From: Asher
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Commending your restraint
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 5:02:34 PM
Mme. Mayor Rogers, Vice-mayor Stapp, Councilmember MacDonald, and all Council members:
I’m a Northeast Santa Rosa resident of District 3, writing to commend your restraint in avoiding the fraught path other municipalities have taken in response to impassioned protests about violence in the Middle East, particularly the pain afflicting Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans connected to the war by family or a caring heart.
I am concerned that unnecessary divisions would be caused by inserting Santa Rosa into a thorny geopolitical conflict. You likely know of the anguished statement by SF Mayor Breed who wrote on January 19
th, “Since the Board of Supervisors introduced their Gaza ceasefire resolution…our City has been angrier, more divided, and less safe.” She continued, “I cannot watch us divide ourselves even more. A leader, like a doctor, should be guided by the basic ethos to ‘do no harm,’ to not make a bad situation worse.”*
I don’t mean to be coy. I have views about the conflict that are in line with my values as an American committed to the success of democratic government and my identification as a Jewish member of the Santa Rosa community. In my congregation, Shomrei Torah, we frequently recognize that each precious human life on earth is in the image of its creator, underscoring the fundamental error of violence among humans.
I also have political views on how Israel should conduct a war brought on by the savage 7 October cross-border attack, about the unspeakable ongoing hostage situation, about the suffering, death and injury of a great number of Gazans and Israelis, and numerous other related issues that trouble me and so many others.
But my emotional, political, moral, and philosophic responses are for another forum, not the City Council of Santa Rosa.
Thanks for your caring and work for our city.
* https://twitter.com/LondonBreed/status/1748518517442584655 or ask me for a PDF or DOCX file.
Sincerely,
Asher R. Sheppard
Asher R. Sheppard
Santa Rosa, CA 95405-7438
From: Howard Schoenfeld
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Thank You
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 5:25:25 PM
As a resident of City Council District 4, I want to thank you for your commitment and priority to addressing the needs of Santa Rosa.
I hope you will continue to focus on local issues and urge you to refrain from putting a ceasefire resolution on the City Council agenda.
This issue should not be the purview of
a local city council with limited knowledge or stake in the complex issues between Israel and Hamas.
Thank you for your commitment to public service.
Howard Schoenfeld
From: Bonnie Gold
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Cease Fire Resolution
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 8:00:25 PM
Dear Santa Rosa City Council,
It has come to my attention that you will be considering a cease fire resolution for Palestine. I am strongly against this resolution. Please focus on local issues that affect the residents of Santa Rosa. I would like you to put your time and effort into solving the homeless crisis and school safety.
I am a member of a synagogue in Santa Rosa and know that the conflict in Israel is complicated and is an international problem. I urge you not to vote on an issue that will create animosity and division among the citizens of Santa Rosa.
I live in District 2 - Supervisor Stapp.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Gold
From: [email protected]
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Cc: "Paul Munson"
Subject: [EXTERNAL] City Council Meeting - Cease Fire Resolution Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 9:14:38 PM
Dear Santa Rosa City Council,
I am in District 3 and also a member of Congregation Shomrei Torah in Santa Rosa. Regarding the Cease Fire Resolution, please focus on local issues and don’t get involved in complicated international concerns.
Thank you,
Paul Munson
From: DAVID CHARP
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Focus on local issues only
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 9:24:17 PM
Please focus on local issues only. Do not vote on international issues which will cause more animosity and division.
We live in the 4th district
David and Gail Charp
Sent from my iPad
From: Alissa Hirshfeld
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Against a ceasefire resolution
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 10:21:56 PM
To whom it may concern,
I am a resident of District 3 and a member of Congregation Shomrei Torah.
I am writing to ask that you focus on local issues—such the unhoused, gun control, education —and let international experts focus on international issues. Please do not vote on an issue which will only create animosity and division among the citizens of Santa Rosa.
Please do not
vote for a ceasefire resolution.
