[email protected]>
Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>; Matt Morley <[email protected]>; Pamela Wu <[email protected]>; Chad Mosley <[email protected]>; City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item9-Bike Path on Cristo Rey

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE MEETING AGENDA.

Hi David,

Thank you for answering my questions! I never realized that Cristo Rey Drive was not entirely in Cupertino! So, this means this bike lane will ‘come and go’ as a biker enters and leaves Cupertino.

Q: Are other jurisdictions being asked to ‘fill in the blanks’ along this route?

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin

On Jul 17, 2023, at 9:11 AM, David Stillman <[email protected] > wrote:

Good morning Peggy (City Council bcc’d), please see responses below in red.

David Stillman​​​​
Transportation Manager
Public Works
[email protected]
(408) 777-3249

From: Peggy Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2023 5:12 PM
To: David Stillman <[email protected]>; City Council <[email protected]> Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item9-Bike Path on Cristo Rey

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear Director Stillman and City Council,

Accepting this cost-sharing agreement with Mid-Pen brings up several questions regarding the proposed Class II Bike Path on Cristo Rey Dr:

Q1: Would this mean “No Parking” signs would be installed along ALL OF Cristo Rey Dr or just a portion? “No Parking” signs are already installed along Cristo Rey within the City of Cupertino jurisdiction, which is the only portion of interest. This portion extends from approximately 1450 feet west of Foothill, to the northwesterly terminus. Codified in Muni Code Table 11.24.150.

Q1a: If a portion, which part? See above
Q1b: Would it be from the Forum to Rancho? Yes
Q1c: Would it be from Foothill Blvd to Rancho? From 1450 west of Foothill to and beyond Rancho, to the Forum

Q2: If parking would be removed, have the people/residents along this way been notified for their input? Not applicable

Q3: The Bike/Ped Commission voted 3-2 on this item. What were the concerns of the 2 commissioners voting NO? There was discussion relating to whether bike lanes or sharrows would be a better solution for the downhill portions. The “no” votes reflected this uncertainty.

Just FYI…below is a map of a portion of Cristo Rey Drive. I’ve circled in RED places along it that I’ve seen cars parked on my way to Rancho. One spot is by the entrance to the Hammond-Synder Loop so that people can access the hill overlooking the valley. You often see people up on that vista. The other spot is by the church. Are there other places? Parking is currently prohibited at the location circled on the left. The location circled on the right is outside of Cupertino’s jurisdiction and not a part of this project.

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From: David Stillman
To: Peggy Griffin
Cc: City Clerk; Matt Morley; Pamela Wu; Chad Mosley
Subject: RE: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item9-Bike Path on Cristo Rey Date: Monday, July 17, 2023 9:12:06 AM
Good morning Peggy (City Council bcc’d), please see responses below in red.

David Stillman​​​​
Transportation Manager
Public Works
[email protected]
(408) 777-3249

From: Peggy Griffin <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2023 5:12 PM
To: David Stillman <[email protected]>; City Council <[email protected]> Cc: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item9-Bike Path on Cristo Rey

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear Director Stillman and City Council,

Accepting this cost-sharing agreement with Mid-Pen brings up several questions regarding the proposed Class II Bike Path on Cristo Rey Dr:

Q1: Would this mean “No Parking” signs would be installed along ALL OF Cristo Rey Dr or just a portion? “No Parking” signs are already installed along Cristo Rey within the City of Cupertino jurisdiction, which is the only portion of interest. This portion extends from approximately 1450 feet west of Foothill, to the northwesterly terminus. Codified in Muni Code Table 11.24.150.

Q1a: If a portion, which part? See above
Q1b: Would it be from the Forum to Rancho? Yes
Q1c: Would it be from Foothill Blvd to Rancho? From 1450 west of Foothill to and beyond Rancho, to the Forum

Q2: If parking would be removed, have the people/residents along this way been notified for their input? Not applicable

Q3: The Bike/Ped Commission voted 3-2 on this item. What were the concerns of the 2 commissioners voting NO? There was discussion relating to whether bike lanes or sharrows would be a better solution for the downhill portions. The “no” votes reflected this uncertainty.

Just FYI…below is a map of a portion of Cristo Rey Drive. I’ve circled in RED places along it that I’ve seen cars parked on my way to Rancho. One spot is by the entrance to the Hammond-Synder Loop so that people can access the hill overlooking the valley. You often see people up on that vista. The other spot is by the church. Are there other places? Parking is currently prohibited at the location circled on the left. The location circled on the right is outside of Cupertino’s jurisdiction and not a part of this project.

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From: Peggy Griffin
To: David Stillman; City Council
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item9-Bike Path on Cristo Rey Date: Sunday, July 16, 2023 5:11:52 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear Director Stillman and City Council,

Accepting this cost-sharing agreement with Mid-Pen brings up several questions regarding the proposed Class II Bike Path on Cristo Rey Dr:

Q1: Would this mean “No Parking” signs would be installed along ALL OF Cristo Rey Dr or just a portion? Q1a: If a portion, which part?
Q1b: Would it be from the Forum to Rancho?
Q1c: Would it be from Foothill Blvd to Rancho?

Q2: If parking would be removed, have the people/residents along this way been notified for their input?

Q3: The Bike/Ped Commission voted 3-2 on this item. What were the concerns of the 2 commissioners voting NO?

Just FYI…below is a map of a portion of Cristo Rey Drive. I’ve circled in RED places along it that I’ve seen cars parked on my way to Rancho. One spot is by the entrance to the Hammond-Synder Loop so that people can access the hill overlooking the valley. You often see people up on that vista. The other spot is by the church. Are there other places?

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
CC 07-18-2023
#11
FY 23-24 Fee
Schedule
Written Communications
From: Peggy Griffin
To: City Council; Jonathan Orozco, CPA; Kristina Alfaro Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item11-Schedule of Fees-STORM DRAIN FEE??? Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:57:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear Finance Manager Orozco, Director Alfaro and City Council,

One of the fees that shows up every year on our Property Tax Bill under “PARCEL TAX/SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS” is the Storm Water Drain Fee.

I’ve looked at all the Schedules and I can’t find where this is listed. I thought it would be in Schedule B.

Q1: Where is it listed?
Q2: What are the changes – the exact increases to this fee that residents will see on their next Property Tax Bill for each of the different categories?

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From: Kirsten Squarcia
To: City Clerk
Subject: FW: Slides I presented on 7/18/23
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 9:50:08 AM
Attachments: Slides for CCC on 7-18-23 r00 trunc.pdf
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Slides for Fee Schedule written comms

Kirsten Squarcia​​​​
City Clerk
City Manager's Office
[email protected]
(408) 777-3225

From: Don Halsey <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:38 PM
To: Kirsten Squarcia <[email protected]>
Subject: Slides I presented on 7/18/23

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Here are the slides I presented this evening.

Public Comments
to
Cupertino City Council
about
FEES at Blackberry Farm Golf Course
7/18/23
Friends of Blackberry Farm Golf
Contacts: Don Halsey 650 996 3021 or [email protected] Next Door group: https://nextdoor.com/city/cupertino--ca/ Fees Today (4 PM)

Fees Proposed to take effect tomorrow, 7/19
No change proposed. Hmmm.

Pruneridge (San Jose)
28% more!
22% more!
Sunken Gardens (Sunnyvale)
How does Cupertino compare to nearby public-owned golf courses? If the City has a financial deficit, and wants to
close the gap, raise the golf fees.
• Golf course revenue minus cost is $10,217,626 over 25 years, a loss • 20% fee increase would reduce that loss
• 20% x $9,378,624 = $1,875,725
• That’s $75,029 per year
• The price premium paid by non residents is too small, ~10% • Skew the price increase to hit non residents harder
From: Peggy Griffin
To: City Council
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item11-Schedule of Fees-delaying updating fees Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:30:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear City Council,

In the Staff Report (page 4 of 6), it recommends that increases to Parkland Dedication and Transportation Impact fees be “deferred to allow for further review…”.

Q: When does staff anticipate bringing this back to Council?

My concern is 2 fold:

1. Projects are continually being submitted and the longer the delay, the more our city will be impacted by the inability to charge adequate fees to cover costs at a time when our finances are stretched.

2. Once this comes to Council and is approved, Schedule B fees take effect “60 days after adoption”. That’s an additional 2 month delay!

REQUEST: Please set a “no later than” date for bringing this back to Council. Also, prioritize this work so that it returns more quickly to Council for approval.

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
CC 07-18-2023
#12
FY 23-25 Work
Program
Noise
Ordinance
Item
Written Communications
From: Peggy Griffin
To: City Council
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item12- Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:43:57 PM
Attachments: FY 2325 Adopted City Work .pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear City Council,

There are many, many items that were proposed and discussed as part of the 2023-2025 City Work Program. The items that were decided were/are the highest priority to both the residents, the Council and the staff. There are several of the city’s ordinances that need to be addressed/reviewed which the public has expressed frustration with multiple times during city meetings such as balconies/decks, lighting (outside, inside that shines outside, etc.), etc.

I believe that adding this possible work item on a future agenda to possibly BUMP/REPLACE one of our 15 currently funded work plan items is not the best use of staff and council priorities/time. Just deciding to consider it at a future Council meeting will take valuable staff time and resources away from existing projects at a time when only 15 items were funded!

This also prioritizes one resident’s concerns over items that have had many, many residents inputs.

I’m not saying it’s not important but none of the 15 items on the current work program should be bumped/replaced. If you consider this item, then you should also be considering the following items that MANY residents have expressed concerns over many times in the past:

Balconies/deck ordinance
Lighting (outside, inside light that shines outside, etc.)

SUGGESTION: Add this noise ordinance review to the list of items to be considered next year along with all other potential work plan additions.

I have attached a PDF of the current 2023-2025 Adopted City Work Program items. Also, below is the link to this document.

LINK to FY 23-25 Adopted City Work Program (also attached as a PDF):
https://www.cupertino.org/home/showpublisheddocument/33391/638230394410000000

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 1
On April 4, 2023, the City Council approved the FY 2023-2025 City Work Program, which included a total of 24 projects. As part of the City’s budget reduction strategy, the City Council approved funding for 15 of the 24 projects for FY 2023-2024. The remaining nine projects will be considered for funding next year. Details and the breakdown of each year’s projects can be found in the two tables below.

Priority FY 2023-2024 City Work Program
Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
High
5 Vision Zero (3)

*Bike Ped
Commission
Develop a Vision Zero Policy and
Action Plan and hire a consultant.

The Plan will guide policies and
programs with the goal of eliminating
fatalities on Cupertino roadways.

Special emphasis will be placed on
routes to, and streets surrounding,
Cupertino schools.
$20,000
additional
(Vision Zero is
currently funded
with $80K (100-
88-844 750-040).

March 2023
- December
2023
Public Works 400 hrs/
$105,000
Transportation
4 Tree List Project phases:
1) Review and revise development
tree list (per Ch. 14.18: Protected
Trees) with an emphasis on
appropriate trees and native
species.
2) Review, revise, and communicate
street tree list with an emphasis
on appropriate trees and native
species.
3) Develop an Urban Forest program
scope and cost for future
consideration.
1) $50,000
additional

2) $60,000
additional

3) $0
1) January
2024 - June
2024
2) July 2023 -
June 2024
3) July 2023-
June 2024
1) Community
Development

2) Public Works

3) Public Works
1) 150 hrs/
$45,000

2) and 3)
200hrs/ $40,000
Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy
FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 2
Priority FY 2023-2024 City Work Program
Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
High
3 Public Safety
in both
residential/co
mmercial
areas

*Public Safety
Commission
1) Deploy city-owned license plate
readers and implement policies to
allow neighborhood-owned ones.
2) Strengthen Block
Leader/Neighborhood Watch
programs to ensure the leaders
are active and expand the
coverage of active neighborhoods.
3) Explore best practices to deter
crime in commercial areas and
bring options to Council.
1) $60,000
(Already allocated
in FY23)

2) $10,000
additional

3) $0
1) July 2022-
September
2023

2) July 2023-
June 2024

3)July 2023-
June 2024
1) Innovation
Technology

2) City
Manager’s
Office

3) City
Manager’s
Office
1) 100-200 hrs/
$15,000-
$30,000

2) 200 hrs/
$30,000

3) 250 hrs/
$40,000
Quality of Life
3 Senior
Services and
Youth
Engagement

*Teen
Commission
1) Assess Survey results and develop a
plan to increase awareness of
programs and services for seniors
based on gaps identified by the
survey.

2) Connect seniors with youth and
their families with inclusive
activities.
1) $0

2) $20,000
additional
1) July 2023-
June 30, 2024

2) July 2022-
June 30, 2024
Parks and
Recreation
1) 400-500 hrs/
$60,000-
$80,000

2) 200 hrs/
$30,000
Public
Engagement
and
Transparency
3 Dogs Off-
Leash Area
(DOLA)
Programs

*Parks and
Rec
Commission
1) Transition successful trial DOLA
programs to permanent programs
with a staff level permitting process
housed in Parks and Rec

2) Amenities for DOLA programs in
City parks, e.g., water facilities for
dogs, fencing, benches, etc.
1) $5,000

2) $200,000 per
year (already
allocated in CIP:
park amenity
improvements)
1) July 2023-
June 30, 2024

2) July 2023-
June 30, 2024
Parks and
Recreation
1) 600+ hrs/
$93,000+

2) 400hrs+/
$70,000+
(Dependent on
# of amenities)
Quality of Life
FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 3
Priority FY 2023-2024 City Work Program
Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
Medium
2 Preserve
existing and
develop new

BMR/ELI
Housing
*Planning
Commission
Explore opportunities to preserve
existing expiring BMR housing.

