[0:02] to get this council meeting

[0:03] started.

[0:03] We have a lot of good things to

[0:04] talk about this morning.

[0:05] So good morning.

[0:07] I will now call the city

[0:08] council meeting of Tuesday

[0:08] MARCH 17th, 2026 to order.

[0:12] Clerk please call the roll.

[0:12] >> Thank you.

[0:13] Council PRESIDENT Council

[0:17] Member Campbell Council Member

[0:17] Whitburn here Council Member

[0:18] Foster Council Councilmember

[0:22] Von Wilbur.

[0:22] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee

[0:23] Council Member Campos here

[0:26] Council Member Moreno.

[0:27] Council Member Ella Rivera and

[0:31] Council PRESIDENT Look our

[0:32] resident also attending

[0:32] the meeting or Chief Deputy

[0:37] City Attorney Tina Ray Deputy

[0:38] Director in the Abas office

[0:39] Jillian and Delina and myself

[0:40] your city clerk Diana Fuentes

[0:41] Thank you.

[0:41] >> Council PRESIDENT All right.

[0:42] Thank you, City Clerk.

[0:42] A quorum is now present.

[0:45] We will begin this morning with

[0:46] the land acknowledgment and

[0:46] the Pledge of Allegiance led by

[0:54] council member Whitburn.

[0:55] We respectfully acknowledge

[0:55] that the culmination or

[1:00] the original inhabitants of

[1:00] the Unceded land that would go

[1:01] to San Diego despite enduring

[1:04] the horrors of genocide and

[1:05] colonization, the community's

[1:05] spirit remains unbroken.

[1:09] We are the resilience of their

[1:10] ancestors who fought to protect

[1:13] their culture and land Today

[1:13] they carry their legacy forward

[1:14] ensuring that their traditions

[1:15] continue to thrive and

[1:19] gratitude and strength.

[1:19] We stand with covid connected

[1:20] to our past and committed to a

[1:23] thriving future.

[1:24] Please face the flag.

[1:24] Ready?

[1:27] Begin.

[1:28] I pledge allegiance to the flag

[1:32] of the United States of America

[1:33] and to the Republic for which

[1:37] it stands One nation under GOD

[1:38] ,indivisible with liberty and

[1:42] justice for all.

[1:48] >> City Clerk Please go over

[1:49] how the public can offer their

[1:49] testimony.

[1:49] >> Thank you.

[1:50] Council PRESIDENT Like to

[1:53] highlight the slide on

[1:53] the screen that reviews how

[1:54] the public can offer their

[1:55] public testimony during today's

[1:55] meeting.

[1:57] Please note the time

[1:57] allocations for proclamations

[1:58] and consent items for meeting

[2:02] management purposes The order

[2:03] can be found on the agenda

[2:03] summaries found online or at

[2:04] the table in the back of

[2:07] the room If you are in person

[2:07] please complete the speaker

[2:08] slip looking at the entrance of

[2:09] chambers and bring it to

[2:11] the front of the room in

[2:11] the clear box.

[2:12] Council ambassadors are

[2:13] available near the entrance and

[2:16] can assist with questions and

[2:16] speaker slips.

[2:17] No further in-person testimony

[2:18] will be taken once the council

[2:20] begins a virtual testimony.

[2:21] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.

[2:21] All right.

[2:22] Thank you.

[2:22] We will now dispense with

[2:23] the approval of

[2:25] the proclamation items.

[2:26] Please introduce some clerk and

[2:27] proceed with public comment.

[2:27] Thank you.

[2:30] The public comment period for

[2:31] the proclamation items is now

[2:31] open.

[2:34] Each speaker will have one

[2:34] minute per item per person.

[2:35] If you would like to speak on

[2:36] three or more items you will

[2:39] have a maximum of three

[2:39] minutes.

[2:40] So now is the time to please

[2:40] submit your speaker slip to

[2:41] the clear box.

[2:44] I do see one in the clear box

[2:44] now as well as if you are

[2:45] attending virtually.

[2:46] Please be sure to raise your

[2:49] hand by pressing Star nine or

[2:49] the raise your hand icon.

[2:50] The proclamation items being

[2:53] approved are items 30 through

[2:57] 32 s5o1 and s5o2 starting with

[2:57] Jacob Edwards.

[2:58] If you can please come forward

[3:01] you'll have one minute You're

[3:02] speaking on item 31 after Jacob

[3:07] Edwards We have allegedly

[3:07] addressed if you can please

[3:08] come to the yellow reserved

[3:12] seats as well And then um hi

[3:13] MAY Ryan Hill if you can come

[3:15] up to the yellow reserves seats

[3:16] Jacob you can come up to

[3:20] the podium.

[3:21] Thank you City Council for what

[3:21] you do for the city of San

[3:22] Diego.

[3:25] Um, is this open discussion or

[3:25] is this on 31?

[3:28] This is on 31.

[3:28] Okay.

[3:29] And a very important day to

[3:33] recognize the police department

[3:34] is to serve and protect

[3:38] citizens.

[3:39] My last appearance here I

[3:43] discussed with you and non

[3:43] agenda public comment one of

[3:47] the last assassination attempts

[3:48] against me.

[3:52] I've been through an awful lot

[3:52] .

[3:56] It took police three days to

[3:57] respond three days I met them

[4:00] out front and they gave me this

[4:05] event number.

[4:06] There was nothing but a number

[4:06] and a date on it.

[4:07] I was told Here's your case

[4:10] number and it's going to be

[4:11] fully investigated.

[4:11] I went to the police department

[4:15] later that day to follow up and

[4:15] give more information.

[4:19] I was told this isn't a case

[4:20] number so this is not that

[4:20] number.

[4:25] It won't be investigated at

[4:25] all.

[4:25] >> Thank you.

[4:26] Allegedly order your speaker.

[4:32] Be continued 30 and one.

[4:33] >> Okay.

[4:33] You'll have two minutes.

[4:34] Please proceed.

[4:37] All right.

[4:38] So for this transgender day of

[4:39] visibility, this is probably

[4:43] not going to fall You know well

[4:43] with certain people but we just

[4:47] had Women's History Month and

[4:48] we've redefined what a woman is

[4:48] allowing men to also engage in

[4:49] that.

[4:52] So I find that it's interesting

[4:53] that we can change history in a

[4:57] way like that when there's

[4:58] already days of visibility

[4:59] transgender like all of these

[5:02] days that gets celebrated But

[5:03] it's like it's a disservice to

[5:07] women to change what a woman is

[5:07] and allow anybody to basically

[5:11] engage in that time and I just

[5:12] I feel like it's disrespectful

[5:13] And they're trying people are

[5:17] trying to erase what a woman is

[5:17] And so it's like how can you

[5:18] even be proud of something like

[5:21] that when any of you men up

[5:22] there could claim that you

[5:25] identify as that and then take

[5:26] that day from the women that

[5:26] were born that way?

[5:27] So you know, when we're trying

[5:31] to change things like this, I

[5:32] think it's very dangerous and

[5:33] it leads down a path of erasing

[5:36] people.

[5:36] And then for National Nutrition

[5:37] Month I find it interesting

[5:40] that there's so many things

[5:44] that are toxic in our foods and

[5:45] even in the water that you guys

[5:45] want to give us.

[5:46] But you know, if we started

[5:50] thinking about all of these

[5:51] countries that have actually

[5:51] banned certain foods or

[5:54] chemicals and things that are

[5:55] in our food, I feel like you

[5:58] guys should be concentrating on

[5:59] that kind of stuff and making

[6:00] sure that we don't have that to

[6:04] consume.

[6:05] Instead it's a lot about making

[6:05] money.

[6:08] It's whatever floats the boat

[6:09] of the money machine And that's

[6:10] what's sad is that you guys

[6:11] want to perpetrators though you

[6:13] care about nutrition when in

[6:14] fact there's look at your

[6:18] vending machine.

[6:19] If you did why would you have

[6:19] all of those things in there?

[6:20] Wouldn't you change what was in

[6:23] there and make sure that

[6:23] everything that is is something

[6:24] that is nutritious for

[6:24] the people?

[6:28] I mean all of these things

[6:28] affect people's brains and it's

[6:29] like that's why we have a bunch

[6:32] of zombies that you come and

[6:33] talk to and you can't even, you

[6:34] know, get a reaction except for

[6:37] Stephen Whitburn when I tell

[6:38] him someone died in his

[6:38] district he'll laugh at me.

[6:43] >> So yeah, next time I drink

[6:50] to an item as 5 or 1 I thank

[6:51] you for having me.

[6:51] National Nutrition Month

[6:55] recognizes the important role

[6:55] that nutrition professionals

[6:56] play in improving the health

[6:59] and well-being of our

[7:00] communities.

[7:00] Registered dietitians and

[7:01] dietetic technicians provide

[7:04] evidence based guidance

[7:05] education and programs that

[7:06] help individuals and their

[7:09] families build healthier lives

[7:09] .

[7:10] Organizations like

[7:10] the California Academy of

[7:11] Nutrition and Dietetics, San

[7:14] Diego District support this

[7:15] work by bringing professionals

[7:16] together to advance nutrition

[7:19] education, strengthen community

[7:20] partnerships and promote

[7:21] healthier communities across

[7:21] San Diego.

[7:24] Thank you for having us.

[7:25] Thank you.

[7:26] And Christiane, Christiane

[7:31] Coffman Frank, you always

[7:36] speaking on item 30.

[7:36] >> Good morning.

[7:41] Happy St Patrick's Day.

[7:42] I just want to speak in support

[7:43] of item 30 trans day of

[7:46] visibility.

[7:47] I would like those who are

[7:48] present physically, virtually

[7:51] and maybe watching this later

[7:51] to know trans people are not

[7:52] just having a moment.

[7:53] This is not a trend.

[7:56] This is not a phase.

[7:57] They are here.

[7:57] They are here to stay.

[7:58] They have rights.

[8:01] Everyone has inherent human

[8:01] dignity and I am here to

[8:02] support them.

[8:02] >> Thank you.

[8:05] Thank you.

[8:06] i'm sorry the five minute time

[8:07] are going to those

[8:09] participating remotely and we

[8:10] currently have three speakers

[8:10] in the queue.

[8:11] Please be sure to let me know

[8:13] which item or items you wish to

[8:14] speak to.

[8:14] 8700 if you can please unmute

[8:17] after that is Francine Maxwell

[8:23] Thank you Joyce and the other

[8:27] cd three 3032 and five one 23

[8:27] minutes Please proceed.

[8:32] >> Thank you All right.

[8:33] As the woman who just spoke she

[8:37] said extremely beautiful words

[8:37] and clarity.

[8:41] She said inherent dignity.

[8:41] Wow.

[8:42] Thank you.

[8:46] Inherent dignity.

[8:46] So I wanted to say this almost

[8:51] every day I wonder how did I

[8:56] come into the family into

[8:57] the state, into my life that it

[9:01] is and believe me it's been

[9:05] bumpy And the transgender

[9:06] visibility of course inherent

[9:10] dignity.

[9:11] I just celebrate myself.

[9:15] I celebrate each of you.

[9:16] I celebrate all people.

[9:20] Thank you so much.

[9:21] Love to all Now 32 which is a

[9:25] Ramadan month.

[9:26] For years I have had an

[9:26] opportunity to know a person

[9:30] that celebrates Ramadan and

[9:34] that's celebrated.

[9:35] Does it?

[9:36] He absolutely dedicates himself

[9:40] to the very stringent parts of

[9:41] that that are offered to them

[9:45] And and I'm just amazed at what

[9:46] he does and how he comes out of

[9:46] that month.

[9:49] So I celebrate all of

[9:54] the people that honor that and

[9:54] they're just part of our

[9:55] diverse culture in the world

[9:59] and we love and celebrate all

[9:59] of us.

[10:00] And the last one national

[10:03] nutrition Month Thank you

[10:04] California Academy of Nutrition

[10:08] and Dietetics for your

[10:09] research, for your education

[10:13] and for your advocacy.

[10:14] You help California see

[10:18] the beautiful healthy state We

[10:22] strive for all of us People Yes

[10:23] to discover the power of

[10:23] nutrition.

[10:24] It's going to be a beautiful

[10:28] day.

[10:29] Happy St Pat's Day and St

[10:32] Patrick's Day and love to all.

[10:33] Thank you.

[10:33] Next is Francine Maxwell.

[10:37] If you can please let me know

[10:37] which item or item you wish to

[10:38] speak to.

[10:39] I am so sorry I didn't put my

[10:43] numbers but my captain has dpd

[10:47] and nutrition.

[10:47] >> You'll have two minutes.

[10:48] Please proceed.

[10:49] Good morning Francine Maxwell

[10:52] Southeastern and San Diego want

[10:53] to thank and support fully

[10:56] the Nutrition month Project New

[10:57] Village Food Insecurity.

[11:01] This is an awesome time and

[11:02] we're looking forward to

[11:02] the next generation.

[11:06] They have already become new

[11:06] growers.

[11:07] And so just the fact that

[11:11] they're going to be exploring

[11:11] the agricultural jobs and

[11:15] things like that is just going

[11:16] to be a wonderful thing too.

[11:17] One of my favorite captains

[11:20] Jerry here, thank you so much

[11:21] for the years of service.

[11:21] Thank your family for sharing

[11:25] You with us.

[11:25] You were 21st century policing.

[11:30] You can write the book on how

[11:30] to build a bridge between

[11:31] community and the police

[11:35] department.

[11:36] So much you've done to increase

[11:39] relationships so much you've

[11:40] done behind the scenes helped

[11:44] countless families that did not

[11:45] go on notice but was never

[11:49] spoken in public again For

[11:50] the nights that you would

[11:50] answer the calls of

[11:54] Southeastern San Diego for

[11:55] the opportunities that you have

[11:58] shown people to come and get

[11:58] tours of the dispatch so that

[11:59] they could get their minds

[12:03] wrapped around a career.

[12:04] And even though you have mentor

[12:08] and people that have failed

[12:09] the test, you still give them

[12:13] encouragement You will be

[12:13] missed.

[12:14] >> Well deserve rest and

[12:18] celebration and I am in full

[12:19] support of this proclamation.

[12:23] You are a cut from a different

[12:24] cloth and you know it and just

[12:28] so appreciative of being able

[12:28] to experience the times with

[12:33] you.

[12:33] >> Have a great time.

[12:34] Thank you so much for allowing

[12:34] me to speak.

[12:35] Thank you For the record that

[12:39] was items as 5a1 and as 502

[12:39] zoom user If you can please

[12:42] unmute and let me know which

[12:43] item or items you wish to speak

[12:46] to five oh one and five to and

[12:51] I'm like talking about it's

[12:51] let's make San Diego great

[12:52] again.

[12:56] When I was a kid in the 50s and

[12:57] 60s San Diego was a great even

[13:01] Mexico was great when I was

[13:02] growing up Mexico made their

[13:06] submarines out of Adobe.

[13:07] Now they're making them out of

[13:07] steel and putting drugs in

[13:11] Let's Make Mexico Great Again

[13:12] and San Diego too.

[13:16] Now we've got to clear

[13:17] the board, get some guys that

[13:21] wanted to start defining words

[13:21] just like how can you have

[13:25] dignity with transgendered?

[13:26] It just doesn't make sense to

[13:26] me.

[13:30] You know growing up that was

[13:31] not two words you would speak

[13:35] together but we all could have

[13:35] some more dignity in our lives.

[13:39] But when we start changing all

[13:40] the definitions of everything

[13:44] there is no dignity anyway.

[13:45] I think they need to get some

[13:45] counseling.

[13:49] They need help and they're just

[13:50] hopeless sinners.

[13:50] That's all they are.

[13:53] They need the Lord just like

[13:54] everybody else does including

[13:59] myself and just come to Jesus

[14:00] moment.

[14:01] You don't have to cut off your

[14:04] or grow up Here it is.

[14:05] You know It's just Come on man.

[14:09] Get out and start praying.

[14:09] Get down on your knees and

[14:10] pray.

[14:10] Even the guys that condone that

[14:14] stuff better get down on your

[14:14] knees and pray because GOD

[14:15] might be holding you more

[14:15] accountable.

[14:18] Man You know it's a lie.

[14:19] You know, quit lie And

[14:23] everybody that Anyway, have a

[14:24] good day.

[14:24] Thank you.

[14:28] Our next speaker is Blair

[14:28] Pigman.

[14:29] If you can please unmute and

[14:30] let me know which item or items

[14:30] you wish to speak to.

[14:32] Blair Before Blair before you

[14:33] jump in, please remember that

[14:37] people children might be

[14:38] watching this in the language

[14:38] at you.

[14:39] There's plenty of ways to

[14:41] convey your thoughts and your

[14:42] values but please remember who

[14:43] might be watching.

[14:45] Thank you.

[14:46] Also just not the five minute

[14:47] timer did conclude Blair

[14:47] Rickman is our final speaker

[14:51] Blair please proceed.

[14:51] >> Hi.

[14:52] Thank you.

[14:52] Blair be quiet.

[14:52] Yeah.

[14:53] I'm all for freedom of speech.

[14:56] Good decorum for public

[14:56] meetings.

[14:57] It's nice that a language we

[15:00] can all be agreeable to feel

[15:00] safe with.

[15:01] >> Thank you.

[15:05] I wanted to comment that I am

[15:05] 31 and 32.

[15:09] I think they are the one is

[15:10] the captain.

[15:10] >> Yeah.

[15:14] And the captain.

[15:15] Okay, great.

[15:15] Thank you.

[15:15] Yeah.

[15:18] The 31 is the captain and we

[15:19] had a good public meeting

[15:23] yesterday on public safety

[15:24] issues of police crime issues.

[15:24] Really nice questions by a

[15:29] councilperson on Rupert, by

[15:29] the way.

[15:30] It reminded me that, you know,

[15:34] we can have if we have good

[15:34] conversations with our police.

[15:38] That's so key right now,

[15:38] especially at this time.

[15:39] We're at a very questionable

[15:42] time to practice de-escalation,

[15:47] have that in check and that

[15:48] that option is available and

[15:49] looking towards those things

[15:53] for police it's important And

[15:54] Councilor for someone to ask

[15:56] something of that yesterday

[15:57] it's really important And

[16:02] police are there to want to

[16:02] have those conversations if we

[16:03] want to have them ourselves.

[16:07] So good luck that we have good

[16:08] dialog and it sounds like a

[16:11] really good person is retiring

[16:12] and that's sort of level of

[16:13] conversation and good dialog.

[16:17] We need continuously good luck.

[16:17] We work on those efforts

[16:25] together for the other item 32

[16:26] Ramadan month as we are in we

[16:30] are in a new state of war with

[16:30] a conservative state of Israel.

[16:31] They are basically changing

[16:35] the game of how we're going to

[16:35] be talking about the Middle

[16:36] East.

[16:39] This isn't a progressive lives

[16:40] anymore.

[16:40] We're dealing with a very

[16:41] conservative nature.

[16:45] We have to really be patient.

[16:46] Good luck how we can talk about

[16:46] Ramadan.

[16:47] There isn't any Ramadan

[16:50] speakers here.

[16:51] Well, you're doing public

[16:52] comment first I hope there are

[16:54] people from the Islamic faith

[16:55] here.

[16:55] It's like the majority religion

[16:56] in the world.

[16:56] It's a large proportion of

[17:00] the world religion For them to

[17:01] be here today was included.

[17:04] >> You had only spoken about

[17:05] the two items.

[17:08] >> Yes, that was the two items.

[17:08] Thank you.

[17:09] Thank you.

[17:09] That does conclude public

[17:10] comment on proclamations.

[17:12] All right.

[17:13] Thank you.

[17:13] City clerk will now turn it

[17:14] over to my council colleagues

[17:19] for comments and entertain a

[17:19] motion And we'll start with

[17:20] council member Eli Rivera.

[17:20] All right, Thank you.

[17:24] Council PRESIDENT.

[17:25] I will be speaking about

[17:30] Ramadan month.

[17:35] I will start by saying how much

[17:36] I appreciate everyone who's

[17:40] here from our Muslim community

[17:41] and the deep appreciation

[17:45] respect that I have for the San

[17:46] Diego community.

[17:51] How impressive the commitment

[17:51] not just to faith but to

[17:58] community and family is during

[17:59] all times of the year but

[17:59] especially during this month of

[18:00] Ramadan.

[18:02] There's a little story I want

[18:07] to share because I think it

[18:08] just really embodies the spirit

[18:12] of the Muslim community during

[18:12] again all times but especially

[18:13] during Ramadan.

[18:17] I attended an Iftaar a few

[18:22] weeks ago and after dinner by

[18:22] battery had died in my car And

[18:27] worth remembering that

[18:27] the folks who were there had

[18:28] been fasting all day had just

[18:34] broke their fast and

[18:40] the collective effort from

[18:40] children who were there to

[18:41] elders who were there to help

[18:45] me get my car started and get

[18:50] get home at the end of a long

[18:51] day again that included a

[18:55] daylong fast fast that includes

[18:56] not drinking water.

[19:01] I just think was like it was

[19:01] moving to me because again it

[19:06] was such a demonstration of of

[19:10] putting faith into action and

[19:11] demonstrative of everything

[19:15] I've seen from the Muslim

[19:16] community here in San Diego and

[19:20] my own family as well.

[19:21] So especially during these

[19:26] times when communities are

[19:27] under attack, I think it's

[19:31] important to acknowledge and

[19:36] pay respect to and honor people

[19:37] of all faiths and all

[19:41] backgrounds And today is an

[19:42] important day for the Muslim

[19:42] community.

[19:43] This month is an important

[19:43] month for the Muslim community

[19:46] and I'm glad they were able to

[19:47] bring this proclamation

[19:47] forward.

[19:48] So thank you to everyone in

[19:52] the communities who's here very

[19:52] quickly on Transgender Day of

[19:53] Visibility.

[19:58] Thank you to COUNCILMAN

[19:59] Campbell Councilmember Woodburn

[19:59] and customer on Wolpert for

[20:01] bringing this forward in

[20:06] partnership with Mayor We

[20:07] transgender people are worthy

[20:12] of dignity and respect and

[20:13] appreciation and care and love

[20:13] because they are people and

[20:17] that should not need to be

[20:18] said.

[20:18] But we just heard loud and

[20:23] clear why it's so important for

[20:24] us to to say it and to take

[20:28] action where as a as a city we

[20:29] share our love and appreciation

[20:33] respect for the transgender

[20:34] community.

[20:35] So while First Amendment rights

[20:42] are clearly being exercised,

[20:42] just know that the folks who

[20:47] call in and disparage our

[20:47] members of the transgender

[20:48] community by no means represent

[20:52] a majority of the city.

[20:53] They certainly don't represent

[20:54] the official position of this

[20:54] city.

[20:54] We see you.

[20:57] We honor you.

[20:58] We love you.

[20:59] We appreciate you And no public

[21:02] comment can change that.

[21:03] So with that council PRESIDENT

[21:04] I will move approval of

[21:08] the proclamations.

[21:08] Thank you.

[21:08] All right.

[21:09] Thank you, sir.

[21:10] So we have a motion by council

[21:11] member Eli Rivera to move

[21:13] the proclamation will go next

[21:14] to council member Campbell

[21:15] Thank you so much.

[21:19] Council PRESIDENT First of all

[21:20] I'd like to second the motion

[21:21] to approve the proclamations

[21:25] and I would like to thank

[21:25] Captain Harvey for all

[21:26] the years of service and wish

[21:30] him a happy retirement.

[21:30] I would like to say happy

[21:36] Ramadan and the end of Ramadan.

[21:40] Happy I eat the day of Ramadan.

[21:41] I really have great respect for

[21:46] the Muslim religion.

[21:47] I have family members who are

[21:47] Muslim.

[21:48] I have family members who are

[21:52] everything you name it We not

[21:52] at all.

[21:53] We're like the we're like

[21:53] the rest of the world.

[21:54] You know, we're just completely

[21:57] mixed up with everything and

[21:58] everybody loves everybody And

[21:58] that's how it should be.

[22:02] Everyone is their authentic

[22:03] self And guess what Lady Gaga

[22:08] said We're born that way And so

[22:09] that's the way we need to be in

[22:10] order to find our fulfillment

[22:14] in our happiness as human

[22:14] beings.

[22:15] So first of all, I want to

[22:16] speak about National Nutrition

[22:20] Month because I'm a family

[22:20] physician and we know food is

[22:21] medicine, right?

[22:26] All the mothers here know that

[22:26] .

[22:27] All the kids know that I hope

[22:28] all the dancing they are to it

[22:30] is one of the most basic things

[22:31] to improve a person's life

[22:32] Access to healthy nutritious

[22:37] food from newborns to older

[22:37] adults, proper nutrition

[22:38] prevents long term health

[22:39] conditions like heart disease

[22:43] and diabetes On a day to day

[22:44] basis it can boost your immune

[22:48] system and keep you healthier.

[22:49] National Nutrition Month is

[22:49] also a good time to recognize

[22:50] organizations that provide

[22:55] nutritional like Meals on

[22:55] Wheels.

[22:56] Some of my favorites love to

[22:56] deliver meals with them.

[23:00] I think when I retired it's

[23:01] going to be one of the things

[23:02] the service allows residents

[23:05] who need it to have a healthy

[23:06] nutritious meals delivered

[23:07] right to their front door to

[23:11] improve their health and giving

[23:12] them moments of connection with

[23:12] those who volunteer to do

[23:13] the deliveries.

[23:17] There's so many wonderful

[23:18] organizations across our city

[23:18] who provide access to proper

[23:23] nutrition for those who need

[23:24] who need it and I want them to

[23:24] keep up the good work and know

[23:29] that another volunteer is on

[23:29] the way.

[23:29] Pretty soon she retires.

[23:34] I'd like to speak on

[23:35] Transgender Day of Visibility.

[23:36] I want to thank Mayor Gloria

[23:41] and my colleagues council

[23:42] members with Burnaby for

[23:43] joining me in proclaiming this

[23:46] MARCH 31st, 2026 Transgender

[23:51] Day of Visibility MARCH 31st is

[23:52] international observed as this

[23:53] day of visibility a day we

[23:57] observe the silver and

[23:58] celebrate the rich history and

[23:59] culture of transgender

[24:03] individuals and paving the way

[24:04] for greater recognition and

[24:04] affirmation of transgender

[24:05] people.

[24:09] I think it's just a matter of

[24:10] people understanding that some

[24:15] of us are not born in the body

[24:15] That is their their inner

[24:16] knowing is their body and

[24:21] that's where transgender comes

[24:22] in and that people are people

[24:27] And it doesn't matter if you're

[24:27] transgender you were born that

[24:28] way And currently

[24:29] the transgender community is

[24:33] being attacked and we have to

[24:34] stand up for them to be their

[24:34] authentic selves.

[24:39] Today the city confirms its

[24:40] responsibility to stand in

[24:41] solidarity with our transgender

[24:46] community, to speak out against

[24:47] hate of anyone and to foster a

[24:47] culture of belonging and

[24:51] respect for all.

[24:52] And as I have said before and I

[24:53] will always say I want

[24:58] the transgender community to

[24:59] know that I see you, I hear

[25:00] you, I love you, I respect you

[25:04] and more importantly this city

[25:04] council and mayor honors and

[25:05] celebrates all the wonderful

[25:10] contributions you bring to our

[25:11] city of San Diego.

[25:11] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.

[25:12] All right.

[25:12] Thank you.

[25:18] Council member So we have a

[25:18] motion by Councilmember Eli

[25:19] Rivera and a second by Council

[25:20] member Campbell to approve

[25:20] the proclamation.

[25:24] So we'll go next to

[25:24] Councilmember Camp here.

[25:25] Thank you, council PRESIDENT

[25:26] Thank you members of the public

[25:28] for being here today in

[25:29] chambers.

[25:29] First I want to start with

[25:30] Captain Jerry Hora said it

[25:31] before and I'll say it again

[25:33] Those who risk their lives for

[25:34] others deserve our praise and

[25:34] our salute.

[25:35] And you did that for 33 years.

[25:40] So thank you so much for that

[25:40] to lose such a great leader

[25:41] with so much experience and

[25:42] quite frankly one of our most

[25:45] trained sworn officers in

[25:46] the entire department.

[25:47] But congratulations on your

[25:47] retirement and GOD bless you

[25:51] and your family.

[25:52] On Transgender Day of

[25:52] Visibility I want to thank

[25:53] the various organizations that

[25:54] are here today in support of

[25:57] folks who are doing nothing

[25:57] more than just trying to be

[25:58] themselves Trans family support

[25:59] Services, Proyecto Trans

[26:04] Latinas Transgender Health and

[26:04] Wellness Center.

[26:05] San Diego Pride Hillcrest Youth

[26:05] Center.

[26:09] San Diego lgbt Community Center

[26:10] Many many more organizations as

[26:10] well.

[26:11] They don't just help only trans

[26:11] people.

[26:12] They help everyone who walks

[26:15] through their doors with

[26:15] education and food and

[26:16] resources funding job support

[26:16] many other more important

[26:21] things you name it.

[26:22] So I want to thank them and

[26:22] wish them strength On

[26:23] Transgender Day of Visibility

[26:27] Today I'm also bringing forth a

[26:28] constituent of mine who's been

[26:29] a leader for many, many years

[26:33] Shane Hogg.

[26:34] He is I'm honored to proclaim

[26:34] APRIL 6th, 2016 Hogg Day She

[26:39] has been driving been a really

[26:39] an important leader throughout

[26:44] decades in L.A. Gardens and in

[26:45] Granville on the community

[26:45] council.

[26:46] He's brought so many people

[26:47] together and he makes sure

[26:50] residents have a voice in

[26:51] the decisions that shape their

[26:51] neighborhood And he has

[26:52] certainly educated me on many

[26:53] things in the neighborhood

[26:56] under his leadership,

[26:56] the council strengthened

[26:57] communication and outreach

[26:58] creates more opportunities for

[27:02] engagement champion projects

[27:03] that make a real difference in

[27:03] the beautification of

[27:04] the neighborhood tree planting

[27:05] in support of

[27:09] the rehabilitation of Navajo

[27:09] Canyon and so much more.

[27:10] What stands out to me the most

[27:11] is his dedication since before

[27:15] I took office he has

[27:16] consistently shown up and

[27:16] listened and worked to improve

[27:17] the quality of life for

[27:21] everyone in the Navajo region

[27:22] as he stepped down as chair We

[27:22] recognize not just his

[27:23] accomplishments but the lasting

[27:26] impact of his leadership And

[27:27] I'm honored to proclaim APRIL

[27:28] 6th in his honor.

[27:28] So Shayne, thank you for your

[27:29] service and everything you've

[27:33] done for Allied Gardens and

[27:34] Granville in all of San Diego.

[27:34] And lastly for Ramadan we

[27:35] recognize the holy month of

[27:35] Ramadan.

[27:39] We honor our time of reflection

[27:39] and compassion and community

[27:40] for Muslim families here in San

[27:44] Diego and across the world of

[27:45] course, Ramadan is rooted in

[27:46] the values of faith and

[27:46] generosity, sacrifice and

[27:47] service.

[27:51] And after my comments last

[27:51] week, these are values that

[27:52] strengthen our neighborhoods

[27:53] and bring San Diego together.

[27:56] This recognition is deeply

[27:57] personal to me as well with my

[27:58] Muslim family members being a

[27:59] vital part of my life and who i

[28:03] am and what many of them have

[28:03] been fasting this month

[28:04] engaging in a day fast was

[28:08] difficult enough for me as an

[28:09] ordinary person.

[28:09] I did not go all day without

[28:10] drinking water So just imagine

[28:14] how hard it is to do that for a

[28:15] month and whether it's Persian

[28:16] or Arab or Somali or any other

[28:20] ethnicity every ethnicity has

[28:20] members of the Muslim faith.

[28:21] The common thread of sacrifice

[28:22] and service during this month

[28:27] is inspiring And in District

[28:27] seven I want to highlight

[28:28] the Sierra mesa community home

[28:29] of the Afghan Community Islamic

[28:32] Center which serves as a vital

[28:33] gathering place for many local

[28:33] families During Ramadan.

[28:34] Spaces like this become even

[28:38] more meaningful as they bring

[28:39] people together for prayer,

[28:39] reflection and shared meals.

[28:40] Ramadan reminds us of

[28:44] the importance of empathy,

[28:45] community and building a more

[28:46] inclusive San Diego for all.

[28:47] So to everyone who is observing

[28:51] Ramadan, Mubarak Thank you.

[28:52] Council PRESIDENT Right Thank

[28:53] you Council member Carpio We'll

[28:54] go next to Council member Von

[28:57] Wolpert Thank you to my

[28:58] colleagues that always bring

[28:58] forth wonderful proclamations

[28:59] for wonderful things to

[29:02] celebrate in our city,

[29:03] wonderful people to celebrate

[29:03] in our city.

[29:04] I'll start with item 30 which

[29:05] is transgender Day of

[29:09] visibility.

[29:10] I am very proud to join Mayor

[29:11] Gloria and councilmembers

[29:11] Jennifer Campbell and Kim

[29:12] Woodburn in recognizing

[29:14] transgender Day of visibility

[29:15] once again in the city on March

[29:15] 31st.

[29:16] Today we get to celebrate

[29:20] the lives resilience

[29:21] achievements of transgender and

[29:21] non-binary people in our

[29:22] community and we affirm that

[29:23] they belong in every part of

[29:27] our civic life whether it's

[29:28] here in the city hall up to

[29:28] Congress in state government,

[29:33] transgender and non-binary

[29:34] residents contribute every day

[29:34] to our cultural, civic and

[29:35] economic strength of San Diego

[29:38] educators, health care workers

[29:39] ,artists, producers and public

[29:40] servants including police

[29:40] officers.

[29:41] Transgender Day of visibility

[29:45] was created in 2009 by activist

[29:45] Rachel Crandall to celebrate

[29:46] trans people while raising

[29:46] awareness about

[29:51] the discrimination and violence

[29:51] people still face today

[29:52] the city of Seattle remains

[29:52] committed to policies that

[29:57] promote dignity, safety and

[29:58] inclusion so that all of us can

[29:59] live authentically and free

[29:59] from fear.

[30:02] I am grateful for

[30:03] the leadership of our local

[30:04] organizations including trans

[30:04] family Support Services, Trans

[30:05] Latinas, transgender health and

[30:09] wellness Center including

[30:09] ourselves The Pride our lgbt

[30:14] Center who is here as well and

[30:15] all the individuals who are

[30:15] affirming that the city of San

[30:20] Diego stand against hate in

[30:20] with community where everyone

[30:21] is valued And as DR. Jen

[30:22] Campbell said, we were all born

[30:22] this way.

[30:27] Thank you, lady Gaga.

[30:28] Also for Ramadan month And item

[30:29] 32 thank you to my colleagues

[30:32] for item 32 today.

[30:33] i also want to take a moment to

[30:34] recognize the beautiful

[30:39] observance of Ramadan.

[30:39] Ramadan is the ninth month of

[30:40] the Islamic lunar calendar and

[30:41] as a sacred time of fasting,

[30:45] prayer and reflection for

[30:45] Muslims around the world As

[30:46] this month continues, many have

[30:47] been observing a daily fast.

[30:52] This council for Campos that is

[30:52] very hard to do.

[30:53] I too have attempted to fast

[30:57] and I can even go have a date

[30:58] out in water So I appreciate

[30:59] the sacrifice it takes.

[31:02] Also Ramadan emphasizes service

[31:03] to others including supporting

[31:03] those in need and giving back

[31:04] to the community at the time of

[31:08] connection as family

[31:09] the neighbors gather in

[31:09] the evening to break their fast

[31:10] and spend time together here in

[31:14] San Diego We are very fortunate

[31:14] to have a very vibrant Muslim

[31:15] community to contribute in

[31:16] meaningful ways across our city

[31:20] and I feel that it's more

[31:21] important than ever that we are

[31:22] celebrating Ramadan in this

[31:26] chambers because of the rise in

[31:27] unadulterated bigotry we are

[31:27] seeing in this country against

[31:28] our Muslim brothers and

[31:28] sisters.

[31:33] There are elected officials

[31:34] United States Senate and United

[31:35] States House of Representatives

[31:35] mainly in state in the Deep

[31:39] South who are making

[31:39] unadulterated bigoted

[31:40] statements about our Muslim

[31:41] community right now.

[31:44] It is extremely dangerous.

[31:45] It's not only dangerous for our

[31:46] mothers, for our Muslim

[31:51] community but also for America

[31:52] fomenting bigotry And he can

[31:52] lead to violence that will

[31:57] impact all of our communities,

[31:58] put our public safety

[31:58] responders at risk and take

[31:59] away our rights to freedom of

[32:03] expression, of freedom of

[32:04] religion.

[32:04] So I am very proud we are

[32:05] celebrating our diverse

[32:06] cultures here in San Diego,

[32:09] including our beautiful Somali,

[32:09] Afghan, Persian and all

[32:15] community members today finally

[32:16] with item 31 Captain Jerry

[32:16] Hara, I cannot believe it's

[32:17] time for you to retire.

[32:21] I am very, very proud to join

[32:22] Meritorious in recognizing

[32:23] Captain Jerry Hara in

[32:23] celebrating his outstanding

[32:28] career to the serving people

[32:28] City of San Diego.

[32:29] I also know we have some

[32:30] incredible 901 dispatchers in

[32:30] the room today So our

[32:31] dispatchers could please stand.

[32:43] >> We love to recognize you.

[32:44] >> I highly encourage

[32:49] the public to go on a tour of

[32:50] our number one dispatch center

[32:51] because those are the folks who

[32:51] answer the phone in our most

[32:55] harrowing moments And I've seen

[32:56] them have to use multiple

[32:57] computers and phones that are

[33:01] on either side of their head

[33:02] for the public to call in

[33:03] the victims stories and

[33:03] the dispatch to pd or

[33:04] the ambulance the information

[33:08] going on Some of them even have

[33:09] foot pedals in addition to hand

[33:09] controls.

[33:10] It's very impressive.

[33:13] So Captain Hart began his

[33:13] career with the senior police

[33:14] department as a police cadet

[33:17] and joined as a recruit in

[33:18] the 25th Regional Academy class

[33:19] in 1993 when he was ten

[33:23] overboard.

[33:24] Over more than three decades he

[33:25] built a career defined by

[33:25] leadership, dedication and

[33:26] service.

[33:29] He has served in many roles

[33:30] including patrol operational

[33:31] support, air support, watch

[33:31] commander background

[33:36] investigations and in-service

[33:36] training.

[33:37] And he twice led the dispatch

[33:37] division as a commanding

[33:38] officer.

[33:41] Captain Hara also took on some

[33:42] of the department's most

[33:43] challenging assignments

[33:43] including serving on a special

[33:44] weapons and tactical teams

[33:47] the honor guard and the peer

[33:48] support and all the team

[33:49] supporting his colleagues at a

[33:49] very difficult moment in their

[33:50] lives and careers.

[33:54] He invested in the professional

[33:55] development as a graduate of

[33:55] the Federal Bureau

[33:56] Investigation Academy and

[33:56] through his leadership as a

[33:59] past PRESIDENT Of the National

[34:00] Peace Officer Association and

[34:01] all of them over the years his

[34:07] service has been recognized

[34:07] with numerous commendation

[34:08] certificates for the awards.

[34:09] Captain Hart had mentored more

[34:09] than a thousand department

[34:10] members to the city's

[34:11] promotional process helping

[34:11] guide to prepare the next

[34:15] generation of Captain Hart

[34:16] retires on APRIL 2nd.

[34:16] We thank him dearly for more

[34:17] than 30 years of service,

[34:18] mentorship and dedication to

[34:22] public safety.

[34:23] We are proud to proclaim this

[34:24] day Captain Jerry Hardy and

[34:24] the city of San Diego.

[34:25] Jerry, come on up if you want

[34:39] to make any more comments to

[34:40] Ballou.

[34:40] Thank you so much.

[34:41] I apologize.

[34:41] I tweeted my uncle just a

[34:44] couple days ago said I'd be in

[34:45] uniform but it's part of

[34:46] getting old first and foremost

[34:50] I just want to thank GOD and

[34:51] Jesus Christ my savior who's

[34:51] got me through 33 years of

[34:55] incredible fighting but also

[34:56] incredible evil or hardship.

[34:57] I want to thank my wife, my

[35:02] family.

[35:03] They're all here my best

[35:03] friends, my best friend Jeff

[35:09] right there and my brother.

[35:10] This this work is hard.

[35:10] There are birthdays that I

[35:11] missed.

[35:15] There's Christmases I missed

[35:15] the 4th of JULY picnics I

[35:16] missed But it was all for a

[35:16] great great cause.

[35:21] It's to keep San Diego safe.

[35:22] There's a reason why San Diego

[35:22] is one of our the largest,

[35:23] safest city in the United

[35:26] States.

[35:27] So because all those people

[35:27] right there in blue and

[35:31] the dispatchers right there in

[35:32] my 33 to 35 years on this

[35:33] department, you guys have one

[35:37] of the best command staffs I

[35:38] have ever seen in 35 years.

[35:38] So even though I'm retiring I

[35:39] know and I've trained and

[35:44] mentored a lot of chiefs and a

[35:45] lot of captains there you guys

[35:45] are going to be just fine.

[35:50] My last thing is Dispatcher

[35:51] week is next month so please

[35:51] come on.

[35:51] Bye.

[35:52] Come and check us out.

[35:56] I know several council members

[35:56] came last year.

[35:57] Thank you for that.

[35:57] They do a harrowing job.

[36:01] You have the second largest

[36:01] community in the state of

[36:02] California at the highest

[36:07] performing com center in all of

[36:08] California.

[36:08] We are answering No one in 30s

[36:09] or less.

[36:12] That is incredible.

[36:13] We've come a long way.

[36:13] So again, I want to thank

[36:14] the city council for all your

[36:15] support over the years.

[36:16] You guys have been amazing and

[36:17] GOD bless you.

[36:41] >> Well thank you.

[36:41] Thank you.

[36:44] Council PRESIDENT I will add

[36:45] one more thing I encourage

[36:46] folks to come up on Christmas

[36:52] to House court which is I think

[36:53] in the lead district now.

[36:54] But I will say that Captain

[36:54] Hara has the most incredible

[36:57] Star Wars Christmas display you

[36:58] ever want to see including a

[36:58] talking Wookie.

[37:03] So thank you again, Captain,

[37:04] for your service and thank you

[37:05] Got the PRESIDENT All right.

[37:06] That's a date marked out

[37:10] the under calendar.

[37:11] Thank you, Council member Von

[37:11] Wilpert.

[37:12] We'll go next to Councilmember

[37:12] Whitman.

[37:13] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.

[37:15] Congratulations to all of those

[37:16] who are being honored with

[37:16] proclamations today.

[37:21] I'll speak to a few of them.

[37:22] I did throw I am pleased to

[37:22] join the mayor and council

[37:23] members.

[37:23] Campbell and I both worked in

[37:26] bringing forward

[37:27] the proclamation declaring

[37:28] MARCH 31st Transgender Day of

[37:28] visibility in San Diego as

[37:33] transgender individuals face

[37:33] growing challenges at

[37:34] the federal level and in some

[37:38] cases here in San Diego we must

[37:39] stand together and affirm their

[37:40] dignity, acknowledge their

[37:45] experiences and defend their

[37:46] right to live openly and

[37:46] authentically.

[37:47] I have great grateful that this

[37:50] council and our mayor remain

[37:51] committed to speaking out

[37:52] against discrimination and

[37:52] standing in solidarity with our

[37:56] transgender community.

[37:57] Whether those challenges arise

[37:58] at the federal level or here at

[37:59] home, our transgender community

[38:03] is vibrant, resilient and

[38:03] essential to our city.

[38:04] Over 20 years ago the city of

[38:08] San Diego added protections for

[38:09] the transgender community to

[38:10] our human dignity ordinance.

[38:10] I think that is a point of

[38:15] pride for our city And I want

[38:16] to thank some of the many

[38:17] community organizations here in

[38:20] San Diego who work every day to

[38:21] uplift and support our

[38:21] transgender community including

[38:22] the San Diego lgbt Community

[38:28] Center Proyecto Trans Lives,

[38:28] Titus Trans Family Support

[38:29] Services, the Transgender

[38:33] Health and Wellness Center, San

[38:34] Diego Pride and a number of

[38:34] others.

[38:35] And I would like to invite Kyle

[38:39] who is the center's project

[38:39] trans case manager and peer

[38:40] support advocate to come up and

[38:50] say a few words.

[38:51] Hello everyone.

[38:57] Thank you for having us here

[38:57] today.

[38:58] Transgender visibility was

[38:58] created in 2009 by activist

[39:03] Rachel Crandall Crocker.

[39:04] She founded this day in

[39:04] response to the lack of lgbtq

[39:09] plus recognition specifically

[39:10] for transgender people And out

[39:10] of the frustration that

[39:11] the only widely known trans

[39:15] centered observance at the time

[39:16] was transgender remembrance.

[39:16] She envisioned a day that not

[39:21] only honor those lost to

[39:22] anti-trans violence but also

[39:23] celebrated the lives, joy and

[39:28] resilience of transgender

[39:28] people who are here today.

[39:29] Transgender visibility is meant

[39:29] to do exactly that.

[39:34] Its purpose is to promote

[39:35] visibility, empower transgender

[39:35] people including those who MAY

[39:40] feel unseen even within their

[39:40] own communities and including

[39:41] the face of adversity and

[39:41] bigotry.

[39:46] Mother's Day concerns remind us

[39:46] that transgender, non-binary

[39:47] and gender very and people have

[39:48] always been at the forefront of

[39:52] movements for justice and

[39:53] liberation meaning serve as a

[39:53] reminder that our leadership,

[39:57] our creativity and our courage

[39:58] continue to shape our future.

[39:59] Thank you to mayor and council

[40:04] members Campbell Webber and

[40:05] Bolivar for bringing this

[40:05] forward and recognizing Tdot

[40:09] and the city of San Diego.

[40:10] I hope that everyone in this

[40:11] room continues to show up as

[40:12] comrades to the community and

[40:15] to stay engaged in

[40:15] the movement.

[40:16] >> Thank you.

[40:17] Thank you for those beautiful

[40:21] words and thanks to each of you

[40:22] for being here.

[40:23] Council chambers Today It is an

[40:27] honor and privilege to have you

[40:27] with us this morning.

[40:28] Thank you for all that you do

[40:29] to contribute to our San Diego

[40:33] community.

[40:33] Thank you again.

[40:34] i am 31.

[40:34] Jerry Holiday in the city of

[40:35] San Diego.

[40:39] I too want to congratulate

[40:40] Captain on his well-deserved

[40:43] retirement after 33 years of

[40:43] service to our city.

[40:44] Thank you for all those years

[40:44] of helping to keep our

[40:49] community safe and helping

[40:50] the Eagles in their most

[40:51] difficult moments.

[40:55] I am sure that your leadership

[40:56] is one of the reasons that you

[40:56] were recognized with a lifetime

[41:01] membership by the National

[41:02] Latino Police Officers

[41:03] Association and certainly all

[41:03] would agree that you will be

[41:04] greatly missed.

[41:09] The police force also I think

[41:10] council PRESIDENT Notably in

[41:13] council members Foster Castillo

[41:14] and Isla Rivera for bringing

[41:15] forward item 32 Robert Albert

[41:15] this month serves as an act of

[41:20] worship for millions of Muslims

[41:20] around the world and here in

[41:21] San Diego.

[41:21] And I want to recognize and

[41:25] thank our opportunity for

[41:25] the many contributions they

[41:26] make to the cultural and civic

[41:27] life of our city.

[41:31] I wish everyone observing a

[41:31] meaningful and peaceful

[41:32] Ramadan.

[41:32] Ramadan Mubarak.

[41:32] Thank you.

[41:37] Council PRESIDENT.

[41:37] All right.

[41:38] Thank you, Council member

[41:38] Whitburn.

[41:39] We'll go next to Councilmember

[41:39] Fuster.

[41:43] Yes, thank you, council

[41:43] PRESIDENT.

[41:44] And just congratulations to all

[41:49] of the proclamation recipients.

[41:50] I do have comments on just a

[41:50] few.

[41:54] I'll start with item 30

[41:55] Transgender day of visibility.

[41:55] Thank you to the mayor.

[41:56] Councilmember Campbell

[42:00] Councilmember Whitburn and Von

[42:01] Wilbert for bringing forward

[42:01] this recognition.

[42:02] Trans Transgender Day of

[42:06] visibility is an opportunity to

[42:07] recognize the contributions of

[42:07] transgender and nonbinary

[42:11] individuals who help strengthen

[42:12] communities across San Diego

[42:12] and beyond.

[42:13] Today also serves as a reminder

[42:17] of the importance of continuing

[42:18] to build a city where every

[42:19] resident is treated with

[42:19] dignity and respect.

[42:23] I join my colleagues in

[42:24] acknowledging Transgender Day

[42:24] of Visibility and the many

[42:25] individuals and organizations

[42:30] who continue working toward a

[42:31] more inclusive San Diego.

[42:31] Moving on to Captain Jerry

[42:35] Hardy.

[42:36] Congratulations Captain Hara

[42:37] for your many years of service

[42:42] to the city of San Diego.

[42:43] Captain our dedicated more than

[42:44] three decades of public safety

[42:47] serving in a wide range of

[42:48] roles and helping support both

[42:49] the officers he worked

[42:49] alongside and the communities

[42:50] they serve.

[42:53] Throughout his career he spent

[42:54] time serving neighborhoods

[42:54] across the city including

[42:59] communities in southeastern San

[43:00] Diego helping ensure residents

[43:00] felt protected and supported.

[43:04] Captain Hora enjoy your

[43:05] retirement and thank you to you

[43:06] and your family for 33 years of

[43:10] service to the people of San

[43:10] Diego.

[43:11] And I'll say you were one of

[43:12] those captains that I made

[43:16] those late phone calls to 10

[43:17] P.M. And beyond and you always

[43:17] took my call.

[43:18] He took care of what needed to

[43:18] be taken care of.

[43:21] So thank you for your service

[43:22] and your commitment to

[43:23] Southeastern Division.

[43:26] Also moving on to item 32

[43:27] Ramadan month.

[43:27] Today I'm proud to join Council

[43:32] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Ken Lee Campo

[43:33] and Councilmember Ila Rivera in

[43:33] bringing forward this

[43:34] recognition of Ramadan and

[43:38] acknowledging the many Muslim

[43:39] neighborhoods neighbors

[43:39] observing this month in San

[43:40] Diego.

[43:44] San Diego is a diverse city and

[43:45] part of our responsibility as a

[43:46] council is to recognize and

[43:46] respect the traditions and

[43:50] cultural practices that are

[43:51] important to the communities we

[43:52] serve in District four and

[43:52] across Diego.

[43:56] Our Muslim neighbors are an

[43:57] important part of the fabric of

[43:57] our neighborhoods contributing

[44:01] every day as educators small

[44:02] business owners, health care

[44:03] professionals, community

[44:03] leaders and public servants.

[44:07] Recognitions like this help

[44:08] ensure that the traditions and

[44:08] experience of all communities

[44:09] are acknowledged and respected

[44:09] in our city.

[44:14] That kind of respect and

[44:15] understanding help strengthen

[44:15] connections between neighbors

[44:16] and across our city.

[44:20] I'm honored to join my

[44:21] colleagues in recognizing

[44:22] Ramadan month and extending our

[44:22] well-wishes to everyone

[44:27] observing.

[44:28] And lastly, I'd like to make

[44:28] some quick comments on National

[44:29] Nutrition Month.

[44:32] Thank you to Council PRESIDENT

[44:33] Lee Carver and Councilmember

[44:34] Campbell for bringing forward

[44:34] this recognition and for

[44:35] highlighting the importance of

[44:39] nutrition and public health for

[44:40] residents across San Diego.

[44:40] The food we have access to and

[44:41] the choices available in our

[44:45] neighborhoods play a major role

[44:46] in overall health, well-being

[44:47] and quality of life in many

[44:51] areas of our city including

[44:51] neighborhoods and district For

[44:52] access to healthy and

[44:53] affordable food continues to be

[44:53] an important issue which is why

[44:57] education advocacy around

[44:58] nutrition are so critical.

[44:59] This conversation is especially

[44:59] important for black and brown

[45:03] communities that have

[45:03] historically faced barriers to

[45:04] healthy food access and

[45:05] experienced higher rates of

[45:09] diet related health conditions.

[45:09] National Nutrition Month is an

[45:10] opportunity to recognize

[45:11] the professionals, advocates

[45:15] and organizations working to

[45:16] expand nutrition education,

[45:16] improve food access and support

[45:22] healthier futures for families

[45:22] across San Diego.

[45:27] And in closing, I just want to

[45:33] say council PRESIDENT I think

[45:33] we must never lose what makes

[45:34] America great.

[45:42] And that is freedom of speech.

[45:43] We MAY not be perfect.

[45:44] The city of San Diego MAY not

[45:49] be perfect but I do believe if

[45:54] we come from a place of love we

[45:55] can be the best San Diego that

[46:00] we can be and that we should be

[46:01] .

[46:01] So please just remember that as

[46:02] we continue to move forward,

[46:06] let's not buy into the rhetoric

[46:07] and the divisiveness that we

[46:13] are currently feeling as

[46:13] neighbors, as community members

[46:14] as we deal with the federal

[46:14] level.

