Please Oppose Ceasefire Resolution for Town Council
Mark Solomons <[email protected]>
Wed 5/29/2024 8:35 AM
To:Barbara Coler <[email protected]>;Chance Cutrano <[email protected]>;Lisel Blash <[email protected]>;Stephanie Hellman <[email protected]>;Bruce Ackerman <[email protected]>
Cc:Fairfax Town Council <[email protected]>;Heather Abrams <[email protected]> To the Fairfax Town Council members:
I urge you to oppose putting on the agenda any item related to the Israel/Hamas conflict.
Please realize that even the proposal for a "peace" resolution led to further division in communities.
My last letter on this topic suggested that might be a solution but Santa Cruz’s resolution passed
after 8 hours of debate, leading to angry and violent outbursts in the Council chambers which required
police escort for Jewish citizens.
Fact is, asking the Town to pass a resolution endorsing "a permanent, sustainable and immediate ceasefire,"
essentially allows Hamas, a US recognized TERROR group, to remain in power in Gaza.
As I closed out the zoom meeting last month, I had the horror of attending the Richmond town Council,
which included extreme rhetoric against Israel which met the definition of Antisemitism under the most
widely used definition worldwide, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition.
I know you do not want to bring that debate and vitriol to Fairfax.
Sincerely,
Mark
Mark Solomons
PS - Nearly 90% of Bay Area Jews support Israel's right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state.
Those who are demanding that you adopt a resolution which would preserve Hamas' rule in Gaza do not represent our community.
Mark Solomons
cell: 415.747.7695
[email protected]
Sept 18th, 2022, Governor Newsom signed legislation to equalize and strengthen penalties for using hate symbols.
See video message:
https://twitter.com/CAgovernor/status/1571584269176426497?s=20&t=xdrLUhe-IVUCe7v-DaZzCQ Our Historical Commitment to Safeguard Rights and Freedoms:
"The government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance."
President George Washington, quoting Moses Seixas, Touro Synagogue Public comment for 5/29/24 Fairfax Town Council meeting--keep for records Teliha Draheim <[email protected]>
Wed 5/29/2024 8:40 AM
To:Barbara Coler <[email protected]>;Stephanie Hellman <[email protected]>;Chance Cutrano <[email protected]>;Bruce Ackerman <[email protected]>;Lisel Blash <[email protected]> Cc:Christine Foster <[email protected]>;Heather Abrams <[email protected]> 1 attachments (52 KB)
52924 Ltr. to TC.pdf;
Fairfax Town Council: I am writing to request the attached letter be added to the public comments record for Agenda item #2 during the Fairfax Town Council meeting scheduled for May 29, 2024.
Christine Foster: Can you please confirm receipt of this email and acknowledge that my letter containing public comments on Agenda item #2 will be included in the Agenda Package for the Fairfax Town Council prior to the meeting scheduled for May 29, 2024.
Thank you,
Teliha Draheim
Fairfax: A Town Divided Against Itself
To Mayor Coler and Councilmembers Cutrano, Blash, Hellman and Ackerman, The citizens of Fairfax will be petitioning a third time for the recall of elected town council members, Hellman and Blash, after two prior petitions were rejected by the town attorney due to incorrect wording, which the town wouldn’t clarify.
In an editorial published on 5/15/24, the Marin IJ quoted Mayor Barbara Coler, “The town attorney works for the council. We do not authorize her, nor is she paid for providing legal advice to people that are in our community.” https://www.marinij.com/2024/05/15/editorial-fairfax-recall-push-raises-questions-about-town-policies/ Fairfax Deputy Town Clerk, Christine Foster, refused to explain the reasons as it constituted “legal advice” and reported to the Marin IJ she was not permitted to talk to the press unless questions were pre-screened by the town manager and town attorney.
https://www.marinij.com/2024/05/21/dick-spotswood-fairfax-grapples-with-difference-between-legal-advicegovernmental-service/ At the 5/29/24 Fairfax Town Council meeting there is an agenda item to adopt a resolution to change the status of the Town Clerk from an “elected” position by the people, to an “appointed” position by the Council. Why is the Council trying to make the elected Town Clerk position an appointed position? The Town Clerk is the Fairfax Elections Officer, administers local elections, enforces election laws and Form 700 Conflict of Interest filings, is in charge of Town Records, the minutes for Town Council meetings and handles all Public Records Act requests (PRA). It has been an elected position since 1931.
The citizens of Fairfax have many reasons for a Town Council recall including irresponsible spending, out-of-sync prioritization, overuse of consultants, misrepresentation, failed housing policies and lack of public respect, but obstruction of democracy is at the top of the list.
These obstructionist acts, which reek of authoritarianism, are dividing Fairfax. History has shown that the story being advanced by the current Town Council does not have a happy ending.
A version of this letter has been submitted to the Marin IJ. All eyes are on the Council.
Sincerely,
Teliha Draheim
5/29/24
No to Town Clerk changed from elected to appointed position Cindy Ross <[email protected]>
Wed 5/29/2024 3:00 PM
To:Fairfax Town Council <[email protected]> Two comments re: Special Meeting on Wednesday. May 29, 2024
1. I am opposed to the Town Clerk position surreptitiously being changed from an elected to an appointed meeting (as are many other Fairfax residents). This should not be snuck into a "special" meeting agenda.
2. Though I did not sign, it is my understanding that a number of residents signed a recall petition.
Instead of putting the Town Council's personal agenda into resolutions via "special" meetings, perhaps the recall should also be voted on in the November 5 election.
Thank you.
Cindy Ross