Written Public Comments Received 10-24-2023 — Richmond City Council, October 24, 2023

From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments-Open Forum
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023 3:19:57 PM
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Hello Mayor Martinez, Council Members and Staff,
I AM Submitting the Following Comments Into the Record:

1. For a Future Agenda, The Council Should Consider Inviting Supervisor Gioia and Lisa Motoyama to Present on the Plan To Address Homelessness

2. Also to Have Danny Wan to Present on the Port of Oakland

3. Also to Direct Staff to Work with Chancellor Christ's Office to Schedule a Joint Meeting with UC Berkeley in Spring of 2024
Sincerely
Cordell
From: Alice LoCicero
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments or Agenda Item Q-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:18:22 AM
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Dear Council Members,
Over the course of my career, I have met and talked with hundreds of police officers, screened candidates for police jobs, conducted fitness for duty evaluations, and collaborated with law enforcement in disaster situations. In my conversations with police officers I have learned that they are often burdened by their work, which involves dealing with violence and trauma, and breaking bad news to family members..

Addressing the burdens of the work is important, and it is also important not to add the kind of tasks for which they are not fully prepared, and which can be handled well by others who are specifically trained for those tasks. In other words, people shouldn't be asking the police to solve every single problem in daily life. Some can be solved better by non-police responders.

Richmond has had the foresight and wisdom to create the CCRP. Now it is time to fully fund it, so that it can serve the people of Richmond, and reduce the number of calls that police officers have to respond to, especially calls that do not call on their specific training and skill set.

In order to have a chance for the CCRP to be successful, it needs to be fully funded from the start. It would be sad and ironic if, after all the years of work put into the rollout of this program, it were to be unable to fulfill its mission, thus causing people to be discouraged about it and stop calling.

Best regards,
Alice LoCicero
47 Sandpoint Drive
--
Alice LoCicero, Ph.D., MBA
Board Certified Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Faculty, The Wright Institute
Past President: Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence 2018 Recipient, Anthony J. Marsella Award for Peace and Social Justice www.dralicelocicero.com
alicelocicero.substack.com: Outside Psychology's Overton Window From: Amber Hatfield
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments for Agenda Item Q-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:16:32 AM
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Dear Mayor Martinez and City Council Members:

My name is Amber Hatfield and I have been a resident of Richmond for 8 years in District 3. I would like to thank you for voting to house the Community Crisis Response Program (CCRP) in the Office of Neighborhood Safety in September. Offering people a way to reach out for help with non-violent incidents and mental health issues without involving armed police is an investment in a better future. I firmly believe that we cannot solve the issues facing our communities with guns, violence and incarceration. We must take immediate action to reverse centuries of harm and invest in humane responses that can promote healing and restoration by de-escalating desperate situations.

In considering the financial report presented this evening and the unspent funds for Fiscal Year 2022-2023, I respectfully urge you to fully embrace the success of the CCRP by allocating $2M to the program. This funding will be vital to fully support the organization and implementation of the program. Financially supporting this program in a significant way in the beginning will fully pay off as our communities begin to heal and grow stronger.

Thank you for helping our community to take the next step toward a proactive approach to public safety with a significant funding allocation to build a strong program.

Sincerely,
Amber Hatfield
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
| Race: white | Land: Ohlone
From: Cordell Hindler
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments- Q.1 Budget Session
Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023 3:29:42 PM
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Hello Mayor Martinez, Council Members and Staff,
I AM Requesting That the Council to Adopt The Proposed Year End Adjustments as Presented by Staff Sincerely
Cordell
From: Marilyn Alwan
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Agenda item R1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 5:15:52 PM
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Dear Mayor Martinez and Council Members,
I applaud your resolution supporting the caged people of Gaza who are subjected to relentless
Israeli bombardment and genocidal policies sadly
financed from American tax payers. I’m sure the residents of Richmond would rather keep these billions of dollars used to kill Palestinians at home to finance much needed projects for people here.

That one party (Israel) has the power to cut off water, food, and energy to 2.3 million people should tell people which side has the power to suffocate and wipe out the
other. People seems to forget why there is a “Strip” in Gaza. The city of Gaza was a 5,000 -year -old
prosperous metropolis but in the 1948 Nakba, Israel
forcibly transferred several hundred thousand
Palestinians from their homes to Gaza City and a small area around it and created an artificial barrier to cage them into a “Strip.” At present 75% of the people in Gaza are refugees. They cannot leave.

I wish to share 2 important videos
(1) An Irish Parliamentarian 5-minutes speech that
summarizes the hypocrisy and moral cowardice of
supporters of Apartheid Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7fMYRJpglM
(2) A very timely lecture by renowned Israeli
historian Ilan Pappe that NorCal Sabeel co-
sponsored with several departments and groups at U C
Berkeley last Thursday October 19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OcjOP8iUCU
I appreciate the Richmond City council leadership in
passing this important resolution.

Thank you.

Marilyn Alwan
1420 5th Street
Alameda, CA 94501
Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza From: Hameed Mohammed
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: public comments agenda item # R. 1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:54:11 PM
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Hi, my name is Aleem
and I'm a resident of Woodland CA
I want to thank the Council for this brave and necessary act of solidarity.

Richmond's Asian immigrant and refugee communities stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. I hope it inspires other city councils to follow suit.

Thank you for your continued commitment Anti-semitism
We believe that all people deserve access to clean air and water, to feel safe walking around their neighborhoods.

This includes the people of Gaza.

Israel's attacks on Gaza are a form of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment of civilians - a war crime.

We have the power to call on our government to put a stop to the war crimes of the Israeli government. The people of Richmond have to lift our voices together and stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

From: Al M
To: Eduardo Martinez; Melvin Willis; Gayle McLaughlin; Claudia Jimenez; Doria Robinson; Cesar Zepeda; Soheila Bana; City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment, Agenda Item # R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond"s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:22:36 AM
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Dear Mayor Martinez and City Council Members:

I would like to offer my full support for the Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza.

A few days ago, I wrote a short letter in regards to the inhumane situation in Gaza. I would like to include this letter here to explain some of the reasons why I am in support of this Resolution. The letter goes as follows:

In the last 2 weeks:
·
In Palestine, over 4,385 people were killed and over 13,500 wounded. · Over 1000 people were killed in the Al-Ahli hospital airstrike in Gaza. · Over 2000 children were killed in Gaza by Israeli attacks. · IDF airstrike hits team of first responders in Gaza. · IDF strikes 200 targets in Gaza’s Al-Furqan neighborhood. · At least 24 UN humanitarian sites were damaged by Israeli bombing. · Humanitarian offices of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have been completely destroyed and 5 of their members killed. 11 of UNRWA humanitarian workers were also killed in IDF airstrikes. ·
Israel hits UN school on Tuesday, taking the lives of at least 18 civilians who had come to find shelter from the bombings.
·
The port of Gaza has also been bombed repeatedly.
· Thursday night, Israel bombed Saint Porphyrius, the Greek orthodox church in Gaza that was sheltering displaced people. We don’t have yet the exact number of dead and injured people.
·
Israel hits Gaza-Egypt border checkpoints as civilians flee.

On Monday, Russia, China, the UAE, Gabon and Mozambique voted in favor of a cease-fire in Gaza. The US, UK, France and Japan voted against. The US, UK and France are among the NATO countries arming Israel who is currently bombing 2.5 million people in Gaza, half of whom are children.

Apart from the US and its NATO allies who refuse to call for an international investigation, the whole world has no doubt about who bombed the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza. All documents presented by IDF have been rebutted by international analysts. In fact, some of them have been studied by experts and they point to IDF, not Hamas, as responsible for the bombing of the hospital.

In Gaza, surgical operations are being done without anesthesia, because there is none left.

Doctors and surgeons are performing surgeries on the floor, because there are no spaces left where they can perform surgery. People in Gaza are being bombed everywhere: churches, hospitals, schools. Entire residential areas are completely destroyed. It’s beyond imagination.

As of now, only 20 trucks with food and medical supplies were able to enter Gaza. If the hundreds of trucks carrying humanitarian aid and still waiting at the Egyptian border are not let into Gaza now, the level of death and suffering in this already devastated enclave will surpass anything that we’ve seen in the last several decades. And Western leaders are supposed to provide cover for this? We are supposed to agree to this?

The Israeli Defense Minister proclaimed at the beginning of this “defensive” attack that all rules were out. He lifted all restrictions that might protect what he called “human animals,” which basically means that Israel is exempt from international humanitarian law. It’s now ok to commit war crimes.

This is personal for Netanyahu, Biden, Hunter and some of their associates, as they might go to jail if Biden doesn’t win the next Presidential election. But it’s also very personal for the peoples in the Middle East, and they are ready to give their lives. They already have and will continue to do so. Two US carriers are in Lebanon to stop counter-attacks from Hezbollah, but it’s not working because, a couple of nights ago was the toughest night for the US military at the border between Palestine and Lebanon. 2 US air bases, Ain al-Asad and al-Harir, in Iraq were bombed, and there are attacks on the oil fields where the US occupation are stationed.

In other words, US forces in Syria, Iraq and the Red Sea are increasingly under militant attacks

We can see now that the US is getting weaker in many parts of the world and US hegemony is on the decline. This has a direct impact on the Palestine-Israel conflict—the US being Israel’s biggest ally and funding entity in the world. What is happening in Gaza is a direct consequence of this shift in global power dynamics. And the Arab states’ response is also a consequence of this shift.

As for the mainstream media and their reporting of the conflict, MSNBC suspended three Muslim anchors: Mehdi Hasan, Ayman Mohieddine and Ali Velshi. Those three journalists have experience in Middle Eastern affairs and history. Whether or not you agree with Mehdi Hasan, the point is that Western media go to incredible length to silence opposition and misinform the public. It’s not ok to have a Palestinian flag in Great Britain but it’s ok to applaud a Nazi at the Canadian parliament.

It is appalling that the Western governments are telling the non-Western world that they, the West, are a bulwark against authoritarianism, the great defenders of democracy when in fact, the Western powers with the US as their leader have become the epitome of authoritarian behavior.

When you cut water and electricity, when you constantly bomb civilian neighborhoods, humanitarian shelters, hospitals, schools and other civilian shelters, when you close borders preventing people from fleeing a war zone, this is a genocide under the pretext of self- defense.

For Biden, “This is the opportunity of the century: let’s go after Iran.” I guess the war in Ukraine, deindustrialization of Europe, and huge mess in Taïwan are not enough for the current US Administration: they also want to go to war against Iran. And on top of the $112 billion Congress already allocated to Ukraine, Biden wants the US tax payers to agree to an additional $61.4 billion to Ukraine and $105 billion aid package for Israel. What kind of a peaceful democratic world are we talking about here?
Thank you,
Alix Mazuet

To accuse Israel of ethnic cleansing is fundamentally untrue and inaccurate. Israel's actions do not fall under the umbrella of expelling or forcibly removing groups of people in order to create a homogenous society. Many Arabs live in Israel, with equal treatment under the law and full rights of citizenship. There is no Israeli movement that is aimed at exterminating or expelling the Palestinian population from Gaza. Israeli's presence in Gaza is for security purposes, for when Israel tried to exit the area and return control of it to the Palestinian people, a terrorist organization was allowed to move in and control it. Israel must be allowed to defend its people from terrorist threats. And to suggest that Israel's response to the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas is ethnic cleansing is again, wildly inaccurate.

The Israeli military gave the Palestinian people days of warning before moving in to Gaza, in the hopes that as many civilians as possible could get out. However, Hamas would not let the Palestinian people leave. Additionally, the neighboring countries would not open their borders to those Palestinians who did get out until very recently. Yet somehow this all adds up to Israel committing ethnic cleansing? Hamas is the group whose sole purpose is to rid the world of Jews. It is in their charter and they do not hide that information. Why are they not being accused of genocide or ethnic cleansing? Why is the fight not to free Palestine from Hamas but instead to punish Israel for fighting back against the most deadly attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust?

This resolution will do nothing but incite the antisemitism that has already grown too loud in this country. This resolution will do nothing but turn more citizens against the Jewish people.

This resolution will do nothing but cause Jewish children and families to be frightened that they will be hated, yelled at, and seen as "other" by society.

YOU CANNOT PASS THIS RESOLUTION. IT SIMPLY MAKES NO LOGICAL SENSE WHEN LOOKING AT THE FACTS. IT WILL ONLY HARM THE COMMUNITY, BOTH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

From: Anna Henry
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: public comments agenda item #R.1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 8:08:31 AM
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My name is Anna and I am reaching out to express gratitude and support for Richmond City Council's consideration of the Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza. The ethnic cleansing that is being carried out by the apartheid state of Israel against the people of Gaza will not stop unless people stand up and demand an end to the violence. Too many children, women and men have been murdered and the living are surviving off of a rapidly declining source of water, food and shelter. This is a humanitarian emergency. I urge the City Council to take up this resolution and stand with the people of Gaza. Stand up for life. Stand up for dignity. Stand up to end Islamophobia and anti- semitism. Stand up against apartheid. Stand up and let the US government know that we do not consent to providing military support for ethnic cleansing, and we know those resources could go so far as investments into our communities. As leaders, it is the least you can do.

From: Beth Painter
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 8:26:58 AM
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PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS
Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

Among its many glaring shortcomings, the proposed resolution fails to mention that this conflict started after Hamas terrorists murdered 1,400 innocent Israeli citizens and foreign nationals. In addition, the resolution text falsely accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment, while offensively referencing the Holocaust to condemn Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks.

In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks our local Jewish community is feeling unsafe and scared, and this resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling. Instead of sowing division, I am asking City Council to condemn all forms of hate and take steps to support all residents with loved ones in the region.

Beth Painter
From: Carol Hegstrom
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: ublic Comments, Agenda Item R.1.

Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 11:35:01 AM
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The resolution in item R-1 is problematic for a number of reasons and should not go forward. First, the conflict in the middle east is a foreign policy issue and beyond the city council's realm of expertise or duties. Second, it purports to speak for the residents of Richmond, but it clearly does not. Although I support the Palestinian people, the issue is complicated and many of us have mixed feelings. Resolution R.1 is one-sided and inflammatory, and therefore I cannot support it.

Carol Hegstrom
Richmond Resident
From: David Kafton
To: City Clerk Dept User
Cc: David Kafton
Subject: Agenda Item R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 1:00:50 PM
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To: Richmond City Council Members

Agenda Item R-1

RE: Resolution concerning the Current War in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank

I am a Richmond resident, 81 years old, and of Jewish heritage.

I totally oppose this Resolution as it is full of falsehoods and is misdirected.

Passing this Resolution will only incentivize the HAMAS NAZI terrorists and others like them.

Consequently, you will be adding to the suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza & the West Bank for decades.

I have been a strong supporter of the Richmond Progressive Alliance and have been a member since we moved here four years ago.

I assure you I will resign my membership if any councilmember votes for this resolution.

I will also work to defeat the Richmond Progressive Alliance in future elections.

The person or persons or wrote this resolution is not interested in helping Palestinians in Gaza or the West Bank.

They support the goals of the Palestinian Dictatorships to KILL ALL THE JEWS & DESTROY ISRAEL.

The Palestinian Dictators have been systematically causing the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan for 75 years and counting.

But not a word of complaint from anyone.

In contrast, Israel is a thriving diverse pluralistic democracy where everyone has full civil and human rights including 1.6 million Palestinian citizens, 20% of Israel's population. This is the equivalent of 66 million Palestinians living in the United States, more than Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians.

Israel closely adhere to the Geneva Conventions and other International Laws applicable to war.

The HAMAS NAZIS do not conform to the laws of war. They continue to commit WAR CRIMES & CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

The HAMAS NAZIS use children, women, & the elderly as HUMAN SHIELDS. They readily admit it. They place their fighters, their munitions, & rockets inside, underneath, and adjacent to hospitals, schools, mosques, and residential buildings.

I suggest you consider a new resolution directed at the HAMAS NAZIS and their supporters:

1. Stop using the Palestinians as HUMAN SHIELDS

2. Stop shooting missiles at civilians in Israel.

3. Stop killing Israeli civilians.

4. Stop taking for you own use billions of aid dollars meant for the Palestinian people for our food, water, sewage, electricity, medical supplies, infrastructure, and rebuilding. This has led to to tremendous suffering for the past 18 years.

5. Stop using these billions of dollars for purchasing weapons and building hundred of miles of tunnels and for enriching yourselves with lavish mansions in Gaza.

6. Let at least all women and children under12 years old leave Gaza, temporarily, so we'll be safe. (1.8 million people could leave).

Sincerely,

David Kafton

From: John Henstrand
To: Eduardo Martinez; Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Doria Robinson; [email protected]; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis; City Clerk Dept User
Subject: agenda item R-1: Vote No on the resolution -- draft new language Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 5:09:45 PM
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I am a Jewish Progressive who resides in Contra Costa and volunteers on equity issues through my interfaith work, service on the Measure X Advisory Board and as an active member of many diverse coalitions. Speaking in my individual capacity, I urge you to vote NO on Resolution 1 and focus your efforts on drafting a unifying message supporting all of Richmond's community members impacted by the war and supporting efforts for peace.

As written, the current Proclamation is completely one-sided, uses controversial and inflammatory language such as references to genocide, the holocaust, ethnic cleansing, apartheid. This type of language is used by Hamas, the terrorist organization who governs Gaza, who raped, tortured, killed and kidnapped Israeli citizens. There is no mention at all of the atrocities committed by Hamas that started this recent conflict, nor the role that others such as Hamas and Egypt, in addition to the far right government in Israel, played in the deplorable conditions those in Gaza now find themselves.