[46:19] So please, please remember what

[46:19] makes us great as we

[46:24] communicate as we deal with one

[46:25] another and as we love one

[46:25] another.

[46:26] So thank you, Council

[46:26] PRESIDENT.

[46:30] Thank you, Councilmember Foster

[46:30] .

[46:31] That's worth a round of

[46:31] applause.

[46:37] So we'll go down with Council

[46:37] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Ali.

[46:38] >> Thank yous PRESIDENT.

[46:41] I'll start with item 31 and

[46:42] just congratulate Captain Hara

[46:43] and wish you the best in your

[46:46] next chapter and especially

[46:47] congratulate your family and

[46:48] hope that means less missed

[46:53] birthdays, holidays and more.

[46:54] Turning to item 30, I want to

[46:55] thank Gloria and councilmembers

[46:56] Campbell would bring about

[46:56] Oprah for recognizing

[46:59] transgender Day of visibility a

[46:59] day to celebrate the strength,

[47:00] contributions and resilience of

[47:01] transgender people in our

[47:04] community.

[47:05] Today's proclamation is also a

[47:06] reminder that visibility alone

[47:06] is not enough.

[47:10] Everyone deserves safety,

[47:11] dignity and the opportunity to

[47:12] live as their full authentic

[47:12] selves.

[47:18] And if you we thrive to be a

[47:18] city where everyone is

[47:19] respected and where no one is

[47:19] left behind.

[47:23] So I'm proud to stand with our

[47:23] transgender community and

[47:24] affirm that they are seen,

[47:25] valued and belong here.

[47:29] For I am 32 I don't think I

[47:29] want to thank Councilmembers

[47:34] Foster Campo and Eula Rivera as

[47:35] we proclaim Ramadan month in

[47:35] the city of San Diego observed

[47:39] this year between FEBRUARY 18th

[47:40] and MARCH 20th.

[47:40] Ramadan is a sacred time for

[47:41] more than 20,000 San Diego and

[47:45] for billions of people around

[47:45] the world.

[47:46] At a time of reflection,

[47:46] discipline and generosity

[47:47] centered on faith, community

[47:52] and care for others.

[47:53] During this time Muslims fast

[47:53] from dawn to sunset breaking

[47:56] that fast are amongst family

[47:57] and community And it's also a

[47:58] time to practice kindness and

[47:58] to show support for our most

[48:03] vulnerable neighbors.

[48:03] That spirit of compassion and

[48:04] shared responsibility is

[48:05] something that resonates far

[48:05] beyond any one community.

[48:09] And that spirit of Ramadan is

[48:10] something we can all learn

[48:10] from.

[48:11] Join my colleagues as we

[48:15] recognize this holy month and

[48:15] celebrate the Muslim community

[48:16] as a key and valued part of San

[48:17] Diego's cultural and civic

[48:17] fabric.

[48:22] Thank you.

[48:23] >> All right.

[48:23] Thank you.

[48:24] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.

[48:27] I think everyone had a chance

[48:27] to speak.

[48:28] I want to close out by

[48:33] recognizing all

[48:33] the proclamations,

[48:34] the organizations,

[48:34] the individuals, the issues

[48:39] that are highlighted there.

[48:40] Thank you to my council

[48:41] colleagues for bringing these

[48:41] proclamations forward.

[48:42] This is kind of a unique

[48:45] opportunity to share our values

[48:46] as a council and what we

[48:52] believe in and such beautiful

[48:52] eloquent words by each of my

[48:53] colleagues.

[48:58] I'll fill in a couple of spaces

[48:58] with that as 5 or 1 National

[48:59] Nutrition Month.

[49:03] Honored to join Councilmember

[49:03] Campbell proclaiming the month

[49:04] of MARCH to be National

[49:04] Nutrition Month.

[49:05] Those costs continue to rise.

[49:10] The reasons a compromise on

[49:10] nutrition goes up as well

[49:11] through organizations like

[49:15] the California Academy of

[49:16] Nutrition and Dietetics.

[49:16] Researchers to find

[49:17] professional nutritionists and

[49:18] educational resources are more

[49:22] important than ever from

[49:22] providing opportunities to

[49:23] increase nutrition policy

[49:27] awareness and helping those who

[49:28] fight to find the right

[49:28] nutrition As the field of

[49:29] attrition goes further than

[49:30] just the food we eat.

[49:33] Thank you to everyone who

[49:34] specializes as a nutritionist

[49:35] or dietitian to the educators,

[49:40] educators and food banks for

[49:40] their work in making healthy

[49:41] foods sensible and to

[49:41] volunteers.

[49:42] Your efforts ensure that

[49:43] everyone is able to receive

[49:47] the resources they need to eat

[49:47] well.

[49:47] A quick shout out to

[49:48] Councilmember Campo for

[49:54] bringing us five hour tutoring

[49:54] all day.

[49:55] I had only a few opportunities

[49:56] to work with Shane.

[49:58] I always found him to be a

[49:58] scholar and a gentleman and

[49:59] the very definition of what a

[50:00] community leader is all about

[50:05] and always brings me back to

[50:05] the neighborhood I grew up of

[50:06] Aligarh and so thank you for

[50:10] recognizing him on Earth.

[50:10] Excuse me Item 31 Jerry

[50:11] Holiday.

[50:15] Thank you to my colleagues for

[50:15] recognizing Jerry.

[50:16] We're not I'm not going to come

[50:17] back up again.

[50:21] Wish you a speedy recovery.

[50:22] Kind of a funny way to go out

[50:23] on retirement given what you've

[50:26] done over your many, many years

[50:27] in the department.

[50:28] But you also want to recognize

[50:32] that with your experience and

[50:33] knowledge from your time over

[50:33] those many years and many

[50:34] assignments you have

[50:38] singlehandedly prepared a new

[50:39] generation of competent

[50:39] officers and dedicated public

[50:40] servants within the department.

[50:44] As you said, you believe us in

[50:45] very good shape and we're

[50:46] eternally grateful for that.

[50:46] The work that you've

[50:51] accomplished is nothing short

[50:51] of impressive and commendable.

[50:52] I also as you mentioned that as

[50:56] my colleagues mentioned, I want

[50:57] to personally thank you for

[50:58] guiding me through the real

[50:59] time operations of the Dispatch

[50:59] Center.

[51:01] It was one of the most

[51:02] memorable experience I've had

[51:03] as a council member something

[51:04] that I knew the city did but

[51:07] never really experienced

[51:07] firsthand.

[51:08] But to witness the most calm

[51:09] and caring city employees guide

[51:13] people through a call they

[51:14] never wanted to make.

[51:14] That atmosphere and

[51:15] the responsiveness a reflection

[51:19] of your leadership.

[51:20] So thank you for your service.

[51:20] Thank you to your family for

[51:23] sharing with us for the past 30

[51:23] plus years and everything

[51:24] you've done to make San Diego

[51:29] safer.

[51:30] And with that we have a motion

[51:34] by council member Eli Rivera in

[51:35] a second by Council member

[51:35] Campbell to move

[51:36] the proclamations.

[51:36] Clerk Please call the roll.

[51:38] That's sorry the voting system

[51:42] Please cast your vote That

[51:43] passes unanimously 8 to 0 with

[51:44] Councilmember Moreno absent.

[51:49] Thank you Council PRESIDENT.

[51:49] All right.

[51:50] Thank you, City Clerk And we

[51:51] will now pause for photos

[51:52] starting with f5a1 National

[53:02] nutrition month

[55:03] and

[1:00:01] the okay.

[1:00:02] >> We're going to continue on

[1:00:06] with the rest of today's or

[1:00:07] this morning's meeting So I

[1:00:10] don't want to be in

[1:00:11] the position of telling

[1:00:12] the police officer what to do.

[1:00:14] >> But yes, could

[1:00:19] the dispatchers kind of All

[1:00:19] right.

[1:00:20] In all seriousness, we will now

[1:00:23] proceed with the approval of

[1:00:24] the consent items.

[1:00:25] But first I believe staff has a

[1:00:28] corrective statement for

[1:00:37] the record for item s504 Is

[1:00:38] there anybody removed?

[1:00:42] Oh, there we go.

[1:00:48] Good morning Ryan Barbara Parks

[1:00:51] and Recreation on item as 504

[1:00:51] Subsequent to the release of

[1:00:52] the agenda the staff report was

[1:00:56] revised to update

[1:00:57] the environmental analysis.

[1:00:57] Thank you.

[1:00:57] All right.

[1:01:00] Thank you for making that

[1:01:01] statement.

[1:01:06] So this is items 1050 through

[1:01:09] 50 to 100 through 1 or 2 as 5

[1:01:10] or 4 and as 5 or 7 With that,

[1:01:11] are there any request to pull

[1:01:14] an item by a council members

[1:01:15] Not seen any request?

[1:01:15] >> clerk Please proceed with

[1:01:19] public comment that you Council

[1:01:19] PRESIDENT Please note each

[1:01:20] speaker will have one minute

[1:01:21] per item per person If you

[1:01:24] would like to speak on three or

[1:01:24] more items you will have a

[1:01:25] maximum of three minutes.

[1:01:26] The consent agenda includes

[1:01:29] items 1050 through 50 to 100

[1:01:32] through 1 or 2 as 504 through

[1:01:33] as 507.

[1:01:34] Also let me note for the record

[1:01:37] the potential appointments that

[1:01:38] is on the agenda this morning

[1:01:39] or sorry the potential

[1:01:39] reappointment that is on

[1:01:44] the agenda this morning I don't

[1:01:44] want to One is the potential

[1:01:45] reappointment of Michael Zika

[1:01:48] to the San Diego Unified Port

[1:01:48] District Board of

[1:01:49] Commissioners.

[1:01:49] Also let me note that we

[1:01:51] received one comment on item 50

[1:01:52] in opposition v r e comment

[1:01:53] form which has been distributed

[1:01:57] to the Council starting with

[1:01:57] those that have public comment

[1:01:58] allegedly.

[1:01:59] Audra if you can please come

[1:02:02] forward you will be speaking on

[1:02:06] items 5051 50 to 100 as 501 as

[1:02:09] 5o6 You'll have three minutes.

[1:02:10] Please proceed.

[1:02:10] I would like to mention

[1:02:11] something about ten in

[1:02:14] the minutes as well If I could.

[1:02:15] It's just on one of the meeting

[1:02:18] minutes I was saying I was

[1:02:19] asking for compassion and for

[1:02:20] you guys to talk to

[1:02:20] the homeless.

[1:02:23] Of course I'm doing that.

[1:02:24] But when you guys paint a

[1:02:25] certain picture about what was

[1:02:28] said it seems like I'm not

[1:02:28] bringing up the egregious

[1:02:29] deaths and rapes that are

[1:02:33] taking place and your guys's

[1:02:34] inability to have compassion as

[1:02:37] Stephen always laughs at that

[1:02:38] But for the as needed dam

[1:02:39] design service agreements it

[1:02:42] seems that our dams have been

[1:02:43] left to basically fall apart

[1:02:47] and it's pretty sad that a lot

[1:02:48] of the infrastructure that

[1:02:48] would be used to help us

[1:02:52] through life and be able to get

[1:02:53] us water and things like that

[1:02:57] are intentionally being not

[1:02:57] kept up with the needed

[1:03:01] maintenance and that's what's

[1:03:02] really sad because now we're

[1:03:03] getting sewage back and that's

[1:03:07] good for us, right?

[1:03:07] And then for 51 with this

[1:03:08] software service agreement for

[1:03:12] Smart energy water Web for all

[1:03:13] this stuff, it's like we should

[1:03:16] be concerned about all the data

[1:03:17] that is being shared across

[1:03:21] the board not just with Alpers

[1:03:22] but when we're putting in even

[1:03:23] smart meters and things like

[1:03:23] that.

[1:03:26] Our water can be controlled by

[1:03:26] it being shut off with this

[1:03:27] type of infrastructure And it's

[1:03:28] people really need to start

[1:03:31] paying attention to what's

[1:03:32] really going on and don't just

[1:03:33] buy the that you guys tend to

[1:03:36] give us and make it seem really

[1:03:37] good like calling sewage pure

[1:03:41] water And with the building

[1:03:41] standard codes it's like we're

[1:03:45] constantly changing these codes

[1:03:46] and different things and it

[1:03:46] literally keeps things from

[1:03:47] being built.

[1:03:50] Much of the time And it's sad

[1:03:50] because it's like you're saying

[1:03:51] it has to be this way.

[1:03:54] We do all these environmental

[1:03:55] reviews and stuff like that and

[1:03:56] it's like people are literally

[1:03:56] suffering.

[1:03:59] Somebody died just outside

[1:04:00] the chambers last week, right?

[1:04:01] Nobody really talked about that

[1:04:04] homeless person because you

[1:04:05] just wanted to sweep it under

[1:04:06] the rug And then 100 it's

[1:04:10] concerning whenever we get

[1:04:10] money and do things for youth

[1:04:11] when it's a cash for kids type

[1:04:15] of thing that happens

[1:04:15] especially in juvenile

[1:04:16] detention they literally get

[1:04:20] money to put children there And

[1:04:20] it's just sad to see the kind

[1:04:21] of exploitation that takes

[1:04:24] place and the conflict of

[1:04:25] interest codes.

[1:04:25] It's like I don't even think

[1:04:26] you guys are equipped to be

[1:04:29] able to be determining anything

[1:04:30] like that when you guys are

[1:04:31] constantly engaged in conflicts

[1:04:34] of interest And it's just

[1:04:35] interesting to see the things

[1:04:35] that you guys do.

[1:04:39] You paint a really nice picture

[1:04:40] much of the time but when you

[1:04:44] really see what's going on it's

[1:04:44] sad to see that you guys

[1:04:48] repeatedly ignore things that

[1:04:49] you should be addressing.

[1:04:53] People are suffering again

[1:04:54] someone who shouldn't have died

[1:04:58] outside of the chambers last

[1:04:58] week but it's happening on a

[1:04:59] regular basis and you guys move

[1:05:03] these homeless people around

[1:05:04] just so people don't see them

[1:05:04] instead of helping them.

[1:05:08] It is extremely egregious to do

[1:05:09] that because imagine if that

[1:05:10] was you and you just wanted

[1:05:13] help and it wasn't enough money

[1:05:14] to help you has concluded.

[1:05:18] >> Rhonda Farrar And then after

[1:05:19] that we have Rubber Dudley if

[1:05:19] you can please come up to

[1:05:23] the yellow reserved seats in

[1:05:23] the front run.

[1:05:24] I have one minute on item 50.

[1:05:28] Please proceed on 51 as well.

[1:05:28] You want to Thank you.

[1:05:29] You'll have two minutes.

[1:05:29] Please proceed.

[1:05:32] Thank you.

[1:05:32] Good morning.

[1:05:33] I'm Rhonda Farrar and I'm

[1:05:34] PRESIDENT Of the Friends of

[1:05:37] Lake Hodges.

[1:05:38] As the city of San Diego

[1:05:38] considers its options for

[1:05:41] replacing Lake Hodges Dam,

[1:05:41] the Friends of Lake Hodges

[1:05:42] along with the Rancho Bernardo

[1:05:45] Rancho Bernardo community

[1:05:46] Council, the Friends of San

[1:05:50] Diego Lakes raised Lake

[1:05:50] hodges.Org and the North County

[1:05:51] Climate Alliance want to

[1:05:55] express our strong support for

[1:05:55] a new Lake Hodges Dam with

[1:05:59] construction to begin no later

[1:05:59] than 2029 as mandated by

[1:06:00] the state of California We

[1:06:04] supported dam at the same

[1:06:05] height as the current dam but

[1:06:09] at least of sufficient height

[1:06:10] to allow the water from San

[1:06:10] Diego's largest watershed to be

[1:06:14] available to the entire region

[1:06:14] through the operation of

[1:06:15] the pump storage facility.

[1:06:18] The $208 million ratepayer

[1:06:19] investment in the Hodges Pump

[1:06:22] storage facility, our region's

[1:06:23] region's largest battery for

[1:06:24] clean energy would once again

[1:06:27] be generating electricity to

[1:06:28] power 26,000 homes and would

[1:06:32] provide the ability to move

[1:06:33] water where it's needed during

[1:06:33] the drought for the next 100

[1:06:37] years with the pump storage

[1:06:37] facility in operation, the lake

[1:06:38] level would not experience

[1:06:41] the large fluctuations that

[1:06:42] affect the region's wildlife

[1:06:43] and overgrowth of education

[1:06:46] that presents increased fire

[1:06:46] danger.

[1:06:47] The lake at this level would

[1:06:51] allow fishermen to return to

[1:06:52] the lake using the existing

[1:06:55] boat ramp facilities Rainwater

[1:06:56] stored at Lake Hodges is

[1:06:57] the best source of drinking

[1:07:00] water for downstream water

[1:07:01] districts and the lowest cost

[1:07:02] water available to the region.

[1:07:06] We asked the city of San Diego

[1:07:07] ,the San Diego County Water

[1:07:07] Authority, the Rancho Santa Fe

[1:07:10] and Rancho Santa Barbara Water

[1:07:11] districts and the state and

[1:07:12] federal agencies to collaborate

[1:07:12] to build the new Lake Hodges

[1:07:15] Dam as soon as possible to

[1:07:16] minimize the risk of

[1:07:16] catastrophic failure of

[1:07:19] the agent Dam.

[1:07:20] Every month we wait

[1:07:21] constructions cost rise

[1:07:24] the risk of catastrophic

[1:07:25] failure increases on behalf of

[1:07:26] the thousands who live, work

[1:07:30] and play around Lake Hodges.

[1:07:31] >> We urge you to act now.

[1:07:37] Thank you Robert Dudley You

[1:07:38] have time to you to by Stephen

[1:07:39] Booth songs that if you can

[1:07:40] please raise your hand Stephen

[1:07:43] thank you so much You'll have

[1:07:43] two minutes Speaking on item 50

[1:07:44] Please proceed.

[1:07:44] >> Good morning.

[1:07:47] Council members.

[1:07:48] I'm Robert Dudley.

[1:07:49] I represent the raised Lake

[1:07:53] Hodges group and I'm really in

[1:07:54] favor of a low cost plan to try

[1:07:58] to reduce the prospect of

[1:07:58] forest fire.

[1:07:59] You guys have the opportunity

[1:08:02] here to have seen what happened

[1:08:03] in L.A. We don't want to have a

[1:08:07] repeat of that.

[1:08:07] And one of the lowest cost ways

[1:08:08] to reduce that possibility is

[1:08:12] to raise the level of the lake.

[1:08:13] I ask for your support in going

[1:08:16] to to the legislature, to

[1:08:17] the governor to to support a

[1:08:21] plan to allow the lake to be

[1:08:22] raised to to to ensure that

[1:08:25] there's adequate water for fire

[1:08:26] for firefighting and a buffer

[1:08:26] against fire.

[1:08:30] This is a common sense solution

[1:08:31] .

[1:08:31] It has no cost But we need your

[1:08:36] help to recognize that in L.A.

[1:08:40] The reservoirs were left empty

[1:08:40] .

[1:08:41] There was not sufficient water

[1:08:42] pressure to fight the fire.

[1:08:45] This was a catastrophic

[1:08:46] condition that we have to deal

[1:08:46] with.

[1:08:47] And for ten years we won't have

[1:08:51] anything to prevent fire or to

[1:08:51] reduce the prospect of fire.

[1:08:55] We're going to have a fire one

[1:08:56] way or the other.

[1:08:57] It's just how serious it will

[1:09:00] end up being.

[1:09:01] So if these group can come up

[1:09:03] with an interim plan to deal

[1:09:04] with the ten years of what is

[1:09:05] happening for the future so

[1:09:08] that we can reduce the prospect

[1:09:09] of fire.

[1:09:13] So I thank you very much And

[1:09:13] thank you.

[1:09:14] >> That does conclude

[1:09:15] the public comment hearing

[1:09:15] council chambers going to those

[1:09:19] participating remotely.

[1:09:20] We have six speakers and

[1:09:21] the kids with their hands up.

[1:09:21] Blair Beckman If you can please

[1:09:23] unmute and please let us know

[1:09:24] which item or items you wish to

[1:09:29] speak to.

[1:09:30] >> By Blair Beekman I would

[1:09:36] like to speak to items 5051 101

[1:09:39] and se five four three minutes

[1:09:40] Please proceed.

[1:09:44] Thank you.

[1:09:48] Blair Beekman Um I had good

[1:09:49] conversations with police

[1:09:49] officers yesterday.

[1:09:50] It was helpful.

[1:09:53] So good luck in our

[1:09:54] conversations as a community at

[1:09:58] this time.

[1:09:59] >> I think it's a hopeful sign.

[1:10:00] A hopeful thing.

[1:10:02] I am 50.

[1:10:07] Award needed design services

[1:10:07] Agreement with nj hdr

[1:10:08] Engineering.

[1:10:12] Thank you that you're talking

[1:10:13] about issues and working on

[1:10:13] them.

[1:10:13] It sounds like a really

[1:10:17] difficult issue to navigate.

[1:10:17] Keeping the community informed

[1:10:18] every step of the way.

[1:10:22] Thank you for those efforts.

[1:10:23] Good luck in continuing that

[1:10:23] program.

[1:10:27] 51 is existing software for

[1:10:28] the Smart Energy Water put in

[1:10:31] my water web portal.

[1:10:32] This is ongoing.

[1:10:36] It's being returned here a few

[1:10:37] times to council for our guest

[1:10:40] review and further

[1:10:41] understanding.

[1:10:41] Thank you for

[1:10:42] the clarifications.

[1:10:43] I think it's a nice feature to

[1:10:46] bring items back continuously

[1:10:47] to city council agenda items.

[1:10:48] I'm okay with that.

[1:10:51] It provides a chance for

[1:10:52] the public to learn more what

[1:10:52] your further agreements are

[1:10:56] about.

[1:10:56] What you're more talking about

[1:11:01] good luck and how this item can

[1:11:01] be better and better developed

[1:11:02] with community and public

[1:11:02] input.

[1:11:09] Thank you for item one.

[1:11:09] 101 is Redeployments to San

[1:11:10] Diego Unified Port District

[1:11:13] Board of Commission Persons You

[1:11:14] had a Climate Action Plan

[1:11:18] annual report last week I

[1:11:19] really forgot to mention I

[1:11:19] wanted to mention port

[1:11:23] districts persons Where is

[1:11:24] their part in this climate and

[1:11:28] climate review process that

[1:11:29] we're going through for San

[1:11:29] Diego?

[1:11:30] Can they add anything of value?

[1:11:33] I think the dialog you can have

[1:11:34] with them can be helpful.

[1:11:37] You know the projects we can

[1:11:38] work on I think there's a new

[1:11:38] head person that can be

[1:11:42] interesting from the city of

[1:11:43] San Diego who might make for

[1:11:47] good conversation and that

[1:11:48] the Port Commission has been

[1:11:48] working on a more open public

[1:11:53] process which I think would be

[1:11:53] of much interest to things like

[1:11:54] the water board agency that has

[1:11:57] it having a difficult time

[1:11:57] creating a more open public

[1:11:58] process.

[1:11:58] >> They could learn good

[1:12:02] lessons from what the Port

[1:12:02] District commissioners have

[1:12:03] been trying to learn as public

[1:12:07] accessibility and engagement

[1:12:08] and good luck in that And I

[1:12:11] know council person one who

[1:12:12] works on those things good luck

[1:12:13] what can be developed there And

[1:12:16] to conclude with a Speigel for

[1:12:17] Rancho Bernardo Community Park

[1:12:21] funding my goodness gracious

[1:12:22] you're getting $2.5 million to

[1:12:27] do the same thing a memorial

[1:12:27] park beings from the state you

[1:12:31] know you know upgraded security

[1:12:32] and sports lighting what we

[1:12:36] really have to learn to have

[1:12:36] more open conversations on

[1:12:37] the future of biometric

[1:12:41] technology in our communities.

[1:12:42] We have to not fear that

[1:12:42] conversation to be open and not

[1:12:43] give it dog whistles.

[1:12:46] We have to be clear.

[1:12:47] >> Good luck in those efforts.

[1:12:48] Thank you.

[1:12:50] 8700 if you come please on mute

[1:12:55] after that is 813 Oh thank you.

[1:12:59] 5051 100 and 101 please.

[1:12:59] >> Please proceed.

[1:13:07] Three minutes 50 hdr and stand

[1:13:11] tech subcontracts total of 51

[1:13:12] All of them are t b d to be

[1:13:17] decided Trends please

[1:13:17] Transparency Oversight

[1:13:25] Accountability and monitoring

[1:13:26] 150 million for the to

[1:13:30] agreements 268 Total employees

[1:13:30] underrepresentation African

[1:13:34] American Latino Asian and

[1:13:35] female in four categories

[1:13:39] Progress is being made Thank

[1:13:44] you 51 Smart Energy Water I

[1:13:44] want to suggest something new

[1:13:48] from my perspective We control

[1:13:49] contracts, agreements and so

[1:13:49] forth.

[1:13:54] I did it for this company that

[1:13:58] is this to Google the company

[1:13:59] reviews and rating of

[1:14:02] the company Try it.

[1:14:07] You might be surprised As I was

[1:14:12] number 100 Yes to initiative to

[1:14:13] fund employ and empower youth

[1:14:17] workforce I'm I jumped up and

[1:14:22] down yes to apply for those

[1:14:23] grant funds This is a golden

[1:14:27] opportunity that lifts up Lift

[1:14:32] up Not only that, it's only our

[1:14:33] youth.

[1:14:36] It lifts up all of us up, up

[1:14:37] and away love and blessings to

[1:14:41] our youth When I see you at

[1:14:42] the microphone Dear youth I'm

[1:14:46] just blown away by your power,

[1:14:46] by your empowerment and what

[1:14:50] you can do for us now and to

[1:14:51] create our beautiful future.

[1:14:55] Keep up the work 101 Big Yes to

[1:15:00] confirming the reappointment of

[1:15:01] Michael Catt to the San Diego

[1:15:05] Unified Port District Board of

[1:15:09] Commissioners ending JANUARY

[1:15:09] second of 2031.

[1:15:14] That's a great date and covers

[1:15:18] four years of excellent service

[1:15:19] from a high quality person and

[1:15:24] Commissioner thank you MR.

[1:15:25] Zukin for your beautiful work

[1:15:29] and for your service to

[1:15:29] the people of San Diego.

[1:15:34] >> Love to all Thank you.

[1:15:35] Next is 8813 if you come please

[1:15:37] on mute after that will be Tony

[1:15:38] The five minute timer has also

[1:15:38] concluded there were six

[1:15:39] speakers in the queue.

[1:15:40] No additional speakers will be

[1:15:43] taken.

[1:15:43] Please proceed and when three

[1:15:44] let me know which item or items

[1:15:48] you wish to speak to.

[1:15:49] Okay I couldn't follow here And

[1:15:52] this Let's see that this

[1:15:53] pertains to pretty much all of

[1:15:56] them.

[1:16:01] Please proceed.

[1:16:02] Okay.

[1:16:02] Thank you.

[1:16:03] So let's see with this consent

[1:16:04] calendar item I wanted to

[1:16:06] remind the people how

[1:16:07] government actually works.

[1:16:08] People continue to come here

[1:16:11] asking even begging government

[1:16:12] to do the right thing.

[1:16:15] But somewhere along the way

[1:16:16] people have forgotten something

[1:16:17] very important.

[1:16:20] Government is supposed to

[1:16:21] answer to the people not

[1:16:25] the other way around And yet

[1:16:26] what do we continue to see More

[1:16:27] and more homeless families

[1:16:31] living on the streets not in

[1:16:31] homes, not supported, not

[1:16:35] stabilized but pushed further

[1:16:36] into survival At the same time

[1:16:40] we watched government stand

[1:16:41] here and present solutions

[1:16:45] programs, plans, initiatives

[1:16:46] What are they really Bandaid

[1:16:50] solutions temporary fixes that

[1:16:51] never seem to resolve the root

[1:16:54] of the problem Because if

[1:16:55] the problems were truly solved

[1:16:56] there would be nothing left to

[1:16:59] manage.

[1:17:00] So instead what happens?

[1:17:04] The issues get prolonged kicked

[1:17:05] down the road pass from

[1:17:05] administration to the from one

[1:17:09] administration to the next year

[1:17:10] after year budget after budget.

[1:17:10] Meanwhile the people continue

[1:17:13] to struggle.

[1:17:14] Government does not resolve

[1:17:14] problems.

[1:17:18] Let's be clear with that It

[1:17:19] manages them, it sustains them

[1:17:24] and in many cases it expands

[1:17:25] them And it's that bring And

[1:17:25] that brings me to the hardest

[1:17:29] truth People need to hear.

[1:17:29] Our local government is not

[1:17:30] working for the people they are

[1:17:34] working for broader agendas,

[1:17:38] globalist agendas, systems and

[1:17:38] priorities that do not reflect

[1:17:43] the immediate needs of San

[1:17:44] Diego, the city of San Diego

[1:17:45] Nor the county can be right

[1:17:48] even in front of them.

[1:17:48] And until people remember who

[1:17:49] government is supposed to

[1:17:52] answer to, the cycle will

[1:17:53] continue.

[1:17:57] So remember that I'll repeat

[1:17:57] that until people remember who

[1:17:58] government is supposed to

[1:18:02] answer to This cycle will

[1:18:03] continue The begging,

[1:18:07] the asking, the continuous all

[1:18:12] of it will continue.

[1:18:13] Remember that Pay attention.

[1:18:13] Look at the pattern.

[1:18:17] See what they do, See what they

[1:18:18] don't do on purpose.

[1:18:18] See what they prolong.

[1:18:22] Look at all the conflicts of

[1:18:22] interest.

[1:18:23] Look at the blame game.

[1:18:23] It's all a game.

[1:18:27] That's what it is a game.

[1:18:27] Wake up to it.

[1:18:28] We were never meant to be

[1:18:31] governed the way we're being

[1:18:32] governed, the way they are

[1:18:33] doing it.

[1:18:33] It's all corrupt.

[1:18:35] It's all sick.

[1:18:36] If one person suffers we all

[1:18:36] suffer.

[1:18:40] Remember that.

[1:18:40] >> Thank you.

[1:18:41] Our next speaker is Tony.

[1:18:43] After that is Ernie Casco.

[1:18:48] If you can please unmute Tony

[1:18:49] again I'm here for you.

[1:18:52] I will need to move on if you

[1:18:52] cannot.

[1:18:57] There you go.

[1:18:57] >> Please let me know which

[1:18:58] item or items you wish to speak

[1:18:58] to.

[1:19:02] This would be speaking to the

[1:19:05] project number item 15 You'll

[1:19:06] have a minute.

[1:19:06] >> Please proceed.

[1:19:07] Thank you.

[1:19:10] I wanted to start out this

[1:19:10] morning by thanking City

[1:19:11] Council.

[1:19:11] I know that the job that you

[1:19:14] have is a tremendously

[1:19:15] difficult one and I know that

[1:19:16] no matter what you do and no

[1:19:21] matter what good is done and no

[1:19:21] matter what progress is made,

[1:19:22] people are going to still

[1:19:25] disrespect you and they're

[1:19:26] going to find ways to tear you

[1:19:30] down and say things that aren't

[1:19:31] always necessarily rooted in

[1:19:31] the truth because a lot of

[1:19:35] things that they place blame

[1:19:36] upon you for things that

[1:19:36] happened before your time that

[1:19:37] you're not necessarily

[1:19:40] responsible for.

[1:19:41] And I think that from what I've

[1:19:42] seen this has been one of

[1:19:45] the most progressive councils

[1:19:46] that San Diego has ever had And

[1:19:50] with your help and with your

[1:19:51] guidance and with your

[1:19:51] leadership, we've been able to

[1:19:52] raise the minimum wage for

[1:19:54] hotel workers.

[1:19:55] We've been able to put on

[1:19:59] the ballot the empty homes tax

[1:19:59] .

[1:20:00] We've been able to do a number

[1:20:01] of things including now

[1:20:04] repairing this dam which are

[1:20:05] greatly in need and service of

[1:20:05] the people of San Diego.

[1:20:09] So please take the criticisms

[1:20:10] with the greatest your time has

[1:20:10] concluded.

[1:20:14] >> My apologies If you have

[1:20:15] additional comments you can

[1:20:16] definitely email them in

[1:20:18] the City Clerk at San diego.Gov

[1:20:18] and they will be distributed.

[1:20:19] >> Ernie Castro if you can

[1:20:20] please unmute.

[1:20:23] Yes I'd like to speak on items

[1:20:24] 31 through 1 or 2 Consider

[1:20:28] recommending our rights

[1:20:28] volunteer and team management.

[1:20:33] >> The 31 was the proclamation

[1:20:33] so you can spend two 5252 And

[1:20:37] then what was the other items?

[1:20:38] >> All the items.

[1:20:39] Please make sure you stick to

[1:20:43] the items.

[1:20:43] >> We do have to document this

[1:20:44] for the record.

[1:20:45] If you can let me know.

[1:20:50] Presenters 3131 through 102

[1:20:51] okay so 50 through 1 or 230 is

[1:20:51] proclamations.

[1:20:52] >> Please proceed.

[1:20:55] Okay.

[1:20:55] There are guidelines.

[1:20:56] I'm Ernie Casco La Hoya

[1:20:58] resident Torrey Pines Glider

[1:21:03] Port Senior Pilot.

[1:21:04] There are guidelines and laws

[1:21:04] to protect public when making

[1:21:08] decisions.

[1:21:09] City council has failed to

[1:21:09] protect me, my family, my

[1:21:12] public rights.

[1:21:13] The same thing going on at

[1:21:14] Torrey Pines Glider port Your

[1:21:17] decisions have legal

[1:21:18] consequences.

[1:21:22] It is illegal for anyone

[1:21:23] including your city leaseholder

[1:21:24] to turn our freedom into an

[1:21:27] access pass and waiver for a

[1:21:28] license and fee to use a free

[1:21:31] public park When city

[1:21:32] liabilities are already covered

[1:21:32] by California recreational

[1:21:33] laws.

[1:21:37] This is insurance fraud and

[1:21:38] misappropriation of public

[1:21:38] funding going into private

[1:21:41] accounts which demands a full

[1:21:42] transparent city audit that

[1:21:43] would end the corruption going

[1:21:46] on at the glider port and other

[1:21:47] areas in the city.

[1:21:47] We have a letter of support

[1:21:52] from the Town Council Shores

[1:21:52] Association to permanently

[1:21:56] reconvene the Torrey Pines Port

[1:21:57] Advisory Board but the Torrey

[1:22:00] Pines Glider Support Advisory

[1:22:00] Board historically allowed

[1:22:01] the commercialization and

[1:22:05] privatization of our park to

[1:22:06] continue.

[1:22:06] It is irresponsible for City

[1:22:10] council to put the glider park

[1:22:11] in the hands of a business that

[1:22:11] knowingly exploits our

[1:22:15] constitutional recreation

[1:22:15] rights and freedoms.

[1:22:20] It is a City council job to

[1:22:21] stop the crime first and then

[1:22:21] address the victims who have

[1:22:25] been damaged by discrimination,

[1:22:26] assault, battery and false

[1:22:30] reports and arrest The San

[1:22:31] Diego recreational waiver stops

[1:22:36] that crime illegally Secure

[1:22:36] city liabilities isolate safety

[1:22:40] constraints, safety concerns

[1:22:41] and restores recreational

[1:22:45] rights and freedoms back to

[1:22:46] what it originally was The San

[1:22:50] Diego recreational waiver stops

[1:22:50] the illegal collection of

[1:22:55] public funds going into private

[1:22:55] accounts by separating

[1:23:00] the business from normal free

[1:23:01] public access access It allows

[1:23:05] the business to stay paying

[1:23:09] their own bills operating like

[1:23:10] every other business in public

[1:23:10] parks and lands.

[1:23:14] This breaks the corruption.

[1:23:15] This breaks the corruption

[1:23:18] going on at the glider Port

[1:23:19] Management Where are the police

[1:23:23] reports that provide justice

[1:23:24] for the witness for the victims

[1:23:25] and witnesses who have been

[1:23:29] damaged?

[1:23:29] There are common laws to

[1:23:30] protect the public.

[1:23:34] How business should be run in

[1:23:38] public parks and land You need

[1:23:39] to set a precedent on how that

[1:23:39] happens.

[1:23:43] This is a win for city council

[1:23:44] liabilities using common

[1:23:47] contract laws that legally

[1:23:48] restores our recreational

[1:23:49] rights and freedoms for years

[1:23:49] to come.

[1:23:53] It is the best decision that

[1:23:53] City Council and you could

[1:23:54] make.

[1:23:58] Joe LaCava thank you.

[1:23:59] >> Next is Kathleen Lippert.

[1:24:02] After that is Judy Strang and

[1:24:03] then 7499.

[1:24:04] >> Thank you for letting me

[1:24:07] speak to item 50.

[1:24:08] If ever there were an

[1:24:12] opportunity for the city to

[1:24:12] take a proactive step on behalf

[1:24:16] of the public good prioritizing

[1:24:17] the replacement of Lake Hodges

[1:24:18] would be it.

[1:24:21] The city was warned four years

[1:24:21] ago that the dam was in bad

[1:24:25] need of a critical repair or

[1:24:26] postponing and redirecting

[1:24:26] funds to other projects

[1:24:30] reserved for addressing dam

[1:24:30] safety would replace a

[1:24:35] potentially clean source of

[1:24:35] water for a system that will

[1:24:39] require hundreds of gallons for

[1:24:40] another system that would

[1:24:41] require hundreds of gallons of

[1:24:44] chemicals We are told that

[1:24:45] those chemicals will be removed

[1:24:49] but I don't know if that's

[1:24:49] possible.

[1:24:50] It is far better to look at a

[1:24:54] potential source that has been

[1:24:55] used.

[1:24:55] It just needs to be protected

[1:24:59] and postponing required

[1:25:00] maintenance is not in your best

[1:25:03] interest and is certainly not

[1:25:04] in the public's.

[1:25:05] So I hope that you will look at

[1:25:08] this and do something that is

[1:25:09] in the best interest of

[1:25:09] the public.

[1:25:14] >> Thank you.

[1:25:14] Thank you.

[1:25:15] Next is Judy Strang After that

[1:25:15] is 7499 Judy Strang Please

[1:25:17] unmute.

[1:25:22] I can't unmute for you.

[1:25:23] I will need to move on And

[1:25:24] there you go.

[1:25:27] Can you tell me what your item

[1:25:28] or items you wish to speak to?

[1:25:31] >> Yes, I wanted to speak to 50

[1:25:31] and 100.

[1:25:32] >> You'll have two minutes.

[1:25:32] Please proceed.

[1:25:36] You bet.

[1:25:37] Thank you for the opportunity

[1:25:38] to call from my work place And

[1:25:39] I'm sorry to hold you up while

[1:25:41] I was feeling connected.

[1:25:42] i'm very excited to speak to

[1:25:45] item 50 The dam design Great

[1:25:45] gobs of money.

[1:25:46] I would have loved to have seen

[1:25:50] a staff report on it but all of

[1:25:50] us who live downstream from

[1:25:55] the Lake Hodges Dam are excited

[1:25:55] by any sorts of repairs that

[1:25:56] are happening there.

[1:25:57] I'd love to have a I tried to

[1:25:59] read the staff report and

[1:26:00] understand it but I came away a

[1:26:01] little confused.

[1:26:04] It is after all a ten year

[1:26:07] grant and it seems to be first

[1:26:11] for $150 million to which $75

[1:26:12] million is being added.

[1:26:13] That's a lot of money just to

[1:26:16] put on consent and and let us

[1:26:17] not understand what we're going

[1:26:20] to get over a ten year period

[1:26:21] for this money.

[1:26:24] I also wanted to speak to item

[1:26:24] 100 Oh yay.

[1:26:25] Let's apply for this grant I

[1:26:29] always wonder about these

[1:26:30] common sense situations whether

[1:26:34] we really need to ask whether

[1:26:35] we should do it.

[1:26:35] Of course we should do it.

[1:26:36] I guess we should be glad that

[1:26:39] we have the clarity and

[1:26:40] the opportunity to speak to it.

[1:26:41] Yes, if there was ever a city

[1:26:44] this young people need an

[1:26:45] influx of cash to help

[1:26:49] implement the programs that

[1:26:50] you've so aggressively put in

[1:26:50] place to help them.

[1:26:54] The age of 16 to 30 is a

[1:26:55] critical age in the life of a

[1:26:59] young person speaking as a

[1:27:00] grandmother I can tell you that

[1:27:01] it is an age that is just any

[1:27:04] day with bad influences about

[1:27:05] choice making And as a public

[1:27:09] health advocate I have to again

[1:27:09] express my concern When you

[1:27:10] look at this age group to

[1:27:14] realize the role that

[1:27:14] the normalization of high

[1:27:19] potency cannabis products has

[1:27:19] done to this age group and

[1:27:20] affecting their ability to be

[1:27:25] successful at school and these

[1:27:25] tutor ship opportunities and

[1:27:26] internship opportunities

[1:27:29] they're going to be provided if

[1:27:29] we receive this money.

[1:27:30] Let's look at the source of

[1:27:33] the problems our children have

[1:27:34] as well as try to find

[1:27:34] solutions.

[1:27:35] >> Thank you.

[1:27:38] Thank you.

[1:27:39] Our final speaker is 7499

[1:27:39] please.

[1:27:40] I'm here to let me know which

[1:27:43] item or items you wish to speak

[1:27:43] to.

[1:27:45] >> Item 51 Please proceed.

[1:27:50] >> You have one minute Bob

[1:27:50] Kozinski here.

[1:27:51] I've been writing software

[1:27:55] since the 1970s back when we

[1:27:55] were using punch cards.

[1:27:59] I appreciate the reduction of

[1:28:00] this item from $16.3 million

[1:28:03] down to $5.5 million but that's

[1:28:08] still far too much for any

[1:28:08] software as a service.

[1:28:09] End quote.

[1:28:13] Contract in the era of widely

[1:28:13] available free software free

[1:28:17] and open source software.

[1:28:18] The people creating these

[1:28:22] agreements in contracts do not

[1:28:22] negotiate as if they were

[1:28:23] spending their own personal

[1:28:27] money as they should send this

[1:28:27] item back for further

[1:28:31] negotiation.

[1:28:32] Also I endorse the comments of

[1:28:33] the earlier caller who asserted

[1:28:36] that this current city

[1:28:37] government does not serve

[1:28:37] the people and it does not

[1:28:41] answer to the people.

[1:28:42] >> Thank you.

[1:28:42] Thank you.

[1:28:43] That concludes public comment

[1:28:46] on the consent agenda.

[1:28:47] All right.

[1:28:47] Thank you, City clerk.

[1:28:48] With that we will go to my

[1:28:52] colleagues for any questions

[1:28:52] and comments and will entertain

[1:28:53] a motion And we'll start with

[1:28:54] Councilmember Campo.

[1:28:57] Thank you.

[1:28:57] Council PRESIDENT I'll move

[1:28:58] approval of the consent agenda

[1:29:01] Briefly just call the public's

[1:29:02] attention to item 51 where

[1:29:02] we're reducing the term amount

[1:29:05] of a contract from 16.3 million

[1:29:06] to 5.5 million.

[1:29:06] I appreciate Staff's work on

[1:29:10] helping us with the smart

[1:29:11] energy water software there.

[1:29:11] So that's a that's you know we

[1:29:15] get some things done we save

[1:29:16] some money around here And on

[1:29:19] item number 1 or 1

[1:29:19] the reappointment to the San

[1:29:20] Diego Unified Port District

[1:29:21] Board of Commissioners.

[1:29:21] I want to thank MR. Michaels

[1:29:24] who kept for his service a

[1:29:24] little bit more than two terms

[1:29:28] coming on a third term here.

[1:29:29] I just do want to say this week

[1:29:30] and I had relatives from from

[1:29:33] Iowa visiting San Diego we went

[1:29:34] on a boat tour of the harbor

[1:29:34] and the port They were

[1:29:39] commenting on on how much fun

[1:29:40] they were having And I said all

[1:29:40] the credit goes to Sid Vaccaro

[1:29:41] who's sitting right next to

[1:29:41] you.

[1:29:44] MR. Ticket So you know, keep

[1:29:44] following his lead and I

[1:29:48] appreciate you very much.

[1:29:49] Quite frankly folks from all

[1:29:50] over the world come to our port

[1:29:53] for tourism, for food, for art

[1:29:54] And the experience of San Diego

[1:29:59] is a cornerstone of our local

[1:29:59] economy.

[1:30:00] And MR. Speaker, it is one of

[1:30:00] the reasons it is doing so

[1:30:01] successfully.

[1:30:02] So thank you very much for your

[1:30:03] service And with that I will

[1:30:04] conclude my motion.

[1:30:07] Council PRESIDENT All right.

[1:30:08] Thank you.

[1:30:09] So we do have a motion by

[1:30:09] Councilmember Camp here to move

[1:30:10] the consent items.

[1:30:13] We'll go next to Council member

[1:30:13] Lipman.

[1:30:14] Thank you Council PRESIDENT I

[1:30:16] will second the motion item 100

[1:30:17] This item accept state funding

[1:30:18] for the city is internship

[1:30:21] program Ensuring that interns

[1:30:22] are paid is essential to

[1:30:22] removing barriers to public

[1:30:26] service and opening the door

[1:30:26] for more young people to

[1:30:27] explore Explore careers in

[1:30:31] local government.

[1:30:31] I want to take a moment to

[1:30:32] recognize our outstanding

[1:30:33] District three interns Rigo

[1:30:36] Tage and Adan whose dedication

[1:30:36] and service make a real

[1:30:37] difference in our community

[1:30:41] Every day and item What a one

[1:30:42] The reappointment of Michael

[1:30:45] Zook head to the San Diego

[1:30:45] Unified Park District Board of

[1:30:46] Commissioners.

[1:30:46] MR. Zuccato currently serves as

[1:30:50] vice Chair of the Board of Port

[1:30:50] Commissioners.

[1:30:51] During public comment MR.

[1:30:55] Beekman was asked about

[1:30:56] the port's role in addressing

[1:30:56] climate change.

[1:31:00] Well I have good news.

[1:31:01] Vice Chair Zoo Cat has been

[1:31:01] instrumental in the development

[1:31:04] and success of the Maritime

[1:31:05] Clean Air Strategy and

[1:31:06] the electrification of port

[1:31:06] operations which have been

[1:31:10] recognized globally as well as

[1:31:10] many other initiatives.

[1:31:11] His contributions have helped

[1:31:13] to grow the blue economy in San

[1:31:14] Diego and create many good

[1:31:14] paying jobs.

[1:31:19] In fact he was a renewable

[1:31:19] energy economist at

[1:31:20] the Department of Energy back

[1:31:20] of the day.

[1:31:21] So for all of us who are

[1:31:24] concerned about climate change

[1:31:25] ,we are fortunate to have vice

[1:31:25] chairs the cat representing our

[1:31:29] city, the board of Port

[1:31:29] Commissioners and MR. Ferrara

[1:31:30] is with us in chambers as well.

[1:31:34] We're fortunate to have

[1:31:35] Commissioner Veronica and

[1:31:35] Commissioner Board also

[1:31:39] representing our city of San

[1:31:39] Diego.

[1:31:39] >> Thank you, Council

[1:31:40] PRESIDENT.

[1:31:40] All right.

[1:31:41] Thank you, sir.

[1:31:43] So we have a motion by

[1:31:44] Councilmember Campi on

[1:31:45] the second by council member

[1:31:45] Whitburn to move The consent

[1:31:48] items will go next to council

[1:31:48] member Campbell.

[1:31:49] Thank you so much, Council

[1:31:49] PRESIDENT.

[1:31:53] I would like to comment also on

[1:31:58] item 101 the reappointment of

[1:31:58] Mike Zoo Care to the San Diego

[1:31:59] Airport Board of Commissioners.

[1:32:03] Michael Zukor who grew up near

[1:32:04] the ocean in Ocean Beach in my

[1:32:07] district, currently serves as

[1:32:08] vice chair of the San Diego

[1:32:08] Board of Commissioners.

[1:32:11] He is in line to become

[1:32:12] the chair in 2027 Commissioners

[1:32:16] Hackett is the general manager

[1:32:17] for the San Diego mta Municipal

[1:32:21] Employee Association, now

[1:32:22] representing over 5000 of our

[1:32:22] city employees.

[1:32:27] He served as Sandy Count a San

[1:32:30] Diego city COUNCILMAN For

[1:32:31] District two Yay where he

[1:32:36] served on many and did many

[1:32:36] things including serving on

[1:32:37] the Public Safety Committee

[1:32:41] natural Resources and land Use

[1:32:41] committees.

[1:32:42] Prior to being a council member

[1:32:46] commissioners Zoo cat was

[1:32:47] the Director of government

[1:32:48] Affairs for the San Diego

[1:32:51] Firefighters Union Local 145

[1:32:52] And he did all those other

[1:32:55] things My other colleagues have

[1:32:56] mentioned as well.

[1:33:00] It's amazing in his young life

[1:33:00] given his dedication to serving

[1:33:01] the community I support

[1:33:05] the reappointment of Michael

[1:33:06] who kept to the San Diego Board

[1:33:07] board of Commissioners and

[1:33:10] appreciate his willingness to

[1:33:11] continue to serve our wonderful

[1:33:11] port.

[1:33:15] And thank you commission member

[1:33:20] Rocco for being here escorting

[1:33:20] him at this important moment.

[1:33:21] Thank you very much.

[1:33:26] Council PRESIDENT.

[1:33:26] All right.

[1:33:27] Thank you, Council member

[1:33:27] Campbell.

[1:33:28] We'll go next to Councilmember

[1:33:28] Isla Rivera.

[1:33:29] Thank you.

[1:33:30] Council PRESIDENT.

[1:33:30] Just a couple of quick

[1:33:31] comments.

[1:33:34] First I want to say thank you

[1:33:39] to MR. Yet for your interest

[1:33:39] and commitment to continue to

[1:33:40] serve and represent San Diego

[1:33:47] at the Port.

[1:33:47] I'm going to be nice the whole

[1:33:51] time this time I promise

[1:33:55] The work that you've done to

[1:33:56] make sure that the port is a

[1:34:00] responsible and good partner to

[1:34:01] the communities around the port

[1:34:02] is extremely meaningful.

[1:34:06] advances that are made around

[1:34:10] clean energy super important

[1:34:14] The port is oftentimes I think

[1:34:15] in government we talk about

[1:34:20] being leaders at a national

[1:34:20] level or a global level And

[1:34:21] I'll be honest I think there's

[1:34:24] a lot of hyperbole in most of

[1:34:25] that.

[1:34:25] That's actually not the case at

[1:34:26] the port.

[1:34:29] It's not hyperbole.

[1:34:29] There are advancements being

[1:34:30] made and actions that have been

[1:34:33] taken that really are

[1:34:34] groundbreaking.

[1:34:35] And I know that you played an

[1:34:35] important role in that and

[1:34:38] that's why I said came here to

[1:34:39] support you and keep an eye on

[1:34:43] you.

[1:34:44] But just thank you again for

[1:34:44] your willingness to step up and

[1:34:48] continue to serve in that in

[1:34:48] that role.

[1:34:49] I also wanted to say how glad I

[1:34:53] am to see item 100 in front of

[1:34:54] us and the Employment Power

[1:34:57] Program is one of the best

[1:34:58] things the state has done over

[1:34:59] the last several years and I'm

[1:35:02] very glad that San Diego has

[1:35:03] leaned into it from Roberta who

[1:35:07] is now leading our community

[1:35:07] empowerment efforts to Deanna

[1:35:08] who's behind me and Kanoa.

[1:35:12] These are folks who came

[1:35:13] through the employee and

[1:35:14] completed in power program and

[1:35:14] now work as a staff and in

[1:35:15] leadership positions in our

[1:35:17] office v and Evie who are

[1:35:21] behind me as current interns in

[1:35:22] our cohort along with Eva,

[1:35:26] Izzy, Owen and Summer.

[1:35:27] They're doing incredible work.

[1:35:27] They're learning about

[1:35:28] government.

[1:35:31] They're contributing their

[1:35:32] community and the state's

[1:35:33] investment in our young people

[1:35:37] is is a great short term and

[1:35:38] long term investment.

[1:35:42] So very, very glad to see us

[1:35:45] accepting these additional

[1:35:46] grant funds and want to see

[1:35:47] this program not only continue

[1:35:51] but continue to grow in

[1:35:52] the years ahead because really

[1:35:56] the city wins our offices when

[1:35:57] the residents win And obviously

[1:36:01] there's benefits for the young

[1:36:02] folks who are here as well.

[1:36:03] So I want to say thank you to

[1:36:06] our employing and power cohort

[1:36:06] cohort.

[1:36:07] And I'm very supportive of

[1:36:11] continuing to continuing to see

[1:36:12] this program thrive in

[1:36:12] the city.

[1:36:12] Thank you.

[1:36:16] Council PRESIDENT.

[1:36:16] All right.

[1:36:17] Thank you, Councilmember

[1:36:17] Rivera.

[1:36:18] We'll go next to Councilmember

[1:36:21] Von Wolpert.

[1:36:22] Thank you.

