From: Elena Lev
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Support for Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Thursday, February 22, 2024 1:49:17 PM
Esteemed Santa Rosa City Council members,
My name is Elena Lev and I am a lifelong Sonoma County resident and voter. I am also a proud Jew, and a former long-time member of Congregation Shomrei Torah, where I had my bat mitzvah.
I am emailing in support of putting a ceasefire resolution on the next city council meeting agenda.
Now is the time for clear and decisive action in support of long-term peace solutions. If Santa Rosa passes this resolution, we will join a long list of cities in support of a ceasefire (including Cotati, Richmond, San Francisco); we will set an example for the rest of Sonoma County. This action will be part of Santa Rosa's legacy; if it fails, this will also be part of its legacy.
I recognize that this is a difficult decision. Many people are in opposition to this resolution.
There is a lot of fear here, particularly from Jewish residents, and I understand this fear and feel empathy for those residents.
But this resolution does not endanger or promote violence towards anybody, internationally or locally. This resolution promotes peace. Peace unites us, it doesn't divide us. War divides us.
I implore you to do the right thing and take a stand for the peace and dignity of all innocent civilians, in both Israel and Palestine. Please consider putting a ceasefire resolution on the agenda for the next city council meeting.
Sincerely,
Elena Lev
From: Jo Ann Jones
To: _CityCouncilListPublic
Cc: Smith, Maraskeshia
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Follow up Goal Setting Meeting
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024 10:21:06 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers, City Manager Smith, and Council Members We are concerned that senior mobile home residents living in Santa Rosa, will be forced out of their homes by the predatory targeting efforts of large real-estate companies to buy up senior mobile home parks. Once they do this, the first step is to change the park desigination to an all age park and raise the space rent, thereby attempting to drive out older homeowners. Many of these companies have a track record of litigation over evictions and rent increases. Research has found that this is being done both nationally and locally as seniors are becoming a large portion of the homeless population. I'm asking you to provide further protections to the senior parks by starting the process for senior park zoning overlays. Thank you for your continued support. We can't do this without you.
Regards,
Jo Ann Jones
The Country HOA/ President
From: Elizabeth Jarlsberg
To: City Council Public Comments
Cc: Barb McGee
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Letter from Congregation Beth Ami Board of Directors Date: Friday, February 23, 2024 11:25:57 AM
Attachments: Letter to SR regarding Israel.Hamas war Feb 22 2024.doc (1).rtf Dear Council Members,
Please see the attached letter from our Board of Directors re: the Israel-Hamas war Thank you,
--
Elizabeth Jarlsberg, Office Manager
Congregation Beth Ami
Please consider the environment before printing this email. Thank you.
February 22, 2024
Dear Mayor Natalie Rogers and Santa Rosa Council members, On behalf of Congregation Beth Ami, one of the three Jewish congregations in Santa Rosa, we express our sincere concern for all the peoples affected by the current Middle East conflict. We respectfully ask the Council to dismiss any attempt to legislate this current situation.
As a local community we think a resolution by the Santa Rosa City Council is inappropriate. Our City Council is charged with the responsibility to focus on issues which directly affect our local community.
To debate and frame resolutions outside of this mission requires much research which is beyond the council’s authority and dilutes its stated responsibilities.
For us, local government statements regarding this conflict invite public comments that often reflect the rhetoric of antisemitism. We have seen local resolutions on the Israel-Hamas war that have not affected the course of the war, but have fueled a rise in hate speech and vandalism directed against Jews and Jewish businesses and institutions in cities where these non-binding resolutions have been passed. Not only do they set a dangerous precedent affecting our Jewish community but impact other minorities as well.
As a Jewish community we stand for peace and equality for all. We are a diverse community with various points of view. We respect every individual’s right to peacefully protest and express his or her opinions.
Thank you for your leadership at this challenging time, The Board of Directors of Congregation Beth Ami
Santa Rosa, California
From: Summer Abdel
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Please adopt Ceasefire now resolution Date: Friday, February 23, 2024 7:28:32 PM
I hope Santa Rosa will take seriously the request to adopt a Ceasefire Resolution.
I firmly believe advocating for peaceful and diplomatic solutions sends a strong message that our community values nonviolence as a means to problem solve. Right now too many innocent civilians in Gaza are losing life and limb as our federal politicians continue to ignore 61% of voters calling for a ceasefire. It's estimated 300,000 people in northern Gaza are facing starvation. The UN World Food Program has paused food aid to the north of Gaza because their workers are not safe delivering limited amounts of food when so so much more food is needed. 15.6 per cent - or 1 in 6 children under 2 years of age - are acutely malnourished.