Best,
Alissa
Alissa Hirshfeld, MFT
From: Caryn fried
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Help
Date: Monday, February 26, 2024 11:17:12 PM
Greetings,
I am Caryn Fried. I live in Oakmont, district 3. I belong to Chabad Resolutions about the Middle East are very divisive and only make myself and my Jewish friends feel very isolated. Please concentrate on what will bring our community together and make it a better place to grow up and live. I am particularly upset about our high school curriculum. We need more opportunities for students who want to go into the trades and are not wanting to go to college. We need more housing. So many ways for our city to improve. Please concentrate on improving Santa Rosa.
Thank you.
Caryn Fried
From: Betty Boyd
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Reject calls for resolution regarding ceasefire in Gaza Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 6:51:11 AM
Dear Mayor Rogers and members of the Santa Rosa City Council,
I urge you to continue resisting the calls for adopting a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. While the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis as a result of the attacks by Hamas that instigated this war is disturbing, to become involved in foreign affairs distracts the Council from its intended purpose. Why are there no calls to protest the suffering of the citizens of Ukraine or of Sudan?
Calling for a ceasefire without a full understanding of the issues only inflames the community. We must bring our community together – not pull ourselves apart.
Please reject any resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Betty Boyd
From: Inda Dain
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: Say no to ceasefire resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 7:24:38 AM
Dear City Council Members
As a local Santa Rosa resident for the last 22 years, I appreciate your commitment to consider issues that unify our city. A ceasefire resolution will only divide our community.
Yesterday the city council of Gilroy voted first against adopting the ceasefire resolution and then to reject any future resolutions on this topic. The mayor and other 4 city council members said the same thing - the resolution won’t solve the conflict but will only inflame the local community that is clearly divided on this issue. The Mayor of San Francisco has exactly the same position after the resolution was submitted to her.
I encourage you to follow Gilroy’s example and reject any future resolutions on Middle East conflicts.
I am very concerned with the rise of antisemitism in our city. Our residents need to know that anti-zionism
is antisemitism - a resolution H.Res. 894 was passed by Congress in December confirming that. Please, adopt as a city the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
Regards
Inda Dain
Santa Rosa, Ca, 95403
From: Paula Simon
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 8:09:48 AM
Dear Members,
Tonight you will once again be confronted with an angry group of people who will not accept anything less than a capitulation to their demand to put a ceasefire resolution on the CC agenda.
And when you don’t have an equally large angry group opposing this, you might assume there is none. I am opposed to a ceasefire resolution. And so are the majority of the local Jewish community. However attending a council meeting with neighbors who don’t make you feel physically or emotionally safe, who portray your people as “baby killers” and stand behind you at the podium with their bloody hands and fake dead babies, isn’t conducive to large numbers of the Jewish community speaking tonight.
A ceasefire resolution has no place on a city council agenda. You were elected to address the needs of the city and its’ residents, not a geopolitical crisis ten thousand miles away. Please reconfirm your commitment to this.
You time is valued and valuable. I hope you won’t waste it on an issue which the city council can have no impact or efficacy, nor one that makes a group of your constituents feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Keep a ceasefire resolution off the agenda.
Paula Simon
From: Susie Katzman
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] KEEP OUR COMMUNITY UNITED NOT DIVIDED Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 8:18:04 AM
"Please focus on local issues and don't be distracted by international concerns." "Do not vote an issue which will create animosity and division among the citizens of Santa Rosa."
"Please focus on concerns like the unhoused, school safety, education that teaches truthful history.
I am a member of CHABAD OF SONOMA and I live in KENWOOD 95452.
Let Israel and other democratic countries decide for themselves what their people want for their country. It is not our business.
KEEP Sonoma County united not divided.
--
Susie
Susie Katzman
From: Linda E
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] No Santa Rosa Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 9:28:04 AM
Hi all my Santa Rosa City Council Representatives,
I am represented by Councilmember Jeff Okrepkie, district 6. I am a member of Congregation Shomrei Torah, the largest Jewish synagogue in our community. Because of the rise in anti- semitism we now have locked fences and armed guards trying to keep us safe. Please DO NOT FUEL MORE ANTI-SEMITISM by taking up issues related to Israel's current war.
You are doing a wonderful job making Santa Rosa better. I appreciate the difficulty of what you're doing.