Develop ELI (Extremely Low Income)
and BMR housing units for
Developmentally Disabled individuals
(IDD) on City-owned property as well
as the County-owned sites.
$250,000
(already allocated
and will
carryover)
July 2021-
June 2025
Community
Development
1000 hrs/
$305,000
Housing
2 Study Session
on City-
Owned
Properties
Inventory and assess existing facilities
and prepare a long-range planning
report for three City-owned
properties (including, but not limited
to Blesch, Byrne, and Stocklemeir)
$90,000 ($25k for
feasibility study
and $65k for long
range plan)
previously
allocated
July 2023
- June 2025
City Manager’s
Office
100 hrs/
$16,000
Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy
2 Housing
Element
Update

*Planning
Commission
Update Housing Element and
complete rezoning, General Plan
Amendments and EIR by December
2023.
$630,000
additional
($1,070,000
previously
allocated)
September
2020-January
2024
Community
Development
2000 hrs/
$610,000
Housing
2 Council
Governance
Reform
Package

1. Revised Ethics Policy consistent
with City response to the Civil Grand
Jury Report authorized on 2/21/2023

2. Investigate and report back on
incidents of violations of the
Municipal Code and Ethics Policy
relative to the Council-staff
relationship cited in the Civil Grand
Jury Report
1) $0

2) $25,000
additional (For
both Council and
Commission
Governance
Reform)
1) March 2023
- September
2023
2) March 2023
- September
2023

City Attorney’s
Office/ City
Manager’s
Office
150 hrs/
$30,000
Public
Engagement
and
Transparency
FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 4
Priority FY 2023-2024 City Work Program
Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
Medium
2 Commission
Governance
Reform
Package

1. Revised Commissioner’s Handbook
to align it with Council Procedures
Manual

2. Investigate & report back on
incidents of violations of the Muni
Code re: the Commission-Staff
relationship

3. Realignment of Commissioner
terms of office

4. Establishment/revision of
commissioner qualifications
1) $0

2) $25,000
additional (For
both Council and
Commission
Governance
Reform)

3) $0

4) $0
1) April 2023 -
December
2023
2) March
2023 -
September
2023
3) March
2023 -
October 2023
4) March
2023 -
October 2023
City Attorney’s
Office/ City
Manager’s
Office
150 hrs/
$27,000
Public
Engagement
and
Transparency
2 Whole City
Policy Review
Repeat the 2013 process of compiling
and reviewing all City Policies
including 1) Administrative and 2)
Council policies and provide
recommendations/updates, e.g.

Green Purchasing, Property
Acquisition
1) $10,000
(Already allocated.

This excludes
funds related to
review of Financial
Policies)
2) $0
December
2022-June
2024
Admin
Services/ City
Attorney’s
Office/ City
Manager’s
Office
200-500 hrs/
$30k-$80k

Public
Engagement
and
Transparency
Low 1
Analyze
Potential
Revenue
Resources
Analyze potential revenue resources
such as transient occupancy tax, sales
tax, property tax, utility users’ tax,
the City-owned municipal water
system, and potential lease/rental
income to address possible future
financing challenges.
$50,000 (already
allocated as part
of FY 23 City Work
Program)
March 2023 -
August 2023
Administrative
Services
100 hrs/
$16,000
Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy
FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 5
Priority FY 2023-2024 City Work Program
Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
Low
1 Support for
the Unhoused
*Housing
Commission
Collaborate and fund jointly with
West Valley efforts to address
regional needs and find workable
support for the Unhoused.
$50,000
additional
July 2023 -
June 2025
Community
Development
1000 hrs/
$90,000
Housing
1 Fiscal
Procedures
and Policies
Handbook
Develop the handbook to ensure
standardization of accounting,
budget, investment, procurement
policies, procedures, rules and
regulations.
$45,000 (already
allocated as part
of Moss Adams
Contract)
July 2021-
September
2023
Administrative
Services
200 hrs/
$30,000
Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy
1 Budget Audit Audit the Budget and Budget Policies. $15,000 (already allocated as part
of Moss Adams
Contract)
July 2022-
July 2023
Administrative
Services
40 hrs/ $6,000

Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy

FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 6
Priority To Be Considered FY 2024-2025 City Work Program Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
High 3
Recycled
Water
Feasibility
Study

Develop Recycled Water Feasibility
Study. Include Blackberry Farm
focus and extension of recycled
water from SCVWD.
$200,000 July 2023-
October 2024
Public Works 800 hrs/
$210,000
Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy
Medium
2 The Rise:
construction
stakeholder
engagement
Improve engagement with
stakeholders to ensure progress
with construction and reduce
barriers.
$100,000
additional
July 2023 -
June 2025
City Manager’s
Office
700 hrs/
$100,000
Public
Engagement
and
Transparency
2 Revise &
Update Heart
of the City
Special Area
Prioritize following completion of
Housing Element:

1. Address effect of AB 2011 and
build on Housing Element goals to
facilitate housing production in
transit-oriented locations

2. Tailor permissible uses to
revitalize local public-facing
commercial uses
(retail/restaurant/entertainment/p
rofessional office, etc.)
1)$1,000,000
additional

2)$50,000
additional
2) January
2024 - June
2025
3) January
2024 - June
2025
Community
Development
2000 hrs/
$610,000
Quality of Life
2 Homelessness
Jobs Project
and
Transitional
Housing

*Housing
Commission
Continue the Homeless Jobs
program for two individuals for the
third year. Revisit for review and
consider Transitional Housing.
$225,000
additional
July 2023-
June 2024
Community
Development
200 hrs/
$61,000
Housing
FY 2023-25 City Work Program
*Projects relevant to Commission Scope 7
Priority To Be Considered FY 2024-2025 City Work Program Ranking Project Title Description Estimated Budget Est. Timeline Lead Department
Estimated Staff
Time/Staff Cost Goal
Medium
2 Privacy
Screening and
Balconies
Code

*Planning
Commission
Prioritize following completion of
Housing Element:

Muni Code (Ch.19.28: R-1 Zones)
Privacy Screening and Balconies.

Update privacy planting list to be
climate appropriate/native
$200,000
additional
January 2024
- January
2025
Community
Development
300 hrs/
$92,000
Quality of Life
2 Pond
Repurposing
at Blackberry
Farm
Repurposing ponds at Blackberry
Farm, focus on groundwater
recharge.
$50,000
additional
July 2023 –
June 2024
Public Works 150 hrs/
$40,000
Quality of Life
Low
1 New Bicycle-
Pedestrian
Plan

*Bike Ped
Commission
1) Update the current Bicycle and
Pedestrian Plans and combine them
to create a comprehensive Active
Transportation Plan.
2) Consider Complete Streets
concepts to enhance the interface
between Active Transportation
improvements and public and
private transportation systems.
$200,000
additional
July 2024 –
December
2025

Public Works 750 hrs/
$200,000
Transportation
1 Real Estate
Purchasing
Policy
Create Real Estate Purchasing
Policy
$75,000
additional
June 2025 City Manager’s
Office
200 hrs/
$30,000
Sustainability &
Fiscal Strategy
1 280 stretch as
scenic
highway
Establish/maintain I-280 as scenic
highway
$25,000
additional
July 2023-
6/30/2024
Public Works 100 hrs/
$30,000
Quality of Life

CC 07-18-2023

#13

SB 403

Written Communications

From: Dinesh Kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 2:01:01 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from Mail
for Windows

From: Sangeeta Agrawal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:28:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: SHIV SHANKAR MODI
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 10:38:32 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Sharad Rao
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 10:30:06 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sharad Rao
Irvine
California
9493376000
From: Sue Pats
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 8:57:45 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Jyothi Palvai
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 8:55:19 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Lubna H
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 8:54:52 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal. By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste- oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination. As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Kind regard,
Lubna Hamid
From: Sonali Jagdhane
To: City Council; Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; [email protected]; Kitty Moore; City Attorney"s Office Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 8:45:08 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely
Sonali J White
From: Gk
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 7:56:54 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Segu Riluvan
To: City Council
Subject: Condemning the position of council on SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 7:44:19 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Members of Cupertino Council,
I condemn the ill informed position taken by the council members on SB403.

While the bill has no mention of Hinduism and never associated caste with Hinduism yesterday many attempts of blatant lies associating the caste with Hinduism were made and council had no issues with the lies.

Had you asked the person spoke representing “Apna DB” what does “DB” means you would know the DB means dhalit- bahujun which identified by caste.

Had you asked those who came to oppose the bill of their profiles from matrimonial websites you would find them explicitly identify their caste and their caste preference very openly but they still lied to you that they know nothing about caste.

I have a simple question to you. Why FGM is banned in California although there is zero case of FGM in California? FGM is a violent and brutal practice in North Africa. It makes clear sense to proactively ban a violent and inhuman practice before entering into California.

What evidence do you need to understand the violence and inhuman practices of caste system? Just go online on your phone or computer and search caste. You will find caste atrocities occurred in subcontinent just 24 hours ago! People from lower caste are dehumanized, murdered and their women violated. The same people migrate to United State and claim they don’t practice caste atrocities anymore? Caste is banned in India but still the atrocities occur everyday. Everyone in that council hall yesterday has been exposed to caste.

Well. Caste based murder is already exported to USA. in 2008 Chicago honor killing of a couple and their three year old child by the upper caste father of the women is a dangerous symptom of caste violence storm waiting to happen in USA!
The Cisco caste bias case is not scrapped as it was lied to the council. Rather the case is still going on against Cisco! I fail to understand your romance with highly discriminatory regressive practices of caste. I can make my guesses but one thing is clear that you have either exposed your ignorance or chose to stand with oppressors.

Because of your apathy towards a violent practice I fear you are encouraging those practice caste and you may one day be guilty when something like in Chicago occurs in Cupertino! Really sad state of affairs! Thought educated people are in the council.

Thank you
Warm Regards
Segu Riluvan
From: alok Krishna
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 7:10:41 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Vinod Rai
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Re: Proclamation to condemn the divisive bill SB403( my view) Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 7:04:48 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hon. Mayor,
Adding Caste in the proclamation and mentioning about protection in the future bills containing divisiveness goes a long way to address the injustice being thrusted on the Hindu Californians via the SB403. The proclamation is not about pleasing anyone but to provide a just and safe space without hare, bigotry and abuse for the current and the future generations.

The bill Sb403 is based on lies , the DA of Santa Clara County Jeff Rosen has gone on the record of saying that this bill is not necessary and targets a Hindu Americans. Our ancestors have gone thru very brutal oppression during the colonial periods of 1500 years, all Hindus , Sikhs, Buddhists suffered the sustained oppression including the Dalits who have always been the part of the Hindu community. Councilwomen Chao and Moore were very brave and logical in taking a position on SB403 and condemning it in no uncertain words. This is your final way to stop this unjust bill, stop it now when you have the power, which is the essence of our grass root based democracy. Anyway, when I came to this great land in 1970, I had the fortune to read the Civil Disobedience by the great Henry David Through, who became the Guru of Mahatma Gandhi and later Dr. King and farm workers leader Caesar Chavez. The proponents of this bill are comparing their bill the the civil right bill and the movement of Dr.

King, in my simple words these people who are behind this unjust bill are no Dr. King.

One of the great Sanatani, Mr. Milind , died yesterday after falling as a result of pushing and shoving by the gentleman Mr. Kewal Singh, who has been always very aggressive and threatening in all gathering related to SB403. He was aggressive during the Fremont proclamation, twice in Sacramento and yesterday. Our community is very sad with demise of a great human being , who was fighting to preserve the rights of Hindu Americans of today and for the future. I wish him peace. He leaves behind two young children and his wife. I pray for them all , we all must support them now including our great city of Cupertino. Thank you very much.

Very truly yours ,
Vinod Rai
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 19, 2023, at 2:28 AM, Hung Wei <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Vinod,
I understand your sentiment. I do think this Proclamation with Caste added to it clearly expresses the message that your requests. It carries the message that SB 403 does not meet Cupertino’s standards unless the word Caste is out of the Bill.

Moreover, it carries this sentiment into any future bills that may target another group, not just SB403. This long-lasting Proclamation will provide inclusion and protect diversity and equality into the future!
In every aspect of City decisions, we need to look for long-term solutions, not just one specific current issue or in this case, one specific Bill. I comment Vice Mayor’s wisdom and inclusiveness. She cares about not just her own ethnicity group, the Indian American community, but also other groups that might encounter the same challenges in the future.

While Councilmembers Chao and Moore’ proposal might seem so attractive to you, it catered toward pleasing the current request without deep thought into supporting future challenges.

Best regards,
Hung
Get Outlook for iOS
Hung Wei​
Mayor
City Council
[email protected]
(408) 777-3139
From: Vinod Rai <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 2:02:14 AM
To: City Council <[email protected]>
Subject: Proclamation to condemn the divisive bill SB403( my view)

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

The two best things that happened during the hearing were, one gentleman grabbed the number 13, jokingly stating that it’s an unlucky number, perhaps for everyone. The kid was right when he called the bill BS403, BS because it’s based on lies, its results are bound to be very dangerous and divisive. India was under brutal Islamic and colonial rules for more 1500 years. During those times the brutal colonizers used caste trope to divide and rule. All lies lead to unjust policies , in this country Japanese Americans , Chinese Americans , Italian Americans and the Jewish Americans any many more minorities have been targeted and profiled , leaving a very dark mark on our history.

Similarly , the Jewish people became targets of Hitler and using lies and his wrong narratives, they faced the holocaust. These lies against the Hindu Americans could be intended to bring down the Hindu Americans. The bill must be condemned as the councilwoman Chao and Moore suggested. There could be no ambiguity about condemning this bill SB403. Overall this bill has nothing to do with the human rights, it targets and profiles the entire Hindu community. The Equality Labs chief says that Dalits are not Hindu, which is a big lie. Dalits are as much of a Hindu as anyone of us are. I have lived in this country for 53 years mostly in the bay area. I have never asked anyone about their caste. The chief of the Equality Labs calls herself Dalit Diva but she is neither a Hindu nor a Dalit. She grew up in a privileged household of two Dr.

Parents. My own parents had barely completed high school, I came to this county in 1970 with $8 and realized my American dream by hard work but Equality Labs chief and her followers are playing a victim role and are trying to exploit the system. They all say that there is a very systematic caste discrimination , resulting in rape, death, human trafficing etc., these are serious crimes but there is no records of any caste crime , just lies. Senator Wahab said on the senate floor that the caste oppressors ( Hindus implied) are involved is rape, murder, human trafficing and other heinous crimes but they have not been reported. Are we living in Afganistan or some rogue state , where these heinous crimes are not reported? How will SB403 fix charges of rape, murder etc. This is a sensational , sleepy and false claim. Council member Chao and council member Moire are very brave and forthright in seeing this bill for what it is. It will be mistake if Vice mayor will focus of the future bills only. The Hon. Mayor/Vice Mayor must do what they can to stop this unconstitutional bill, it will be a huge mistake to let this bill pass and condemn a future bill if it happens. Unfortunately, in the future , you will have the same dilemma in condemning the bill, since you will be focused not on the present but what will happen the in future of the future bill that you want to stop. Both the Hon.

Mayor/Vice Mayor know how unfair and anti human this bill Sb403 but are afraid to condemn it, why?
The bill Sb403 needs to be stopped now not after it passes.During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Vinod Rai
7046 Pelican Ridge Dr.

