From: p q
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: In honor of free speech.....Special cc mtg
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025 4:09:30 PM
Councilmembers:
It is an excellent idea for the City to consider a mural, funded through private donations, to honor the concept of free speech and those who died for that concept.
Charlie Kirk, Harvey
Milk and Martin Luther King were killed for daring to speak up about their beliefs.
A mural
depicting these brave souls is warranted.
Thank you, Mayor Burns and Councilmembers
Gruel and Williams for bringing this forward.
Pat Quintana
09/23/2025
25-780
From: Paula Shawa
To: [email protected]
Subject: No on a mural to Charlile Kirk
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025 4:37:48 PM
Hello,
This is a no on the proposal to create a mural in Huntington Beach honoring Charlie Kirk. The proposal focuses on a single individual who represented one political party, and as such it is biased. If you were proposing a mural that promoted free speech in general, or advocated against violence of any kind, that would be okay. Sincerely, Paula Shawa From: Emily Schooley
To: [email protected]
Subject: Public Comment
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 8:20:02 AM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important Dear Council Members,
I am writing to express my concern and seek further understanding regarding the possibility of a mural being displayed of Charlie Kirk. I am curious about what direct connection he has with the City of Huntington Beach. While he may have impacted many citizens, it appears he did not have a direct relationship with the city.
I would also like to understand what makes him stand out compared to others who have tragically lost their lives. For example, why are there no murals honoring first responders or former government employees from our city? How is this mural expected to make a positive impact on our community?
To make it clear, I am strongly opposed to this mural. I appreciate your time and look forward to your clarification.
Thank you,
Emily Schooley
From: Jeanne Paris
To: [email protected]
Cc: Burns, Pat; Chad Williams
Subject: Charlie Kirk Memorial/Mural
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025 7:22:19 PM
You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important To the City Council,
Both my husband and I wholeheartedly support this agenda item.
We would be there in support but will be out of town.
Excellent!
Jeanne
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
From: Sue Welfringer
To: [email protected]
Subject: NO on Item 25-780
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025 7:51:12 PM
Dear Mayor & City Council:
This is a big NO for me. I never heard of this person before he was tragically killed. Why should our city honor someone who has had no direct impact on our city?
I would love a mural honoring Diane Dwyer, a huge community volunteer (especially with Assistance League) who passed from breast cancer a few years ago. What a lost to our city!
I would love a mural honoring the Robert Mayer family (Waterfront Hilton/Hyatt in case you don’t know the name!) who has generously supported Huntington Beach charities, in addition to providing jobs and tax revenue for our city for over 30 years.
I would love a mural for the police officer Nick Vella who died tragically while on duty in 2022.
There are several relevant Huntington Beach residents – past and present more deserving of a mural.
To honor free speech, keep your hands off the library.
Even if you are planning to finance without city funds, you are using city staff, paid for by our tax dollars. Stop the waste.
I am sorry for your loss, if this person was an associate or super star to you. Please remember you represent the entire population of Huntington Beach. Count how many residents voted to support the recent special election. In the very least, that is the number of people who have a different opinion about honoring free speech.
I truly am sorry for your loss. Respectfully, I ask that you please focus on true city issues.
Sincerely,
Sue Welfringer
HB Resident since 1997
From: Mary Ann Celinder
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: Kirk mural
Date: Monday, September 22, 2025 8:03:18 PM
I don't care who pays for it, I reject the idea of giving any forum for support of Charlie Kirk.
Yes, he was in favor of free speech, but the views he freely expressed are not the values of at least 1/2 of your city.
Kirk was openly racist, a misogynist, white Christian Nationalist and a bigot. HIs views on guns have been at the heart of the horrible gun violence we see in our schools and public places. Weapons of war should not be available to anyone not on duty in the military.or law enforcement.
To honor this man carries with it the approval of his dark side., Mary Ann Celinder
Celinder's Glass Design
21341 Fleet Lane
Huntington Beach Ca 92646
studio 714 962 8361
cell 714 504 8361
www.customleadedglass.com
From: Pat Goodman
To: [email protected]; CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF) Subject: Special Meeting 9.23.25
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 8:31:35 AM
Dear Mayor Burns and City Council,
Regarding agenda item 25-780, please be sure to include study sessions and town halls in the process for establishing a mural on free speech and to honor Charlie Kirk's memory.
You state that you want to avoid impacts on city reources yet you direct staff to explore this subject and its location. That task in itself will cost the city money and should be reimbursed by such a project. I do have a greave concern of establishing a memorial to a political figure on city property.
Thank you.
Pat Goodman
From: Steven C Shepherd Architect
To: CITY COUNCIL (INCL. CMO STAFF); [email protected] Subject: COUNCIL MEMBER ITEM 25-780
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 8:55:24 AM
When considering free speech in America, an educated mind immediately gravitates toward the icons: James Madison, Justice Oliver Wendell Homes, and Justice Louis Brandeis.