People are not their governments. The Palestinians in Gaza are not Hamas. Nor are Israelis and Jewish Americans their governments. It is not so simple as "Free Palestine" or "I Stand with Israel." The language in the Proclamation sets up false dichotomies that only serve to divide people.

I personally believe that REGARDLESS OF HISTORY Jewish and Arab peoples live in the Middle East NOW and both have the right to their own sovereign government, to enjoy freedom and to live in peace.

As leaders, you have a responsibility to support all members of your community. I was in tears last night reading the words of the proposed proclamation. I have had progressives tell me that the civilians in Israel who were massacred deserved it because they were "settlers" and "colonizers." My 23andMe information was hacked along with others of Jewish heritage by someone who wants to sell it so now I fear we may be attacked here in our own home. I will not be attending the meeting this afternoon, nor even speak at it because I honestly am too afraid that it would make me a target.

I am so anxious and fearful for my community, myself and my family, that I do not sleep at night. Your Jewish community is hurting. We feel alone and abandoned by many people we considered allies. I urge you to support ALL who are hurting right now in your community and not adopt a Proclamation that could even potentially incite more violence.

Diana Honig
From: E. Hamburger
To: Eduardo Martinez; Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Cesar Zepeda; Doria Robinson; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis
Cc: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item R-1, Scheduled for October 24, 2023 Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 4:00:01 PM
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I strongly encourage you to Vote Against Resolution R-1 This resolution does NOT advance peace, in fact, it will exacerbate violences against civilian jews and civilian palestinians, alike. I can say this with certainty given the nearby hate violence that has already occurred in the last 3 weeks toward both populations. Neither of these two civilian populations are to blame. The international disorder in Israel and the occupied territories can be blamed on political dogma, politicians' ego, and the belief of radical terrorists and extremists.

I welcome a thoughtful conversation and advancement of a strategy for Peace. This resolution, in blaming and name calling one side of the issue is an act of misinformation and will lead to violence and more bloodshed in Richmond and its neighbors.

I pray that you vote for Peace, NOT for Resolution R-1.

Thank you for your consideration,
Eliron Hamburger
From: Beth Jerde
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments Item #R1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 7:22:46 AM
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Please note that I support Mayor Martinez and Vice Mayor McLaughlin in their letter of support for the people of Gaza.

Elizabeth Jerde
Created for Joy
I sometimes forget
that I was created for Joy.

My mind is too busy.

My Heart is too heavy
for me to remember
that I have been
called to dance
the Sacred dance of life.

I was created to smile
To Love
To be lifted up
And to lift others up.

O’ Sacred One
Untangle my feet
from all that ensnares.

Free my soul.

That we might
Dance
and that our dancing
might be contagious.
~Hafiz
From: Eunice Trumble
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Fwd: Agenda R.1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:32:54 PM
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Please include this version as I made a grammar correction. Thank you.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Eunice Trumble <[email protected]>
Date: October 24, 2023 at 11:24:12 PM PDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda R.1

Hello,
Please include my comments in the supplemental minutes. Thank you.

Accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing and not likewise condemning Hamas, the governing body of Gaza, for torturing, mutilating, killing, and burning alive civilians, including babies, children, and the elderly is divisive. Using the words “Never Again,” reminiscent of the Holocaust, when Hamas’ charter calls for wiping Jews off the face of the earth is hypocritical, divisive, and offensive. Adding a one-sentence disclaimer that Richmond will fight anti-semitism is simply inadequate. Thank god you finally acknowledged the victims on both sides. You can see by the reaction in the chamber, that you had to shut down, that you have sowed dissension that divides our population.

You should not be taking sides. Cesar Zepeda, as far as I know, is the only councilmember working actively to heal the wounds on both sides by working with Muslim and Jewish leaders toward unity. You should take a page from him on how to include all stakeholders. Thank you Cesar as well as Shawn Dunning, John Ritterman, and John Gioia.

From: Faryal Arif
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: City council meeting resolution R.1 comment
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 6:46:09 PM
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I write to urge the city council to pass the resolution R.1 to support Palestinian people, to stand up for humanity, peace and justice. No one should have to bear witness to thousands of children being massacred and starved. Please be on the right side of history.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Gail Eierweiss
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public comments on Agenda Item R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:39:07 PM
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Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am writing because I strongly oppose Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 as written. To me, it is tone deaf, inflammatory and inappropriate for our City to support. Specifically, as written, the resolution characterizes the current situation without ever mentioning the role of Hamas’s terrorism against Israeli non combatants as a starting point for this particular wave of injustice and brutality on both sides. This omission, and the inflammatory language, is not only unhelpful, it is triggering to Jewish people because of its intentional lack of empathy to Israeli Jews. As written, it is a call to action to support hate, rather than clearly and urgently supporting a cease fire , a return of the hostages, adequate humanitarian aid and a demand to respect and protect noncombatants on both sides. In my opinion, we should also be speaking up for meaningful work on a political solution that recognizes the rights and the needs of the Palestinian and the Israeli peoples both to be recognized for their right to have a choice to live their lives in States that do not infringe on each other’s right to exist.

Sent from my iPhone
From: Garry Hurlbut
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: City Council Meeting tonight - Public Comment on item R.1 - Resolution Affirming Richmond"s Suport and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 1:11:34 PM
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This resolution only provides support for the Palestinian people of Gaza and the suffering that they are going through. It should support all the innocent civilians on either side of this conflict that have been or will be impacted by this conflict. This includes the non-terrorist Palestine civilians and the Israeli civilians/families that have been impacted by the horrific acts by Hamas on October 7th.

Garry Hurlbut
--
Garry Hurlbut
President and Executive Director
Richmond Tennis Association (RTA)
510-547-8111
Check out "news and events" on http://www.rta-ca.org
Like us on https://facebook.com/richmondtennisca
From: Hameed Mohammed
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Re: public comments agenda item # R. 1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 2:31:26 PM
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*thank you for your continued commitment against Anti-semitism On Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 12:53 PM Hameed Mohammed <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi, my name is Aleem
and I'm a resident of Woodland CA
I want to thank the Council for this brave and necessary act of solidarity.

Richmond's Asian immigrant and refugee communities stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine. I hope it inspires other city councils to follow suit.

Thank you for your continued commitment Anti-semitism
We believe that all people deserve access to clean air and water, to feel safe walking around their neighborhoods. This includes the people of Gaza.

Israel's attacks on Gaza are a form of ethnic cleansing and collective punishment of civilians - a war crime.

From: Iris Karsh
To: Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Cesar Zepeda; Doria Robinson; Gayle McLaughlin; City Clerk Dept User Subject: No on anti Israel proposition
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 12:58:00 PM
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To the Richmond City Officials -
I am a resident of Contra Costa County and have come to learn about the resolution affirming Richmond’s Support and Solidarity of Gaza and the Palestinian people.

Hamas is the government running Gaza. If you stand with Gaza and the Palestinian people you are standing with a government of terrorists. This is the same thing as backing ISIS after 9/11. We can not and must not stand behind terrorist organizations in this county and country. As we are the UNITED States of America we need to be UnIted in our stance.

Please kindly reject this propaganda resolution.

Thank you,
Iris Karsh
Sent from my iPhone
From: Isabella Silverman
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment - Agenda Item R.1, 10/24/23
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 3:02:19 PM
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Dear City Clerk,
Can you please include this in the public comment for Agenda Item R.1? Thank you.

Isabella
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Isabella Silverman <[email protected]
>
Date: Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 2:57 PM
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)
To: Eduardo Martinez <[email protected] >,
<[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, Melvin Willis <[email protected]> Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am a Richmond resident and writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

This is a biased and antisemitic resolution at its very core. No one is fooled by the disclaimer at the end vowing to condemn antisemitism when it is complete contrary to the statements in the resolution. And the reference to the holocaust is completely disrespectful. Israel is not committed to ethnic cleansing and trying to eradicate Palestinians; they are trying to end the terror inflicted on Israel’s and Jews by their government - the terrorist group, Hamas. Those are two very different things and you are conflating them and the very definition of ethnic cleansing.

Why does Israel have to constantly defend defending itself from ethnic cleansing — the stated goal of Hamas?
The attack by Hamas on October 7th was the largest ethnic cleansing of Jews since the Holocaust. And you don't even recognize it? In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks our local Jewish community is feeling unsafe and scared, and this resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling. Instead of sowing division, I am asking the City Council to condemn all forms of hate and take steps to support all residents with loved ones in the region.

Please table this item and if you feel compelled to write something, please have the Human Rights Commission take the time to write a statement that promotes unity, inclusivity and peace. This council will not solve any aspect of this crisis and as such a resolution (which calls for solutions) is wholly inappropriate.

Thank you.

Isabella
From: James Rowen
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: e comment for 10/24
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 10:40:45 AM
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My name is James Rowen, 766 7th St.
i am writing with a number of concerns about this resolution in support of the "Palestinian Peopke in Gaza"
Israel was established by a resolution of the United States and the Soviet Union. Since then, it has been attacked, terrorized, suffered the slaughter of its Olympic Team.

The latest surprise attack resulted in the loss of thousands. 9/11 was carried out as punishment for American support for Israel. Israel has complied with all international conferences. Where is the resolution in support of the people of Israel? There is no group that has suffered organized government holocausts to such magneitude as the Jews.

It goes on and on.

Consider the fact Israel is a democracy.

Thank you.

From: Jane Kemp
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Response to the Mayor and Vice Mayor"s Antisemitic Manifesto Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 10:58:09 PM
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My name is Jane Kemp. I am a former resident of East Richmond Heights, now living in El Cerrito. My family and I are members of Temple Beth Hillel, and I serve on their board. My family volunteers at GRIP during the holidays.

Eduardo Martinez and Gayle McLaughlin are the mayor and vice mayor of Richmond, a lovely and vibrant city with a long history of domestic issues that should be first and foremost in these elected official's agendas. Instead, they have instead chosen to squander their constituents valuable time and tax dollars by co-writing an ignorant, vile, one-sided, incendiary "Pro-Palestinian" proclamation condemning Israel, never once mentioning Hamas and all their atrocities, that is riddled with so much misinformation I'm not sure it would get a passing grade from a high school history teacher.

In writing this "vanity project" they did not consider if it would benefit the citizens of Richmond, the very people who elected them. They did not seek out expert information, except maybe from Tik Tock, Instagram, Facebook, and a few memes. They have never once reached out to Rabbi Dean Kertesz, at Temple Beth Hillel, the only synagogue in Richmond. They certainly didn't consider the safety ramifications of publishing something this hateful would have on Richmond's Jewish and Israeli constituents, Jewish colleagues, Jewish business owners, and Jewish synagogues. My family shops in Richmond. Our doctors and dentist are in Richmond. I buy my coffee and gas in Richmond. Do I now need to hide my star of David necklace for my own safety when I go to the grocery store or get my teeth cleaned? Or visit our favorite Richmond restaurants? It makes me so angry because this is now something I have to consider!
Most telling to me was that Eduardo Martinez and Gayle McLaughlin never shared their hate filled vanity piece on any of their social media platforms. Instead they chose to hide behind the city of Richmond's government seal and preach this new "woke" form of antisemitism, or as Gayle calls it Progressive Politics.

Eduardo Martinez and Gayle McLaughlin are welcome to their own opinions - I'm certainly not going to challenge that - but this hate needs to stay away from Richmond's municipal government and stop diverting valuable time and attention from what they were actually elected to do by the citizens of Richmond - city government, not foreign policy! Or, they can go back to grad school, get the proper degree and effect actual change at the diplomatic level.

Richmond deserves focused leadership that is willing to serve the entire community, not just their own special interests. I am so disgusted that this is happening in our community! Thank you for reading this.

Jane Kemp
From: Jason Jungreis
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Please circulate this email to each member of the City Council -- Thanks! Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023 11:25:03 PM
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Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am a not a Richmond resident but I am a concerned Bay Area resident and writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks our local Jewish community is feeling unsafe and scared, and this resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling. Instead of sowing division, I am asking the City Council to condemn all forms of hate and take steps to support all residents with loved ones in the region.

For a necessary historical context, consider the following:
100 years ago, with 2 billion people living in the world, there were 15 million Jews, and no Jewish country. Today, in part because the Holocaust wiped out 40% of the entire Jewish population and led to the depopulation of Jews from virtually all of Europe and all of the Middle East where they’d lived for millennia, there is one Jewish country, Israel. The land of Israel is the ancestral home of Jews, and retains a permanent Jewish presence dating back thousands of years. But moreover, it had already become the new home of hundreds of thousands of Jews who began returning there starting in the 1870s, to a then-sparsely populated, undesirable locale. Israel was in the process of becoming a Jewish state prior to the Holocaust.

Today, there are still only 15 million Jews in the world. Half of them live in Israel. For context, there are now 8 billion people in the world, including 2 billion Muslims and 50 Muslim-majority countries (31 cite Islam as their national religion), and there are 2.4 billion Christians and 108 Christian-majority countries (34 cite Christianity as their national religion). [1]
For generations, Jews and Arabs lived in the area widely known as Gaza. The Gaza Strip is 25 miles north-south and about 6 miles east-west, running along the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt and Israel. It was long controlled by Egypt, but was ceded by Egypt to Israel after the 1967 War. In 1993, pursuant to the Oslo Accords and its promise of a two-state permanent peace plan, Israel granted its governance to the Palestinian Authority (which has always been led by the Fatah party).
[2]

In 1967, the population of Gaza was 394,000. Today, its population is 2.1 million. That population growth rate is among the highest in the world. Half of its population is under 20, which is also among the highest rate in the world.

About half of the population is unemployed.
[3]

The Jews of Gaza regularly suffered terrorist attacks. But beginning in the 1980s and continuing for decades, attacks by Palestinians against Jews in Gaza rose to become a massive issue. In a huge gamble unilaterally taken by Israel in 2005, Israel forcibly removed all Jews from Gaza, with the hope that the Palestinians, without the presence of Jews as a catalyst for unrest, would shift their focus to improving their lives. In furtherance of its hope for better neighbors, Israel allowed tens of thousands of Gazans into Israel to work, and allowed Gazans into Israel for medical treatment.

Yet, rather than inducing peace, Israel’s gamble led to the opposite result. In 2006, a democratic election was conducted. The majority of Gazans voted not for Fatah, the mainstream Palestinian political party, but instead voted for Hamas. Hamas’ position, since its founding in the 1980s, at the time of the 2006 election, and today, is solely focused on the death of all Israelis, and the death of all Jews everywhere, through Palestinian martyrdom. [4]
Since 2006, Hamas has been the aggressor in mass terrorist assaults against the Israeli people -- not the Israeli military, but the Israeli people -- on a nonstop basis. Not one year has passed without rockets fired from Gaza at Israeli civilians. Identified wars, involving hundreds and thousands of rockets and infiltrations into Israel, occurred in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, and 2022, but at no time has there been any substantial period of more than a few months when Hamas did not work to murder Israeli civilians. [5]
Hamas is financially, militarily, and logistically supported by Iran. It is financially supported by Qatar. It receives support from Turkey. [6]
But while Hamas is often viewed as a proxy for Iran, it is its own entity, and representative of the majority of Gazans.

The wars between Hamas and Israel are known as “asymmetrical.” This is because Hamas operates without rules and expressly aims to murder civilians, while Israel has thus far constrained itself to operate at a higher standard than the rules of war require. Digging deeper into this asymmetrical warfare necessitates a fuller understanding of the realities.

In order to understand the situation, four subjects must be addressed: Israel’s efforts to make peace with the Palestinians; the Geneva Conventions’ description of legitimate military (versus terrorist) operations; the Hamas Charter; and, Israel’s military responses to date.

Regarding efforts at peace between Israel and the Palestinians, solely Israel has made efforts at peace, has made difficult compromises for peace, and has suffered for having made efforts at peace. Israel has offered a two-state solution, and the Palestinians have rejected those offers, without counteroffer, on ten occasions:
1947: UN General Assembly partition proposal (UNGAR 181) -- rejected. 1949: Israel's offer for peace (UNGAR 194) -- rejected. 1967: Israel's offer for peace (UNSCR 242) -- rejected. 1978: Begin/Sadat peace proposal -- rejected (except by Egypt). 1994: Rabin/Hussein peace agreement -- rejected (except by Egypt). 1995: Rabin's Contour-for-Peace plan -- rejected.
2000: Barak/Clinton peace offer -- rejected.
2001: Barak’s Taba peace offer -- rejected.
2008: Olmert/Bush peace offer -- rejected.
2014: Kerry's Contour-for-Peace plan -- rejected.

In the interests of peace, Israel has withdrawn from Egypt, from Lebanon, from Gaza, and from parts of the West Bank. Despite promises, the Palestinians have never made similar efforts. With little exception, Israel has abided by the 1993 Oslo Accords, which granted Palestinian autonomy over Gaza and the majority of the West Bank. [7]
The Palestinians have done virtually nothing to abide by the Oslo Accords. In fact, the Palestinians responded to the Oslo Accords by launching an Intifada that murdered over 1000 Israeli civilians throughout Israel, often through suicide bombings of public buses.