[1:36:22] I will just add on item 1 to 1

[1:36:23] Mike to get we're very excited

[1:36:25] to be appointed to the port.

[1:36:26] You've done an excellent job.

[1:36:26] My colleagues have already

[1:36:27] talked about all the wonderful

[1:36:28] things you've done for

[1:36:30] the community but I'll also add

[1:36:31] all the wonderful things you do

[1:36:35] for our city Leading mta as

[1:36:36] the leadership has been quite

[1:36:36] incredible.

[1:36:37] We've had some hard years and

[1:36:40] we have a hard budget year now

[1:36:40] and so thank you for standing

[1:36:41] up to be the voice of our

[1:36:42] workers who we depend on every

[1:36:45] day to literally even open this

[1:36:45] building and make sure it's

[1:36:46] functioning which is a tall

[1:36:50] order these days.

[1:36:51] So I appreciate you very much

[1:36:51] And Sid Baraka, always good to

[1:36:54] see you too.

[1:36:55] Thank you for the excellent

[1:36:56] work you're doing as well And

[1:36:59] my continued request to both of

[1:37:00] you is to help us as a city and

[1:37:00] a port and a region really make

[1:37:04] the convention center

[1:37:04] everything that it can be and

[1:37:05] helping to turn our new win of

[1:37:09] the measure c money into a long

[1:37:09] term infrastructure investment

[1:37:10] for our convention center to

[1:37:13] modernize it, to expand it to

[1:37:14] keep Comic-Con in San Diego so

[1:37:14] that everyone can come see

[1:37:18] the brand new Seaport Village

[1:37:18] when it is finally ready.

[1:37:19] So thank you for your work.

[1:37:23] I appreciate you very much.

[1:37:24] And item 50 thank you to

[1:37:24] everyone who came in to speak

[1:37:25] about Lake Hodges Dam.

[1:37:28] You know I've grown up watching

[1:37:29] this dam unfortunately start to

[1:37:33] crumble and Lake Hodges is now

[1:37:33] the worst rated dam in

[1:37:37] the entire state of California

[1:37:37] which has quite a bit I too

[1:37:39] would love to see a new dam

[1:37:42] constructed and the water level

[1:37:43] raised because we're seeing

[1:37:44] increased risk with fire when

[1:37:47] the water goes down the brush

[1:37:48] explodes.

[1:37:48] Luckily this year Assembly

[1:37:49] member Darshan Patel worked

[1:37:52] with our office to secure over

[1:37:53] $1 million to do brush

[1:37:54] management in this area and our

[1:37:57] fire department has been great

[1:37:57] about making sure we are

[1:37:58] controlling brush But what

[1:38:02] happens next year and since

[1:38:03] the County Water Authority has

[1:38:03] decided that they no longer

[1:38:07] want to participate in building

[1:38:08] a new dam which they are

[1:38:08] contractually obligated to pay

[1:38:09] for half of the cost of Lake

[1:38:12] Hodges That would leave

[1:38:13] the city on the hook to find an

[1:38:13] entire construction of a new

[1:38:17] dam which I know is not

[1:38:17] necessarily possible.

[1:38:18] So I tell all of my neighbors

[1:38:21] and community members who have

[1:38:22] actually been through fires

[1:38:23] before the Bridge Creek fire

[1:38:23] came through this area and many

[1:38:26] of them saw their homes burned

[1:38:27] to the foundations.

[1:38:28] So this is not a theoretical

[1:38:31] fear for them.

[1:38:31] This is a fear they have

[1:38:32] experienced in the past to keep

[1:38:36] advocating and also advocate

[1:38:37] with the county water authority

[1:38:38] because they are another

[1:38:38] government entity that's going

[1:38:41] to control the fate of this dam

[1:38:41] .

[1:38:42] So thank you everyone.

[1:38:43] Thank you to you for investing

[1:38:46] in our dams and let's make sure

[1:38:46] that we start the initial focus

[1:38:47] with this money coming in on

[1:38:48] solutions really colleges

[1:38:52] because it is the one that

[1:38:52] needs the most care.

[1:38:53] So I'll support like I said.

[1:38:53] All right.

[1:38:56] Thank you, Councilmember Van

[1:38:57] Wilpert.

[1:38:57] >> We'll go next to council

[1:38:58] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.

[1:38:58] Thank you.

[1:39:02] Council PRESIDENT Like to speak

[1:39:02] to item 100 and just I'm glad

[1:39:03] to see that these state funds

[1:39:06] come to the city to support our

[1:39:07] employee and Empowering Youth

[1:39:11] Workforce Program which it is

[1:39:12] as COUNCILMAN Gila River said,

[1:39:12] an incredibly important program

[1:39:16] that I've had the opportunity

[1:39:17] to observe its impact firsthand

[1:39:17] including our current interns

[1:39:18] in our office.

[1:39:21] We've had the privilege of

[1:39:22] working with more than 20

[1:39:23] interns through this program

[1:39:26] over the course of the last

[1:39:27] three years.

[1:39:27] Some of them have gone on to

[1:39:28] become full time staff while

[1:39:29] others have moved on to

[1:39:32] positions in various elected

[1:39:32] offices and agencies at

[1:39:33] the local and state level

[1:39:37] during their time with us they

[1:39:38] joined their local planning

[1:39:39] groups shown up at protests

[1:39:42] research policy initiatives,

[1:39:43] painted murals in our

[1:39:43] communities and tracked data

[1:39:44] patterns that impact our

[1:39:47] constituents.

[1:39:48] Several have also continued on

[1:39:49] to law school or other graduate

[1:39:49] programs whether they choose to

[1:39:52] stay in government or pursue

[1:39:52] other paths.

[1:39:53] They have all made valuable

[1:39:54] contributions to our work while

[1:39:57] gaining a deeper appreciation

[1:39:57] for public service.

[1:39:58] It's been a truly rewarding

[1:40:03] experience for me and our team

[1:40:03] to see them grow and explore

[1:40:04] their interests their entire

[1:40:08] time with our office And I'm

[1:40:08] glad to know that we will

[1:40:09] continue to be able to provide

[1:40:10] this valuable experience to

[1:40:13] future students.

[1:40:14] Also give a shout out to

[1:40:14] Kimberly Heng and Jacob Vantage

[1:40:18] Vantage who are working in our

[1:40:18] office right now and probably

[1:40:23] tuning in to this meeting for

[1:40:24] item 1 to 1 I will take a

[1:40:28] moment to think Commissioners

[1:40:29] who cared for willingness to

[1:40:29] continue serving.

[1:40:34] I'll admit I asked Commissioner

[1:40:34] Bharara for some bullet points

[1:40:38] of what to share and to that he

[1:40:39] said only say nice things as

[1:40:43] long as you have them to say

[1:40:44] okay, well with that thank you.

[1:40:49] >> I think everyone's already

[1:40:49] repeated quite a bit of our

[1:40:50] gratitude for your willingness

[1:40:50] to serve.

[1:40:51] >> I think most folks in

[1:40:54] the public forget and don't

[1:40:55] recognize that serving as a

[1:41:00] commissioner for the Port is

[1:41:00] not a light task.

[1:41:01] It is it is just as rigorous in

[1:41:05] many of the policy areas that

[1:41:06] we deal with here on this

[1:41:07] council And to you and your

[1:41:07] fellow commissioners that

[1:41:11] represent the city, while very

[1:41:12] grateful that you dedicate your

[1:41:13] time and energy to practically

[1:41:16] volunteer in that capacity to

[1:41:17] better our port and all

[1:41:18] the properties along the coast

[1:41:22] that we value in our region.

[1:41:23] >> So thank you for your

[1:41:23] service.

[1:41:27] I think it's Oh thank you.

[1:41:27] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem.

[1:41:28] We'll go next to Council member

[1:41:32] Foster Yes, thank you.

[1:41:37] >> Council PRESIDENT.

[1:41:38] Just some quick comments.

[1:41:39] I would like to thank

[1:41:43] commissioners of Cat for his

[1:41:43] willingness to continue to

[1:41:44] serve.

[1:41:49] It is greatly appreciated and

[1:41:49] just really want to thank

[1:41:50] the port commissioners for all

[1:41:54] the good work that you are

[1:41:55] doing in continuing to ensure

[1:41:59] that we are a top destination

[1:42:00] location.

[1:42:01] A lot of transformative work is

[1:42:05] happening along our shoreline

[1:42:05] there.

[1:42:06] I mean you guys are leading

[1:42:07] the way and leading that charge

[1:42:11] So I just want to thank you for

[1:42:11] all of those efforts.

[1:42:16] With that I will be supporting

[1:42:17] the consent agenda.

[1:42:17] Madam Clerk, I would like to

[1:42:25] register a no vote for item 50

[1:42:26] .

[1:42:26] All right.

[1:42:27] Thank you, Councilmember

[1:42:27] Foster.

[1:42:28] Not see anybody else in

[1:42:28] the life section?

[1:42:31] I think everybody spoke.

[1:42:31] I'll add a couple of thoughts

[1:42:32] on my own.

[1:42:33] I want to build on the comments

[1:42:37] of my colleague Councilmember

[1:42:37] about item 50.

[1:42:41] There was some concern about

[1:42:41] that one being on consent

[1:42:42] actually item 50 that's

[1:42:47] the contract with consultants

[1:42:51] for dam improvements that

[1:42:51] actually two full public

[1:42:55] hearings wanted 80 and one at

[1:42:56] the full city council.

[1:42:59] The item in front of us is a

[1:43:00] mandatory second reading to

[1:43:00] make sure that we got

[1:43:01] the ordinance just right and

[1:43:06] that's why it's it's on consent

[1:43:06] and on item 51.

[1:43:11] Just a friendly reminder this

[1:43:12] is the contract for the my

[1:43:13] water portal That is a contract

[1:43:18] authority not necessarily how

[1:43:18] much will be spent on that

[1:43:23] particular item item 5o5.

[1:43:24] This is a resolution

[1:43:25] authorizing the marketing

[1:43:25] agreement between the city of

[1:43:29] San Diego and Hyundai Motor

[1:43:29] America.

[1:43:30] Thank you to Sara Brennan from

[1:43:31] Economic Development for

[1:43:31] negotiating This deal was a

[1:43:34] rather extraordinary

[1:43:35] improvement over previous deals

[1:43:36] in the same space Our

[1:43:41] lifeguards deserve the best and

[1:43:41] this agreement delivers that.

[1:43:42] So thank you Sara for that Good

[1:43:46] work And I suspect Chief

[1:43:47] Gartland had a hand in there as

[1:43:48] well So I'll wrap up the many

[1:43:52] accolades.

[1:43:53] I think it's getting

[1:43:54] embarrassing How many of us are

[1:43:57] talking about item 1 to 1 MR.

[1:43:58] Kept As everybody has said your

[1:43:58] accomplishments are certainly

[1:44:03] numerous and impressive I to

[1:44:04] laud your commitment to

[1:44:04] environmental advances

[1:44:05] including electrification of

[1:44:09] our marine terminals positive

[1:44:09] results for the port cities,

[1:44:10] the city of San Diego and our

[1:44:14] most impacted communities And I

[1:44:15] want to recognize we're not

[1:44:16] here to save the planet.

[1:44:20] We're here to save ourselves

[1:44:21] and our way of life and where

[1:44:21] we work and where we play and

[1:44:26] MR. To get your efforts are

[1:44:32] geared 100% to that to minimize

[1:44:32] the impact to those waterfront

[1:44:33] communities to make sure that

[1:44:37] we have a strong and vibrant

[1:44:38] water working waterfront and

[1:44:39] you find that balance and

[1:44:44] the things you've done and as

[1:44:45] one somebody ask about what

[1:44:46] role you have the port has

[1:44:49] you're leading the way and

[1:44:50] the city here is trying to

[1:44:51] catch up with the good work

[1:44:51] that you're doing every day.

[1:44:55] For those who missed the three

[1:44:56] commissioners talking about

[1:44:57] the work at the port, I urge

[1:44:57] you to go back and watch that

[1:45:02] presentation for the City

[1:45:02] Council.

[1:45:03] So I look forward to your

[1:45:06] continued efforts for cutting

[1:45:06] edge first in the Nation

[1:45:07] Environmental Advances.

[1:45:08] Thank you for your willingness

[1:45:13] to continue to serve and I know

[1:45:14] you've been itching in that

[1:45:15] seat to perhaps come up and say

[1:45:17] a few words to wrap it all up

[1:45:24] I've got to thank you Council

[1:45:25] president members of the city

[1:45:30] council I'm only grateful and

[1:45:30] and happy to have

[1:45:31] the opportunity to serve.

[1:45:36] Thank you very much.

[1:45:37] I so appreciate your support

[1:45:38] and your partnership and your

[1:45:42] faith and I work as hard as I

[1:45:43] can to to reward that faith and

[1:45:48] how we serve.

[1:45:49] I so appreciate your come and

[1:45:49] stay.

[1:45:50] I am definitely humbled and I

[1:45:54] do find them a little

[1:45:54] embarrassing in part because we

[1:45:55] have such a great team at

[1:46:01] the port As many of you

[1:46:01] mentioned.

[1:46:02] We've got a commissioner

[1:46:02] sitting right here who's not

[1:46:07] only here as a colleague but as

[1:46:07] a friend.

[1:46:08] I think he was going to hold my

[1:46:08] hand if anybody said anything

[1:46:09] mean about me.

[1:46:12] He's such a such an incredible

[1:46:13] and just absolutely a decent

[1:46:17] human being And it's such a

[1:46:18] pleasure to be his friend and

[1:46:19] to serve with him And also

[1:46:23] Commissioner Moore and and and

[1:46:24] Commissioner Castellanos before

[1:46:24] them.

[1:46:25] So thank you very much for

[1:46:26] those efforts.

[1:46:29] To your point, Councilmember

[1:46:30] Lee also wanted to thank my

[1:46:31] wife and family my day job

[1:46:37] bosses at the Senior Employees

[1:46:37] Association who allow me

[1:46:41] the time to to to engage in

[1:46:42] the service which is only an

[1:46:43] honor and I'm super grateful

[1:46:43] for it.

[1:46:48] So thank you all very much and

[1:46:48] thank you council PRESIDENT And

[1:46:49] especially to your incredible

[1:46:54] support staff member Vicky

[1:46:55] Jones for for coordinating this

[1:46:56] report And thank you Really

[1:47:03] welcome.

[1:47:03] All right.

[1:47:04] No one else in the lights We do

[1:47:10] have a motion by council member

[1:47:11] committee and second by council

[1:47:12] member Woodburn clerk Please

[1:47:12] call the roll.

[1:47:13] I start the voting system.

[1:47:22] Please cast your vote That

[1:47:23] passage unanimously 8 to 0 with

[1:47:23] Councilmember Foster voting no

[1:47:24] and item 15 and Council member

[1:47:27] Moreno Thank you Council

[1:47:28] PRESIDENT All right thank you

[1:47:29] City Clerk With that Will let's

[1:47:34] move quickly That's turning out

[1:47:34] to be a long morning.

[1:47:35] We have both knowledge and

[1:47:39] public comment as well as a

[1:47:39] presentation under the Housing

[1:47:40] Authority.

[1:47:40] But first are there any

[1:47:46] comments by the mayor's office,

[1:47:46] city council member, city

[1:47:47] attorney, independent budget

[1:47:50] analyst or city clerk Not

[1:47:51] seeing any I'll make one

[1:47:51] comment.

[1:47:57] I made some comments yesterday

[1:47:58] relating to the appeal process

[1:47:58] for environmental

[1:48:04] determinations and I MAY have

[1:48:04] been a little bit too generous

[1:48:05] In my words environmental

[1:48:06] determinations are unique

[1:48:09] Animal Of all the things that

[1:48:10] we do someone should not take

[1:48:15] that as consulting advice but

[1:48:16] I'm certainly happy to have a

[1:48:16] conversation with anybody who

[1:48:17] is considering the appeal an

[1:48:21] environmental determination and

[1:48:22] always stand ready to work with

[1:48:22] my colleagues or operation side

[1:48:27] if we can improve how our

[1:48:28] municipal code is written and

[1:48:28] give good direction for both

[1:48:33] applicants and appellants see

[1:48:33] no one else.

[1:48:34] We will now adjourn as the City

[1:48:38] Council to convene the Special

[1:48:39] Housing Authority meeting And

[1:48:39] first we will start with

[1:48:44] the approval of the Housing

[1:48:45] Authority minutes of both

[1:48:49] JANUARY 13th, 2026 and

[1:48:50] the special session on JANUARY

[1:48:50] 26th, 2026.

[1:48:51] Clerk Please proceed with

[1:48:51] public comment.

[1:48:57] Thank you.

[1:48:57] The public library for

[1:48:58] the Housing Authority minutes

[1:48:59] is now open.

[1:48:59] Please note each we will have

[1:49:01] one minute per item per person

[1:49:02] The minutes being approved are

[1:49:03] for the meeting of Tuesday

[1:49:03] JANUARY 13th, 2026 Regular and

[1:49:07] Monday JANUARY 26, 2026 a

[1:49:08] special allegedly order if you

[1:49:13] can please come forward.

[1:49:14] You'll have two minutes.

[1:49:14] Please proceed.

[1:49:15] I'm surprised I thought I was

[1:49:20] going to get one minute.

[1:49:20] >> Look at you guys.

[1:49:21] It's interesting that sometimes

[1:49:22] you guys will write what is

[1:49:25] written said in public comment

[1:49:26] like in the meetings and

[1:49:26] sometimes you don't And I'm

[1:49:31] wondering when you don't Why is

[1:49:32] that is because you don't want

[1:49:32] the people to know what was

[1:49:37] said, you know or you you wind

[1:49:38] up spinning it in a certain way

[1:49:42] or taking away words or adding

[1:49:43] some.

[1:49:43] So it seems like what is being

[1:49:48] said is not as intense or

[1:49:49] whatever And it's like I think

[1:49:54] it is very important that when

[1:49:54] you are taking somebody's words

[1:49:55] and spinning it like that that

[1:49:56] that changes exactly what was

[1:50:00] said.

[1:50:01] And I'm curious to know what's

[1:50:02] going to be written in

[1:50:02] the minutes when the two men

[1:50:07] Paul and I believe Derek it was

[1:50:07] that came from Tent City Did

[1:50:08] any of you guys go talk to him

[1:50:12] Stephen did you send your staff

[1:50:13] out to see if you could help

[1:50:18] them not get evicted?

[1:50:18] Right.

[1:50:19] So it'll be interesting to see

[1:50:24] what is written when with their

[1:50:25] comment is it going to say that

[1:50:26] they came from b lots and that

[1:50:26] they're potentially getting

[1:50:30] kicked out for no reason that

[1:50:31] nobody's helping them that this

[1:50:34] man's been there since 2023?

[1:50:35] Wow.

[1:50:35] Seems like it's working, right?

[1:50:40] Yeah.

[1:50:41] And those men are still

[1:50:42] suffering and nobody wants to

[1:50:42] go and talk to the people with

[1:50:46] lived experience.

[1:50:47] So it'll be interesting to see

[1:50:48] the way the minutes are written

[1:50:48] then because any time you guys

[1:50:49] write things about what I'm

[1:50:53] saying it changes what it says

[1:50:54] and it doesn't show that there

[1:50:54] are extremely egregious events

[1:50:59] taking place on your guys's

[1:51:00] watch that you refuse to

[1:51:00] mitigate.

[1:51:06] I have people coming to me on a

[1:51:07] daily basis Either they're ex

[1:51:07] employees, people that live

[1:51:11] there.

[1:51:12] >> There's a lot of stuff

[1:51:12] coming down the pike and you

[1:51:13] guys should be concerned

[1:51:13] because you're not doing

[1:51:18] anything about it and it

[1:51:18] continues to happen and we're

[1:51:19] going to have to pay for

[1:51:20] litigation because of it.

[1:51:20] >> You're going comment I'm

[1:51:23] going to those participating

[1:51:24] online.

[1:51:24] I have five minutes on

[1:51:25] the queue.

[1:51:26] Robin, if you can please unmute

[1:51:27] and let me know which minutes

[1:51:33] you're speaking to.

[1:51:34] I will be speaking to non

[1:51:35] agenda public comment.

[1:51:39] We'll come back to you during

[1:51:40] that time.

[1:51:41] >> Blair Beekman Please let me

[1:51:41] know which minutes you're

[1:51:45] speaking to.

[1:51:46] Both minutes Please proceed.

[1:51:46] All right.

[1:51:47] Thank you.

[1:51:50] I won't need the full two

[1:51:51] minutes but I just wanted to

[1:51:56] quickly offer from meeting

[1:51:57] minutes of JANUARY I felt that

[1:52:02] the important theme and

[1:52:03] conversation and dialog was how

[1:52:04] the housing authority people

[1:52:08] can have a good clear

[1:52:09] conversations with the new

[1:52:14] federal administration and to

[1:52:14] not reject good thinking and

[1:52:21] good attempts at dialog that

[1:52:21] we're trying to create here at

[1:52:22] the local level towards our

[1:52:22] housing policies.

[1:52:27] They're making really honest

[1:52:27] decent attempts towards

[1:52:28] negotiating in good dialog here

[1:52:29] at the local level at

[1:52:29] the Housing Authority to

[1:52:33] the Federal level with hud

[1:52:34] funding and the like.

[1:52:34] So just an overall good luck

[1:52:38] that we can continue those good

[1:52:39] effort and that a place of good

[1:52:39] conversation can be taking

[1:52:40] place for all of us.

[1:52:44] Thank you.

[1:52:45] Thank you.

[1:52:46] 81 three If you can please let

[1:52:47] me know which minutes you're

[1:52:54] speaking to.

[1:52:55] I cannot unmute for you there

[1:53:01] you Excuse me are we on not

[1:53:05] agenda?

[1:53:06] No this is the minutes Another

[1:53:07] agenda will be later.

[1:53:11] I can come back to you then.

[1:53:11] Oh no.

[1:53:12] Okay.

[1:53:12] So is this the Housing

[1:53:13] Authority Housing Authority

[1:53:18] minutes?

[1:53:18] Oh the housing authority

[1:53:19] minutes.

[1:53:19] Okay.

[1:53:19] Got it.

[1:53:20] Yeah, I have something for

[1:53:20] that.

[1:53:23] Just a second, please.

[1:53:24] We got 1 minute or 2 minutes.

[1:53:28] It's one minute per

[1:53:29] the minutes.

[1:53:30] >> There's two minutes on

[1:53:30] the two minutes so please

[1:53:30] proceed.

[1:53:34] Oh gosh, I'm sorry.

[1:53:35] >> I'm not even building up my

[1:53:35] speech for that.

[1:53:45] I mean, I'm both pretty much in

[1:53:54] version but I usually have to

[1:53:55] say so you know, I'm sorry.

[1:53:56] I don't mean to take up your

[1:53:56] sense of it.

[1:53:57] Just go ahead Wait for an on

[1:53:58] agenda.

[1:53:58] >> Thank you.

[1:53:59] That does conclude public

[1:53:59] comment on the housing

[1:54:03] authority minutes.

[1:54:03] All right.

[1:54:04] Thank you, City clerk So we'll

[1:54:05] take up agency members

[1:54:05] questions and comments

[1:54:10] entertain a motion just to get

[1:54:10] things started to go ahead and

[1:54:11] move the adoption of

[1:54:11] the minutes.

[1:54:14] Can I get a second

[1:54:15] Councilmember Wicker not see

[1:54:16] anybody else in the lights?

[1:54:21] I'll have the comment.

[1:54:22] I don't think those minutes are

[1:54:22] still an adequate two for you

[1:54:23] want to find out what people

[1:54:24] said You go to the video that's

[1:54:26] where you get the straight

[1:54:26] story So encourage people to do

[1:54:27] that if they're curious what

[1:54:27] anybody said.

[1:54:32] So with that motion by myself

[1:54:33] in the second by Council member

[1:54:33] Whitburn to move the minutes

[1:54:36] clerk please call the roll.

[1:54:37] >> That's right the voting

[1:54:42] system Please cast your vote

[1:54:48] That passes unanimously 8 to 0

[1:54:49] with Councilmember Moreno

[1:54:49] absent.

[1:54:50] >> Thank you.

[1:54:50] That's all that.

[1:54:51] All right.

[1:54:51] Thank you to be talking with

[1:54:53] that clerk please introduce.

[1:54:54] Housing Authority Item one

[1:54:54] Housing Authority Item one is

[1:54:59] an informational item one

[1:54:59] informational report from

[1:55:00] the Housing Authority executive

[1:55:01] director.

[1:55:01] If you'd like to speak on this

[1:55:05] item, now's the time to submit.

[1:55:06] Your speaker slips to the front

[1:55:07] of the room in the clear box.

[1:55:07] If you're participating online

[1:55:11] now's the time to raise your

[1:55:12] hand by pressing Star nine or

[1:55:13] the raise your hand icon.

[1:55:13] Thank us, PRESIDENT.

[1:55:17] Thank you, MS..

[1:55:18] Jones As you certainly

[1:55:18] introduce yourself for record

[1:55:19] and let us know how much time

[1:55:28] you need for your presentation

[1:55:29] .

[1:55:29] Good morning.

[1:55:30] Council PRESIDENT And Council

[1:55:34] members.

[1:55:35] There we go.

[1:55:35] That's better.

[1:55:36] Good morning.

[1:55:36] Council PRESIDENT Corbin

[1:55:40] Council members.

[1:55:41] I'm Lisa Jones, the Senior

[1:55:42] Housing Commission's PRESIDENT

[1:55:44] And ceo And I'm only about

[1:55:45] eight minutes from acting.

[1:55:50] >> I'll begin this morning with

[1:55:51] some difficult changes that

[1:55:51] occurred recently for

[1:55:52] the Housing Commission and our

[1:55:52] staff.

[1:55:57] Last month we unfortunately had

[1:55:57] to make the difficult decision

[1:55:58] to reduce our workforce.

[1:56:02] And the tough reality is that

[1:56:03] this was necessary It was

[1:56:03] necessary for us to remain a

[1:56:07] reliable source of assistance

[1:56:08] in the coming years for

[1:56:09] the tens of thousands of

[1:56:09] families in our programs and

[1:56:14] also to be able to sustain our

[1:56:15] remaining staff who serve those

[1:56:16] families in our community every

[1:56:16] day.

[1:56:20] As I've shared over the past

[1:56:21] several months as the agency

[1:56:21] like many other public housing

[1:56:22] authorities and many other

[1:56:26] public sector agencies across

[1:56:26] the country is experiencing

[1:56:27] financial challenges like we

[1:56:28] have not seen as an agency in

[1:56:32] the past.

[1:56:33] Much of this is due to shifts

[1:56:34] in federal government

[1:56:34] priorities in the past year and

[1:56:39] budget uncertainty at

[1:56:40] the federal, state and local

[1:56:40] levels.

[1:56:41] Nothing That's not a surprise

[1:56:44] to I know the council and

[1:56:45] the city team.

[1:56:46] Additionally, like many other

[1:56:46] organizations our costs are

[1:56:47] rising and the need for our

[1:56:50] services continues to grow But

[1:56:51] our financial resources are

[1:56:51] fixed or in some cases

[1:56:56] declining.

[1:56:57] Our goals are to ensure our

[1:56:57] rental housing voucher programs

[1:56:58] or homelessness programs and

[1:57:02] services and our affordable

[1:57:02] housing units remain available

[1:57:03] for the individuals, families

[1:57:04] and families currently in those

[1:57:08] programs who need them.

[1:57:09] We have taken a variety of

[1:57:10] steps in recent months to

[1:57:10] contain costs in this

[1:57:11] environment.

[1:57:15] These include eliminating

[1:57:15] performance incentives and cost

[1:57:16] of living adjustments for

[1:57:17] senior leadership Last year

[1:57:21] having to make changes to

[1:57:22] the family contribution amount

[1:57:22] in the voucher program and rent

[1:57:23] adjustments in our affordable

[1:57:26] housing programs and having to

[1:57:27] reduce or end some of our

[1:57:27] ancillary services and

[1:57:32] activities.

[1:57:33] Our strategic plan contains

[1:57:34] many more initiatives that we

[1:57:34] are currently working on to

[1:57:38] both reduce costs and to

[1:57:39] increase revenue.

[1:57:39] But the unfortunate reality is

[1:57:43] even with all of those efforts

[1:57:44] we have also needed to reduce

[1:57:45] our workforce.

[1:57:45] This means that we made

[1:57:50] the tough decision to eliminate

[1:57:51] 33 occupied staff positions and

[1:57:55] will not be filling 25

[1:57:55] positions that were vacant

[1:57:56] which is a reduction of about

[1:57:56] 14%.

[1:58:00] So that means that 33 staff

[1:58:01] that used to work for

[1:58:02] the Housing Commission were

[1:58:05] laid off on FEBRUARY 27th.

[1:58:05] About 60% of the eliminated

[1:58:06] positions were supervisory

[1:58:11] level positions or about.

[1:58:12] And as I've shared in briefings

[1:58:13] previously, none of the layoffs

[1:58:13] were represented were

[1:58:18] represented staff staff who

[1:58:19] occupied those eliminated

[1:58:24] positions were notified, as I

[1:58:24] said on FEBRUARY 27th and they

[1:58:25] were provided two weeks paid

[1:58:25] leave.

[1:58:30] We know this is a difficult

[1:58:30] time for each of them.

[1:58:31] We know this is a difficult

[1:58:32] time for the staff that remains

[1:58:32] as well.

[1:58:36] There's a lot to process but we

[1:58:37] do care about those staff and

[1:58:38] we are offering a variety of

[1:58:38] assistance to help them through

[1:58:42] this transition.

[1:58:43] While I will not go into

[1:58:43] details I can let you know that

[1:58:44] we have also offered severance

[1:58:48] commensurate to their service

[1:58:49] time to each laid off employee.

[1:58:50] And while this extension of

[1:58:50] health benefits in addition to

[1:58:54] what the state provides, we

[1:58:54] also are providing them with

[1:58:55] access to support and resources

[1:58:56] to assist them with their

[1:59:00] career transition.

[1:59:01] These include job coaching

[1:59:01] sessions, meetings with a

[1:59:02] workforce development

[1:59:03] specialist and a recruiter and

[1:59:06] access to job resources with

[1:59:07] chc covering the costs for

[1:59:07] these services.

[1:59:12] We're also continuing to make

[1:59:13] our employee assistance program

[1:59:13] available to our staff who were

[1:59:14] laid off.

[1:59:15] The program includes counseling

[1:59:18] for mental health and emotional

[1:59:19] needs as well as referrals for

[1:59:19] free or reduced cost programs

[1:59:20] like child care, health care

[1:59:24] and employment services.

[1:59:24] And our employee assistance

[1:59:25] program is available to assist

[1:59:26] our remaining staff during this

[1:59:30] time as well.

[1:59:31] We do not anticipate any

[1:59:31] further workforce reductions

[1:59:32] beyond these steps.

[1:59:36] This workforce reduction along

[1:59:36] with many other measures will

[1:59:37] help support ongoing financial

[1:59:42] stability of the agency.

[1:59:43] And with that increased ability

[1:59:43] we will continue to provide

[1:59:44] housing assistance and person

[1:59:45] centered customer service to

[1:59:47] the thousands of families with

[1:59:48] low income that rely on

[1:59:48] the Housing Commission.

[1:59:49] We also continue to implement

[1:59:53] and explore additional measures

[1:59:54] to contain costs and where

[1:59:54] possible to continue to

[1:59:58] generate revenue.

[1:59:59] Although this is a difficult

[2:00:00] time for our agency, we must

[2:00:00] continue to advocate for state

[2:00:05] and federal resources that is

[2:00:06] more important now than ever.

[2:00:06] Last month we met with

[2:00:11] the California Association of

[2:00:11] Housing Authorities, state

[2:00:12] officials and San Diego's

[2:00:13] legislative delegation in

[2:00:13] Sacramento.

[2:00:17] We discussed relevant state

[2:00:17] legislation around housing

[2:00:18] the latest from hud and federal

[2:00:19] administration as well as

[2:00:23] the latest innovations around

[2:00:23] the state.

[2:00:24] And we advocated for continued

[2:00:25] stable funding from the state

[2:00:25] for homelessness programs and

[2:00:29] for affordable housing

[2:00:30] development.

[2:00:31] And this month we are engaging

[2:00:31] in Washington, D.C. With

[2:00:35] federal officials as well as

[2:00:36] the Council of Large Public

[2:00:36] Housing Authorities and

[2:00:37] the National Association of

[2:00:37] Housing and Redevelopment

[2:00:41] Officials.

[2:00:42] These opportunities to meet in

[2:00:42] person are really important for

[2:00:43] us to make sure that state and

[2:00:47] federal lawmakers in particular

[2:00:48] know what funding and policies

[2:00:48] we and other housing

[2:00:49] authorities need to continue to

[2:00:53] support our communities and

[2:00:54] that they understand the true

[2:00:55] impact inadequate funding has

[2:00:57] on our agency stability and

[2:00:58] the families we serve as well

[2:01:03] as our staff.

[2:01:04] We also continue to deliver our

[2:01:05] core services providing

[2:01:05] affordable housing

[2:01:06] opportunities in our community

[2:01:10] for families that need them.

[2:01:10] This includes supporting

[2:01:11] the development of additional

[2:01:12] new affordable rental homes

[2:01:15] such as the Skyline Development

[2:01:16] Skyline celebrated its grand

[2:01:16] opening on MARCH 5th.

[2:01:22] Affirmed housing developers

[2:01:23] property which provided 99

[2:01:23] affordable rental apartment

[2:01:24] homes for families with very

[2:01:24] low income.

[2:01:28] It's important to remember that

[2:01:28] this new housing stock so we

[2:01:29] are adding to our housing

[2:01:30] supply which is so critical

[2:01:30] with both the tax credit

[2:01:35] program and the project freeze

[2:01:36] vouchers that we share with

[2:01:36] them.

[2:01:37] The Housing Commission awarded

[2:01:38] 30 project based vouchers to

[2:01:41] help pay rent for families

[2:01:41] earning up to 30% of San

[2:01:42] Diego's area median income.

[2:01:43] And with the housing authority

[2:01:46] approval we also authorized

[2:01:47] authorized the issuance of

[2:01:48] multifamily housing revenue

[2:01:48] bonds for the financing for

[2:01:49] Skyline.

[2:01:53] It was built on an under

[2:01:53] utilized parking lot at

[2:01:54] the Metropolitan Transit

[2:01:55] Systems Rancho Bernardo Transit

[2:01:59] Station.

[2:02:00] And a special thank you to

[2:02:00] Councilmember Whitman as

[2:02:01] the chair of the mta and also

[2:02:05] to Councilmember Van Wilpert

[2:02:05] whose district includes Skyline

[2:02:06] for their support of this

[2:02:06] project.

[2:02:07] We also think Mayor Gloria and

[2:02:11] his staff for their efforts to

[2:02:11] make Skyline possible.

[2:02:12] Finally, I have some housing

[2:02:16] commission leadership updates

[2:02:17] to share with you.

[2:02:17] After 30 years of exceptional

[2:02:18] service to the Housing

[2:02:18] commission.

[2:02:19] Our deputy ceo Jeff Davis will

[2:02:23] be leading us in just under

[2:02:24] three weeks.

[2:02:24] I have had the privilege of

[2:02:29] knowing Jeff as a boss, a

[2:02:30] mentor, a colleague and as a

[2:02:30] friend and I have deeply

[2:02:31] appreciated his leadership

[2:02:34] perspective and support

[2:02:35] especially during his tenure as

[2:02:36] interim PRESIDENT And ceo and

[2:02:37] throughout the transition to my

[2:02:41] role as ceo where he has been

[2:02:41] invaluable support.

[2:02:42] His insight and expertise have

[2:02:46] been invaluable to our agency

[2:02:47] and he has touched many lives

[2:02:48] clients, peers, staff at every

[2:02:48] level of the organization over

[2:02:53] his long tenure.

[2:02:54] We will MISS Jeff and we wish

[2:02:54] him all the best in his next

[2:02:55] adventure.

[2:02:59] And as Jeff prepares to depart,

[2:03:00] it is my true pleasure to share

[2:03:01] with you that I just antiviral

[2:03:01] It is now our Chief Operating

[2:03:05] officer as well as the center

[2:03:06] will ensure ongoing effective

[2:03:07] operations across the agency as

[2:03:11] well as fiscal stability and

[2:03:12] operational compliance for all

[2:03:12] our core functions.

[2:03:13] As I said, I will also oversee

[2:03:16] the rental assistance and

[2:03:17] workforce development division

[2:03:18] information technology and

[2:03:18] property management and asset

[2:03:23] management departments.

[2:03:24] In addition to my duties as ceo

[2:03:24] i will continue to oversee

[2:03:25] the policy homelessness

[2:03:28] innovations and community

[2:03:29] initiatives divisions and will

[2:03:29] take on oversight of our real

[2:03:30] estate finance and Development

[2:03:35] division and communications

[2:03:35] department.

[2:03:36] After just departure Assistant

[2:03:37] will also oversee the financial

[2:03:41] services and human resources

[2:03:41] departments.

[2:03:42] This is not a new position

[2:03:43] that's been created for us, he

[2:03:43] said.

[2:03:47] This is not backfilling her

[2:03:48] previous position so she

[2:03:48] remains essentially the same

[2:03:49] role.

[2:03:53] The title change and we're also

[2:03:54] not backfilling Jeff's

[2:03:54] position.

[2:03:55] So this is a consolidation

[2:03:55] across those positions.

[2:03:59] As I said, I felt for many

[2:04:00] years as our executive vice

[2:04:01] PRESIDENT Of rental assistance

[2:04:02] and workforce development and

[2:04:05] has been a key leader in our

[2:04:05] executive team.

[2:04:06] Taking on her new ceo role is a

[2:04:11] natural transition for both her

[2:04:11] talent and her expertise.

[2:04:12] And I'm very much look forward

[2:04:13] to the leadership in insight

[2:04:13] and innovation.

[2:04:17] As I said, I will provide our

[2:04:17] ceo.

[2:04:18] Well, that concludes my report

[2:04:18] this morning.

[2:04:18] Thank you.

[2:04:22] All right.

[2:04:23] Thank you for your work in

[2:04:23] difficult decisions on

[2:04:28] the presentation this morning.

[2:04:28] >> Afternoon.

[2:04:29] With that Clark, please proceed

[2:04:30] for public comment.

[2:04:34] Council PRESIDENT We have

[2:04:35] allegedly ordered here if you

[2:04:35] can please come up to

[2:04:36] the microphone.

[2:04:40] After that we have Aaron warm

[2:04:41] up if you can Please come to

[2:04:42] the other reserved seats and

[2:04:43] then the like scene And you can

[2:04:43] also come up to the yellow

[2:04:46] reserved seats.

[2:04:47] We do have quite a number of

[2:04:48] speakers so it is one minute.

[2:04:52] Please proceed.

[2:04:53] I guess when you say f-you to

[2:04:54] the federal government they're

[2:04:54] going to say a few too and it's

[2:04:58] sad that these people had to

[2:04:59] get laid off because of your

[2:04:59] choices.

[2:05:00] I don't know that this program

[2:05:04] has ever been succeeding.

[2:05:05] As we can see homelessness

[2:05:05] rises.

[2:05:06] People are not being hurt.

[2:05:07] Nobody can afford anything

[2:05:07] especially rent.

[2:05:11] So when you say you're saying

[2:05:11] you have affordable housing,

[2:05:12] that's a lie.

[2:05:16] It's a complete.

[2:05:17] It's funny, right?

[2:05:17] Yeah.

[2:05:18] You're so funny and you're so

[2:05:18] right.

[2:05:21] You're not one on the street

[2:05:22] having to beg and plead just to

[2:05:22] get help, are you?

[2:05:27] So it's just up to the council

[2:05:27] please.

[2:05:28] Yes.

[2:05:28] Well and it's like I mean

[2:05:29] seriously, how are you going to

[2:05:32] put these people in danger of

[2:05:33] needing the assistance from

[2:05:34] this program Because you're

[2:05:39] like we're going to we got help

[2:05:39] for you.

[2:05:40] You don't because you're not

[2:05:41] going to going to be able to

[2:05:41] put them in or you will just

[2:05:44] like you take illegal

[2:05:45] immigrants and you put them

[2:05:45] directly into housing When

[2:05:50] people that have lived here and

[2:05:51] waited for decades should have

[2:05:51] gotten it.

[2:05:52] So it's your choices that have

[2:05:56] led to this and you just waste

[2:05:57] our money.

[2:05:57] >> Aaron, if you can please

[2:05:58] come forward and if

[2:05:59] the following individuals can

[2:06:02] please raise their hand.

[2:06:03] Armando Castaneda please raise

[2:06:03] your hand.

[2:06:08] Caitlin Bears versus bears and

[2:06:14] Mike thank you Pro Martinez You

[2:06:19] should shoot Jeanette for us

[2:06:20] Mandy Stevens, Yasmeen and

[2:06:25] Laura and Katherine Cusick

[2:06:26] You'll have nine minutes.

[2:06:27] Please proceed.

[2:06:31] People standing behind me are

[2:06:32] the people that serve our

[2:06:32] community of San Diego from

[2:06:33] the rental assistance

[2:06:37] department Real estate

[2:06:38] department and homeless

[2:06:38] division.

[2:06:39] Also we have people online as

[2:06:40] well that couldn't be here

[2:06:43] present and also people that

[2:06:44] can be present in the meeting

[2:06:44] because their work doesn't

[2:06:45] stop.

[2:06:49] My name is Aaron.

[2:06:50] One is a proud seiu member I'm

[2:06:50] serving as the chapter

[2:06:55] PRESIDENT For over a year and a

[2:06:56] steward for the last four

[2:06:56] years.

[2:06:59] I also have been an employee at

[2:07:00] the Housing Commission for

[2:07:00] the last five years in a

[2:07:01] homelessness division San Diego

[2:07:05] Housing Commission is facing a

[2:07:06] financial crisis and has

[2:07:07] proposed cuts on employees

[2:07:12] compensations, cost of living,

[2:07:12] flex credit and performance

[2:07:18] incentives totaling about $4.5

[2:07:19] million in savings next fiscal

[2:07:19] year.

[2:07:24] During this process the housing

[2:07:24] Commission has respectfully

[2:07:25] provided information and

[2:07:26] flexible release time allowing

[2:07:30] space for collaboration and a

[2:07:31] special thanks to the sap Argus

[2:07:31] for taking the time for

[2:07:35] collaboration and scheduling

[2:07:36] and communicating.

[2:07:36] We really appreciate it.

[2:07:37] However, despite

[2:07:42] the collaboration we have not

[2:07:42] reached that agreement.

[2:07:43] There is also concern about

[2:07:47] PRESIDENT Being set to reopen

[2:07:48] the mou yearly and doing more

[2:07:53] with less consistently.

[2:07:54] After multiple attempts to

[2:07:55] develop a proposal that that

[2:07:59] support represents not

[2:08:00] represented in management

[2:08:01] staff, the Housing Commission

[2:08:01] has made it clear that we must

[2:08:06] focus on represented employees

[2:08:07] only represented staff does pay

[2:08:12] the dues and they make these

[2:08:12] agreements possible.

[2:08:13] If you review the material that

[2:08:18] I was able to provide at

[2:08:19] the bottom chart I know if you

[2:08:20] guys have if you don't it kind

[2:08:23] of breaks down our proposal

[2:08:24] You'll see our proposal So

[2:08:25] generate a significant savings

[2:08:29] for the agency.

[2:08:30] We understand that sacrifices

[2:08:35] are necessary which is why seiu

[2:08:35] has proposed freezing

[2:08:36] the performance incentive an

[2:08:37] annual proposal saving

[2:08:41] approximately $2.15 million.

[2:08:47] However, we are not willing to

[2:08:48] sacrifice cost of living and

[2:08:48] flex credit increases for

[2:08:52] represented staff.

[2:08:53] We have a petition with a high

[2:08:59] majority of members that do not

[2:09:00] agree what is happening while

[2:09:05] vp's and above have chosen to

[2:09:06] take their not taken their cola

[2:09:10] an incentive It's a softer blow

[2:09:11] for them.

[2:09:11] These are individuals earning

[2:09:17] over 200,000 annually receiving

[2:09:17] guaranteed incentives like car

[2:09:22] allowance and up to 20% more in

[2:09:23] flex credits than many

[2:09:23] frontline workers.

[2:09:24] That's the chart in the middle.

[2:09:27] Given the breakdown of all

[2:09:28] the flex credits, the total

[2:09:28] contractual cola and flex

[2:09:33] credit obligation is about 2.4

[2:09:38] million under our proposal call

[2:09:39] it would be reserved for

[2:09:39] representing staff only while

[2:09:40] flex credit increases would

[2:09:45] support the agency as a whole,

[2:09:48] this proposal will cost 661,659

[2:09:53] instead of the 2.4 million.

[2:09:53] We've also proposed

[2:09:58] the additional 3% increase for

[2:09:58] full time onsite workers who

[2:09:59] are paid less.

[2:10:02] This cost would be about

[2:10:08] 127,450 which is less than

[2:10:08] $179,040 spent on car allowance

[2:10:09] for executives.

[2:10:14] This fiscal year.

[2:10:15] We also suggested multiple zero

[2:10:15] cost benefits that could

[2:10:18] relieve the reduction in pay

[2:10:25] for workers although it was on

[2:10:30] a budget although our proposal

[2:10:34] say as a proxy $3.75 million

[2:10:34] $3.75 million.

[2:10:40] Yet the Housing Commission has

[2:10:40] maintained its position that a

[2:10:44] full 4.5 million must come from

[2:10:45] these cuts.

[2:10:50] We strongly believe it is not

[2:10:50] the responsibility of

[2:10:51] the frontline workers to

[2:10:51] address the Housing

[2:10:59] Commission's projected $23.5

[2:10:59] million deficit by the end of

[2:11:00] next fiscal year.

[2:11:05] Recently the Housing Commission

[2:11:06] has made the difficult decision

[2:11:07] to lay off 33 employees.

[2:11:10] Two weeks ago, three weeks ago

[2:11:11] about 30% were management while

[2:11:13] the remaining were largely

[2:11:20] non-management roles.

[2:11:20] In one case the G.M. Academy

[2:11:24] was reduced to just five

[2:11:25] frontline employees who are

[2:11:30] expect to deserve approximately

[2:11:35] 800 applicants in JULY under

[2:11:35] the new Path to Success

[2:11:35] program.

[2:11:40] So the question is how can five

[2:11:41] workers provide a level of

[2:11:41] person center service Our

[2:11:46] communities serves?

[2:11:47] We are being asked to do more

[2:11:51] now with less but with

[2:11:51] significantly less.

[2:11:56] We remain committed to working

[2:11:56] collaboratively with

[2:11:57] the Housing Commission

[2:12:01] leadership to find solutions

[2:12:02] that are equitable, sustainable

[2:12:06] and truly centered on

[2:12:07] the people we serve and

[2:12:07] the people that do the work.

[2:12:12] I thank you for all your time.

[2:12:13] >> Thank you.

[2:12:15] That does And we have Dave

[2:12:22] Langston as well.

[2:12:22] >> Okay.

[2:12:22] Good afternoon.

[2:12:23] I'm Dave Langston from us.

[2:12:23] How are you?

[2:12:24] 2 to 1.

[2:12:27] Eric said most of it so I just

[2:12:28] want to amplify it.

[2:12:28] Our PRESIDENT Chris Irving is

[2:12:31] traveling but just want to

[2:12:32] emphasize I'm in addition to

[2:12:32] the employees that you've heard

[2:12:36] from here our 14,000 members in

[2:12:36] the region and the communities

[2:12:37] we work with stand behind these

[2:12:41] workers, stand behind

[2:12:42] the important services that

[2:12:42] they do And again want to

[2:12:45] acknowledge Lisa and the team

[2:12:46] working collaborating with us

[2:12:47] in a very difficult

[2:12:47] circumstances by all accounts.

[2:12:52] But as you've heard here, we

[2:12:52] think there's more work to do

[2:12:53] that's honoring the work of our

[2:12:57] frontline employees and getting

[2:12:58] to an agreement that continues

[2:12:58] the important work in a

[2:13:02] difficult environment.

[2:13:02] And one more piece that I want

[2:13:03] to share for historical

[2:13:03] reasons.

[2:13:04] There are a number of folks

[2:13:07] that were in those 33 layoffs

[2:13:07] that are frontline workers that

[2:13:08] do not happen to be represented

[2:13:12] by seiu.

[2:13:13] So we can kind of get you that

[2:13:14] data and they have it as well.

[2:13:17] So again, there's sort of

[2:13:18] management and of course we

[2:13:18] don't celebrate any layoff but

[2:13:19] the importance of kind of

[2:13:23] preserving the frontline

[2:13:23] workers in terms of

[2:13:24] the staffing and in terms of

[2:13:24] the benefits.

[2:13:25] Thank you.

[2:13:27] The five minute timer has

[2:13:28] started and one of those

[2:13:30] participating remotely starting

[2:13:31] with 8700 If you can please

[2:13:40] unmute It is 700 sorry six

[2:13:40] You'll have a minute.

[2:13:41] There you go.

[2:13:44] Thank you so much.

[2:13:44] Sorry about that.

[2:13:50] The cd3 items for my comment

[2:13:51] and I'm going to save this one

[2:13:52] minute.

[2:13:52] First of all I didn't fill out

[2:13:53] this one.

[2:13:57] I am over the moon thrilled by

[2:14:03] the change in title four as you

[2:14:07] see now to see the oh congrats

[2:14:07] your nation She's a phenomenal

[2:14:12] human being and leader and I'm

[2:14:13] just thrilled for her and for

[2:14:14] all of us in San Diego.

[2:14:14] Okay.

[2:14:17] Yes.

[2:14:18] What's happening here is

[2:14:22] perfect because it's an example

[2:14:22] of uncertain times.

[2:14:23] We have to follow this.

[2:14:27] This is what's going to happen.

[2:14:28] This is what is happening.

[2:14:29] Let's not make it be just

[2:14:33] person centered.

[2:14:33] It has to be family centered.

[2:14:37] We have to have that.

[2:14:38] The family has to come to

[2:14:38] the kitchen.

[2:14:42] Sit around the table and try to

[2:14:43] figure this out together.

[2:14:49] I don't know what's going to be

[2:14:49] your time.

[2:14:50] >> It's concluded so eight

[2:14:50] eight, one three and then after

[2:14:52] that as a buyer pick 113 please

[2:15:01] And you Okay Come Swallow Here

[2:15:01] .

[2:15:02] So you okay?

[2:15:02] Isn't it something that with

[2:15:03] all these agencies under

[2:15:05] the government umbrella we

[2:15:06] still have people living in

[2:15:07] their cars and on the streets

[2:15:11] with all the funding, all

[2:15:12] the programs, all

[2:15:12] the departments Nothing is

[2:15:13] being resolved.

[2:15:16] In fact, it's getting worse.

[2:15:16] And now we're hearing that

[2:15:17] you're even losing your own

[2:15:17] staff.

[2:15:20] I mean I don't mean to laugh

[2:15:21] but that just adds to my

[2:15:21] point.

[2:15:25] So if the system isn't stable

[2:15:26] enough to retain the people

[2:15:30] working inside it, how is it

[2:15:30] supposed to stabilize

[2:15:31] the people?

[2:15:35] It's meant to help.

[2:15:36] So what we're seeing is

[2:15:39] solutions and more management

[2:15:40] of crisis that never seems to

[2:15:40] end.

[2:15:41] Meeting minutes reports While

[2:15:44] real people are outside trying

[2:15:45] to survive.

[2:15:45] So again with all these

[2:15:50] resources, all the purple

[2:15:50] shirts, why are people still on

[2:15:54] the street and how is this

[2:15:55] system expected to work when

[2:15:59] even your own staff can't be

[2:16:00] kept?

[2:16:00] Oh my GOD.

[2:16:05] Thank you.

[2:16:06] Never didn't wake up.

[2:16:07] Your time has concluded.

[2:16:07] Next is Blaire Beekman You can

[2:16:08] please on mute After that is

[2:16:09] Robin.

[2:16:09] >> All right.

[2:16:09] Thank you.

[2:16:13] Where Beekman.

[2:16:13] Yeah.

[2:16:14] Important lessons I've learned

[2:16:14] from public comment.

[2:16:17] Good luck that we can continue

[2:16:18] to really work towards truly

[2:16:19] affordable housing.

[2:16:22] I think it's possible and we

[2:16:23] just have to be really adamant

[2:16:27] and hopeful and knowing that

[2:16:28] it's a good thing and want to

[2:16:29] work towards it.

[2:16:32] Good luck on those efforts.

[2:16:33] >> Really sad You've had to cut

[2:16:37] 33 people from the staff here

[2:16:37] and that I don't quite know how

[2:16:41] it's related to the city of San

[2:16:42] Diego issues but in cutting

[2:16:46] supervisor positions that's

[2:16:47] cutting out middle management

[2:16:47] and I hope it is successful.

[2:16:51] It's sad.

[2:16:51] Thank you.

[2:16:52] From the clarifications from

[2:16:52] LaCava he wants to talk more

[2:16:56] about upper echelon Are people

[2:17:00] cut off from city government

[2:17:01] middle management This is

[2:17:02] middle management being cut so

[2:17:06] good luck to this.

[2:17:06] This can work and I'm sorry

[2:17:07] it's happened.