We need a ceasefire resolution now to show President Biden what they people want. We want diplomatic solutions because we know these kinds of military aggressions create dangerous blowback. We want peace for the region. This starts with a ceasefire.
https://www.wfp.org/news/un-food-agency-pauses-deliveries-north-gaza From: Lynn Cameron
To: CityCouncilListPublic; Smith, Maraskeshia; Basinger, Megan; Osburn, Gabe Subject: [EXTERNAL] Creation of the Senior Ovelay
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024 1:02:21 PM
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members,
I am hoping that you can ensure that Director Osburn puts the creation of the Senior Overlay on a fast track agenda in his Department. This needs to happen before it can move to Housing and Community Services and then to the Council for a vote.
Please see that this is completed and enacted before the end of this year to keep our Senior Housing protected and affordable.
Senior citizens in California are struggling to make ends meet and we need this to be completed.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Lynn Cameron
403
From: Katrin Ciaffa
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire Letter - for City Council meeting 2/27/24 Date: Sunday, February 25, 2024 7:22:08 PM
Good evening, my name is Katrin Ciaffa and I am a Santa Rosa resident. I am urging the Santa Rosa City Council to pass a ceasefire resolution to express our community's desire to end the horrific killing of humans in Gaza and begin the process of negotiating a release of all hostages and political prisoners in Palestine and Israel. A ceasefire is the only way forward towards a just and lasting peace.
Last week,
the Sonoma County Human Rights Commission published a beautiful and powerful letter in support of an immediate ceasefire that was carefully drafted and revised with community input. I recommend that the Santa Rosa City Council use this letter as a model to draft your own resolution.
I have included the text of the letter below, as well as a link to it on the County website.
It is beyond time to take a stand.
If we remain silent, we all have blood on our hands. I am appealing to your humanity.
Respectfully,
Katrin Ciaffa
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/ceasefire-letter
SANTA ROSA, CA | February 23, 2024
On February 22, 2024, the Sonoma County
Commission on Human Rights voted
unanimously to pass a ceasefire letter that
reads the following:
In light of the severe human rights violations
occurring in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel, the
Sonoma County Commission on Human
Rights extends this appeal to all parties
involved and affected community members.
Acknowledging that the impact of armed
conflict reverberates through generations, we
understand that healing begins with a
collective commitment to ending violence in
all its forms. As a nation with a long legacy of
violence, including slavery and the genocide
of Indigenous Peoples, that evolved to
comprise many people from around the world
who also experienced genocide and acts of
inhumanity, we understand that international
conflicts impact us here at home and within
our local communities. The Sonoma County
Commission on Human Rights calls upon all
conflicting parties to unite in building bridges
between communities, championing
protections for all humans, regardless of any
descriptor, and advocating for an end to
armed conflicts worldwide.
“Not everything that is faced can be changed,
but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
- James Baldwin.
We condemn war, genocide, and terrorism.
We recognize we cannot stop this as divided
communities. International Humanitarian Law
provides a set of rules that seek, for
humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of
armed conflict. International Humanitarian
Law is made up of treaties including the
Geneva Conventions, which imposes limits on
the means and methods of warfare and
protects persons who do not, or no longer,
take part in the fighting (including civilians,
journalists, medics, aid workers, wounded,
sick and stranded troops, prisoners of war or
other detainees). The Geneva Conventions
emphasize a moral and ethical obligation to
protect innocent lives during conflicts.
The Sonoma County Commission of Human
Rights recognizes the imperative need for
adherence to the principles outlined in the
Geneva Conventions, and urges all sides to
safeguard the lives of innocent people,
including those who have chosen to lay down
their weapons. It is our sincere belief that
advocating for the protection of non-
combatants is a shared responsibility
transcending borders, fostering a global
commitment to ethical conduct. We condemn
all terrorists. We call for the release of all
hostages. We call for a ceasefire. The only
way to find the beginnings of peace is
through a ceasefire - a suspension of fighting
so that peace talks may take place and
humanitarian aid can reach those in need.
Only through collective action can we declare
"enough is enough" and strive for a future
marked by peace, love, and healing for all.
The Sonoma County Commission on Human
Rights acknowledges and condemns the rise
of white nationalism, racism, anti-semitism,
Islamophobia, and anti-Arab violence locally
and throughout our nation. We call upon our
community to build bridges of peace, love,
and healing locally. Let this appeal be a
beacon guiding us toward a shared
commitment to humanity.