Regarding the 1949 Geneva Conventions, Part II, Article 28 states “The presence of a protected person [i.e., a civilian] may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.” The Geneva Conventions First Protocol, Article 51, states “The civilian population shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited [including] those which are not directed at a specific military objective [ex: against civilians] [and] those which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific military objective [ex: untargeted rockets]. The presence of the civilian population shall not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations, in particular in attempts to shield military objectives from attacks or to shield, favor or impede military operations.”
[8]
Regarding the Hamas charter, as part of the Muslim Brotherhood, it states the following: the Koran is its Constitution; it seeks to conquer every inch of Palestine; all Jews are to be killed; it advocates death for the sake of Allah; it expressly denies the possibility of negotiated settlement; it demands every Palestinian fight and die seeking to conquer Palestine; it expressly makes no difference between enemies that are men, women, children, or old people; it casts many horrible slanders against all Jews; and, it calls on all Muslims to liberate Palestine. To be clear, Palestine is always referred to by Hamas as the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, which is a general description of Israel. Hamas has always expressly rejected a two-state solution with Israel. [9]
Regarding Israel’s response to date, it has consistently tried to only attack Hamas leaders and terrorists, despite the fact that they hide in, attack from, and store weapons in populated areas. Hamas primarily operates out of the densely-populated Gaza City. Despite extraordinary efforts that eclipse those ever seen in any other military engagement, it is unavoidable that Israel strikes against Hamas sometimes hits Gazans. Israeli forces call off attacks when there are civilians in the area. When there are terrorists in a populated building, they “knock” on the building by hitting it with non-explosives in order to alert civilians. The Israeli army has literally called people on the phone in buildings where there are terrorists in order to encourage them to escape. [10]
All of these actions are over and above the requirements found in the Geneva Conventions.

In the 2023 attack against Israeli civilians, Hamas terrorists murdered over 1400 Israelis. They murdered hundreds at a dance party. They murdered hundreds in small communities, where they shot, burnt, and beheaded their victims, including babies in their cribs. They simultaneously fired thousands of rockets into dozens of Israel cities, including Israel’s major cities of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. [11]

Since the formation of Israel, approximately 5,000 Israeli civilians have been murdered by Palestinian terrorists. [12]
For the population of the U.S., that is equivalent to having approximately 200,000 American civilians murdered by terrorists. While Israel is a modern society, with no interest in a war because it understands that almost anything is better than war and it has focused its energies on its amazing self-improvement in the fields of agriculture, technology, biology, and the arts, Israel has no alternative but to defend itself.

We know that Hamas won the sole popular election in Gaza. But how do Gazans feel about Hamas? On the one hand, we know from some first-person accounts that there is anger and frustration at Hamas. [14]
Palestinians have
received vastly more money than any other group in the history of the world, totaling well over $25 billion, [15]
and Gaza has received billions in aid, much of which Hamas is demonstrated to have stolen. [16]
Many Gazans would like to
leave Gaza.
[17]
But what do the majority of Gazans think about Hamas? In 2006, Gazans elected Hamas 76-43 over Fatah. [18]
There have been no elections in Gaza since that time.

Yet, we know how Gazans feel through regular polling (as well as polling of West Bank Palestinians and of Arab-Israelis). In the most recent poll conducted July 2023, a 57% majority of Gazans expressed a positive opinion of Hamas (along with a 52% of West Bank Palestinians, and a very worrying 64% of Arab-Israelis). [19]
These figures are consistent with long-term polling (specific polling questions are sometimes different from poll to poll).

Going back over the course of Hamas’ reign, it has always received the positive opinion of Gazans, and for the terrorism it perpetrates: in the past ten years, we find the following:
2014: A majority of Gazans support Hamas, support terrorism against Israel, and support firing rockets into Israel from populated areas. [20]

2016: A majority of Gazans support Hamas, support terrorism against Israel, and support terrorism over peace negotiations. [21]
2018: A majority of Gazans support Hamas, support terrorism against Israel, and believe a two-state solution is dead. [22]
2020: A wide majority of Gazans support Hamas over any other faction. [23]
2022: A wide majority of Gazans support Hamas over any other faction, and a wide majority believe that the Koran prophesizes the near-term demise of Israel. [24]

Each time Hamas has launched a major attack on Israel, there are three results. First, Gazans appear sympathetically on camera at the sites of Israel’s self-defense strikes where Hamas maintains and fires its weapons in the midst of civilian population centers (importantly, unlike in Israel where journalists are able move unfettered, the journalists in Gaza are escorted and can only go where Hamas takes them, and Hamas takes them to either real or staged scenes of civilian distress, so as to exploit this for the world’s journalists: [25] This is widely known as the “CNN Effect”). Second, after each such major Hamas attack on Israel, Gazan polling demonstrates increased support for Hamas, regardless of the outcome of the attack. Third, after each such major attack on Israel, international aid pours into Gaza, which is asserted to be for the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure, but which aid is significantly controlled by and diverted to Hamas.
[26]
Some have suggested that Gazans support Hamas because the next largest rival, Fatah (which governs the West Bank and which Hamas forced out of Gaza) is corrupt. First, that view is dehumanizing and infantilizing because it says that Gazans have no agency and can’t help but support an abject terrorist organization. Second, it is ridiculous, because Hamas is equally if not more corrupt. Third, that argument is undercut by the reality that Hamas is a growing force in the West Bank and polls indicate it would win elections there. [27]
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_of_religion. [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip#Demographics [3] https://www.ft.com/content/7b618433-ba5f-4e92-a3e0-d5d41d6d17f8 [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza%E2%80%93Israel_conflict [6]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Accords
[8] https://www.icrc.org/en/war-and-law/treaties-customary-law/geneva-conventions [9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas_Charter
[10] https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf [11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Re%27im_music_festival_massacre; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_during_the_2023_Israel%E2%80%93Hamas_war [12] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_casualties_of_war#Terror_and_other_attacks_1948-1967 [13] https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-middle-east-hamas-152644963f4249a7a21154446649910a; https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-accuses-hamas-hiding-weapons-depots-near-civilian-buildings-2022-07- 27/; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/31/why-hamas-stores-its-weapons-inside-hospitals-mosques-and-schools/ [14] https://www.youtube.com/@PeaceComms/videos
[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_aid_to_Palestinians [16] https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/hamas-infiltrated-international-gazan-aid-group-stole-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-463211; https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-209885/; https://www.cfr.org/blog/foreign-aid- hamas
[17] https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/196500
[18] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jan/26/israel1 [19] https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/polls-show-majority-gazans-were-against-breaking-ceasefire-hamas-and-hezbollah. [20] https://www.pcpsr.org/en/node/498
[21] http://www.pcpsr.org/en/node/636
[22] http://pcpsr.org/en/node/740
[23] http://pcpsr.org/en/node/813
[24] https://pcpsr.org/en/node/906
[25] https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/08/30/palestine-crackdown-journalists-activists [26] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_aid_to_Palestinians [27] https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hamas
Thank you for your continued education and understanding.

Jason Jungreis
San Francisco

John Gioia (say “Joy-a”)
District One
Chair, Board of Supervisors
Contra
Costa
County

11780 San Pablo Avenue, Suite D
El Cerrito, CA 94530
Phone: (510) 231-8686
Fax: (510) 374-3429
Email: [email protected] ● Website: www.cocobos.org/gioia

EAST RICHMOND HEIGHTS ◊ EL CERRITO ◊ EL SOBRANTE ◊ KENSINGTON ◊ MONTALVIN MANOR NORTH RICHMOND ◊ PINOLE ◊ RICHMOND ◊ ROLLINGWOOD ◊ SAN PABLO ◊ TARA HILLS

October 24, 2023

Dear Richmond Mayor and Councilmembers:

I am saddened and angered by the recent immense and tragic loss of life of innocent Israeli and Palestinian citizens.

Israelis and Palestinians deserve the opportunity to live free of warfare and violence.

I support the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and a sovereign and safe homeland.

Hamas’ brutal killing of innocent Israelis does not take away this right. I also support Israel’s right to exist in a safe environment for its citizens. This does not justify the killing of innocent Palestinians.

The proposed resolution fails to condemn the terrorist Hamas’ killing of innocent Israeli men, women and children, which unfortunately started this recent brutal warfare.

I believe it is important at times like these to bring our community together rather than create divisiveness. The passage of any resolution, regardless of attempts to amend it, will only contribute to the divisiveness.

Instead of voting on the proposed resolution tonight, I strongly recommend that the Council can play a leadership role to bring together our Muslim and Jewish communities in Richmond to work together to develop a resolution that acknowledges and validates the voices of both communities.

Thank you for your consideration of this suggestion.

Sincerely,

John Gioia
Supervisor, District One

From: Julia
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Agenda item R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:17:10 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

My comment: I strongly oppose this very one-sided approach to an incredibly complex situation across the globe.

Why do you feel the need to weigh in so one-sidedly? What will be gained? Fuel antisemitism? Promote anti Israel? Look at the Bay Area companies and the Israeli influence. Do you really want to lose all of that? People will leave.

Please educate yourselves about the situation, from both sides. Not from social media, but from well-respected media who have journalists on the ground. Read the accounts of the American politicians who have toured the area.

Please do better, please do not pass this resolution! Please be a leader for peace in the Bay Area. This is not the way.

On October 7, Hamas leadership sent over 1,000 armed terrorists into Israeli villages and a music festival with the goal of butchering, maiming, burning, pillaging, and kidnapping as many innocent civilians as possible. They took over 200 hostages and killed over 1,300 people. Where is the resolution condemning that? If the city is passing this resolution without making any references to that, or for the right of Israeli civilians to live in peace, then it is clear how blatantly one-sided the City stands. It is shameful that the city is not denouncing terrorism.

In addition, the resolution has points that are not factual at all. There was never " an ethnic cleansing campaign by explicitly requiring two million Palestinians to leave Gaza immediately or risk being bombed in their homes by the Israeli army." In fact, the Israeli military did announce that it would be striking Hamas strategic targets in northern Gaza and gave civilians a choice to leave in 24 hours if they did not want to get caught in the crossfire -- an option that the Hamas terrorists never gave to the civilians it killed. They would not have had to do this had they not had their villages attacked and innocent citizens slaughtered in horrific ways. Who will govern in the interim during a cease-fire? Hamas? The same organization that has taken most of the aid money and instead of building a port and infrastructure, built sophisticated tunnels and military installments stationed in neighborhoods, many under hospitals. They tortured Druse to get information about Israelis. Druse are Arab. They took hostages, a couple were transporting people from Gaza to Israeli hospitals for medical services. The Israelis let them come in to work, to help the situation, what did they get in return? These same people spied and provided whereabouts of where the unarmed elderly slept and where was the young soldier with a gun, to avoid. Despicable. Also, it won’t happen again. So, the Arab world has to step up and help the Palestinians, because Israel will no longer be able to provide them aid. How they have done it up until now is a mystery to me. Hamas, the governing terrorist organization’s manifesto is for the destruction of Israel and Jews around the world. But, Israel still cared for the people. Yes, there are some radical extremists in Israel and the West Bank (they should be called out for the terrorist they are), but they comprise a very small percentage of the population. Please check your facts.

Thank you for including my comment, even though I do not reside in Richmond.

Julia Freda-Eskenazi
Los Altos
From: Julie Freestone
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item # R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond"s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 7:15:53 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Richmond City Council Members:

I am a longtime Richmond resident and am writing in opposition to Resolution Item R-1 on the October 24 Council agenda. It is a one-sided and misleading statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. I do not want the City Council to use the language in this resolution to speak for me on this very sad and complicated issue.

Most disturbing is the failure to mention that Hamas was the aggressor in this conflict and that Hamas has a stated mission to destroy Jews and the Jewish nation - a blatant commitment to ethnic cleansing.

This resolution fails to reflect the complexity of the issue and the pain and distress of both Jews and Palestinians.

I ask my City Council to represent me by condemning all forms of hate and support Bay Area organizations working together in this effort.

Julie Freestone
Richmond CA
From: Kathleen Wimer
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond"s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 2:13:52 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

My name is Kathleen Wimer. I am a Richmond resident.

I find this resolution loaded with inflammatory language, blame, and accusations. Israel, a U.S. ally and a democracy in the Middle East, was attacked on October 7 by the terrorist Hamas. Proportionately, fifteen times the number of people killed in the U.S. on 9/11 died in Israel October 7. Israel seeks to defend itself against any such further attacks. It's all just awful. Adding more incendiary language to the discourse does no good. Instead, I urge substitution - if there must be a Richmond City Council resolution on this matter - of the following:

Whereas, while many historic and largely awful circumstances manifest between the Israeli and Palestinian people from claims each holds to the same land, And whereas the reason for any resolution now is generated by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,400 civilians, and by Israel's subsequent attempts to defend itself from further such attacks,
Be it resolved that the City of Richmond CA urges U.S. and U.N. diplomatic efforts to insist

1. that Israel be sanctioned for any collective punishment of Palestinians for the acts of terrorist Hamas, as collective punishment is a war crime under the Geneva Convention, and

2. that humanitarian treatment be afforded citizens injured in the October 7 attack against Israel and in the Israeli defense mounted against Hamas since.

Thank you for your consideration of this suggestion.

Kathleen Wimer
518 Tremont Ave.

Richmond, CA 94801
(510) 230-4600
From: [email protected]
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Fw: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1) Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 4:23:05 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Begin forwarded message:

From: ka hardy <[email protected]>
Date: October 23, 2023 at 2:18:27 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)

Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am a West County resident, and I write in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1. My family stands in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters against this dangerous, one-sided, unwise, and unhelpful resolution.

I've never had to worry that my kid would be attacked at school because of Hamas' recent call for a "day of rage" against Jews worldwide. I have a very good imagination though, and I know that would be absolutely terrifying all by itself even without the millennia of anti-semitism that accompanies it. I also know the very real fear that my friends and neighbors feel, both Jewish-American and Palestinian- American.

Resolution R-1 inflames a complicated and painful issue, rather than providing any actual thoughtfulness or support to Palestinians, Jews, or Israelis. It's political point-making for its own sake, without any regard for the very real impact that may ensue for residents of West County. We urge you to reject this resolution unanimously.

Kelly, Joe, & Jackson Hardy
From: Kerry Hillis
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Fwd: Vote No on Item R-1 - Anti-israel Resolution Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 8:36:47 AM
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Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

From: Kerry Hillis <[email protected]>
Date: October 22, 2023 at 8:44:41 PM PDT
To: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: Vote No on Item R-1 - Anti-israel Resolution
Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am a member of the Moraga Town Council and my Jewish family members have lived in Richmond since 1987.

I am writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

Kerry Hillis
Moraga Town Councilmember
Sent from my iPhone
From: Shasa Curl
To: City Clerk Dept; Dave Aleshire; Shannon Moore
Subject: Fwd: Please Pull Item R-1 Resolution
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 6:45:06 AM
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:

From: Kevin Wilk <[email protected]>
Date: October 23, 2023 at 6:05:50 PM PDT
To: Eduardo Martinez <[email protected]>, Soheila Bana <[email protected]>, Claudia Jimenez
<[email protected]>, Doria Robinson
<[email protected]>, Cesar Zepeda
<[email protected]>, Gayle McLaughlin
<[email protected]>, Melvin Willis
<[email protected]>
Cc: Shasa Curl <[email protected]>
Subject: Please Pull Item R-1 Resolution

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Dear Mayor Martinez, and Honorable Richmond City Council Members, As a Walnut Creek City Councilmember and former Mayor, I know the importance of Resolutions and Proclamations to a community. Most are straight-forward without any grievance to members of the community who aren’t included in the Resolution. The Resolution on Item R-1 is not one of these. It is highly disturbing to members of the Jewish Community, who already feel in danger following the attack in Israel. As the only Jewish Councilmember in Walnut Creek (and only one of two Jewish council members in Contra Costa County), I can tell you that the Jewish community is on edge. Many Jewish people even in Walnut Creek have written to me about the Richmond Resolution standing in solidarity with Gaza (and by implication, not Israel). There have been threats to the Jewish Community, and Walnut Creek was among the first cities to be bombarded by heinous antisemitic calls beginning last June.

I fear that the Resolution as worded, is highly biased about the Israel-Hamas conflict, and will only further enflame tensions locally, which I’m sure you don’t want to see. Without getting into all the inflammatory statements, using phrases like “ethnic cleansing” and “genocide” are highly offensive and not agreed upon by any means. Furthermore, the Resolution doesn’t recognize the right of Israel to defend itself or that this recent conflict began with the murder of 1,400 innocent Israeli citizens… many women, children, and grandparents. It also fails to mention over 200 kidnapped hostages being held in Gaza.

I am respectfully asking that you pull this Resolution from consideration. The pressure from the community to vote one way or the other will be immense, and whichever way you vote, you will upset many Richmond residents who you have the responsibility of representing. Rather, by taking a minute to recognize the tragedy of loss of lives among innocents, and that we abhor hate in all its form against anyone… Palestinian or Israeli… people will feel recognized and stand by the councils comments. Even a replacement resolution affirming the sanctity of innocent lives and standing united against hate and violence is preferable. This is important, as opposed to dividing the community.

As a Jew, I preach peace and acceptance. I was in Israel in March, 2023 and visited Kfar Aza at the Gaza Border. This Kibbutz was the site of over hundred murders and kidnappings on October 7th. I still can’t believe I met people a few months ago, who no longer are alive.