[2:17:09] You've offered good

[2:17:10] compensation packages.

[2:17:10] >> You've tried.

[2:17:11] Thank you for your efforts.

[2:17:11] Thank you.

[2:17:15] Next is Robin If you can please

[2:17:18] unmute after Robin is seven for

[2:17:19] 99 and then for Francine

[2:17:19] Maxwell Those are our final

[2:17:20] speakers.

[2:17:23] Please proceed.

[2:17:24] >> Did you call Robin Davidoff?

[2:17:24] Yes.

[2:17:27] Please proceed.

[2:17:28] Okay.

[2:17:28] I'm Robin Davidoff.

[2:17:29] I'm Sierra Club Society chair.

[2:17:33] There are 51 days from

[2:17:33] the start of the 2026 Robin

[2:17:37] Robin Yes This is actually

[2:17:38] housing authority.

[2:17:38] We haven't started Not a

[2:17:39] general public comment yet.

[2:17:39] Got it.

[2:17:42] Thank you.

[2:17:43] >> We'll come back to you 7499

[2:17:52] If you can please unmute Bob

[2:17:53] because I ski here whenever I

[2:17:56] hear about issues affecting

[2:17:57] the city due to shortages of

[2:17:58] just a few million dollars here

[2:18:01] or there, I can't help but

[2:18:02] remember that the Torrey Pines

[2:18:05] glider port has been documented

[2:18:09] as bringing in approximately

[2:18:10] $1.4 million every year from

[2:18:14] over a decade ago through this

[2:18:15] very day and virtually none of

[2:18:20] that money is going to this

[2:18:20] city even though the business

[2:18:24] could not exist without using

[2:18:25] the city's land.

[2:18:25] So when people hear our

[2:18:26] speeches about

[2:18:30] the mismanagement of the Torrey

[2:18:30] Pines glider port, remember

[2:18:31] that this kind of mismanagement

[2:18:34] affects everyone in this city.

[2:18:35] It's all connected.

[2:18:39] Thank you.

[2:18:40] >> Thank you.

[2:18:40] And Francine Maxwell is our

[2:18:41] final speaker.

[2:18:44] Please unmute.

[2:18:44] >> Thank you.

[2:18:45] Francine Maxwell Southeastern

[2:18:49] San Diego I was unable to speak

[2:18:50] earlier in the week when you

[2:18:50] had the Jeff Davis day.

[2:18:53] We are at a a joyful time for

[2:18:54] Jeff Davis to go away.

[2:18:58] He was approving illegal rent

[2:19:03] increases under the law section

[2:19:04] eight landlords were not

[2:19:04] complying with the rent

[2:19:07] increases law and he was

[2:19:08] consistently approving.

[2:19:08] So when everyone sits on

[2:19:09] the diocese and continues to

[2:19:13] give each other cuddles and

[2:19:13] pats on the back lawsuits under

[2:19:17] Jeff Davis none of those were

[2:19:18] in in the proclamation that was

[2:19:22] stated We have to call out what

[2:19:23] was done.

[2:19:23] Everything is not cookie cutter

[2:19:28] everything was not roses with

[2:19:28] him And we look forward to

[2:19:32] working with the new ceo and

[2:19:33] making sure things are done in

[2:19:33] decency and order.

[2:19:38] Thank you so much for allowing

[2:19:38] me to speak.

[2:19:39] >> Thank you.

[2:19:40] That was all the color on each

[2:19:41] one.

[2:19:41] All right.

[2:19:45] Thank you, City clerk As a

[2:19:46] reminder, this is an

[2:19:46] informational item and no

[2:19:47] motion is required But we'll

[2:19:50] turn it over to agency members

[2:19:51] for questions and comments And

[2:19:52] we'll start with Councilmember

[2:19:55] Ellenberger.

[2:19:56] Thank you, council PRESIDENT.

[2:19:56] Thank you, Lisa as always for

[2:19:59] for the update.

[2:20:00] Definitely appreciate that.

[2:20:04] The update the transparency on

[2:20:05] the difficult decisions that

[2:20:05] you and your leadership team

[2:20:08] have had to make to address

[2:20:13] the structural deficit that

[2:20:14] the Housing commission is

[2:20:14] facing.

[2:20:18] I do think it's important that

[2:20:19] we to bunk some myths that were

[2:20:22] stated here today and our

[2:20:27] commonly stated Is it true that

[2:20:28] undocumented immigrants are

[2:20:32] ineligible for Section eight

[2:20:32] housing vouchers?

[2:20:37] Most undocumented immigrants

[2:20:37] are ineligible for Section

[2:20:38] eight housing vouchers?

[2:20:41] >> That's correct.

[2:20:42] Well, they are They are

[2:20:43] ineligible And we can only we

[2:20:46] can only subsidize either

[2:20:47] citizens or eligible immigrants

[2:20:51] according to the federal

[2:20:51] definition.

[2:20:51] Correct.

[2:20:52] I just think that that's

[2:20:55] important to know.

[2:20:56] So that's that's the those are

[2:21:05] the facts And it is also true

[2:21:05] that we would be in a better

[2:21:10] position if there were local

[2:21:10] dedicated funds that

[2:21:11] the Housing commission could

[2:21:13] depend on a regular basis and

[2:21:14] would make us less vulnerable

[2:21:19] to the whims of the federal

[2:21:20] government.

[2:21:20] And nonetheless I you're

[2:21:24] addressing the problem as it's

[2:21:24] presented to you.

[2:21:25] You're trying to get ahead of

[2:21:25] other problems that you are

[2:21:28] anticipating coming to

[2:21:29] the housing Commission And

[2:21:29] that's all done in service of

[2:21:33] protecting the immediate and

[2:21:34] long term services that

[2:21:34] residents depend on.

[2:21:37] And so thank you for that.

[2:21:38] I do want to say how important

[2:21:42] I think it is for

[2:21:43] the Commission to continue to

[2:21:44] work with our frontline workers

[2:21:47] to make sure that they know

[2:21:48] that the solutions that they're

[2:21:52] being offered are given serious

[2:21:53] consideration and as well as

[2:21:54] that any concerns that they

[2:21:54] raise about the impacts of

[2:21:57] proposals that they receive

[2:22:01] that on the ground front line

[2:22:02] experience also brings with it

[2:22:06] expertise and a intimate

[2:22:07] understanding of what decisions

[2:22:11] will mean both for the services

[2:22:12] that are delivered and in

[2:22:12] the lives of of of the workers

[2:22:16] And that's super important

[2:22:17] needs to step right and center.

[2:22:18] So I know we've had that

[2:22:18] conversation before.

[2:22:21] I know you've made significant

[2:22:22] efforts to make sure that

[2:22:22] the line of communication is

[2:22:26] open with our frontline workers

[2:22:27] and I strongly encourage for

[2:22:32] that to that effort to be

[2:22:32] maintained.

[2:22:33] It's just again critically

[2:22:36] important both for the lives of

[2:22:36] our workers and for the our

[2:22:40] ability to deliver services to

[2:22:41] these folks know what impacts

[2:22:46] will be felt when changes are

[2:22:46] made.

[2:22:47] Thank you.

[2:22:47] Council PRESIDENT Please if

[2:22:48] you'd like to respond by all

[2:22:50] means.

[2:22:51] Thank you, Councilmember And I

[2:22:52] just I hear your comments and I

[2:22:54] also just want to acknowledge

[2:22:55] the staff and seiu that are

[2:22:59] here today And thank you, Erin

[2:22:59] for making the time.

[2:23:00] I I feel like we are working

[2:23:04] collaboratively and we MAY not

[2:23:05] be where we need to be yet and

[2:23:06] we can't say much because we're

[2:23:09] in negotiations but but I

[2:23:09] respect and appreciate how

[2:23:10] we're working together and and

[2:23:14] the desire of both you and many

[2:23:15] other staff in seiu to show up

[2:23:15] today.

[2:23:19] Thank you.

[2:23:19] >> All right.

[2:23:20] Thank you.

[2:23:20] Council member Ella Rivera.

[2:23:21] We'll go next to Councilmember

[2:23:21] Weprin.

[2:23:24] Thank you, council PRESIDENT.

[2:23:24] Thank you, MS..

[2:23:25] Jones for this update.

[2:23:28] Appreciate the latest on

[2:23:29] the Housing Commission's

[2:23:29] financial challenges and

[2:23:33] the steps that you've been

[2:23:33] taking to address them.

[2:23:37] You have shared with me how

[2:23:38] difficult this has been and I

[2:23:42] appreciate the seiu members who

[2:23:43] work at the Housing Commission

[2:23:46] who joined us to share how

[2:23:47] these challenges are impacting

[2:23:52] you and your colleagues.

[2:23:52] I'm glad to hear that there is

[2:23:53] collaboration, that there is

[2:23:57] dialog here and try to figure

[2:24:00] out a fair agreement for f y 27

[2:24:01] And while doe represented

[2:24:05] employees lost their jobs last

[2:24:06] But I appreciate you making

[2:24:06] the point that the loss of

[2:24:10] frontline workers represented

[2:24:11] or not impacts other workers

[2:24:14] who are represented.

[2:24:15] And lastly I just want to thank

[2:24:16] you for the work that you do as

[2:24:19] the representative for District

[2:24:19] three.

[2:24:20] A lot of the people who you

[2:24:24] help are here in my district

[2:24:24] housed or unhoused.

[2:24:25] It is hard work but know that

[2:24:30] it is very much appreciated So

[2:24:30] thank you.

[2:24:31] Thank you Council PRESIDENT

[2:24:31] Thank you Council member

[2:24:34] Whitburn We'll go next to

[2:24:34] Council member Campbell Thank

[2:24:35] you.

[2:24:38] >> Council PRESIDENT Lisa thank

[2:24:43] you for your report.

[2:24:44] These are tough times amount of

[2:24:48] ever question about the amount

[2:24:49] of people who will be made

[2:24:49] homeless if the federal

[2:24:52] government continues to not

[2:24:53] send us what we're supposed to

[2:24:57] have.

[2:24:58] >> And so based on our current

[2:25:02] estimates we are supporting

[2:25:03] about 1700 more families on our

[2:25:03] program today than we are

[2:25:07] actually receiving funding for.

[2:25:08] That's based on our funding

[2:25:12] estimates right now from

[2:25:12] the emergency housing voucher

[2:25:13] standpoint, Those vouchers we

[2:25:16] have about 390 families in that

[2:25:17] program Still that funding also

[2:25:21] is anticipated to end around

[2:25:21] OCTOBER.

[2:25:24] So that's separate from

[2:25:25] the 1700 households that we're

[2:25:26] supporting today that we're not

[2:25:28] getting sufficient funding for

[2:25:34] so that families are.

[2:25:35] Yes, I'm trying to add this

[2:25:40] real quick that 2090 almost

[2:25:41] 2100 households how many people

[2:25:42] would that generally be on

[2:25:46] average our household size is

[2:25:46] around three just under three

[2:25:47] person per household.

[2:25:51] So you can almost triple that

[2:25:55] as a as a broad estimate.

[2:25:58] So about 66,000 6000 people

[2:26:03] your 6270 people or thereabouts

[2:26:04] And actually homelessness has

[2:26:08] been decreasing in the city in

[2:26:09] the past year maybe even year

[2:26:13] and a half and a great deal of

[2:26:14] the housing of those who are

[2:26:18] who are unable to afford

[2:26:19] housing otherwise has been due

[2:26:23] to the Housing Commission who

[2:26:28] amazingly have housed so many

[2:26:29] people with so little money

[2:26:32] that they have to work with and

[2:26:33] so I just want to tell you how

[2:26:34] much I appreciate you and your

[2:26:37] staff and your front line

[2:26:38] workers being willing to

[2:26:42] squeeze those pennies and do as

[2:26:43] much as you can to help our our

[2:26:47] fellow citizens to be housed.

[2:26:48] And I hope that in the future

[2:26:51] we're able to continue to help

[2:26:52] people who need our help.

[2:26:53] A lot of these are working

[2:26:56] people who are still able to

[2:26:57] work but not able to make a

[2:27:01] large amount of money And then

[2:27:02] a lot of these people are

[2:27:02] disabled and absolutely cannot

[2:27:03] work.

[2:27:06] So they have to be have to have

[2:27:07] some help and that's okay.

[2:27:11] That's what we're that's what

[2:27:11] we're made for.

[2:27:12] That's why we're here is to

[2:27:16] help each other So I thank you

[2:27:16] very much for everything that

[2:27:20] you do And I pray every day

[2:27:24] that the federal government

[2:27:25] will change its mind and try to

[2:27:29] help people who need help.

[2:27:34] And I, I, I really I, I feel

[2:27:35] like I should share.

[2:27:35] I remember the first time we

[2:27:38] talked about what was coming I

[2:27:39] actually it was actually on

[2:27:44] Zoom we had a zoom meeting and

[2:27:45] when it was over I turned off

[2:27:48] the computer, cried.

[2:27:49] It's just heartless and I feel

[2:27:57] so bad for the people So you

[2:27:57] know we're going to stand up

[2:27:58] and do the best we can help

[2:28:02] help out and again, that's why

[2:28:03] I say that's why GOD made us So

[2:28:04] we'll do our best.

[2:28:10] Thank you so much.

[2:28:11] Thank you.

[2:28:11] Council member Campbell not

[2:28:12] seeing anybody else in

[2:28:15] the lights So just kind of wrap

[2:28:15] up.

[2:28:16] Thank you, Lisa for you your

[2:28:19] entire team I know how personal

[2:28:20] you take this and how committed

[2:28:24] you are to the mission of

[2:28:24] the Housing commission And

[2:28:25] those were very difficult

[2:28:29] decisions going forward and to

[2:28:30] the good folks from the seiu

[2:28:34] that do the work every day And

[2:28:38] despite incredible odds against

[2:28:39] the work that you do, you show

[2:28:43] up to work every day and

[2:28:43] continue your efforts to try to

[2:28:48] bring some relief and some hope

[2:28:49] to folks that are on either

[2:28:52] just hopeless or on the verge

[2:28:53] of hopelessness And you remain

[2:28:57] undaunted though I just can't

[2:28:57] even begin to imagine what

[2:29:02] the daily work life is like for

[2:29:02] you and what you do.

[2:29:07] You know nobody is celebrating

[2:29:07] .

[2:29:07] You MAY might recognize

[2:29:11] the tiny victories that

[2:29:12] motivate everyone but there is

[2:29:16] so much work to do and it's so

[2:29:17] challenging And yet year after

[2:29:18] year neither the city nor

[2:29:21] the state nor the federal

[2:29:22] government has ever committed

[2:29:25] to sustained funding to do this

[2:29:26] work And even the funding that

[2:29:30] has been provided is not nearly

[2:29:31] enough to meet the challenge in

[2:29:35] front of you all on the front

[2:29:35] lines the executive team at

[2:29:39] the Housing Commission And

[2:29:40] actually you know my hope is

[2:29:45] not even is so low right now in

[2:29:45] terms with the federal

[2:29:49] government that they don't

[2:29:49] actually move forward with some

[2:29:50] of the changes that they have

[2:29:51] been talking about because I

[2:29:54] just can't even imagine what

[2:29:55] that would do and undermine

[2:29:58] that good work.

[2:29:59] Thank you for the cobbling

[2:30:00] together you're able to do to

[2:30:03] provide truly affordable

[2:30:03] housing affordable to

[2:30:04] the individuals who now have a

[2:30:08] place to live and close

[2:30:09] the door behind them every

[2:30:09] night.

[2:30:10] It's not nearly enough but

[2:30:13] we're grateful for the ones

[2:30:13] that are produced.

[2:30:14] We appreciate the efforts Your

[2:30:17] work to provide new land for

[2:30:22] that to happen going forward

[2:30:22] and all the other vocational

[2:30:26] grants that we get at the state

[2:30:27] level that make new projects

[2:30:27] like that possible.

[2:30:31] So I wish you all the best and

[2:30:36] keep fighting the good fight

[2:30:37] and let us know how we can be

[2:30:38] an asset which I know we can't

[2:30:41] be much of one But nevertheless

[2:30:41] thank you for taking the time

[2:30:42] to come out and telling your

[2:30:42] story.

[2:30:45] Thank you Lisa for your

[2:30:46] willingness to come out and do

[2:30:50] your monthly update here.

[2:30:51] So with that again this was an

[2:30:51] information item and no motions

[2:30:54] required.

[2:30:55] We will now adjourn the special

[2:30:55] meeting of the housing

[2:30:59] authority and reconvene as

[2:31:00] the city council and we will

[2:31:04] now take up non agenda public

[2:31:05] comment.

[2:31:06] The council members respect and

[2:31:06] appreciate the public Some

[2:31:10] point and are fully committed

[2:31:10] to protecting every

[2:31:11] participant's free speech

[2:31:14] rights at Council and committee

[2:31:14] meetings And with that clerk

[2:31:15] please proceed with public

[2:31:18] comment.

[2:31:19] >> Thank you.

[2:31:19] Taking on general public

[2:31:20] comment from those that have

[2:31:23] not participated recently

[2:31:24] starting with Javier Santi So

[2:31:25] if you can please come forward

[2:31:28] you will have two minutes After

[2:31:32] that we have Stephen Prescott,

[2:31:33] Anthony Ralphs allegedly order

[2:31:37] and Jacob Edwards Then we'll be

[2:31:38] moving on to those

[2:31:38] participating remotely And

[2:31:42] please proceed.

[2:31:43] When I start this PRESIDENT

[2:31:43] LaCava Council members thank

[2:31:46] you all for the service that

[2:31:47] you guys provide for our

[2:31:48] neighbors our constituents.

[2:31:51] My name is Carrier Sandy so I'm

[2:31:52] a representative with

[2:31:52] the Western States Regional

[2:31:56] Council of Carpenters.

[2:31:57] It's good to be home.

[2:31:58] I've been on an Odyssey for

[2:32:00] the past three years and today

[2:32:04] I bring a two hour community

[2:32:04] The awareness of tax fraud in

[2:32:08] the negative impact that it

[2:32:09] brings to our communities.

[2:32:10] Tax fraud is not a victimless

[2:32:13] crime and although it is good

[2:32:18] to be home I don't expect for

[2:32:19] things to be like this in my

[2:32:19] hometown.

[2:32:23] But nonetheless things happen

[2:32:24] and I refuse to believe that

[2:32:24] San Diego is missing leaders

[2:32:28] because I know the majority of

[2:32:29] you on this board has done

[2:32:33] everything in their power to do

[2:32:34] their constituents right.

[2:32:34] And so thank you for that.

[2:32:37] But when we talk about funding,

[2:32:42] let's not forget that in

[2:32:43] the construction industry there

[2:32:45] is ten billions $10 billion

[2:32:46] that goes unaccounted for,

[2:32:47] unaccounted for and those are

[2:32:50] dollars that pertain to our

[2:32:51] communities.

[2:32:51] Our children's schools are

[2:32:56] homeless programs, Our first

[2:32:56] responders, our officers that

[2:32:57] were here this morning, our

[2:32:57] fire departments.

[2:33:01] There is a lot more that we

[2:33:05] could do And to be honest and

[2:33:06] just blunt you guys know that

[2:33:10] the carpenters union Local 619

[2:33:11] has always stayed vigilant.

[2:33:14] We live by our seal.

[2:33:15] We are the police in our

[2:33:16] industry and our construction

[2:33:19] sites and we are ready to put

[2:33:20] boot to rear end for these

[2:33:24] criminal contractors because it

[2:33:25] is unfair that the men and

[2:33:29] women that build our skylines

[2:33:29] have to endure tax fraud that

[2:33:33] our communities suffer because

[2:33:34] there is criminal contractors

[2:33:35] that feel that they're able to

[2:33:38] operate, that they're able to

[2:33:39] operate lawlessly.

[2:33:39] >> And so there is things that

[2:33:43] we could do collaboratively.

[2:33:44] >> And with that I, I just want

[2:33:45] to say thank you for that

[2:33:45] concluding comment.

[2:33:50] Stephen Prescott Thank you very

[2:33:51] much.

[2:33:55] Stephen Prescott City Resident.

[2:33:56] I really appreciate all

[2:33:57] the service and the good work

[2:34:00] you do and really appreciate

[2:34:01] everybody here and

[2:34:01] the comments.

[2:34:02] This is what makes democracy

[2:34:02] great.

[2:34:05] A lot of pain, a lot of pain

[2:34:06] between city governments, state

[2:34:07] governments, federal

[2:34:10] governments Everybody's out of

[2:34:10] money.

[2:34:10] Just wanted to offer some

[2:34:11] ideas.

[2:34:14] Being an entrepreneur in

[2:34:15] the city and a and a person a

[2:34:19] San Diego State graduate with

[2:34:20] any kind of degree.

[2:34:20] We have America's finest city

[2:34:24] here.

[2:34:25] That's what we talk about.

[2:34:25] And when you travel around

[2:34:29] the country everybody agrees

[2:34:30] You go to Oklahoma, you go to

[2:34:30] the Midwest, everybody agrees

[2:34:33] we still have even though

[2:34:34] the city is making great

[2:34:35] strides in downtown San Diego,

[2:34:35] we still have a lot of problems

[2:34:38] in downtown.

[2:34:39] It's still considered gritty

[2:34:43] for various reasons and one of

[2:34:44] the things if we can become

[2:34:48] America's cleanest city and

[2:34:49] advertise that and we can do

[2:34:50] that through other programs

[2:34:52] that might be more citizen led

[2:34:53] like private contracts that are

[2:34:53] benchmarked by third party

[2:34:58] organizations to make us

[2:34:58] America's cleanest city And we

[2:35:02] start advertising that all of a

[2:35:03] sudden we're going to get

[2:35:03] people coming back to downtown.

[2:35:04] All of a sudden we're going to

[2:35:06] get more tourists in downtown

[2:35:07] staying at the hotels, paying

[2:35:11] more hotel taxes to fill

[2:35:12] the city's budget gaps.

[2:35:13] The other thing we do have

[2:35:17] assets in this city Council

[2:35:17] PRESIDENT Joe LaCava said.

[2:35:18] We like to be an asset.

[2:35:21] We do have assets in the city.

[2:35:22] We have wonderful assets.

[2:35:23] One of those is Marina Village.

[2:35:26] It was not put on the city's

[2:35:27] auction block or lease

[2:35:31] the lease rfp process.

[2:35:31] Marina Village is a wonderful

[2:35:32] asset.

[2:35:32] The city doesn't have to spend

[2:35:36] any money on that.

[2:35:37] Private developers can come

[2:35:37] take that over, pay the city

[2:35:40] money to redevelop that asset,

[2:35:41] that asset.

[2:35:45] And then also we have a parking

[2:35:46] situation's Parking has been

[2:35:46] tried and true or tried and

[2:35:49] tested over Above all Balboa

[2:35:50] Park with mixed results.

[2:35:54] However, other municipalities

[2:35:55] have implemented parking.

[2:35:55] >> Thank you for that

[2:35:56] concluding comment.

[2:35:59] Anthony Ross.

[2:36:04] >> Good morning Council.

[2:36:05] How are you doing today?

[2:36:05] I just wanted to share some

[2:36:09] things from Plato's Republic.

[2:36:10] It's the dialog that Socrates

[2:36:10] is having with on.

[2:36:13] And the reason why I wanted to

[2:36:14] share it is because we're

[2:36:15] backtracking a little bit.

[2:36:18] It was a class that I took last

[2:36:18] semester.

[2:36:19] I'm a student and it was a

[2:36:20] philosophy of justice class And

[2:36:20] yesterday when we had

[2:36:23] the meeting about the or

[2:36:24] the with the presentation that

[2:36:27] was given by d there was so

[2:36:28] much in policing and

[2:36:32] the attitude in policing goes

[2:36:33] to apprehending criminals and

[2:36:33] goes to the physical aspect and

[2:36:37] there is not enough regard to

[2:36:37] the components that are

[2:36:42] intellectual that are have to

[2:36:43] deal with knowledge and they

[2:36:43] have to deal with sociology

[2:36:46] that have to do with psychology

[2:36:47] .

[2:36:47] I Googled yesterday what

[2:36:48] the requirements are to join

[2:36:50] the study and I learned that

[2:36:51] one is not required to have

[2:36:52] more than a high school diploma

[2:36:55] or a ged.

[2:36:56] I did see that there are

[2:37:00] positions that are offered in

[2:37:00] leadership if one has a degree

[2:37:01] in sociology and psychology And

[2:37:02] I do think that that's

[2:37:05] something that we really need

[2:37:05] to emphasize with our police

[2:37:06] force is a more comprehensive

[2:37:06] training.

[2:37:10] I'm concerned that a lot of

[2:37:10] the training that is given to

[2:37:11] the police force goes towards

[2:37:14] funding for swat vehicles, more

[2:37:15] armament, more weapons And

[2:37:16] that's not what is necessarily

[2:37:19] needed when we go into

[2:37:20] communities that are struggling

[2:37:20] just to put food on the table,

[2:37:24] They don't need like like I

[2:37:25] think it was Maxine Walters who

[2:37:26] said in public comment

[2:37:28] yesterday she said we need more

[2:37:29] women on the force.

[2:37:30] We need more people of color on

[2:37:33] the force because that enables

[2:37:34] people in these communities of

[2:37:38] color people in these

[2:37:39] underrepresented communities to

[2:37:39] feel like they have a

[2:37:40] connection to the people that

[2:37:43] are coming into their

[2:37:44] communities for whatever reason

[2:37:44] or for whatever purpose.

[2:37:48] And I don't know I only have 15

[2:37:49] seconds left so I guess I'll

[2:37:49] have to save the reading for

[2:37:52] another time But to be

[2:37:53] continued I guess And thank you

[2:37:53] for your time.

[2:37:54] >> Thank you.

[2:37:56] Allegedly Andre After that will

[2:38:06] be Jacob Edwards.

[2:38:07] >> The devil is always in

[2:38:12] the details Socialist Shaun I'm

[2:38:12] not talking about just heard

[2:38:13] you wanted to, you know, brush

[2:38:17] things under the rug.

[2:38:18] But let's be real here most

[2:38:21] right I mean all Yeah exactly.

[2:38:21] It is interesting speaking

[2:38:22] about the devil and say

[2:38:26] the synagogue of Satan that has

[2:38:26] occupied our nation.

[2:38:27] I'm wondering if it's anti

[2:38:31] Semitic to say that Israel has

[2:38:31] occupied our nation.

[2:38:35] Is it anti Semitic to say that

[2:38:36] pedophilia is a problem when we

[2:38:37] have people like Scott Wiener

[2:38:40] who rapes children?

[2:38:40] Is that anti Semitism?

[2:38:44] I'm wondering if saying that

[2:38:45] Jewish Family Services

[2:38:46] trafficked children, men and

[2:38:49] women across our border and

[2:38:50] lost a bunch of children.

[2:38:50] Right.

[2:38:54] Is that I'm wondering if you

[2:38:55] know talking about Israel being

[2:38:58] created by the Rothschilds in

[2:38:58] 1948 and it being the synagogue

[2:39:02] of Satan I'm wondering if that

[2:39:07] is is it anti Semitic to talk

[2:39:08] about the Talmud and how it

[2:39:09] talks about having sex with

[2:39:12] children um or that rabbis like

[2:39:17] to copulate young boys who have

[2:39:17] been circumcised Is that anti

[2:39:18] Semitic?

[2:39:21] I'm wondering when we're going

[2:39:22] to actually address the thing

[2:39:26] because this is not a general

[2:39:27] public comment Anti Semitism is

[2:39:31] on the afternoons I know but

[2:39:32] you're talking about

[2:39:32] anti-Semitism involved.

[2:39:36] Okay, that's fine But you can

[2:39:37] speak this afternoon during

[2:39:40] that item.

[2:39:40] Okay.

[2:39:41] Talk about non agenda things

[2:39:45] that are not on today's agenda

[2:39:46] You're talking about anti

[2:39:46] Semitism.

[2:39:47] You said it several times.

[2:39:47] Okay.

[2:39:52] Finish your comments.

[2:39:57] Okay.

[2:39:58] So I'm just it's interesting

[2:39:58] that people will care about

[2:40:02] certain things like that But we

[2:40:07] allow children to be abused

[2:40:08] like this and everybody wants

[2:40:12] to brush it under the rug.

[2:40:13] San Diego has a huge problem

[2:40:17] with pedophilia And why is it

[2:40:17] that you want to silence me on

[2:40:18] that?

[2:40:21] >> That's very interesting

[2:40:22] because you want to pretend

[2:40:23] that it's like because we have

[2:40:26] another item about that now you

[2:40:26] just don't want to hear

[2:40:27] the truth about what's being

[2:40:28] done to children that you guys

[2:40:33] all support.

[2:40:34] What happened to the children

[2:40:35] that were at the convention

[2:40:38] center?

[2:40:38] >> Okay.

[2:40:39] You guys know they were

[2:40:39] trafficked.

[2:40:40] Even people that were working

[2:40:43] there know that It is very

[2:40:44] disturbing to see the way you

[2:40:44] guys do things.

[2:40:45] >> Your devil's in the details

[2:40:45] .

[2:40:51] >> Jacob Edwards I got to say

[2:40:56] with that last speaker Wow.

[2:40:57] Let me start by saying thank

[2:41:01] you for the kind of work you do

[2:41:02] for the city of San Diego and

[2:41:06] serve.

[2:41:06] Thank you, COUNCILMAN, for your

[2:41:10] recognition of the divisiveness

[2:41:15] federal activity is causing And

[2:41:16] I have shared with city council

[2:41:20] events on the East Coast that

[2:41:21] led to some things that have

[2:41:25] seriously affected our country

[2:41:25] .

[2:41:26] I've shared with you a little

[2:41:30] bit what I've gone through with

[2:41:31] my family.

[2:41:32] I've shared with you and

[2:41:35] attempted assassination against

[2:41:35] me.

[2:41:36] I don't stand in front of you

[2:41:40] share and you do things to to

[2:41:41] come down on you to come down

[2:41:45] the city of San Diego.

[2:41:46] I share them with you to bring

[2:41:49] them to your attention through

[2:41:50] being victimized, terrorized

[2:41:54] and some sense thoughts.

[2:41:59] I'm fully aware of what our

[2:42:00] federal government and agencies

[2:42:04] are up to and it's for who's in

[2:42:04] the driver's seat.

[2:42:08] I know how they are

[2:42:08] The fiercely using grant money

[2:42:09] with conditions behind

[2:42:13] the grant money Very

[2:42:13] concerning.

[2:42:14] You know how they're running

[2:42:18] Grant money through mayors

[2:42:19] offices and ways of hijacking

[2:42:22] cities.

[2:42:23] I know how they're using

[2:42:24] homeless people with promises

[2:42:28] of housing jobs to be put up to

[2:42:29] do concerning things.

[2:42:33] I know how they're using early

[2:42:34] release inmates with conditions

[2:42:37] at their early release.

[2:42:38] Very concerning.

[2:42:42] So I know an awful lot when I

[2:42:42] discussed what I went through

[2:42:47] at the front door City Hall to

[2:42:52] stay safe was very real the way

[2:42:52] it was handled by the police

[2:42:58] department I consider that

[2:42:59] country and with the.

[2:42:59] >> Thank you for that

[2:43:00] concluding comment That does

[2:43:01] conclude your time with that

[2:43:02] does conclude your time.

[2:43:05] We have five minutes on

[2:43:06] the timer for those

[2:43:06] participating remotely.

[2:43:09] We currently have six sorry

[2:43:09] eight speakers in the queue.

[2:43:10] Kathleen Lippert, if you can

[2:43:13] please raise your hand after

[2:43:16] that is Robin.

[2:43:21] Thank you.

[2:43:22] >> City Council County

[2:43:22] commented on tourists Tourists

[2:43:26] come from all over the world to

[2:43:27] the city of San Diego and they

[2:43:28] are critical source of city

[2:43:31] revenues.

[2:43:32] But a drive from Mission Valley

[2:43:32] to the airport or the seat of

[2:43:36] our own city government along

[2:43:36] main streets of downtown is a

[2:43:40] should be a source of shame.

[2:43:41] The homeless sleeping and

[2:43:45] wandering aimlessly in need of

[2:43:46] mental health services

[2:43:46] billboards that telegraph

[2:43:47] the city's tolerance and

[2:43:50] acceptance of marijuana

[2:43:51] promotions, roadsides and empty

[2:43:55] lots littered with trash

[2:43:56] buildings adjoining them

[2:44:00] becoming canvases from graffiti

[2:44:00] and gang slogans.

[2:44:01] These are red flags that

[2:44:02] the city's policies are

[2:44:05] worsening not not ameliorating

[2:44:06] the problems that plague our

[2:44:10] city.

[2:44:10] >> It's a waste of human

[2:44:15] potential to see these people

[2:44:15] that otherwise might be doing

[2:44:16] well And it shows a lack of

[2:44:20] concern and commitment to a

[2:44:21] city standard that should be

[2:44:21] recognized.

[2:44:24] Clean streets are essential for

[2:44:25] public health, environmental

[2:44:26] protection and community pride.

[2:44:29] They prevent clog storm drains,

[2:44:30] reduce maintenance costs and

[2:44:34] otherwise unnecessarily flooded

[2:44:39] flooded related repairs And it

[2:44:40] shows a lack of gratitude and

[2:44:41] appreciation for once Well once

[2:44:44] a beautiful city with a

[2:44:44] standard that reflected a

[2:44:45] commitment to the health and

[2:44:49] well-being of its residents and

[2:44:49] the land that it occupies it

[2:44:53] hardly makes sense for the city

[2:44:54] to blame the federal government

[2:44:55] for failing to provide

[2:44:58] the funds necessary to address

[2:44:59] the increasing number of

[2:44:59] homeless in need of mental

[2:45:03] health services and drug

[2:45:03] treatment.

[2:45:04] When the city flaunted that

[2:45:08] standard that recognized

[2:45:09] the potential of public harm

[2:45:12] that would come from embracing

[2:45:13] a four profit predatory third

[2:45:17] drug industry after tobacco and

[2:45:18] alcohol you need to recognize

[2:45:22] your own and what contributions

[2:45:23] Thank you for that kind friends

[2:45:27] your time.

[2:45:28] Robin if you can please join me

[2:45:31] after Robin is Ernie Casca

[2:45:32] Hello I'm Robin Davidoff Sierra

[2:45:37] Club's Seal Society chair.

[2:45:38] There are 51 days from

[2:45:38] the start of the 2026 sea lion

[2:45:42] puppy season at Point La Hoya

[2:45:43] and La Hoya Cove.

[2:45:43] Our mission is zero Sea lion

[2:45:47] pup Deaths caused by unsafe

[2:45:47] human wildlife encounters at

[2:45:50] the Cove La Hoya Cove was just

[2:45:51] ranked number one beach in

[2:45:52] the United States by

[2:45:55] TripAdvisor with over 50% of

[2:45:55] the votes mentioning the sea

[2:45:56] lions This creates I love it to

[2:45:59] death scenario Increased

[2:46:00] tourism is bringing

[2:46:00] unprecedented management

[2:46:04] challenges to keep people and

[2:46:05] wildlife apart.

[2:46:05] We've presented our concerns to

[2:46:09] the California Coastal

[2:46:09] Commission every month over

[2:46:10] the past year and their members

[2:46:11] have been overwhelmingly

[2:46:14] supportive of our proposed

[2:46:14] solutions.

[2:46:15] Commissioner o'Malley

[2:46:15] emphasized that city Rangers

[2:46:19] must be present at the cove on

[2:46:19] the beach.

[2:46:20] And Commissioner Jackson called

[2:46:23] the use of signs, cones and

[2:46:24] tape to separate people from

[2:46:28] wildlife common sense while

[2:46:28] Rangers presence at the Cove

[2:46:29] has increased and they're

[2:46:30] making announcements, it's not

[2:46:32] quite enough to handle

[2:46:33] the upcoming summer crowds to

[2:46:33] protect both the public and

[2:46:34] the wildlife.

[2:46:38] We are asking the City Council

[2:46:38] to authorize the following

[2:46:39] Commissioner approved actions

[2:46:43] through the modification at

[2:46:43] the long term management plan

[2:46:44] Assign rangers to manage crowds

[2:46:47] on the beach with a-frame signs

[2:46:48] on the beach to serve as a

[2:46:49] viewing guideline to stay

[2:46:52] behind place cones and tape to

[2:46:53] create temporary buffers around

[2:46:54] sea lion pups and injured

[2:46:54] animals.

[2:46:57] And this is done in L.A. County

[2:46:58] and Del Mar and other places

[2:46:59] along the coast temporarily

[2:47:02] closed the gate on the western

[2:47:02] stairs when sea lions are

[2:47:03] resting on them.

[2:47:04] And public access would remain

[2:47:07] open on the eastern stairs and

[2:47:07] install signage with pictures

[2:47:10] with a 20 foot distance from

[2:47:10] the sea lions.

[2:47:14] We have 51 days to ensure that

[2:47:14] the 2026 season is a success

[2:47:19] for San Diego and its wildlife

[2:47:19] .

[2:47:20] >> Thank you.

[2:47:20] Thank you.

[2:47:21] Next is Ernie Casco.

[2:47:22] If you can please unmute After

[2:47:27] that is back you wrap.

[2:47:28] Thank you.

[2:47:29] Ernie Casco, Illinois resident

[2:47:32] senior pilot at Torrey Pines

[2:47:33] Glider Part I reported serious

[2:47:34] allegations going on at

[2:47:37] the glider port to sd pd

[2:47:38] the real estate assets

[2:47:41] department and directly to your

[2:47:42] office Joe LaCava Where are

[2:47:43] the police reports?

[2:47:46] Council Member Foster There are

[2:47:47] laws to protect public rights

[2:47:47] that stop this injustice

[2:47:51] immediately.

[2:47:52] I am completely under threat of

[2:47:52] violence.

[2:47:53] How dangerous is your

[2:47:56] leaseholder This is a workplace

[2:47:56] violence wrongful termination,

[2:48:00] workman's comp case negligent

[2:48:01] homicide, attempted murder case

[2:48:02] and assault over the death of a

[2:48:06] pilot for speaking out in

[2:48:06] retaliation Your leaseholders

[2:48:07] switched my ring that collapsed

[2:48:07] in mid-flight.

[2:48:11] That is attempted murder.

[2:48:11] I crashed on a rooftop.

[2:48:12] My home is invaded twice my

[2:48:15] life threatening the park

[2:48:16] parking lot gangster style and

[2:48:20] under the influence employees

[2:48:21] screwed up my launch totally my

[2:48:22] glider breaking my pelvis.

[2:48:25] I was threatening by an

[2:48:26] employee mass sales and

[2:48:30] poisoned with a deadly

[2:48:31] biohazard combo.

[2:48:31] Now I'm dying with stage four

[2:48:35] Cancer disabled for life and

[2:48:36] you are liable for it.

[2:48:37] This is an ongoing hate crime

[2:48:40] that needs to stop.

[2:48:41] No citizen should have their

[2:48:41] life threatened or die over

[2:48:45] the commercialization of a

[2:48:46] park.

[2:48:46] It's time to stop the crime

[2:48:47] With the permanent

[2:48:50] reinstatement of Torrey Pines

[2:48:51] Glider port advisory board and

[2:48:51] an immediate halt and

[2:48:55] implementation of the San Diego

[2:48:56] recreational waiver.

[2:48:56] It's time to do your job

[2:49:00] Address the victims and

[2:49:00] witnesses who have been damaged

[2:49:04] by a negligent glider port

[2:49:04] operation.

[2:49:05] It's a win for city council

[2:49:06] liabilities restores our

[2:49:10] recreation rights and freedoms

[2:49:11] for years to come and it shows

[2:49:15] badly needed responsible city

[2:49:16] park management management.

[2:49:19] Joe LaCava Which you don't have

[2:49:20] time to step up to the plate

[2:49:21] and do your job.

[2:49:25] Stop the crime at Torrey Pines

[2:49:25] Glider port Thank you.

[2:49:30] Next is Becky Wrap.

[2:49:30] >> The five minute timer has

[2:49:31] also concluded there are six

[2:49:32] people in the queue.

[2:49:35] No additional speakers will be

[2:49:36] taken by grab Please continue

[2:49:38] after that is 81 three.

[2:49:39] >> Great.

[2:49:40] Good evening My name are Good

[2:49:40] afternoon.

[2:49:43] My name is Becky Roth and I'm

[2:49:44] here out of concern regarding

[2:49:47] intoxicating hemp products and

[2:49:47] flavored vapes that continue to

[2:49:51] be sold in our city recently

[2:49:52] Assembly Bill eight went into

[2:49:53] effect a law that closes a

[2:49:56] dangerous loophole preventing

[2:49:57] intoxicating hemp derived

[2:50:01] products such as Delta eight

[2:50:01] and other synthetic thc

[2:50:05] products from being sold in our

[2:50:06] city.

[2:50:06] These products are untested,

[2:50:10] mislabeled and easily

[2:50:11] accessible to youth and smoke

[2:50:15] shops, convenience stores and

[2:50:15] and vape retailers.

[2:50:20] Despite the law we continue to

[2:50:20] see these products on shelves

[2:50:25] since enforcement is seriously

[2:50:25] lacking.

[2:50:26] Last week in Oceanside

[2:50:30] authorities seized over 100

[2:50:30] pounds of these illegal

[2:50:31] products.

[2:50:35] This multi-agency effort

[2:50:35] involved the Drug Enforcement

[2:50:39] Administration and it

[2:50:40] highlights the scale of

[2:50:41] the problem and the level of

[2:50:44] enforcement that's required to

[2:50:45] address it.

[2:50:45] >> These same types of products

[2:50:49] are being sold right here in

[2:50:50] San Diego and many retailers

[2:50:50] continue to ignore the law

[2:50:54] passing 88 was an important

[2:50:55] step but without enforcement

[2:50:58] it's just words on paper.

[2:50:59] I urge this council to act by

[2:51:00] confiscating illegal products,

[2:51:04] issuing fines and collecting on

[2:51:05] those fines for repeat

[2:51:09] offenders.

[2:51:09] License suspension or

[2:51:10] revocation would also send a

[2:51:13] strong message that San Diego

[2:51:14] will not tolerate illegal

[2:51:14] sales.

[2:51:17] This is a public health a

[2:51:18] public safety issue and it

[2:51:19] requires immediate attention.

[2:51:23] Please prioritize enforcement

[2:51:23] and uphold the law.

[2:51:24] >> Thank you.

[2:51:27] Thank you.

[2:51:29] >> Next is a13 after that is

[2:51:33] 8700.

[2:51:37] Okay then follow here.

[2:51:38] So I just want to say how

[2:51:41] forward you on the dais have

[2:51:42] the people Campbell the ones

[2:51:46] barely paying attention,

[2:51:47] the union slaves that lick

[2:51:48] the boots of government they've

[2:51:52] been so programed they can't

[2:51:52] think outside the box.

[2:51:53] They don't even know there's a

[2:51:56] freaking box People have become

[2:51:57] so addicted to trauma, so

[2:51:58] desensitized to suffering of

[2:52:01] others They that they scroll

[2:52:02] past it, walk past it and

[2:52:06] normalize it.

[2:52:07] Their minds have been hijacked.

[2:52:08] It truly is an Orwellian

[2:52:11] dystopian nightmare And as I've

[2:52:12] mentioned before this local

[2:52:13] government does not work for

[2:52:15] the people.

[2:52:16] It does not truly care about

[2:52:17] resolving issues because that's

[2:52:20] not the job.

[2:52:21] It's not lucrative.

[2:52:21] There's no profit in solving

[2:52:22] problems.

[2:52:25] There is no expansion of

[2:52:26] control and empowered

[2:52:26] self-sufficient people.

[2:52:30] So instead what do we see a

[2:52:31] system designed to keep people

[2:52:32] believing in it, believing in

[2:52:35] the illusion that they cannot

[2:52:36] manage themselves, they need

[2:52:36] permission.

[2:52:37] They need oversight.

[2:52:40] They need government to survive

[2:52:41] And over time that conditioning

[2:52:45] has worked to the point where

[2:52:45] human beings have actually

[2:52:46] forgotten how to feed

[2:52:50] themselves, how to plant, grow

[2:52:50] and harvest real food,

[2:52:55] completely disconnect that from

[2:52:55] their own ability to live, to

[2:52:56] sustain, to thrive entirely

[2:52:59] dependent And that dependance

[2:53:00] is not on accident.

[2:53:00] It's not by accident.

[2:53:04] It's by design.

[2:53:05] So yes, I look forward to

[2:53:06] the day people wake up wake up

[2:53:09] to the fraud, the waste and

[2:53:09] the absolute abuse coming from

[2:53:13] this local government because

[2:53:14] it's a matter of time.

[2:53:15] You're you are anything but

[2:53:18] transparent, anything but

[2:53:19] equitable, anything but

[2:53:19] trustworthy.

[2:53:20] And until people start

[2:53:23] questioning that deeply, this

[2:53:24] cycle will continue.

[2:53:28] But that awakening is coming

[2:53:29] And when it does everything

[2:53:29] changes.

[2:53:32] And to MR. Ernie another

[2:53:33] trillion dollar lucrative

[2:53:38] business is cancer.

[2:53:39] So there are so many things

[2:53:41] that you can tell your brother

[2:53:42] included 8700 if you can please

[2:53:47] unmute after that is zoom user

[2:53:53] 8700 star six turn me There you

[2:53:58] go Yeah City Clerk I apologize

[2:53:59] And it's a little sticky with

[2:54:03] my phone right now I'm sorry

[2:54:07] Joy to see the three again.

[2:54:08] I threw out my comments.

[2:54:15] Councilmember Foster the third

[2:54:16] year at the top of my list

[2:54:25] because you belong there You

[2:54:30] said once again I come from a

[2:54:36] place of love And you're also

[2:54:40] the chair of a budget and

[2:54:44] government efficiency committee

[2:54:45] .

[2:54:45] Thank you for that.

[2:54:46] We're going to need you this

[2:54:50] cycle And so I'm going to try

[2:54:55] my best to overlay I come from

[2:55:00] a place of love each time I

[2:55:04] speak and each time I find

[2:55:15] myself judging others I do so

[2:55:16] I'll just say this tomorrow If

[2:55:21] you were rules and I was going

[2:55:22] to continue my second half my

[2:55:22] comments today on the pension

[2:55:26] item from the article I'll

[2:55:26] start that tomorrow probably

[2:55:30] because I don't feel

[2:55:31] comfortable about addressing it

[2:55:31] right now.

[2:55:32] I'm going to certainly have to

[2:55:36] use love when I speak of when

[2:55:37] I'm going to speak with on

[2:55:41] the pension items So thank you

[2:55:41] for being there for us today.

[2:55:45] It's not a perfect or stumbling

[2:55:46] together.

[2:55:50] We have to be one family not

[2:55:51] just one person centered but

[2:55:52] one family centered.

[2:55:56] That's the way we're going to

[2:55:56] makes it great.

[2:55:57] Thank you for listening.

[2:55:58] I love all of you.

[2:56:02] Thank you for that concluding

[2:56:02] remark.

[2:56:03] Zoom user if you can please And

[2:56:04] you after that is Blair Big Ben

[2:56:06] and then 7499 Please proceed.

[2:56:07] >> Thanks for taking my calls,

[2:56:11] Hector Hey, I want to talk

[2:56:12] about city making some long

[2:56:17] term money over the long term.

[2:56:18] I was out ride my bike around

[2:56:21] Mission Bay this morning and I

[2:56:22] went around Danza Cole and

[2:56:26] the Danza old trailer park.

[2:56:27] It's still empty right on

[2:56:27] the water there It's a piece of

[2:56:31] vacant land.

[2:56:32] It's been vacant for like 10 or

[2:56:33] 15 years just kind of sitting

[2:56:37] there and you look at the palm

[2:56:37] trees are like 60ft high.

[2:56:43] The Hilton could build a nice

[2:56:43] resort right there And we could

[2:56:44] the city could lease it to them

[2:56:47] for 50 years, 40 years, let

[2:56:52] them build it or another group

[2:56:52] .

[2:56:53] We've got to get going on that.

[2:56:54] So long term revenue for all

[2:56:57] the city.

[2:56:58] Now when you go across in

[2:57:02] the golf course the city had a

[2:57:03] restaurant there for a long

[2:57:03] time and had been vacant for

[2:57:07] like 15 years.

[2:57:08] Nobody could buy a burger in

[2:57:09] there and now they're just

[2:57:13] going to open up one just this

[2:57:13] next month a new breweries open

[2:57:18] it up at a city owned place

[2:57:19] they leased out to the brewery

[2:57:22] but it took the city 15 years

[2:57:23] to build it.

[2:57:27] It's only like 2000ft So we

[2:57:28] don't want to build the hotels.

[2:57:32] We don't want to build nothing.

[2:57:33] We want to lease the property

[2:57:38] and collect the payments And

[2:57:38] then you know, I think that

[2:57:39] would be like what we did on

[2:57:44] the golf course and total waste

[2:57:46] of us building it Now we lose 2

[2:57:47] million or something but we got

[2:57:48] to look for sources of revenue

[2:57:52] other than charging as parking

[2:57:53] and no parking at the beach.

[2:57:58] Don't put it on the agenda.

[2:57:58] That's like an abomination.

[2:58:04] Don't even think about it.

[2:58:09] Okay so have a good day Ever.

[2:58:10] Next speaker is Blair Beekman

[2:58:11] if you can please And you after

[2:58:12] that is 7499.

[2:58:13] And then our final Speaker 7234

[2:58:13] please.

[2:58:19] All right.

[2:58:20] Thank you.

[2:58:20] Blair Pittman To better clarify

[2:58:23] my my previous public comments

[2:58:23] from consent and better

[2:58:28] understanding for the Rancho

[2:58:29] Bernardo Park issues, it's

[2:58:29] asking for grant funding money

[2:58:30] $2.5 million.

[2:58:35] It's a grant fund.

[2:58:35] Ask.

[2:58:36] I thought you were being

[2:58:36] granted that money already.

[2:58:37] I'm sorry.

[2:58:41] I hope that clarification can

[2:58:41] help.

[2:58:42] Thank you for the words.

[2:58:44] A Joyce is not a pigeon zero

[2:58:45] item Yesterday we had I spoke

[2:58:46] that we need to be learning

[2:58:49] the importance of what

[2:58:50] the individual can understand

[2:58:51] to build the future of how to

[2:58:55] understand a speed limit

[2:58:56] designs and stuff to reduce

[2:59:01] speeds and it's from that

[2:59:02] individual effort comes

[2:59:02] the connection with other

[2:59:07] people the community that it is

[2:59:08] a good thing and that we are

[2:59:09] doing a good thing And the work

[2:59:12] with tech accountability I

[2:59:12] think can really lend itself to

[2:59:13] options people have that they

[2:59:18] can have a voice in the process

[2:59:18] and that we can be doing this

[2:59:19] together And I think those

[2:59:23] those things are so important

[2:59:24] that we don't feel like totally

[2:59:24] helpless.

[2:59:29] This community we don't have

[2:59:30] any choices and working within

[2:59:30] zero like that that

[2:59:36] the community has choices to

[2:59:36] work together.

[2:59:37] You know to build a better

[2:59:38] community is one thing.

[2:59:41] How we do that together good

[2:59:41] luck in those efforts.

[2:59:46] So with that said, Tony, we

[2:59:47] offered public comment today.

[2:59:47] Thank you.

[2:59:52] I think the future of we can be

[2:59:53] addressing flux still possibly

[2:59:59] I've described Oakland has made

[2:59:59] compromise ways to in the next

[3:00:00] two years slowly leave block

[3:00:04] and in that time look for a new

[3:00:05] vendor We can be doing that

[3:00:06] same sort of work in San Diego

[3:00:10] and working towards best

[3:00:11] principles in this time of war.

[3:00:11] And that's a new concept.

[3:00:12] We're all learning to better do

[3:00:17] it.

[3:00:18] >> It's a fragile time.

[3:00:18] Good luck.

[3:00:19] We can still talk about peace

[3:00:20] and open Your talk has

[3:00:21] concluded 7499 and then 7234 is

[3:00:25] after that.

[3:00:31] >> So 49 pumpkins you see here

[3:00:31] Yesterday I showed you all part

[3:00:32] of the city council video from

[3:00:33] DECEMBER 7th 2010 After my

[3:00:38] presentation we all watched

[3:00:38] newly elected COUNCILWOMAN

[3:00:39] Laurie Zepp enthusiastically

[3:00:43] tell of her husband being a

[3:00:44] hang glider pilot and that she

[3:00:45] was interested in the interest

[3:00:45] in the issue of the Torrey

[3:00:50] Pines glider port.

[3:00:51] Unfortunately, we also watched

[3:00:51] Sherri Lightner shut her down

[3:00:52] saying quote Our office will

[3:00:55] talk to your office and quote

[3:00:56] the issue as well And had those

[3:00:57] statements are on the record

[3:01:02] now what kind of backroom

[3:01:03] corruption is that?

[3:01:04] What did Sherry like her office

[3:01:08] say to Lori's office that shut

[3:01:09] Lori's app down for eight

[3:01:09] years?

[3:01:10] In her entire eight years on

[3:01:10] the city council, Lori's never

[3:01:14] mentioned the glider port

[3:01:15] again.