###
Media contact
Katrina Phillips, Chair
(707) 565-2693
[email protected]
###
Commission on Human Rights
Email: [email protected]
Contact us by Phone
Phone:
(707) 565-2693
CA Relay: 711
Address
Sonoma County Administration Building
575 Administration Drive
Suite 116B
Santa Rosa,
CA 95403
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From: Tarik Kanaana
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights ceasefire letter Date: Sunday, February 25, 2024 7:26:00 PM
On February 22, 2024, the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights voted unanimously to pass a ceasefire letter that reads the following:
In light of the severe human rights violations occurring in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel, the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights extends this appeal to all parties involved and affected community members. Acknowledging that the impact of armed conflict reverberates through generations, we understand that healing begins with a collective commitment to ending violence in all its forms. As a nation with a long legacy of violence, including slavery and the genocide of Indigenous Peoples, that evolved to comprise many people from around the world who also experienced genocide and acts of inhumanity, we understand that international conflicts impact us here at home and within our local communities. The Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights calls upon all conflicting parties to unite in building bridges between communities, championing protections for all humans, regardless of any descriptor, and advocating for an end to armed conflicts worldwide. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin.
We condemn war, genocide, and terrorism. We recognize we cannot stop this as divided communities. International Humanitarian Law provides a set of rules that seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. International Humanitarian Law is made up of treaties including the Geneva Conventions, which imposes limits on the means and methods of warfare and protects persons who do not, or no longer, take part in the fighting (including civilians, journalists, medics, aid workers, wounded, sick and stranded troops, prisoners of war or other detainees). The Geneva Conventions emphasize a moral and ethical obligation to protect innocent lives during conflicts.
The Sonoma County Commission of Human Rights recognizes the imperative need for adherence to the principles outlined in the Geneva Conventions, and urges all sides to safeguard the lives of innocent people, including those who have chosen to lay down their weapons. It is our sincere belief that advocating for the protection of non-combatants is a shared responsibility transcending borders, fostering a global commitment to ethical conduct.
We condemn all terrorists. We call for the release of all hostages. We call for a ceasefire. The only way to find the beginnings of peace is through a ceasefire - a suspension of fighting so that peace talks may take place and humanitarian aid can reach those in need.
Only through collective action can we declare "enough is enough" and strive for a future marked by peace, love, and healing for all. The Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights acknowledges and condemns the rise of white nationalism, racism, anti-semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab violence locally and throughout our nation. We call upon our community to build bridges of peace, love, and healing locally. Let this appeal be a beacon guiding us toward a shared commitment to humanity.
###
Media contact
Katrina Phillips, Chair
(707) 565-2693
[email protected]
From: Thomas Ells
To: David Rabbitt; Lynda Hopkins; Chris Coursey; James Gore; Susan Gorin; CityCouncilListPublic Subject: [EXTERNAL] Watch "How to Rescue a Sinking Water Table" on YouTube Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 8:58:29 AM
"Simply recharge more areas than degraded";
But not that simple, plastic & chemicals are in rain,
also chemicals & pharmaceuticals in sewage.
So we must get Industrial process water out of the system, by making them reuse their water. https://youtu.be/7fFXJ3G49pY?si=cAC3SY0tl6rTYumW
From: Carmen Gonzalez
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Cc: Osburn, Gabe; Alvarez, Eddie; Rogers, Natalie; Stapp, Mark; MacDonald, Dianna; Rogers, Chris; Okrepkie, Jeff; Fleming, Victoria; Osburn, Gabe
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Reject Verizon cell tower application at 244 Colgan Ave.
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 10:30:50 AM
Dear Santa Rosa City Council and Mayor,
As a homeowner located at 1611 La Esplanada Place, I object to the proposed Verizon cell tower at 244 Colgan Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA. The serious health issues, environmental concerns, probable lower property values, and aesthetic flaws all deem this project to be irreconcilably and irredeemably opposed to the neighborhood’s best interests. I have set forth my objections below for a fuller understanding.