I implore you not to further enflame tensions, and to pull this Resolution in favor of speaking out for all innocent people and against hate and violence.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Kevin Wilk
Walnut Creek City Councilmember
(Mayor 2021)
From: Larry Fox
To: Eduardo Martinez; Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Cesar Zepeda; Doria Robinson; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis
Cc: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments – R-1 - Resolution Affirming Richmond"s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 10:28:57 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members:

As a lifetime resident of Richmond, I am appalled by the language and sentiments in your Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza. On the surface, this all sounds well and good, but rather misplaced given the plethora of issues that the City of Richmond currently faces. The same time and resources should be applied to issues within our city and its citizens. Take your pick there are hundreds of them.

With that obvious notion mentioned, I will address one of the most egregious statements in the resolution. The one I take the greatest exception to is the statement that "Israel is now engaged in an ethnic cleansing campaign by explicitly requiring two million Palestinians to leave Gaza immediately or risk being bombed in their homes by the Israeli army." While that may have been defined in the line above that does not make it true. Ethnic Cleansing is a highly inaccurate depiction. While I do believe it may be an overreaction to a vicious attack, the kidnapping and killing of civilians (many children) - it is not ethnic cleansing. Israel, unlike Hamas, did give Palestinians a warning and time to leave to minimize casualties. That is not an act of Ethnic Cleansing or genocide. However, Hamas' manifesto does call for the destruction of Israel, which seems a lot closer to genocide to me.

There are so many ways this resolution could have been positive - calling for calm and peaceful ways to address this "war." and support both peoples. Instead, statements were made that were inflammatory and could only heighten tensions in our Richmond community, essentially giving antisemites the excuse to attack the Jews in our community. This is dangerous and condones poor behavior at the very least, if not indicating that violence is okay against members of our community. That is not the Richmond I know and not one that I want to be a part of.

My Community, that of the good people of Richmond, which the Jewish community is a vital part of, stands with its brothers and sisters for its call for peace and dignity of all people here and around the world. Demonizing does not help anyone, especially when it is not accurate.

I believe that Council Member Zepeda has alternative language for the Resolution, that would be far more appropriate for our city.

Do not pass this resolution as it stands. It only invites hate and provides nothing positive for anyone who needs it.

Sincerely,
Larry Fox
Richmond Resident for over 51 years
Richmond, CA 94805
[email protected]
From: Lauren Schiffman
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public comments agenda item R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 3:12:30 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Sorry this is late, but I hope you'll include it in the public record; I emailed this to the mayor and council members yesterday evening but didn't see the agenda document with instructions to submit comment until now:

Dear Mayor and Members of the Richmond City Council,
I am a resident and business owner in Richmond and have been a longtime supporter of the agenda of the RPA and of Mayor Martinez, even going door-to-door with flyers for his mayoral campaign. But today I am emailing you to urge you to vote no on the current Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity With the People of Gaza.

You are issuing this resolution at a time of great geopolitical strife in Israel/Gaza, yet you never define Hamas or mention the goal of Hamas (per the Hamas Charter) to eliminate Israel. You do not mention the Hamas attack of October 7, in which Hamas militants massacred more than 1,400 Israeli citizens, including children, women, and elders. You do not mention that Hamas currently holds more than 200 hostages, including Israeli civilians—even children--and citizens of other nations.

This is not to disagree with the point that the people of Gaza have been mistreated for decades and are currently suffering a tragedy. I hope for a ceasefire, for Gazan civilians to get the aid they need, and for a solution leading to peace in the region-- because the people of Gaza and the people of Israel deserve to live in peace. I wonder why in your resolution you talk about the people and population of Gaza but only about the state of Israel. Just as the brutal Hamas attack doesn't reflect the hearts of all Gazan people, the actions of the current right-wing Israeli government don't reflect all the people of Israel. That is evident by the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who were protesting the current government before the Hamas attack earlier this month.

Language demonizing the "state of Israel" gets interpreted as reflecting on Israelis and all Jewish people and can lead to antisemitism. My daughter is a student at El Cerrito High and has seen photos of classmates giving Nazi salutes and graffitied swastikas during her time there. Earlier in the school year, the school held its fair to introduce student clubs. She described how a group of boys were shouting "Free Palestine" at a lone girl staffing the Jewish Student Union table. My daughter said she felt uncomfortable seeing the girl alone but felt too intimidated to approach her. So if you think antisemitism is not currently happening here in Contra Costa County and making people feel unsafe, that's not accurate. And I want to express that on reading this resolution, I felt alone—as if I'm not part of a constituency that matters to the City of Richmond.

If you hope for a speedy resolution to this current conflict and for peace in the region, as I do, I hope you'll vote no on Item R-1. If you feel that you need to register your thoughts on this issue, I urge you to author a resolution offering sympathy for both innocent Palestinians and innocent Israelis, perhaps engaging local Palestinian and Jewish leaders to help draft a more inclusive message.

Sincerely,
Lauren Schiffman
Richmond, CA
From: Leisa Johnson
To: City Clerk Dept User
Cc: Leisa Johnson
Subject: Public Comment, Agenda Item R.1 on 10/24/2023
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:18:32 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear City Clerk,
Can you please incorporate my comments below into the supplementary minutes? Thank you.

Warmly,
Leisa
******************************************************************* Good evening, Mayor & Councilmembers.

It is deeply distressing that the Mayor, his chief of staff, and Vice Mayor intentionally wrote such a one-sided, antisemitic and divisive resolution without any outreach to Richmond’s diverse community, when you could have welcomed a unique opportunity to try and do something based on finding common ground and unification.

Interestingly, many speakers in support of this resolution are not from Richmond. Many, in fact, were bussed in from afar.

In contrast, many residents are afraid to come and speak tonight. Please do not take their silence as support for this resolution.

You had a speaker this evening proudly yell out the Hamas rallying cry to arms, erasing the
State of Israel and its people.

And you did nothing Mr. Mayor.

And you wonder why they are afraid?
You claim you are listening, but are you?
The authors once again bring division to Richmond and for that you will also be remembered.

The current resolution does not speak for Richmond and it is an abuse of the elected office you hold.

The amendments tonight are woefully inadequate.

There is no Solution in this Resolution.

Please table this item and propose an alternative and healing path that is inclusive & unifying.

Thank you.

Leisa
From: Dr. Leslie Jacoby
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Fwd: Wish to Oppose R.1 Resolution for the Palestinians at City Council Meeting Today Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:04:15 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dr. Leslie Jacoby <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, Oct 24, 2023 at 10:56 AM
Subject: Wish to Oppose R.1 Resolution for the Palestinians at City Council Meeting Today To: <[email protected]
>, <[email protected]>
Dear Mary, Please forward my words to all the council members before the meeting today at 4:30 p.m. Thank you for doing this for me. Best wishes, Dr. Jacoby My Response and Request to speak at the Meeting:

R. STUDY AND ACTION SESSION
R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza (514)

AGENDA(s)

REGULAR MEETING OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, October 24, 2023, 4:30 p.m.

Community Services Building
440 Civic Center Plaza Richmond, CA 94804

Members:

Eduardo Martinez, Mayor at Large
Melvin Willis, Councilmember District 1
Cesar Zepeda, Councilmember District 2
Doria Robinson, Councilmember District 3
Soheila Bana, Councilmember District 4
Gayle McLaughlin, Vice Mayor, District 5
Claudia Jimenez, Councilmember District 6

Dear Mayor Martinez; Councilmember Willis (D1); Councilmember Zepeda (D2); Councilmember Robinson (D3); Councilmember Bana (D4); Vice Mayor McLaughlin (D5); and, Councilmember Jimenez (D6):

I would like to voice my heartfelt and firm opposition to your proposed, “R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza.

First, this resolution seems to be outside the normal purview of the legislative and policy-making obligations of a city council, which is elected to maintain and promote solid economic, fiscal, and personal safety and security policies; that is, to facilitate a city to function well for all its citizens.

This proposed resolution not only goes outside these functions, but also inflames and will potentially lead to increased antisemitic atrocities and promote greater friction amongst the citizens of Richmond and outer cities in Contra Costa County and beyond.

Second, this resolution does nothing to address the heinous and barbarous acts (actually filmed on GoPro cameras by the Hamas militia) that precipitated the most recent war between Israel (a legitimized democratic government) and Hamas (an acknowledged feckless and corrupt terrorist group that was voted in by the Palestinian people to act as their proxies). The recent acts on October 7, 2023 have been repeatedly acknowledged as reminiscent of the horrific crimes of the Nazis and Fascists in World War II. To ignore any wording to condemn these events shows the same complicity that prevailed in the 1930s and 1940s, which has been analyzed for decades and “virtue signaled” as corroborative silence on the Holocaust and its inhumane atrocities.

This resolution is prejudicial at best and antisemitic at worst without acknowledgement of both sides of the complicated geopolitical situation.

If passed, it will be held historically in the same light as those of the World War II acts of complicity with genocide and inexcusable war crimes.

Third, this resolution does not boldly condemn the barbary monstrous charter of the Hamas organization, which actually calls for the complete destruction and eradication of Israel and the Jewish people. This resolution does not hold accountable the Palestinian government and its officials for its repeated outright refusal over the past 20 years to work with Israeli officials (and global entities) towards peace and a safe and secure two-country solution. Instead, it reeks of blind bias towards current politically correct rhetoric.

This resolution does nothing to educate and inform Richmond’s citizens of the complicated history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that goes back hundreds if not thousands of years. It only jumps on the current bandwagon of misinformed propaganda, which is dangerous.

Fourth, it is unclear why this resolution is being proposed in the first place. Is this for some political capital for the upcoming elections? Is it to appease the 1% Muslim population? Or the .5% Jewish population? Or the 30% Catholic population.

Whichever reason, if this resolution is approved, I will personally do everything in my power to campaign against the individuals who vote for this misaligned resolution.

Thank you for reading and hearing my opinion on the R.1 Resolution.

Best regards,
Dr. Jacoby
--
Leslie Jacoby, M.F.A., Ph.D.

Comparative Literature and Medieval Studies
[email protected]
--
Leslie Jacoby, M.F.A., Ph.D.

Comparative Literature and Medieval Studies
[email protected]
From: Leslie Ross
To: Cesar Zepeda; Claudia Jimenez; Doria Robinson; Eduardo Martinez; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis; Soheila Bana; City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 8:12:01 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members,
VOTE NO or all be voting NO for you!
Why are you not concentrating on all the issues here in Richmond?! The city is turning into a cesspool. Only areas doing their job are police and fire and you don’t even support them.

I am a Richmond resident and writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

Sent from my iPhone
From: M. Semler
To: Eduardo Martinez; Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Doria Robinson; Cesar Zepeda; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis
Cc: City Clerk Dept User; Shasa Curl; Dave Aleshire
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution, Item R.1
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 2:48:48 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am a Richmond resident and writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks our local Jewish community is feeling unsafe and scared, and this resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling. Instead of sowing division, I am asking the City Council to condemn all forms of hate and take steps to support all residents with loved ones in the region.

Please table this item and find an alternative avenue(s) to promote healing and peace in Richmond, one that is inclusive of all Jews, Israelis, Muslims and Palestinians.

Madison
From: Maggie Jacobs
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Resolution R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 4:50:18 PM
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You don't often get email from [email protected]. Learn why this is important This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

As a long-time Richmond resident and member of the Jewish community, I wish to register my strong opposition to Resolution R-1.

Sincerely,
Maggie Jacobs
From: Marilyn Alwan
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Fwd: Agenda item R1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 5:59:02 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Marilyn Alwan <[email protected]>
Date: October 24, 2023 at 5:14:55 PM PDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Agenda item R1

Dear Mayor Martinez and Council Members,
I applaud your resolution supporting the caged
people of Gaza who are subjected to relentless
Israeli bombardment and genocidal policies
sadly financed from American tax payers. I’m sure
the residents of Richmond would rather keep
these billions of dollars used to kill Palestinians at
home to finance much needed projects for people
here.

That one party (Israel) has the power to cut off
water, food, and energy to 2.3 million
people should tell people which side has the
power to suffocate and wipe out the other. People
seems to forget why there is a “Strip” in
Gaza. The city of Gaza was a 5,000 -year -old
prosperous metropolis but in the 1948 Nakba,
Israel forcibly transferred several hundred
thousand Palestinians from their homes to Gaza
City and a small area around it and created an
artificial barrier to cage them into a “Strip.” At
present 75% of the people in Gaza are refugees.

They cannot leave.

I wish to share 2 important videos
(1) An Irish Parliamentarian 5-minutes speech
that summarizes the hypocrisy and
moral cowardice of supporters of Apartheid Israel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7fMYRJpglM
(2) A very timely lecture by renowned Israeli
historian Ilan Pappe that NorCal Sabeel co-
sponsored with several departments and groups
at U C Berkeley last Thursday October 19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OcjOP8iUCU
I appreciate the Richmond City
council leadership in passing this important
resolution.

Thank you.

Marilyn Alwan
1420 5th Street
Alameda, CA 94501
Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza
From: Marisol Cantú
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments for Agenda Item R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:59:21 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Hello City Clerk,
I am writing in support of R-1. As a 3rd generation Richmond resident and a Reimagining Public Safety Taskforce Member, I stand with Palestine and ask our city council members to support the resolution.

Thanks,
Marisol
From: Maryn Hurlbut
To: City Clerk Dept User; Phil Ginsburg
Subject: Richmond,CA City Council Meeting 10-24-23 item R.1 Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 1:03:13 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

The proposed resolution wording implies siding with one group within an international conflict.

More correctly, I propose a resolution should read:

Richmond condemns terrorism or any acts of war against innocent civilians EVERYWHERE.

Kidnapping, killing, torturing or hurting any innocent civilian is a war crime and will never be condoned by rational civilized humans.

Please read this into the public record at the appropriate time.

Thank you for this and all your good work.

Sincerely,
Maryn Hurlbut
Maryn Hurlbut, Former Chair, Rec.& Parks Commission
RTA Board Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer
510 237-6880
510 596-8880 cell
[email protected]
Check out "news and events" on http://www.rta-ca.org
Like us on https://facebook.com/richmondtennisca
Your RTA membership helps buy balls and new tennis courts and park facilities. Please sign up on above website, choose "join/donate", today.

From: Olga Paredes
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item # R.1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:58:24 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

As a long-time resident of Richmond (23 years) I am writing to express my strong opposition to Resolution R.1. It contains factual errors and allegations and uses inflammatory language that shuts down civil discourse and widens the divide between those on opposite side of this issue. Most importantly, it places us all in danger. This resolution is not about human rights, it is about advancing a political ideology.

Both Palestinians and Israelis have endured suffering at the hands of other for many, many years. Neither side is blameless and R.1 does not recognize that fact. Hamas launched a brutal attack targeted specifically at innocent Israeli civilians. R.1, in effect, endorses that action.

As we all know, there has been an uptick in hate crimes against Jews and Palestinians (and Muslins in general).

Demonizing Israel feeds the narrative that only one side is to blame and carries the very real possibility of inciting more violence against Jews and Muslims alike. This resolution is objectively dangerous to us all.

War has no winners. If we value peace and want to stop hate we must take an unbiased look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I strongly urge the Council to vote down this resolution and replace it with one that creates an environment for civil, impartial discourse.

Salaam, Shalom
Olga Paredes
Este mensaje es enviado por mi iPhone
From: Paula H
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: public comment about condemning Israel (don"t) Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 1:05:23 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

I have been a Richmond resident for decades. I voted for most if not all of you, that said I am both a strong supporter of Israel's right to exist as well as a supporter of all people to live a healthy and decent life.

I'd like to see a diplomatic resolution to the current conflict but I wonder who Israel or the US could negotiate with. Have you read the Hamas charter, if you haven't I suggest that you do.

I hope that Netan-YaHoo will be gone soon, replaced by a saner and more left-wing leader. I also hope that the Palestinian people can get an intelligent and decent leader who will bring her people into the 21st century.

The Israel of 1948 was very small with a strong social justice doctrine. After attack, after regular attack, Israel got larger. Was that righteous? Spoils of war are often the result of war.

Hamas cannot be negotiated with. That makes me very sad. I want a two-state solution.

What I do not want is my city weighing-in in a way that will only inflame anti-semitism or anti-Arab sentiments or worse, violence. We can say we support the human rights of all people and that we encourage decent leadership on both sides and a two-state solution with both sides respecting the right of both states to exist and flourish.

Sincerely,
Paula Helene
Richmond, CA 94801
From: paula rainey
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: PUBLIC COMMENT Agenda Item #R1
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 4:35:00 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Madam Clerk
I wish to submit my comments to the Mayor and Richmond City Council members on Agenda Item #R1, that will be heard on October 24.

I strongly urge the Mayor and City Council to approve tonight's Resolution Affirming
Richmond’s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza.

The people of Richmond are good people and see the humanity in other people around the globe.

This resolution brings some measure of support to the beleaguered people of Gaza and sends a message to the world that we will not stand by as a world community to watch horror systematically inflicted on others. All parties suffer with this insanity unleashed on what has already become a hell
scape.

As a resident of a neighboring community and having worked the issue of Palestine for more than half of my lifetime, I applaud the city for bringing this resolution forward.

This is a humanitarian crisis such as we have never known. Ceasefire now! Open a humanitarian cooridor! Solve this crisis with negotiations and stop the war now! The US is complicit in these war crimes and the people call these crimes out.

Approve the resolution before you tonight.

Sincerely,
Paula Rainey
556 Palace Court, Alameda CA 94501
From: Rachel Kertz
To: Eduardo Martinez; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 8:46:48 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I am a Councilmember of San Rafael, and the North Bay Chair of the Bay Area Network of Jewish Officials (BANJO), and I'm writing in strong opposition to Tuesday’s Resolution Item R-1 – an inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict. Not only does the resolution lack any factual basis, but it will also deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of the local Jewish community.