San Jose, CA 95120
From: Sridhar Sethuraman
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 6:58:42 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sridhar Sethuraman
Sent from my iPhone
From: Izhar Saeed
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 3:51:41 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Izhar saeed
From: Vinod Arora
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 3:10:29 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Umang K
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 2:34:21 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Umang Kathrani
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 2:34:12 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Vinod Rai
To: City Council
Subject: Proclamation to condemn the divisive bill SB403( my view) Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 2:02:33 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

The two best things that happened during the hearing were, one gentleman grabbed the number 13, jokingly stating that it’s an unlucky number, perhaps for everyone. The kid was right when he called the bill BS403, BS because it’s based on lies, its results are bound to be very dangerous and divisive. India was under brutal Islamic and colonial rules for more 1500 years. During those times the brutal colonizers used caste trope to divide and rule. All lies lead to unjust policies , in this country Japanese Americans , Chinese Americans , Italian Americans and the Jewish Americans any many more minorities have been targeted and profiled , leaving a very dark mark on our history.

Similarly , the Jewish people became targets of Hitler and using lies and his wrong narratives, they faced the holocaust. These lies against the Hindu Americans could be intended to bring down the Hindu Americans. The bill must be condemned as the councilwoman Chao and Moore suggested. There could be no ambiguity about condemning this bill SB403. Overall this bill has nothing to do with the human rights, it targets and profiles the entire Hindu community. The Equality Labs chief says that Dalits are not Hindu, which is a big lie. Dalits are as much of a Hindu as anyone of us are. I have lived in this country for 53 years mostly in the bay area. I have never asked anyone about their caste. The chief of the Equality Labs calls herself Dalit Diva but she is neither a Hindu nor a Dalit. She grew up in a privileged household of two Dr. Parents. My own parents had barely completed high school, I came to this county in 1970 with $8 and realized my American dream by hard work but Equality Labs chief and her followers are playing a victim role and are trying to exploit the system. They all say that there is a very systematic caste discrimination , resulting in rape, death, human trafficing etc., these are serious crimes but there is no records of any caste crime , just lies. Senator Wahab said on the senate floor that the caste oppressors ( Hindus implied) are involved is rape, murder, human trafficing and other heinous crimes but they have not been reported.

Are we living in Afganistan or some rogue state , where these heinous crimes are not reported? How will SB403 fix charges of rape, murder etc. This is a sensational , sleepy and false claim. Council member Chao and council member Moire are very brave and forthright in seeing this bill for what it is. It will be mistake if Vice mayor will focus of the future bills only. The Hon. Mayor/Vice Mayor must do what they can to stop this unconstitutional bill, it will be a huge mistake to let this bill pass and condemn a future bill if it happens. Unfortunately, in the future , you will have the same dilemma in condemning the bill, since you will be focused not on the present but what will happen the in future of the future bill that you want to stop. Both the Hon. Mayor/Vice Mayor know how unfair and anti human this bill Sb403 but are afraid to condemn it, why? The bill Sb403 needs to be stopped now not after it passes.During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Vinod Rai
7046 Pelican Ridge Dr.

San Jose, CA 95120
From: JAIPAL REDDY
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:41:26 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Dixit, Vivek
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:39:38 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Vivek Dixit, Ph.D.

Sent from my iPhone
________________________________
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From: Dilip Shah
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: I strongly oppose SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:34:00 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Dilip Shah
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: I strongly SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:32:55 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Dilip Shah
To: Liang Chao
Subject: I strongly oppose SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:31:45 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Dilip Shah
To: Liang Chao
Subject: I strongly oppose SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:30:10 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Dilip Shah
To: Liang Chao
Subject: I strongly oppose SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:29:03 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Dilip Shah
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: I strongly oppose SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:27:39 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Dilip Shah
To: Hung Wei
Subject: I strongly oppose SB403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:25:31 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Dilip Shah
408-307-9810
From: Sangeetha Shankar
To: Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; Kitty Moore; J.R. Fruen Subject: Regarding Cupertino City Council"s Proclamation on SB -403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:18:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,
I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents. I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is essential, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Sangeetha Shankar
2208 El Cejo Circle
Rancho Cordova , CA 95670
From: Srini Belligundu
To: Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; Kitty Moore; J.R. Fruen Subject: Opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 1:11:12 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council Members,

As a Cupertino resident I write to extend my sincere gratitude for providing an opportunity for the discussion on SB403 and for attentively listening to the diverse opinions voiced by your constituents.

I commend each council member for your diligent and unbiased research on the matter, demonstrating your profound knowledge of the subject.

During the session, it was good to witness unanimous agreement among council members that any form of discrimination is unequivocally unacceptable. It was also heartening to witness the unanimous agreement that SB403 and its potential to perpetuate stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the American Hindu community. Having closely followed the council deliberations until the conclusion of the session, I was delighted to learn of the council's intention to issue a proclamation or statement. Nonetheless, I must admit my disappointment at the failure of all the motions put forward for consideration.

Therefore, I humbly request the council members to reconvene and unite in support of passing a proclamation that clearly and unequivocally represents the majority viewpoint of both the constituents and the council. In my opinion, the language of the proclamation should address the following crucial points:

1. Unequivocally oppose SB403 in its current form.

2. Assert that the inclusion or reference to "caste" fails to provide any substantial additional protections under existing California laws. On the contrary, such a mention may inadvertently contribute to stigmatization, stereotypes, and profiling of the Hindu American community.

3. Voice opposition to any changes to the Unruh Act that lack facial neutrality.

4. Emphasize that SB403 is a divisive measure that unfairly targets the Hindu community and could potentially trigger "Caste" profiling based on last names, dietary habits, religious markers, and other personal attributes.

While addressing future concerns is good, it should not deter us from clearly expressing opposition to SB403. As Councilwoman Chao aptly suggested, a definitive statement opposing SB403 is imperative in the language of the proclamation.

With sincerity,
Srinidhi Belligundu
Cupertino, CA 95014
From: Pavaneshwar Dutt
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 12:56:00 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Pavaneshwar Dutt
From: Subhash Garg
To: Sheila Mohan
Cc: Liang Chao
Subject: City Council Position on SB 403
Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 12:18:09 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Vice Mayor Mohan and Councilwoman Chao,
I am writing on behalf of 30 people. most Cupertino residents, who attended or watched the City Council session on SB403 on 18th July night. We sat until the end of the session, and we were bitterly disappointed by the failure of all the motions considered.

If you truly value the Indian community, please support a proclamation that is clearly, unequivocally against:

(i) SB403 in its present form,
(ii) any amended version thereof that includes the word caste (iii) any amended version thereof that defines caste,
(iv) any changes to the Unruh Act that are not facially neutral We were all very impressed by Councilwoman Chao's dedication to clarity. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Subhash Garg +1 7023086330
San Jose, California 95134
तमसो मा जोततर्मय: Lead us to light
From: Liang Chao
To: City Clerk
Subject: Re: The substitute motion for Item 13.

Date: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 12:02:01 AM
Here is the friendly amendment to Mohan's original motion:

We express our strong opposition to any legislation that employs wording with negative connotations to stigmatize and stereotype any group,such as the term "Caste." We believe that the addition of "Caste" to California law fails to contribute meaningfully to the existing anti-discrimination law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Instead, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and prejudices, contrary to the fundamental principles of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

We oppose SB 403 in its current form unless it is amended to remove the mention of the term “Csate.”
Liang Chao​​​​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192
From: Liang Chao
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:55 PM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: The substitute motion for Item 13.

Proclamation against Hinduphobia and Caste Stigmatization Cupertino City Council declares that we stand against all forms of discrimination and affirms our unwavering commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity within our community. We fully supports the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the California Civil Code ), which
states
“All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.” Furthermore, the Cupertino City Council vehemently opposes any stigmatization or stereotyping of individuals based on any of the aforementioned attributes. We firmly believe that every member of our community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, without fear of prejudice or bias.

We acknowledge the rise of Hinduphobia and the challenges faced by the Asian Indian American community in Cupertino, California, and the United States. We are deeply concerned about any documented incidents of discrimination based on perceived caste or ancestry as well as any recorded incidents of anti-Hindu hate crimes. Such acts of intolerance and discrimination, prohibited by the Unruh Civil Rights Act, have no place in our diverse and harmonious community.

Although there are caste-based systems and discrimination throughout history in almost every culture and in every continent, the term "Caste" has been unfortunately misused to negatively portray the culture of Hindu Americans, which contributes to more Hinduphobia.

We reject any attempts to stereotype or stigmatize individuals based on their perceived ancestry, as this contradicts the principles of equality and fairness that we hold dear.

We express our strong opposition to SB 403 and any legislation that employs wording with negative connotations to stigmatize and stereotype any group, including the term "Caste." We believe that the addition of "Caste" to California law fails to contribute meaningfully to the existing anti-discrimination law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Instead, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and prejudices, contrary to the fundamental principles of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

As members of the Cupertino City Council, we are committed to fostering an inclusive community where all residents come together to support one another, free from the burdens of outdated cultural heritages. We envision a city that cherishes diversity, embraces inclusivity, and celebrates the unique contributions of every individual.

Liang Chao​​​​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192

From: Liang Chao
To: City Clerk
Subject: The substitute motion for Item 13.

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:55:55 PM
Proclamation against Hinduphobia and Caste Stigmatization Cupertino City Council declares that we stand against all forms of discrimination and affirms our unwavering commitment to promoting equality and inclusivity within our community. We fully supports the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the California Civil Code), which states
“All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.” Furthermore, the Cupertino City Council vehemently opposes any stigmatization or stereotyping of individuals based on any of the aforementioned attributes. We firmly believe that every member of our community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, without fear of prejudice or bias.

We acknowledge the rise of Hinduphobia and the challenges faced by the Asian Indian American community in Cupertino, California, and the United States. We are deeply concerned about any documented incidents of discrimination based on perceived caste or ancestry as well as any recorded incidents of anti-Hindu hate crimes. Such acts of intolerance and discrimination, prohibited by the Unruh Civil Rights Act, have no place in our diverse and harmonious community.

Although there are caste-based systems and discrimination throughout history in almost every culture and in every continent, the term "Caste" has been unfortunately misused to negatively portray the culture of Hindu Americans, which contributes to more Hinduphobia.

We reject any attempts to stereotype or stigmatize individuals based on their perceived ancestry, as this contradicts the principles of equality and fairness that we hold dear.

We express our strong opposition to SB 403 and any legislation that employs wording with negative connotations to stigmatize and stereotype any group, including the term "Caste." We believe that the addition of "Caste" to California law fails to contribute meaningfully to the existing anti-discrimination law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act. Instead, it perpetuates harmful stereotypes and prejudices, contrary to the fundamental principles of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

As members of the Cupertino City Council, we are committed to fostering an inclusive community where all residents come together to support one another, free from the burdens of outdated cultural heritages. We envision a city that cherishes diversity, embraces inclusivity, and celebrates the unique contributions of every individual.

Liang Chao​​​​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192

From: Prasad B
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:53:30 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Prasad Bal
From: Ravi Kiran Singh
To: City Council
Subject: Urgent Need for a Clear Proclamation Opposing Caste/SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:40:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Members of the Cupertino City Council,
I hope this letter finds you well. As a concerned citizen of Cupertino, I am writing to express my disappointment and growing concern regarding the City Council's failure to issue a clear proclamation opposing SB403.

SB403 is a significant piece of legislation that has far-reaching implications for our community and beyond.

By not explicitly opposing SB403 and raising concerns about its treatment of caste as a separate category, the City Council is missing an opportunity to signal its commitment to equality and social justice.

Moreover, issuing a clear proclamation opposing SB403 is not only a matter of principle but also a reflection of the values we hold dear in Cupertino. It demonstrates that our local government is attuned to the concerns of its citizens and willing to protect the rights and dignity of every individual, irrespective of their caste or ancestry.

I urge the Cupertino City Council to rectify this situation promptly. I respectfully request that you issue a public proclamation firmly opposing SB403 in its current form and advocating for explicit recognition of caste as a separate category in the state's nondiscrimination law. This proclamation should be made accessible to the public, ensuring transparency and accountability in your decision-making process.

Additionally, I encourage the City Council to engage in open dialogues with community members and relevant experts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding caste discrimination and its impact on our residents. By fostering an inclusive conversation, we can arrive at informed decisions that align with the values and aspirations of Cupertino's diverse population.

I believe that by issuing a clear proclamation opposing SB403, Cupertino can reaffirm its commitment to a just, equitable, and compassionate society. Let us stand united in our pursuit of a better future for all, where discrimination has no place, and every individual can thrive and contribute positively to our community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I sincerely hope that the Cupertino City Council will take the necessary steps to address this pressing issue promptly.

Sincerely,
Ravi Kiran Singh
Cupertino Resident

From: Anil Kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:29:28 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Prashant Shah
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:16:53 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Get Outlook for Android
From: ranjini nagaraj
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:53:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Subhash Garg
To: City Council
Subject: Session on State bill SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:40:32 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I was cut off from speaking due to lack of time, so I hope my voice can be heard here.

I am against caste-based discrimination, but SB403 is the wrong way to go about it. Suppose we inserted "slavery" as an example of race-based discrimination. It would tilt the scales of justice against whites. And deny whites and blacks equal protection under the law. Similar injustice would result if you added "holocaust" as an example of religion-based discrimination. The cure would be worse than the disease. Thus, if any amendments are made to the Unruh Act, they must be facially neutral, and must avoid pejorative, loaded words like "caste".

In the Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing, a member understood this concern, and said (paraphrasing) that courts reject laws passed in the legislature all the time. He dared us to take it up in the courts ! I am sure that we will.

Subhash Garg +1 7023086330
San Jose, CA 95134
Prayer: O lord, lead us to light
From: Prachi Raichura
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:34:27 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Prachi
From: arvind Chari
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:24:24 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Deepika Gupta
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:14:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Lalita du Perron
To: Hung Wei
Cc: City Council
Subject: Support for SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:13:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor and council members, I am writing as a scholar of South Asia, employed by the Center for South Asia at Stanford University. I want to state my strong support for the bill SB- 403. The narrative that the bill will cause unnecessary discrimination is false. “Hinduphobia” is a dog whistle created by Hindu nationalists, much like white supremacists speak of reverse discrimination. Caste discrimination is real. Protection of minorities is enshrined in our constitution; whether the majority likes it or not is irrelevant. Please support this bill.