Please do not vote on an issue which will create further animosity and division among the citizens of Santa Rosa.
Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Linda Elyad
From: Linda Lasher
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Israel/Palestine discussion
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 9:39:07 AM
Dear members,
I live at 540 Benton St., in Santa Rosa, District 4. I am a member of Chabad of Sonoma County, a Jewish synagogue in Santa Rosa. I have lived in Sonoma County all my life, in Santa Rosa for 50 years, and am a retired ER nurse from Memorial Hospital.
I am writing to you in hopes this city won’t vote on this very divisive and animosity creating horrific situation in the middle east.
To say the least we are all extremely concerned and
horrified by the mutual destruction, distrust, and misinformation reported daily on the news. I wish for nothing more than peaceful coexistence but the history of this area is so complex and distorted and misunderstood even by scholars that we can only hope to glimpse a small amount of the facts and history.
I understand how everyone wants this destruction to end.
Unfortunately, Hamas and other
organizations are committed to and openly say they want the destruction of Israel and removal of all Jews. How can we possibly address this complex situation in one page of resolution? I therefore urge you to not succumb to this huge push to create more division in our community.
Thanks for all your work and your consideration
Linda Lasher
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Please focus on local issues and don't be distracted by international concerns."
"Do not vote an issue which will create animosity and division among the citizens of Santa Rosa."
"Please focus on concerns like the unhoused, school safety, education, hunger."
(Choose one you are interested in)
Include which district you live in and if you are a member of a synagogue or congregation.
(Such a message will let our
representatives reply that they have received x number of messages from people who feel differently from the people of Sonoma County for Palestine.)
If you don't know who your city council person is, it's easy to find:
http://Https://www.srcity.org/2864/Find-My-Council-District Roberta
From: Sandy Tate
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 9:57:30 AM
Please do not vote for a Ceasefire. It can be the end of Israel.
Sandy Tate
Sebastopol
From: Bill Finn
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Opposition to ceasefire resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 11:56:16 AM
Dear Council members,
I am a resident of Santa Rosa. I live in District 5. I am opposed to the proposed ceasefire resolution.
The resolution does not mention the disarming of Hamas
This is an essential prerequisite to any ceasefire. Hamas has vowed an eternal war against Israel. A ceasefire will allow Hamas to re-arm and renew the war. A ceasefire at this time would sentence the Palestinian people to an endless, repetitive cycle of wars.
Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and other Arab nations have asked Hamas to lay down their arms.
If these Arab nations can tell Hamas to disarm why, why can't the city council? A ceasefire resolution will not advance the cause of peace. It will however, encourage Jew hate.
This is not theoretical; this is exactly what has happened in other communities. The Jewish community is under attack. I have never seen the American Jewish community as frightened as it is now. Passing the resolution will only exacerbate our fears.
If you pass the resolution, you may feel good about yourselves, embracing the delusion that you have advanced the cause of peace. What you will really have done is give comfort to
bigots, and afflict their victims.
Respectfully,
William Finn
From: Mark Rudow
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Gaza Ceasefire Resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 1:51:53 PM
Dear City Council Members
I urge you to continue to refuse to consider a resolution calling for an immediate Gaza ceasefire. Nobody wants to see civilians killed, but a call for an immediate ceasefire will not save lives in the long run. There was a ceasefire in place on October 7 before over 2000 Hamas terrorists launched their barbarous invasion. Their goal was to kill as many Israeli civilians as possible and their own videos show them hunting Israeli’s in their homes. Hamas’ leaders have stated that their exploits of October 7 will be repeated over and over again until Israel is destroyed. They absolutely refuse a political solution.
Knowing that, it is clear that unless Hamas’ military capabilities are completely destroyed the cycle of Hamas atrocities followed by Israeli retaliations will continue to repeat itself.
Hamas is totally responsible for the civilian deaths.
They have built a system of underground tunnels and fortifications under schools, hospitals, mosques, UN offices and residential structures. They use their citizens as human shields, They never built shelters for their people, because civilian Palestinian deaths are one of their weapons.