In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks our local Jewish community is feeling unsafe and scared, and this resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling. Instead of sowing division, I am asking the City Council to condemn all forms of hate and take steps to support all residents with loved ones in the region.

Rachel Kertz
Councilmember City of San Rafael
415-299-7008
From: Rachel Sommovilla
To: Claudia Jimenez; Soheila Bana; Cesar Zepeda; Doria Robinson; Eduardo Martinez; Gayle McLaughlin; Melvin Willis
Cc: Shasa Curl; Lina Velasco; Shannon Moore; [email protected]; Pamela Christian; City Clerk Dept User Subject: My thoughts on Resolution R-1 (please vote no) Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 4:46:35 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I served for approximately nine years as your assistant city attorney, senior assistant city attorney, and acting and interim city attorney, and I am a West Contra Costa County resident. My children attend WCCUSD schools and I am actively involved in Richmond non-profits, serving on the Board of the Richmond Art Center. I love the City of Richmond, which is why I am taking time to reach out in strong opposition to Resolution R-1. This inflammatory and biased statement about the Israel- Hamas conflict will deeply exacerbate the trauma and vulnerability of Richmond's local Jewish community.

I hope you will take the time to read this to understand the incredible pain and suffering felt right now by your local Jewish community. On October 7th, during Shabbat and the Jewish High Holiday Simchat Torah, Hamas gunmen entered Israel with maps of daycare centers and preschools to find children to murder and take hostage. They ruthlessly murdered 1,400 people, burning families alive, raping women next to their dead friends and family, killing children in front of their parents, beheading children, and kidnapping at least 200 Israelis and taking them hostage. More Jews were killed on this day than on any day since the Holocaust. Since that time, I have spent countless hours checking on my friends in Israel, trying to find housing for my displaced Israeli friends, learning that a friend's cousin was one of those murdered, learning that another friend's family was nearly murdered and miraculously saved, receiving emails from my synagogue about security enhancements and grief support, wondering if it is safe to send my sons to Hebrew school there, and wondering if I should send my sons to school when Hamas called for a “day of rage” against Jews worldwide. It has been incredibly traumatic. The Richmond City Council was silent when these Jews were murdered. The proposed resolution remains silent as to the murder of these Jews, and, if it is adopted, will send a strong signal that the Richmond City Council does not value Jewish life, including my life, and that of my children.

Resolution R-1 fails to mention that this conflict started after Hamas terrorists murdered 1,400 innocent Israeli citizens and foreign nationals. Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Jews and Israel: The Hamas covenant, produced at its founding in 1988, states:
"Israel will exist . . until Islam will obliterate it. [Preamble]". "The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and kill them. Then the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out. . . there is a Jew hiding behind me, come kill them. [Article 7]" "Palestine is an Islamic land . . . peaceful solutions . . are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement." In 2019, Fathi Hamad, a senior member of Hamas leadership, was recorded making a speech during which he urged followers across the globe to "attack every Jew possible in all the world and kill them." This includes your Jewish community here. Hamas has been the elected government in Gaza since 2006, after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. Is it not a legitimate goal of Israel to seek to weaken Hamas and bring back its grandmothers, children, and citizens held hostage? Resolution R-1 is notably silent regarding Hamas's plan for Jewish genocide.

Both Jews and Palestinians are suffering greatly. Both Jews and Palestinians deserve to be seen in their full humanity, in their pain and in their goodness. The resolution does not see the humanity of Israelis and Jews. I also stand in solidarity with the Palestinians and the violence in Gaza breaks my heart. But this resolution does not recognize both sides of the conflict, contains many unsupported statements, and strongly implies that Hamas’s violence against Jews is acceptable.

When I got a message from WCCUSD about this issue, it recognized suffering on both sides and made trauma resources available for all of its students. This stands in stark contrast to Resolution R- 1 which devalues Jewish life and chooses a side. The token conclusory sentence that the resolution "vows to combat anti-semitism" does not make this so.

If you pass this resolution, you will put your Jewish residents at further risk. Whether or not you see it, the physical threat to Jews in Richmond and around the world is real. The Anti-Defamation League has reported that anti-semitic incidents in the U.S. reached an all-time high last year with a total of 3,697 incidents of assault, harassment, and vandalism, which represents the largest number of incidents against Jews in the U.S. in my lifetime. Hundreds of these attacks involve references to Israel and Zionism. At least 70 incidents were perpetrated by individuals associated with anti-Zionist activist groups, some of whom praised Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, and another 50 were perpetrated by white supremacist groups as part of efforts to foment anti-Israel and anti-semitic beliefs. The threat to Muslims is real too. Recently, a 6 year-old Palestinian- American boy was stabbed to death in a hate crime, and this week, a young Jewish woman in Detroit, president of her synagogue, was stabbed to death.

I believe your council meetings themselves
have been zoom bombed by antisemitic and racist hate speech this month, as has been common in cities all across California. Finger-pointing and stoking hate will only increase these incidents.

Resolution R-1 relies on an inapposite model of colonialism to explain what is happening, falsely accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing while offensively referencing the Holocaust to condemn Israel's response to the Hamas attacks. The problem is that the model does not fit -- it maps onto anti- semitic tropes, leading to a cruel and dehumanizing view of Israeli and Jewish lives. Colonizers do not have thousands of years of history in the land they colonize as the Jews do in Israel. Colonizers have a country they can be decolonized to. (In fact, the term Palestine comes from the Romans -- around 135 C.E., the Romans killed Bar Kokhba, murdered and/or exiled the Jews from Judea, and the Romans renamed the land Syria Palaestina.) I ask those who call Shabbat and Simchat Torah's pogrom a step towards decolonization -- where are the Jews who fled from Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Russia, Ethiopia, and from Europe after surviving the Holocaust supposed to go? In the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks, our local Jewish community is feeling unsafe and scared, and this resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling.

We live haunted by the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, having grown up studying this history and the accounts of Primo Levi, Elie Wiesel, Anne Frank, Hannah Arendt and more, in an attempt to ensure "Never Again.” The many attempted genocides of the Jewish people over the years have made us especially vulnerable and afraid right now. I feel compelled to write – as Rabbi Hillel said, "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now when?" Please stand for all of us. The City Council should not adopt Resolution R-1 and should instead condemn all forms of hate and consider how to more positively support both its Jewish and Palestinian residents who are greatly suffering right now.

Rachel Sommovilla

From: Rita Barouch
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Fw: Public Comments Item #R1
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 10:12:27 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear esteemed Mayor Martinez, Vice Mayor McLaughlin, City Councilpersons Willis, Bana, Zepeda, Robinson and Jimenez,
Our shared values for human life compel us to respond to this crisis impacting innocent civilians in Palestine and Israel. As a Jewish American living in Richmond, I sincerely believe that the current violence against Palestinians in Gaza; especially the denial of food, medicines, water, electricity are unconscionable, war crimes, and detrimental, reducing the safety of all in the region and beyond.

I reject the terrible attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians, war crimes, but do not in turn justify policies of ethnic cleansing, and anti- human treatment.

We must rise above and demand a ceasefire to end this horrible bloodshed before more lives are lost.

I therefore support the Resolution #1, Please focus on these crucial and inclusive commitments! Be It Resolved;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Richmond takes seriously the entreaty of “Never Again,” and that the historical memory of the Holocaust means fighting ethnic cleansing and apartheid everywhere;
and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Richmond vows to combat antisemitism and ethno-nationalism in all its forms;
and FINALLY, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Richmond advocates for the dignity and safety of residents in every community, regardless of what crimes its leadership may commit, and that peaceful diplomacy is the only way to achieve this safety and dignity.

Shalom, Salaam,
Rita Barouch

From: Salma Farukhi
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Support for resolution
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 6:58:39 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

I was not able to comment on the website
Thank you for supporting the people of Gaza who have been dehumanized by most leaders of the US and western world. You are standing with the likes of Nelson Mandela, Malcom X, Ghandi, and other great humanitarian leaders of the past.

I fully support this resolution and commend those responsible for its formation.

NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY:

The information contained in this transmission is confidential and may be privileged and/or contain confidential health information that is legally protected from disclosure by state and federal law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and related regulations. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or organization to whom it is addressed. Use, disclosure, distribution or copying of documents transmitted to you in error is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy the original message and all copies.

From: Sharon Decker
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 8:57:19 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

I believe we should be compassionate to all, and this resolution would most likely promote anti-semitism in our community. Our goal should be inclusiveness and to understand all.

Sincerely,
Sharon Decker
Sent from my iPad
From: Sharon Decker
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1)
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 5:54:35 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members,
I sent an earlier email about this issue. I believe that the way this resolution is worded will be detrimental to the Jewish people in Richmond. I think it would better serve everyone if the wording was such that we are concerned about the Middle East Crisis and support the people of Gaza and of Israel. We would like there to be a resolution in which the people can come together and work for a solution that will bring an end to this futile war, and work towards a peace treaty.

Please do not vote Yes on this Anti-Israel Resolution as it is written. It will not help anyone and will only bring more hatred towards people.

Thank you.

Sharon Decker
Sent from my iPad
From: Shawn Dunning
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comment RE: R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond"s Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:26:13 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council,
Having worked closely with Palestinian and Israeli leaders since 2008 as a conflict resolution specialist, including living in East Jerusalem for over a year, I have deep ties and understanding to the people who live there, and my heart breaks for the unfolding tragedy in the Gaza region and beyond.

No statement by the Richmond, CA city council can possibly make a difference in the Middle East, but it could make a difference here in Richmond. A statement by your body could help unify Richmond around shared values.

Nevertheless, despite the best intentions that may have led to this item (R.1 Resolution Affirming Richmond's Support and Solidarity with the Palestinian People of Gaza), the EFFECT is that a wedge is being driven into the very community you have been entrusted to serve.

Social media and mainstream media is currently being flooded with anecdotes of fear and perceived antisemitism due to text within the proposed resolution. There is no way to undo what is currently being perceived, but you can stop it from getting worse.

Please abstain from this item and get back to the job of taking care of Richmond.

Furthermore, if anyone has a genuine desire to bring people together from various perspectives in order to develop a common ground statement, I would gladly offer my support. Just let me know.

Respectfully,
Shawn Dunning
Richmond Resident
Former Global Director of Leadership & Training, Search for Common Ground From: Susan Wengraf
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Resolution R-1 10/24/2023 Agenda
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:41:24 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Dear Richmond City Council Members,

I am a former teacher in the City of Richmond. I am writing to you today to request that you remove the proposed Resolution Item R-1 from your agenda.

As a teacher, it is clear to me that this Resolution displays a misunderstanding of the facts…. not only the history of Israel and Gaza, but also of the history of World War II.

The co opting of the word “Holocaust” and the phrase “Never again” is an insult to the 6 million Jews who were murdered at the hands of Hitler. Please remove these insulting and offensive references.

The proposed resolution is unbalanced: it fails to mention that this conflict was initiated by Hamas terrorists who, in a surprise attack, brutally tortured, raped and murdered 1,400 innocent Israeli babies, children, and elders in addition to many innocent foreign nationals and kidnapped 220 hostages.

I have nothing good to say about this war and I fear for the future of the entire Middle East.

As the leaders in your community your main job is to keep everyone safe. This proposed Resolution will result in more antagonism, more tension, and more insecurity for your residents. Our local Jewish community and Muslim communities are feeling unsafe and scared with antisemitism and Islamophobia reaching new heights.

Taking sides and pointing fingers will lead to nothing productive. This resolution's lack of empathy for Jews will only exacerbate the pain the community is feeling.

I am asking each of you, as members of the City Council, to vote to remove this Resolution from consideration and instead come forward with a resolution to condemn all forms of hate and take steps to support all residents with loved ones in the region who are suffering. At times like these, your leadership can make a difference.

Please do the best thing for your community and withdraw Resolution R-1.

Susan Wengraf

From: TARNEL ABBOTT
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public comment Item# R1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 11:04:47 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Subject: Public Comment Item # R 1
Mayor Martinez, Council members McLaughlin, Bana, Jimenez, Robinson, Willis and Zepeda: I support the resolution.and courage in standing strong fr what is right in the face of vociferous opposition.

In the name of humanity we must do whatever we can to end the massacre of innocent civilians in Gaza: The call is for immediate ceasefire, end the bombing.

Immediate and massive humanitarian aid, no ground invasion of Gaza.

Israel’s relentless bombing and total blockade of Gaza is more than collective punishment: it is genocide. Silence in the face of genocide is complicity.

The Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians which left 1,300 (?) dead was horrific but does not justify the carpet bombing of Gaza by the Israeli military. The bombing of Schools, ambulances, churches, residences and yes, hospitals, has left 5,800 dead so far in Gaza, 2,000 of them children. This is not self-defense it is bloodlust revenge, it is slaughter. Telling millions of civilians to evacuate their indigenous land when there is no safe place for them to go or they will be considered enemy combatants and targeted as such is ethnic cleansing.

There is no fuel to power emergency generators to pump water. For lack of safe drinking water, cholera looms. The limited amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza and its delay is a cynical attempt at diplomatic appeasement: 20 truckloads of aid a day is a drop in the sea for 2 plus million people who have had nothing but ceaseless bombardment.

It is obscene that President Biden considers “investing” in war something which will pay us a “dividend”. The more our U.S. dollars are used to bomb the world, the less safe the world is, the less safe we are. The dividend of war is death and destruction for us all. The war in Gaza could very easily turn into a much wider regional war.

Now another $105 BILLION in military spending is proposed, our tax money should instead be used to house the houseless, end hunger, fund health care, eliminate student loan debt instead it is making profits for the military industrial complex. All the wars are an attempt to distract us from our domestic problems. Our government’s policy of global domination is putting the entire world at risk- One planet, one humanity: Co-existence or non-existence.

Tarnel Abbott
Richmond CA
From: Tessa Rudnick
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Tessa Rudnick - Resolution R-1
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 7:48:24 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

To the Richmond Mayor and City Council,
I am your West County colleague on the El Cerrito City Council, and have served with many of you on RecycleMore. I am coming to you in recognition of our shared humanity during a time of crisis.

I ask you to vote NO on R-1.

This language endangers the local Jewish community. I am the only Jewish municipal elected official in West Contra Costa County, and the language in the resolution does not promote peace. It only serves to create more harm.

When people say "ethnic cleansing" or "genocide" as descriptors, it perpetuates antisemitic tropes rooted in blood libel. A notion that Jewish people are blood-thirsty and want to kill Palestinians. I believe good and well-intentioned people use these descriptors to try to demonstrate their passion for the humanitarian treatment of Palestinians (as we ALL should), but it serves to dehumanize Jewish people around the world. This is why it's so dangerous, and why the Jewish community here in Richmond and West County feel so unsafe by this harmful resolution. Why you are most likely being flooded with public comment. Jewish people already know what happens when whole groups of people are dehumanized, and we do not want history to repeat itself. Another reason why the Jewish community is so united in this moment against Islamophobia. No more hate. This has to stop.

What is happening right now is: war. War is in itself a terrible word filled with much weight.

However in this moment, war is the correct and accurate word to use. We can talk about the impacts of war and its extreme trauma, violence, loss of innocent life, and the corporate profiteering which comes from war.... but to say "ethnic cleansing" directly assigns a trope- filled blame, endangering your Jewish community members. Your neighbors. This is not OK.

I am a product of ethnic cleansing. My Grandpa's Mother, Father, and four younger siblings were killed at Auschwitz. These are not stories for me, it's my real life. I got 33 amazing years of Grandpa before he passed, and now I am the steward of his survival stories. I would not wish ethnic cleansing or genocide on ANYONE. To appropriate my family's lived experience in order to weaponize it, feels acutely painful.

Every human is deserving of self-determination and dignity. Let peace start with us. Do not fan the flames of hate.

Either we uphold the equal worth of all humans, or we don't. Creating a false dichotomy of sides, then choosing a side, is morally wrong and politically self-defeating.

Here in West County, everyone should feel welcome. Period. When a minority community is screaming that this makes them feel unsafe, please listen.

Mayor Pro Tem Tessa Rudnick
Tessa Rudnick, MPA
Mayor Pro Tem - City of El Cerrito
10890 San Pablo Ave.

El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 215-4305
www.el-cerrito.org
From: Theresa Russell
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments Agenda Item # R-1
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 12:08:30 PM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

My name is Theresa Russell and I am a resident of Richmond.

I’m asking you to reject resolution R-1 on tonight’s city council agenda. The resolution as proposed is not inclusive, and is causing fear among some of our residents. If you must have a resolution, I would ask that you introduce a resolution that condemns terrorism, mourns the death of innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza, and supports all residents impacted by the Israel-Hamas conflict, as I understand Councilmember Zepeda is working on.

It is very disturbing that in a post on Facebook by Asian Pacific Environmental Network (@apen4aj on IG), they talk about how huge Resolution R-1 is for Richmond because we would be the first city in the country to pass a resolution like this. Reading their post, it seems to me like the City Council members that wrote the resolution are using the tragic situation in Palestine and Israel to politically gain from it, because they would be credited as the ones who wrote the first resolution like this in the United States. This is so wrong. Our city council members should not be trying to use this tragedy thousands of miles away from Richmond to advance politically.