Best wishes,

Lalita du Perron, PhD
Resident of Sunnyvale, 94087

From: Rama Rao
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:11:48 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Bhuvana Jeyakumar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:56:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Shalini Kaushik
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:39:45 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Shalini Kaushik
From: Sadashiv Kudlamath
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:22:26 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
-Sadashiv Kudlamath

From: Vinod Mishra
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:21:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Vinod Mishra
Sent from my iPhone
From: Lakshmi uma bharathi Rachakonda
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:16:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Maha Krishnan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:13:49 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: sudhir jagdale
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:08:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Saba Ali
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:01:28 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
-Saba
From: Devabrata Ganguly
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:01:27 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Ashu
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:01:07 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Charu Tiwari
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:00:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Sunny Bansal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:00:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Jyothirmayi Rajavaram
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:50:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Nithya
To: City Council
Subject: Please support SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:49:10 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear council members,
I am Nithya. I am a member of Ambedkar King Study Circle, a civil rights org in the Bay Area.

I urge all Cupertino City Council members to make a statement supporting SB403 that will ban caste-based discrimination in CA.

Being a privileged member of the dominant caste, I’ve been privy to conversations that are discriminatory in nature - such as when an acquaintance from my caste, who works as a nanny, told me that she only chooses to work for people from our caste. I’ve been asked if I know and can recommend priests from the dominant caste that folks can employ for their ceremonies.

I’ve also seen a catering service in the SF bay area promising “madi saapadu”, that is, “ritually pure food”, which amongst other things, means that it hasn’t been defiled by the touch or even the glance of a person from the depressed castes.

All of the above indicate that employment discrimination based on caste exists here in CA.

I urge the council to support outlawing caste discrimination, a step in the right direction for a more equitable society.

Sincerely,
Nithya
From: AMI RUGHANI
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:38:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May we all unite as Californians and as Americans.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Ami
Sent from my iPhone
From: Ravi Kumar Tammineni
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:36:01 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Mrudul
To: City Council
Subject: oppose SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:28:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

As the official said we are all a community and everyone's opinion is valued. So I wish to say that As someone who has been residing in the bay area for 20 years,  I strongly voice my opposition to the SB403 bill.

It unfairly generalizes and stereotypes the Indian American community solely based on our appearance. The concept of caste is unfamiliar to me and my children, as it has no bearing on our lives here. The introduction of caste where it does not exist is unnecessary and unwarranted. Additionally, there is a lack of substantial data supporting SB403. I implore the city council to stand with us and oppose SB403, which encroaches upon the civil rights of Indian Americans.

I kindly request that the council pass the resolution to reject this bill." Mrudul Deshpande
From: Bharat Dasani
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:28:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Drdasani
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:27:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Misbah Haq
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:16:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sudhakar Tiruveedhula
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:11:14 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Saritha Tiruveedhula
From: Kunj Chaturvedi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:08:25 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: malligari srinivas
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:06:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sunita Merchia
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 8:06:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
> Sunita Merchia.
> Merchia Realty
> Realtor Broker
> Sunitamerchia.com
> [email protected]
> DRE#01900102
> 408-916-6135
From: Sharma Konkapaka
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:59:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sharma
From: Raj H
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:56:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Murali Parthasarathy
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:49:44 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Anu Mandavilli
To: City Clerk
Subject: Public Comment on July 18 on agenda item #13
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:35:14 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
hello! I am following the City Council meeting tonight via Zoom and would like to offer public comment on agenda item # 13 concerning SB 403, bill against caste discrimination. I will raise my hand when the agenda item is announced, but am also sending an email to put my request in writing.
thanks,
Anu
From: Vikas Galhotra
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:35:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
--
Regards
Vikas Galhotra
From: Kanan Mandalia
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 12 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:24:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely Yours,
Kanan Mandalia
From: Jain, Rakesh
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:23:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Rakesh Jain
A concerned citizen
From: Mohammad Seth
To: City Council
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:21:54 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
From: Kripa Rao Patil
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:20:50 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Be Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Nikhil Kale
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:20:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Support SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:17:45 PM
Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
-----Original Message-----
From: naresh kumar <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:16 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Support SB403
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My self Naresh kumar
I support bol SB403
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
From: Kishore
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:17:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my Phone
From: Me
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:15:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen and resident of Cupertino
Have a good day!
From: naresh kumar
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Support SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:15:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My self Naresh kumar
I support bill SB403
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
From: Radhika Singh
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:14:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: naresh kumar
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Support sb403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:13:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My self Naresh kumar
I support Bill SB403
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
From: naresh kumar
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Support sb403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:12:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My self Naresh kumar
I support bill SB403
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
From: naresh kumar
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Support sb403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:11:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My self Naresh kumar
I support bill SB403
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
From: naresh kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Support sb403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:10:00 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My self Naresh kumar
I support bill sb403
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone
From: jyoti jain
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:05:47 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: ritu rastogi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:04:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Anand Yahoo
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:03:25 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Brij Garg
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:01:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sangeetha Shankar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:00:01 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Seema M
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:59:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Seema Murthy

From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:56:32 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sudev Mukherjee
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:55:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Judhajit Senmazumdar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:53:26 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Krishnakumar sriramadhesikan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:52:34 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Krishnakumar
Sent from my phone
From: vj pat
To: City Council
Subject: SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:45:03 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Respected Sir/madam
This is to inform you that Invehemently oppose the SB 403 This is not necessary
We Hindu community in the USA have never had an issue regarding Caste discrimination This bill is being pushed by vested interests who have a background of hating Hindus Even in India you can see that the Prime minister Modi who belongs to lower caste won election by overwhelming majority
The president of India Murmu belongs to tribal community Hindus have outgrown the issue of caste discrimination
And in the US I am here for 25 years have never had or seen a caste discrimination issue My daughter who was raised in the US does not know her caste I do not know my caste
What discrimination are we talking here?
I vehemently oppose the SB 403
Sent from my iPad
From: JoTi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:43:49 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: chanda shanker rao
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:39:32 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Dhaval Joshipura
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:37:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: mandeep kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:37:17 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Mandeep kumar
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android
From: Usha Dhokia
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:27:48 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: singh-sunita9
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Please Vote YES to Support SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:24:43 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Mayor Wei,
I am writing on behalf of my family and friends who are unable to send direct emails, and the California Coalition for Caste Equity. We request you to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category.

This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
On behalf of Harbans Lal, from Fresno who has been unable to send emails. He called ans asked if I can assist him
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone From: Ravi Goklaney
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:24:37 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Milind Naphade
To: City Council
Subject: SB403 is discriminatory - Oppose it
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:23:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to represent the community and stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Milind
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From: Stuti Khandelwal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:23:34 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: singh-sunita9
To: City Council
Subject: Please Vote Yes and Support SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:18:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Attorney Christopher Jensen,
I am writing on behalf of my family and the California Coalition for Caste Equity. We request you to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
On behalf of Harbans Lal, Fresno who has been unable to send emails.

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone From: Sonia Singhal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:14:26 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Sonia
From: Jitendra Patel
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:13:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: D Ghad
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:08:53 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Vijay Chavva
To: City Council
Subject: CA SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:07:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance; however, it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Vijay Chavva

From: Munisekar
To: Liang Chao
Cc: Sashi Begur; Pushpita Prasad
Subject: Re: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:02:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Thank you Council member Liang Chao for drafting such a wonderful letter capturing the precise issue with SB403.

As a community that will be deeply impacted by this bill forever, we would like our city council to pass this exact text as a resolution and vote on it; if a resolution if not appropriate for this item, we can make it as a proclamation under the title "Proclamation against Hinduphobia and Caste Stigmatization" as that is what SB403 is trying to do. Your text is good for the Caste Stigmatization part; sashi will get you some text for Hinduphobia part.

Thus, the proclamation covers both.

On Tue, Jul 18, 2023 at 5:43 PM Liang Chao <[email protected] > wrote:
corrected email.

Get Outlook for iOS
Liang Chao​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192
From: Liang Chao <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:38 PM
To: Muni Madhdhipatla <[email protected]>; Sashi Begur <[email protected]>; Pushpita Prasad <[email protected]> Subject: Fwd: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403

FYI.

Anything to add?
Get Outlook for iOS
Liang Chao​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192
From: Liang Chao <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:30 PM
To: Christopher Jensen <[email protected]>
Cc: Sheila Mohan <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403

Added Vice Mayor Mohan.

Chris,
Here is a draft letter or resolution.

Some constituents are asking whether the Council can approve a resolution, rather than just a letter.

Would the following content for either as a letter or a resolution? Please advise. Thanks.
=================
Cupertino City Council declares that we are against any discrimination and supports the Section 51 of the California Civil Code, the Unruh Civil Rights Act., which states “All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”
Cupertino City Council opposes any stigmatization or stereotyping of any one based on their “sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status”.

Although there are Caste-based systems and discrimination throughout history in almost every culture and in every continent. Unfortunately, the word “Caste” has been used to negatively portray the culture of Hindu Americans, who suffer from Hinduphobia. The inclusion of “Caste” in California law adds nothing to the existing anti-discrimination law,  the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which already forbids discrimination based on ancestry. But the addition of the word “Caste” negatively stigmatizes and stereotypes some American citizens based on their perceived ancestry. This is against the very principle of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

Therefore, Cupertino City Council strongly opposes SB 403 and strongly opposes any legislature which uses the word “Caste”.

Cupertino City Council wishes to foster an inclusive community where we come together to support each other, rather than dividing us based on baggages from outdated culture heritages.

Liang Chao​​​​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192

From: S B
To: Liang Chao
Cc: Pushpita Prasad; [email protected]
Subject: Re: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:57:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

If the city attorney feels we cannot have a resolution we are fine with a proclamation.

The title of the proclamation is
Proclamation against Hinduphobia and caste stigmatization The content of the proclamation can be the letter that you sent earlier, I will be checking my email let me know if you need anything else
Regards
Sashi

Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 18, 2023, at 5:43 PM, Liang Chao <[email protected]> wrote:

corrected email.

Get Outlook for iOS
Liang Chao​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192
From: Liang Chao <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:38 PM
To: Muni Madhdhipatla <[email protected]>; Sashi Begur <[email protected]>; Pushpita Prasad <[email protected]> Subject: Fwd: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403

FYI.

Anything to add?
Get Outlook for iOS
Liang Chao​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192
From: Liang Chao <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:30 PM
To: Christopher Jensen <[email protected]>
Cc: Sheila Mohan <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403

Added Vice Mayor Mohan.

Chris,
Here is a draft letter or resolution.

Some constituents are asking whether the Council can approve a resolution, rather than just a letter.

Would the following content for either as a letter or a resolution? Please advise. Thanks.
=================
Cupertino City Council declares that we are against any discrimination and supports the Section 51 of the California Civil Code, the Unruh Civil Rights Act., which states
“All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”
Cupertino City Council opposes any stigmatization or stereotyping of any one based on their “sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status”.

Although there are Caste-based systems and discrimination throughout history in almost every culture and in every continent.

Unfortunately, the word “Caste” has been used to negatively portray the culture of Hindu Americans, who suffer from Hinduphobia. The inclusion of “Caste” in California law adds nothing to the existing anti-discrimination law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which already forbids discrimination based on ancestry. But the addition of the word “Caste” negatively stigmatizes and stereotypes some American citizens based on their perceived ancestry. This is against the very principle of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

Therefore, Cupertino City Council strongly opposes SB 403 and strongly opposes any legislature which uses the word “Caste”.

Cupertino City Council wishes to foster an inclusive community where we come together to support each other, rather than dividing us based on baggages from outdated culture heritages.

Liang Chao​​​​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192

From: Gireesh Malhotra
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:57:43 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Neil Park-McClintick
To: City Council; City Clerk
Subject: Re: Do not oppose SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:55:28 PM
Attachments: image.png
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Here is a sample of how a narrative might emerge if we oppose. Taking no position would be a non-controversial means of expressing disinterest in supporting the bill, while also allowing Sen. Wahab and other members of the legislature to seek compromise and respect the internal legislative process.

On Tue, Jul 18, 2023 at 5:49 PM Neil Park-McClintick <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear Cupertino City Council,
I am writing to urge you to not take a position on SB 403 (Wahab), which would ban discrimination on the basis of ancestry.

While I know the issue has attracted complex debate within many communities, I do not think Cupertino should weigh in, especially this late into the process. The bill passed the Senate with only 1 single no vote, (34 yes) and will very likely pass the Assembly by a similar margin. Taking a position on a crucial civil rights debate will reflect very poorly on Cupertino--at a time when we are attempting to repair our reputation and relationships with nonprofits, the state of California, our legislators, and other key leaders.

By the time word reaches of Cupertino's position on SB 403, the bill will likely be close to the governor's desk, calling into question the risk versus impact of taking a local position.

Taking a position will also potentially damage interfaith efforts across the bay area and state to create a common consensus for peoples of all backgrounds, especially passionate Muslim and Sikh parties. A very quick glance at the bill analysis reveals support from these communities:

SUPPORT:

Ad Dharm Brotherhood USA Alphabet Workers Union - Communication Workers of America Ambedkar Association of North America Ambedkar Buddhist Association of Texas Ambedkar International Co-ordination Society (AICS) Ambedkar International Mission Center Houston, USA (AIM) Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Anti-racism Task Force At First United Methodist Church of Redding Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Begumpura Cultural Society of New York Bhim International Foundation Boston South Asian Coalition Boston Study Group California Asian Pacific American Bar Association California Environmental Voters (formerly Clcv) California Labor Federation, Afl-cio Caste Equity Legal Task Force Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India Coalition of Seattle Indian Americans Contra Costa Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition Council on American Islamic Relations Desh Doaba DFW Shri Guru Ravidass Organization, Mesquite, Tx East Bay Yimby Equality Labs Friends for Education International Global Bahujan Group Global Nri Forum Gurdwara Sahib Fremont Gurdwara Shri Guru Ravidass Sahib Ji Selma, California Guru Granth Sahib Foundation, INC. International Bahujan Organization International Bodhisattva Guru Ravidass Organization INC Jakara Movement Korean Community Center of The East Bay Love Never Fails NAACP Hayward South Alameda County Branch National Academic Coalition for Caste Equity Nibbana Healthcare INC. Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle Periyar International, USA Saman Sangh SB 403 Page 13 Sanford Heisler Sharp Llp Sarab Sanjha Gurdwara Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha Bay Area Shri Guru Ravidas Temple, Pittsburg, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Sacramento Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Fresno, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, New York Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Rio Linda, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Union City, CA Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) Sikh Center of Pacific Coast Sikh Coalition Sikh Youth of America South Asian Bar Association of North America South Asian Network Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha Techequity Collaborative The Sikh Coalition Several individuals I'm cognizant that I do not have experience with caste discrimination, here or abroad, as many may. But from the perspective of diplomatic relationships and respecting the complex, interfaith dialogues around civil rights issues (people do have these experiences right here in our community, I hope council does not take a position on this bill.