[3:01:15] Not what buoys out refused all

[3:01:16] meetings by those of us trying

[3:01:19] to reform the glider port Again

[3:01:20] for all of her eight years.

[3:01:20] What is going on in this city

[3:01:21] that an enthusiastic young

[3:01:26] COUNCILWOMAN Is shut down on

[3:01:27] The one issue where she is more

[3:01:27] of an expert than practically

[3:01:32] anyone else in this entire

[3:01:32] city.

[3:01:33] There's something really rotten

[3:01:34] going on at that glider board

[3:01:34] and Joe LaCava surely knows

[3:01:38] the same dirty little secret

[3:01:39] that shut Lori down for eight

[3:01:39] years.

[3:01:40] So the corruption continues

[3:01:44] with regard to the missing

[3:01:45] picture of PRESIDENT Trump,

[3:01:45] the San Diego City Council

[3:01:46] chambers have respectfully

[3:01:46] displayed a picture of

[3:01:50] the current PRESIDENT For

[3:01:51] decades the presidential

[3:01:52] picture was displayed for all

[3:01:52] presidents from both sides of

[3:01:57] the aisle for all of those

[3:01:57] decades.

[3:01:58] Yesterday Councilmember Emilio

[3:01:58] Rivera showed his disrespect

[3:02:02] for the United States by

[3:02:03] admitting that the presidential

[3:02:04] picture was removed under his

[3:02:04] council presidency.

[3:02:09] However, Council member Enos

[3:02:10] Rivera's disrespect for our

[3:02:11] country does not justify

[3:02:11] current council PRESIDENT

[3:02:16] LaCava carrying on with that

[3:02:16] same disrespect but restore

[3:02:17] the tradition of respecting

[3:02:21] the presidency of our nation

[3:02:22] regardless of your own petty

[3:02:22] Partizanship and implemented

[3:02:23] Torrey Pines waiver and

[3:02:26] reactivate the Torrey Pines

[3:02:27] City Park Advisory Board.

[3:02:27] >> Thank you.

[3:02:38] Our final speaker is 7234.

[3:02:39] 73 for economy for you You

[3:02:39] should have heard I your

[3:02:47] instructions to our six and you

[3:02:48] Can you hear me?

[3:02:48] Yes Please proceed.

[3:02:54] Hi Good afternoon City Council

[3:02:54] and Happy Patrick's Day.

[3:02:55] My name is Mary Skelly.

[3:02:56] I'm a parent and public health

[3:02:59] educator and a city planning to

[3:03:00] remember when reviewing air

[3:03:01] quality in the city of San

[3:03:06] Diego and the role of tobacco

[3:03:06] related disease and death in

[3:03:07] it.

[3:03:11] It is very important to address

[3:03:12] disparities The overall

[3:03:13] conclusion that tobacco takes a

[3:03:13] higher toll unless the Village

[3:03:18] People is not new but needs to

[3:03:19] be carefully regarded when

[3:03:19] policies regarding smoking and

[3:03:23] vaping are considered Here in

[3:03:23] San Diego.

[3:03:24] Stan Glantz, faculty member at

[3:03:25] the University of California

[3:03:30] San Francisco School of

[3:03:30] Medicine in the Division of

[3:03:31] Cardiology, stated and I quote

[3:03:35] It is important to recognize

[3:03:36] the growing number of cannabis

[3:03:37] in undermining tobacco control

[3:03:37] and contributing to health

[3:03:42] disparities.

[3:03:43] So given the prevalence of

[3:03:43] tobacco and cannabis co use in

[3:03:48] youth and young adults and

[3:03:48] the socio economic and health

[3:03:49] disparities associated with

[3:03:54] chronic or daily use of

[3:03:55] marijuana tobacco use which is

[3:03:55] of grave concern for public

[3:03:59] health educators who work on

[3:04:00] behalf of 18 to 30 year olds

[3:04:01] and those of us who are parents

[3:04:06] of that age group protecting

[3:04:07] all city residents from

[3:04:07] exposure to secondhand tobacco

[3:04:12] and cannabis smoke in all

[3:04:13] indoor and outdoor settings

[3:04:13] should be a priority.

[3:04:14] Reducing the availability and

[3:04:18] advertised related to tobacco

[3:04:19] and marijuana should be a

[3:04:24] priority in our city and spring

[3:04:25] 2026 would be the best time for

[3:04:31] a city to consider an emergency

[3:04:31] ban of marijuana and tobacco

[3:04:32] smoking and vaping in all

[3:04:33] public spaces.

[3:04:37] Thank you for hearing my

[3:04:38] concern this afternoon.

[3:04:38] >> Thank you.

[3:04:39] That concludes our agenda

[3:04:39] Public comment for today's

[3:04:40] meeting.

[3:04:43] All right.

[3:04:43] Thank you, City Clerk.

[3:04:44] And just for the record,

[3:04:44] the individual that spoke

[3:04:45] yesterday was Francine Maxwell,

[3:04:49] not Maxine Waters.

[3:04:50] With that we will now adjourn

[3:04:50] for the noon recess and

[3:04:52] reconvene in open session at 2

[3:05:19] And

[3:05:19] Marco Espinosa.

[3:05:20] >> Marco Espinosa.

[3:05:51] Please come to the front please

[3:05:51] .

[3:06:06] And we're not ready to start

[3:06:06] the meeting.

[3:06:07] We need at least five council

[3:06:11] members to be up here.

[3:06:11] >> I did want to say thank you

[3:06:12] to those that are holding signs

[3:06:15] that you're either in the back

[3:06:16] row or on the side.

[3:06:17] We really try to make sure that

[3:06:20] everybody has a clear view to

[3:06:20] the city council.

[3:06:22] So thank you for taking those

[3:06:28] those positions and I'll be

[3:06:29] reading Disruption Language and

[3:06:33] how we deal with that But want

[3:06:37] to wait until we have at least

[3:06:37] five council members to get

[3:06:38] started.

[3:06:38] The item that I think most of

[3:06:42] you are here for is actually

[3:06:43] the second item we're going to

[3:06:43] hear this afternoon.

[3:06:44] We have an important item

[3:06:47] regarding Barrio Logan that

[3:06:48] we'll hear first and deal with

[3:07:06] the staging.

[3:07:11] >> Can Dave Angle or and Ryan

[3:07:12] can please come up to the front

[3:07:13] Dave Angle and Ryan Kohn please

[3:07:23] come up to the front.

[3:07:55] Okay

[3:07:56] .

[3:07:56] Okay.

[3:07:57] We are going to get started.

[3:08:00] We have actually six of us here

[3:08:01] so we'll get this meeting

[3:08:01] started.

[3:08:02] Good afternoon.

[3:08:05] I will now reconvene the city

[3:08:05] Council meeting of Tuesday

[3:08:06] MARCH 17th, 2026.

[3:08:10] Clerk Please call the roll.

[3:08:10] Thank you.

[3:08:11] Council PRESIDENT Council

[3:08:15] member Campbell Council Member

[3:08:15] Whitburn here Council Member

[3:08:20] Foster Council Member one will

[3:08:25] represent Council PRESIDENT Pro

[3:08:25] Tem Lee here Council Member Can

[3:08:29] you hear Council Member Moreno

[3:08:29] Present Council member Eli

[3:08:30] Rivera and Council PRESIDENT

[3:08:34] LaCava present Also attending

[3:08:34] the meeting our Assistant City

[3:08:35] Attorney Michelle Garland

[3:08:39] Independent Budget analyst

[3:08:40] Charles Moraga Council Affairs

[3:08:40] Advisor in the Mayor's office

[3:08:41] Code Eisner and myself your

[3:08:44] city clerk Diana Fuentes Thank

[3:08:44] you Council PRESIDENT Thank

[3:08:45] you.

[3:08:45] City Clerk Quorum is now

[3:08:46] present so we can start

[3:08:48] the meeting.

[3:08:49] We see a lot of new faces here

[3:08:52] in chambers perhaps for

[3:08:52] the very first time.

[3:08:53] We know there's some passionate

[3:08:56] issue on the agenda today.

[3:08:57] So before we start today's

[3:08:58] meeting I want to remind

[3:08:58] everyone about the city's

[3:09:01] practices and procedures for

[3:09:02] public comment at city council

[3:09:06] meetings The city welcomes

[3:09:07] public participation at our

[3:09:08] City Council meetings, speakers

[3:09:11] MAY address the Council during

[3:09:12] public comment and also in

[3:09:13] connection with a specific item

[3:09:17] of business on the agenda.

[3:09:17] However, the city must make

[3:09:18] sure that no one person or

[3:09:18] group of people disrupt

[3:09:22] the meeting in a way that

[3:09:22] prohibits other speakers from

[3:09:23] expressing their ideas and

[3:09:23] opinions.

[3:09:26] Excessive yelling, screaming or

[3:09:27] speaking beyond one's a lot of

[3:09:27] time are examples of behavior

[3:09:31] that disrupts the meeting.

[3:09:32] So to make sure that everyone

[3:09:32] here has an opportunity to

[3:09:35] address the council I will

[3:09:36] alert an individual or

[3:09:36] individuals if I think their

[3:09:40] conduct becomes disruptive.

[3:09:41] If the disruption continues I

[3:09:42] will rule the individual out of

[3:09:43] order and if the disruption

[3:09:45] continues further I will

[3:09:46] declare a recess so that we can

[3:09:47] restore order.

[3:09:50] At this point I will direct

[3:09:51] the individual to leave

[3:09:51] the room and then

[3:09:52] the individual refuses to

[3:09:52] leave.

[3:09:55] Police will escort

[3:09:56] the individual out of

[3:09:56] the building.

[3:09:57] Do not make me do that, please.

[3:10:00] If we have to repeat

[3:10:01] the process of warning and

[3:10:01] recessing the meeting, all

[3:10:02] members of the public will be

[3:10:04] excused from the council

[3:10:05] chamber Credentialed media will

[3:10:05] be allowed to remain.

[3:10:06] Once again we have these

[3:10:09] practices and procedures to

[3:10:10] protect the rights of others

[3:10:11] who wish to address the Council

[3:10:12] and to allow the Council to

[3:10:15] conduct the public's business.

[3:10:15] And as I like to add at the end

[3:10:20] in a process that I think a

[3:10:20] former council members had

[3:10:21] there going to be a lot of

[3:10:22] passive, you're going to hear

[3:10:24] things you really agree with.

[3:10:25] You're going to hear things you

[3:10:25] really don't agree with And

[3:10:26] the best way to communicate

[3:10:29] with us without disrupting

[3:10:29] the meeting or the people's

[3:10:30] ability to speak is to give us

[3:10:33] a thumbs up when you hear

[3:10:34] things you agree with and of

[3:10:35] course the thumbs down if you

[3:10:35] hear things that you don't

[3:10:39] agree with it is very

[3:10:39] effective.

[3:10:40] You're very visible during

[3:10:40] the course of the meeting And

[3:10:43] as people speak and that way we

[3:10:44] allow everybody their

[3:10:48] opportunity to express their

[3:10:48] opinion.

[3:10:49] As I mentioned, we have one

[3:10:53] item that we first have to

[3:10:53] address.

[3:10:54] >> Clerk Please introduce item

[3:10:57] 331.

[3:10:58] Thank you.

[3:10:58] Council PRESIDENT Item 331 is

[3:10:59] the Barrio Logan Community Plan

[3:11:02] Amendment and Rezone.

[3:11:03] If you're here to speak on this

[3:11:04] item please be sure to submit

[3:11:05] your speak submit your speaker

[3:11:07] slip to the front of the room

[3:11:08] in the clear box.

[3:11:08] And if you're participating

[3:11:09] remotely now's the time to

[3:11:12] raise your hand by pressing

[3:11:13] Star nine or the raise your

[3:11:13] hand icon.

[3:11:14] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.

[3:11:14] All right.

[3:11:17] Thank you for introducing

[3:11:18] the item staff Please introduce

[3:11:22] yourselves for the record and

[3:11:22] let us know how much time you

[3:11:23] need for your presentation.

[3:11:23] Thank you.

[3:11:26] Council PRESIDENT Council

[3:11:26] Members Tate Galloway Deputy

[3:11:27] Director of City Planning

[3:11:27] Department.

[3:11:30] I'm joined today by senior

[3:11:31] planner Victoria Ortiz also

[3:11:32] with the City Planning

[3:11:35] Department.

[3:11:40] Hello.

[3:11:41] >> Hello, my name is Victoria

[3:11:42] ts and I'm going to be

[3:11:45] presenting on item 331 Barrio

[3:11:46] Logan Community Plan amendment

[3:11:49] and rezone and we should need

[3:11:50] about eight minutes.

[3:11:54] All right, when you're ready.

[3:11:55] The city council adopted

[3:11:56] the Barrio Logan Community Plan

[3:11:59] update in DECEMBER 2021.

[3:12:00] This item aligned at land uses

[3:12:04] with the general plan address

[3:12:05] mobility and access to public

[3:12:09] spaces provided design guidance

[3:12:10] for new development and

[3:12:10] celebrated Barrio Logan's arts

[3:12:11] and culture.

[3:12:14] It also eliminated residential

[3:12:14] and industry conflicts through

[3:12:18] land use zoning and a

[3:12:19] transition zone.

[3:12:20] It retained the waterfront

[3:12:24] employment role and established

[3:12:24] a village with a village area

[3:12:25] with housing opportunities.

[3:12:28] The Barrio Logan Community Plan

[3:12:29] area is also within the coastal

[3:12:29] zone.

[3:12:32] Following the adoption of

[3:12:33] the community plan in 2021,

[3:12:34] the community plan was

[3:12:37] submitted to the California

[3:12:38] Coastal Commission for

[3:12:38] Certification in JUNE of 2023.

[3:12:42] The California Coastal

[3:12:43] Commission conditionally

[3:12:44] certified the community plan

[3:12:47] with 53 modifications.

[3:12:47] The City Council adopted these

[3:12:48] modifications in NOVEMBER of

[3:12:52] the same year and the Community

[3:12:53] plan received final

[3:12:53] certification from the Coastal

[3:12:59] Commission in DECEMBER of 2023

[3:12:59] .

[3:13:00] The proposed actions for this

[3:13:01] item include an amendment to

[3:13:04] the Barrio Logan community Plan

[3:13:05] that would correct land use map

[3:13:08] errors that occurred with

[3:13:09] the 2023 Community Plan

[3:13:09] amendment and reasons that

[3:13:10] would bring consistency between

[3:13:13] land use designations in

[3:13:14] the plan and the zones for

[3:13:14] parks.

[3:13:17] Each of these changes are

[3:13:18] technical changes only and are

[3:13:18] being brought forward to ensure

[3:13:21] alignment with the original

[3:13:21] vision of the adopted community

[3:13:26] Plan.

[3:13:27] The adopted 2021 Barrio Logan

[3:13:27] Community Plan for Land Use map

[3:13:31] identified various park land

[3:13:32] uses adjacent to Interstate

[3:13:33] five consistent with the parks

[3:13:36] and Recreation Facilities Map.

[3:13:37] The land Use map also

[3:13:41] designated the area generally

[3:13:41] located between 32nd Street

[3:13:46] Main Street and Bryant Street

[3:13:46] as neighborhood village.

[3:13:47] As part of the updated Barrio

[3:13:50] Logan Community Plan, the City

[3:13:51] Council also adopted a

[3:13:52] comprehensive free zone of land

[3:13:55] in the Barrio Logan Community

[3:13:55] Planning area to implement

[3:13:56] the Community plan land use

[3:13:59] designations.

[3:14:00] Earlier this year City Planning

[3:14:01] became aware that Caltrans was

[3:14:04] in the process of selling a

[3:14:05] property on the western corner

[3:14:06] of Boston Avenue and 29th

[3:14:06] Street.

[3:14:09] This property was designated as

[3:14:10] a park and as a part of

[3:14:14] the Boston Avenue neighborhood

[3:14:15] park that was adopted with

[3:14:18] the plan which the plan which

[3:14:19] is the plan that guides land

[3:14:20] uses within the community.

[3:14:24] However, because of an

[3:14:24] erroneous commercial zone that

[3:14:28] was applied to this property,

[3:14:29] there is a potential buyer that

[3:14:29] operates car washes regardless

[3:14:33] of the erroneous zone.

[3:14:34] If the property were sold any

[3:14:34] future commercial projects

[3:14:38] would still need to be

[3:14:38] consistent with the community

[3:14:42] plan's park land use because

[3:14:43] the parcel is also in

[3:14:43] the coastal and the coastal

[3:14:44] zone.

[3:14:44] Any future development would

[3:14:47] also require a coastal

[3:14:48] development permit to meet

[3:14:48] the findings of a coastal

[3:14:52] development permit an amendment

[3:14:53] to the community plan that

[3:14:53] would be required to allow for

[3:14:57] commercial use which city staff

[3:14:58] would not support due to its

[3:14:58] inconsistency with the planned

[3:14:59] park use.

[3:15:01] The California Transportation

[3:15:02] Commission will be deciding

[3:15:03] the final of the property at

[3:15:06] its meeting on MARCH 19th.

[3:15:07] The city has submitted a letter

[3:15:08] to the Commission opposing

[3:15:10] the sale of the property.

[3:15:11] However, as soon as City

[3:15:12] Planning became aware of

[3:15:15] the need for these technical

[3:15:16] amendments we began processing

[3:15:18] the action Before you today to

[3:15:23] clean up the errors.

[3:15:24] >> The first proposed change

[3:15:25] for the Barrio Logan Community

[3:15:28] Plan amendment is a technical

[3:15:28] amendment that would correct

[3:15:29] the land use map errors.

[3:15:30] The map on the left shows what

[3:15:33] the city Council adopted and

[3:15:34] the 2021 Community plan Update.

[3:15:38] The map on the right shows what

[3:15:38] was adopted with the 2023

[3:15:39] amendment to the Community

[3:15:39] plan.

[3:15:43] The errors occurred during

[3:15:44] the adoption of the 2023

[3:15:45] Community Plan amendment for

[3:15:45] the Coastal Commission's

[3:15:48] requested modifications to

[3:15:49] the Community Plan for

[3:15:50] certification with the local

[3:15:50] coastal program.

[3:15:54] The errors to be corrected

[3:15:54] the error to be corrected is to

[3:15:58] apply the park land use to

[3:15:58] these properties again.

[3:16:03] The amendment would revise

[3:16:03] the land use map from the 2023

[3:16:04] Community plan as shown on

[3:16:07] the left to be the same as

[3:16:08] the Land Use map originally

[3:16:08] adopted in the 2021 Community

[3:16:09] Plan Update.

[3:16:16] As shown on the right to make

[3:16:16] the current land use map

[3:16:17] consistent with land uses

[3:16:20] adopted as a part of the 2021

[3:16:21] Barrio Logan Community Plan.

[3:16:22] The following The following

[3:16:24] areas will be read designated

[3:16:25] between 29th Street and 32nd

[3:16:26] Street on Barton Avenue.

[3:16:30] Three acres will be designated

[3:16:31] from right of way to park which

[3:16:31] is consistent with the current

[3:16:35] park zone between Main Street

[3:16:35] and Interstate five.

[3:16:40] 4.2 acres will be read

[3:16:41] designated from neighborhood

[3:16:41] commercial to park which is

[3:16:42] consistent with the current

[3:16:44] park zone.

[3:16:45] Lastly, between 32nd Street

[3:16:46] Main Street and Interstate

[3:16:46] five.

[3:16:50] 4.7 acres will be designated

[3:16:51] from neighborhood commercial to

[3:16:54] neighborhood village allowing

[3:16:55] for potential future

[3:16:56] residential development.

[3:16:58] This change is consistent with

[3:16:59] the current neighborhood

[3:17:04] commercial zone.

[3:17:04] The proposed reasons would

[3:17:05] bring consistency between

[3:17:09] the park land use designation

[3:17:10] and the base zones of parks

[3:17:11] identified in the community

[3:17:11] plan.

[3:17:14] Land Use map and the Parks and

[3:17:15] Recreation Facilities Map.

[3:17:19] Chicano Park and a portion of

[3:17:20] the Barton Avenue Linear Park

[3:17:20] would be rezone to park zones

[3:17:21] to be consistent with existing

[3:17:24] and planned park uses.

[3:17:25] Open Space Park zones are

[3:17:28] applied to active public parks

[3:17:29] .

[3:17:29] The proposed change would

[3:17:30] result 13.8 acres of Chicano

[3:17:34] park and adjacent street from

[3:17:37] community commercial to park

[3:17:38] and rezone 1.8 acres of Chicano

[3:17:38] park from office commercial to

[3:17:43] park.

[3:17:44] The land is owned by the city

[3:17:44] and Caltrans.

[3:17:45] The proposed rezone would not

[3:17:48] change the boundaries of

[3:17:49] Chicano Park nor would it

[3:17:49] affect any existing or future

[3:17:53] park uses or operations.

[3:17:54] Additionally, the proposed

[3:17:58] change would result in the 1.8

[3:17:58] acre portion of Boston Avenue

[3:17:59] Linear Park designated as a

[3:18:03] park in the community plan from

[3:18:04] the community commercial to

[3:18:04] park zone.

[3:18:12] This land is owned by Caltrans

[3:18:13] .

[3:18:13] This item was presented to

[3:18:14] the Barrio Logan Community

[3:18:14] Planning Group on February

[3:18:17] 18th, 2026 and was recommended

[3:18:17] for approval to the Council by

[3:18:21] a vote of eight yes no nos and

[3:18:21] one abstention.

[3:18:22] The planning group recommended

[3:18:26] that staff meet with

[3:18:27] the Chicano Park Steering

[3:18:27] Committee prior to the council

[3:18:28] hearing.

[3:18:31] Staff was unable to meet prior

[3:18:32] to today's hearing.

[3:18:32] The Chicano Park Steering

[3:18:33] Committee members have stated

[3:18:36] their concern that the reason

[3:18:37] for the Chicano park was not

[3:18:38] presented to the committee for

[3:18:38] their recommendation and

[3:18:42] concerned that the result would

[3:18:43] reduce the boundaries of

[3:18:44] the park stop it verified that

[3:18:44] the boundaries of the park

[3:18:48] would remain unchanged.

[3:18:48] On FEBRUARY 19th, 2026 this

[3:18:53] item was presented to

[3:18:54] the Planning Commission who

[3:18:54] recommended the Community Plan

[3:18:58] amendments and reason for

[3:18:59] approval by a vote of four yes

[3:19:00] no nos and no abstentions with

[3:19:06] one refusal.

[3:19:07] The community plan amendments

[3:19:07] and rezone are consistent with

[3:19:08] the 2021 addendum to the Barrio

[3:19:11] Logan Community Plan Update

[3:19:12] Program Air or Environmental

[3:19:13] Impact Report.

[3:19:17] The Community Plan Amendment

[3:19:18] reflects what was analyzed in

[3:19:18] the 2021 Addendum to the Barrio

[3:19:22] Logan Community Plan Update

[3:19:22] pdr.

[3:19:23] Thus the amendment would not

[3:19:26] result in new impacts or

[3:19:27] changes to circumstances that

[3:19:28] would require a subsequent or a

[3:19:32] new year.

[3:19:33] Additionally, there is no new

[3:19:33] information available that was

[3:19:34] not a part of the environmental

[3:19:38] document and or considered with

[3:19:38] the subsequent review of this

[3:19:39] amendment which identifies new

[3:19:43] significant effects not

[3:19:44] addressed in the previous

[3:19:44] document or substantial

[3:19:45] increases in the severity of

[3:19:46] the previously identified

[3:19:52] attacks.

[3:19:53] >> Staff recommends to the City

[3:19:53] Council approved a resolution

[3:19:54] amending the Barrio looking

[3:19:58] community plan, general plan

[3:19:58] and local coastal program and

[3:20:02] approve the ordinance rezoning

[3:20:02] 1.8 acres from community

[3:20:06] commercial 2-3 to open Space

[3:20:07] Park 1-1 13.8 acres from

[3:20:11] Commercial community 3.6 to

[3:20:12] open space 1-1.

[3:20:16] And 1.8 acres from commercial

[3:20:17] office 2-2 to open space 1-1

[3:20:18] within the Barrio Logan

[3:20:22] Community Planning area.

[3:20:22] >> This concludes

[3:20:23] the presentation and staff is

[3:20:24] available for questions.

[3:20:28] All right.

[3:20:28] Thank you for the good work to

[3:20:29] bring this forward in

[3:20:30] the presentation this

[3:20:30] afternoon.

[3:20:33] Clerk Please proceed with

[3:20:33] public comment.

[3:20:34] Thank you MR. PRESIDENT.

[3:20:34] I'll start with those that are

[3:20:38] here in chambers.

[3:20:39] It like could go to a minute

[3:20:44] and a half on this item so

[3:20:45] allegedly order if you can

[3:20:45] please come forward after order

[3:20:50] We have Ernest Castaneda if you

[3:20:50] can please come forward to

[3:20:51] the other reserved seats Then

[3:21:00] Marco Espinosa, please proceed

[3:21:00] .

[3:21:01] >> Yes, I think that we need to

[3:21:02] be honest with people as to why

[3:21:06] you guys or rezoning all of

[3:21:06] these things and why you're

[3:21:07] implementing all of these type

[3:21:11] of changes because this comes

[3:21:12] down from a globalist agenda

[3:21:17] The United Nations and them

[3:21:18] implementing things like 15

[3:21:18] minute cities.

[3:21:19] And I think that when you guys

[3:21:23] don't acknowledge that because

[3:21:24] they the idea is to control

[3:21:25] people's movements where we can

[3:21:28] go you call them complete

[3:21:29] communities but there is a

[3:21:30] control happening of all of our

[3:21:35] resources and you guys are

[3:21:35] giving people again your water

[3:21:40] which is sewer water because

[3:21:41] you're acting like we don't

[3:21:41] have enough water to get

[3:21:42] people.

[3:21:42] And so when you guys are

[3:21:46] implementing these things and

[3:21:46] changing this to add parks or

[3:21:47] whatever I mean you talk about

[3:21:48] air quality, why would you put

[3:21:52] that by the freeway if there is

[3:21:53] pollution that's coming from

[3:21:53] that, is that safe for

[3:21:57] the children to be inhaling

[3:21:58] those types of fumes and

[3:22:03] everything You guys do with

[3:22:04] environmental reviews it makes

[3:22:04] everything take a very long

[3:22:05] time And if we really cared

[3:22:09] about getting people into

[3:22:09] housing we would get them into

[3:22:10] it.

[3:22:10] We wouldn't, you know, blame

[3:22:15] things on the federal

[3:22:16] government as to why you guys

[3:22:16] aren't doing your job.

[3:22:17] But I think that you need to be

[3:22:21] honest with people about

[3:22:22] the United Nations Agenda 21

[3:22:22] which you guys can go and

[3:22:23] educate yourselves on If you're

[3:22:27] not But that's what you guys

[3:22:28] are pushing and it's very

[3:22:29] detrimental to the people And I

[3:22:29] think that people need to

[3:22:35] understand what's really

[3:22:35] happening And you guys thank

[3:22:36] you for that concerning

[3:22:36] statement.

[3:22:37] Next we are going to focusing

[3:22:53] on.

[3:22:53] Good afternoon Council My name

[3:22:54] is I am a field representative

[3:22:57] with the Office of a staff

[3:22:58] member David Alvarez.

[3:22:58] I'm here today on behalf of

[3:22:59] Assemblyman Roberts to express

[3:23:02] his strong support to

[3:23:03] the proposed Bartolone

[3:23:04] Community plan amendment and

[3:23:04] resume before you.

[3:23:08] This item is a critical step in

[3:23:09] correcting land use and zoning

[3:23:09] errors identified in the 20 to

[3:23:13] 23 update and in restoring

[3:23:14] consistency with the community

[3:23:14] plan that this council adopted

[3:23:15] in 2021.

[3:23:15] These corrections are

[3:23:20] especially important for

[3:23:20] the better local community as

[3:23:21] they ensure that key sites such

[3:23:22] as the Boston Avenue Linear

[3:23:25] Park and other open space areas

[3:23:26] are properly designated and

[3:23:27] preserved in alignment with

[3:23:27] long standing community

[3:23:28] priorities.

[3:23:31] In late FEBRUARY,

[3:23:32] Assemblymember Alvarez also

[3:23:32] submitted a letter to

[3:23:33] the California Transportation

[3:23:34] Commission opposing

[3:23:38] the proposal of the parcel at

[3:23:39] 2854 Boston Avenue.

[3:23:39] Given these same

[3:23:43] inconsistencies and the city's

[3:23:44] ongoing efforts to correct

[3:23:45] them, I would like to briefly

[3:23:45] read this letter into

[3:23:50] the record.

[3:23:51] >> I write to express my deep

[3:23:56] concern regarding the proposed

[3:23:56] sale of the Caltrans owned

[3:23:57] property to supporters at

[3:24:01] the intersection of Boston

[3:24:01] Avenue and South 39th Street

[3:24:02] and by looking as a life long

[3:24:03] resident of Logan and an

[3:24:06] elected official representing

[3:24:07] the community for over ten

[3:24:07] years.

[3:24:08] I am intimately familiar with

[3:24:09] the long standing vision

[3:24:13] residents have articulated for

[3:24:14] Boston Avenue.

[3:24:14] This proposed use of the site

[3:24:15] as a car wash runs counter to

[3:24:19] that vision and to

[3:24:20] the community's clearly

[3:24:20] expressed priorities.

[3:24:21] It seems I'm going to run out

[3:24:22] of time but I respectfully or

[3:24:26] just appropriately thank you.

[3:24:27] >> Thank you.

[3:24:28] We note that after that we have

[3:24:28] Julie Corrales If you can

[3:24:33] please come up to the other

[3:24:33] reserved seats and then Blair

[3:24:34] Beekman.

[3:24:34] Please proceed.

[3:24:34] Hello.

[3:24:35] Good afternoon.

[3:24:38] My questions are um uh

[3:24:38] positions Very well.

[3:24:43] Um, I just want to say that I

[3:24:44] like the update and after here

[3:24:45] I'm gonna go to neighborhood

[3:24:48] and walk by and think of what

[3:24:49] park like items could be there

[3:24:50] their place.

[3:24:56] So what is now?

[3:24:56] Um, and then from my knowledge

[3:24:57] public comment when buildings

[3:25:00] are getting built if they could

[3:25:01] return to sidewalk sooner um

[3:25:06] I'd be nice Thank you.

[3:25:06] Thank you, Julie.

[3:25:07] Julie you have time ceded it to

[3:25:13] you But I think about I think

[3:25:14] I'll need a minute.

[3:25:14] Okay.

[3:25:15] We'll do the minute and a half.

[3:25:18] Please proceed.

[3:25:18] I want to thank the city for

[3:25:19] their quick quick response Upon

[3:25:24] discovering the zoning errors

[3:25:24] in Logan's Community Plan by

[3:25:25] Logan, as you all know is in

[3:25:29] the top 5% of the most polluted

[3:25:29] communities in our state or

[3:25:30] 90th percentile of airborne

[3:25:31] cancer risk across the nation.

[3:25:34] We've been working since APRIL

[3:25:35] 22nd, 1970 to bring Park Space

[3:25:36] to Logan beginning with you got

[3:25:41] a park that you're going to

[3:25:42] park at the bay also known as a

[3:25:42] soft Travis Park.

[3:25:43] And since 2018 we've been

[3:25:46] working with the city and

[3:25:47] Caltrans nhc and community

[3:25:47] members to convert the space

[3:25:51] along Boston Avenue and

[3:25:52] the Five Freeway into a state

[3:25:53] of the art park the kind you

[3:25:53] see north of eight We're

[3:25:58] talking water pads and

[3:25:59] scenarios and a didi path

[3:25:59] correcting the errors to

[3:26:03] the zoning Today ensures that

[3:26:03] in perpetuity forever that that

[3:26:04] Chicano park will remain a park

[3:26:10] and a Mecca for Chicanos all

[3:26:10] across the country.

[3:26:11] It ensures that no plot

[3:26:12] actually on a park or Boston

[3:26:15] Avenue was ever sold for

[3:26:16] permitted use.

[3:26:16] These changes codify

[3:26:17] the community's vision for our

[3:26:21] neighborhood forever.

[3:26:22] So please vote yesterday on

[3:26:23] this item and protect by

[3:26:23] looking for the next seven

[3:26:24] generations.

[3:26:28] Thank you Blair Wickman If you

[3:26:33] can please come forward.

[3:26:34] >> Hi, we're Beakman.

[3:26:38] Thank you very much for at

[3:26:39] least allowing two minute 30

[3:26:39] public comment.

[3:26:40] Definitely better than one

[3:26:40] minute.

[3:26:44] Thank you for the words of

[3:26:45] the previous public speaker.

[3:26:45] This item was initially

[3:26:48] approved adopted by City

[3:26:49] Council in 2021 certified by

[3:26:50] the Coastal Commission in 2023.

[3:26:55] These are rezoning issues that

[3:26:56] are just thank you how much

[3:26:56] you're working on it and trying

[3:27:00] to do good.

[3:27:01] I'm interested how the Coastal

[3:27:02] Commission process involved

[3:27:06] with this can be a good example

[3:27:07] for our future environmental

[3:27:08] concerns and connecting that

[3:27:13] with Barrio Logan issues in

[3:27:13] the future.

[3:27:14] We're trying to address climate

[3:27:14] action overall.

[3:27:15] It could be great ways to

[3:27:19] better address it and make it a

[3:27:19] more accessible subject and to

[3:27:20] quickly offer the incredible

[3:27:25] importance this park can offer

[3:27:26] ourselves for the future and

[3:27:27] the tech that will be placed in

[3:27:30] the park if it has good open

[3:27:31] public practices and policies

[3:27:32] and accountability.

[3:27:37] If you focus yourselves on

[3:27:38] those good concepts it actually

[3:27:42] lends and works itself towards

[3:27:42] best practices overall for

[3:27:43] the future of what we want to

[3:27:44] be doing.

[3:27:44] So good luck with good

[3:27:45] accountability.

[3:27:49] Check accountability for

[3:27:49] the issues of the park.

[3:27:50] And thanks a lot for the site.

[3:27:54] Thank you all for the five

[3:27:54] minute time We're here in

[3:27:55] council chambers going to those

[3:27:56] participating remotely.

[3:27:58] We currently have seven people

[3:27:59] in the queue.

[3:28:00] Just as a reminder this is on

[3:28:00] the Barrio Logan Amendment.

[3:28:01] Janine, if you can please

[3:28:03] unmute.

[3:28:04] You'll have a minute and a half

[3:28:09] or a Logan Amendment.

[3:28:10] Sorry this is not the item that

[3:28:11] i was going to speak on.

[3:28:16] Thank you.

[3:28:17] 4223 Regarding the broader

[3:28:18] Logan amendment for 223 please

[3:28:29] unmute Academy four You and

[3:28:37] we'll have to move on.

[3:28:38] Amy if you can please unmute.

[3:28:43] So far Logan Amendment.

[3:28:44] Hi everyone Can you hear me?

[3:28:44] Yes.

[3:28:44] Please proceed.

[3:28:45] Thank you.

[3:28:45] Good afternoon.

[3:28:48] Council members because I know

[3:28:49] that and I'm the associate

[3:28:49] director of policy with

[3:28:50] the Environmental Coalition

[3:28:52] back in the early 20 tens you

[3:28:52] see work very closely with

[3:28:53] community members to update

[3:28:54] the Logan community plan which

[3:28:59] is which at the time was one of

[3:29:00] the oldest community plans in

[3:29:00] the city for extensive

[3:29:01] community engagement we're able

[3:29:05] to reimagine what a healthy and

[3:29:06] thriving Barrio Logan can

[3:29:07] become by increasing green

[3:29:07] space, establishing a new truck

[3:29:08] route and increasing affordable

[3:29:11] housing.

[3:29:12] And while the plan was put on

[3:29:12] the ballot for the entire city

[3:29:13] to vote on each seat stood by

[3:29:14] our community members and

[3:29:17] continue to buy to update

[3:29:18] the cpu until the updated back

[3:29:18] in 2021.

[3:29:23] Today's action will ensure that

[3:29:24] this only aligns with community

[3:29:25] priorities to increase green

[3:29:25] spaces and ensure that we

[3:29:26] protect our community from

[3:29:29] incoming polluters.

[3:29:30] We like to take this

[3:29:31] opportunity to things that we

[3:29:31] stop at the door, review

[3:29:32] the planning department, our

[3:29:36] community allies, really good

[3:29:37] allies and the of community

[3:29:40] land trust for being very

[3:29:41] involved in this process This

[3:29:42] and many others who have worked

[3:29:47] for decades to undo racist

[3:29:48] funding policy that has

[3:29:48] impacted our community.

[3:29:49] We urge the Council to move

[3:29:50] forward with this action and

[3:29:50] protect the health and

[3:29:53] well-being of our Logan

[3:29:53] residents.

[3:29:54] Thank you.

[3:30:00] Panera if you can please

[3:30:00] unmute.

[3:30:01] After that is in user something

[3:30:05] that yeah good afternoon.

[3:30:06] So I'm with the woman and no

[3:30:07] running and we would like for

[3:30:11] this item to be considered for

[3:30:12] the steering committee to have

[3:30:18] access to all decisions when it

[3:30:19] comes to the city since they

[3:30:19] are part of the build of

[3:30:20] the park.

[3:30:24] So that's that's my comment If

[3:30:25] you guys could take them for

[3:30:25] every step you guys take on

[3:30:26] this item I consider them to be

[3:30:30] a part of it.

[3:30:31] Thank you.

[3:30:32] Next is a user If you can

[3:30:35] please unmute.

[3:30:36] Thanks for taking my call

[3:30:42] Hector here And so he's been

[3:30:43] abusing my 72 years of city.

[3:30:44] He's been abusing Barrio Logan

[3:30:47] since I was born.

[3:30:48] He never asked for nothing put

[3:30:49] in all this weird stuff in our

[3:30:53] communities We should need all

[3:30:54] the city land to Barrio Logan.

[3:30:59] Maybe they can get their own

[3:31:00] mayor on land use Barrio Logan

[3:31:01] Mayor determines the land use

[3:31:05] of single and property and get

[3:31:06] the Coastal Commission out of

[3:31:06] it.

[3:31:07] Just blow them up.

[3:31:12] That's like white supremacy to

[3:31:12] the max.

[3:31:13] The Coastal Commission is

[3:31:13] nothing but white supremacy and

[3:31:19] these guys out Mexican people

[3:31:20] had enough of it that give them

[3:31:20] all city land Let them

[3:31:24] determine who builds what on it

[3:31:25] maybe get a mayor so you can

[3:31:26] take care of a lot of sewers

[3:31:29] and streets and they determine

[3:31:30] what goes on in their

[3:31:30] neighborhoods.

[3:31:35] It's only life's not fair but

[3:31:36] it's pretty cool to have their

[3:31:37] own mayor and they definitely

[3:31:41] can handle their own their own

[3:31:42] business.

[3:31:42] Thanks a lot.

[3:31:48] Thank you.

[3:31:49] Zeenat Sanchez, if you can

[3:31:50] please unmute for Sanchez after

[3:31:59] that is 813 11 hear me?

[3:31:59] Yes.

[3:31:59] Please proceed.

[3:32:00] My name is Matthew Stafford and

[3:32:06] I'm the vice chair of

[3:32:06] the Charter theory community

[3:32:07] where the stories of the bird

[3:32:08] this man was never given to us.

[3:32:09] It was taken there resistance

[3:32:10] or sacrifice in our community

[3:32:11] or over the years we're

[3:32:15] protected is based on

[3:32:15] the sacred cultural space And

[3:32:16] you to date decisions are being

[3:32:17] made without this about this

[3:32:21] land, without our involvement.

[3:32:22] People call this a technical

[3:32:22] correction but under National

[3:32:23] Historic Preservation Act

[3:32:27] Section one of six any action

[3:32:27] affecting the site listed on

[3:32:28] the National Register of

[3:32:28] Historic Places requires

[3:32:29] meaningful consultation with

[3:32:32] cultural stewards which that

[3:32:33] would be us and that did not

[3:32:33] happen.

[3:32:34] So let's be clear here today

[3:32:38] this is not just a video

[3:32:39] communication.

[3:32:39] This is a video process and it

[3:32:40] raises serious concerns about

[3:32:44] federal historic preservation

[3:32:45] because we know what happened,

[3:32:46] what process is ignored.

[3:32:46] Don't get used to great

[3:32:53] industry not to our homes, to

[3:32:54] our air, displace our families.

[3:32:55] If I hear their voices if they

[3:32:55] want again they're going to

[3:32:56] move forward without

[3:32:57] the community be impacted.

[3:32:57] We're not asking today We are

[3:33:01] demanding council for an

[3:33:02] immediate positive action for

[3:33:02] transparency direct

[3:33:03] consultation with the Chicano

[3:33:07] Park Steering Committee first

[3:33:07] and foremost.

[3:33:08] So you cannot claim to protect

[3:33:09] this park by excluding

[3:33:09] the people who made it

[3:33:10] possible.

[3:33:12] We are still here.

[3:33:13] We are still protecting this

[3:33:19] land and we will not be erased

[3:33:19] .

[3:33:19] Thank you.

[3:33:20] Next is 813 and then our final

[3:33:21] speaker is Erica.

[3:33:24] Our five minute timer has

[3:33:25] concluded no additional

[3:33:29] speakers will be taken one

[3:33:29] three It starts 6:30 A.M..

[3:33:34] Okay.

[3:33:35] Just in the nick of time.

[3:33:36] All right.

[3:33:36] So okay.

[3:33:36] Okay.

[3:33:41] San Diego City Council this

[3:33:41] needs to be said clearly give

[3:33:42] the people Barrio Logan back

[3:33:47] their community there.

[3:33:48] For decades families in five

[3:33:48] Logan have been forced to live

[3:33:52] in conditions that no other

[3:33:53] community would tolerate Homes

[3:33:54] placed next to heavy industry

[3:33:54] children.

[3:34:00] Really these logs are from

[3:34:00] constant truck traffic

[3:34:01] freeways, families exposed to

[3:34:04] toxic emissions from shipyards

[3:34:05] along the port of San Diego.

[3:34:10] And this is not by chance.

[3:34:10] This is by design.

[3:34:11] You allowed incompatible zoning

[3:34:12] in residential and heavy

[3:34:16] industrial industrial side by

[3:34:16] side you create an environment

[3:34:22] where profit was prioritized

[3:34:23] over people where working class

[3:34:23] families were expected to

[3:34:24] absorb the costs with their

[3:34:24] health.

[3:34:28] Then you cut the heart out of

[3:34:29] the community When you built

[3:34:30] the San Diego Coronado Bridge

[3:34:34] and Major freeways straight

[3:34:35] through it homes were

[3:34:35] destroyed, streets were

[3:34:36] divided.

[3:34:40] The neighborhood was fractured

[3:34:41] and you called it development

[3:34:42] And when you failed to deliver

[3:34:42] even basic greenspace,

[3:34:47] the people had to take actions

[3:34:48] themselves.

[3:34:48] They occupied land to create a

[3:34:49] Chicano park not because you

[3:34:53] gave it to them but because

[3:34:53] they refused to be ignored.

[3:34:54] That should tell you

[3:34:54] everything.

[3:34:59] This community has been patient

[3:34:59] centered, resilient but it

[3:35:00] should not have to fight this

[3:35:05] hard just to clean air and live

[3:35:06] in safe conditions And that's

[3:35:13] talk about carbon environmental

[3:35:13] injustice with carbon.

[3:35:18] This site and that concludes

[3:35:19] with a comment on item 330 one.

[3:35:19] >> All right.

[3:35:20] Thank you City Clerk.

[3:35:23] With that I'll turn it over to

[3:35:23] my council colleagues for

[3:35:24] questions, comments and

[3:35:25] entertain a motion And we'll

[3:35:25] start with the council member

[3:35:29] representing District Council

[3:35:29] member Right.

[3:35:30] Thank you and thank you for

[3:35:31] the presentation.

[3:35:35] Thank you to staff for the work

[3:35:36] on this item.

[3:35:36] The party local community is

[3:35:37] one of the most culturally and

[3:35:41] historically significant

[3:35:41] neighborhoods in the city of

[3:35:42] San Diego Its vibrant murals

[3:35:47] rich culinary traditions and

[3:35:48] long history of community

[3:35:48] resilience all contribute to

[3:35:53] the identity that defines

[3:35:53] the area today a key part of

[3:35:54] the history of resilience is

[3:35:59] rooted in the effects of

[3:36:00] systematic redlining and

[3:36:00] discriminatory zoning practices

[3:36:05] which shaped how the land in

[3:36:05] the neighborhood was used and

[3:36:06] how the community developed

[3:36:06] over time.

[3:36:11] These long standing planning

[3:36:12] challenges ultimately made

[3:36:13] the community plan an important

[3:36:13] tool for shaping the future of

[3:36:17] barrio Logan.

[3:36:18] The Barrio Logan Community Plan

[3:36:22] was adopted in 1978 and for 43

[3:36:23] years the plan stayed the same.

[3:36:27] In 2022 the Barrio Logan

[3:36:27] Community Plan was finally

[3:36:28] updated and adopted.

[3:36:32] It took a very long time and

[3:36:33] required significant work and

[3:36:33] collaboration from

[3:36:34] the community.

[3:36:39] The city and also the Coastal

[3:36:39] Commission.

[3:36:40] The process included extensive

[3:36:44] reviews and ultimately was

[3:36:45] approved by the Coastal

[3:36:46] Commission Commission which

[3:36:46] also required the city to go

[3:36:51] back and address and adjust

[3:36:52] more than 100 different items

[3:36:56] because of the long and careful

[3:36:57] process it took to get this

[3:36:57] plan approved.

[3:36:58] It is so concerning and

[3:37:02] frustrating when errors like

[3:37:03] this keep occurring.

[3:37:03] It's unacceptable that the city

[3:37:04] has allowed zoning errors like

[3:37:08] this like those associated with

[3:37:09] Footnote seven in the City land

[3:37:10] development code and now this

[3:37:15] recent discrepancy to occur.

[3:37:15] Taken together these issues

[3:37:16] point to a broader pattern of

[3:37:21] mistakes that should not be

[3:37:21] happening in decisions that

[3:37:22] have such a significant impact

[3:37:27] on communities.

[3:37:27] Errors like this are a prime

[3:37:28] example of why many are so

[3:37:33] distrustful of government.

[3:37:34] While these mistakes were not

[3:37:34] done on purpose it sows

[3:37:39] community mistrust.

[3:37:40] It's important that the city

[3:37:40] recognize them and move forward

[3:37:41] with the solution.

[3:37:45] It's also critical that staff

[3:37:46] exercise a proper diligence to

[3:37:47] ensure that the zoning and land

[3:37:51] use designations actually

[3:37:51] accurately reflect what was

[3:37:52] approved.

[3:37:57] This is especially important

[3:37:58] given the long history of

[3:37:59] planning challenges and past

[3:38:03] decisions that have strained

[3:38:04] trust between communities and

[3:38:04] the city.

[3:38:05] What I do appreciate here is

[3:38:10] that the city did not ignore

[3:38:10] the issue.

[3:38:11] Instead staff moved quickly to

[3:38:15] identify the discrepancy and

[3:38:16] bring forward this amendment.

[3:38:17] These corrections ensure that

[3:38:21] areas intended to be parks and

[3:38:22] community space such as

[3:38:23] the Boston Avenue Corridor and

[3:38:27] Chicano Park are properly

[3:38:28] designated and ultimately

[3:38:28] protected.

[3:38:29] I do want to acknowledge city

[3:38:34] planning staff for engaging

[3:38:35] with the community and bringing

[3:38:35] this item to the Barrio Logan

[3:38:36] Community Planning Group which

[3:38:39] is an important step in

[3:38:40] addressing this issue and

[3:38:41] keeping the community informed.

[3:38:42] I would also encourage staff to

[3:38:46] ensure that this information is

[3:38:47] shared directly with

[3:38:47] the Chicano Park Steering

[3:38:48] Committee.

[3:38:52] They are an important part of

[3:38:52] our community and have been

[3:38:53] long stewards of Chicano Park.

[3:38:59] With this rezoning will this

[3:38:59] rezoning one of the questions I

[3:39:00] have for staff is will this

[3:39:04] rezoning require approval from

[3:39:05] the Coastal Commission as well

[3:39:06] and how long will that take?

[3:39:06] >> Yes.

[3:39:10] Councilmember.

[3:39:11] It will require coastal

[3:39:11] commission certification.

[3:39:12] We'll be reaching out to

[3:39:16] coastal Commission staff to ask

[3:39:17] that they could expedite this.

[3:39:22] My hope is that within the next

[3:39:22] six months but we need to talk

[3:39:23] with Scott for them within

[3:39:24] the next six months.

[3:39:28] >> Wonderful.

[3:39:28] Transparency is critical when

[3:39:29] mistakes like this occur and it

[3:39:33] matters that the city was up

[3:39:34] front about what happened and

[3:39:35] took the time to explain how it

[3:39:35] would be fixed.

[3:39:40] I do appreciate staff's

[3:39:41] responsiveness their

[3:39:42] transparency with the community

[3:39:45] and their commitment to

[3:39:46] ensuring that the zoning and

[3:39:47] land use designations

[3:39:51] accurately reflect the vision

[3:39:52] that was approved by and for

[3:39:52] the Barrio Logan community.

[3:39:57] Now with that I'm going to make

[3:39:58] a motion to approve staff's

[3:39:58] recommendation.

[3:39:59] >> Thank you.

[3:39:59] All right.

[3:40:05] Thank you, Council members.

[3:40:05] So we have a motion by

[3:40:06] COUNCILMAN Moreno to move with

[3:40:07] the staff recommendation.

[3:40:07] We'll go next to Councilmember

[3:40:09] Eli Rivera.

[3:40:10] Thank you, council PRESIDENT

[3:40:10] With the questions having been

[3:40:15] asked and answered that

[3:40:16] Councilmember Moreno put

[3:40:22] forward and knowing that by

[3:40:22] kind of park is protected and

[3:40:23] this helps advance the by 11

[3:40:27] community plan, I'm happy to

[3:40:28] second the motion.

[3:40:28] Thank you.

[3:40:28] All right.

[3:40:29] Thank you Council members.

[3:40:30] So we now have a motion by

[3:40:33] Councilmember Moreno on

[3:40:34] the second by Councilmember Eli

[3:40:35] Rivera And without the city

[3:40:36] clerk please call the roll.

[3:40:36] I'm sorry The voting system

[3:40:49] Please cast your vote That

[3:40:50] passes unanimously 8 to 0 with

[3:40:51] Councilmember Kimball absent.

[3:40:51] >> Thank you, Council

[3:40:52] PRESIDENT.

[3:40:52] All right.

[3:40:52] Thank you.

[3:40:55] City clerk Thank you to staff

[3:40:55] for that.

[3:40:56] All right With that clerk

[3:41:04] please introduce item 500.

[3:41:05] I apologize I skipped out last

[3:41:09] time I saw this item as 500 is

[3:41:09] the adoption of a definition of

[3:41:10] antisemitism.

[3:41:14] If you would like to speak to

[3:41:15] this item please be sure to

[3:41:16] submit your speakers up now at

[3:41:16] the front of the room If your

[3:41:17] seating time please be sure to

[3:41:20] submit those speakers up

[3:41:21] together.

[3:41:22] You will be given time to come

[3:41:22] in from the overflow room So

[3:41:25] don't worry I will be calling

[3:41:26] your name 2 to 3 times.

[3:41:27] If I see you walking in we'll

[3:41:28] make sure to give you time for

[3:41:31] those individuals who are in

[3:41:31] the yellow reserved seats at

[3:41:32] the front.

[3:41:32] If you could please find a seat

[3:41:36] Their back.

[3:41:37] I do need those seats available

[3:41:38] for those that are being called

[3:41:39] up to ensure with meeting

[3:41:43] management you can even take a

[3:41:44] seat in the blue reserved seats

[3:41:45] over there If you don't find a

[3:41:48] seat.

[3:41:49] >> Thank you.

[3:41:50] Council PRESIDENT All right.

[3:41:50] Thank you, City Clerk So before

[3:41:54] we turn it over to District

[3:41:54] three, a couple of items.

[3:42:00] One I read at the beginning of

[3:42:00] the session the disruption

[3:42:01] policy.

[3:42:01] We know we have a lot of folks

[3:42:06] speaking both for and against

[3:42:07] the item in front of us.

[3:42:08] There'll be a lot of passion

[3:42:12] there.

[3:42:13] Please extend a clarity and

[3:42:14] civility to everybody who

[3:42:14] speaks.

[3:42:15] Give them a chance to make

[3:42:18] their comments whether you

[3:42:19] agree with them or not.

[3:42:19] I mentioned about the thumbs up

[3:42:20] or thumbs down is a good way to

[3:42:24] do that.

[3:42:25] This of course applies to not

[3:42:25] only council chambers but also

[3:42:26] the committee room and any

[3:42:30] overflow room that we that we

[3:42:31] have on that.

[3:42:36] So we've done these big

[3:42:37] meetings, we've done meetings

[3:42:37] where there's been a lot of

[3:42:41] passion and even disagreement

[3:42:41] between two sides and we can

[3:42:42] get through this.