Additionally, residents of Richmond should not take the blame or face negative impacts for events taking place thousands of miles away. Richmond has more than enough going on locally, and does not need to be involved in international affairs. This will take much-needed time away from matters pertaining to Richmond.

I urge you to vote “No” on this resolution, or to consider an alternative resolution that is inclusive, and does not divide our community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Theresa Russell
From: Vered Cohen
To: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public comments agenda item R-1. Vote No on Anti-Israel Resolution (Item R-1) Date: Monday, October 23, 2023 9:55:44 AM
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This email originated from outside of the City's email system. Do not open links or attachments from untrusted sources.

Vered Cohen
From: Jim Hanson
To: Eduardo Martinez; Soheila Bana; Claudia Jimenez; Gayle McLaughlin; Doria Robinson; Melvin Willis; Cesar Zepeda
Cc: City Clerk Dept User
Subject: Public Comments_Item R.2 - Public Safety in emergencies funding Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023 2:12:54 PM
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Dear Mayor Martinez and Members of the Council,
As a resident who promotes emergency preparedness education in east Richmond and participates in our region's wildfire risk response policies, both as an advocate for natural areas and our diverse and valuable native flora, and as a homeowner, I'm requesting that the Council include the following elements in any follow up to Item R.2:

SUMMARY REQUEST:

Earthquakes, potential industrial accidents, and wildfire risk prevention and response each get attention; fill an emergency services coordinator position to address each of these potential threats, increase CERT budget, and address neighborhood ham radio connection and overall communications capabilities in an emergency.

For wildfire risk prevention and response, maintain a comprehensive (or three-legged stool) approach: 1) home hardening and defensible space "from the house out" 2) building communications, alerts, and evacuation capability, and 3) and ecologically- based vegetation management.

Include a staff or standing consulting position in ecologically-sound vegetation management to work with fire personnel for maximum wildfire risk prevention and natural area conservation outcomes.

DISCUSSION:

I appreciate the keen interest in developing Richmond's response to earthquake, wildfire, and industrial emergencies for all of Richmond's residents. The inevitable next earthquake(s), potential industrial accidents, and wildfire risk prevention and response affect the entire city population.

In that regard I'm requesting that the Council emphasize all three issues equally, starting by filling the citywide Emergency Services Coordinator with a policy mandate to work on these three high, and often overlapping, priorities. Additional staff support, as recommended by proposed WUI staff position, could be beneficial, but I believe another staff person needs to address all these threats, especially since development of evacuation, communications, alerts and public education programs overlap. Also, since we know that neighborhoods must be prepared as the first response in an emergency, I recommend increasing the CERT budget to make it easier and rewarding to participate in neighborhood emergency response training, to connect via radio to a city emergency center, and to assure overall emergency responder capabilities.

With regard to wildfire risk prevention and response, the one core principle I've discovered is that a comprehensive, or a three-legged stool, approach works best - 1) home hardening/defensible space, 2) communications/alert/evacuation planning, and 3) ecologically- based vegetation management.

Without one of the legs, the program falls down, sometimes tragically. From the work you've both done in this area, the fire service has also stressed making a home more wildfire resilient by closing gaps where embers can enter a structure. One of the recommended measures - significantly lowering, reducing, or removing vegetation around the first 5' around homes in the WUI - is a difficult change that will take time. With this in mind, the request is that Council policy support wildfire prevention "from the house out" with home hardening and defensible space, equally build communications, alerts, and evacuation capabilities (for all three major threats), and align with what other communities are smartly-calling "ecologically- based vegetation management."
In regard to vegetation treatment, what I've found, and am seeing locally, is that involving people trained in ecological land management as co-partners with fire suppression professionals results in a treatment program with the highest return and results long term. The unique vegetation fuel load on a site is reduced in a way that conserves the site's natural beauty, plant diversity, and wildlife, avian, and pollinator habitat. Both science and post- project monitoring indicate that overly-severe removal of intact native plant communities often leads to colonization by invasive weeds, many of which can result in a long-term and expensive removal or liability costs due to their high flammability.

From experience working in natural lands management, and in my current role as volunteer Conservation Chair for the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, I've seen how ecologically-based vegetation treatment principles have begun to make headway with other local agencies with wildfire prevention plans and ordinances who are currently implementing wildfire risk reduction strategies. For this reason, I recommend that one high priority element in an expanded public emergency safety budget is to do as others have and include a staff position or standing consulting contract skilled in ecologically-sound vegetation management to assist fire professionals.

Thank you Council member Bana and Council member Zepeda for bringing this proposal to the Council, and for the Council's keen interest and work on this important matter. I'm requesting that these recommendations be represented in any Council follow up action on public emergency safety programming and funding.

Sincerely,
Jim Hanson
Richmond
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 1/80 Portal  Search... 
Meeting Date
Agenda Item
Name
Email
Comment
Position
Status
City Council
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Juli Lasselle [email protected] I'm deeply
disturbed by this
proposed
resolution. In a
time when
antisemitism is on
the rise around the
world, and Hamas'
recent attack on
Israel was the
worst attack on the
Jewish people since
the Holocaust,
your proposed
resolution is
incredibly
irresponsible.

Nowhere in the
proposed
resolution do you
condemn the
terrorist
organization of
Hamas nor make a
clear distinction
between Hamas
and the Palestinian
people. Instead,
you have added
fuel to the re of
antisemitism,
jeopardizing the
lives and well-
being of your
Against Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 2/80 Jewish constituents
and their children.

Your proposed
resolution does
nothing for the
Palestinian people
but does erode
American
democracy and
decency. Since Yale
historian and
fascism expert
Timothy Snyder
points to
antisemitism as a
stepping stone to
fascism, your
proposed
resolution puts you
personally and the
city of Richmond in
the same corner as
an antisemitic
terrorist
organization and
rising fascism. This
proposed
resolution is
divisive,
antisemitic, and
quite frankly, not
the business of the
city of Richmond.

Stick to helping ALL
of your
constituents, to
helping the
Richmond improve
and grow, rather
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 3/80 than wasting time
and energy sowing
seeds of hatred.

Those who
remember the
Holocaust often
say "never forget".

I will never forget
who brought this
resolution forward.

Shame on you.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Heather Green This resolution
contains untruths
and partial truths
that ignore the
catalyzing act of
terror carried out
by Hamas on
Israelis and
unnecessarily
trivialize the
suering of the
Jewish people in
this moment. It is
not true that no aid
is being admitted
into Gaza. The
characterization of
Israel's military
action as ethnic
cleansing is highly
disputed and
ignores the
stronghold that
Hamas has built in
Gaza. Hamas
controls the
government in
Gaza; they are the
Against Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 4/80 y
state. And, Hamas
is committed to
eradicating Jews.

Hamas' covenant
includes this
language setting
out Jews as the
enemy: "Our
struggle against
the Jews is very
great and very
serious. It needs all
sincere
eorts...The
Movement is but
one squadron that
should be
supported by more
and more
squadrons from
this vast Arab and
Islamic world, until
the enemy is
vanquished."
International law
allows for armed
force in cases of
aggression like the
horric terrorist
attacks by Hamas
on October 7. To
ignore this context
subverts the
resolution's stated
aim to ght
antisemitism. If
terrorism is an
acceptable tool of
resistance in
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 5/80 political arenas as
this resolution
seems to state, I
am afraid for our
shared future. I
pray every minute
for lasting peace,
that the people of
Israel and Palestine
can learn to
tolerate and trust
and respect each
other. This
resolution will only
push us further
apart.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Sigalle Michael [email protected] Dear Council, I
understand the
need for taking a
stand on the
horrors of the
Israel-Hamas war;
however, I urge
you to take an
inclusive and
peaceful approach.

As it stands now,
the resolution for
consideration is
divisive and
ignores the
instigator of the
war. The attack on
Israeli civilians on
October 7th and
the holding of over
200 hostages,
including babies
and children, is
Against Approv
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any decent human.

To ignore this fact
and sway the
resolution to a
single side
demonstrates that
the Council cares
about certain
people sometimes,
and ignores others.

Especially now
when
Islamophobia and
Antisemitism is
skyrocketing
around the world
and especially in
the US, is the time
to show
compassion for
ALL those
suering. Jewish
communities are
feeling unsafe,
scared, and alone -
please make an
eort to showcase
unity and empathy
for all.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
michael sholinbeck I agree that the
situation in Gaza is
terrible, and
Israel's actions are
untenable.

However, I also
believe that having
this resolution,
without
No Position Approv
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attack by Hamas
on October 7,
minimizes our
valuing of Jewish
and Israeli lives. In
2001, we could
condemn the US
response to 9/11,
and yet also state
unequivocally that
what Al Qaeda did
was wrong. Is this
not a similar
situation? Can we
also declare our
desire for a cease-
re here too?
Thank you.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Daryl Henline daryl.henline@gma
il.com
I’m writing to voice
my vehement
opposition to the
City Council’s
proposed
resolution;
Arming
Richmond’s
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza. Not only
do I feel that it is a
slight to the
citizens of
Richmond to have
the precious time
of our
representatives
occupied in global
Against Approv
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politics, but more
troubling, I believe
that a resolution
stating support for
the Palestinians in
Gaza without
stridently
condemning the
Hamas attacks and
reiterating support
for Israel signals
acceptance of the
growing tide of
antisemitism that
has been given
voice in recent
years. The actions
of Hamas
terrorists, the
elected
government of
Gaza, were
unprovoked and
savage,and were
committed against
civilians; women,
children and the
aged alike. The
rocketing of Israel
from Gaza, the
West Bank and
Lebanon
continues. I believe
that those who
express solidarity
with Hamas and
the Palestinians
without
vehemently and
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denouncing the
barbaric attacks—
and without
arming the right
of the Jewish
people to live in
peace and security
— have aligned
themselves with
those who would
destroy Israel and
Jews wherever they
may be. The Jewish
people have
survived genocide
within living
memory. They
have not forgotten,
and must never
again cower
defenseless
against their
enemies.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
David M davidpmarias@gm
ail.com
I agree that the
treatment of
Palestinians is
terrible. However,
demonizing Israel
and placing sole
blame for their
stateless and
disenfranchised
position is bluntly
wrong, immoral,
and accurate. The
resolution claims
Israel is an
apartheid when it
Against Approv
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is the only
democracy in the
middle east that
guarantees safety
and freedom for all
citizens, regardless
of their race,
religion, sexual
orientation
ethnicity, national
origin, or other
factors.

Additionally, Israel
unilaterally left
Gaza in 2006,
forcibly relocating
all Israelis and Jews
from the area in a
good faith eort to
give the Palestinian
people more space
and land to
develop an
independent
Palestinian
country. This move
has been met with
rocket re and
terrorism, most
recently Hamas
murdering over
1400 civilians and
kidnapping over
200 people into
Gaza. Hamas, the
US designated
terror organization
that is the
governing body for
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 11/80 Gaza, also uses
resources from the
international
community to
build and re
rockets at Israel.

Since October 7,
2023, they have
red over 6000 of
them targeting
Israeli civilians
indiscriminately. I,
like all sane and
rational humans,
want to see an
independent
Palestinian state
existing and
thriving alongside
a Jewish
Democratic State
of Israel. However,
resolutions like this
which demonize
Israel, place all
blame for the
conditions on
Israel, and blame
Israel for Hamas's
terrorism against
her WITHOUT even
acknowledging that
Hamas currently
holds over 200
hostages and is still
ring rockets at
Israel (it seems
they've run out of
everything in Gaza
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beyond tone deaf. I
expect better from
my fellow
californians and
people who claim
to be supporting
the oppressed.
supporting this
resolution is
buying into
propaganda from a
recognized terror
organization that is
the true enemy of
the palestinian
people.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Lea C In the wake of a
massive terrorist
attack on innocent
Israelis and
foreigners, this
resolution is
disgusting and
insulting. Why are
you not proposing
a resolution to
stand against
terrorism and
stand by Israel's
right to existence
and self-defense?
This resolution will
encourage anti-
semitism and
make Richmond's
Jewish residents
feel even more
unsafe, as we have
Against Approv
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semitic attacks
increase in the Bay
Area in response
to statements such
as those in your
misguided,
harmful resolution.

If you want to
promote peace
and unity in the
Middle East,
passing resolutions
such as this one
are harmful to
everyone.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Alyssa Gill aggooseag@gmail.
com
Thank you City of
Richmond for
acknowledging the
need for liberation
in Palestine. I see
so many
comments against
this resolution- but
US aid for the
Israeli Military is
funding the ethnic
cleansing of the
Palestinian people.

This is unjustied
on all accounts. I
mourn the people
who died in the
attacks by Hamas,
but I also mourn
the continuously
rising numbers of
Palestinian people
killed as a result of
For Approv
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do not want my
taxes to support
the military. I want
to support my
community,
including standing
with my Palestinian
neighbors in the
US and in Gaza.

You have a chance
to stand for the
liberation of all
people. I hope you
take it.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Maya I am disappointed
by the one
sidedness of this .

This war started
with Hamas
butchering
hundreds of
innocent babies ,
children , women
and men and
destroying
everything in their
path. The
retaliation is to
that . And that is
hard to measure as
there are so much
destruction to both
sides. I think it
would be best to
leave these topics
to the people of
the region . If you
wanted to help -
Against Approv
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make a donation to
both relief for both
people who are
suering right now
.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Mike Swanson I strongly oppose
this very one-sided
approach to an
incredibly complex
situation across
the globe. On
October 7, Hamas
leadership sent
over 1,000 armed
terrorists into
Israeli villages and
a music festival
with the goal of
butchering,
maiming, burning,
pillaging, and
kidnapping as
many innocent
civilians as
possible. They took
over 200 hostages
and killed over
1,300 people.

Where is the
resolution
condemning that?
If the city is passing
this resolution
without making
any references to
that, or for the
right of Israeli
civilians to live in
peace, then it is
Against Approv
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clear how blatantly
one-sided the City
stands. It is
shameful that the
city is not
denouncing
terrorism. In
addition, the
resolution has
points that are not
factual at all. There
was never " an
ethnic cleansing
campaign by
explicitly requiring
two million
Palestinians to
leave Gaza
immediately or risk
being bombed in
their homes by the
Israeli army." In
fact, the Israeli
military did
announce that it
would be striking
Hamas strategic
targets in northern
Gaza and gave
civilians a choice to
leave in 24 hours if
they did not wan to
get caught in the
crossre -- an
option that the
Hamas terrorists
never gave to the
civilians it killed.

Check your facts.
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PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Lee Porter To the City of
Richmond- Yes, I
support peace for
Palestinians and
Israelis. That is why
I call on you to
denounce Hamas,
a terrorist
organization that
preys on the
disenfranchised
and hunts the
innocent. A
terrorist
organization that
proudly claims
responsibility for
the ongoing
murders of Jewish
people across the
globe, and actively
condemns peace
agreements in
favor of jihad and
kidnapping. As a
city in the Bay
Area, within a
region that prides
itself on informed
and actionable
justice, do better in
representing your
citizens and our
collective values. It
is inammatory
and dangerous to
refer to domestic
defense as “ethnic
cleaning”. The
Against Approv
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the city of
Richmond should
know how
important it is to
seriously consider
the impact of these
terms as we stand
to repair right
relation with our
First People. We
want the world to
know that we
support accurate
representation of
our values and
desire skillful
governance in our
most troubling
times. Dismiss this
hasty, careless,
reactive resolution
for what it is; a
short-sighted and
inammatory
collection of sound
bytes in the face of
a painful conict,
reecting
thousands of years
of history outside
the American lens
of experience.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Ethan Pearson ethanp123@yahoo.
com
I stand with Israel! I
refuse to stand
with terrorists and
people with
revisionist history.

The Jews own
Against Approv
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of Gaza
Israel and thank
God they do!
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Rose F No human being
should live in fear
of their life. NO
HUMAN BEING.

Your resolution
does not mention
once the terrorist
organization that
was democratically
voted to govern
Gaza, The
international
(specically UN)
complacency to rid
Gaza of Hamas,
nor the 220
hostages (of
various
nationalities)
currently being
held captive in
Gaza by Hamas.

You accuse Israel
of collective
punishment of a
people who call for
the end of Israel.

You accuse Israel
of withholding
resources which
are used to create
bombs. Where is
the cry and anger
towards the
international
community to hold
Hamas
Against Approv
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there isn’t any,
because they are
terrorists!! So what
should Israel do?
Allow terrorists
access to further
kill their innocent
citizens? My heart
breaks for the
innocent lives that
are lost on both
sides of the
border. I cry every
single day for
EVERY innocent life
lost. Instead of this
supercial
document, act! Get
rid of Hamas! Help
the Palestinian
people establish a
country of their
own with a
government that
does not call for
the demise of
Israel. Israel will
not cease to exist.

War will continue
as long as her
neighbors do not
accept her
existence and
continue to call for
the death of
innocent Israelis.

Lastly, you
mention the
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 21/80 Holocaust. As the
granddaughter of a
survivor of
Auschwitz, I vowed
Never Again. And
today we see the
world turning
against us. We see
the city of
Richmond turning
against the Jewish
people. We live
here too. Our lives
matter too. Our
right to a
homeland that is
internationally
recognized matters
and is valid just as
the United States is
valid. You are
turning your backs
on us, just as my
grandmother’s
neighbors did to
her in 1944 and
you should be
ashamed.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Rachel ● On October 7,
Hamas terrorists
invaded Israel,
slaughtering
hundreds of young
people attending a
music festival,
murdering entire
families, raping
countless women,
beheading Israeli
Against Approv
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soldiers, and killing
children. ● In
addition to spilling
the blood of
innocent Israeli
civilians, Hamas
kidnapped
approximately 200
people, some
American citizens.