From: Neil Park-McClintick
To: City Council; City Clerk
Subject: Do not oppose SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:50:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council,
I am writing to urge you to not take a position on SB 403 (Wahab), which would ban discrimination on the basis of ancestry.

While I know the issue has attracted complex debate within many communities, I do not think Cupertino should weigh in, especially this late into the process. The bill passed the Senate with only 1 single no vote, (34 yes) and will very likely pass the Assembly by a similar margin. Taking a position on a crucial civil rights debate will reflect very poorly on Cupertino--at a time when we are attempting to repair our reputation and relationships with nonprofits, the state of California, our legislators, and other key leaders.

By the time word reaches of Cupertino's position on SB 403, the bill will likely be close to the governor's desk, calling into question the risk versus impact of taking a local position. Taking a position will also potentially damage interfaith efforts across the bay area and state to create a common consensus for peoples of all backgrounds, especially passionate Muslim and Sikh parties. A very quick glance at the bill analysis reveals support from these communities:

SUPPORT:

Ad Dharm Brotherhood USA Alphabet Workers Union - Communication Workers of America Ambedkar Association of North America Ambedkar Buddhist Association of Texas Ambedkar International Co-ordination Society (AICS) Ambedkar International Mission Center Houston, USA (AIM) Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Anti-racism Task Force At First United Methodist Church of Redding Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Begumpura Cultural Society of New York Bhim International Foundation Boston South Asian Coalition Boston Study Group California Asian Pacific American Bar Association California Environmental Voters (formerly Clcv) California Labor Federation, Afl-cio Caste Equity Legal Task Force Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India Coalition of Seattle Indian Americans Contra Costa Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition Council on American Islamic Relations Desh Doaba DFW Shri Guru Ravidass Organization, Mesquite, Tx East Bay Yimby Equality Labs Friends for Education International Global Bahujan Group Global Nri Forum Gurdwara Sahib Fremont Gurdwara Shri Guru Ravidass Sahib Ji Selma, California Guru Granth Sahib Foundation, INC. International Bahujan Organization International Bodhisattva Guru Ravidass Organization INC Jakara Movement Korean Community Center of The East Bay Love Never Fails NAACP Hayward South Alameda County Branch National Academic Coalition for Caste Equity Nibbana Healthcare INC. Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle Periyar International, USA Saman Sangh SB 403 Page 13 Sanford Heisler Sharp Llp Sarab Sanjha Gurdwara Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha Bay Area Shri Guru Ravidas Temple, Pittsburg, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Sacramento Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Fresno, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, New York Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Rio Linda, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Union City, CA Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) Sikh Center of Pacific Coast Sikh Coalition Sikh Youth of America South Asian Bar Association of North America South Asian Network Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha Techequity Collaborative The Sikh Coalition Several individuals I'm cognizant that I do not have experience with caste discrimination, here or abroad, as many may. But from the perspective of diplomatic relationships and respecting the complex, interfaith dialogues around civil rights issues (people do have these experiences right here in our community, I hope council does not take a position on this bill.

From: Neil Park-McClintick
To: City Council; City Clerk
Subject: Do not oppose SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:50:03 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council,
I am writing to urge you to not take a position on SB 403 (Wahab), which would ban discrimination on the basis of ancestry.

While I know the issue has attracted complex debate within many communities, I do not think Cupertino should weigh in, especially this late into the process. The bill passed the Senate with only 1 single no vote, (34 yes) and will very likely pass the Assembly by a similar margin. Taking a position on a crucial civil rights debate will reflect very poorly on Cupertino--at a time when we are attempting to repair our reputation and relationships with nonprofits, the state of California, our legislators, and other key leaders.

By the time word reaches of Cupertino's position on SB 403, the bill will likely be close to the governor's desk, calling into question the risk versus impact of taking a local position. Taking a position will also potentially damage interfaith efforts across the bay area and state to create a common consensus for peoples of all backgrounds, especially passionate Muslim and Sikh parties. A very quick glance at the bill analysis reveals support from these communities:

SUPPORT:

Ad Dharm Brotherhood USA Alphabet Workers Union - Communication Workers of America Ambedkar Association of North America Ambedkar Buddhist Association of Texas Ambedkar International Co-ordination Society (AICS) Ambedkar International Mission Center Houston, USA (AIM) Ambedkarite Buddhist Association of Texas American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Anti-racism Task Force At First United Methodist Church of Redding Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Begumpura Cultural Society of New York Bhim International Foundation Boston South Asian Coalition Boston Study Group California Asian Pacific American Bar Association California Environmental Voters (formerly Clcv) California Labor Federation, Afl-cio Caste Equity Legal Task Force Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India Coalition of Seattle Indian Americans Contra Costa Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition Council on American Islamic Relations Desh Doaba DFW Shri Guru Ravidass Organization, Mesquite, Tx East Bay Yimby Equality Labs Friends for Education International Global Bahujan Group Global Nri Forum Gurdwara Sahib Fremont Gurdwara Shri Guru Ravidass Sahib Ji Selma, California Guru Granth Sahib Foundation, INC. International Bahujan Organization International Bodhisattva Guru Ravidass Organization INC Jakara Movement Korean Community Center of The East Bay Love Never Fails NAACP Hayward South Alameda County Branch National Academic Coalition for Caste Equity Nibbana Healthcare INC. Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle Periyar International, USA Saman Sangh SB 403 Page 13 Sanford Heisler Sharp Llp Sarab Sanjha Gurdwara Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect Shri Guru Ravidas Sabha Bay Area Shri Guru Ravidas Temple, Pittsburg, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Sacramento Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Fresno, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha, New York Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Rio Linda, CA Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Union City, CA Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) Sikh Center of Pacific Coast Sikh Coalition Sikh Youth of America South Asian Bar Association of North America South Asian Network Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha Techequity Collaborative The Sikh Coalition Several individuals I'm cognizant that I do not have experience with caste discrimination, here or abroad, as many may. But from the perspective of diplomatic relationships and respecting the complex, interfaith dialogues around civil rights issues (people do have these experiences right here in our community, I hope council does not take a position on this bill.

From: S B
To: Liang Chao
Cc: Muni Madhdhipatla; Pushpita Prasad
Subject: Re: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:49:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

This is perfect no need for any changes
regards
Sashi
On Jul 18, 2023, at 5:38 PM, Liang Chao <[email protected] > wrote:

FYI.

Anything to add?
Get Outlook for iOS
Liang Chao​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192
From: Liang Chao <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:30 PM
To: Christopher Jensen <[email protected]>
Cc: Sheila Mohan <[email protected]>
Subject: Proposed letter or resolution opposing SB 403

Added Vice Mayor Mohan.

Chris,
Here is a draft letter or resolution.

Some constituents are asking whether the Council can approve a resolution, rather than just a letter.

Would the following content for either as a letter or a resolution? Please advise. Thanks.
=================
Cupertino City Council declares that we are against any discrimination and supports the Section 51 of the California Civil Code, the Unruh Civil Rights Act., which states
“All persons within the jurisdiction of this state are free and equal, and no matter what their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.”
Cupertino City Council opposes any stigmatization or stereotyping of any one based on their “sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship, primary language, or immigration status”.

Although there are Caste-based systems and discrimination throughout history in almost every culture and in every continent.

Unfortunately, the word “Caste” has been used to negatively portray the culture of Hindu Americans, who suffer from Hinduphobia. The inclusion of “Caste” in California law adds nothing to the existing anti-discrimination law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which already forbids discrimination based on ancestry. But the addition of the word “Caste” negatively stigmatizes and stereotypes some American citizens based on their perceived ancestry. This is against the very principle of the Unruh Civil Rights Act.

Therefore, Cupertino City Council strongly opposes SB 403 and strongly opposes any legislature which uses the word “Caste”.

Cupertino City Council wishes to foster an inclusive community where we come together to support each other, rather than dividing us based on baggages from outdated culture heritages.

Liang Chao​​​​
Council Member
City Council
[email protected]
408-777-3192

From: Arif Obaid
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Fwd: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:49:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Member,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Arif Obaid
From: Oliver Wilson
To: City Council
Cc: Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; [email protected]; Kitty Moore; City Attorney"s Office Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:34:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity. We want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category.

This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino, Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. However, the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-Asian hate and must be a addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Oliver Wilson
From: Arif Obaid
To: City Council
Cc: City Attorney"s Office; Liang Chao; [email protected]; [email protected]; Sheila Mohan; Hung Wei Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:31:24 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Arif Obaid
From: Kanak N
To: City Council
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: I urge you to support SB403 Bill to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:30:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I urge you to support SB403, a civil rights bill protecting caste oppressed Californians.

Because caste has determined one’s educational and career opportunities across south asia, it was predominantly members from the dominant castes who were able to migrate to the US until the recent IT boom. By this time, the dominant castes had prepared fertile ground for the open practice of casteism here, with legal impunity taken for granted. They scrutinize people to identify their caste, with incessant questions about the foods we eat, the school we went to, whether we benefited from affirmative action and who and how we worship. The dominant caste members arrogantly talk about their caste, putting the oppressed in an uncomfortable position of having to out ours. Once identified as outcaste, exclusion and discrimination follow.

The preponderance of dominant caste members in the south asian diaspora has led to them being able to manipulate social and cultural narratives about their community, here in the US, for far too long, and they now wield their wealth and power to manipulate our legislature as well.

As you discuss SB403, I would like to
remind you that any protection that has been
won for the oppressed has always been vehemently opposed by the oppressor, often part of a dominant majority. In 1964, within a year of passing the Rumford Fair Housing Act, white Californians went to the extent of passing the Prop 14 referendum to declare the critical civil rights legislation null and void. When California was adding protections for gender identity and gender expression in 2011 to the Unruh Act, cis-gendered women came out vocally to claim that these protections for the trans community will harm them. Such examples of forceful opposition to basic protections, available throughout history, across several axes of oppression, should serve as a warning against listening to a dominant majority on critical human rights issues.

Again I urge you to stand with the caste oppressed and support SB403. I hope you heed this warning against being misled by the oppressive agenda of the dominant caste majority.

Thank you
Kanak Natarajan
925-963-2402
[email protected]
From: Deek Pilaka
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:27:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: sonali kale
To: City Council
Subject: SB403 is not right and should be opposed.

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:24:43 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino Council Members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Sonali Kale
Cupertino resident since 2011
From: Vrushali Raut
To: City Clerk
Subject: Oppose to SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:19:10 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear City Clerk Ms Squarcia
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

With Regards
Vrushali Raut
From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Oppose to SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:18:51 PM

Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
From: Vrushali Raut <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:18 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Oppose to SB-403

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear City Attorney Mr. Jensen

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

With Regards
Vrushali Raut
From: Shashi Paul
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Comments on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:15:30 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,
PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Vrushali Raut
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Oppose to SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:15:13 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Councilmember Moore
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

With Regards
Vrushali Raut
From: Harilal PATEL
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:14:46 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Shashi Paul
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Comments on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:14:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,
PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Comments on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:14:38 PM

Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
From: Shashi Paul <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:12 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Comments on SB403

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,

PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Vrushali Raut
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Oppose to SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:14:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Councilmember Fruen
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

With Regards
Vrushali Raut
From: Shashi Paul
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Comments on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:13:26 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,
PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Vrushali Raut
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Oppose SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:13:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Councilmember Chao
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

With Regards
Vrushali Raut
From: Vrushali Raut
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Oppose to SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:11:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Vice-Mayor Mohan
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Vrushali Raut
With Regards
Vrushali Raut
From: Shashi Paul
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Comments on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:11:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,
PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Vrushali Raut
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Oppose to SB-403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:10:37 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Vrushali Raut
From: Shashi Paul
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Comments on SB403.

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:10:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,
PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:10:27 PM

Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
From: Benjamin Kaila <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:51 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category.

This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste.  But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Shashi Paul
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Comments on Bill SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:09:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members,
PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the roots of civil rights in USA. Don't understand analogy of opposition who want to perpetuate discrimination.

PLEASE vote "I" on the motion to approve it.

Shashi PAUL
Member Supreme Council.

From: Viraj Raut
To: City Council
Subject: NO on SB403: I am a Cupertino resident and NO on SB403 as its a racial segregation for Hindus. US Supreme court has outlawed discrimination on Race.

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:05:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello,
NO on SB403
I am a Cupertino resident and NO on SB403 as its a racial segregation for Hindus.

The US Supreme court has outlawed discrimination on Race.

Indian American Hindus and other Asians should not be singled out for Hate.

I am from the Dalit background and request the Cupertino council to listen to its voters and No on SB403.

Regards
V Raut
Cupertino
From: Joydeep Dey
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:04:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Monika Agarwal Dhingra
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:04:27 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from Outlook for Android
From: Jerry Kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Against SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:03:44 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

I am against it.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Uma Jeyapalan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:03:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Uma
A concerned citizen
From: Shashi Paul
To: City Council
Subject: Comments on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:02:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hello Mayor and Council Members.

PLEASE nipp the evil of caste discrimination in the bud before it affects the root of civil rights.

Vote I on the the motion.

Shashi Paul
Member Supreme Council,
From: Samir Gmail
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:00:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Samir M
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sridhar Hothur
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:59:50 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Raju2803
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:58:22 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California. This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism. Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago.

Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata.

Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes. Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for. I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Agchari
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:56:46 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Avinash Shaw
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:53:12 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Narinder Kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:52:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Ramesh P
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:51:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: gssatya
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:50:53 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Also this Bill will Damage the Meritocracy that has helped make our Silicon Valley happen & prosper.

Thank you.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
From: shwetha rao
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:50:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Shashidhara Somayaji
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:50:05 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
S.Somayaji
From: Pratap Bhat
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:49:47 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Benjamin Kaila
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:49:45 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Moore,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is c haracterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Benjamin Kaila
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:48:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Fruen,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Harry
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:48:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Raeena Lari
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:48:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

Thank you!
Raeena Lari
Sent from my iPhone
From: Harry
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:47:23 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Harry
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:46:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Benjamin Kaila
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:46:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Chao,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:46:13 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Harry
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:45:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Benjamin Kaila
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:45:07 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Mohan,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Harry
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:44:37 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Benjamin Kaila
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:44:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Hung Wei,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Kalika Maheshwari
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:42:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
KP Maheshwari
Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse typps and wrong words.