[3:42:46] We have at least three hours of

[3:42:46] testimony just who was showed

[3:42:51] up today at city hall And of

[3:42:52] course we do expect folks to

[3:42:52] participate remotely as well.

[3:42:57] So we're going to be here for a

[3:42:57] while.

[3:42:58] So let's all play nicely

[3:42:58] together.

[3:43:03] And then to my council

[3:43:03] colleagues over the past few

[3:43:07] meetings some folks have been

[3:43:08] going over the five plus three

[3:43:09] minutes and I've been very

[3:43:09] quietly giving away my time to

[3:43:14] allow them to continue

[3:43:14] uninterrupted.

[3:43:15] I will have my own comments So

[3:43:20] unless you get time seated by

[3:43:21] one of your colleagues we'll be

[3:43:21] adhering to the five plus three

[3:43:25] when it comes to council and

[3:43:26] their deliberation going

[3:43:26] forward.

[3:43:32] So with that this item was

[3:43:33] brought forward by

[3:43:33] Councilmember Whitman in

[3:43:34] District three.

[3:43:34] So Councilmember Lipman, we'll

[3:43:35] give you an opportunity for

[3:43:38] opening opening remarks and

[3:43:39] then we'll go to staff for

[3:43:39] the presentation.

[3:43:40] So thank you.

[3:43:43] Council PRESIDENT.

[3:43:44] This is a resolution

[3:43:44] recognizing the rise of

[3:43:45] anti-Semitism affirming

[3:43:49] the city of San Diego

[3:43:50] commitment to combating hate

[3:43:50] and discrimination and adopting

[3:43:55] the international Holocaust

[3:43:56] Remembrance Alliance's working

[3:43:56] definition of anti-Semitism.

[3:43:57] Before I turn it over to right

[3:44:02] Darcy and my staff to provide a

[3:44:03] presentation of this I'd like

[3:44:03] to offer a few acknowledgments

[3:44:04] I want to say to your

[3:44:08] antisemitism task force for

[3:44:09] meeting with me about the rise

[3:44:09] in antisemitism and

[3:44:10] the importance of this action

[3:44:14] to many of the Jewish

[3:44:14] community.

[3:44:15] I want to thank the City of San

[3:44:16] Diego Human Relations

[3:44:20] Commission for considering this

[3:44:20] and forwarding a request to

[3:44:21] the City Council that we adopt

[3:44:22] this resolution.

[3:44:27] I wanna thank Brian d'Arcy, my

[3:44:27] Deputy Chief of staff for all

[3:44:28] of his work in bringing this

[3:44:32] forward and I want to thank all

[3:44:33] of you here today or joining us

[3:44:33] on line for taking the time to

[3:44:38] be a part of today's discussion

[3:44:39] .

[3:44:39] >> But those acknowledgments

[3:44:40] I'll turn it over to Brian

[3:44:40] Right?

[3:44:41] Right.

[3:44:46] I'll please just for the record

[3:44:46] and let us know how much time

[3:44:47] you need for the presentation.

[3:44:51] I can you repeat and turn

[3:44:51] the mic on Very.

[3:44:56] Brian d'Arcy Deputy Chief of

[3:44:57] Staff for Councilmember Stephen

[3:44:57] Whitburn.

[3:44:58] I'm gonna need about ten

[3:44:59] minutes when you're ready.

[3:44:59] Thank you.

[3:45:02] All right.

[3:45:02] Good afternoon, Council

[3:45:03] PRESIDENT Members of the City

[3:45:03] Council.

[3:45:04] Thank you for the opportunity

[3:45:05] to present today.

[3:45:08] I'm here on behalf of

[3:45:09] Councilmember Whitburn

[3:45:10] regarding item s500 a

[3:45:10] resolution of the Council of

[3:45:13] the City of San Diego

[3:45:14] recognizing a rise of

[3:45:14] antisemitism.

[3:45:15] Affirming the city's commitment

[3:45:20] to combating hate and

[3:45:21] discrimination and adopting

[3:45:21] the International Holocaust

[3:45:22] Remembrance Alliance's working

[3:45:25] definition of antisemitism.

[3:45:26] This issue first came before

[3:45:31] the city through the San Diego

[3:45:32] Human Relations Commission in

[3:45:32] MAY of 2025.

[3:45:33] The Commission voted

[3:45:37] unanimously to urge the city of

[3:45:38] San Diego to adopt the ira

[3:45:38] working definition of

[3:45:39] antisemitism.

[3:45:43] Following that vote,

[3:45:44] the commission formally sent a

[3:45:44] letter to the mayor and city

[3:45:49] council recommending adoption.

[3:45:50] The Chair of the Relations

[3:45:50] Commission at the time, Nicole

[3:45:51] Marie Ramirez, also spoke

[3:45:54] before the City Council in

[3:45:54] DECEMBER of last year

[3:45:55] encouraging the city to take

[3:46:00] this step.

[3:46:01] So what is ira

[3:46:01] the International Holocaust

[3:46:02] Remembrance Alliance or ira?

[3:46:06] It's an intergovernmental

[3:46:07] organization dedicated to

[3:46:08] the Holocaust Education

[3:46:12] historical research and

[3:46:13] remembrance.

[3:46:13] Its work Focus focuses on

[3:46:14] preserving the historical

[3:46:18] record of the Holocaust and

[3:46:19] combating modern antisemitism

[3:46:19] around the world.

[3:46:24] Ira provides a form of

[3:46:25] government scholars and experts

[3:46:26] to develop tools to best

[3:46:29] practices in recognizing and

[3:46:30] addressing anti Semitism in

[3:46:36] modern society in particular

[3:46:37] working definition.

[3:46:41] In MAY of 2016 Member States

[3:46:42] adopted what is known as

[3:46:43] the ira working definition of

[3:46:43] antisemitism.

[3:46:47] The definition states

[3:46:47] antisemitism is a certain

[3:46:48] perception of Jews which MAY be

[3:46:49] expressed as hatred towards

[3:46:49] Jews.

[3:46:53] It also clarifies that

[3:46:54] antisemitism can manifest

[3:46:55] through rhetoric or physical

[3:46:58] acts directed at Jewish

[3:46:59] individuals, Jewish

[3:46:59] institutions or Jewish

[3:47:00] community spaces.

[3:47:05] Importantly the definition is a

[3:47:06] non legally binding and is

[3:47:06] intended primarily as an

[3:47:10] educational and analytical tool

[3:47:11] to help institutions better

[3:47:18] recognize antisemitism.

[3:47:18] The next slide Key points I

[3:47:19] would like to be explicitly

[3:47:19] clear.

[3:47:20] One of the most important

[3:47:24] points is to clarify is that

[3:47:24] the ihra definition does not

[3:47:25] restrict free speech.

[3:47:29] The resolution explicitly

[3:47:30] states that nothing in it is

[3:47:35] intended to limit or infringe

[3:47:36] upon the rights protected by

[3:47:37] the United States Constitution

[3:47:37] or that of the California

[3:47:42] Constitution including

[3:47:43] the freedom of speech and

[3:47:43] expression.

[3:47:44] Additionally, the ihra

[3:47:49] definition itself clearly

[3:47:49] states that criticism of Israel

[3:47:54] similar to that leveled against

[3:47:55] any other country cannot be

[3:47:55] regarded as anti-Semitic.

[3:48:00] This definition is simply a

[3:48:01] tool to help identify

[3:48:01] antisemitism when it occurs.

[3:48:05] It does not criminalize speech

[3:48:11] or political viewpoints.

[3:48:12] Why this matters.

[3:48:13] Unfortunately antisemitism

[3:48:13] continues to be a persistent

[3:48:17] and growing problem in

[3:48:18] the United States and around

[3:48:18] the world.

[3:48:19] Jewish individuals and Jewish

[3:48:24] institutions experience

[3:48:24] disproportionately high levels

[3:48:25] of hate incidents compared to

[3:48:30] any other or many other groups

[3:48:30] .

[3:48:31] In recent years we have seen an

[3:48:31] increase in anti-Semitic

[3:48:35] rhetoric, threats, harassment,

[3:48:36] vandalism targeting synagogues

[3:48:37] and Jewish community

[3:48:41] institutions and violence

[3:48:42] directed at Jewish individuals.

[3:48:42] These incidents do not only

[3:48:47] harm the Jewish community, they

[3:48:47] threaten public safety, civil

[3:48:48] rights and the social cohesion

[3:48:51] of our communities.

[3:48:58] The data the data reflects

[3:48:59] the seriousness of the problem

[3:48:59] across the United States.

[3:49:03] Anti-Semitic incidents have

[3:49:04] increased dramatically over

[3:49:04] the last decade, rising by

[3:49:09] nearly 900% across the United

[3:49:10] States.

[3:49:10] Here in San Diego, anti-Semitic

[3:49:14] incidents increased 27.5%

[3:49:15] between 2023 and 2024 And

[3:49:16] according to the San Diego

[3:49:20] Police Department, anti-Semitic

[3:49:20] hate crimes increased by

[3:49:21] approximately 150% from 2024 to

[3:49:21] 2025.

[3:49:27] These numbers highlight why it

[3:49:27] is important for cities like

[3:49:28] San Diego to take clear steps

[3:49:32] to recognize and address

[3:49:33] antisemitism.

[3:49:38] Widespread support The ihra

[3:49:39] definition is widely used

[3:49:39] across the world.

[3:49:43] More than 1300 entities have

[3:49:43] adopted it including

[3:49:44] governments, educational

[3:49:49] institutions and civil society

[3:49:49] organizations.

[3:49:50] 47 countries have adopted this

[3:49:51] definition.

[3:49:51] Hundreds of nongovernmental

[3:49:55] organizations, universities and

[3:49:56] local governments have also

[3:49:56] adopted it.

[3:49:57] Even diverse international

[3:50:02] organizations have supported

[3:50:02] its adoption as a tool to

[3:50:03] recognize and combat

[3:50:07] antisemitism.

[3:50:08] Cities Major U.S. Cities have

[3:50:08] adopted the Iowa working

[3:50:09] definition.

[3:50:14] These include cities such as

[3:50:14] Chicago which passed this

[3:50:15] unanimously in JANUARY.

[3:50:20] Los Angeles Which passed us

[3:50:20] unanimously.

[3:50:21] Washington, D.C..

[3:50:21] El Paso.

[3:50:25] Las Vegas and here locally in

[3:50:25] San Diego County.

[3:50:26] Other cities have also taken

[3:50:27] this step.

[3:50:27] The city of Oklahoma adopted

[3:50:31] the ihra definition unanimously

[3:50:32] in a520 vote.

[3:50:32] The city of Chula Vista also

[3:50:37] adopted the ihra definition in

[3:50:38] a 5 to 0 vote on MAY 13th,

[3:50:38] 2025.

[3:50:42] San Diego would be joining

[3:50:43] other cities in our own region

[3:50:44] that are already using this

[3:50:47] definition as a tool to

[3:50:48] recognize and address

[3:50:48] antisemitism.

[3:50:49] The proposed action before you

[3:50:55] today is to adopt a resolution

[3:50:55] of the Council the City of San

[3:50:56] Diego recognizing the rise of

[3:51:00] antisemitism.

[3:51:01] Affirming the city's commitment

[3:51:01] to combating hate and

[3:51:02] discrimination and adopting

[3:51:02] the international Holocaust

[3:51:06] Remembrance Alliance's working

[3:51:06] definition of antisemitism.

[3:51:07] This action will provide a

[3:51:12] clear framework to recognize

[3:51:12] antisemitism.

[3:51:13] Support education and awareness

[3:51:13] and affirm the city's

[3:51:17] commitment to combating hate.

[3:51:18] And stand in solidarity with

[3:51:19] our Jewish community.

[3:51:24] And with that I am happy to

[3:51:24] take any questions from

[3:51:25] the Council.

[3:51:25] Thank you.

[3:51:25] Okay.

[3:51:29] Excuse me.

[3:51:30] Thank you, Councilmember Lipman

[3:51:31] for introducing this item, MR.

[3:51:34] Darcy for your work on

[3:51:35] the presentation.

[3:51:36] We are now going to move to

[3:51:40] public comment and if you ever

[3:51:41] want to see a ballet of how to

[3:51:42] manage public comment you're

[3:51:46] going to see it with our city

[3:51:46] clerk.

[3:51:47] So have a lot of patience with

[3:51:51] her as she tries to figure out

[3:51:52] when you see the time and share

[3:51:53] time when she calls your name

[3:51:58] or even mispronounces your

[3:51:58] name.

[3:51:59] Occasionally she's going to do

[3:51:59] a fabulous job, have patience

[3:52:03] and work with her.

[3:52:04] And then as a third and final

[3:52:09] reminder again, civility is

[3:52:09] really the key for this

[3:52:10] conversation.

[3:52:10] We want to hear from both

[3:52:11] sides.

[3:52:14] Whatever your opinion is,

[3:52:14] please respect those who MAY

[3:52:15] have a different opinion from

[3:52:15] you.

[3:52:19] We want to keep this a civil

[3:52:20] conversation and let's get

[3:52:20] started.

[3:52:25] So with that clerk please

[3:52:26] proceed with public comment.

[3:52:26] >> Thank you Council PRESIDENT

[3:52:27] And thank you for

[3:52:27] the introduction.

[3:52:30] I hope I served you all well

[3:52:31] today.

[3:52:32] i will just note that we do

[3:52:32] have over three hours of public

[3:52:33] comment here in council

[3:52:36] chambers as well as in

[3:52:36] the queue.

[3:52:37] We have over 180 speakers here

[3:52:40] and currently 27 speakers in

[3:52:41] the queue with their hands

[3:52:41] raised.

[3:52:42] I will also note that there are

[3:52:47] several people that were not

[3:52:47] able to submit their speaker

[3:52:48] slip with whoever they were

[3:52:49] seating time to.

[3:52:52] When I call somebody that

[3:52:52] seating time.

[3:52:53] I will ask those that are

[3:52:54] seating time to raise their

[3:52:54] hand If you don't hear your

[3:52:58] name called and you want it to

[3:52:59] raise to cede your time to that

[3:52:59] speaker please be sure to raise

[3:53:00] your hand.

[3:53:00] I am trying to do my best to

[3:53:03] make sure that I match them all

[3:53:03] up in order for you to be heard

[3:53:08] and give that person their time

[3:53:08] allocation.

[3:53:09] Thank you for all this.

[3:53:10] Nicole Marie Ramirez if you can

[3:53:14] please come up you have time

[3:53:15] ceded to you by Thomas If you

[3:53:16] can please raise your hand.

[3:53:16] Judy thank you.

[3:53:21] And Jay and Laura, thank you.

[3:53:25] And Molly, please raise your

[3:53:25] hand.

[3:53:25] Thank you.

[3:53:26] And Julia Orlando, Julie Lando,

[3:53:27] thank you so much.

[3:53:29] You're all seeing your time

[3:53:30] too, Nicole You'll have five

[3:53:30] minutes.

[3:53:31] >> Please proceed.

[3:53:35] Good afternoon.

[3:53:36] One year on JUNE 19th, 2025 I

[3:53:40] made a motion that the Human

[3:53:41] Relations Commission urge

[3:53:42] the mayor and City council to

[3:53:45] officially join the over 43

[3:53:46] countries 37 states and over

[3:53:46] 100 cities now including

[3:53:51] Chicago, Los Angeles and Clovis

[3:53:52] to an alcohol to adopt

[3:53:52] the International Holocaust

[3:53:56] Remembrance Alliance Definition

[3:53:56] of anti-Semitism.

[3:54:01] This motion was unanimously

[3:54:01] passed by the Human Relations

[3:54:02] Commission.

[3:54:02] We then spent many months

[3:54:07] before we sent our

[3:54:08] recommendation to the mayor and

[3:54:08] the council.

[3:54:12] Having dialog with those in

[3:54:13] support of the hra definition

[3:54:14] and those in opposition

[3:54:18] including public input as well

[3:54:18] as working closely with our

[3:54:23] executive director Reverend DR.

[3:54:23] Gerald Brown.

[3:54:24] We know that each of you on

[3:54:24] this council have been flooded

[3:54:27] with support in opposition.

[3:54:28] The Human Relations Commission

[3:54:29] has done its part and with all

[3:54:33] due diligence on this item now

[3:54:34] I most respectfully ask each of

[3:54:39] you to do yours.

[3:54:40] For over 60 years I have come

[3:54:40] before this council and spoke

[3:54:44] out for social justice, spoke

[3:54:45] out against hate crimes and

[3:54:49] hate towards the black Asian

[3:54:50] Pacific Islander community,

[3:54:54] Muslim and Jewish and my Latino

[3:54:54] and lgbt communities.

[3:54:55] But I say to you that never

[3:55:00] have I witnessed the growing

[3:55:01] hate and attacks released these

[3:55:05] last decades on the Jewish

[3:55:05] community Such hate not seen

[3:55:06] since the Holocaust.

[3:55:10] Recently addressed

[3:55:11] the statistics now show that

[3:55:12] the Jewish community suffers

[3:55:16] Can times more hate crimes than

[3:55:17] any other community in our

[3:55:17] nation.

[3:55:21] Think about it ten times more

[3:55:25] hate than any other community

[3:55:26] in San Diego Jewish houses of

[3:55:27] worship, student centers,

[3:55:31] rabbis, neighborhoods,

[3:55:31] community centers are being

[3:55:32] attacked and subject to hate

[3:55:36] and closing.

[3:55:37] I stand before you as other

[3:55:42] Christians who are able to wear

[3:55:42] this cross around our necks

[3:55:46] openly, freely and without

[3:55:47] incident.

[3:55:47] I so wish each of you would

[3:55:51] have been with me and looked

[3:55:52] into the faces of Jewish youth

[3:55:53] and students as I have who told

[3:55:57] me they were now afraid to wear

[3:56:01] their stars of David because of

[3:56:02] the hate they have been

[3:56:02] subjected to.

[3:56:07] I will never ever forget a 17

[3:56:07] year old Jewish student named

[3:56:08] Josh who told me his

[3:56:11] grandmother a survivor of

[3:56:12] the Holocaust so afraid for

[3:56:17] the safety of her grandson she

[3:56:18] begged him not to wear the star

[3:56:18] of David.

[3:56:22] She had given them long ago in

[3:56:23] public and even urged them to

[3:56:27] now mispronounce his last name

[3:56:28] differently when he was in

[3:56:28] public.

[3:56:33] She was so afraid and worried

[3:56:33] for him Indeed.

[3:56:34] What kind of nation have we

[3:56:37] become today by voting yes?

[3:56:38] You will be sending a message

[3:56:42] to Josh, its grandmother and

[3:56:43] the Jewish community.

[3:56:47] Our city see them here to them

[3:56:48] And we stand against the rise

[3:56:50] in hate crimes against

[3:56:51] the Jewish people.

[3:57:05] >> Thank you.

[3:57:10] Okay, so now we have three

[3:57:11] hours and one more minute.

[3:57:12] That will be the last time

[3:57:17] we'll have applause.

[3:57:20] Nicole I would love to.

[3:57:20] You've been warned.

[3:57:21] Nicole you were the chair of

[3:57:25] the hrc and I was Why I had you

[3:57:26] come speak first.

[3:57:27] Please do not engage in

[3:57:30] applause.

[3:57:30] Thumbs up.

[3:57:31] It's very powerful.

[3:57:32] We need to get through three

[3:57:34] hours of testimony.

[3:57:35] >> Next is I'm going to be

[3:57:40] calling people up to the front

[3:57:41] row.

[3:57:41] Alberto Mentor Laura's Laura

[3:57:45] Stone Shay Ellis, Leslie

[3:57:46] Zimmer, Romy Romy Zimmer and

[3:57:46] Janet.

[3:57:50] Janet Klein if you can please

[3:57:51] I'll come up to the yellow

[3:57:51] reserved seats.

[3:57:55] Alberto you have time ceded to

[3:57:56] you by rose home.

[3:57:56] Rose if you can please raise

[3:57:57] your hand.

[3:57:57] Thank you.

[3:57:59] You'll have two minutes.

[3:57:59] Alberto, please come up to

[3:58:08] the microphone.

[3:58:09] Good afternoon.

[3:58:10] Thank you for holding this

[3:58:13] space for us.

[3:58:14] >> People in this room will say

[3:58:15] that the ihra definition goes

[3:58:18] against the First Amendment.

[3:58:18] But does it?

[3:58:23] Of course not.

[3:58:24] Labeling something doesn't ban

[3:58:24] it.

[3:58:28] It gives it a name And that

[3:58:28] main name MAY make some people

[3:58:29] uncomfortable but it doesn't

[3:58:32] ban it.

[3:58:33] >> Hate speech anti-Semitic,

[3:58:37] anti-Semitic speech is still

[3:58:38] protected speech.

[3:58:38] If this council adopts the ihra

[3:58:42] definition, it won't stop

[3:58:46] anyone from.

[3:58:47] It won't stop anyone from from

[3:58:51] calling Jews baby killers.

[3:58:52] It won't stop anyone from

[3:58:55] saying that we control

[3:59:00] the banks and the media.

[3:59:01] What it will do is label what

[3:59:02] you're doing.

[3:59:04] It will give you the name.

[3:59:05] >> It will hold a mirror to

[3:59:09] your face and it'll and it will

[3:59:10] show you and it will tell you

[3:59:11] that label was will be that you

[3:59:14] are an anti-Semitic.

[3:59:15] So criticize us all you want

[3:59:19] slander us all you want hate us

[3:59:20] all you want Your hate speech

[3:59:24] will still be protected Speech

[3:59:24] but don't hide from hide from

[3:59:25] the truth and what you are.

[3:59:29] I urge this Council Council to

[3:59:33] adopt the resolution and it and

[3:59:34] let people look in that mirror.

[3:59:38] >> Thank you.

[3:59:39] >> Lara Stone You have time to

[3:59:43] buy Shira Schaefer Shira,

[3:59:44] please raise your hand.

[3:59:44] Thank you.

[3:59:45] You'll have two minutes.

[3:59:48] Please proceed.

[3:59:48] Hi.

[3:59:48] Hello.

[3:59:49] My name is Lara Stone from

[3:59:50] District one.

[3:59:53] Thank you, COUNCILMAN Whitburn

[3:59:54] for sponsoring today's very

[3:59:58] important I r h I h r a vote.

[3:59:59] >> Jewish Voice for Peace jvp

[4:00:03] is here today but I want to

[4:00:04] stress that they do not

[4:00:04] represent the views of

[4:00:07] the broader Jewish community.

[4:00:08] On the contrary many of us feel

[4:00:09] that they appropriate

[4:00:12] the Jewish voice to advocate a

[4:00:12] political agenda that most

[4:00:13] Jewish organizations and

[4:00:17] community members reject

[4:00:17] entirely.

[4:00:18] You have all received an

[4:00:22] extensive legally backed

[4:00:22] dossier on jvp but in case you

[4:00:23] haven't had a chance to read

[4:00:26] the facts about them, it's

[4:00:27] important for the Council to be

[4:00:28] aware of jvp record.

[4:00:31] The organization has expressed

[4:00:32] support for and solidarity with

[4:00:36] groups connected to the popular

[4:00:37] Front for the Liberation of

[4:00:38] Palestine which is designated

[4:00:41] as a terrorist organization by

[4:00:42] the United States.

[4:00:43] Jvp also regularly partners

[4:00:47] with the Palestine Indian Youth

[4:00:47] Movement, an organization whose

[4:00:51] public messaging has included

[4:00:52] praise for terrorist groups

[4:00:56] such as Palestinian Islamic.

[4:00:57] Jvp supported the Great MARCH

[4:00:57] of Return demonstrations which

[4:01:01] were coordinated by Leadership

[4:01:01] Committee that included

[4:01:02] representatives from several

[4:01:05] organizations designated by

[4:01:06] the U.S. As terrorist groups

[4:01:10] and closer to home jvp members

[4:01:11] have repeatedly harassed

[4:01:11] members at students on San

[4:01:15] Diego campuses and Jewish

[4:01:16] community members at various

[4:01:16] Jewish events.

[4:01:20] So when jvp speaks today, I

[4:01:21] urge the council to consider

[4:01:25] what their true agenda is and

[4:01:26] to make a note that they do not

[4:01:30] represent the wider Jewish

[4:01:30] community despite their

[4:01:31] deceiving name.

[4:01:35] Thanks for your time.

[4:01:35] Thank you.

[4:01:40] Next we have Shay Ellis.

[4:01:40] Shay Ellis.

[4:01:41] You have people sitting your

[4:01:41] time.

[4:01:42] Please raise your hand.

[4:01:49] Dan Bass Anita mc House Chris

[4:01:55] Thank you Isaac and Jillian are

[4:01:55] off present.

[4:01:56] Thank you.

[4:01:58] You'll have five minutes.

[4:01:59] >> Please proceed.

[4:01:59] Good afternoon.

[4:02:03] City council members Thank you

[4:02:03] to Council member Whitburn for

[4:02:04] bringing this item forward.

[4:02:08] My name is Shay Ellis and I am

[4:02:08] the Regional coordinator for

[4:02:12] adl the Anti-Defamation League

[4:02:13] of San Diego.

[4:02:13] I am also a resident of

[4:02:14] District One.

[4:02:17] I am here today in support of

[4:02:18] item 500 and we urge

[4:02:19] the Council to vote yes on

[4:02:22] adopting the ihra definition.

[4:02:23] Across the country adl has

[4:02:27] recorded skyrocketing levels of

[4:02:28] anti-Semitic incidents since

[4:02:31] 10/7, including a 286% increase

[4:02:34] in San Diego since 2022.

[4:02:39] This demands action and ihra

[4:02:40] definition is a tool that can

[4:02:40] help our community address this

[4:02:41] moment.

[4:02:44] Antisemitism doesn't disappear.

[4:02:45] It evolves.

[4:02:45] Over the years it has targeted

[4:02:50] Jews under the guise of being

[4:02:50] anti-communist anti-globalist

[4:02:54] or the villains in a number of

[4:02:54] different movements.

[4:02:55] Today that language has evolved

[4:02:58] to focus on anti-Zionism.

[4:02:59] We hear the stories of San

[4:03:03] Diego college students who are

[4:03:04] ostracized for their Jewish

[4:03:05] identity but told it's only

[4:03:08] because they're Zionists.

[4:03:09] The k-12 students who are

[4:03:10] bullied for being quote unquote

[4:03:13] baby killers and the employees

[4:03:13] of San Diego businesses and

[4:03:17] organizations who have to

[4:03:18] pursue legal action to rectify

[4:03:19] the antisemitic harassment and

[4:03:22] discrimination they encounter.

[4:03:23] We cannot afford to let our

[4:03:24] city become a place where Jews

[4:03:27] are only treated with dignity

[4:03:28] and respect if they denounce

[4:03:31] their support for the right of

[4:03:32] Israel to exist which is

[4:03:32] something that over 90% of

[4:03:37] Americans support And it does

[4:03:37] exist even though the current

[4:03:41] language that targets Jews

[4:03:42] claims to be only anti-Zionism

[4:03:46] it leads to the same outcomes

[4:03:47] that antisemitism always has.

[4:03:47] Harassment, discrimination.

[4:03:51] Violence and worse.

[4:03:52] The ihra definition is a

[4:03:53] crucial tool that helps

[4:03:57] governments, universities, NGOs

[4:03:57] and other and other groups

[4:04:01] understand all of the complex

[4:04:02] elements of antisemitism that

[4:04:05] target people for different

[4:04:06] aspects of Jewish identity.

[4:04:07] We urge you to vote yes on

[4:04:11] the resolution and have San

[4:04:11] Diego join cities like Los

[4:04:15] Angeles, Chicago and Miami in

[4:04:16] creating a city government that

[4:04:17] stands for the safety of

[4:04:17] the Jewish community In this

[4:04:18] moment.

[4:04:24] Thank you.

[4:04:25] Next is Lesley Zimmer.

[4:04:26] After Liz Zimmer we have Romi

[4:04:26] Zimmer.

[4:04:27] Then Jordan Marks and Janet

[4:04:31] Klein.

[4:04:32] Dear City council members,

[4:04:33] thank you so much.

[4:04:37] City COUNCILMAN Whitburn My

[4:04:38] name please Zimmer I live in

[4:04:38] District one.

[4:04:42] I'm asking you to adopt Ira in

[4:04:42] an attempt to distract from ira

[4:04:43] anti-Semites advocate for what

[4:04:46] is called the Jerusalem

[4:04:47] Declaration on antisemitism.

[4:04:48] The Jerusalem Declaration was

[4:04:52] written by a self-selected

[4:04:52] group of scholars acting in

[4:04:53] their personal capacity.

[4:04:56] The authors and signatories

[4:04:57] represent their own academic

[4:04:58] perspectives not the views of

[4:05:01] Jewish communities, voters or

[4:05:02] institutions that are

[4:05:03] accountable to the public.

[4:05:06] The authors of the Jerusalem

[4:05:06] Declaration describe its

[4:05:07] purpose to contribute to

[4:05:07] academic discussion and that

[4:05:12] unlike ihra it has zero

[4:05:12] adoption by governments,

[4:05:13] schools or other public

[4:05:16] institutions.

[4:05:17] By contrast, the ira working

[4:05:18] definition of antisemitism has

[4:05:21] been adopted by national

[4:05:22] governments, states, cities,

[4:05:22] universities and other public

[4:05:26] institutions around the world.

[4:05:27] Ihra has been endorsed by all

[4:05:28] Jewish communal organizations

[4:05:30] as the ira definition functions

[4:05:31] as a widely adopted public

[4:05:32] policy framework.

[4:05:35] Those who are.

[4:05:36] >> Thank you for that

[4:05:40] concluding remark Romi Vote yes

[4:05:40] .

[4:05:41] >> Good afternoon.

[4:05:41] My name is Romi Zimmer.

[4:05:46] I am 17 years old and this is

[4:05:46] my first council meeting.

[4:05:47] I am missing school today

[4:05:50] because this moment matters.

[4:05:50] In just one week synagogues

[4:05:51] around the world were attacked.

[4:05:54] A synagogue in Michigan was set

[4:05:55] on fire with 140 preschoolers

[4:05:59] inside In Carnegie, Canada,

[4:06:00] synagogues were hit by gunfire.

[4:06:04] In the Netherlands men were

[4:06:04] arrested for an arson attack.

[4:06:05] In Belgium a synagogue was

[4:06:09] bombed.

[4:06:09] Some people say anti-Zionism is

[4:06:10] not antisemitism but if that

[4:06:13] were true, why are American

[4:06:14] Jews and our synagogues under

[4:06:14] attack?

[4:06:18] Zionism means the Jewish people

[4:06:19] have the right to

[4:06:20] self-determination and our

[4:06:23] ancestral homeland.

[4:06:24] i am a proud Zionist.

[4:06:25] You can disagree with me That

[4:06:28] is your right in America but

[4:06:29] you do not have the right to

[4:06:29] harass, threaten or intimidate

[4:06:33] me for being a Zionist.

[4:06:34] I want to grow up in San Diego

[4:06:35] where Jewish kids don't have to

[4:06:38] be afraid to display their

[4:06:38] Jewishness or Zionism.

[4:06:39] Today you have the power to

[4:06:43] help make that future real.

[4:06:43] >> Please vote yes for Ira.

[4:06:44] Thank you.

[4:06:44] Our next speaker is Jordan

[4:06:45] Marks.

[4:06:48] Please come up to the podium.

[4:06:49] After that we have Janet Klein,

[4:06:50] Nicole Bernstein, Andrew Beth,

[4:06:53] James Key and Cantor Cornett as

[4:06:54] well as Lisa Tucker.

[4:06:58] Tucker, if you can all please

[4:06:59] come up to the yellow reserved

[4:06:59] seats.

[4:06:59] Please proceed.

[4:07:00] I apologize in advance.

[4:07:03] I got Lasix I'm having to read

[4:07:03] a little harder today.

[4:07:07] So is it okay MADAM Clerk?

[4:07:08] PRESIDENT Lacob and members of

[4:07:09] the Center City Council.

[4:07:09] My name is Jordan Marks.

[4:07:11] I serve as your senior county

[4:07:12] assessor recorder County clerk.

[4:07:13] But I'm here today in my

[4:07:13] capacity as a San Diego City

[4:07:16] resident, a parent and a proud

[4:07:17] member of the Jewish community.

[4:07:20] I strongly ask for your support

[4:07:20] of items 500 The adoption of

[4:07:21] the International Holocaust

[4:07:22] Remembrance Alliance Definition

[4:07:25] of Antisemitism.

[4:07:26] I want to thank the Senate

[4:07:26] Human Relations Commission and

[4:07:30] Chair Nicole Ramirez for

[4:07:31] the U.S. Unanimous support in

[4:07:31] moving this forward to City

[4:07:32] council and especially

[4:07:35] COUNCILMAN Steven Whitburn for

[4:07:35] your leadership bring this item

[4:07:36] forward today.

[4:07:36] Across the region we've already

[4:07:39] seen cities like Chula Vista

[4:07:40] and El Cajon pass this

[4:07:44] definition because too often

[4:07:45] acts of hate when we see them

[4:07:45] happen.

[4:07:49] We see elected officials post

[4:07:50] their thoughts and prayers.

[4:07:50] But in L.A. County we've

[4:07:51] experienced real consequences

[4:07:54] Violence like the power

[4:07:54] synagogue shooting, the sdsu

[4:07:55] synagogue attack hateful

[4:07:58] anti-Semitic fliers in our

[4:07:59] neighborhoods and swastikas

[4:08:00] defacing our community spaces.

[4:08:03] As a parent I can tell you

[4:08:04] Jewish families are living this

[4:08:04] reality Every day we drop off

[4:08:09] our children at schools,

[4:08:10] community centers by gate armed

[4:08:10] guards and they're tired.

[4:08:13] Thank you for that Concluding

[4:08:13] comment.

[4:08:14] Janet Klein Thank you for your

[4:08:15] action today.

[4:08:15] Nick Janet Klein Please come up

[4:08:18] to the microphone.

[4:08:22] Who do you want to see to to

[4:08:27] start falling back again and

[4:08:28] someone will come up and get

[4:08:28] your name.

[4:08:32] But as I can tell you as a

[4:08:32] parent and a Jewish parent it's

[4:08:33] not fun to have to have armed

[4:08:34] guards standing there with you

[4:08:38] Children be wanded.

[4:08:38] I've been at community events

[4:08:39] with many of your council

[4:08:40] members here where it's nice to

[4:08:42] walk our children's in spaces

[4:08:43] where they're free to be who

[4:08:44] they are and not attacked for

[4:08:46] being Jewish or for being a

[4:08:47] person that's Asian, Latino or

[4:08:48] African-American.

[4:08:52] We all stand together.

[4:08:52] This is not acceptable.

[4:08:53] This resolution is not

[4:08:53] symbolic.

[4:08:54] It shows that you stand in

[4:08:56] solidarity against hate.

[4:08:57] It's a necessary step to equip

[4:08:58] our city, our law enforcement

[4:09:01] and community with a clear

[4:09:01] understanding of anti-Semitism

[4:09:02] so we can identify it, confront

[4:09:03] it and stop it.

[4:09:06] This is a moment for action,

[4:09:06] not just words.

[4:09:07] Thank you for voting yes on

[4:09:08] today's item and for standing

[4:09:08] with the Jewish community.

[4:09:11] I appreciate each and every one

[4:09:12] of you.

[4:09:12] >> Thank you.

[4:09:17] To confirm or eugenic line and

[4:09:18] I welcome your Janet Klein

[4:09:18] though.

[4:09:19] Thank you.

[4:09:21] Next is Nicole Bernstein Nicole

[4:09:22] you have time ceded to you by

[4:09:26] Jan Saffron Wolfer if you can

[4:09:27] please raise your hand you'll

[4:09:27] have two minutes.

[4:09:30] Please proceed.

[4:09:36] Equal commentator Dialectical

[4:09:37] about to the home Bucky to

[4:09:37] the name of Diana.

[4:09:39] >> So the translation I am so

[4:09:44] sorry that that happened to

[4:09:44] your daughter in class and I

[4:09:45] promise to help.

[4:09:49] That's what I told the parents

[4:09:49] of a ninth grade girl who's

[4:09:50] been bullied at school multiple

[4:09:54] times simply for being Jewish.

[4:09:55] My name is Nicole Bernstein and

[4:09:55] I'm a San Diego resident.

[4:09:58] The daughter of Israeli

[4:09:59] immigrants, the first person in

[4:10:03] my entire family to be born in

[4:10:04] the United States of America

[4:10:08] and co-founder of Pure k12.

[4:10:09] We help Jewish parents to

[4:10:10] protect their kids civil rights

[4:10:13] in our schools.

[4:10:14] That call came to me last week

[4:10:17] while I was out running errands

[4:10:18] .

[4:10:18] I stepped into the corner of a

[4:10:19] store and continued

[4:10:22] the conversation in Hebrew.

[4:10:27] Within minutes multiple people

[4:10:28] walked by and glared at me with

[4:10:32] open hostility.

[4:10:33] One woman even circled back

[4:10:37] twice just to make sure I felt

[4:10:38] it.

[4:10:42] That should not be tolerated.

[4:10:43] I wasn't being loud.

[4:10:43] I was not disruptive.

[4:10:47] I was simply speaking in my

[4:10:47] mother's tongue.

[4:10:52] Hebrew just one week earlier in

[4:10:52] San Jose, California, two

[4:10:56] Israelis speaking Hebrew

[4:10:57] outside of a restaurant were

[4:11:01] violently attacked simply for

[4:11:02] speaking Hebrew in public That

[4:11:06] should not be tolerated.

[4:11:06] >> From classrooms to

[4:11:11] restaurants to grocery stores,

[4:11:11] Jews are being targeted simply

[4:11:16] for daring to exist in public

[4:11:17] That should not be tolerated.

[4:11:21] Every person and every language

[4:11:22] has the right to exist.

[4:11:26] Today in America's finest city

[4:11:27] you have an opportunity to send

[4:11:28] a clear message with your vote.

[4:11:31] Hatred of someone because of

[4:11:32] their religion, skin color or

[4:11:32] sexual orientation National

[4:11:35] nation of origin should be

[4:11:36] tolerated.

[4:11:36] >> Please vote yes.

[4:11:41] Nicole Bernstein.

[4:11:42] Oh, is that you?

[4:11:42] I'm sorry.

[4:11:43] I'm happy to go.

[4:11:46] I'm just getting started.

[4:11:46] Sorry.

[4:11:51] Andrea Dembski After Andrea we

[4:11:51] have Cantor Cornett and Liva

[4:11:55] Tucker as well as DR. Joshua

[4:11:56] Fetter.

[4:11:56] If you can please come out to

[4:11:57] the other reserved seats.

[4:11:57] Please proceed.

[4:12:00] Good afternoon.

[4:12:00] My name is Andrea Beth Dembski

[4:12:01] and I am a commissioner with

[4:12:05] the California Commission on

[4:12:05] the State of Hate.

[4:12:06] Speaking on my own behalf as a

[4:12:07] member of the Jewish community

[4:12:09] who has been dogged and

[4:12:10] harassed for assumptions about

[4:12:14] my support of Israel.

[4:12:15] We live in a time when Jew

[4:12:15] haters drive their trucks

[4:12:16] through synagogue doors armed

[4:12:16] with explosives.

[4:12:19] When Jew haters like Jews on

[4:12:20] fire with Molotov cocktails,

[4:12:23] when Jews speaking Hebrew are

[4:12:24] beaten in a restaurant in broad

[4:12:25] daylight and no one comes to

[4:12:25] their aid when Jews are

[4:12:28] murdered outside a Jewish

[4:12:28] museum.

[4:12:29] These acts target Jews not a

[4:12:33] state nor its military.

[4:12:34] Jews are hunted domestically

[4:12:34] for being Jews and for our

[4:12:38] assumed connection to Israel

[4:12:39] that tens of millions of

[4:12:39] Christians who do support

[4:12:42] Israel are not similarly

[4:12:43] attacked.

[4:12:43] Clarify that these acts of hate

[4:12:47] and violence against Jews are

[4:12:47] antisemitism.

[4:12:48] We need the strongest

[4:12:48] definition of anti-Semitism

[4:12:52] possible and this resolution

[4:12:53] meets that need.

[4:12:53] Thank you to the council

[4:12:57] members and staff who brought

[4:12:58] this forward and I urge you all

[4:12:58] to vote yes.

[4:12:59] >> Thank you.

[4:13:06] Cantor.

[4:13:06] >> Thank you, Council members.

[4:13:07] My name is Cantor Larry Cornett

[4:13:11] for those of you who do not

[4:13:12] know the difference between a

[4:13:12] cantor and a rabbi, rabbis

[4:13:16] think they can sing.

[4:13:17] I am actually here today to

[4:13:21] talk to you about the aria

[4:13:21] definition.

[4:13:25] When I was in college the first

[4:13:26] thing that I learned from

[4:13:30] philosophy professor.

[4:13:31] >> Excuse me I'm sorry is

[4:13:35] define your terms.

[4:13:36] Why is that important?

[4:13:40] You cannot have an intelligent

[4:13:40] conversation with somebody if

[4:13:41] you are not speaking with

[4:13:45] the correct terms and both are

[4:13:45] shared.

[4:13:50] It is imperative for you to not

[4:13:50] play Whac-a-Mole and actually

[4:13:51] have the definition that you

[4:13:55] can use to be able to pattern

[4:13:59] your ideas and importance on

[4:14:00] your department heads as to

[4:14:01] what they need to know.

[4:14:05] Thank you COUNCILMAN Woodburn

[4:14:06] for presenting this.

[4:14:06] I appreciate it.

[4:14:09] Please vote yes and Harry lies

[4:14:13] attacker.

[4:14:14] Hello council members and thank

[4:14:15] you Council member Whipper for

[4:14:20] response during the Irish vote

[4:14:20] today.

[4:14:22] My name is Lisa Thatcher.

[4:14:23] 100 cities and municipalities

[4:14:24] in the us have adopted the ihra

[4:14:28] definition because it is

[4:14:28] constitutional and does not

[4:14:32] infringe on one's right to free

[4:14:33] speech.

[4:14:34] But San Diego is not on this

[4:14:37] list.

[4:14:38] Today is the day.

[4:14:38] San Diego being the sister city

[4:14:41] of Shard Negev should be added

[4:14:42] to this list as well.

[4:14:46] Beverly Hills El Cajon La Chula

[4:14:46] Vista.

[4:14:46] Miami.

[4:14:47] Miami Beach.

[4:14:47] Coral Gables.

[4:14:48] Doral.

[4:14:51] Sunnyvale Beach.

[4:14:52] Palm Beach Gardens.

[4:14:52] West Palm Beach.

[4:14:53] Hialeah Gardens.

[4:14:56] Parkland.

[4:14:57] North Miami of Intolerable

[4:14:57] Harbor Surfside.

[4:14:58] Juno Beach.

[4:15:01] Golden Beach Bay Harbor Islands

[4:15:02] North Bay Village North Palm

[4:15:02] Beach Pine.

[4:15:06] Chris Key Biscayne Jupiter

[4:15:07] Jupiter Intel Colony Forest

[4:15:11] Park Lincoln Wood Highland Park

[4:15:12] Gary Bellevue Tacoma.

[4:15:16] Kansas City.

[4:15:17] >> Seattle.

[4:15:18] Thank you for that concluding

[4:15:18] remark.

[4:15:26] DR. Joshua Fetter Thank you.

[4:15:27] I'm DR. Josh Fader.

[4:15:28] I teach at ucsd School of

[4:15:31] Medicine and also at nasa

[4:15:31] National University Palestinian

[4:15:32] Child Institute in Nablus.

[4:15:36] My family in yellow Poland was

[4:15:37] burned alive in their synagogue

[4:15:41] in a Nazi demonstration to show

[4:15:41] that the world would not help

[4:15:45] Jews here in America.

[4:15:46] At age six I took a brick at

[4:15:46] close range to my head because

[4:15:50] I killed Jesus.

[4:15:51] I became a Navy doctor, served

[4:15:51] through the first Gulf War and

[4:15:55] now I lead the American Academy

[4:15:56] of Child and Adolescent

[4:15:56] Psychiatry and Trauma care

[4:16:00] nationally and globally helping

[4:16:00] all children impacted by

[4:16:04] conflict and hate.

[4:16:05] Last SEPTEMBER I spoke at

[4:16:06] the U.N. To move that fragile

[4:16:10] cease fire forward.

[4:16:10] My life is about protecting

[4:16:11] children.

[4:16:14] Every child deserves safety and

[4:16:15] peace That includes Jewish

[4:16:20] children.

[4:16:20] This ira resolution will help.

[4:16:24] Thank you.

[4:16:25] >> Rabbi Scott Meltzer Rabbi,

[4:16:29] you have time seated by Jacob

[4:16:30] Schorr If you can please raise

[4:16:30] your hand And by Nina Schorr if

[4:16:33] you can please raise your hand.

[4:16:34] You'll have three minutes.

[4:16:34] Please proceed.

[4:16:39] Thank you.

[4:16:39] Thank you, Council member

[4:16:40] Whitburn for bringing this

[4:16:40] resolution.

[4:16:43] Thank you to your staff for an

[4:16:44] outstanding presentation.

[4:16:44] Thank you to the entire

[4:16:44] Council.

[4:16:47] My name is Scott Meltzer.

[4:16:48] I am the Rabbi of Shalom

[4:16:49] Synagogue and I teach in

[4:16:52] the department for the study of

[4:16:53] Religion at San Diego State.

[4:16:53] I would like to publicly

[4:16:54] acknowledge and thank PRESIDENT

[4:16:58] The delegate Tara for her

[4:16:58] national leadership on creating

[4:17:02] safe space for Jewish students

[4:17:03] in the context of American

[4:17:03] universities something that

[4:17:07] tragically is not common around

[4:17:07] the country.

[4:17:08] I also apologize if I look a

[4:17:12] bit disheveled and tired.

[4:17:13] I came home very late last

[4:17:13] night from a conference out of

[4:17:14] town that I was attending.

[4:17:17] I can't tell you where that

[4:17:17] conference is because the new

[4:17:21] norm in Jewish conferences is

[4:17:22] please don't post anything

[4:17:26] geographically identifiable

[4:17:27] until after the conference for

[4:17:27] fear of antisemitism heckling

[4:17:31] harassment and violence.

[4:17:32] I've been to two conferences

[4:17:32] this year and that's been

[4:17:36] the policy for both of them.

[4:17:36] Again, the new norm in

[4:17:37] the Jewish community.

[4:17:40] You want to talk about

[4:17:41] challenges to free speech?

[4:17:42] I have congregants who are

[4:17:46] afraid to come into our

[4:17:46] synagogue.

[4:17:47] They don't come for services.

[4:17:50] They don't come for social

[4:17:50] events.

[4:17:51] They don't come for classes

[4:17:52] because they are afraid of

[4:17:55] the anti-Semitism in this

[4:17:55] America's finest city.

[4:17:56] And you have the opportunity

[4:18:00] today to say to them to all

[4:18:00] Jews in the city and to

[4:18:01] everybody in this city that we

[4:18:05] will not abide these

[4:18:05] unprecedented levels of

[4:18:06] anti-Semitism.

[4:18:09] Some will argue that

[4:18:10] anti-Israel can never be

[4:18:11] anti-Semitic.

[4:18:13] They are wrong.

[4:18:14] Anti-Israel rhetoric is

[4:18:15] sometimes a discourse of

[4:18:19] criticism and sometimes it

[4:18:19] crosses a line that is clearly

[4:18:20] anti-Semitic.

[4:18:24] In the past months my synagogue

[4:18:25] has been vandalized five times.

[4:18:28] Vandalism is a crime.

[4:18:29] When my synagogue is targeted

[4:18:33] in vandalized with anti-Israel

[4:18:37] hate that is anti-Semitic.

[4:18:38] When somebody drives a car into

[4:18:42] a place of worship doing damage

[4:18:43] ,firing a gun that is a crime

[4:18:47] When they are angry at Israel

[4:18:48] and do it in the synagogue that

[4:18:49] is anti-Semitic.

[4:18:52] Any argument to the contrary is

[4:18:53] wrong.

[4:19:00] Thank you very much, Bernard f

[4:19:01] if you can please come up to

[4:19:02] the podium and if I can have

[4:19:05] the following individuals

[4:19:06] please come up to the front

[4:19:06] row.

[4:19:07] Shelly de Leon Stacey Bressler

[4:19:10] Reinstein Greenstein and Wendy

[4:19:10] Patterson.

[4:19:16] Kayla Gilbertson Amy Wise Bomb

[4:19:16] Adam Moseley.

[4:19:20] If you can all please come up

[4:19:20] to the front row and Bernard

[4:19:22] you can come up to

[4:19:29] the microphone and maybe.

[4:19:30] Thank you Counsel.

[4:19:31] My name is Brian Spriggs.

[4:19:34] I'm a native San Diego and I

[4:19:35] live in District one.

[4:19:39] Thank you for bringing this up.

[4:19:40] I'm going to speak on

[4:19:43] the behalf of the Gentile

[4:19:44] population.

[4:19:44] I am not Jewish but I stand

[4:19:48] with the Jews as a Gentile.

[4:19:53] And the fact or even happened

[4:19:54] to have this as a vote is

[4:19:58] probably the most concerning

[4:19:59] part.

[4:20:02] But I personally, as you each

[4:20:03] one personally have to do

[4:20:06] the address take a stand Stand

[4:20:06] up for people's rights, speak

[4:20:07] up for those people who have

[4:20:11] more crime against them than

[4:20:11] any other group.

[4:20:15] Please support this adoption

[4:20:16] and let this just be

[4:20:17] the beginning of a change

[4:20:17] within us to be able to bring

[4:20:21] Shalom to our community.

[4:20:25] Thank you Shelly.

[4:20:26] Good afternoon.

[4:20:30] Council members.

[4:20:31] Good to see you again and thank

[4:20:32] you so much to Council member

[4:20:32] Whitburn.

[4:20:36] I'm in District five in Rancho

[4:20:37] Pinocchio's and a member of

[4:20:40] Stand with Us.

[4:20:41] Thank you for your time today

[4:20:45] And especially I want to urge

[4:20:46] you to vote yes on this

[4:20:46] measure.

[4:20:50] I want to note that members of

[4:20:50] care the Council on American

[4:20:54] Islamic Relations are present

[4:20:55] today and I believe it's

[4:20:56] important for the council to be

[4:20:59] aware of the backgrounds and

[4:21:00] statements connected to

[4:21:04] organizations participating in

[4:21:04] public discussions, for

[4:21:05] example.

[4:21:10] So Jim Webb, a chair or a care

[4:21:10] of speaker and collaborator has

[4:21:14] been quoted as describing

[4:21:19] homosexuality as quote evil

[4:21:19] inclination.

[4:21:24] Additionally, North the Los

[4:21:24] Care's director of government

[4:21:25] affairs has been recorded

[4:21:30] making deeply offensive remarks

[4:21:30] including statements as a

[4:21:34] conclusion as time has expired.

[4:21:35] Vote Yes Stacy Bressler

[4:21:37] Reinstein.

[4:21:40] First one to get it wrong.

[4:21:45] >> Okay.

[4:21:46] Good afternoon Council members.

[4:21:47] My name is Stacy Bressler

[4:21:48] Reinstein and I'm a resident of

[4:21:49] District six.

[4:21:50] I politely urge the council

[4:21:51] members to support the ira

[4:21:55] resolution today.

[4:21:55] >> The Jewish community has

[4:21:56] been the target of an

[4:21:56] exponential rise in hate

[4:21:59] incidents over the last ten

[4:22:00] years with a 286% rise here in

[4:22:03] San Diego since 2022.

[4:22:04] For the past year someone has

[4:22:07] been dropping off small slips

[4:22:08] of paper In the early morning

[4:22:09] near my local middle school and

[4:22:12] the Chabad Center of University

[4:22:13] City.

[4:22:14] This is 7/10 of a mile from my

[4:22:14] home.

[4:22:15] On these papers are written

[4:22:18] sayings such as the chosen

[4:22:19] people were chosen by Hitler

[4:22:20] and thank Hitler with a heart

[4:22:21] and a swastika.

[4:22:26] >> And here's the a neighbor a

[4:22:27] neighbor reported this incident

[4:22:31] to the police a year ago but

[4:22:32] somehow it fell through

[4:22:32] the cracks.

[4:22:33] It's my understanding that is

[4:22:36] now being taken seriously by

[4:22:37] Councilmember Kent Lee's office

[4:22:38] as well as law enforcement and

[4:22:40] new incidents are being

[4:22:41] reported through the proper

[4:22:41] channels.

[4:22:42] It is distressing and deeply

[4:22:46] troubling that an individual

[4:22:47] who is filled with hatred and

[4:22:47] anti thank you for that kind

[4:22:48] goes by.

[4:22:49] >> Thank you for considering

[4:22:51] Wendy Patterson.

[4:22:52] When do you have time to buy

[4:22:52] Beth?

[4:22:55] Beth I've read a Heller reader

[4:22:55] Heller.

[4:22:56] No, I have Beth.

[4:22:59] Do you have two minutes?

[4:23:00] Please proceed.

[4:23:00] Okay.

[4:23:00] Hi, counsel.

[4:23:01] Thank you.

[4:23:04] My apologies.

[4:23:05] What other name?

[4:23:05] I will look for it.

[4:23:06] Please proceed.

[4:23:10] Hi, Council members.