These victims also
include Jewish
children and
babies. ● Rape is
not resistance.

Murdering children
is not resistance.

Hamas’s actions
cannot be justied
as a legitimate
response to the
Israeli and
Egyptian blockade
of the Gaza Strip. ●
Israel disengaged
from Gaza in 2005
to give Palestinians
an opportunity to
build a state, but
Hamas, a terrorist
organization, has
been governing
them. Israel knew
the evil Hamas was
capable of, but
even so, it gave
Gaza clean water,
electricity, food,
and humanitarian
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 23/80 aid. ● The Israeli &
Egypt blockaded
Gaza in response
to Hamas’s
brutality. In recent
years, Egypt has
kept its shared
borders with Gaza
strictly controlled
over the years and
today refuses to
open the borders
for Gazan civilians
eeing Gaza City. ●
Israel has an
obligation to
rescue the 200
hostages that were
taken to the Gaza
Strip by Hamas.

Israel cannot stand
by and make no
eort to rescue the
men, women,
children, and
babies taken
captive. According
to President Biden,
these hostages
also include
American citizens.
● Israel will go to
great lengths to
return the
hostages to their
families, but also
to great lengths to
avoid harming
Palestinian civilians
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warning them to
evacuate to
Southern Gaza.

These warnings
inadvertently warn
Hamas operatives
and harm Israel’s
eorts This
resolution places
sole blame on
Israel for the
actions of a
terrorist
organization that
attacked Israeli
civilians. This is
victim blaming and
appalling
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Savitri K Khalsa savitrikaurkhalsa@
gmail.com
I oppose this
resolution. I do not
believe it
represents the
opinions of
Richmond
residents and is
not focused on the
City of Richmond's
management.

Please table this
item.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Shawn Dunning shawn@dunningfo
rrichmond.com
Having worked
closely with
Palestinian and
Israeli leaders
since 2008 as a
conict resolution
specialist, including
Against Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 25/80 living in East
Jerusalem for over
a year, I have deep
ties and
understanding to
the people who live
there, and my
heart breaks for
the unfolding
tragedy in the Gaza
region and beyond.

No statement by
the Richmond, CA
city council can
possibly make a
dierence in the
Middle East, but it
could make a
dierence here in
Richmond. A
statement by your
body could help
unify Richmond
around shared
values.

Nevertheless,
despite the best
intentions that
may have led to
this item (R.1
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza), the
EFFECT is that a
wedge is being
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community you
have been
entrusted to serve.

Social media and
mainstream media
is currently being
ooded with
anecdotes of fear
and perceived
antisemitism due
to text within the
proposed
resolution. There is
no way to undo
what is currently
being perceived,
but you can stop it
from getting
worse. Please
abstain from this
item and get back
to the job of taking
care of Richmond.

Furthermore, if
anyone has a
genuine desire to
bring people
together from
various
perspectives in
order to develop a
common ground
statement, I would
gladly oer my
support. Just let
me know.

Respectfully,
Shawn Dunning
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 27/80 Richmond Resident
Former Global
Director of
Leadership &
Training, Search
for Common
Ground
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Harvey Cohen The Council is
wrong in proposing
this action as it is
one-sided and
does not mention
the atrocities
perpetrated by
Hamas on
innocent Israelis,
with the intention
of killing them and
taking them
hostage. The death
of Gaza
Palestinians is not
due to a desire to
kill them, but due
to the fact that
Hamas terrorists
insert themselves
and their arms in
civilian areas.

There is no moral
equivalence
between atrocious
terrorism and an
attempt to punish
the terrorists.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Anonymous I would not like to
list my position as
“Against” as that
No Position Approv
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Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
would make it look
like I am against
declaring support
for the Palestinian
people, but that is
not the message I
wish to convey. In
fact I and many
Jews like myself
care deeply for the
Palestinian people.

Our shared history
in this conict
fueled by our
leaders deserves
the attention it
always gets.

However, I have
many issues with
the way this
resolution is
written and feel
that it has been
specically
designed to leave
out key
information which
when omitted
paints a one sided
picture of an
extremely nuanced
conict. To start
o, this resolution
makes no mention
of the brutal attack
on Oct 7 in which
Hamas, a known
terrorist
organization and
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elected
“government” of
Gaza, invaded
Israel and
indiscriminately
slaughtered 1400
people, including
260 at a music
festival as well as
many others in
their homes as
Hamas went to
various towns and
villages, raping and
murdering along
the way. It also fails
to mention the
over 200 hostages
of many
nationalities that
were abducted and
taken into Gaza. If
you know the
history of this
conict as well as I
do, there is only
one cause for this
attack and it has
nothing to do with
wanting safety and
security for the
Palestinian people.

Hamas was
founded with a
stated purpose to
eliminated the
State of Israel, and
all Jews with it, and
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 30/80 this event is just
another example
of how they are
willing to
accomplish their
goals. On top of
this omission, the
resolution goes on
to place blame for
the conditions of
Gaza solely on the
Israeli government,
and does not
acknowledge the
millions of dollars
that we and other
countries provide
to Gaza which
ultimately ends up
in the hands of
Hamas to be used
for rockets which
they launch
towards Israeli
civilians, rather
than for
humanitarian
purposes to help
their own people.

Even now while
they claim to have
no food, water,
and electricity in
Gaza, Hamas has
continually
launched rockets
from civilian
outposts such as
hospitals and
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itself is a war crime
of using human
shields. And to top
it all o, this
resolution has
decided to co-opt
language such as
“Never Again” to
describe what the
author claims is
happening in Gaza,
where the Israeli
government has
placed a blockade
due to a long
history of
invasions, suicide
bombings, and
more
indiscriminate
civilian
murdering. And
even during this
blockade, they
have provided
water and
electricity to the
people of Gaza, a
people who largely
cheered on the Oct
7 slaughter, not
because they have
to, but because
they care a lot
more for the
Palestinian people
than even their
own leadership
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acknowledging the
history as to why
these conditions
exist in the rst
place, the author is
only furthering the
lies that Israel is
somehow the only
one to blame in
this conict, and
using our language
is just a means of
minimizing what
happened to the
Jewish people not
even 100 years
ago. I’ll end with
one nal remark,
as the resolution
claims at the end
that the aim is to
combat ethno-
nationalism in all
its forms, however
this resolution only
seems concerned
with the Jewish
one, and not that
of the countless
others in existence,
many of whom are
committing
atrocities far worse
than anything
Israel has ever
done. It’s time for
an end to the
narrative that
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 33/80 Israel and the
Jewish people are
responsible for
everything bad
happening in the
world, and instead
take a look at the
broader picture
and see how all
sides have
contributed to the
situation we have
today.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Nate L landry.nathaniel@g
mail.com
I urge the city
council to pass this
resolution. Anti-
Zionism is not anti-
Semitism. Criticism
of Israel and its
settler-colonial
project is not anti-
Semitic. If
anything, the
conation of Jewish
people worldwide,
and of Judaism,
with the state of
Israel is anti-
Semitic. I stand
with antizionist
Jews in Richmond
and across the Bay
Area in support of
Resolution R-1, and
echo the
resolution’s call for
an end to the
collective
punishment of the
For Approv
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people of Gaza and
to Israel’s ethnic
cleansing
campaign against
the Palestinian
people. Moreover,
our tax dollars
enable Israeli
apartheid and the
collective
punishment of
Gazans. Both the
17 year blockade
of Gaza, whose
devastating eects
are outlined in
Resolution R-1, and
the current siege,
would not be
possible without
the billions of
dollars in military
and economic aid
the federal
government sends
Israel every year.

This is money
freed up by years’
worth of
divestment from
American
communities like
those the
Richmond City
Council represents,
money that should
instead go to
meeting the urgent
needs of those
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Elected ocials at
every level of
American society -
including the
Richmond City
Council - have a
responsibility to
stand in solidarity
with the people of
Gaza and to stand
against Israel’s
brutal repression
of the Palestinian
people and the US
aid that enables it.

Richmond has the
opportunity to
become the rst
city in the country
to pass a
resolution
supporting the
people of Gaza and
the right of all
people to safety,
dignity, . I urge the
council to make
history, and to
stand on the right
side of it, by
passing Resolution
R-1 and oering a
model for cities
across the US to
follow.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Matthew Lewis As a Jew - and
more importantly,
as a fellow human
For Approv
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Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
being - I urge you
to PASS this
resolution
UNAMENDED.

Israe is currently
engaging in ethnic
cleansing and
indiscriminately
bombing
Palestinian
civilians. The
President of Israel
has literally said
that all Gazans are
guilty and
deserved to be
bombed, and
Israel’s ocial
twitter account is
explicitly attacking
the idea that killing
civilians constitutes
war crimes. What
more proof do you
need that this is
ethnic cleansing
and war crimes.

Stand up for
human rights -
PASS this
resolution
UNAMENDED. In
passing this
resolution
unamended, the
Richmond City
Council will be in
good company. For
example,
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 37/80 approximately two
years ago
Berkeley’s elected
Rent Board

UNANIMOUSLY
passed a
resolution
condemning
Israel’s ethnic
cleansing of
Palestinians. The
Richmond City
Council should join
the Berkeley Rent
Board and the
greater community
in standing up for
human rights and
against ethnic
cleaning. PASS THE

RESOLUTION AS
WRITTEN.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Lauren Schiman crackmagazine@ho
tmail.com
I urge you to vote
no on Item R-1.

You are issuing this
resolution at a
time of great
geopolitical strife
in Israel/Gaza, yet
you never dene
Hamas or mention
the goal of Hamas
(per the Hamas
Charter) to
eliminate Israel.

You do not
mention the
Hamas attack of
October 7, in which
Against Approv
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massacred more
than 1,400 Israeli
citizens, including
children, women,
and elders. You do
not mention that
Hamas currently
holds more than
200 hostages,
including Israeli
civilians—even
children--and
citizens of other
nations. I agree
with the point that
the people of Gaza
have been
mistreated for
decades and are
currently suering
a tragedy. I hope
for a ceasere, for
Gazan civilians to
get the aid they
need, and for a
solution leading to
peace in the
region-- because
the people of Gaza
and the people of
Israel deserve to
live in peace. I
wonder why in
your resolution
you talk about the
people and
population of Gaza
but only about the
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as the brutal
Hamas attack
doesn't reect the
hearts of all Gazan
people, the actions
of the current
right-wing Israeli
government don't
reect all the
people of Israel.

That is evident by
the hundreds of
thousands of
Israelis who were
protesting the
current
government before
the Hamas attack
earlier this month.

If you hope for a
speedy resolution
to this current
conict and for
peace in the
region, as I do, I
hope you'll vote no
on Item R-1. If you
feel that you need
to register your
thoughts on this
issue, I urge you to
author a resolution
oering sympathy
for both innocent
Palestinians and
innocent Israelis,
perhaps engaging
local Palestinian
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to help draft a
more inclusive
message.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
HALLIE FRIEDMAN [email protected] This resolution is ill advised and lled
with falsehoods.

The city has so
much work that it
needs to do that
this is a distraction.

I am a 35 yr
resident of
Richmond and
member of Temple
Beth Hillel, i have
lost family of family
in the recent attack
by Hamas on Israel
(including 2 young
children who were
murdered with
their mother).

Please consider
that you are not
actually
representing the
wishes of the
people you
represent. VOTE
NO
Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Carl Nelson [email protected]
om
I am against the
resolution that
appears in Item R-1
of the Agenda for
tonight's meeting
for the reasons set
forth in my 11:41
Against Approv
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Council Members
today. As I stated
in small part, "If
the Council feels a
need to adopt a
resolution, "
Council Members
were elected to
solve local
problems and
thereby improve
the lives of
Richmond
residents, not to
dabble in
international
aairs. They
certainly were not
elected to incite
violence against
Richmond
residents based on
their ethnicity or
religious
background. .... I
agree with Sara
Cleveland that it
should address the
pain and distress
of both Jews and
Palestinians,
condemn all forms
of terrorism,
mourn the death
of innocent
civilians in Israel
and Gaza, and
express its support
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impacted by the
Israel-Hamas
conict." I also
reference the
correspondence
sent by Rabbi Dean
Kertesz, Larry Fox
& Sara Cleveland.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Linda Rose linda@sandy-
dog.com
the resolution is
very one-sided,
promoting
dissonance rather
than peace and
working together.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Larry Fox [email protected]
om
As a lifetime
resident of
Richmond, I am
appalled by the
language and
sentiments in your
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza. On the
surface, this all
sounds well and
good, but rather
misplaced given
the plethora of
issues that the City
of Richmond
currently faces.

The same time and
Against Approv
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be applied to
issues within our
city and its citizens.

Take your pick
there are hundreds
of them. With that
obvious notion
mentioned, I will
address one of the
most egregious
statements in the
resolution. The one
I take the greatest
exception to is the
statement that
"Israel is now
engaged in an
ethnic cleansing
campaign by
explicitly requiring
two million
Palestinians to
leave Gaza
immediately or risk
being bombed in
their homes by the
Israeli army." While
that may have
been dened in
the line above that
does not make it
true. Ethnic
Cleansing is a
highly inaccurate
depiction. While I
do believe it may
be an overreaction
to a vicious attack,
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killing of civilians
(many children) - it
is not ethnic
cleansing. Israel,
unlike Hamas, did
give Palestinians a
warning and time
to leave to
minimize
casualties. That is
not an act of Ethnic
Cleansing or
genocide.

However, Hamas'
manifesto does call
for the destruction
of Israel, which
seems a lot closer
to genocide to me.

There are so many
ways this
resolution could
have been positive
- calling for calm
and peaceful ways
to address this
"war." and support
both peoples.

Instead,
statements were
made that were
inammatory and
could only
heighten tensions
in our Richmond
community,
essentially giving
antisemites the
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the Jews in our
community. This is
dangerous and
condones poor
behavior at the
very least, if not
indicating that
violence is okay
against members
of our community.

That is not the
Richmond I know
and not one that I
want to be a part
of. My Community,
that of the good
people of
Richmond, which
the Jewish
community is a
vital part of, stands
with its brothers
and sisters for its
call for peace and
dignity of all
people here and
around the world.

Demonizing does
not help anyone,
especially when it
is not accurate. I
believe that
Council Member
Zepeda has
alternative
language for the
Resolution, that
would be far more
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city. Do not pass
this resolution as it
stands. It only
invites hate and
provides nothing
positive for anyone
who needs it.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Michelle Husby michelle.husby@g
mail.com
The whereas's in
this resolution are
ridiculously one-
sided and
antisemitic. Why
not pass a
resolution for
peace instead?
Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
JANE DURANGO jane_durango@hot
mail.com
The City of
Richmond should
not pass this vile,
antisemitic
resolution. The City
Council should be
in favor of peace.

This resolution
should be
defeated.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Mitra Z I am for Richmond
City Council to
PASS R.1 and stand
in solidarity with
the Palestinian
people.

International
solidarity is, above
all, a key
component of
what makes a city
For Approv
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represents a
community that is
unwavering. More
than ever in the
midst of Western
media
propaganda, we
need cities in the
U.S. to take a stand
against ethnic
cleansing,
especially if the
U.S. plays a large
role in supporting
Israel. Above all
and what must be
repeated over and
over again, anti-
zionism is
fundamentally not
anti-semitism! I
respect that this
resolution is
committed to
combatting both
zionism and anti-
semitism. As a Bay
Area resident, this
resolution must
pass!
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Alan Marks alanbmarks1920@
gmail.con
Divisive and one
sided. Stick to local
issues.

Against Approv
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PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Sarah K Please pass this
resolution and
stop genocide
happening right
before our eyes!!
End the
occupation!
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Jane Kemp jckemp5674@gmail
.com
One-sided and
hateful. A waste of
Richmond
taxpayers money,
especially when
there are so many
other worthy
issues here in
Richmond that
need attention.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Anna Stein This resolution
does not promote
peace, it does
nothing to benet
the Palestinian
people. This
resolution
promotes
divisiveness and
hatred. This is not
the way to ght
terror and war.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Susanna Resolution R-1 is
divisive, biased,
imbalanced,
spreads falsehoods
and
misinformation,
and speaks
Against Approv
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glaring omission of
any
acknowledgment
that Hamas, in a
vicious act of
terrorism, initiated
this unspeakable
violence and
murdered over
1400 innocent
Israelis and others
(including many
Americans), and
inicted trauma on
millions. This one-
sided resolution
amounts to an
approval of those
acts of terrorism
against Jews and
Hamas'
determination to
eradicate Israel
and the Jewish
people (which you
should, but do not,
recognize as a real
example of a pure
motive of "ethnic
cleansing"); and
reects a barely
disguised
antisemitism that
will prove very
hurtful in our own
community, while
doing absolutely
nothing to relieve
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innocent
Palestinians.