While many people calling for an immediate ceasefire see it purely as a humanitarian act, others are using it as a Trojan Horse to delegitimize Israel and ultimately destroy her. They don’t recognize the right of the Jewish people to self-rule in their historic homeland and try to vilify her with various libels and distortions.
As a Jewish citizen of Santa Rosa I will feel quite unsafe if a ceasefire resolution is passed. October 7th is not the first time Hamas has wantonly murdered Jews and it won’t be the last if they are allowed to continue. Having my hometown pass a resolution that prevents Jews from protecting themselves will be heartbreaking.
Mark
From: Muncie Harper
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Tonight"s city council session
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 2:05:59 PM
Dear City Council Members,
Regarding tonight's agenda, I am sending my thoughts:
Do not vote on an issue which will create animosity and division among the citizens of Santa
Rosa.
Thank You,
Muncie Harper, member of Congregation Shomrei Torah
From: efraim wichmann
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Gaza ceasefire resolution
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 3:27:28 PM
To Whom It May Concern,
My name is Efraim Wichmann, and I am a Jewish 20+ year resident (district 4) and business owner of Santa Rosa, and am deeply troubled about the council bringing a resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict. Bringing such resolutions will not bring understanding or empathy, but instead division and hatred within our community. As seen in other cities, these non-binding measures have led to a rise in antisemitic incidents, creating an unsafe environment for Jewish families like mine. I implore the council to
reject any request and focus on fostering unity and
understanding instead. All of us need healing and unity with our fellow humans, not divisiveness.
I kindly thank you for your time and efforts in advance.
Sincerely,
Efraim Wichmann
EFRAIM WICHMANN
Principal, Designer
Zeitgeist Sonoma | Architecture + Interior Design
p 707-526-4161
w zeitgeistsonoma.com
Discover more about us on Houzz
From: Susan Richter
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 22/27/2024 City Council Meeting Public Comment Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 3:29:04 PM
Dear members of the Santa Rosa City Council,
I am a resident in council member Mark Stapp’s district since 1997, and I have lived in Sonoma County since 1976.
I am a member of Congregation Shomrei Torah and a first generation American.
Please follow the example of the Board of Supervisors and do not consider a resolution that doesn’t pertain to the work of your jurisdiction.
I grieve for the loss of lives of both Israelis, people of other nationalities who were in Israel on the day of Hamas’ attack, and subsequently, the many Palestinians.
I grieve that the Arabs rejected the 2 state proposal in 1948 which was accepted by Israel.
Please focus on the challenging issues which exist in Santa Rosa.
Thank you for all you do on our behalf.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Richter
From: Caryn fried
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Middle East
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 3:45:58 PM
I went to the Sonoma County human rights committee meeting last week. Before they opened up the meeting to comments from the floor the committee members had already decided. They did not take their Jewish Sonoma county’s citizen's feelings into account, except for the Jewish anti zionists who are a very vocal minority of the Jewish population.
The chairman of the commission did not follow their own rules of no signs and harassment, and only told the pro Palestinians to stop after I commented that they need to enforce their own rules.
The pro Palestinians thrive on intimidating and making Jews very uncomfortable. I hope that you will not be influenced by their demands and demonstrations. I am not going to this meeting because I am tired of being intimidated and not being considered. I hope you will stick to Santa Rosa business and not cave to the demands for ceasefire. Why do the perpetrators of evil Oct 7 get to demand anything. I am sorry for the Gazan people, but tremble at hamas’s declaration that they will continue to repeat Oct 7 until Israel is no more and the Jews gone.
Thank you for your consideration.
Caryn Fried
Santa Rosa
Sent from my iPhone
From: Natalie Karmally
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Natalie Karmally - 2/27/24 - Non-Agenda Ceasefire Resolution SUPPORT Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 6:21:54 PM
As a descendent of Armenian genocide survivors, I can speak to the resulting pain that lives on for generations. The atrocities unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank have resulted in unconscionable death, but our hearts should also mourn the pain that is going to live on for generations.
Collective unmetabolized trauma results in hatred and fear. How else do you explain the justification of war crimes and Israeli’s sitting at the crossing denying critical aid to starving humans? The Israeli Minister of Social Equity recently stated “I am personally proud of the ruins of Gaza and that every baby even in 80 years from now will tell their grandchildren what the jews did.” This is not the world we should be creating for our children.