[4:23:11] Thank you for putting this

[4:23:11] forward.

[4:23:12] Steve Whitburn thank you for

[4:23:15] all your work where I endorse

[4:23:16] Lee and thank you to my

[4:23:16] community.

[4:23:19] >> I am so proud of you today.

[4:23:24] >> My name is Wendy Bateson and

[4:23:25] I have been a resident of San

[4:23:25] Diego for over 17 years.

[4:23:29] I am here today to urge you to

[4:23:30] vote yes on San Diego adopting

[4:23:34] the irh or a definition of anti

[4:23:34] Semitism.

[4:23:38] This definition provides a

[4:23:39] clear framework to identify

[4:23:43] Semitic harassment threats or

[4:23:43] attacks on Jewish people's

[4:23:44] right to exist freely and live

[4:23:47] safely.

[4:23:48] >> I am speaking as

[4:23:49] the granddaughter of Jewish

[4:23:53] immigrants who fed fled

[4:23:53] anti-Semitism and violence in

[4:23:57] Turkey during World War one

[4:23:57] believing they would finally be

[4:23:58] safe in the United States.

[4:24:02] Yet just a generation later

[4:24:02] anti-Semitism is rising again.

[4:24:06] Even here in America's finest

[4:24:07] city I am I have personally

[4:24:11] experienced a bomb scare

[4:24:12] threatening hate speech and

[4:24:13] witnessed numerous targeted

[4:24:16] attacks on our Jewish spaces

[4:24:16] and symbols.

[4:24:17] Today when I attend Jewish

[4:24:21] community events in San Diego

[4:24:22] they require high level

[4:24:22] security measures because hate

[4:24:26] rhetoric too often leads to

[4:24:26] violence.

[4:24:27] Officials and community leaders

[4:24:31] often say they are horrified

[4:24:32] after Semitic anti-Semitic

[4:24:32] attacks.

[4:24:36] But being horrified after a

[4:24:37] tragedy is not enough.

[4:24:42] We often say that none of us

[4:24:43] are free until we are all free.

[4:24:46] So it should not be

[4:24:46] controversial to say that San

[4:24:47] Diego's Jewish residents

[4:24:51] deserve the same protection

[4:24:52] from incitement and harassment

[4:24:52] that every other marginalized

[4:24:56] community expects and fights

[4:24:56] for.

[4:25:01] San Diego is doing meaningful

[4:25:02] justice work for many

[4:25:02] communities.

[4:25:05] I have stood on the front lines

[4:25:06] together with many of you in

[4:25:11] this room on both sides of this

[4:25:11] issue.

[4:25:12] But I have stood with you for

[4:25:15] against the Muslim ban.

[4:25:20] I have stood with you against

[4:25:20] supporting immigrants rights,

[4:25:21] fighting against family

[4:25:21] separation.

[4:25:25] I could go on and on.

[4:25:30] But today we are here for

[4:25:31] the hra and the Jewish

[4:25:31] community must not be left

[4:25:35] behind.

[4:25:36] We need effective safeguards

[4:25:36] and hate from hate and harm.

[4:25:40] Please vote yes on the hra.

[4:25:45] >> Thank you Kayla.

[4:25:46] >> Kayla, you have Time to get

[4:25:49] it to You by Denise Casale.

[4:25:50] Thank you so much, love.

[4:25:50] Two minutes.

[4:25:51] Please proceed.

[4:25:51] Good afternoon, council

[4:25:52] members.

[4:25:54] My name is Kayla Glover, a

[4:25:55] resident of District one and

[4:25:55] I'm speaking today as

[4:25:59] the interim associate director

[4:25:59] with Jewish National Fund usa

[4:26:03] here in San Diego, a

[4:26:04] non-religious and apolitical

[4:26:04] organization.

[4:26:08] I must emphasize I urge you to

[4:26:09] vote yes on adopting ihra

[4:26:09] definition of antisemitism.

[4:26:13] You MAY hear opponents wrongly

[4:26:13] claim that ira threatens free

[4:26:14] speech as we've heard so much

[4:26:18] that argument is just simply

[4:26:18] wrong.

[4:26:19] That definition does not ban

[4:26:19] free speech.

[4:26:22] It is a non-binding educational

[4:26:23] tool used around the world to

[4:26:27] help institutions recognize

[4:26:27] when criticism crosses the line

[4:26:28] into into anti-Semitism

[4:26:33] criticism of any government

[4:26:33] including Israel is not

[4:26:37] considered anti-Semitic Under

[4:26:38] ihra but denying the Jewish

[4:26:38] people the same right to

[4:26:42] self-determination afforded to

[4:26:43] others or holding Jews

[4:26:44] collectively responsible for

[4:26:47] actions of a foreign government

[4:26:48] is antisemitic.

[4:26:48] ira helps clarify that

[4:26:52] distinction.

[4:26:53] With anti-Semitism on the rise

[4:26:53] nationally and locally.

[4:26:57] Clarity absolutely matters.

[4:26:58] Voting yes today affirms that

[4:26:58] San Diego recognizes

[4:27:02] antisemitism and stands against

[4:27:02] it.

[4:27:03] Thank you so much for your time

[4:27:05] today.

[4:27:11] >> Amy Weisberg.

[4:27:11] >> Good afternoon Council

[4:27:12] members.

[4:27:16] My name is Amy Weiss Bomb and I

[4:27:17] live in District three.

[4:27:17] Councilmember Whitburn, thank

[4:27:18] you so much for sponsoring

[4:27:21] today's ira vote.

[4:27:22] The opposition is manipulating

[4:27:22] us with claims that even

[4:27:26] the ira authorized an ounce.

[4:27:26] Eight scholars and experts on

[4:27:27] antisemitism drafted the ira

[4:27:30] resolution and agreed by

[4:27:31] consensus By consensus meaning

[4:27:32] all authors agreed and voted

[4:27:35] yes on it later.

[4:27:35] One author of the eight

[4:27:36] expressed concerns that it can

[4:27:40] be misused and he never

[4:27:41] criticized the existence of ira

[4:27:41] and never rescinded his vote.

[4:27:45] What is even more ridiculous is

[4:27:46] that the opposition wants to

[4:27:50] tell us Jews which declaration

[4:27:51] should define hate against us.

[4:27:51] Suggesting we use the Jerusalem

[4:27:55] Declaration of antisemitism.

[4:27:56] 95% of worldwide Jewish

[4:28:00] organizations agree on the ihra

[4:28:00] definition.

[4:28:01] We don't need the people who

[4:28:02] harass us to tell us which

[4:28:05] definition to use.

[4:28:06] Please adopt Ira Stand by

[4:28:07] The fact and the definition of

[4:28:10] anti-Semite ism that

[4:28:11] the majority of the world's

[4:28:11] Jews Stand by.

[4:28:12] >> Thank you.

[4:28:16] They can thank you, Adam, as

[4:28:17] long as you can please come up

[4:28:18] to the podium And if I can ask

[4:28:20] the following individuals to

[4:28:21] please come up to the yellow

[4:28:21] reserved seats.

[4:28:22] If you've already spoken please

[4:28:23] go back to your seats where you

[4:28:25] were originally.

[4:28:26] Debbie Bank Town Hanukkah.

[4:28:29] David Feingold To John

[4:28:30] Sorrentino and Julie Sorrentino

[4:28:34] as well as Jonas McClennan If

[4:28:35] you can please come up Adam

[4:28:35] Please proceed.

[4:28:39] Good afternoon Councilmember.

[4:28:40] My name is Adam Masri.

[4:28:40] I'm the director of the Finest

[4:28:42] Community Coalition, a

[4:28:43] coalition of 47 local San Diego

[4:28:44] Jewish organizations working

[4:28:47] together to confront

[4:28:48] antisemitism.

[4:28:48] Our members include synagogues,

[4:28:49] community organizations,

[4:28:52] educational institutions,

[4:28:53] advocacy groups and service

[4:28:54] organizations that collectively

[4:28:57] represent the broad spectrum of

[4:28:58] San Diego's organized Jewish

[4:28:58] community.

[4:29:02] As a coalition we ourselves

[4:29:02] adhere to the ihra definition

[4:29:03] of antisemitism as

[4:29:04] the framework we use when

[4:29:07] evaluating and responding to

[4:29:08] incidents affecting our

[4:29:08] community.

[4:29:09] We the definition because it is

[4:29:12] the most widely recognized and

[4:29:12] practical definition of

[4:29:13] antisemitism in use today.

[4:29:16] Jewish communities are diverse

[4:29:17] and debate is a cherished part

[4:29:18] of Jewish tradition.

[4:29:21] You MAY hear from some fringe

[4:29:22] Jewish voices who oppose this

[4:29:23] definition.

[4:29:23] While they are entitled to

[4:29:24] their views.

[4:29:26] It is important to understand

[4:29:27] that those views do not reflect

[4:29:28] the consensus of San Diego's

[4:29:32] organized Jewish community.

[4:29:32] Our unified coalition of 47

[4:29:36] organizations does.

[4:29:37] We respectfully urge

[4:29:37] the Council to listen to

[4:29:38] the voice of our community by

[4:29:38] adopting this.

[4:29:39] Thank you for that Concluding

[4:29:39] remark.

[4:29:45] Debbie Simon Once you give me

[4:29:45] his time.

[4:29:50] It's one minute.

[4:29:51] I don't have anyone sitting in

[4:29:51] your time right now.

[4:29:54] There his will go Somebody go

[4:29:55] back there to get their

[4:29:55] speakers up.

[4:29:55] Proceed.

[4:29:59] Thank you, Dear council

[4:29:59] members, my name is Debbie Bank

[4:30:03] and I live in District one.

[4:30:08] >> I want to explain I want to

[4:30:09] explain to you who is really

[4:30:12] behind the opposition refusing

[4:30:13] the acknowledgment

[4:30:13] anti-Semitism and the ira

[4:30:18] resolution.

[4:30:18] Who is behind the emails you

[4:30:19] received against Ira?

[4:30:22] And who rallied these opponents

[4:30:26] of ira in this meeting?

[4:30:27] One organization is called Kara

[4:30:28] Council of American-Islamic

[4:30:31] Relations.

[4:30:32] There is so much that can be

[4:30:33] said about this organization

[4:30:36] including their support for

[4:30:37] international terrorism, their

[4:30:38] undisclosed foreign government

[4:30:42] funding ties to Hamas and

[4:30:42] promotion of antisemitism,

[4:30:46] anti-Semitism in general.

[4:30:47] Here are their leadership

[4:30:47] quotes.

[4:30:52] F Jews I demand.

[4:30:56] I want icis to kill all of

[4:30:56] them.

[4:30:57] Speaking of the Jews.

[4:31:01] Nor Nora shall us care Director

[4:31:01] of government that clear

[4:31:02] homosexuality is an evil

[4:31:07] inclination in that so have web

[4:31:09] care speaker and collaborator

[4:31:10] In 2017 the Islamic nation has

[4:31:15] lost one of its biggest emblems

[4:31:16] and he had a what a word care

[4:31:19] executive director about a

[4:31:20] recruiter for al Qaeda training

[4:31:24] camps and mentor of Osama bin

[4:31:24] Laden.

[4:31:25] We are witnessing

[4:31:29] decolonization czar below Care

[4:31:29] Executive Director On OCTOBER

[4:31:32] 7th, 2023 the day when Jews

[4:31:37] when were slaughtered by Hamas

[4:31:37] raped and burned Jews siding

[4:31:42] with ira position is siding

[4:31:43] with bigotry and hate.

[4:31:49] Please adopt Ira tell so sorry

[4:31:51] I when I really mention like

[4:31:52] all the organizations that a

[4:31:52] supporters is Jewish Federation

[4:31:55] of San Diego Hillel San Diego

[4:31:56] American Jewish Committee adl

[4:32:00] thank you so much.

[4:32:00] >> Thank you.

[4:32:05] My apologies to all Hanukkah.

[4:32:05] Good afternoon Council members

[4:32:10] My name is Tal Hanukkah.

[4:32:10] I'm a San Diego resident from

[4:32:11] District one and I'm a Jewish

[4:32:15] mother raising children in this

[4:32:16] community.

[4:32:16] Thank you Councilmember

[4:32:20] Whitburn for bringing forward

[4:32:20] this resolution.

[4:32:21] A few months after OCTOBER 7th

[4:32:25] I was putting my young children

[4:32:25] into the car in a shopping mall

[4:32:26] while speaking to them in

[4:32:26] Hebrew.

[4:32:30] A woman parked next to me

[4:32:31] overheard us and started

[4:32:31] yelling f-ing Jew.

[4:32:35] My children were right there

[4:32:35] listening.

[4:32:39] anti-Semitism is not abstract

[4:32:40] for Jewish families.

[4:32:44] It happens every day often in

[4:32:44] front of our children.

[4:32:45] Healthy debate and criticism of

[4:32:48] governments including Israel

[4:32:49] are a normal part of democratic

[4:32:53] societies.

[4:32:54] But there is an important

[4:32:54] distinction between criticizing

[4:32:58] a government and targeting

[4:32:59] Jewish people.

[4:32:59] That hra definition is an

[4:33:03] important tool because it helps

[4:33:04] distinguish between legitimate

[4:33:05] criticism of Israel and hatred

[4:33:08] directed at Jewish people.

[4:33:09] >> I urge you to vote yes.

[4:33:10] Thank you for that concluding

[4:33:13] remark David Offenders David f

[4:33:18] e and g-d d You f, e and g d

[4:33:23] you Fingal Feingold on my

[4:33:23] apologies.

[4:33:28] Yes I have horrible spelling.

[4:33:29] >> Sorry but yeah no we all

[4:33:32] know what anti-Semitism is and

[4:33:33] this isn't actually going to

[4:33:37] stop it but it's a culture we

[4:33:38] all know that we can't call

[4:33:38] little people and words or

[4:33:42] black people and words or

[4:33:42] whatever.

[4:33:43] The point is is language

[4:33:47] evolves And you know, for me I

[4:33:48] was at the market the other day

[4:33:49] and so many just honk the horn

[4:33:52] and said Israel which it would

[4:33:52] have been better if they just

[4:33:53] called me a Jew.

[4:33:56] But it's evolving So this is

[4:33:56] actually about just protecting

[4:33:57] children by creating a culture

[4:34:01] where it's not okay to go after

[4:34:02] somebody just for being a

[4:34:05] certain religion or you know,

[4:34:06] wearing what they wear.

[4:34:07] But most of San Diego I just

[4:34:10] will say is like very tolerant

[4:34:11] of us.

[4:34:11] It's just a few people and it's

[4:34:12] those few people that cause me

[4:34:15] to have to go behind

[4:34:16] bulletproof glass tonight when

[4:34:17] I go study Torah or you know,

[4:34:20] have to hang out with security

[4:34:21] guards at every single function

[4:34:21] it's just not normal.

[4:34:22] And you know, that's pretty

[4:34:26] much all it is.

[4:34:26] But yeah, vote for it And we

[4:34:27] all know what anti Semitism is

[4:34:30] but we just had that We have to

[4:34:30] define it.

[4:34:31] Thank you John Sorrentino And

[4:34:34] then Julie Sorrentino.

[4:34:35] Jonas McClennan And if I can

[4:34:39] have Grandma sc and Alia David

[4:34:43] Bronstein please come up to

[4:34:44] the first row.

[4:34:44] John you have time ceded to you

[4:34:48] by Elena Rangel Thank you so

[4:34:48] much.

[4:34:49] You'll have two minutes.

[4:34:49] Please proceed.

[4:34:53] Hello And thank you for

[4:34:53] allowing me to speak here

[4:34:54] today.

[4:34:54] My name is John Sorrentino.

[4:34:57] I'm the pastor of New Covenant

[4:34:58] Tabernacle.

[4:34:58] And antisemitism has directly

[4:34:59] affected our church and we have

[4:35:02] over 100 members from San Diego

[4:35:03] City from Nestor Paradise Hills

[4:35:07] Skyline Alta Vista, Palm City

[4:35:08] and Ocean View Hills.

[4:35:09] Our church is not Jewish but we

[4:35:12] have many Jewish members.

[4:35:13] As a Bible believing church we

[4:35:16] hold true that those who bless

[4:35:17] Israel will be blessed and

[4:35:17] those who curse Israel will be

[4:35:18] cursed.

[4:35:21] And most importantly

[4:35:21] the commandment to love your

[4:35:22] neighbor.

[4:35:22] We believe that the Jewish

[4:35:25] community is our neighbor.

[4:35:26] Sadly, because of this position

[4:35:27] our church has experienced all

[4:35:31] kinds of anti-Semitic ism.

[4:35:31] Our youth have been bullied,

[4:35:32] threatened and even attacked at

[4:35:32] their schools.

[4:35:35] Our church has been forced to

[4:35:36] use armed security.

[4:35:36] And many of our members now

[4:35:40] legally carry firearms to

[4:35:41] protect themselves and their

[4:35:41] families at church Because of

[4:35:44] the threats we've encountered.

[4:35:45] The ihra definition of

[4:35:46] antisemitism would give

[4:35:49] authorities a foundation to

[4:35:50] identify and deal with this

[4:35:50] form of prejudice.

[4:35:54] Recently I traveled to both of

[4:35:55] the hallowed grounds of

[4:35:56] Poland's Nazi death camps and

[4:35:59] the ravaged Gaza envelope.

[4:36:00] These horrific events that

[4:36:00] happened in those places did

[4:36:03] not begin with bullets and

[4:36:04] bombs but with words, lies and

[4:36:08] threats words that dehumanize

[4:36:09] others, words that dismiss

[4:36:09] hatred, words that justify

[4:36:13] violence.

[4:36:14] Adopting the ihra definition of

[4:36:15] antisemitism would allow those

[4:36:18] who perpetuate violence or

[4:36:19] cowardly speak hate from behind

[4:36:23] a keyboard or yelling threats

[4:36:24] through a bullhorn be

[4:36:24] identified and held accountable

[4:36:25] for their words.

[4:36:29] So today I ask you on behalf of

[4:36:29] the hundreds of members of our

[4:36:30] church and the thousands of

[4:36:33] Jewish residents who deal with

[4:36:33] this on a daily basis that you

[4:36:38] vote yes and adopt the ihra

[4:36:38] definition of antisemitism and

[4:36:39] protect those you serve.

[4:36:42] Thank you.

[4:36:47] >> Julie Sorrentino Good

[4:36:47] afternoon.

[4:36:48] Council PRESIDENT And Council

[4:36:52] members.

[4:36:52] My name is Julie Sorrentino and

[4:36:53] i serve as a Christian pastor.

[4:36:56] I stand before you today

[4:36:57] because this is a defining

[4:37:01] moment for moral clarity for

[4:37:01] the Jewish people, for

[4:37:06] Christians and people of all

[4:37:06] backgrounds of faith.

[4:37:09] Scripture calls us in Isaiah

[4:37:10] 117 to seek justice and defend

[4:37:14] the oppressed today That means

[4:37:15] having the courage to clarify

[4:37:19] or to clearly identify and

[4:37:19] confront antisemitism.

[4:37:24] This is not theoretical for us.

[4:37:28] This is personal in our church

[4:37:29] a young girl in high school has

[4:37:29] been threatened simply for

[4:37:32] standing with Israel.

[4:37:33] Our ministry has received death

[4:37:37] threats and ongoing hate speech

[4:37:38] online Because we openly

[4:37:38] support the Jewish community we

[4:37:42] have had to take security

[4:37:43] measures out of real concern

[4:37:43] for potential violence.

[4:37:47] This is happening here, not

[4:37:48] somewhere else.

[4:37:51] >> Please join us.

[4:37:54] >> McClanahan My apologies.

[4:37:59] Happy St Patrick's Day.

[4:38:00] I'm just here today because I'm

[4:38:03] tired of watching children and

[4:38:08] people getting massacred on tv

[4:38:08] .

[4:38:09] I'm glad I'm a little confused

[4:38:10] Sometimes it seems like this

[4:38:13] about the state of Israel but

[4:38:14] sometimes it seems like it is.

[4:38:15] I know where I stand.

[4:38:18] I'm against genocide.

[4:38:19] I'm against torture, I'm

[4:38:19] against rape.

[4:38:20] I'm against children being

[4:38:23] killed and that makes me anti

[4:38:23] Semitic.

[4:38:28] I guess I am grandma.

[4:38:29] >> sc All right.

[4:38:30] We've been doing pretty good.

[4:38:34] Let's keep it two thumbs up or

[4:38:34] thumbs down Grandma as you

[4:38:38] please come forward to

[4:38:39] the microphone it's your turn

[4:38:39] to speak then That's an elliott

[4:38:43] David Rothstein Manuel Bertran

[4:38:49] Da Halevi Grade z or Dada.

[4:38:50] So you and Leah okay if you can

[4:38:51] all please come forward to

[4:38:52] the yellow reserved seats

[4:38:53] please proceed.

[4:38:57] Oh yeah, that's my speech.

[4:39:02] Good afternoon.

[4:39:07] Council members especially MR.

[4:39:07] Whitman.

[4:39:08] He's my council member.

[4:39:11] Thank you, MR. Whitman But this

[4:39:12] this is the last straw.

[4:39:13] We I have some confrontations

[4:39:16] with you, but this one takes

[4:39:21] the best You are You are being

[4:39:21] discriminated as Jews.

[4:39:26] I can't believe that.

[4:39:27] Look at all these Jews lined up

[4:39:30] all well-to-do full of money in

[4:39:31] the pockets a pack money and

[4:39:34] they are coming one by one

[4:39:35] Doesn't give me a chance to

[4:39:35] talk.

[4:39:39] We are This is a one sided

[4:39:39] session.

[4:39:40] I can see this bill is going to

[4:39:44] go to so why waste my time and

[4:39:49] yours So I cannot say anything

[4:39:49] about this bill because it's

[4:39:50] already been planned and

[4:39:54] everything I see is done.

[4:39:55] Finish Why are we having so

[4:39:59] much Jewish problems?

[4:40:00] I see the Israelis who are

[4:40:00] killing babies and you know

[4:40:04] what's going on in there.

[4:40:05] You know what the genocide is.

[4:40:06] Your time has concluded And

[4:40:09] last look at it Your time has

[4:40:10] concluded And Elliot, please

[4:40:13] come up and sit down.

[4:40:17] Ma'am, Ma'am, sit down, Ma'am.

[4:40:27] I know ma'am And please proceed

[4:40:27] then.

[4:40:31] Elliot I live in North Park.

[4:40:32] I oppose the adoption of the i

[4:40:33] h r a definition of anti

[4:40:37] Semitism.

[4:40:37] It's true that anti Semitism

[4:40:38] has been increasing but so has

[4:40:42] Islam a phobia.

[4:40:43] Do we need a special law for

[4:40:46] each type of discrimination in

[4:40:47] this country?

[4:40:47] >> Speech which criticizes

[4:40:48] the actions of the Israeli

[4:40:51] state is not anti-Semitic.

[4:40:52] I criticize both the state of

[4:40:56] Israel and the United States

[4:40:56] When we conduct wars of choice

[4:41:00] which devastate populations it

[4:41:01] is my First Amendment right to

[4:41:01] say what I think.

[4:41:05] Are we becoming an Orwellian

[4:41:05] state where our thoughts are

[4:41:10] surveilled by thought police?

[4:41:11] I vote my conscience and I will

[4:41:11] not vote for any politician who

[4:41:14] takes money from an Israeli

[4:41:14] affiliated lobby.

[4:41:15] The Democratic Party needs to

[4:41:16] wake up to the reality that

[4:41:19] the presidential action was

[4:41:20] lost in part due to its failure

[4:41:21] to acknowledge the genocide

[4:41:24] perpetrated by the state of

[4:41:25] Israel and funded by the United

[4:41:25] States.

[4:41:29] >> Thanks, David Rothstein.

[4:41:30] >> Okay David, before you get

[4:41:34] up, I've asked you three times

[4:41:35] really nicely those who came up

[4:41:39] and spoke in support of this.

[4:41:40] There are people back there

[4:41:40] that don't agree with you And

[4:41:41] then a lot of sound came out of

[4:41:41] them.

[4:41:43] They put their thumbs down.

[4:41:44] They waved their signs.

[4:41:47] Please extend the same courtesy

[4:41:48] .

[4:41:48] Let people speak.

[4:41:49] We'll get through this and then

[4:41:50] we'll turn it over to

[4:41:53] the council members.

[4:41:53] Whether you agree or disagree

[4:41:54] with this, let's keep it civil.

[4:41:57] I know that can be painful

[4:41:58] given what some of you have

[4:41:59] experienced.

[4:41:59] But bear with us here in

[4:42:02] council chambers and in

[4:42:03] the committee room and

[4:42:03] the overflow.

[4:42:06] >> Thank you.

[4:42:11] David Rothstein, please come up

[4:42:11] .

[4:42:12] Thank you, counsel.

[4:42:12] My name is David Rothstein.

[4:42:14] I'm an attorney of about 15

[4:42:15] years I've worked for two

[4:42:16] federal agencies.

[4:42:16] I've served as an assistant

[4:42:20] attorney general, a couple of

[4:42:20] states and I have an mba from

[4:42:21] Berkeley.

[4:42:22] I want to speak today in favor

[4:42:24] of the hra definition.

[4:42:24] The ihra definition does not

[4:42:28] limit free speech.

[4:42:29] There is a distinction between

[4:42:30] free speech harassment,

[4:42:33] intimidation and

[4:42:33] discrimination.

[4:42:38] One is okay, one is not okay.

[4:42:39] >> Government agency government

[4:42:39] agencies also have a civil

[4:42:43] rights obligation to ensure

[4:42:43] access based on religion,

[4:42:44] ethnicity and national origin.

[4:42:47] These include for Jewish

[4:42:48] people.

[4:42:49] I want to be clear on the hra

[4:42:52] definition You are able to

[4:42:52] criticize Israeli policy

[4:42:57] Israeli officers in the same

[4:42:57] manner as any other country.

[4:42:58] You just can't have a different

[4:43:02] standard for Jews.

[4:43:03] And I want to leave you with

[4:43:03] one last question Why not

[4:43:04] listen to the Jewish community

[4:43:08] on what antisemitism is?

[4:43:08] >> We know what it is.

[4:43:09] Please adopt a definition.

[4:43:12] Thank you.

[4:43:13] >> Manuel Manuel Beltran or

[4:43:16] Manuel Beltran?

[4:43:17] >> Honorable City Council Thank

[4:43:21] you so much for meeting with us

[4:43:21] today.

[4:43:22] I'm coming to you in favor of

[4:43:25] item 500 and the adoption of

[4:43:26] ihra Definition of

[4:43:26] antisemitism.

[4:43:29] As a 30 year old from South Bay

[4:43:30] I can tell you I've seen

[4:43:34] antisemitism rise down there.

[4:43:34] I've seen it be spread amongst

[4:43:35] young people and most people in

[4:43:36] colleges amongst people in

[4:43:39] the workplace.

[4:43:40] And I here to tell you as a

[4:43:42] Christian that I for one I

[4:43:43] don't stand with it and I stand

[4:43:44] with my Jewish community

[4:43:47] especially and I echo their

[4:43:51] words from MAY 9th, 1945 to

[4:43:51] recently in Temple two up in

[4:43:56] San Jose Never again.

[4:43:56] This is exactly what this is

[4:43:57] about.

[4:43:57] This is not about some

[4:43:58] criticism Israel This is about

[4:44:01] defending Jewish people,

[4:44:01] the Jewish community and us as

[4:44:02] Christians We're standing with

[4:44:05] them because we seek justice

[4:44:06] and we will consistently seek

[4:44:07] justice regardless of

[4:44:11] the consequences.

[4:44:11] >> Thank you.

[4:44:15] Da How Halevy I.

[4:44:20] Hello my name is Da Levy

[4:44:21] Feldman and I wrote a speech

[4:44:22] but I'm not going to use it

[4:44:24] because you just experienced an

[4:44:25] anti-Semitic token that was

[4:44:30] used against us about how we're

[4:44:30] all rich and have money in our

[4:44:34] pocket to acute to agree of why

[4:44:35] you shouldn't vote against

[4:44:39] the Arab resolution.

[4:44:40] I'm beyond and I know why our

[4:44:44] my community reacted this way

[4:44:45] because we all know where this

[4:44:46] is going When the Jews are

[4:44:49] accused in those tokens.

[4:44:50] I'm a I'm a granddaughter of

[4:44:53] survivors of the Holocaust and

[4:44:54] I cannot believe the things

[4:44:57] that I'm hearing in 2026 in

[4:44:58] America.

[4:44:58] I have 20 more seconds so I'll

[4:44:59] just share a few of my

[4:45:03] incidents in the past six years

[4:45:03] Living in San Diego, I was

[4:45:07] accused by a neighbor in

[4:45:08] Pacific Beach that I moved here

[4:45:09] to take over America.

[4:45:12] The rest of the table was quiet

[4:45:13] and Ocean Beach I was asked Oh,

[4:45:14] are you a Jew?

[4:45:14] I don't know.

[4:45:18] We have those here.

[4:45:19] Where?

[4:45:19] Just from New York were

[4:45:20] overwhelmed.

[4:45:21] What you Thank you guys for

[4:45:21] your dad.

[4:45:26] I see.

[4:45:27] So my name is John ac

[4:45:30] Ironically I also had another

[4:45:31] speech prepared but counsel

[4:45:31] people I noticed in

[4:45:36] the PowerPoint presentation and

[4:45:36] the speech item as 500 you said

[4:45:37] criticism Israel will not be

[4:45:41] considered anti Semitism.

[4:45:42] That is a lie in the air or a

[4:45:46] website I just read said I

[4:45:47] quote Contemporary examples of

[4:45:47] anti-Semitism in public life

[4:45:51] media, schools and workplace

[4:45:51] and in the religious sphere

[4:45:52] could taking into account

[4:45:53] overall context include but are

[4:45:57] not limited to applying double

[4:45:57] standards by requiring a bit

[4:45:58] behavior not expected or

[4:46:01] demanded by another democratic

[4:46:01] nation?

[4:46:02] What nation are we talking

[4:46:02] about?

[4:46:05] Second drawing comparisons of

[4:46:06] contemporary Israeli policy to

[4:46:10] Nazis.

[4:46:11] So in that presentation it said

[4:46:12] that criticism Israel is not

[4:46:17] consider antisemitism but on I

[4:46:18] urge all read say I just read

[4:46:19] it is one there are two

[4:46:20] actually three examples I only

[4:46:20] included two of examples were

[4:46:24] criticizing Israel is

[4:46:25] antisemitism which is a truth.

[4:46:29] >> Thank you.

[4:46:30] >> Next is Laich Laich If you

[4:46:34] can please come forward and

[4:46:35] then correct.

[4:46:35] As far as for Angel Martinez

[4:46:39] and Daniel Massaro one of

[4:46:40] barriers and measure gone after

[4:46:44] if you can all please come

[4:46:45] forward starting with Leah Ley

[4:46:47] if you can come to

[4:47:02] the microphone are any of you

[4:47:11] Leah Ley and Leah Koehler No

[4:47:17] Leah Koehler or Leah Okay.

[4:47:17] Okay.

[4:47:30] We'll move on to Rick as for we

[4:47:31] go to the taller Mike right

[4:47:37] there.

[4:47:42] I have been warning for over 45

[4:47:43] years of my life even before

[4:47:47] becoming a naturalized American

[4:47:52] for my oldest somatic Israel

[4:47:58] life family who we have all

[4:47:58] the faiths in them.

[4:48:02] >> I have recently learned for

[4:48:03] hundred of my own families

[4:48:08] relatives have been killed and

[4:48:09] murdered by the European

[4:48:12] Zionist American Israeli

[4:48:18] machine.

[4:48:19] >> You could take my rights

[4:48:23] away from me here in America

[4:48:24] but our family is

[4:48:28] internationally recognized

[4:48:31] globally and the United Nations

[4:48:31] .

[4:48:35] Thank you.

[4:48:40] >> Next is Angel Martinez.

[4:48:41] >> Hello.

[4:48:42] My name is Angel Martinez.

[4:48:46] I'm a student here at San Diego

[4:48:47] City College.

[4:48:48] I was fortunate to be born and

[4:48:51] raised here and I believe

[4:48:52] strongly that we have a

[4:48:53] responsibility as a city to

[4:48:57] ensure our Jewish community

[4:48:57] community is safe.

[4:48:58] However, I oppose the adoption

[4:49:02] of the I h r a definition of

[4:49:03] antisemitism for the floor that

[4:49:08] it blurred the lines between

[4:49:08] criticism of the Israeli

[4:49:09] government and hate speech

[4:49:13] against Jewish people.

[4:49:14] The definition takes away

[4:49:14] advocacy for Palestinians

[4:49:18] suffering from genocide defined

[4:49:19] by the United Nations.

[4:49:24] Justice for all means We don't

[4:49:24] leave anyone out.

[4:49:25] So I am calling for a more

[4:49:29] inclusive definition and I hope

[4:49:29] you all know I am not against

[4:49:30] you.

[4:49:30] We are all fighting the same

[4:49:31] fight.

[4:49:34] Thank you so much for your

[4:49:35] time.

[4:49:35] >> That's all for me.

[4:49:45] Daniel Mesquita.

[4:49:45] >> Hi guys.

[4:49:50] I'm done with you and like

[4:49:51] Angel, I am also at City

[4:49:51] College.

[4:49:52] Just to clarify, no one in this

[4:49:56] room condones antisemitism.

[4:49:57] However, it is not antisemitic

[4:49:57] to criticize a hypocritical

[4:50:01] ethno state with committing

[4:50:02] another holocaust towards

[4:50:03] the Palestinians with our tax

[4:50:06] money with genocide just being

[4:50:07] internationally recognized as a

[4:50:08] genocide by the United Nations.

[4:50:12] And I argue that committing a

[4:50:13] genocide under Jewish safety is

[4:50:14] antisemitism because people

[4:50:14] with bad believes will paint

[4:50:18] all Jews as scientists which is

[4:50:18] utterly false as there are Jews

[4:50:22] were against the ongoing

[4:50:22] genocide in Gaza.

[4:50:23] I oppose this resolution

[4:50:27] resolution as 500 and free

[4:50:27] Palestine.

[4:50:28] >> Thank you for your time.

[4:50:29] Juan Perez, if you can please

[4:50:32] come up if you've already

[4:50:33] spoken please return to your

[4:50:34] seats And if I can have Mona

[4:50:35] I'm sorry I mean as Spirito

[4:50:39] Athena ever Murcia Bolkestein,

[4:50:39] Marco Bahar please all come

[4:50:43] forward to the other reserve

[4:50:44] seats.

[4:50:44] >> Please proceed.

[4:50:45] Hello everyone.

[4:50:45] My name is Juan Perez.

[4:50:48] I am a union organizer.

[4:50:49] I'm a marine Corps veteran and

[4:50:50] a concerned San Diego.

[4:50:54] And I'm concerned because you

[4:50:55] all are about to vote on

[4:50:56] something that will infringe on

[4:50:56] our First Amendment right which

[4:51:00] I have deployed twice to

[4:51:01] the Middle East to defend it

[4:51:02] twice I've been away from my

[4:51:02] family and friends, missed

[4:51:06] birthdays, holidays and normal

[4:51:06] life in order to protect these

[4:51:07] rights are to come home to my

[4:51:08] hometown of San Diego for you

[4:51:11] all to take it away from us.

[4:51:12] It is not just a right that

[4:51:17] many people have died overseas

[4:51:17] trying to protect but a right

[4:51:18] that us and labor and activists

[4:51:19] here in the us need in order to

[4:51:22] fight corporate greed and call

[4:51:23] out fight and fight fascism

[4:51:24] wherever it lies.

[4:51:28] Trump just said this week that

[4:51:28] he wants to come after

[4:51:29] activists that criticize

[4:51:29] the war in Iran.

[4:51:30] Sound familiar?

[4:51:34] Last year in AUGUST the Labor

[4:51:35] Council voted unanimously on a

[4:51:36] course of resolution which

[4:51:39] calls what is wrong with

[4:51:40] the genocide in Israel an

[4:51:41] apartheid state and calls for

[4:51:46] an embargo.

[4:51:47] Are you guys in stand with

[4:51:47] Trump on this or going to stand

[4:51:48] with the people think our time

[4:51:51] has concluded Michigan action

[4:51:52] Michigan I'm just going to ask

[4:51:52] is there any other measurements

[4:51:57] here?

[4:51:57] Let's not make any other

[4:51:58] measurements.

[4:52:02] Just making sure because I got

[4:52:03] three speakers up for Michigan

[4:52:03] So you have one minute.

[4:52:04] Please proceed.

[4:52:04] Thank you.

[4:52:08] Good afternoon.

[4:52:09] Massillon Council PRESIDENT

[4:52:10] McCarver Council members and

[4:52:10] fellow citizens.

[4:52:15] As a civil rights leader and

[4:52:15] head of Borderlands recording

[4:52:16] for the past six years we have

[4:52:17] experienced so much as an

[4:52:18] organization and a community

[4:52:19] for Black Lives Matter to

[4:52:20] the cops of Afghanistan, to

[4:52:20] the women's movement in Iran

[4:52:25] and a genocide in Gaza.

[4:52:26] Ice attacks on our most

[4:52:26] vulnerable innocents and now

[4:52:30] possibly World War three.

[4:52:31] We have endorsed we have been

[4:52:31] harassed.

[4:52:32] I have personally received

[4:52:32] death threats and mail.

[4:52:37] As many of you know when I ran

[4:52:37] for city council since

[4:52:38] the genocide began we have

[4:52:41] received thousands of calls,

[4:52:42] emails, cases and regarding

[4:52:43] Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate

[4:52:48] and those threatening

[4:52:48] the livelihoods of those

[4:52:49] advocating for our basic First

[4:52:49] Amendment rights.

[4:52:53] Artists, entrepreneurs.

[4:52:54] Teachers.

[4:52:54] Doctors.

[4:52:54] Scientists.

[4:52:55] Nurses.

[4:52:55] Students.

[4:52:55] Organizers.

[4:52:56] Researchers.

[4:52:56] Laborers.

[4:53:00] What happened to the First

[4:53:00] Amendment?

[4:53:01] We deserve to have our rights

[4:53:01] protected as people in our

[4:53:06] community, as people that are

[4:53:07] part of this place.

[4:53:08] >> We need to be you for that

[4:53:11] comment, Mona.

[4:53:12] Good afternoon City Council

[4:53:17] members.

[4:53:18] I'm here as a network survivor.

[4:53:21] My grandmother was born in 1938

[4:53:22] in occupied Palestine.

[4:53:22] At the time it was an occupied.

[4:53:27] So I'm sitting in the back

[4:53:27] having an anxiety attack

[4:53:28] because there is an Israeli

[4:53:29] flag right next to me

[4:53:34] representing the entity that

[4:53:34] took my family, my mother, my

[4:53:36] homeland and has prevented me

[4:53:43] from ever returning.

[4:53:44] The ihra definition has been

[4:53:45] said to be an educational tool.

[4:53:50] It is an educational tool and

[4:53:51] it will be used as an educator

[4:53:51] I know to limit free speech.

[4:53:55] Many of the examples for ihra

[4:53:56] definition shield Israel from

[4:53:56] accountability.

[4:54:01] This is not neutral.

[4:54:01] It will be used to control and

[4:54:02] limit narratives.

[4:54:07] As an educator I know exactly

[4:54:08] how that goes.

[4:54:09] We are seeing it in education.

[4:54:09] Trump's educational

[4:54:13] restrictions are real.

[4:54:13] >> Please do not do the same

[4:54:14] thing.

[4:54:22] Athena Athena, you have time to

[4:54:22] by calling the.

[4:54:23] If you can please raise your

[4:54:23] hand Colleen.

[4:54:24] Thank you so much.

[4:54:25] You all have two minutes.

[4:54:25] Please proceed.

[4:54:26] I'm gonna ask for a bit of

[4:54:27] audience participation here.

[4:54:31] I'm going to read six quotes

[4:54:32] and if any of them sound like

[4:54:33] something a Nazi would say them

[4:54:34] Raise your hand and keep it

[4:54:34] raised.

[4:54:36] Our council members included.

[4:54:37] I apologize in advance for

[4:54:37] having to read these disgusting

[4:54:38] quotes but it seems to be

[4:54:39] the only way to communicate My

[4:54:43] point.

[4:54:43] Quote Those are animals.

[4:54:44] They have no right to exist.

[4:54:45] I am not debating the way it

[4:54:49] will happen but they need to be

[4:54:49] exterminated.

[4:54:50] Quote The weak crumble are

[4:54:50] slaughtered in our race from

[4:54:51] history while the strong for

[4:54:55] good or for ill survive quote a

[4:54:56] race the memory of them a race

[4:55:01] them their families mothers and

[4:55:01] children.

[4:55:02] If you have an Arab neighbor

[4:55:02] don't wait.

[4:55:03] Go to his home and shoot him.

[4:55:06] Quote There is one and only one

[4:55:07] solution which is to completely

[4:55:07] destroy Gaza.

[4:55:11] Quote Even 1 million Arabs are

[4:55:12] not worth a single Jewish

[4:55:12] fingernail.

[4:55:13] Quote What's so horrifying

[4:55:17] about understanding about

[4:55:18] the entire Palestinian people

[4:55:19] is the enemy.

[4:55:19] End quote.

[4:55:20] Again, raise your hand if any

[4:55:20] of those sounds like Nazi

[4:55:27] quotes.

[4:55:27] >> At some point almost

[4:55:28] everyone agreed that this is

[4:55:33] not nonsense as do each and

[4:55:33] every one of these quotes from

[4:55:34] the upper echelons of Israeli

[4:55:38] society Prime ministers,

[4:55:39] ministers of education

[4:55:39] ministers of justice generals,

[4:55:40] speakers for the Legislature

[4:55:45] and other positions of power.

[4:55:45] They're from officials

[4:55:46] describing their policy on how

[4:55:47] to interact with Palestinians.

[4:55:51] Each of you who raise your hand

[4:55:51] thought that current Israeli

[4:55:52] policy as stated in these

[4:55:53] quotes is comparable to Nazi

[4:55:58] Germany policy because the hrc

[4:55:58] definition of antisemitism

[4:55:59] includes comparisons of modern

[4:56:02] Israeli policy to that of

[4:56:02] the Nazis.

[4:56:03] And it does.

[4:56:04] You can look up the definition

[4:56:08] yourself.

[4:56:08] This definition is carefully

[4:56:09] crafted to silence any

[4:56:14] criticism of Israeli policy and

[4:56:14] one that allows actual hatred

[4:56:15] to go unchallenged.

[4:56:15] So every single person who

[4:56:20] raised their hand at any point

[4:56:20] is an anti-Semite Under this

[4:56:21] definition, criticizing

[4:56:22] the mass slaughter of civilians

[4:56:26] is not anti-Islamic And I hope

[4:56:27] our city council would agree

[4:56:27] with me and vote down this

[4:56:28] resolution.

[4:56:32] Our next speaker is Marsha But

[4:56:33] then after that is Marco Polo

[4:56:40] and David Tarek are Danny

[4:56:40] Russell, David Lang, Steve and

[4:56:45] Vicki as if you can all please

[4:56:45] come forward tthe front row.

[4:56:46] Please proceed.

[4:56:49] Thank you for letting me speak

[4:56:49] .

[4:56:50] I'm not used to speaking in

[4:56:50] public.

[4:56:51] I'm used to playing my cello in

[4:56:55] public.

[4:56:56] I have knocked on doors for a

[4:56:57] number of you to get you

[4:57:01] elected.

[4:57:01] In 1975 I auditioned for

[4:57:05] the Jerusalem Symphony and I

[4:57:06] played there for ten months.

[4:57:07] In that time I toured the Sinai

[4:57:11] Desert and I went to Gaza which

[4:57:12] was my idea of heaven with

[4:57:12] those ancient the palm trees

[4:57:17] right on the ocean's edge.

[4:57:18] I am horrified at what Israel

[4:57:18] is doing now.

[4:57:23] This is not the Israel I

[4:57:24] visited in 1975 and 76.

[4:57:30] This is a different Israel that

[4:57:30] it is okay to murder people.

[4:57:31] If you haven't heard of

[4:57:35] lavender or birth daddy then

[4:57:36] you don't know what's going on

[4:57:36] there.

[4:57:37] They're targeting poets.

[4:57:41] I am appalled and I'm not an

[4:57:42] anti-Semite as far as I know.

[4:57:43] But according to this

[4:57:48] definition I am.

[4:57:48] >> Thank you.

[4:57:53] Next week as Marco said, it

[4:57:54] goes without saying that hate

[4:58:00] crimes are intolerable in this

[4:58:01] society and those crimes should

[4:58:01] be identified.

[4:58:02] And yes, we all know what

[4:58:05] anti-Semitism is and I'm

[4:58:06] against it too.

[4:58:06] But simply observing and

[4:58:07] listening to those in favor of

[4:58:12] this measure, the argument

[4:58:13] against it makes itself no

[4:58:13] matter no matter how much they

[4:58:17] deny it, they are doubling down

[4:58:18] on the conflation of criticisms

[4:58:19] of anti-Zionism with

[4:58:23] anti-Semitism And so does this

[4:58:23] measure.

[4:58:24] And that was that was cited

[4:58:29] directly from the hrc website.

[4:58:29] Right.

[4:58:30] Otherwise, you know, to adopt

[4:58:35] the well-established Jerusalem

[4:58:35] Declaration of anti-Semitism

[4:58:36] which is the one that actually

[4:58:37] addresses these discrepancies

[4:58:37] that we're pointing to and

[4:58:41] completing anti-Zionism with

[4:58:42] anti-Semitism, slapping

[4:58:43] the anti-Semitism label on

[4:58:43] legitimate critiques of a

[4:58:48] government or political

[4:58:48] ideology isn't a do do measure

[4:58:53] that should be a priority of a

[4:58:54] city with so many pressing

[4:58:54] needs.

[4:58:55] >> Your time has concluded.

[4:58:58] Let's do this.

[4:59:05] Potus Let David overcome.

[4:59:07] Potus let you David I don't see

[4:59:14] anyone else coming up.

[4:59:15] I can come back.

[4:59:16] I don't think we've actually

[4:59:23] met somebody to wreck art.

[4:59:23] Hello.

[4:59:24] My name is Tarek.

[4:59:25] I live over in North Park.

[4:59:29] It pains me greatly to hear all

[4:59:30] these stories about all these

[4:59:35] anti-Semitic hate crimes being

[4:59:36] perpetrated here in the States.

[4:59:41] I will say the hra definition

[4:59:42] will only serve to make things

[4:59:43] worse by completing anti

[4:59:46] Semitism with with criticisms

[4:59:47] of Israel.

[4:59:48] While Israel is currently

[4:59:48] performing a genocide murdering

[4:59:53] children in front of our eyes

[4:59:54] people are seeing this It is

[4:59:58] life and it is not everyone's

[4:59:59] fault that if they see a

[5:00:00] Zionist entity doing these war

[5:00:01] crimes are not being held to

[5:00:04] account while it is also being

[5:00:05] conflated with Judaism in this

[5:00:06] definition and by the by

[5:00:11] the words of Israeli officials

[5:00:12] that is only going to make this

[5:00:15] worse And I urge you to vote

[5:00:16] against this five vote.

[5:00:20] Thank you Danny Rosa.

[5:00:27] Hello.

[5:00:28] My name is Danny Rosen.

[5:00:28] I'm here today as a member of

[5:00:29] San Diego Veterans for Peace

[5:00:34] and Vice PRESIDENT Of Students

[5:00:35] for Justice in Palestine at

[5:00:35] City College.

[5:00:36] The very definition of

[5:00:39] antisemitism is riddled with

[5:00:40] democracy at best and a gross

[5:00:41] violation of free speech.

[5:00:41] Being on legally binding

[5:00:46] doesn't stop it from

[5:00:47] suppressing speech free speech

[5:00:47] if it labels certain speech as

[5:00:48] hate speech.

[5:00:51] Of its 11 examples seven Target

[5:00:52] speech in the State of Israel

[5:00:53] it classifies comparing Israeli

[5:00:57] policy to apartheid as

[5:00:57] anti-Semitic.

[5:00:58] It does the same to speaking

[5:00:59] out against documented Israeli

[5:00:59] war crimes.

[5:01:02] These are not just my

[5:01:02] positions.

[5:01:03] They held by Amnesty

[5:01:04] International, Human Rights

[5:01:04] Watch and hundreds of Holocaust

[5:01:09] scholars who know that never

[5:01:09] again means never again to

[5:01:10] anybody.

[5:01:10] The hra does not protect our

[5:01:11] brothers and sisters in

[5:01:14] the Turkish community.

[5:01:15] It protects governments from

[5:01:15] accountability.

[5:01:16] It has been used on campuses

[5:01:22] across this country to silence

[5:01:22] students, teachers and

[5:01:23] community activists, deepen

[5:01:24] their offense and punish their

[5:01:24] speech.

[5:01:28] It's this policy this council

[5:01:29] needs to sit with the outrage

[5:01:30] this time after guru David

[5:01:36] Langston David I want people

[5:01:36] sitting at home if they can

[5:01:37] please raise their hand.

[5:01:40] Elias Ben Butler your earliest

[5:01:46] right hand right hand if you

[5:01:47] can please raise your hand.

[5:01:47] Thank you.

[5:01:52] Taha Hasani Taha a study My

[5:01:53] missing hand I do not see that

[5:01:58] Omar Beauchamp.

[5:01:58] Thank you.

[5:01:59] There's two options.

[5:02:05] Oh, because there are not to

[5:02:06] our emotions here.

[5:02:08] Asthma is a binding as was a

[5:02:15] biting.

[5:02:15] Okay.

[5:02:16] Thank you, Doctor And Wiley,

[5:02:18] thank you so much.

[5:02:25] You will have to Six minutes.

[5:02:26] Please proceed.

[5:02:26] Thank you.

[5:02:31] I won't be that much time but.

[5:02:32] Good afternoon.

[5:02:33] My name is Dave Langston.

[5:02:33] Today I speak on like I did

[5:02:37] just a few hours ago Not on

[5:02:38] behalf of my union but myself

[5:02:38] as a Jew.

[5:02:39] I'm here to ask you to vote no

[5:02:39] today.

[5:02:43] My grandparents on my father's

[5:02:44] side were from Austria.

[5:02:44] They escaped in 1939 to America

[5:02:49] and settled in Queens, New York

[5:02:49] .

[5:02:50] My grandmother lost six

[5:02:51] siblings and her parents in

[5:02:51] the Holocaust.

[5:02:55] My grandfather lost his parents

[5:02:56] my great grandparents as well.

[5:02:56] Like all Jews I've experienced

[5:03:02] acts of antisemitism including

[5:03:02] today.

[5:03:03] When I was 13 the year my bar

[5:03:03] mitzvah or synagogue was

[5:03:07] desecrated with swastikas It

[5:03:08] was shocking but it wasn't till

[5:03:09] I had a conversation with my

[5:03:13] grandfather when I was a little

[5:03:14] bit older that I feel like I

[5:03:15] truly understood what my

[5:03:20] grandparents never like to talk

[5:03:20] about their experience in

[5:03:21] Austria.

[5:03:21] But they made an exception to

[5:03:22] allow me to interview them for

[5:03:25] a high school project because

[5:03:26] my success in academics were

[5:03:27] most important to them.

[5:03:31] My grandfather was always quiet

[5:03:32] and he doted over his

[5:03:32] grandchildren.

[5:03:33] But just for a moment on that

[5:03:37] day I saw another side of him.

[5:03:38] After sharing their story and

[5:03:41] what it took to escape, I asked

[5:03:42] him if 50 years later he was

[5:03:43] interested in going back to

[5:03:43] Austria and he was angry.

[5:03:48] He was angry in a way that I'd

[5:03:49] never seen before.

[5:03:49] He asked me why would I ever

[5:03:50] want to go back to Austria

[5:03:54] after what they did to me after

[5:03:54] what they did to us.

[5:03:55] And I could feel in my bones

[5:03:59] the hate that upended

[5:03:59] everything in his life at such

[5:04:00] a young age And it was

[5:04:01] incomprehensible that

[5:04:06] conversation stayed with me.

[5:04:07] It is part of the reason that

[5:04:10] I've been a community labor

[5:04:11] organizer for 25 years because

[5:04:12] I don't want anyone to feel

[5:04:12] that way.

[5:04:16] My work is about standing for

[5:04:17] and with people that don't have

[5:04:18] the power in their own lives.

[5:04:19] Like my grandparents did it

[5:04:22] honestly.

[5:04:23] I don't talk much about

[5:04:24] anti-Semitism.

[5:04:24] I don't talk about Israel

[5:04:29] publicly or even within my own

[5:04:30] family because it's so painful

[5:04:30] and it's so divisive.

[5:04:34] But I feel the need to speak

[5:04:34] today.

[5:04:35] There's a great Jewish

[5:04:40] tradition of debate even

[5:04:41] arguing.

[5:04:41] It's true at my family get

[5:04:42] togethers and debating even if

[5:04:46] you disagree.

[5:04:46] Especially if you disagree.

[5:04:47] Helps us learn from each other

[5:04:48] and sharpen our knowledge and

[5:04:52] inform our values.

[5:04:53] And that's one of the reasons

[5:04:53] that I find the language of

[5:04:58] this resolution so confounding

[5:04:58] and so troubling.