Attend to your
business home,
and vote NO on R-
1 if you care about
justice and the
wellbeing of your
own community
here in Richmond.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Anonymous Honored City
Council members,
thank you for
introducing this
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza. The
people of Gaza are
suering a
humanitarian
catastrophe and
are at risk of ethnic
cleansing. This
resolution from the
City of Richmond
sends an
important message
that Palestinians,
just like Israeli
Jewish people, are
suering
enormous losses in
this conict. I
extend my deepest
For Approv
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sympathies to the
many losses of
Jewish people in
Israel and the
same I extend the
same sympathies
to Palestinans who
are also suering
staggering losses. I
would like to
express my strong
support with the
resolution and
urge you to vote in
its favor.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Luke Pickrell lukepickrell@yahoo
.com
As a Richmond
resident, I know
this city stands for
rights and
freedoms for all
people. By passing
this resolution, we
arm our belief
that all people
have the right to a
good life. We stand
against oppression
and for the power
of the people.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Andy McCoy awbmccoy@gmail.
com
I am strongly in
favor of this
resolution. The
resolution
recognizes the
inhumanity of the
ongoing, collective
punishment of
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
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is living in what
many international
human rights
organizations refer
to as the world's
largest open-air
prison. Even
relatively small
actions like this
one can
reverberate
beyond the
connes of this
City Council
Meeting and
beyond Richmond,
and can help build
the movements
and consensus
needed to nally
bring this war to a
halt.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Lila S Thank you for
being on the right
side of history. The
bravery in making
this statement
makes me proud
to be a Richmond
resident. The
Palestinian people
have been
deprived of dignity,
the right to
sovereignty, and
self-determination
for too long. As JFK
said, "Those who
For Approv
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revolution
impossible will
make violent
revolution
inevitable." The
loss of life, both
Israeli and
Palestinian, is
completely
unacceptable and
we must move
forward with a
cease-re and a
peaceful
addressing of
Palestinian rights
and needs
PEACEFULLY.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Theresa Bostic I'm for this
resolution as it is
the rst one I've
seen brought by a
city to outright
arm Palestinians
and Pro-Palestine
supporters as well
as validate the
harm and
atrocities
committed by the
Israeli government
and military onto
the Palestinian
people. I also
appreciate that the
resolution "vows to
combat
antisemitism" as it
For Approv
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support and
solidarity with
Jewish people.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Anne M amferruzzi@gmail.
com
I'm a public K-12
educator living in
Richmond and
commend you for
considering this
resolution in
support of the
Palestinian people.

This is a brave and
necessary act of
solidarity. As an
educator and
Filipina American
who has
experienced the
generational
harms of
colonialism, I can't
stand to see one
more child die as a
result of this ethnic
cleansing
campaign, and of
those who do
survive, to imagine
the physical and
psychological
torment they will
undergo over the
course of their
lives, and for
generations. There
is no excuse not to
do everything we
can to put a stop to
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the ethnic
cleansing and
subjugation of the
people in Palestine
immediately, and
there is no excuse
to not pass this
resolution and
stand in solidarity
with them. This will
also serve as a
statement of
support to our own
residents who have
experienced and
continue to
experience the
harms of
colonialism,
oppression, and
subjugation, and
serve as a model
and inspiration for
other cities to do
the same. I stand
with you in pride
and purpose in
passing this
resolution.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
David Zimring I urge the council
to vote against this
resolution. It only
refers to one side
of a tense situation
and our
community needs
to seek balance
and support. This
resolution will not
Against Approv
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and could instead
divide our
community.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Mark L. Most of us want
peace. We realize
this is a tragic
situation, but it is
not solely caused
by Israel as clearly
demonstrated by
the Hamas attack.

This resolution is
one-sided and will
lead to increased
divisiveness and
antisemitism in the
city of Richmond.

Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Elizabeth Ibarra [email protected]
om
The Palestinian
people have face
unimaginable
hardships and
oppression for
decades, I support
standing in
solidarity with the
Palestinian people.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Danielle Kerr danielle17dk@gma
il.com
No human being
should live in fear
of their life. Your
resolution does
not mention once
the terrorist
organization that
was democratically
voted to govern
Gaza, The
Against Approv
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(specically UN)
complacency to rid
Gaza of Hamas,
nor the 220
hostages (of
various
nationalities)
currently being
held captive in
Gaza by Hamas.

You accuse Israel
of collective
punishment of a
people who call for
the end of Israel.

You accuse Israel
of withholding
resources which
are used to create
bombs. Where is
the cry and anger
towards the
international
community to hold
Hamas
accountable?!? Oh,
there isn’t any,
because they are
terrorists!! So what
should Israel do?
Allow terrorists
access to further
kill their innocent
citizens? My heart
breaks for the
innocent lives that
are lost on both
sides of the
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single day for
EVERY innocent life
lost. Instead of this
supercial
document, act! Get
rid of Hamas! Help
the Palestinian
people establish a
country of their
own with a
government that
does not call for
the demise of
Israel. Israel will
not cease to exist.

War will continue
as long as her
neighbors do not
accept her
existence and
continue to call for
the death of
innocent Israelis.

Lastly, you
mention the
Holocaust. As the
granddaughter of a
survivor of
Auschwitz, I vowed
Never Again. And
today we see the
world turning
against us. We see
the city of
Richmond turning
against the Jewish
people. We live
here too. Our lives
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right to a
homeland that is
internationally
recognized matters
and is valid just as
the United States is
valid. You are
turning your backs
on us, just as my
grandmother’s
neighbors did to
her in 1944 and
you should be
ashamed.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Ian F. I write to urge the
City Council to pass
Resolution R.1 as it
arms the sanctity
of the lives of
Arabs by
recognizing the
scope and nature
of Palestinian
suering. As
following 9/11 (to
which the attack of
October 7 has
been compared),
the response from
the federal
government has
been to
dehumanize Arabs
as a block and to
ignore decades of
oppression to
justify collective
punishment on a
For Approv
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massive scale.

Resolution R.1
sends an
important message
to Arab residents
of Richmond,
including my in-
laws who have
lived and owned a
grocery store in
Richmond for
decades, that their
elected
representatives
value them as
equal members of
the human race,
whose claims to
life and dignity are
equal to those of
non-Arabs. The
message being
sent to them at
every other level of
the American
government is
uniform: your
suering and your
life are less
important to us
and we will fund
the slaughter of
you and your
children and
buttress your
oppressors and
there’s nothing you
can do about it. I
urge the City
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Resolution R.1.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Henry Please pass this
resolution. What
Israel is doing to
Palestinians is
nothing short of
ethnic cleansing.

Gaza is an open air
prison currently
without access to
clean water, food
and electricity, and
the people are
currently being
bombed by one of
the most well-
equipped militaries
on the world. Many
call the resolution
one-sided, but our
relation to it is one-
sided. The US
provides Israel
with 3.8 billion
dollars in military
aid annually, and is
set to pass billions
more for this year.

All of this supports
an apartheid state
that has kept Gaza
under a brutal 15
year blockade. We
must support a
peaceful resolution
to the violence, we
must oppose
apartheid and
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ethnic cleansing
everywhere, and
that's what this
resolution calls for.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Cynthia Robinson [email protected]
m
I did not elect the
Richmond City
Council to weigh in
on international
aairs. It’s
resolution merely
reiterates views
already in
circulation by the
Palestinian press.

To reframe the
miliary actions of
Israel as “ethnic
cleansing” is to
attribute an intent
to the miliary
action on par with
genocide, as if the
attack by Hamas
never happened
and Israel should
“turn the other
cheek.” I want the
people of Gaza to
have safety. I want
the people of Israel
to have safety. I
respectfully
request the
Richmond City
Council set aside
this resolution. The
world is a tinder
box ready to be set
aame by
Against Approv
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vengeance, anger
and retribution.

Please do not add
fuel to the re.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Alicia D. Polak [email protected]
m
According to the
most recent data
from the FBI, the
total crime rate in
Richmond is
4,267.9 per
100,000 people.

That's 81.92%
higher than the
national rate of
2,346.0 per
100,000 people
and 65.36% higher
than the California
total crime rate of
2,581.0 per
100,000 people. I
cannot fathom why
you would choose
to bring forth such
a resolution which
is so one sided,
makes no mention
of the death of
innocent children,
families and babies
in light of the
severity of the
problems in your
own backyard.

Your language is
inciteful and does
nothing to foster
community
building, peace,
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tolerance or
understanding.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Nishat Ahmed I applaud the
Richmond City
Council for taking
up this resolution.

Given that this
country is based
on the principles of
freedom and
justice, it's crazy
that this has not
happened yet.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Khadeeja ABdullah Thank you for
taking a stance for
humanity. The
world is watching
us here in the US
and I'm so proud
of Richmond for
trying to stop the
loss of innocent
lives of children,
men and women.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Maryam Gul maryamgul@gmail.
com
Dear council !
Thank you for your
eort. Thank you
for being on the
side of humanity
thank you for
being on the side
of empathy , thank
you for not
dehumanizing kids
of Palestine .

Thank you for
reaching our kids
For Approv
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pass this so we can
have one step
close to ceasere .
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Emine Yildiz [email protected]
m
I am proud of the
Richmond
community and
city council for
having the courage
to do what most
people are afraid
to do at the
moment. This is a
humanitarian issue
and we must unite
in doing the right
thing. Richmond
city council and
community are
heroes for taking
the lead in this!
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Sara Ahmed Thank you for
taking this stance
for humanity and
being positive
examples for the
broader
community.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Bennish Thank you Council
for this necessary
and brave act of
solidarity.

For Approv
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PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Adeel Syed It's been heart
breaking to see
that in the name of
defense over 6000
Palestinians have
been killed. War
crimes as
recognized by the
UN are being
committed. It
needs to end.

Thank you for
voicing the concern
of residents of
Richmond.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Lena Abdelfattah Thank you
managing to take
the humane route
amid all the anger.

For upholding the
universal sanctity
of human life and
rearming that we
all must follow the
framework of
international law
and human rights
no matter what.

Your leadership is
inspiring.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Haania Hasan Thankful for
Richmond city
council for taking
this brave and
humanitarian step.

For Approv
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PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Mariam I appreciate
Richmond’s stance
on this issue.

Blocking food,
water, fuel, etc to
civilians is wrong.

The bombing of
civilians is not the
answer.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Omeera Qadir [email protected]
m
Thank you City of
Richmond for
showing that
Palestinian civilians
do not deserve to
be killed. All people
deserve access to
water, fuel, and
clean air. This is a
humanitarian
crisis, where
innocent people
need access to aid.

There needs to be
an immediate
ceasere and the
state of Israel
needs to be held
accountable for its
war crimes. The
world should be
using the City of
Richmond as an
example for
standing for
humanity and the
people of
Palestine.

For Approv
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PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Jennifer Webb jennwebby@gmail.
com
Thank you City of
Richmond for
standing with the
Palestinians! Thank
you for standing
up against these
horric war crimes
and ethnic
cleansing.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Amtul Aziz Thank you for
voting to stop the
bloodshed.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Ammar chaudhry ammar.chaudhry8
[email protected]
Thank you for
being on the side
of humanity. You
are the voice of
people with no
voice
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Saad hasan Please save people
of Gazaz
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Alia Dada Thank you for
being a voice for
the hundreds of
thousands of
Americans of all
For Approv
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of Gaza
faiths and
nationalities
AGAINST this
genocide against
the people of Gaza.

You all are a sign
that humanity still
exists !!
10/24/2023 4:30
PM

PUBLIC COMMENT

BEFORE CLOSED
SESSION (limited to
items on the
Closed Session
agenda only)
Palestinians for
Liberation
The US is complicit
in the ongoing
ethnic cleansing of
Palestine. We hold
you responsible to
act against ongoing
warcrimes now.

We demand -the
complete
liberation of
Palestine -the
return of all
refugees to their
homeland -the
release of the
thousands of
Palestinian
hostages kept in
Israeli prisons,
including women
and children -
reparations for the
Palestinian people
-a complete
dismantlement of
the zionist project
that has held the
US complicit in war
crimes, genocide,
ethnic cleansing,
and land theft.
- Approv
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the right to defend
themselves against
genocide. The
entire world is
disgusted by our
veto against the
ceasere and the
crumbs of aid
being allowed in
for performative
measure. We
demand an
immediate opening
of all borders into
Palestine for
access to
unconditional and
limitless
humanitarian aid
from the
international
community. Stop
standing in the
way, and do the
ethical thing.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Armand Doner This is a much
needed resolution
and I strongly
support it. I
applaud the city of
Richmond in
having the bravery
to stand up for all
humanity!
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Hitfan Kurtu hitfankurtu@gmail.
com
Thank you
Richmond City
Council standing in
For Approv
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Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
solidarity with the
people of Gaza.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Norah S This position is in
favor. However
more must be
done, this is the
bare minimum.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Tazeen Ghani [email protected] Thank you for
supporting the
Palestinian people
and raising
awareness of their
plight
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Marwan S Zionism is
Fascisim, what a
shame that Never
Again became
Everyday! Zionists
are a danger to
America! Free
Palestine
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Zain Hasan Please support
little children of
Gaza who are
wondering why are
they getting killed
mercilessly.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Uzma Thank you council
for recognizing the
For Approv
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Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Sadia Thank you council
for recognizing the
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Omar Thank you council
for recognizing the
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Safaa Abdelfatah Free Palestine,
Stop the genocide.
- Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Moona Thank you council
for recognizing the
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Yusuf Thank you council
for recognizing the
For Approv
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Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
10/24/2023 4:30
PM

OPEN FORUM FOR

PUBLIC COMMENT
Sana Rizwan sananaved@gmail.
com
Ceasere Now! 100
percent FOR the
resolution.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Diane Goldberg Thank you
Richmond for
standing in
solidarity with
Gaza
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Farida shah Please stop
senseless killing of
little children.

Please support
ceasere.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Mohammad Ajmal Thank you City of
Richmond for
showing humanity
to the people of
Palestine.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Steve mercado I am not a Muslim
nor a Palestinian. I
am a human who
is so sad to see so
many small
For Approv
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of Gaza
children getting
killed in cold blood.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Faryal I write to urge the
city council to pass
the resolution R.1
to support
Palestinian people,
to stand up for
humanity, peace
and justice. No one
should have to
bear witness to
thousands of
children being
massacred and
starved. Please be
on the right side of
history.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Aysha Qadir aysha.qadir@gmail
.com
Thank you city of
Richmond for
showing that the
Palestinian people
do not deserve to
be eliminated.

Humanity deserves
at least the basic
rights such as food,
shelter, water. We
can clearly see that
in Gaza, israel has
been restricting
those needs while
dropping bombs
day in and day out.

Killing innocent
people. Innocent
children and
babies. They are
For Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 75/80 trying to wipe out
the people and yes
it is seen as a
genocide at this
point. There needs
to be an
immediate stop to
this and a ceasere
needs to take
place. I thank you
all for those who
are for the
ceasere.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Julie Cohen The people of
Palestine are facing
war crimes and
civilians need
access to aid.

Thank you City of
Richmond for
standing up for
Gaza!
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Corrie San Jose I appreciate
Richmond city
council who is
trying to stand
right side of
history. This is
unfortunately so
sad to be witness
to.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Baqir Hussain I applaud the
Richmond Council
for taking a stance
for justice and
humanity.

For Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 76/80 Palestinian People
of Gaza
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Katie Horowitz Please pass this ,
so we can have
peace . You are on
the right side of
humanity, you are
the voice of many.

We appreciate you
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Lizette Thank you
Richmond City
Council for
standing in
solidarity with the
people of Gaza.

You are the beacon
of light our
government needs.

We fully support
you and appreciate
you!
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Ezra Abraham End this madness
now. We stand
with freedom of
speech we stand
with the innocent
and against
genocide
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
nadia selod Thank you council
for recognizing the
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 77/80 10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
nadeem aibani Thank you council
for recognizing the
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
adnan selod Thank you council
for recognizing the
grave
humanitarian crisis
facing the innocent
civilians in Gaza
For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Sabiha Thank you council
for being the voice
and standing up
against
humanitarian crisis
faced by the
Palestinians.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Soa Please stop killing
innocent people
- Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Najwa Ann End the genocide! For Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 78/80 10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Jameelah Shukri I would like to
acknowledge the
Council for being
brave and taking
the necessary act
of solidarity. I
stand in solidarity
with the people of
Palestine and
believe they
deserve the right
to live and have
access to clean
water, electricity,
food and shelter.

Israel's attacks on
Gaza are a form of
ethnic cleansing
and collective
punishment of
civilians, which by
international law is
considered a war
crime. We have the
power to call on
our government to
put a stop to the
war crimes of the
Israeli government.

We stand with
those who seek
humanitarian
justice.

For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Shahidah Shukri I would like to
acknowledge the
Council for being
brave and taking
the necessary act
of solidarity. I
For Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 79/80 Palestinian People
of Gaza
stand in solidarity
with the people of
Palestine and
believe they
deserve the right
to live and have
access to clean
water, electricity,
food and shelter.
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Safa Stop killing the
innocent people
Against Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Elle Frank For the resolution! For Approv
10/24/2023 4:30
PM
Resolution
Arming
Richmond's
Support and
Solidarity with the
Palestinian People
of Gaza
Alma Barrios I would like to
thank the council
for this brave and
necessary act of
solidarity with the
people of Gaza. It
is horrible
witnessing the
genocide of an
entire community.

Israel's ongoing
bombing campaign
in Gaza, which has
resulted in the loss
of thousands of
For Approv
10/25/23, 12:31 PM richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment https://richmond.escribemeetings.com/Pages/ReportingPrintFriendly.aspx?reporting-reporttype=PublicComment 80/80 Palestinian civilian
lives is something
that our tax dollars
should not be
funding. I applaud
your bravery to
stand for humanity
in these moments.

We believe that all
people deserve the
right to clean air,
water, food,
electricity and
most importantly;
safety.
123

Richmond City CouncilOctober 24, 2023

Richmond City Council
October 24, 2023