From: Benjamin Kaila
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:42:49 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Hung Wei,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Harry
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:42:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Hemal Doshi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:42:12 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Hemal
From: Nirmal Singh
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Vote to support Senate Bill - SB 403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:40:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council Member Liang Chao,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity, and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination based on caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste.  But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-Asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate, and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Regards
Nirmal Singh M.D., MPH
Internal Medicine, CA, USA
"Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence" by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
From: Rahul Sharma
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:39:07 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Rahul sharma MD
Sent from my iPhone
From: President@AIC
To: Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; Kitty Moore; City Council; City Attorney"s Office Subject: Support SB403 and oppose caste based discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:38:38 PM
Attachments: City_of_Cupertino_Support_SB403.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable council member of the city of Cupertino,
We are requesting you to support SB403. Our letter of support is attached.

Sincerely
Ram Kumar
President, Ambedkar International Center

Ambedkar International Center
15755 Livingston road, Accokeek, Maryland 20607 USA
www.ambedkarinternationalcenter.org
Tax Exempt: 501(c)(3) | EIN: 26-1633571 | DLN: 17053008347013

July-18-2023
Sub: Support SB403, Oppose Caste based discrimination

Honorable Members of the Cupertino City Council,
I am writing you on behalf of members of Ambedkar International Center, a human right organization with members across all the states in USA. We urge you to support SB403 and help enacting the law against caste-based discrimination in California.

For background, the majority South Asian community, here in the US, belongs to the dominant castes. This is by virtue of them having had the privilege of better educational and career opportunities back in their hierarchical, caste ridden societies. It has only been in the recent years, since the IT boom in India that more members of the oppressed castes have been able to migrate here. But they continue to face caste discrimination here, by the more established dominant caste majority. Boasting about one’s own dominant caste status, outing an oppressed caste person’s caste status, forcing disclosure of one’s caste, and discrimination based on caste, are all prevalent practices in places of employment and education here in California.

Introduced in February this year by Senator Wahab, SB 403 is a critical civil rights bill that explicitly bans caste discrimination, and it has faced intense opposition by the dominant caste majority. Their arguments are much like those of any oppressor fighting to keep their oppressive methods legal.

They insist that they are caste blind but are in reality blind to the oppression meted out by members of the dominant castes. They claim to fear the deluge of racial profiling if this bill becomes law, while opposing this protection against the casteist profiling and bullying that the caste oppressed are currently drowning under. When have legal protections for the oppressed ever made the oppressor happy? And they’ve already had several successes in their attempts at manipulating lawmakers to make the bill useless against caste discrimination. Senator Wahab faces death threats and could face a recall vote. Lawmakers are starting to echo the dominant caste narratives and have severely diluted the bill as of now with their pressure tactics:
- Assembly members Low and Lee have requested initiating a study to understand the “extent” of caste discrimination here in California. This is a delay-to-kill tactic because there are several studies showing that caste discrimination definitely exists here. - Assembly member Kalra has gone on record stating that he wants to keep both sides of this debate happy. His actions, along with those of Assembly Judiciary chair Maienschein, have led to a severe dilution of the bill, after a much stronger version was passed by the California Senate with an overwhelming majority of 34-1. Instead of adding a categorical protection, they have amended the bill to conflate the definition of ancestry by including caste within it, even though caste is a social construct whereas ancestry is a biological reality.

Please don’t fall for the pressure tactics and support the SB403. It’s human right issue. We request you to stand in solidarity with the caste oppressed victims.

Sincerely,

Ram Kumar

President, Ambedkar International Center
[email protected]
From: Nirmal Singh
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Vote to support Senate Bill - SB 403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:38:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear council member Kitty Moore,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity, and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination based on caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste.  But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-Asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate, and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Regards
Nirmal Singh M.D., MPH
Internal Medicine, CA, USA
"Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence" by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
From: Praveen Mohanan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:36:51 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Mythri Enjam
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:35:30 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Nirmal Singh
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Vote to support Senate Bill - SB 403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:35:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Vice Mayor Sheila Mohan,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity, and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination based on caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-Asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate, and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Regards
Nirmal Singh M.D., MPH
Internal Medicine, CA, USA
"Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence" by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
From: Nirmal Singh
To: Hung Wei
Subject: Vote to support Senate Bill - SB 403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:33:48 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Hung Wei,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity, and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination based on caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-Asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate, and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Regards
Nirmal Singh M.D., MPH
Internal Medicine, CA, USA
"Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence" by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
From: Peggy Griffin
To: City Council
Cc: City Clerk
Subject: 2023-07-18 City Council Meeting Agenda Item11-Schedule of Fees-delaying updating fees Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:30:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

PLEASE INCLUDE THIS EMAIL AND ANY ATTACHMENTS AS PART OF WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA ITEM.

Dear City Council,

In the Staff Report (page 4 of 6), it recommends that increases to Parkland Dedication and Transportation Impact fees be “deferred to allow for further review…”.

Q: When does staff anticipate bringing this back to Council?

My concern is 2 fold:

1. Projects are continually being submitted and the longer the delay, the more our city will be impacted by the inability to charge adequate fees to cover costs at a time when our finances are stretched.

2. Once this comes to Council and is approved, Schedule B fees take effect “60 days after adoption”. That’s an additional 2 month delay!

REQUEST: Please set a “no later than” date for bringing this back to Council. Also, prioritize this work so that it returns more quickly to Council for approval.

Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin
From: Ankur Agarwal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:27:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Ankur
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:24:53 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Nirmal Singh
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support Senate Bill - SB 403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:23:43 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity, and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination based on caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-Asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate, and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Regards
Nirmal Singh M.D., MPH
Internal Medicine, CA, USA
"Cultivation of mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence" by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
From: Margaret Okuzumi
To: City Council
Subject: Please support SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:22:49 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Mayor Wei and Councilmembers,
I urge you to SUPPORT Senator Aisha Wahab's anti-caste discrimination bill.

I personally know two people at two different companies whose colleagues were shunned, treated like pariahs and passed over for promotion because of their caste, despite their strong work performance and competence. My friends were appalled and disgusted to see this. While we cannot outlaw or stop all bigotry, we should provide people with legal protections in the workplace.

SB403 protects people against caste-discrimination of any sort, whether they are discriminated against because they are of high caste or of low caste. The sword cuts both ways. If you believe in fairness and equality, please oppose the resolution to oppose SB403 tonight.

Sincerely,
Margaret Okuzumi
From: Senthil Sankarappan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:20:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Senthil Sankarappan
(A concerned citizen)
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:18:28 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Govind Tatachari
To: City Council; City Clerk; City Attorney"s Office; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject: Agenda item 13: SB-403 is Colonial, Unethical, Unconstitutional, Punitively Stigmatizing: Please pass a resolution “Cupertino is opposed to SB403” (Formatted)
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:18:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, Councilmember Moore, City Manager Mrs. Wu, City Attorney Mr. Jensen and City Clerk Ms Squarcia,
Invocation
Let our thoughts, actions and deeds bring us peace and harmony.

Surely you have learnt a lot about the bill SB-403 from many different sources.

I wish to highlight the Colonial, unethical, unconstitutional and punitively stigmatizing aspects of the bill SB-403.

I plead that you pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Ethos, ethics and Civil rights
Per our ethos and ethics, discrimination is wrong. We reject any and all forms of hate, discrimination and bigotry. The site https://philosophynow.org/ explains the ethics of discrimination as "Intentionally disadvantaging innocent people merely because of their group membership is the clearest form of discrimination.”
The Cornell law school clarifies and explains “Civil rights refer to legal provisions that stem from notions of equality. Civil rights are not in the Bill of Rights; they deal with legal protections.”
Civil rights are enshrined in the federal laws that protect one from discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights. The justice department upholds the civil rights of all people in the United States.

The ethos, ethics and civil rights law apply to everyone irrespective of their ancestry or national origin. The Unruh Civil rights law has proven itself as potent and powerful to handle all forms of discrimination. Most importantly, we all pledge ourselves to the constitution of the United States and wish to live free of discrimination. We all embrace and live the ethos, ethics and civil rights laws and practice non-discrimination. It is unethical NOT to practice non-discrimination.

SB403 itself is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. Denigrating human dignity is simply un-American, however well the packaging appears.

So why does the California legislature wish to enact SB-403 which qualifies the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”?
Colonial divisive tropes and practices
“Caste” is a divisive trope used by Colonialists to divide the people of the various colonies.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Read about the “La trampa de las castas” (Caste Trap) at https://journals.openedition.org/nuevomundo/72080
and
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_de_castas_colonial.

Caste was not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. The “Caste” was a Colonial Trope instituted by the Portuguese (who came to India led by Vasco De Gama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama
). It was a part of their Colonial
approach to divide and rule people of the state of Goa and also has a tragic legacy in the form of Goa Inquisition (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Inquisition ).

Social stratification and Caste-like division has been in vogue and has been practiced all over the world and in almost all religions. Caste-like stratification exists and is practiced in Islam, one of the major religions of the world.

Unruh Civil rights law is facially neutral and bans all forms of discrimination based on one's race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights.

So why does the California legislature want to beckon and invite Colonial divisive tropes and practices?
Unconstitutionality and legislative issues
Civil rights law must be impartial and apply to all equally. SB403 is "Facially Non-neutral" and "selectively" emphasizes South Asians (later amended to include Asian, African, and South American). By qualifying the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”, SB- 403 fundamentally alters the rights to equal protection and due process of South Asians.

Punitively Stigmatizing
SB-403 was justified by using FAKE fraudulent data from EqualityLabs to abuse your trust & power? Is it morally, ethically and legally OK to do so? SB403 is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. It stereotypes and selectively profiles people.

Most importantly, SB-403 punitively stigmatizes immigrants from South east Asia including Indian-Americans and their descendants.

Should a South Asian newborn in California be presumptively treated as guilty? Would you vote for a law that profiles or deems your kids and grandkids to be practicing discrimination based on their ethnicity or the faith they practice?
Caste is not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. Yet, California middle and high school textbooks have “caste” only for India and Hinduism.

We must reject all forms of hate and bigotry targeted at religions - such as anti-Semitism, Hinduphobia - whether it’s overt or passive. We must reject cultural and identity appropriation by special interest groups. Whatever we do, we must ensure that we “do no harm”.

ALL human beings must be treated with dignity and respect and given equal protection under the law. Simply put, there must be no intent or impact in Governments’ actions that can cause harm or unintended consequences to any person. This isn’t too much to ask for, or is it? State sponsored profiling, stereotyping, bigotry and hate is indeed unacceptable.

Hope you consider the totality of these aspects and pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Thank you for your kind consideration and request a resolution to oppose SB-403.

Govind Tatachari
30-year Cupertino Resident
From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:49:41 PM
Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
-----Original Message-----
From: Harry <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:48 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Harminder Momi
From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Opposition to SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:25:36 PM

Christopher Jensen​​​​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105

From: Lakshmi Iyer <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:07 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Opposition to SB 403

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable City Attorney Jensen,

My name is Lakshmi and I am a resident of San Jose, CA. In the past, I applied for a job with the City of Cupertino, and as a job seeker, I may still take up a position with the city in the future.

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however, it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Lakshmi Iyer

From: Govind Tatachari
To: City Council; City Clerk; City Attorney"s Office; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject: Agenda item 13: SB-403 is Colonial, Unethical, Unconstitutional, Punitively Stigmatizing: Please pass a resolution “Cupertino is opposed to SB403” (Formatted)
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:18:19 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, Councilmember Moore, City Manager Mrs. Wu, City Attorney Mr. Jensen and City Clerk Ms Squarcia,
Invocation
Let our thoughts, actions and deeds bring us peace and harmony.

Surely you have learnt a lot about the bill SB-403 from many different sources.

I wish to highlight the Colonial, unethical, unconstitutional and punitively stigmatizing aspects of the bill SB-403.

I plead that you pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Ethos, ethics and Civil rights
Per our ethos and ethics, discrimination is wrong. We reject any and all forms of hate, discrimination and bigotry. The site https://philosophynow.org/ explains the ethics of discrimination as "Intentionally disadvantaging innocent people merely because of their group membership is the clearest form of discrimination.”
The Cornell law school clarifies and explains “Civil rights refer to legal provisions that stem from notions of equality. Civil rights are not in the Bill of Rights; they deal with legal protections.”
Civil rights are enshrined in the federal laws that protect one from discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights. The justice department upholds the civil rights of all people in the United States.

The ethos, ethics and civil rights law apply to everyone irrespective of their ancestry or national origin. The Unruh Civil rights law has proven itself as potent and powerful to handle all forms of discrimination. Most importantly, we all pledge ourselves to the constitution of the United States and wish to live free of discrimination. We all embrace and live the ethos, ethics and civil rights laws and practice non-discrimination. It is unethical NOT to practice non-discrimination.

SB403 itself is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. Denigrating human dignity is simply un-American, however well the packaging appears.

So why does the California legislature wish to enact SB-403 which qualifies the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”?
Colonial divisive tropes and practices
“Caste” is a divisive trope used by Colonialists to divide the people of the various colonies.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Read about the “La trampa de las castas” (Caste Trap) at https://journals.openedition.org/nuevomundo/72080
and
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_de_castas_colonial.

Caste was not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. The “Caste” was a Colonial Trope instituted by the Portuguese (who came to India led by Vasco De Gama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama
). It was a part of their Colonial
approach to divide and rule people of the state of Goa and also has a tragic legacy in the form of Goa Inquisition (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Inquisition ).

Social stratification and Caste-like division has been in vogue and has been practiced all over the world and in almost all religions. Caste-like stratification exists and is practiced in Islam, one of the major religions of the world.

Unruh Civil rights law is facially neutral and bans all forms of discrimination based on one's race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights.

So why does the California legislature want to beckon and invite Colonial divisive tropes and practices?
Unconstitutionality and legislative issues
Civil rights law must be impartial and apply to all equally. SB403 is "Facially Non-neutral" and "selectively" emphasizes South Asians (later amended to include Asian, African, and South American). By qualifying the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”, SB- 403 fundamentally alters the rights to equal protection and due process of South Asians.

Punitively Stigmatizing
SB-403 was justified by using FAKE fraudulent data from EqualityLabs to abuse your trust & power? Is it morally, ethically and legally OK to do so? SB403 is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. It stereotypes and selectively profiles people.

Most importantly, SB-403 punitively stigmatizes immigrants from South east Asia including Indian-Americans and their descendants.