The Press Democrat recently stated you all thought this is too nuanced to pass a resolution. Over 17,000 orphans resulting from these merciless attacks. Over two million people are facing displacement, starvation, unsanitary conditions, and preventable diseases. Israel has killed around 15,000 children and in sum nearly 30,000 humans, not counting those under the rubble. 150 women are giving birth each day in tents, many of whom having c-sections without anesthesia. Newborns are malnourished, parents watching helplessly as they die. John’s Hopkins predicts 75000 people will have been killed in a matter of 6 months. We. are. funding this.
There is nothing complicated or nuanced about that - you are overlooking the simplicity and indisputable human suffering here. We should not be hardened to each other's pain so much so we deny our shared humanity and fail to act.
Those opposed to a ceasefire believe that prolonging the bombings will eradicate resistance. Resistance will always arise if oppression continues. The root of this needs to be addressed. This war has already failed and continuing it is futile.
Diplomacy with dignity and liberation are the only way through this. Solutions and healing cannot begin until a permanent ceasefire takes place. Any aid to Israel should be conditional upon their obedience to internationally recognized rules of war and should not be engaged in human rights violations.
This weekend Air Force member Aaron Bushnell self-immolated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC. They lit themselves on fire because the atrocities in Gaza are not something they could be a part of. A responding police officer, rather than retrieving a fire extinguisher, pointed a gun at them, perfectly illustrating this country's moral bankruptcy.
As a council, you are watching your community burn with fury and you are choosing to do nothing. By not taking a stand, you are complicit. This inaction will be a stain on your legacy and will be what defines you. Please do what your limited power allows you to; put forward and approve a ceasefire resolution.
Sincerely,
Natalie Karmally
From: Jacqueline Oneal
To: City Council Public Comments
Cc: CityCouncilListPublic; Rogers, Natalie
Subject: [EXTERNAL] CITY COUNCIL ADOPT A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION! Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 6:25:11 PM
Attachments: image.png
Dear Honorable Mayor and Council Members,
As you know, today is day 143 of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. John Hopkins Center has released projections that show a ceasefire is the only way to save lives. I encourage you to read the report at https://gaza- projections.org/ and have provided a snapshot of these telling projections below.
Further, I urge you to follow the guidance adopted by the County of Sonoma Commission on Human Rights and pass an immediate ceasefire resolution. The body of the letter published by CHR reads as follows:
"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."
Unfortunately, I cannot attend the meeting in person tonight. I want you to know that I firmly believe it is our
moral obligation to
do all that we can to end the violence and ongoing tragedy in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. Please, I am begging you to do all that you can to save lives.
YOUR SILENCE IS VIOLENCE.
Thank you,
Jackie Oneal Mermet
Santa Rosa 5th District Resident
From: Cass Stewart
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment in Support of Ceasefire Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 6:33:35 PM
Hello Santa Rosa City Council:
My name is Gillian Stewart, and I am a Santa Rosa resident living in District 5. I am writing today to urge the council to pass a Ceasefire resolution, which American citizens
overwhelmingly favor. The citizens of Gaza are facing a humanitarian crisis. Months of bombardment at the hands of Israeli Occupation Forces have displaced millions and forced many Palestinians into the southernmost point of Rafah, where they now face the threat of a ground invasion. I attended tonight's city council meeting virtually, and while many opposed to a ceasefire resolution wish to believe those in favor of one are in the minority, 33 of the 36 people who spoke during public comment this evening were IN FAVOR of passing a ceasefire resolution. I know some may believe this is not a local issue, but there are Palestinians living in Santa Rosa, there are anti-Zionist Jews living in Santa Rosa, and every member of Santa Rosa who pays taxes is participating in the funding of the genocide being commited against the Palestinian people. This IS a local issue, and
your constituents are paying attention to
the voices meant to represent us as we approach an election cycle.