No Gap in Coverage and Missing Proof of Dropped Calls
According to our city’s ordinance, the primary threshold that Verizon must prove to make a case for its cell tower is a gap in coverage. It has not done so in any of the materials it submitted to the Santa Rosa Planning Commission. According to its own maps, there are 40 towers in the region, and more particularly, there is a cluster of four small towers and two macro towers where this is intended to be placed. Verizon indicated that there is congestion in the area but has not provided any “dropped call” log to prove this. That is, expanding Verizon’s coverage is not a proper pursuit of city government, but ensuring emergency calls get through is. So, if in fact there are dropped calls, Verizon should be tasked with providing such proof by way of dropped call logs. As it stands, this project should be rejected given the applicant’s failure to provide such proof.
Operational Inefficiency
Given the density of cell towers in this neighborhood, Verizon's efforts are duplicative.
Moreover, their own reports suggest that they intend to run the proposed tower at 50% power. This presents two issues: operating a tower at 50% undercuts its claims of a gap in coverage and imposing a grandiose tower in a neighborhood unnecessarily burdens residents without justification.
Lower Property Values
As documented by the National Institute for Science, Law, and Public Policy, the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, and others, the placement of cell towers in neighborhoods lowers property values as they are considered hazards and nuisances. On average, a drop of 20% of property values is typical. As a property owner at La Esplanada, I object to Verizon’s cell tower project as it would negatively affect my condominium’s value. The intended project sits right across the street, less than 200 ft. away. Likewise, for my neighbors who happen to own units at La Esplanada or in the adjacent Vintage Park retirement complex, and for the single- family homeowners along Colgan Ave., they too will suffer lower property values should this project be authorized.
Colocation and Radiation Emissions
Based on the radiation emission report submitted by Verizon, its estimated emissions for its tower concerned only a 30-minute exposure. Even at that short time frame, its own report suggested that emissions exceeded the general population limit. While that is concern enough, it gets worse. Verizon has admitted that one of the purposes of its intended cell tower is to allow colocation. That is, it seeks to add additional antennas. There has been no testing or estimates of what emissions will be forthcoming with any additional antennas. Accordingly, the emission report that Verizon has given is a floor, not a ceiling, and does not indicate the maximum emission level that residents would be subjected to. As a homeowner, I ask the City Council to request concrete testing reports that account for maximizing colocation on the proposed tower. If such colocation exceeds safety limits, then it should be rejected. Given that the current report already does, I suspect that additional antennas will magnify the exposure.
Poor Aesthetic Design
Along Colgan Avenue, between Santa Rosa Blvd. and Petaluma Hill Dr., there is primarily residential housing on the north side of the street and mixed commercial and housing on the south side. In no way would a 69-foot-tall monopine tree pole fit the aesthetic of the area. The tallest buildings do not exceed 30 ft., so it would stick out like a sore thumb, given both its height and its design. The height itself is repellent, given that no matter the perspective, it looks entirely odd from any direction. As a homeowner, this visual abomination can only impede my property’s value. Further, it would pose a daily visual reminder that my neighborhood doesn't matter and is marginalized.
Inequity
Given the depressed property values that would ensue with this tower, economic inequity would increase in the neighborhood. This community along Colgan Ave. is already low- to middle-income, reflects a high proportion of retirees and blue-collar working families. Collectively, this is a vulnerable population that would be further exploited by the cell tower’s imposition. Furthermore, this population is burdened economically, and in the case of retirees, they are also physically challenged, making it harder to organize against such an intrusion. Targeting this neighborhood by design is punitive and unjust.
For all of the reasons indicated above, I find that Verizon’s proposed cell tower is inconsistent with the Santa Rosa General Plan. Specifically, it constitutes a nuisance and is injurious to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, welfare, and is materially injurious to persons, property, or improvements in the vicinity and zoning district in which the property is located. I ask that the City Council reject Verizon’s cell tower proposal in its entirety.
Sincerely,
Ms. Carmen R. Gonzalez
From: Danielle Lemaitre
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire resolution
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 12:02:34 PM
Hello council members,
This is my third attempt to request that you adopt a ceasefire resolution. I am including the resolution set forth by the Sonoma County Human Rights Commission last week.
Danielle
Commission on Human Rig
In light of the severe human rights violations
occurring in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel, the
Sonoma County Commission on Human
Rights extends this appeal to all parties
involved and affected community members.
Acknowledging that the impact of armed
conflict reverberates through generations,
we understand that healing begins with a
collective commitment to ending violence in
all its forms. As a nation with a long legacy
of violence, including slavery and the
genocide of Indigenous Peoples, that
evolved to comprise many people from
around the world who also experienced
genocide and acts of inhumanity, we
understand that international conflicts
impact us here at home and within our local
communities. The Sonoma County
Commission on Human Rights calls upon all
conflicting parties to unite in building bridges
between communities, championing
protections for all humans, regardless of any
descriptor, and advocating for an end to
armed conflicts worldwide.