James Madison, as the chief architect of the Bill of Rights, ensured free speech would become a constitutional guarantee for all Americans. He vigorously condemned laws like the Sedition Act of 1798, arguing that suppressing dissent was a fundamental threat to republican government. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., serving on the Supreme Court, shaped the contours of free speech doctrine by establishing the “clear and present danger” test in
Schenck v. United States and later advocating for robust protection of dissenting speech, believing open debate was essential to truth and democracy. Justice Louis Brandeis expanded Holmes’s vision, emphasizing that the remedy for harmful speech was “more speech, not enforced silence.” In decisions and dissents, Brandeis insisted on the necessity of free speech for democratic accountability and individual liberty. Together, their work built the foundation for the First Amendment’s protection of free expression in the United States.
There is an immense difference between those who have done the work to advance and protect Constitutional principles and others who have simply used the protections fought for by others as cover for their own intolerance, divisiveness, and bigotry.
I don’t expect the members of our Huntington Beach City Council to understand this distinct difference, but I felt obliged to point it out prior to the inevitable unanimous vote furthering this misguided use of council time.
Steve Shepherd
Huntington Beach 92646
From: Judy Morris
To: [email protected]
Subject: Ageda Item 25-780
Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 9:25:05 AM
I vehemently oppose the mural in honor of Charlie Kirk in the city of Huntington Beach. He was a racist and used his deceptive “devotion” to God to spread hate speech aimed against vulnerable people. His distorted, limited idea of freedom, which excludes certain people, is touted by the current regime, on the federal and local level.
The HB City council’s idolization of Mr. Kirk and Mr. Trump is not representative of the opinion of all citizens’ of Huntington Beach and no Huntington Beach taxpayer funds should be used to create a mural in honor of Mr. Kirk.
Such a mural may be viewed as an open invitation to further visits to our city by Neo-Nazis. While everyone has the freedom to openly express their views, this will simply creates even more division than you have already achieved within OUR city.
The two hour window to submit a communication for the city council to see prior to this “special” meeting is appalling, and in direct opposition to the idea of free speech, as is your less than three minute limit on public speaking at council meetings.
An alternative to achieve your performative goal is for you to place a bust of Mr. Kirk on the dias along with your bust of Mr. Trump at city council meetings. That should get you the press you need to once again shamelessly promote yourselves.
Your hypocrisy and ability to sew division within our city never ceases to amaze, and disappoint.
Judy Morris
From: Michele Burgess
To: [email protected]
Cc: Burns, Pat; McKeon, Casey; Van Der Mark, Gracey; Williams, Chad; Kennedy, Don; Twining, Butch; Gruel, Andrew
Subject: Agenda Item #25-780, 9/23/2025 City Council special meeting Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 12:55:00 PM
At 2:53 p.m. on Monday, an email arrived in my inbox. Special meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, with a short agenda attached. What could be so urgent that a special meeting is required? Oh look, a Charlie Kirk memorial mural emergency! “Issue Statement: This item proposes consideration of a mural project as an artistic expression honoring the principles of freedom and free speech while memorializing Charlie Kirk. The project is proposed to be funded through private contributions to avoid impact to City resources.” The proposal includes formation of a City Council ad-hoc committee of three council members authorized to identify a suitable location, select the artist(s), and review artwork design, ensuring the project complies with city guidelines.
“Recommended Action: Direct staff to explore the creation of a mural as an artistic expression honoring freedom and free speech, memorializing Charlie Kirk....”
Why does this require a special meeting? Why not put it on the agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting? Indeed, why propose it at all? Most likely, it’s that sponsor Councilman Chad Williams and co-sponsors Councilman Andrew Gruel and Mayor Pat Burns (who frequently limits free speech at City Council meetings to just 60 seconds) know this will be yet another divisive topic. So let’s do it with very short notice, when most people are at work, to make it more difficult to attend and speak against during public comments. Don’t allow enough time to compose and email supplemental communications that would appear in the public record.
Charlie Kirk was a controversial right-wing activist with no direct connection to Huntington Beach. The City Council should not be using city staff (paid with our tax dollars) to work on this, nor should a memorial to Charlie Kirk (under the guise of a mural honoring the principles of freedom and free speech) be placed on any city property. It must be funded by private donations and be on private property (perhaps Calvary Chapel of the Harbour). City Council members should be involved in such a project only as private individuals, not as representatives of our city. We are not all MAGA.
Michele Burgess
Huntington Beach
From: chris macdonald
To: [email protected]
Subject: In agreemance with special city council meeting Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025 2:12:39 PM
Hello Huntington Beach City Council Members and City Clerk Lisa Lane Barnes, I'm in agreemance with Councilman Chad Williams Items to do a Charlie Kirk Plaque.
He deserves it for what he did for the youth in our nation and many here in HB.
Thank You,
Chris MacDonald, Huntington Beach Resident/Native
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