NOTICE AND AGENDA
CITY OF UNION CITY
CITY COUNCIL /
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
6:30 PM
City Hall- Council Chamber
34009 Alvarado-Niles Road
Union City, CA 94587
This meeting will also be held via teleconference.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
http://citycouncil-live.unioncity.org/
Passcode: Mr6%qH6P
Or Telephone:
Dial +1 408 638 0968
Webinar ID: 928 8582 6000
Passcode: 52282697
1. CALL TO ORDER
1.a. Roll Call
2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Comments limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda
3. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
3.a. Proclamation Recognizing November as Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month
3.b. Proclamation Recognizing United Against Hate Week
4. GOOD OF THE ORDER
5. ADJOURNMENT
/s/ Carol Dutra-Vernaci
Carol Dutra Vernaci
Mayor
Agenda Item
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Proclamation Attachment
In Honor and Recognition of November 2022 as
Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation Month
WHEREAS, Sikhism is a monotheistic faith founded by Guru Nanak, in the historic Punjab region of modern-day India and Pakistan, over 5 centuries ago; and WHEREAS, Sikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world and today, there are more than 25 million Sikhs worldwide with an estimated 700,000 Sikhs living in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Sikhs first entered California in 1899, through the Angel Island Immigration Station in San Francisco, California; and
WHEREAS, Sikh Americans have made important contributions to the social, economic, political and cultural fabric of Union City, California and the United States of America; and WHEREAS, Sikh Americans have served in the United States military during both World Wars and through all subsequent wars until the present day; and WHEREAS, Sikh pioneers initially worked on railroad projects and in lumber mills; and in 1910 turned to farming in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and Imperial Valleys; and WHEREAS, Sikhs and Sikh Americans now have also excelled as doctors, attorneys, engineers, scientists, judges, politicians, artists, teachers, and small business owners, in security services and in transportation services, and in other notable capacities; and WHEREAS, On October 14, 1912, the first Sikh house of worship (Gurdwara) in the United States was founded in Stockton, which has been designated a California Historical Landmark; and
WHEREAS, There are over 200 Gurdwaras in the United States of which there are 32 known Gurdwaras in California including the Gurdwara Sahib of Fremont and San Jose, two of the largest Gurdwaras in North America; and
WHEREAS, Worldwide, Sikhs practice the 3 pillars of Sikhism everyday: Kirat Karo (earn an honest living), Naam Japo (remembrance of God) and Wand Shako (share/support others in need); and
WHEREAS, The faithful service of the Sikh American community to this city, state and country merits appreciation as an integral thread in the fabric of American plurality.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Union City recognizes November 2022 as Sikh American Awareness and Appreciation month and today, seeks to recognize the diversity of its community and afford all residents the opportunity to better understand, recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared experiences of Sikhs and Sikh Americans.
DATED: November 8, 2022
Agenda Item
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Proclamation Attachment
CITY OF UNION CITY
PROCLAMATION
In Recognition of United Against Hate Week
November 13 – November 19, 2022
WHEREAS, there has been an alarming increase in fringe ideologies using hatred as a means of intimidation; and
WHEREAS, numerous policy positions, from wanting to storm our nation’s capital, stop the course of our nation’s democratic election, separating families at the border, and inflammatory racial bigotry, combined with the actions and rhetoric of white supremacists, have fueled the normalization of hateful and racist discourse; and
WHEREAS, attacks on Black, AAPI, Indigenous people, immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women, Jewish people, the LGBTQ+, and our most vulnerable are now commonplace, resulting in an uptick in hate crimes and the open promotion of xenophobic ideas; and WHEREAS, places of worship including synagogues, churches, mosques, festivals, shopping malls, public signs, and night clubs have become targets of white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and others espousing hatred; and
WHEREAS, Union City is one of the most diverse cities in California, comprised of many different cultural, racial, ethnic, and religious groups who live together in peace and are tolerant of one another. A unique feature of our small-knit community is that we are unified through our diversity, and our community shares a commitment to our core values of safety, tolerance, and caring; and WHEREAS, on May 2017, the City Council unanimously voted to declare Union City a Compassionate City to protect our residents; and
WHEREAS, our policy and practice of treating everyone equally, without regard to race, color, national origin, or immigration status, is unchanged, and will remain as strong as it has always been; and
WHEREAS, on September 26, 2018, selected leaders, and community members from half a dozen cities across the Bay Area gathered to launch United Against Hate, a campaign to protect our diversity as a region and to stop the hate that threatens the safety and civility of our communities; and WHEREAS, to further counter the divide currently facing our nation, cities across the Bay Area are organizing “United Against Hate Week” that will take place November 13 - November 19, 2022; and
WHEREAS, events will focus on breaking through positionality, communicating in conflict, and working together to achieve common goals promoting education, compassion, and cooperation, which are key to embracing differences between people.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of Union City proclaims November 13 – November 19, 2022, as “United Against Hate Week in Union City” and will support and encourage appropriate educational and community events.
DATED: November 8, 2022
________________________
CAROL DUTRA-VERNACI, Mayor
________________________
JAIME PATIÑO, Vice Mayor
________________________
EMILY DUNCAN, Councilmember
________________________
PAT GACOSCOS, Councilmember
________________________
GARY SINGH, Councilmember