“Not everything that is faced can be
changed, but nothing can be changed until it
is faced.” - James Baldwin.
We condemn war, genocide, and terrorism.
We recognize we cannot stop this as divided
communities. International Humanitarian
Law provides a set of rules that seek, for
humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of
armed conflict. International Humanitarian
Law is made up of treaties including the
Geneva Conventions, which imposes limits
on the means and methods of warfare and
protects persons who do not, or no longer,
take part in the fighting (including civilians,
journalists, medics, aid workers, wounded,
sick and stranded troops, prisoners of war or
other detainees). The Geneva Conventions
emphasize a moral and ethical obligation to
protect innocent lives during conflicts.
The Sonoma County Commission of Human
Rights recognizes the imperative need for
adherence to the principles outlined in the
Geneva Conventions, and urges all sides to
safeguard the lives of innocent people,
including those who have chosen to lay
down their weapons. It is our sincere belief
that advocating for the protection of non-
combatants is a shared responsibility
transcending borders, fostering a global
commitment to ethical conduct. We
condemn all terrorists. We call for the
release of all hostages. We call for a
ceasefire. The only way to find the
beginnings of peace is through a ceasefire -
a suspension of fighting so that peace talks
may take place and humanitarian aid can
reach those in need.
Only through collective action can we
declare "enough is enough" and strive for a
future marked by peace, love, and healing
for all. The Sonoma County Commission on
Human Rights acknowledges and condemns
the rise of white nationalism, racism, anti-
semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab
violence locally and throughout our nation.
We call upon our community to build bridges
of peace, love, and healing locally. Let this
appeal be a beacon guiding us toward a
shared commitment to humanity.
Sent from my iPhone
From: Conley, Michelle
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Santa Rosa City Council Meeting 2/27 Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 12:03:54 PM
Attachments: Outlook-5tnrabgj.png
Dear city council members,
As a longtime voting resident of Santa Rosa, I am writing to implore you to adopt a ceasefire resolution.
All of the council members are hopefully aware that Sonoma County Human Rights Council passed a ceasefire resolution last week.
The city of Santa Rosa needs to do so
as well.
Given the events of the last two weeks in Gaza and how awful the situation is, it is important to publicly stand against genocide and war crimes.
With $14.3 billion of US taxpayer money, the Israel military certainly has the funds to fight a war where civilians are not being targeted.
The brutal war crimes need to stop. Hospitals and schools are both protected civilian places under international humanitarian law. Humanitarian aid needs to get to the starving and injured people of Gaza, instead of sitting in trucks at the border of Gaza.
This blood is now on our hands if we continue to look the other way and not take action.
Please vote to end genocide and side with humanity.
Thank you,
Michelle Conley
Michelle Conley
Professor of Economics
Social Science Department
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
https://ptk.santarosa.edu
From: Larry Hendel
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire in Gaza
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 12:17:24 PM
Dear Santa Ros Councilmembers,
As a Bodega Bay resident, I am not quite a constituent of Santa Rosa . But I do spend a lot of time in the stores and restaurants of your fine town and regard it as the “capitol" of Sonoma county. In that vein, you would be sending a terrific message to residents throughout the north bay and beyond by signing a strong ceasefire resolution.
The US is on the wrong side of the war in Gaza by unconditionally supporting and assisting what Israel is doing to the Palestinians. I do not condone what Hamas did on October 7 but it does not come close to justifying Israel’s onslaught of killing and destruction. Israel claims it is acting in self defense,
but under what circumstances can genocide be considered legitimate self defense? None that I can think of. Israel wants to either destroy the Palestinians or get them to leave the country. They want it all to themselves. They always have. This is a recipe for continued conflict and disaster.
It is rumored that Israel will commence its ground attack on Rafa on March 10. The date may be wrong, but unless someone stops them, that’s exactly what they will do. And it will have a tremendous destructive impact on the lives of the hundreds of thousands of civilians trying to survive under the Israeli bombing campaign. At this point, Gaza’s infrastructure has been blown to smithereens and the population is hugely suffering from lack of shelter, lack of food, lack of clean water and a destroyed sanitation system.
Please join the growing number of cities and organizations around the world that are calling for a real ceasefire, not a token proposal so gummed up with conditions that there is no chance it will be agreed upon.