I am disheartened by the city council's inaction thus far, but it is not too late to make the right choice and put a ceasefire resolution on the agenda. Bringing it to a vote, even if it does not pass, will at least let your constituents know where their elected representative honestly stands on the decades long war against the Palestinian people, which did not, as many would like to believe, start on October 6th.
You have the opportunity to stand on the right side of history. I implore you to take it.
Thank you.
Gillian Stewart
From: Tyler Hilsabeck
To: City Council Public Comments
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Public Comment for 2-27-024 City Council Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 7:08:00 PM
Dear council members,
My wife and I are residents of Santa Rosa district 2, and vice mayor Stapp, you might recall us campaigning for you, supporting you, and even attending your victory party.
To say that we are disappointed in your current stand as well as those of your peers, is to mildly put the frustration, anger, and dismay we feel at the lack of attention to an ongoing genocide.
At the last city council meeting each of you sat at the podium with signs and quotes celebrating historical black figures; the irony is however lost on each of you that black scholars and activities have regularly called for an end to Israel’s apartheid and have articulated how black liberation is closely tied to that of Palestinian liberation. Yet, you all continue to ignore this reality and pretend to care about black and brown folks through virtue signaling and meaningful symbolic gestures.
If you truly stand and believe in the values of equity and justice that many of you claim to care about in your platform, I urge to you to implore your humanity and do the right thing by passing a ceasefire resolution, including an end to the US’s military aid and perpetuating on Israeli aggression.
If a moral reason isn’t enough, look at the economics. Our city has provided a whopping $2,475,504 dollars of our tax money to arm Israel. This money could be used instead to provide almost 300 households with public housing, hundreds of children with free childcare, hire more elementary school teachers, cancel student debt, and so much more. You were elected to work for your constituents snd the majority support a ceasefire. Why are you undermining democratic values and shirking your oaths to your community ? I hope you will find it in you to stand up for what is right. Until then, shame on you all for continuing to ignore the atrocities and I hope you will consider stepping down from your role in light of how you continue to ignore your constituents.
Thank you,
Tyler
Sent from my iPhone
From: Susan Richter
To: CityCouncilListPublic
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Pertaining to the 2/27/2024 Council meeting public comments Date: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 10:45:45 AM
Dear Council members,
I streamed yesterday’s meeting to become better informed.
I had sent an email voicing my hope you would not consider a resolution.
I woke up screaming from a nightmare I was having during the night.
I never have nightmares.
It is terrible to be triggered by what people are saying.
I know this is a humanitarian crisis and we have no control over the actions of the Israeli government.
This is not the only war happening on this planet so if you change your mind, I hope you will address this fact.
You were listening to different voices.
Were they all residents of Santa Rosa?
Do you ask for proof of residence for a person to speak? I ask this because I know Therese who said she’s lived in Santa Rosa for 40 years.
Last week, she told the Sebastopol city council that is where she has lived for 40 years.
People referred to Rabbi Irwin Keller of Ner Shalom and Cotati’s resolution..
I am not sure why, but when Reb Irwin spoke to the city council, it was on his own behalf, not as a spokesperson for Ner Shalom.
Yes, if you were counting, there were many more in favor of a resolution than not.
Why hasn’t anyone from the Islamic Center spoken out?
Why haven’t we heard from any of the people who grew up in Palestine and came here as adults.
Maybe they are just as scared of retaliation as the reason most of the Jews I know in our community, are afraid to speak out.
A number of years ago, in an effort to build bridges, members of Shomrei Torah went to services at the Islamic Center and some of their members came to our synagogue.
I don’t remember why the dialogue stopped.
However, one thing was apparent, those who belonged to the center, came to the US to work from different countries in the middle east.
And where they were from, influenced whether they were open to other cultures. If a Palestinian was in a leadership position, the atmosphere seemed charged and others became less involved. I do not know the composition of their organization today.
Anyone who asks that our government stop supporting Israel, is in favor of the destruction of Israel.
As long as there is war in this world, we will be creating weapons and needing to keep others from invading the US..
This war is against Iran, who is training the terrorists.
The tragedy is that, even with the creation of the U.N., we have not found a way to honor each others differences and live in peace.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Richer
living in council member Mark Stapp’s district