Should a South Asian newborn in California be presumptively treated as guilty? Would you vote for a law that profiles or deems your kids and grandkids to be practicing discrimination based on their ethnicity or the faith they practice?
Caste is not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. Yet, California middle and high school textbooks have “caste” only for India and Hinduism.

We must reject all forms of hate and bigotry targeted at religions - such as anti-Semitism, Hinduphobia - whether it’s overt or passive. We must reject cultural and identity appropriation by special interest groups. Whatever we do, we must ensure that we “do no harm”.

ALL human beings must be treated with dignity and respect and given equal protection under the law. Simply put, there must be no intent or impact in Governments’ actions that can cause harm or unintended consequences to any person. This isn’t too much to ask for, or is it? State sponsored profiling, stereotyping, bigotry and hate is indeed unacceptable.

Hope you consider the totality of these aspects and pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Thank you for your kind consideration and request a resolution to oppose SB-403.

Govind Tatachari
30-year Cupertino Resident
From: Kishore Tunguturu
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:13:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Ashok Chigullapally
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:12:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
-Ashok
From: Govind Tatachari
To: City Council; City Clerk; City Attorney"s Office; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject: Agenda item 13: SB-403 is Colonial, Unethical, Unconstitutional, Punitively Stigmatizing: Please pass a resolution “Cupertino is opposed to SB403”
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:12:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, Councilmember Moore, City Manager Mrs. Wu, City Attorney Mr. Jensen and City Clerk Ms Squarcia,
Invocation
Let our thoughts, actions and deeds bring us peace and harmony.

Surely you have learnt a lot about the bill SB-403 from many different sources.

I wish to highlight the Colonial, unethical, unconstitutional and punitively stigmatizing aspects of the bill SB-403.

I plead that you pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Ethos, ethics and Civil rights
Per our ethos and ethics, discrimination is wrong. We reject any and all forms of hate, discrimination and bigotry. The site https://philosophynow.org/ explains the ethics of discrimination as "Intentionally disadvantaging innocent people merely because of their group membership is the clearest form of discrimination.”
The Cornell law school clarifies and explains “Civil rights refer to legal provisions that stem from notions of equality. Civil rights are not in the Bill of Rights; they deal with legal protections.”
Civil rights are enshrined in the federal laws that protect one from discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights. The justice department upholds the civil rights of all people in the United States.

The ethos, ethics and civil rights law apply to everyone irrespective of their ancestry or national origin. The Unruh Civil rights law has proven itself as potent and powerful to handle all forms of discrimination. Most importantly, we all pledge ourselves to the constitution of the United States and wish to live free of discrimination. We all embrace and live the ethos, ethics and civil rights laws and practice non-discrimination. It is unethical NOT to practice non-discrimination.

SB403 itself is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. Denigrating human dignity is simply un-American, however well the packaging appears.

So why does the California legislature wish to enact SB-403 which qualifies the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”?
Colonial divisive tropes and practices
“Caste” is a divisive trope used by Colonialists to divide the people of the various colonies.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Read about the “La trampa de las castas” (Caste Trap) at https://journals.openedition.org/nuevomundo/72080
and
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_de_castas_colonial.

Caste was not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. The “Caste” was a Colonial Trope instituted by the Portuguese (who came to India led by Vasco De Gama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama
). It was a part of their Colonial
approach to divide and rule people of the state of Goa and also has a tragic legacy in the form of Goa Inquisition (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Inquisition ).

Social stratification and Caste-like division has been in vogue and has been practiced all over the world and in almost all religions. Caste-like stratification exists and is practiced in Islam, one of the major religions of the world.

Unruh Civil rights law is facially neutral and bans all forms of discrimination based on one's race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights.

So why does the California legislature want to beckon and invite Colonial divisive tropes and practices?
Unconstitutionality and legislative issues
Civil rights law must be impartial and apply to all equally. SB403 is "Facially Non-neutral" and "selectively" emphasizes South Asians (later amended to include Asian, African, and South American). By qualifying the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”, SB- 403 fundamentally alters the rights to equal protection and due process of South Asians.

Punitively Stigmatizing
SB-403 was justified by using FAKE fraudulent data from EqualityLabs to abuse your trust & power? Is it morally, ethically and legally OK to do so? SB403 is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. It stereotypes and selectively profiles people.

Most importantly, SB-403 punitively stigmatizes immigrants from South east Asia including Indian-Americans and their descendants.

Should a South Asian newborn in California be presumptively treated as guilty? Would you vote for a law that profiles or deems your kids and grandkids to be practicing discrimination based on their ethnicity or the faith they practice?
Caste is not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. Yet, California middle and high school textbooks have “caste” only for India and Hinduism.

We must reject all forms of hate and bigotry targeted at religions - such as anti-Semitism, Hinduphobia - whether it’s overt or passive. We must reject cultural and identity appropriation by special interest groups. Whatever we do, we must ensure that we “do no harm”.

ALL human beings must be treated with dignity and respect and given equal protection under the law. Simply put, there must be no intent or impact in Governments’ actions that can cause harm or unintended consequences to any person. This isn’t too much to ask for, or is it? State sponsored profiling, stereotyping, bigotry and hate is indeed unacceptable.

Hope you consider the totality of these aspects and pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Thank you for your kind consideration and request a resolution to oppose SB-403.

Govind Tatachari
30-year Cupertino Resident
From: Govind Tatachari
To: City Council; City Clerk; City Attorney"s Office; Cupertino City Manager"s Office Subject: Agenda item 13: SB-403 is Colonial, Unethical, Unconstitutional, Punitively Stigmatizing: Please pass a resolution “Cupertino is opposed to SB403”
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:12:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, Councilmember Moore, City Manager Mrs. Wu, City Attorney Mr. Jensen and City Clerk Ms Squarcia,
Invocation
Let our thoughts, actions and deeds bring us peace and harmony.

Surely you have learnt a lot about the bill SB-403 from many different sources.

I wish to highlight the Colonial, unethical, unconstitutional and punitively stigmatizing aspects of the bill SB-403.

I plead that you pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Ethos, ethics and Civil rights
Per our ethos and ethics, discrimination is wrong. We reject any and all forms of hate, discrimination and bigotry. The site https://philosophynow.org/ explains the ethics of discrimination as "Intentionally disadvantaging innocent people merely because of their group membership is the clearest form of discrimination.”
The Cornell law school clarifies and explains “Civil rights refer to legal provisions that stem from notions of equality. Civil rights are not in the Bill of Rights; they deal with legal protections.”
Civil rights are enshrined in the federal laws that protect one from discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights. The justice department upholds the civil rights of all people in the United States.

The ethos, ethics and civil rights law apply to everyone irrespective of their ancestry or national origin. The Unruh Civil rights law has proven itself as potent and powerful to handle all forms of discrimination. Most importantly, we all pledge ourselves to the constitution of the United States and wish to live free of discrimination. We all embrace and live the ethos, ethics and civil rights laws and practice non-discrimination. It is unethical NOT to practice non-discrimination.

SB403 itself is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. Denigrating human dignity is simply un-American, however well the packaging appears.

So why does the California legislature wish to enact SB-403 which qualifies the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”?
Colonial divisive tropes and practices
“Caste” is a divisive trope used by Colonialists to divide the people of the various colonies.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Read about the “La trampa de las castas” (Caste Trap) at https://journals.openedition.org/nuevomundo/72080
and
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistema_de_castas_colonial.

Caste was not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. The “Caste” was a Colonial Trope instituted by the Portuguese (who came to India led by Vasco De Gama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama
). It was a part of their Colonial
approach to divide and rule people of the state of Goa and also has a tragic legacy in the form of Goa Inquisition (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa_Inquisition ).

Social stratification and Caste-like division has been in vogue and has been practiced all over the world and in almost all religions. Caste-like stratification exists and is practiced in Islam, one of the major religions of the world.

Unruh Civil rights law is facially neutral and bans all forms of discrimination based on one's race, color, national origin, disability status, sex, religion, familial status, or loss of other constitutional rights.

So why does the California legislature want to beckon and invite Colonial divisive tropes and practices?
Unconstitutionality and legislative issues
Civil rights law must be impartial and apply to all equally. SB403 is "Facially Non-neutral" and "selectively" emphasizes South Asians (later amended to include Asian, African, and South American). By qualifying the Unruh Civil rights law by adding the word “Caste”, SB- 403 fundamentally alters the rights to equal protection and due process of South Asians.

Punitively Stigmatizing
SB-403 was justified by using FAKE fraudulent data from EqualityLabs to abuse your trust & power? Is it morally, ethically and legally OK to do so? SB403 is inherently discriminatory in intent and impact. It stereotypes and selectively profiles people.

Most importantly, SB-403 punitively stigmatizes immigrants from South east Asia including Indian-Americans and their descendants.

Should a South Asian newborn in California be presumptively treated as guilty? Would you vote for a law that profiles or deems your kids and grandkids to be practicing discrimination based on their ethnicity or the faith they practice?
Caste is not a word in Sanskrit, Tamil or any vernacular languages of South east Asia. Yet, California middle and high school textbooks have “caste” only for India and Hinduism.

We must reject all forms of hate and bigotry targeted at religions - such as anti-Semitism, Hinduphobia - whether it’s overt or passive. We must reject cultural and identity appropriation by special interest groups. Whatever we do, we must ensure that we “do no harm”.

ALL human beings must be treated with dignity and respect and given equal protection under the law. Simply put, there must be no intent or impact in Governments’ actions that can cause harm or unintended consequences to any person. This isn’t too much to ask for, or is it? State sponsored profiling, stereotyping, bigotry and hate is indeed unacceptable.

Hope you consider the totality of these aspects and pass a resolution that “Cupertino is OPPOSED to SB-403”.

Thank you for your kind consideration and request a resolution to oppose SB-403.

Govind Tatachari
30-year Cupertino Resident
From: Lakshmi Iyer
To: City Clerk
Subject: Opposition to SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:10:16 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable City Clerk Squarcia,
My name is Lakshmi and I am a resident of San Jose, CA. In the past, I applied for a job with the City of Cupertino, and as a job seeker, I may still take up a position with the city in the future.

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however, it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Lakshmi Iyer
From: S R
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:07:26 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Segu Riluvan
From: Alok Saraf
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:06:45 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Alok
From: Rao Bethamcharla
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:06:01 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Priyanka Sharma
To: City Council
Subject: California Senate Bill 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:05:05 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Hi!
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Priyanka
From: mehul choube
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:03:49 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Mehul Choube
From: Lakshmi Iyer
To: City Council
Subject: Opposition to SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:01:45 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, and Councilmember Moore,
My name is Lakshmi and I am a resident of San Jose, CA. In the past, I applied for a job with the City of Cupertino, and as a job seeker, I may still take up a position with the city in the future.

I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however, it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities, and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Lakshmi Iyer
From: JAYASHREE PATIL
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:59:16 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Mahesh Siramshetty
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:56:52 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
--
Best,
Mahesh
From: suyog pagare
To: City Attorney"s Office; City Council; Hung Wei; [email protected]; Kitty Moore; Liang Chao; Sheila Mohan Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:55:27 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Suyog P
--
Regards,
Suyog Pagare,
From: Stuti Gupta
To: City Council
Cc: Stuti Gupta
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:54:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Stuti Gupta
From: Rajesh Shah
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:54:13 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
From: govind pasumarthi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:53:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Vote yes for SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:53:25 PM
Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
-----Original Message-----
From: Raj Kumar <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:36 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Vote yes for SB 403
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Anusha K
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:52:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Sudha
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:51:25 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sri Sudha
From: Lata Damle
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:50:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Lara Damle
A concerned citizen
From: M Mm
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Fwd: Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:47:30 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Fixed the email I’d.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From:<[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Jul 18, 2023 at 11:30 AM
Subject: Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination To: <[email protected]
>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>,
<[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>
Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Mush
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:41:03 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Kumar.

From: M R
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:38:30 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. I am a member of the most dominant caste (brahmin) and I have personal experiences of seeing my own family members treat members of the so-called lower castes in a derogatory way - not just in private, but also at their workplaces. Comments like we are intelligent because we are brahmins at workplaces threatens of bringing concepts of caste superiority and subsequent subtle forms of discrimination. I have also seen family members not eat at certain restaurants because they have food cooked by people of the so- called lower caste and they consider the food as not being pure any more. With a growing south Asian population, it is time the City and the State implemented laws that protect people from caste based discrimination. In case it is unclear why a majority of silicon valley maybe opposing the bill, it will be apparent when a caste census is done - most of the immigrants to white collared jobs in Silicon Valley are from the dominant castes - simply because there is a caste/class relation as well back in India and mainly those who got the privilege of a good education (upper caste) were able to immigrate here in white collar positions. Therefore, I urge you to please listen to the unheard voices, those who actually face the discrimination and bring this law into effect,
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Madhavi Rag
From: Jathin Ullal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:37:14 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Jathin Ullal
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Rupali Kandharkar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:36:05 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Information and attachments in this email, are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential, privileged and subject to legal restrictions and penalties regarding its unauthorized disclosure and use. Any review, re-transmission, dissemination, disclosure of distribution by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender by reply email and delete the original message and all copies. Check for viruses before opening any emails or attachments. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this document that do not relate to the business of Gerson Lehrman Group, Inc. or its affiliates (collectively, “GLG”) are neither given nor endorsed by it. For information regarding how GLG processes your information, please visit our privacy policy at https://glginsights.com/privacy-policy/.

From: Raj Kumar
To: Kitty Moore
Subject: Vote yes for SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:35:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Nima ForJustice
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:35:17 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Nima on behalf of her family of 6
From: Raj Kumar
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Vote yes for SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:35:00 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: AKSC SF Bay Area
To: Hung Wei; Sheila Mohan; Liang Chao; [email protected]; Kitty Moore Cc: City Council; City Attorney"s Office
Subject: Support SB403, Oppose caste based discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:34:37 PM
Attachments: AKSC_SB_403_Support_to_Cupertino_City.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members & City Attorney,
We are writing to you as the members of Ambedkar King Study Circle, a civil rights group led by tech workers who belong to the marginalized castes in the Bay Area.

The preponderance of dominant caste members in the south asian diaspora has led to them being able to manipulate social and cultural narratives about their community, here in the US, for far too long, and they now wield their wealth and power to manipulate our legislature as well.