Please do the right thing.
Thank you
Larry Hendel
From: Roberta Berg
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Don"t get mired down in the cease-fire controversy Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 1:55:34 PM
Members of the Santa Rosa City Council,
While there are many individuals and groups throughout the USA acting on the cease-fire controversy, only our City Councilors have the power to improve things for us Santa Rosa residents. That buck stops with you. Please don't waste your time on such a divisive time- demanding issue.
Roberta Berg MD
I reside in District 4, Councilor Fleming
Member Congregation Shomrei Torah
From: Allegra Wilson
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2/27/24 City Council Meeting Public Comment Item 14 Non-Agenda Matters Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 2:18:34 PM
Good afternoon,
My name is Allegra and I live in Santa Rosa District One. I am writing today to urge the City Council to agendize and pass a ceasefire resolution to end the genocide in Gaza. As our representatives for the City, it is your responsibility to give voice to the people of Santa Rosa who demand a ceasefire now. We are going unheard at the Federal level, at the State level. Let us be heard and amplified at the local level now.
This issue is uncomplicated, despite those who would say otherwise. To end the genocide, those doing the bombing and preventing aid from entering Gaza simply have to stop. Will you stand with your community and ask them to?
For those of you running for re-election or for another office, please reflect on this matter and know that it is top of mind for many voters. I personally will not vote for anyone who cannot do the simple, right thing and take a stand against the genocide of the Palestinian people. If you cannot persuade your fellow council members on this matter, maybe it is time to publicly disagree with their silence. Politeness is something we hide behind in times when bravery is called for.
I urge you again- be brave. Stand up. Call for a ceasefire. Now.
From: Remi Newman
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public comment for 2/27 meeting
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 2:40:00 PM
I have lived in Santa Rosa for almost 20 years. I work in healthcare. I have raised my son here. I am Jewish, on my father's side. My grandparents were holocaust survivors from Germany. I have many relatives in Israel- about 50 cousins. I am not worried for their safety. I am worried instead, for their humanity.
They were taught, like many Jews, to dehumanize and fear Palestinians. They were taught that Israel must exist in order for Jews to survive. And that Palestinians must not exist, in order for Israel to survive. This is dangerous.
Zionism is a dangerous racist idealogy. Please understand this. Zionism is not about protecting Jews. In fact, it likely makes the world less safe for Jews.
I have been humbled again and again by the graciousness of the Palestinians in our community here in Sonoma County. They deserve better when it comes to our local politics. Please acknowledge their humanity. Please listen to your hearts. Please call for a ceasefire resolution in Gaza.
Never again means never again for anyone.
Thank you,
Remi Newman
From: maribi mendoza
To: _CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire Gaza Resolution
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 3:40:13 PM
Good afternoon city council members,
I am writing to you as a Santa Rosa resident in district 2 who is support of having a ceasefire resolution added to the agenda. Sonoma County’s Human Rights Commission has called for a ceasefire in Gaza! I am hoping my city council will follow suit. I and my family are sick of our city tax money being sent to Israel as they attempt to commit genocide. This is not a divisive issue. Peace and the preservation of life should never be considered divisive. If there are residents who disagree with a statement calling for an end to violence I and my family are of the opinion that we do not have to agree with them. All progress has faced opposition.
Santa Rosa is a city built off the genocide of Southern Pomo and Miwok people. There were city council men who endorsed their genocide and labeled their resistance as terrorism and savagery. The Californias who carried out their genocide have never been labeled terrorists or savages.
It is our individual responsibility to learn from history and to preserve the sanctity of all life! It is of the upmost importance for people in power even at the local level to also learn from history and speak out against injustice everywhere!
Please add a ceasefire resolution to the agenda ! More residents have come to you asking for a ceasefire than the latter. And to remind you the latter is calling for the ongoing genocide of civilians.
Thank you,
Maribi
From: Dina Luvishis
To: _CityCouncilListPublic; MacDonald, Dianna
Subject: [EXTERNAL] NO to Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 4:49:29 PM
Dear Council Member Dianna MacDonald and Santa Rosa City Council, I hope that you will not consider placing a ceasefire resolution on the City Council agenda. It does not address nor advance pressing local community needs.
Please continue to remain focused on concerns related to schools safety. My children have been in the Santa Rosa/Rincon Valley School District since 2006, and now it’s more important than ever to provide a safe environment to our children.
Regards,
Dina Luvishis,
Santa Rosa resident since 2001.