Please receive our detailed attached statement why your city council should in fact support SB 403 rather than misled by the manipulative agenda of the dominant caste majority against the vulnerable and the oppressed minority.
----
Regards
Executive Committee
Ambedkar King Study Circle, California, USA
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://akscusa.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1249573841788059 Twitter: https://twitter.com/akscsfba
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AmbedkarKingStudyCircleUSA "Educate, Organize and Agitate: Let's challenge the caste, class, race, gender and religious oppressions and oppressors on ideological, political and social fronts" From: Raj Kumar
To: Liang Chao
Subject: Vote Yes for SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:34:28 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Raj Kumar
To: Sheila Mohan
Subject: Vote yes for SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:33:45 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: RAVINDRA KALE
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:32:10 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Raj Kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Vote yes for SB 404
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:31:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Sonali. Padgaonkar
To: City Council
Subject: 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:31:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Raj Kumar
To: City Council
Subject: Vote yes for SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:31:03 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Aparna Edara
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:30:22 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Desi Desi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:29:46 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: APARNA INDHARAPU
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:28:47 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Sheela Kene
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:28:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sheela Kene.

SAC Orange County Chapter.

From: Bhajan Premi101
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:26:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Mr. VB Tandon
From: TSSrinivasan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:24:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Jaideep Joshi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:21:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:20:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: anjali deshpande
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:16:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Kajal Upadhyay
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:14:24 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Benjamin Kaila
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:14:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Benjamin P Kaila
Founder
Friends for Education International
From: Bharti Bhatia
To: City Council
Cc: Bharti Bhatia
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:13:46 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
BB
Sent from my iPhone
From: Rajiv Soni
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:13:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Nirupama
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:11:30 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: BALESHWARA INDHARAPU
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:11:28 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Balu Indharapu
From: Ram Upadhyay
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:10:23 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Sushma Srivastava
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:10:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sushma Srivastava
From: Ram Upadhyay
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:09:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Arthi Desai
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:08:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Arthi
From: G C
To: City Council
Subject: No on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:07:10 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Gayathri Chakravarthy
20335 Via Volante
Cupertino CA 95014.

From: Mukesh Nigam
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:06:54 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Mukesh nigam
From: Nandini
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:04:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members, <BR> <BR>I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California. <BR> <BR>This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism. <BR> <BR>Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes. <BR> <BR>Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for. <BR> <BR>I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration. <BR> <BR> <BR>May God Bless America. <BR> <BR>Sincerely Yours, <BR>A concerned citizen <BR>
Sent from my iPhone
From: Ranjana Khoche
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:03:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Padmaja Indukuri
To: Lauren Sapudar
Cc: City Clerk; Christopher Jensen
Subject: Re: Info on Caste Discrimination cases that were false Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:02:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

May I know what exact time SB-403 will be discussed?
Padmaja
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 18, 2023, at 12:20 PM, Lauren Sapudar <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Padmaja (City Council Bcc’d),
Your comments have been received and will be included with the public comments for Item 13 on the July 18 City Council agenda.

Regards, Lauren
<image009.png>
Lauren Sapudar​​​​
Deputy City Clerk
City Manager's Office
[email protected]
(408) 777-1312
<image010.png><image011.png><image012.png><image013.png><image014.png><image015.png><image016.png>

From: Padmaja Indukuri <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:37 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Subject: Info on Caste Discrimination cases that were false

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council,

1) Please read how false the Cisco Caste Discrimination case is, that the 2 Indian Hindu defendants Sundar Iyer and Ramana Kompella are released from the Cisco case by CRD(California Civil Rights Department). You should know what kind of socio path the plaintiff can be to file this lawsuit, and how discriminatory the CRD is, please read this below link.

https://castegate.org
https://castegate.org/the-publicly-known-timeline-of-the-cisco-caste-discrimination-case/

2) Please read the BAPS caste discrimination case that was filed on innocent defendants to know how false that case was, how wrong and intimidating those lawyers were, below is the link. https://twitter.com/CoHNAOfficial/status/1680290348348723200?s=20

Keeping these cases in mind, you should oppose the bill SB-403.

Thanks
Padmaja
510-418-0573
From: Ujjwala Thobbi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:56:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Rohini Naik
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:56:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members, I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California. This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism. Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes. Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for. I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration. May God Bless America. Sincerely Yours, A concerned citizen
Rohini Naik
From: Ashok Nalkund
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:56:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Ashok
From: Yahoo
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:55:41 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

I’m living in this country over 2 decades. One thing my family likes is we are not recognized by caste. I never talked about caste to my kids. It will be very unfair generation of kids who are born and brought up in state.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Pallavi Chennoju
Sent from my iPhone
From: Christopher Jensen
To: Lauren Sapudar
Subject: FW: Please support SB403 new bill to end caste discrimination.

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:55:20 PM

Christopher Jensen​
City Attorney
City Attorney's Office
[email protected]
(408)777-3105
From: Gary Bagha <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:42 PM
To: City Attorney's Office <[email protected]> Subject: Please support SB403 new bill to end caste discrimination.

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Christopher Jensen.

I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category.

This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits--people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste.  But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Dr. Gurbux Singh Bagha.

Sacramento.
916-224-6899
From: Vish Ganapathy
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:55:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: seemavaid30
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:51:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, an AT&T 5G Evolution capable smartphone From: Anjani Tayaru Kota
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:48:33 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Vandana
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:46:15 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Tanveer Ali
To: City Council
Cc: Matt Morley; City Attorney"s Office; Kitty Moore; Cupertino City Manager"s Office; Hung Wei; Liang Chao; [email protected]; Sheila Mohan
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:38:11 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans.

While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Mohammed Ali
22836 Covello Ave
West Hills CA 91307
From: R T
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:37:38 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Mohan Gummalam
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:37:01 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Prem swaminathan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:35:33 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: DineshN
To: City Council
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:30:33 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Abdul Diwan
To: J.R. Fruen
Subject: Yes on SB403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:29:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

My full name AbdulLatif Diwan.

Support SB403.

Thx
--
with my best regards,
A. L Diwan
From: Jagan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:28:29 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Jagan Bearelly
From: Gary Bagha
To: City Council
Subject: Please support SB403 to stop Caste infection before it infect this beautiful nation. This is a invisible disease. The whole India is infected with this.

Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:24:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Dr.Gurbux Singh Bagha
916-224-6899.

Sacramento.

Full Name
From: Atiq Rahman
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:24:20 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Sent from my iPhone
From: Moumita Bhattacharya
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:23:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Kalyan Bala
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:19:00 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen

From: Roop Goyal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:15:37 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:15:01 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
Seema Shaikh. Sandiego, CA
Sent from my iPhone
From: Paras Paras
To: City Council
Subject: URGENT: RE: Today 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13, we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403! Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:13:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
We are PARAS, a multi-ethnic, multi-faith coalition of concerned California citizens writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403. This would unfairly target and discriminate against Indian, Hindu, Sikh, & many more innocent, hard-working immigrant Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out these innocent American communities. It promotes the harmful, false narratives that caste discrimination is inherent in India. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of our culture & innocent Americans who work hard to achieve the American Dream.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 75 years ago. Here in the United States, Indian Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social classes. Writing discrimination into California law where absolutely none exists reinforces false , hurtful stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize entire innocent, hard-working communities. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California and America strives for.

We urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration. May God Bless America.

Sincere Regards,
PARAS, People of America for Rigorousness And Social Equality [email protected]
From: Jagan Bearelly
To: City Council; Cupertino City Manager"s Office; City Attorney"s Office; City Clerk Subject: Opposing SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:12:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, Councilmember Moore, City Manager Mrs. Wu, City Attorney Mr. Jensen and City Clerk Ms Squarcia
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Jagan Bearelly
(408) 914-5997
From: Jagan Bearelly
To: City Council; Cupertino City Manager"s Office; City Attorney"s Office; City Clerk Subject: Opposing SB 403
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:12:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Honorable Mayor Wei, Vice-Mayor Mohan, Councilmember Chao, Councilmember Fruen, Councilmember Moore, City Manager Mrs. Wu, City Attorney Mr. Jensen and City Clerk Ms Squarcia
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Jagan Bearelly
(408) 914-5997
From: Anupama Donthi
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:12:16 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Hemant Nakrani
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:11:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Moina Shaiq
To: City Council
Subject: Caste
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:08:54 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Respected Councilmember,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

LOVE>hate
Moina Shaiq
From: Sam
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:07:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Honorable Council members,
City of Cupertino, CA
What is caste? Do we have distinction symbol on our body? Who is going to label me about my caste, if I have it? My last name will be identified as caste?
Let’s say my last name is Shoemaker, because maybe my forefather was centuries ago shoemaker, are you ordered me to make you shoes for you?
Our former governor was named
Mr. Brown, was he brown? Are you going to insist that he was brown in color? One of our former Governor’s name was Waterman, are you going to order/ request him to bring water to you? Well I can go on but got the point that you can’t
label anyone’s caste by their name.

This Hindu phobic bill SB403 is
unnecessary, unwarranted bias bill
based on social media- with lies, half truth and prejudice. Look around in reality, based on facts on ground you will see that this bill is
totally targeting one of most law obedient, hardworking, highly educated, socially conscious, family oriented, highly contributing in taxation, and with common sense
do we really need this BS 403?
I humbly request you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinize an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I request you to vote against
SB 403.

THANK you for your consideration of this highly important and far reaching issue.

I thank you for your time, talent, and service to us all.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Submitted,
Sanmukh Bhakta
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Syed Husaini
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:03:23 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

Thanks
Syed Husaini
From: Vijay Ruikar
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:03:13 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Vijay G. Ruikar
Vijay. [email protected]
Sent from my iPhone
From: Channa
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:03:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Mukul Sinvhal
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:03:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Mukul Sinvhal
Fremont, CA 94539
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13. We say No to SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:02:09 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California. As the bill stands today it merely clarifies but changes nothing. How reasonable is that clarification when it only evokes prejudice to one community? I can personally think of many more clarifications which would sound downright vicious to a specific community yet not change the law or outcomes other than reinforce stereotypes and evoke prejudice.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterization of Hinduism.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely Yours,
Prashant
From: Pavan Gmail
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:01:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Syed Rahman
To: City Council
Subject: Vote YES to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:56:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the Muslim Community of the Bay Area and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

As Muslims, we firmly believe that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and so such a form of discrimination is not acceptable. Additionally, the fascist ideology that promulgates caste discrimination, called "Hindutva", is the same ideology that discriminates against the millions of Muslims in India. It is important for the Council to take a firm stand against this discriminatory ideology by supporting this bill.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Thank you!
From: Bhagawan Kotra
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:52:53 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Rupal Patel
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:52:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Arthi Desai
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:51:23 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Arthi
From: [email protected]
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:50:33 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Krishna
From: V Vaj
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:49:58 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes, given that there is not a single convicted case of caste discrimination in California.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for. Caste discrimination is already protected under the ancestry protected class currently is an existing law.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Vidula Vajramushti
Sent from my iPhone
From: Prachi Sumit Babu
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:49:46 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
From: Preeti Pratima
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:49:42 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
Preeti
A concerned citizen
From: radha dibbur
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:48:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

This bill claims to promote religious freedom and tolerance, however it does the opposite by singling out the Hindu American community. It propagates the harmful and false narrative that caste discrimination is inherent in Hindu teachings. This is simply untrue and an offensive mischaracterisation of Hinduism.

Caste discrimination was outlawed in India over 70 years ago. Here in the United States, Hindu Americans come from all backgrounds, ethnicities and social strata. Writing discrimination into California law where none exists reinforces false stereotypes.

Rather than bringing people together, this bill would promote dangerous stereotyping and unjustly scrutinise an entire community. It goes against the values of inclusion and religious freedom that California strives for.

I urge you to stand up against discrimination by opposing SB 403. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss this further. Thank you for your consideration.

May God Bless America.

Sincerely Yours,
A concerned citizen
Sent from my iPhone
From: Namita Money
To: City Council
Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:47:31 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing on behalf of the California Coalition for Caste Equity and we want to strongly endorse the City of Cupertino to support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as a protected Category. This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste. This bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

By way of background, caste is a system of social stratification where each position is characterized by hereditary status, endogamy, and social exclusion. It impacts over 1.9 billion people in South Asia and 5.7 million South Asian Americans. While caste discrimination is rampant in South Asia, it also exists here in the United States. Data from Equality Labs shows 1 in 4 caste-oppressed people have faced physical and verbal violence, 1 in 3 have faced education discrimination, and 2 out of 3 are impacted by workplace discrimination.

In California, caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work, and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits-- people formerly called "untouchables" by dominant castes--includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

In Cupertino Caste oppressed communities have spoken out about the need for remedy and we urge the city council to support civil and labor rights by voting yes. We know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But we want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association, and Asian American Bar Assocation, Asian Law Caucus, and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must bea addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Counil to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you on this civil rights issue that affects so many.

Sincerely,
Namita
Namita Money
(C): 248-212-1108
From: surila surila
To: City Council; J.R. Fruen; Sheila Mohan; Hung Wei; Liang Chao; Kitty Moore Subject: Vote to support the new state bill SB403 to End Caste Discrimination Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:45:04 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Cupertino City Council Members,
I am writing you to strongly support SB 403 Bill.

City of Cupertino Council Members please support its most vulnerable citizens and add caste as protected Category.

This addition would make Cupertino one of the first cities in California to support the new bill SB403 introduced by State Senator Aisha What (D-Hayward), which would end discrimination on the basis of caste the bill aims to clarify existing California state law and make explicit that discrimination based on caste is illegal.

In California caste discrimination occurs across industries, including technology, education, construction, restaurants, domestic work and medicine. Caste discrimination against Dalits people formerly called “untouchable” by dominant castes includes bullying, harassment, bias, wage theft, sexual harassment, housing discrimination, and even trafficking.

I moved here to be free of caste and live a normal life without any fear. However the caste has followed me here as well in the United States of America.

I know that there are some who would oppose the addition of caste. But I want to assure you that the ACLU, San Francisco Lawyers Committee, South Asian Bar Association and Asian American Bar Association, Asian Law Caucus and hundreds have all weighed in the Caste is a crucial form of anti-asian hate and must be addressed. The only people targeted by the addition of caste would be those that discriminate and we urge the Council to not let fear and fragility stop the flow of civil rights progress.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts please support SB 403 bill to end caste discrimination in the United States of America. It’s a civil rights bill.

Regards,
Kamaljeet Surila
From: Kamlesh Chauhan
To: City Council
Subject: Reg:- 7/18/23 Agenda Item # 13 as we strongly oppose unconstitutional SB403 Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:44:25 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

Dear Council members,
I am writing to urge you to oppose California Senate Bill 403, which would unfairly target and discriminate against Hindu Americans in California.

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