[5:04:59] This is language that shuts

[5:05:00] down debate by labeling free

[5:05:05] speech as anti-Semitic when

[5:05:06] it's a part of a fair minded

[5:05:10] debate about foreign policy.

[5:05:11] The violence we saw in Michigan

[5:05:12] this week and the broader rise

[5:05:12] in anti-Semitic violence and

[5:05:16] rhetoric.

[5:05:17] It's shameful and it's

[5:05:17] unacceptable.

[5:05:18] We should all be united in

[5:05:18] condemning it.

[5:05:22] But when we complete those

[5:05:22] horrific acts with criticism of

[5:05:23] Israel's foreign policy, we

[5:05:28] risk dividing people rather

[5:05:28] than bringing them together.

[5:05:29] For those like me who oppose

[5:05:33] Israel's actions in Gaza, it

[5:05:34] can feel as though our voices

[5:05:35] are not welcome in the Jewish

[5:05:35] community.

[5:05:36] I sat next to someone that

[5:05:39] basically question was whether

[5:05:40] I was a part of the Jewish

[5:05:40] community.

[5:05:41] As soon as I walked into

[5:05:41] the store.

[5:05:45] And ultimately I don't think

[5:05:46] that makes us safer.

[5:05:47] I've had the opportunity to

[5:05:47] spend time with every single

[5:05:51] council member on this dais.

[5:05:52] Every one of you ran for office

[5:05:53] and join this council because

[5:05:58] you want to stand up for people

[5:05:58] that needed a voice.

[5:05:59] Voting for this language, this

[5:06:00] proposal heightened division

[5:06:03] and send a message to Jews and

[5:06:04] non-Jews alike that your voice

[5:06:05] and your values aren't welcome.

[5:06:05] i don't believe that's why you

[5:06:10] ran.

[5:06:10] And I don't believe that's why

[5:06:11] you're here.

[5:06:12] So I want to appeal to you to

[5:06:12] slow this process down.

[5:06:16] You have a letter in your hand

[5:06:16] which I understand came in a

[5:06:17] couple of hours ago from two

[5:06:18] members of the Human Rights

[5:06:18] Commission.

[5:06:22] They've been part of this

[5:06:23] process that brought this

[5:06:23] recommendation to the council.

[5:06:27] And they said given everything

[5:06:28] that they've learned since that

[5:06:29] vote that they think it's

[5:06:29] appropriate to discuss it

[5:06:33] further to hear all sides, to

[5:06:34] hear from academics and to come

[5:06:35] up with a definition that's

[5:06:35] going to try and thread

[5:06:36] the needle of this really

[5:06:39] difficult conversation.

[5:06:40] So they asked for you to not

[5:06:41] move forward today.

[5:06:41] Send this back to the hrc.

[5:06:45] Give them the opportunity to

[5:06:45] debate and try and move

[5:06:46] forward.

[5:06:47] I thank you for the opportunity

[5:06:50] to speak and thank you for

[5:06:51] listening.

[5:06:58] >> Say it.

[5:06:59] Faith Clinger Mammary David

[5:07:05] Whitmire Joanna Adelson and

[5:07:05] Eric Chavez seating.

[5:07:06] If you can all please come up

[5:07:07] to the front row please proceed

[5:07:09] when ready.

[5:07:09] Good afternoon council members.

[5:07:10] I live in the fourth District

[5:07:15] and I'm here to urge you to

[5:07:15] vote no.

[5:07:16] This resolution will not

[5:07:17] protect the safety of Jewish

[5:07:17] people.

[5:07:21] It will in fact protect

[5:07:22] the impunity of the apartheid

[5:07:26] genocidal government of Israel

[5:07:27] providing them cover for

[5:07:28] the atrocities that they commit

[5:07:33] by killing our constitutionally

[5:07:33] protected right of free speech.

[5:07:34] You've heard of the other major

[5:07:39] human rights organizations that

[5:07:40] have condemned Israel for being

[5:07:40] an apartheid genocidal state.

[5:07:45] In addition to them, two

[5:07:45] Israeli based organizations

[5:07:46] also say that Israel is

[5:07:52] committing genocide and that's

[5:07:53] Selam and Physicians for Human

[5:07:57] Rights Israel So I'm asking you

[5:08:03] to think about why why why have

[5:08:03] they been called genocidal?

[5:08:04] Because they've exterminated

[5:08:09] tens of thousands of men women

[5:08:10] ,children, mostly children and

[5:08:11] women do the right thing.

[5:08:11] Thank you for that opening

[5:08:12] statement.

[5:08:18] Faith Klinger Hello, council

[5:08:18] members.

[5:08:19] >> My name is Faith Klinger and

[5:08:24] I ama United States Marine

[5:08:25] Corps veteran And I'm a mom.

[5:08:25] I live in San Diego.

[5:08:30] I have this book in my hand.

[5:08:31] It's called I have Lived a

[5:08:31] thousand Years growing up in

[5:08:32] the Holocaust.

[5:08:33] It's been in my personal book

[5:08:37] collection since I was 11 years

[5:08:37] old.

[5:08:38] >> I bought it with my paper

[5:08:38] route money.

[5:08:42] The Jewish Holocaust was

[5:08:43] the worst moment that I'd ever

[5:08:43] heard about in history up until

[5:08:49] that point and I became fixated

[5:08:49] on how a group of people could

[5:08:50] use such terror to another

[5:08:54] group of people denying their

[5:08:55] humanity, murdering them in

[5:08:56] cold blood, believinthat

[5:08:56] the annihilation of the Jews

[5:08:57] would bring prosperity and

[5:09:02] peace.

[5:09:03] I don't have words for

[5:09:03] the horror.

[5:09:04] Evil doesn't flow enough.

[5:09:05] I learned everything I could

[5:09:07] about it So I learned.

[5:09:07] So when I learned of

[5:09:08] the apartheid in Palestine and

[5:09:09] have watched thousands of

[5:09:13] children be murdered I was

[5:09:13] shocked.

[5:09:14] Surely the descendants of

[5:09:14] the Holocaust were not

[5:09:15] oppressing a group of people

[5:09:19] believing that their

[5:09:19] annihilation would bring

[5:09:20] prosperity and peace to that.

[5:09:25] >> I have concluded my memory

[5:09:26] Memory?

[5:09:27] You have times and you by great

[5:09:31] humanness speaking Please raise

[5:09:31] your hand.

[5:09:32] Grace Our humanness.

[5:09:38] I don't see anybody raising

[5:09:39] their hand with that name.

[5:09:39] Grace rising a minute So you'll

[5:09:40] have a minute.

[5:09:42] Please proceed.

[5:09:42] >> I thank you.

[5:09:43] Council members.

[5:09:44] I first want to condemn all

[5:09:48] anti-Semitism but

[5:09:49] the definition is dangerous and

[5:09:49] it feels foreign governments

[5:09:53] and people who criticize

[5:09:54] the state of Israel under

[5:09:54] the guise of antisemitism.

[5:09:55] Let's start with federal law.

[5:09:56] The Symington amendment

[5:10:01] restricts U.S. Aid to any

[5:10:01] country violating international

[5:10:02] secret nuclear activity but

[5:10:06] it's been proven that there had

[5:10:07] been enriched uranium found in

[5:10:07] soil samples in Gaza and in

[5:10:13] Lebanon which I have provided

[5:10:14] the research paper here for you

[5:10:14] today.

[5:10:14] The Glenn Amendment also

[5:10:15] requires the United States

[5:10:18] essentially any country that

[5:10:19] detonates a nuclear device.

[5:10:19] But there have been no.

[5:10:20] There has been nothing against

[5:10:25] the state of Israel and this is

[5:10:25] completed with blood libel even

[5:10:26] though it is not blood libel.

[5:10:30] This is actual evidence

[5:10:31] researched by doctors.

[5:10:31] I need to remind the counsel

[5:10:32] how Israeli prison guards were

[5:10:36] caught filming and gang a

[5:10:37] Palestinian man turning his

[5:10:37] and breaking his ribs.

[5:10:43] All charges were dropped and

[5:10:44] they labeled that blood libel.

[5:10:44] >> We cannot conflate anything

[5:10:45] with anti-Semitism including

[5:10:51] comments David Widmark.

[5:10:57] I am David Whitmire of

[5:10:58] Claremont.

[5:10:59] Thank you for and I don't know

[5:11:03] if I can thank you for having

[5:11:04] this discussion.

[5:11:04] It's depressing.

[5:11:05] I have seven kids.

[5:11:09] I feel like we're all valuable.

[5:11:10] Nobody wants anybody to be

[5:11:14] doing this But I would just

[5:11:15] implore you that a resolution

[5:11:21] like this is not like my

[5:11:21] brother beforehand said is not

[5:11:22] can be helpful when when

[5:11:26] the authors themselves of this

[5:11:27] definition canister and wrote I

[5:11:28] crafted a definition of

[5:11:32] anti-Semitism and I'm backing

[5:11:33] away from it because he saw it

[5:11:34] how it was being used And I

[5:11:34] would just encourage you to

[5:11:38] slow down on this.

[5:11:39] I haven't heard a discussion

[5:11:39] about our constituents in our

[5:11:44] neighbors here in San Diego

[5:11:45] with like 220 family members in

[5:11:46] Gaza and much discussion about

[5:11:50] calling out a genocide and

[5:11:50] start from the weapons that are

[5:11:51] manufactured in San Diego to

[5:11:52] start sending them there.

[5:11:56] But here we are talking about

[5:11:57] six.

[5:11:57] >> Thank you for it.

[5:11:58] Thank you.

[5:12:02] Joanna Adelson Good afternoon.

[5:12:09] I stand before you as a local

[5:12:09] concerned Jewish community

[5:12:10] member.

[5:12:13] The fact that this item as 500

[5:12:13] is even being considered by

[5:12:14] this body is a shanda a

[5:12:15] disgrace.

[5:12:18] For the last two and a half

[5:12:19] years we have all witnessed

[5:12:20] Israel committing the most

[5:12:20] unspeakable atrocities against

[5:12:24] the Palestinian people in Gaza

[5:12:24] and across the land.

[5:12:25] These crimes against humanity

[5:12:26] have been perpetrated with

[5:12:30] impunity by nation still a

[5:12:31] state built on genocide and

[5:12:31] which has co-opted the identity

[5:12:35] of Jews the world over and now

[5:12:36] make no mistake about it

[5:12:36] the city Council should it

[5:12:37] adopt the arbitrary definition

[5:12:42] of anti-Semitic ism will be

[5:12:43] engaging in anti-Semitism by

[5:12:43] conflating my Jewish identity

[5:12:48] with the genocidal ethno

[5:12:49] nationalist rogue state of

[5:12:49] Israel.

[5:12:50] By doing so you will be making

[5:12:54] me and all Jews less not more

[5:12:54] safe.

[5:12:55] Let me remind you that in other

[5:13:00] places such as Germany and

[5:13:01] the uk where language penalizes

[5:13:01] criticism of Israel has been

[5:13:07] conflated with anti-Zionist

[5:13:07] Jews.

[5:13:08] They have been labeled as

[5:13:08] anti-Semitic.

[5:13:09] You have been arrested and

[5:13:09] imprisoned.

[5:13:11] Make it makes getting a

[5:13:11] sentence.

[5:13:12] Thank you Eric.

[5:13:17] Shame sitting.

[5:13:18] >> Hello to the council.

[5:13:18] The board?

[5:13:19] My name's Eric Ahmed Shamsi.

[5:13:23] I'm a Lebanese American

[5:13:23] University student who was here

[5:13:24] in San Diego.

[5:13:25] I come to you today to oppose

[5:13:29] ihra definition due to

[5:13:29] the realm in which it does not

[5:13:30] is purely exclusive.

[5:13:31] We recognize that there are

[5:13:31] crimes against the Jewish

[5:13:36] people in our communities but

[5:13:36] we also recognize that our

[5:13:37] increasing crime and the same a

[5:13:38] phobia anti-Muslim, anti-Arab

[5:13:41] hate And we need to support our

[5:13:41] students.

[5:13:42] We need to support our parents

[5:13:42] safety.

[5:13:43] We need to support our families

[5:13:47] And as such we should mend we

[5:13:47] should amend this definition.

[5:13:48] We should fix it.

[5:13:48] We should rewrite it.

[5:13:49] We should work it.

[5:13:50] We should take the time to

[5:13:52] really dig down into supporting

[5:13:53] our community and our safety

[5:13:54] For this It doesn't purely

[5:13:54] separate ourselves.

[5:13:59] We cannot have this divide and

[5:14:00] we need to recognize the safety

[5:14:00] of all our people.

[5:14:01] Legislation and bill language

[5:14:05] should not be exclusive.

[5:14:06] >> It should be equatorial to

[5:14:06] our community.

[5:14:06] Thank you.

[5:14:12] Jim Roush If I could have

[5:14:13] the song individuals please

[5:14:13] come up to the microphone to

[5:14:14] the first row.

[5:14:17] Jim Roush Sarah Hassan.

[5:14:17] Michael Brackley, Craig Jones,

[5:14:24] Tom McCammon, Susan Orlowski

[5:14:24] and Hummel Conroy.

[5:14:25] If you can all please come up

[5:14:26] to the front row Please proceed

[5:14:28] when ready.

[5:14:29] I'm a resident of third

[5:14:30] District and professor of

[5:14:35] economics at ucsd.

[5:14:35] I love data.

[5:14:36] The data show that the Jewish

[5:14:37] organizations pushing

[5:14:41] the definition of anti Semitism

[5:14:41] do not represent majority

[5:14:42] Jewish opinion.

[5:14:46] The Jewish electorate Institute

[5:14:47] conducted a scientific survey

[5:14:48] of Jewish voters.

[5:14:48] They asked Jewish voters their

[5:14:53] opinion of the statement Israel

[5:14:54] is an apartheid state exactly

[5:14:54] the kind of statement the Irish

[5:14:59] Jewry definition is designed to

[5:14:59] suppress.

[5:15:05] Only 28% of Jewish voters said

[5:15:06] this statement is anti-Semitic.

[5:15:06] It is this fanatical minority

[5:15:12] of Jewish voters that are

[5:15:12] represented by the Jewish

[5:15:13] organizations pushing

[5:15:17] the definition of anti-Semitism

[5:15:17] .

[5:15:18] Adoption of this definition

[5:15:18] will further inflame

[5:15:22] anti-Semitism by trampling on

[5:15:23] San Diego's constitutionally

[5:15:24] protected freedom of political

[5:15:24] speech.

[5:15:29] Please do not help a fanatical

[5:15:30] minority of Jews endanger

[5:15:30] the rest of us.

[5:15:31] Our time has concluded.

[5:15:40] Sarah Fine Sarah aj as Amy?

[5:15:41] No Michael Practice.

[5:15:44] Michael You have time ceded to

[5:15:52] you by Brian Todd.

[5:15:52] Hello.

[5:15:53] I'm my friend and Dave Angle.

[5:15:57] I don't see how right.

[5:15:58] So I do see Dave Angle so

[5:15:58] you'll have two minutes.

[5:15:59] Please proceed.

[5:15:59] Thank you.

[5:16:00] Hi, I'm Michael Brickley from

[5:16:03] Hillcrest speaking as a member

[5:16:04] of the Peace Resource Center in

[5:16:04] San Diego.

[5:16:05] I identify with the serious

[5:16:09] concerns expressed by those who

[5:16:10] support the Council adopting

[5:16:15] so-called a definition of anti

[5:16:15] Semitism.

[5:16:16] But I'm very concerned about

[5:16:21] adopting it because I see it as

[5:16:22] a divisive influence in our

[5:16:23] community one that pits

[5:16:27] Zionists against anti-science.

[5:16:28] Instead of helping us all find

[5:16:28] our common ground with each

[5:16:29] other and ways to work together

[5:16:34] for peace and harmony in San

[5:16:34] Diego.

[5:16:35] To begin with it's not a proper

[5:16:35] definition at all.

[5:16:40] The only thing it says is as as

[5:16:41] accurate as an actual

[5:16:45] definition is this vague

[5:16:46] sentence read previously that

[5:16:51] antisemitism antisemitism is a

[5:16:52] certain perception of Jews

[5:16:52] which MAY be expressed as

[5:16:57] hatred toward Jews.

[5:16:58] Instead of saying clearly what

[5:16:59] we all know to be true that

[5:17:03] anti-Semitism is prejudice

[5:17:04] against Jews, discrimination

[5:17:04] against Jews, aggression

[5:17:09] against Jews quite possibly

[5:17:10] violence against Jews just

[5:17:11] because they're Jewish.

[5:17:15] How can this be?

[5:17:16] It's because the so-called hrc

[5:17:17] definition was not written as a

[5:17:22] proper definite definition of

[5:17:22] anti-Semitism to begin with.

[5:17:23] Its lead writer Ken Stern has

[5:17:27] said repeatedly it was created

[5:17:28] simply to help governments

[5:17:29] establish guidelines for

[5:17:29] collecting data on

[5:17:34] anti-Semitism including ways in

[5:17:34] which hostility to Zionism and

[5:17:35] Israel could be but not

[5:17:40] necessarily are manifestations

[5:17:40] of anti-Semitism.

[5:17:41] Moreover, he said repeatedly

[5:17:46] that it was created not for

[5:17:46] authoritatively defining

[5:17:47] anti-Semitism and that he's

[5:17:53] very upset that it's been put

[5:17:53] to this misuse.

[5:17:54] Please do not adopt this

[5:17:56] so-called definition of

[5:18:00] anti-Semitism.

[5:18:07] >> Craig Jones Thank you.

[5:18:11] I am Chris Jones, a resident of

[5:18:12] District five.

[5:18:13] My wife's family is Austrian.

[5:18:18] Jews were wiped out by

[5:18:18] the Third.

[5:18:19] I know what anti-Semitism is

[5:18:24] and what it can do to

[5:18:25] generations upon generations.

[5:18:25] Those who commit anti-Semitic

[5:18:30] acts conflate all Jewish people

[5:18:31] everywhere with the actions of

[5:18:32] the foreign state of Israel.

[5:18:36] The irony in definition does

[5:18:37] the very same thing It

[5:18:37] conflates the protection of

[5:18:42] the state of Israel with

[5:18:43] the protection of Judaism of

[5:18:43] all Jewish people everywhere.

[5:18:47] If you embrace the arbitrary

[5:18:48] definition you will actually

[5:18:49] play into the mindset of those

[5:18:54] who commit anti-Semitic acts.

[5:18:55] The definition has been

[5:18:55] weaponized for political

[5:18:56] purposes.

[5:19:01] Do not make this mistake.

[5:19:01] There are better, more

[5:19:02] effective ways to address

[5:19:06] anti-Semitism.

[5:19:07] >> anti-Islamic acts and

[5:19:07] the acts of hatred and violence

[5:19:10] on others.

[5:19:22] Tom McCammon Let's sort out

[5:19:23] three very different things

[5:19:23] today.

[5:19:24] The first is the Jewish people.

[5:19:28] The second is the political

[5:19:28] ideology of Zionism.

[5:19:32] And the third is the Zionist

[5:19:32] state of Israel.

[5:19:33] The Jews are a proud and

[5:19:37] ancient people and culture

[5:19:38] renowned for their

[5:19:39] contributions to the world.

[5:19:39] Jews have often faced

[5:19:44] anti-Semitic discrimination and

[5:19:44] persecution and they deserve

[5:19:45] social and legal protections.

[5:19:50] Second, Zionism is not Judaism.

[5:19:51] Zionism is a specific political

[5:19:57] ideology based on a theory of

[5:19:58] Jewish supremacy.

[5:19:58] Not all Jews are Zionists and

[5:20:04] not all Zionists are Jews.

[5:20:04] It is not antisemitic to

[5:20:09] denounce the political ideology

[5:20:10] of Zionism and its dangerous

[5:20:10] political program.

[5:20:16] The resolution proposes to use

[5:20:17] the I r statement as a tool to

[5:20:22] combat antisemitism but it

[5:20:22] confuses and conflates.

[5:20:23] >> Thank you for that reporting

[5:20:23] comment.

[5:20:28] Susan Orlowski.

[5:20:33] Good afternoon City Council I'm

[5:20:34] Susan Orlowski, a resident of

[5:20:34] San Diego District two.

[5:20:39] I'm Jewish born and raised in

[5:20:40] an Orthodox family.

[5:20:41] One of the teachings from my

[5:20:45] heritage I treasure most is

[5:20:45] tikkun olam.

[5:20:51] >> The responsibility to repair

[5:20:52] our shattered divided world.

[5:20:57] Adopting the Torah definition

[5:20:58] of antisemitism will not repair

[5:21:02] what's broken in our community

[5:21:03] or our nation or our world.

[5:21:09] >> Remember Trump based his

[5:21:09] executive order threatening

[5:21:10] Palestinian rights activists

[5:21:15] with deportation and on

[5:21:20] the definition of antisemitism

[5:21:21] ?

[5:21:22] Voting to adopt it will silence

[5:21:27] free speech in our communities

[5:21:27] .

[5:21:28] It is the antithesis to

[5:21:29] the diversity of viewpoints and

[5:21:34] cultures that makes them do

[5:21:35] the right thing.

[5:21:35] Jamal can Jamal you have time

[5:21:41] to go to my Toyota if you can,

[5:21:41] please?

[5:21:42] Thank you.

[5:21:42] You'll have two minutes.

[5:21:43] Please proceed.

[5:21:43] Yeah.

[5:21:46] Hi, Council members.

[5:21:46] I'm a former city employee.

[5:21:47] In fact, I used to sit back

[5:21:52] there on that chair when it was

[5:21:52] a city.

[5:21:53] City manager form of

[5:21:53] government.

[5:21:58] I'm here to ask you to of

[5:21:58] course oppose.

[5:21:59] I know you know you have every

[5:22:03] right as a council all

[5:22:04] individuals to support even

[5:22:04] the genocide in Gaza If you

[5:22:05] want the ethnic cleansing of

[5:22:10] Palestinian as if you want.

[5:22:11] I am not going to label you as

[5:22:11] hateful people.

[5:22:16] I'm not going to label you as a

[5:22:16] Palestinian racist.

[5:22:17] But if you pass this resolution

[5:22:22] that is exactly what it will

[5:22:23] do.

[5:22:23] It will stop me from saying my

[5:22:28] parents were ethnically

[5:22:29] cleansed from Palestine.

[5:22:29] That is defined in item as

[5:22:34] labeled as anti-Semitic.

[5:22:35] It will stop me from saying

[5:22:40] that the war in Gaza was a

[5:22:41] genocide because that is also

[5:22:46] defined as skepticism of

[5:22:46] Israel.

[5:22:47] And it is also classified as

[5:22:52] antisemitism or anti-Jewish.

[5:22:53] If I say I am against this

[5:22:58] Zionism as a political ideology

[5:22:59] ,racist political ideology

[5:22:59] against Palestinians because it

[5:23:05] displaced Palestinians, I

[5:23:06] become also an anti-Semite.

[5:23:07] Then you have this definition

[5:23:07] of ira.

[5:23:11] This is what I want you to do.

[5:23:12] If you have the right to be

[5:23:12] able to speak whenever you want

[5:23:17] to say and you are not labeled

[5:23:17] you then allow me to do

[5:23:18] the same.

[5:23:22] And do not label me if I speak

[5:23:22] my mind.

[5:23:23] I will not and will not do

[5:23:27] anything to stop the anti

[5:23:28] Semite or anti-Jewish hit in

[5:23:28] the us.

[5:23:34] Other rules or other ways to

[5:23:35] deal with it.

[5:23:35] Ira is a political Is it

[5:23:39] political statement to defend a

[5:23:39] political entity?

[5:23:46] I want to ask you when was it

[5:23:46] that our time has concluded?

[5:23:47] I can have the following

[5:23:48] individuals please come up to

[5:23:53] the yellow reserved seats and

[5:23:53] if I can have those are seats

[5:23:54] made available to me.

[5:23:57] I'm not not mean I Anthony

[5:24:02] Baron Aguiar El-Amin Israel b

[5:24:03] Marilyn Michael Spencer and

[5:24:08] Carmen Nasser Nicholas.

[5:24:09] If you can please come up to

[5:24:10] the yellow reserved seats And

[5:24:10] today and if you come please

[5:24:16] come up to the podium.

[5:24:17] Oh yes You have time ceded to

[5:24:18] you by several people people

[5:24:22] Madeline Robichaud if you can

[5:24:23] please Robichaud.

[5:24:27] Thank you all My Zubeida Oman

[5:24:33] Thank you.

[5:24:33] There was an Omar Arisa who

[5:24:34] ceded your time to Omar

[5:24:39] al-Bashir ceding time to Tazeen

[5:24:40] And so are you wanting to see

[5:24:45] your time to to her to Tazeen

[5:24:50] Omar Arisa Omar arise Are you

[5:24:50] here?

[5:24:51] Did you want to see your time

[5:24:51] to her?

[5:25:00] Thank you Lena Tice are other

[5:25:00] Lena are you here?

[5:25:01] Okay.

[5:25:06] Thank you Gypsy Gomes Are you

[5:25:06] here?

[5:25:11] Gypsy Gomes I don't see Robert

[5:25:12] Hernandez.

[5:25:16] Are you here?

[5:25:17] I don't see them And Shade are

[5:25:18] you here?

[5:25:22] Thank you So you will have five

[5:25:22] minutes Please proceed.

[5:25:27] Thank you Everyone Peace be

[5:25:27] upon you all.

[5:25:28] I am sad to say that the last

[5:25:33] week the last few days of

[5:25:33] Ramadan when I should be

[5:25:34] praying I have spent trying to

[5:25:35] reach out to people that I

[5:25:38] consider friends at one point

[5:25:39] and because my values did not

[5:25:40] align with their political

[5:25:44] aspirations I have been

[5:25:44] ignored.

[5:25:45] My name is within Islam and I

[5:25:46] have the privilege and honor of

[5:25:50] serving as the executive

[5:25:50] director of Care San Diego And

[5:25:51] I will not defend Care's work

[5:25:52] because my work speaks for

[5:25:55] itself uplifting communities,

[5:25:56] uplifting humanity and Syria.

[5:25:57] But what I have done for

[5:26:01] decades and my personal work in

[5:26:02] interfaith tells everyone here

[5:26:03] that I am not an anti Semite My

[5:26:04] Jewish friends will contest

[5:26:10] that as well As someone who has

[5:26:10] stood for equity and humanity

[5:26:16] today I am being told that my

[5:26:16] moral and civil upright about

[5:26:17] the genocide that we have all

[5:26:21] witnessed unfold right in front

[5:26:21] of our eyes suddenly will be

[5:26:22] considered anti-Semitic.

[5:26:26] My advocacy for valuing of

[5:26:27] human life will be offensive to

[5:26:27] the community that has suffered

[5:26:31] loss themselves.

[5:26:32] My ability to live by my values

[5:26:33] will be considered a violation

[5:26:37] of a city resolution.

[5:26:38] Let us be clear The hra

[5:26:42] definition definition is not

[5:26:43] about protecting the Jewish

[5:26:43] community.

[5:26:48] It is about being against anti

[5:26:48] Zionism.

[5:26:53] It is not about protecting

[5:26:54] the Jewish community.

[5:26:55] I repeat it is about completing

[5:26:59] the definition of antisemitism

[5:27:00] and anti-Zionism.

[5:27:04] It is about silencing the free

[5:27:04] speech of advocates such as

[5:27:05] myself.

[5:27:09] It is about evading my civil

[5:27:09] rights guaranteed to me by

[5:27:10] the us Constitution.

[5:27:15] Since OCTOBER 2023 we have seen

[5:27:20] a rise in anti-Muslim crimes.

[5:27:21] These complaints are filed by a

[5:27:21] brave few.

[5:27:26] The majority of my community is

[5:27:26] not brave enough to come

[5:27:27] forward because they fear a

[5:27:30] consequence.

[5:27:31] Serious consequences that come

[5:27:32] up come down from the highest

[5:27:36] us office the presidential

[5:27:36] order of attacking anybody who

[5:27:41] speaks against the state of

[5:27:42] Israel.

[5:27:42] These incidences are on school

[5:27:47] campuses and at places of

[5:27:48] employment and in public spaces

[5:27:52] just like this.

[5:27:53] I strongly encourage you to

[5:27:56] vote no on 500 as it does not

[5:27:57] serve its intended purpose of

[5:28:01] protecting any community

[5:28:02] especially the Jewish

[5:28:02] community.

[5:28:07] It is rather a harmful and

[5:28:08] divisive motion brought forward

[5:28:12] in a hurry.

[5:28:12] As mentioned earlier, the Human

[5:28:13] Relations Commission that has

[5:28:14] brought this forward is also

[5:28:17] considering it to be brought

[5:28:18] back to them for debate.

[5:28:22] Council member Whitburn I

[5:28:23] appeal to you as the one who

[5:28:24] brought this forward to

[5:28:27] reconsider this.

[5:28:28] This is not a motion that will

[5:28:29] unite communities, protect

[5:28:29] communities.

[5:28:33] It will just create

[5:28:33] divisiveness amongst our

[5:28:36] communities.

[5:28:37] >> And I speak for the Jewish

[5:28:42] community as well when I say

[5:28:43] that this is not something that

[5:28:49] will protect them.

[5:28:50] Maybe half of the Jewish

[5:28:51] community, maybe some of them

[5:28:52] at least that have reached out

[5:28:58] to me.

[5:28:58] Let us all unite and fight

[5:28:59] against hate, not be divisive

[5:29:02] by these measures, not be

[5:29:03] divided by something which is

[5:29:07] going to gain some of us in

[5:29:08] here political clout.

[5:29:12] San Diego is a beautiful place.

[5:29:13] Let us keep it beautiful by

[5:29:13] uniting communities rather than

[5:29:14] dividing them.

[5:29:17] Thank you.

[5:29:18] Thank you to those who helped

[5:29:18] quiet the crowd.

[5:29:23] You're doing great.

[5:29:23] Still got a couple of hours at

[5:29:25] least to go here so bear with

[5:29:31] it in You have time to get it

[5:29:32] to you by Susan Sinofsky if you

[5:29:36] can please raise your hand.

[5:29:36] Susan.

[5:29:37] I don't see Susan raising her

[5:29:41] hand here Perhaps so messed up

[5:29:42] mine was way before a lot of

[5:29:45] people So Susan probably left

[5:29:46] at this point which is really

[5:29:47] frustrating because it was

[5:29:52] omitted But for a lot of people

[5:29:52] we had a lot of people submit I

[5:29:53] actually taking slips for

[5:29:56] myself in order to accommodate

[5:29:56] everybody.

[5:29:57] We are trying to get through to

[5:29:57] everybody.

[5:30:01] Kyra Zubaida, Kyra Zubaida,

[5:30:01] thank you so much.

[5:30:02] You'll have two minutes.

[5:30:02] Please proceed.

[5:30:05] I am the daughter of a Nakba

[5:30:06] survivor.

[5:30:10] My Palestinian father survived

[5:30:11] the mass slaughter and upon

[5:30:12] your time it was your time.

[5:30:12] >> a second hand went up.

[5:30:15] Was there a second person that

[5:30:16] was sitting time?

[5:30:20] >> Does anybody else want to

[5:30:20] see their time?

[5:30:21] No.

[5:30:21] Okay.

[5:30:24] We'll go back to talk to you.

[5:30:25] You'll have three minutes.

[5:30:25] Please proceed.

[5:30:26] Thank you.

[5:30:26] All right.

[5:30:27] Can I start my time over?

[5:30:29] Yes, I am.

[5:30:30] >> Oh, yeah?

[5:30:30] Yeah.

[5:30:31] Well, let's just take your time

[5:30:32] over So we have at least two

[5:30:34] and that's the third.

[5:30:35] And the third is being seen by

[5:30:35] a First Amendment right.

[5:30:38] Okay.

[5:30:38] Yalla.

[5:30:39] We're ready.

[5:30:40] I am the daughter of a

[5:30:43] knuckleball survivor or my

[5:30:44] Palestinian father survived

[5:30:45] the mass slaughter and ethnic

[5:30:48] cleansing of Palestinians by

[5:30:49] the state of Israel.

[5:30:49] I oppose this agenda item

[5:30:53] The ihra definition conflates

[5:30:54] actual antisemitism with

[5:30:54] criticism of Israel.

[5:30:58] You all need to read

[5:30:58] the definition in full.

[5:30:59] It explicitly says

[5:31:03] manifestations might include

[5:31:03] the targeting of the state of

[5:31:04] Israel conceived as a Jewish

[5:31:08] collectivity that strips away

[5:31:08] our freedom of speech, our

[5:31:09] constitutional rights to hold

[5:31:12] Israel accountable for

[5:31:13] the ongoing genocide of

[5:31:13] Palestinians in Gaza.

[5:31:17] Discrimination and segregation

[5:31:18] of Palestinians within Israel

[5:31:21] borders and apartheid of

[5:31:22] Palestinians in the West Bank.

[5:31:23] How about my Palestinian family

[5:31:26] that lives within Israel?

[5:31:27] Yes, there are Palestinians who

[5:31:31] are citizens of the state of

[5:31:31] Israel.

[5:31:32] Are they antisemitic for

[5:31:33] criticizing their own

[5:31:35] government?

[5:31:36] Is my Palestinian mother who is

[5:31:37] an Israeli citizen racist

[5:31:41] towards Jewish people for

[5:31:41] criticizing the Israeli

[5:31:42] government for relentlessly

[5:31:46] bombing Palestinian children in

[5:31:46] Gaza?

[5:31:47] No, it's important we do not

[5:31:49] conflate the two through

[5:31:49] the ira definition.

[5:31:50] Adopting this definition

[5:31:54] effectively says San Diego City

[5:31:55] Council believes in

[5:31:55] the segregation and

[5:31:59] discrimination of Palestinian

[5:32:00] Christian and Muslim citizens

[5:32:00] of the state of Israel.

[5:32:05] Is that all what you stand for?

[5:32:05] What is driving this?

[5:32:09] Stephen Whitburn You're running

[5:32:10] for a state assembly in 2030.

[5:32:11] Are you taking money?

[5:32:14] I'm not saying from Jewish

[5:32:15] people Are you taking money

[5:32:18] from pro-Israel lobby groups?

[5:32:19] There is a distinction.

[5:32:20] Isn't that what the ihra

[5:32:20] definition is doing where we're

[5:32:23] distinguishing the two?

[5:32:24] Are you taking money from

[5:32:25] pro-Israel groups to bring this

[5:32:28] forward?

[5:32:29] Nicole Murray Ramirez brought

[5:32:30] this to the City Human

[5:32:33] Relations Commission.

[5:32:34] Has the commission ensured

[5:32:34] Nicole's not taking any money

[5:32:38] from pro-Israel lobby groups?

[5:32:39] That is a conflict of interest.

[5:32:39] If so.

[5:32:43] Free Palestine from corrupt

[5:32:43] politicians like Stephen

[5:32:47] Whitburn the Christian Zionists

[5:32:48] a premise Raul Campo and King

[5:32:52] Todd Gloria who's not even here

[5:32:53] today who ran to be mayor by

[5:32:53] using his marginalized

[5:32:53] background.

[5:32:57] Only get to get into power to

[5:32:58] further marginalize those on

[5:32:59] the sidelines.

[5:33:02] The group organizing

[5:33:03] the community to speak in favor

[5:33:06] of this item today Israeli

[5:33:06] American Council.

[5:33:11] So again, how is this not about

[5:33:11] conflating the two?

[5:33:12] This shows this isn't about

[5:33:16] protecting our Jewish brothers

[5:33:17] and sisters from hate.

[5:33:17] It's about protecting

[5:33:21] the dangerous criticism them

[5:33:22] from the dangerous state of

[5:33:22] Israel.

[5:33:26] Boycott, divest and sanction

[5:33:27] Israel from the top of my

[5:33:27] lungs.

[5:33:28] We're here to discuss

[5:33:31] anti-Jewish racism.

[5:33:32] So many of these speakers in

[5:33:35] favor of this item have called

[5:33:36] my Jewish brothers and sisters

[5:33:37] not real Jews.

[5:33:41] How is that not anti-Semitic?

[5:33:41] >> You all my comment.

[5:33:45] Thank you.

[5:33:46] That does conclude your time.

[5:33:47] I don't believe in the people.

[5:33:47] I believe in.

[5:33:51] >> All right.

[5:33:52] What's up?

[5:33:57] Anthony Baron After Anthony

[5:33:57] Baron we have Agir El-Amin,

[5:34:02] Israel b Maryland.

[5:34:02] Micah Spencer and Elke Weston.

[5:34:06] If you can please proceed.

[5:34:06] Hello.

[5:34:07] I'm just a poor community

[5:34:11] worker from district for

[5:34:11] the poor side of town District

[5:34:12] four.

[5:34:12] I work out in the community and

[5:34:16] I'm just tired of my taxes

[5:34:16] going to the Zionist holocaust

[5:34:20] against the Palestinians and

[5:34:21] seeing dead children day after

[5:34:25] day for years at this time and

[5:34:26] being surrounded by people who

[5:34:26] take glee and pleasure in that

[5:34:31] slaughter as it continues.

[5:34:32] I have no faith in any of our

[5:34:35] council members but I don't

[5:34:36] need faith in any elected

[5:34:37] representatives because I have

[5:34:37] complete faith in

[5:34:40] the righteousness of our cause

[5:34:40] And I know that history will

[5:34:43] absolve us if that makes me

[5:34:48] antisemitic then so be it.

[5:34:54] Next is engineer Al-Amin.

[5:34:54] >> I'm Akil Al-Amin.

[5:34:58] A long time residents of

[5:34:59] the city of San Diego.

[5:35:03] And I would ask the council

[5:35:04] people please to look at

[5:35:05] the definition of Semite and

[5:35:08] submit it and not a definition

[5:35:09] that these people have come up

[5:35:10] with that is erroneous and

[5:35:13] manifest in order to promote a

[5:35:14] political ideology.

[5:35:18] I'm not here to give you a

[5:35:19] history lesson but I'm an

[5:35:20] African American and I'm a

[5:35:22] muslim and I have been

[5:35:23] discriminated on both causes

[5:35:27] and I know what discrimination

[5:35:27] is.

[5:35:32] There is no law that has been

[5:35:32] designed specifically to

[5:35:37] protect my rights as an

[5:35:37] American and an African

[5:35:38] American citizen to this nation

[5:35:42] that I was born and raised in.

[5:35:43] The civil rights Law Trump in

[5:35:46] fact wants to dismantle

[5:35:47] the rights laws that protect me

[5:35:52] And if he would do it to me, he

[5:35:52] would do it to

[5:35:53] the Palestinians.

[5:35:56] And I am saying now we cannot

[5:35:57] have it and I advise you to

[5:35:58] vote no on this resolution

[5:36:04] Israel be.

[5:36:09] Good afternoon, MR. PRESIDENT

[5:36:10] and all the council members.

[5:36:10] My name is Israel and Citizen

[5:36:14] of Republic Democratic of Congo

[5:36:15] in Africa and a resident here

[5:36:19] in San Diego Lead pastor it

[5:36:20] precious name of Jesus Christ

[5:36:20] Church.

[5:36:24] MR. PRESIDENT, I'm here to

[5:36:24] speak in favor of this agenda

[5:36:29] item regarding h r a.

[5:36:29] MR. PRESIDENT, I support

[5:36:33] adopting this definition

[5:36:34] because it helps clearly

[5:36:38] identify and addresses anti

[5:36:39] Semitism which continue to

[5:36:43] impact our community and around

[5:36:44] the world.

[5:36:44] I know what I'm talking about

[5:36:45] For many people including those

[5:36:48] in Jewish community Israel

[5:36:49] represent not just a nation but

[5:36:53] a place of safety identity and

[5:36:54] history supporting Israel's

[5:36:54] right to exist and defend

[5:36:58] itself.

[5:36:59] It is an important part of

[5:36:59] standing against hate and

[5:37:00] discrimination.

[5:37:03] This measure is not about

[5:37:04] limiting free speech.

[5:37:09] It is about ensuring that

[5:37:09] anti-Semitism.

[5:37:10] Thank you for that was taken.

[5:37:13] Thank you for that Concluding

[5:37:13] remark.

[5:37:14] Maryland Michael Spencer.

[5:37:19] After that it will be Elke

[5:37:19] Weston.

[5:37:20] Carmen Nasser Nicholas.

[5:37:23] Tom Hammond.

[5:37:24] I'm not sure if I already said

[5:37:24] that one before.

[5:37:25] Mark Powell allegedly Audra and

[5:37:28] Vicki Austria if you can all

[5:37:29] please come up to the front

[5:37:29] row.

[5:37:29] Please proceed.

[5:37:33] Hello, my name is Marilyn

[5:37:33] Meeker Spencer.

[5:37:34] I live in District three and I

[5:37:35] voted for some of you.

[5:37:38] I am a Jew and it is exactly

[5:37:39] because I am a Jew that I came

[5:37:43] here to urge you not to support

[5:37:43] this definition of

[5:37:47] anti-Semitism.

[5:37:48] Anti-Semitism is a nasty,

[5:37:48] horrible view.

[5:37:52] It's worse when this view is

[5:37:52] put into action.

[5:37:53] I hate it.

[5:37:57] All of my grandparents escaped

[5:37:57] the antisemitism in Europe.

[5:37:58] Many of my relatives didn't

[5:37:59] manage to escape and were

[5:38:02] murdered.

[5:38:02] I've been subjected to

[5:38:03] anti-Semitism my entire life.

[5:38:07] Most anti-Semitism is based on

[5:38:08] the stereotype that all Jews

[5:38:12] are the same at their core.

[5:38:12] But that's not true.

[5:38:16] Many of us have different views

[5:38:17] on everything including

[5:38:18] the political state of Israel.

[5:38:22] Many argue today that the ihra

[5:38:22] definition doesn't prohibit

[5:38:23] free speech.

[5:38:27] But even if it's not legally

[5:38:28] binding, adopting this position

[5:38:31] defines free speech about

[5:38:32] Israel as the same thing as Jew

[5:38:32] hate.

[5:38:33] >> Thank you for that

[5:38:35] concluding comment Elke.

[5:38:41] Yes, hello.

[5:38:41] My name is Elke Weston and I

[5:38:45] know all of you and that's a

[5:38:45] fact.

[5:38:46] And first let me point out

[5:38:50] great job, Ryan to say how El

[5:38:51] Cajon a Republican city and

[5:38:55] Chula Vista a Republican city

[5:38:56] support this just like you

[5:39:00] support them and you attack

[5:39:00] disabled individuals as well.

[5:39:01] >> Right now what I'm here to

[5:39:05] urge everybody to do is table

[5:39:05] this.

[5:39:06] It is not written appropriately

[5:39:09] When our black community has

[5:39:10] been attacked.

[5:39:10] >> Has anything been done?

[5:39:11] No.

[5:39:14] When our Hispanic community has

[5:39:15] been attacked, has anything

[5:39:15] been done?

[5:39:19] No Muslims have been killed in

[5:39:24] the percentage that you cannot

[5:39:24] imagine from the people of

[5:39:28] the government of Israel.

[5:39:29] We are not saying that

[5:39:33] anti-Semitism is wrong but it's

[5:39:34] very interesting that when

[5:39:34] Muslim people are talking about

[5:39:39] and you and thank you MR.

[5:39:39] PRESIDENT for allowing them to

[5:39:42] do that I expect to more I

[5:39:43] expect ten more seconds you for

[5:39:44] that crowd by you allowing them

[5:39:44] to talk out like that

[5:39:47] concluding.

[5:39:48] >> So I need ten more seconds

[5:39:49] because you took it from both

[5:39:49] sides.

[5:39:52] So they interrupted you on both

[5:39:52] sides of the argument.

[5:39:57] So you had your time.

[5:39:58] I did not have your time

[5:39:59] because I give you 10s Thank

[5:39:59] you.

[5:40:01] You can wrap it up.

[5:40:02] >> I want to urge that we table

[5:40:03] this right now.

[5:40:06] It needs to be rewritten to

[5:40:07] include all people including

[5:40:10] our Muslim brothers and sisters

[5:40:11] because at this point in time

[5:40:12] it's racist.

[5:40:12] >> Thank you for that

[5:40:16] concluding remark.

[5:40:17] Carmen Nasser Nicholas Nichols

[5:40:18] My apology Carmen Nasser

[5:40:21] Nichols are you here After that

[5:40:25] Tom McCarron, Mark Powell

[5:40:26] allegedly.

[5:40:27] >> Thank you.

[5:40:33] Please proceed.

[5:40:34] Okay, I'll go more Vickie

[5:40:38] Estrella.

[5:40:39] Kate, you have an ditty If you

[5:40:43] can please come up to the front

[5:40:43] the other reserved seats And

[5:40:44] Amy actor if you can all please

[5:40:45] start making your way up to

[5:40:45] the front row.

[5:40:50] >> Please proceed.

[5:40:51] >> My name is Carmen Nasr

[5:40:52] Nichols and I am a Semite a

[5:40:55] Palestinian Semite.

[5:40:56] My parents are survivors of

[5:40:59] Nakba.

[5:41:00] I find this definition of

[5:41:01] antisemitism problematic for

[5:41:04] many reasons including that it

[5:41:05] disregards and minimizes

[5:41:06] the racism and oppression

[5:41:09] experienced by the majority of

[5:41:10] Semitic people who are not

[5:41:10] Jewish.

[5:41:14] I believe that Jordi of Judea

[5:41:15] phobia Islamophobia, Afro

[5:41:18] phobia and other types of

[5:41:19] discrimination and bigotry are

[5:41:23] all equally wrong.

[5:41:23] But allowing one religious

[5:41:24] group to define the term to

[5:41:28] suit their political agenda

[5:41:28] which includes taking away our

[5:41:29] First Amendment right to free

[5:41:33] speech and silencing and

[5:41:34] marginalizing those who do not

[5:41:35] have the political power to

[5:41:38] have their definitions legally

[5:41:39] recognized, deeply insulting

[5:41:43] and will create more division

[5:41:44] among religious and ethnic

[5:41:48] groups in San Diego and beyond

[5:41:48] .

[5:41:49] I will also not it will also

[5:41:53] not protect Jewish people.

[5:41:54] >> That concludes your time.

[5:41:59] That concludes your time and I

[5:41:59] hear you right, Tom McMann that

[5:42:00] you've already spoken.

[5:42:00] Thank you.

[5:42:10] >> Mark Powell and hello

[5:42:11] council member, council members

[5:42:15] and PRESIDENT LaCava.

[5:42:16] My name is Mark Powell.

[5:42:17] I'm here to urge you to vote in

[5:42:20] favor of the resolution

[5:42:20] recognizing the working

[5:42:21] definition of anti-Semitism

[5:42:24] adopted by the International

[5:42:25] Accords Remembrance Alliance.

[5:42:26] For me this issue is not

[5:42:29] abstract.

[5:42:30] It's deeply personal.

[5:42:31] I'm a first generation American

[5:42:31] Jew.

[5:42:34] In 1956 my mother was forced to

[5:42:35] leave the Middle East because

[5:42:35] of religious persecution.

[5:42:39] She came to the United States

[5:42:40] seeking safety, freedom and

[5:42:40] the ability to live with openly

[5:42:43] As a Jew.

[5:42:44] But my mom and my mom made San

[5:42:45] Diego her home a city where she

[5:42:48] believed she could live without

[5:42:48] fear.

[5:42:49] Today I live in District six

[5:42:52] and within District six there's

[5:42:52] two synagogues and a Jewish

[5:42:53] community center.

[5:42:54] These are places where families

[5:42:57] gather, where children learn,

[5:42:57] where Jewish community thrives.

[5:42:58] But when you walk into

[5:42:59] the Jewish community center

[5:43:01] you'll see something that

[5:43:02] should trouble all of us.

[5:43:02] Multiple armed security guards

[5:43:06] standing there Watch.

[5:43:06] They're there to protect

[5:43:07] the members of the preschool

[5:43:08] and the members of the Jewish

[5:43:10] Community Center.

[5:43:11] Because people in this world

[5:43:12] literally want to kill Jewish

[5:43:15] people simply because they're

[5:43:16] Jewish.

[5:43:16] That concluding statement

[5:43:17] allegedly address after that is

[5:43:21] Vicki is straight then Kate you

[5:43:22] have ended if you can please go

[5:43:23] up to the front row.

[5:43:25] Amy Actor Sandy have Nicole

[5:43:26] Lily all Please come up to

[5:43:30] the front row.

[5:43:30] Please proceed when ready.

[5:43:31] Talk about hypocrisy.

[5:43:32] It's interesting because

[5:43:35] Palestine is the Holy Land

[5:43:36] that's being taken over and I

[5:43:36] guess truth seems to be

[5:43:40] antisemitic.

[5:43:41] Why aren't you guys including

[5:43:41] all Semites?

[5:43:42] Why are we just saying

[5:43:45] the Jewish people are Semites?

[5:43:45] It's interesting.

[5:43:46] And then you're trying to force

[5:43:49] me to accept that pedophilia

[5:43:50] has become something that is

[5:43:54] you know, something that people

[5:43:54] do.

[5:43:55] It's written in the Talmud and

[5:43:55] we're goyim.

[5:43:56] We're animals.

[5:43:56] Right.

[5:43:59] And it's okay to treat people a

[5:43:59] certain way if you're Jewish

[5:44:00] but if you're not then you're

[5:44:04] anti-Semitic.

[5:44:05] >> And there seems to be a lot

[5:44:05] of hate that's been spewed

[5:44:06] around here by this group of

[5:44:09] people And it's very sad

[5:44:10] because it's like no, I don't

[5:44:13] think that rabbi should

[5:44:14] the baby penises when they are

[5:44:14] circumcised And I will never

[5:44:19] think that that is something

[5:44:19] that we should support or

[5:44:20] the genocide of people.

[5:44:23] It's like if it's these people

[5:44:24] it's okay but not if it's them.

[5:44:25] You guys need to course correct

[5:44:27] and understand that you are

[5:44:28] discriminating when you are

[5:44:29] saying only Jewish people are

[5:44:30] Semites because you're leaving

[5:44:33] out a whole class of people.

[5:44:34] Your time has concluded Vicki

[5:44:38] Ester you thank you for letting

[5:44:39] us know there are duplicates in

[5:44:39] here.

[5:44:47] And Eddie my name is Kevin

[5:44:48] Duddy.

[5:44:48] I'm with the National Lawyers

[5:44:49] Guild.

[5:44:49] The Guild nationally has

[5:44:51] challenged the adoption and

[5:44:52] the misuse of the ihra

[5:44:56] definition of antisemitism

[5:44:57] although presented as deaf as

[5:44:57] simply a definition of

[5:44:58] antisemitism.

[5:45:01] In fact it has been used to

[5:45:02] suppress the free speech of

[5:45:03] persons especially those

[5:45:06] supporting Palestine and

[5:45:07] opposing the genocide committed

[5:45:11] by Israel in Gaza.

[5:45:11] Locally the Guild has supported

[5:45:12] pro-Palestinian demonstrators

[5:45:15] including providing legal

[5:45:16] support in defense for those

[5:45:17] arrested at the usd encampment

[5:45:20] and elsewhere.

[5:45:20] These demonstrators have been

[5:45:21] characterized as anti-Semitic

[5:45:25] simply for speaking out against

[5:45:25] genocide.

[5:45:26] They've been arrested,

[5:45:30] physically assaulted by

[5:45:30] supporters of Israel,

[5:45:31] disciplined at schools And now

[5:45:34] many schools are suppressing

[5:45:35] their rights to speak out on

[5:45:38] Palestine, denying their First

[5:45:39] Amendment rights to speech and

[5:45:39] assembly.

[5:45:44] The problem is about

[5:45:44] the definition of antisemitism

[5:45:49] that's contained in ira is too

[5:45:49] broad.

[5:45:50] Your time has concluded Amy

[5:45:53] Actor if you can please come

[5:45:54] forward.

[5:45:54] Now we have people sitting in a

[5:45:55] tiny Sydney room.

[5:45:58] It is if you can please raise

[5:45:58] your hand.

[5:45:59] Sydney Thank you And Brian

[5:46:02] o'Brien if you can please raise

[5:46:03] your hand or are you standing

[5:46:03] up?

[5:46:07] I think he's in the other room

[5:46:07] .

[5:46:08] Okay, let's go on time.

[5:46:12] Brian o'Brien Oh I see him

[5:46:16] coming in waving his hand.

[5:46:16] Three minutes.

[5:46:17] Please proceed.

[5:46:17] Hello, My name is Amy.

[5:46:21] I'm a Code Pink, a feminist

[5:46:22] grassroots organization working

[5:46:26] to end us warfare and

[5:46:26] imperialism.

[5:46:27] I live in District one and I've

[5:46:30] been a resident of San Diego

[5:46:31] for 35 years.

[5:46:31] The city of San Diego is

[5:46:35] attempting to redefine anti

[5:46:36] Semitism a definition where

[5:46:36] pointing out ethnic cleansing

[5:46:40] and the apartheid structure for

[5:46:41] Israel has forced on Palestine

[5:46:45] would be deemed anti-Semitic to

[5:46:46] acknowledge that separate roads

[5:46:47] for Palestinians, separate IDs

[5:46:50] for Palestinian separate rights

[5:46:51] for Palestinians, separate

[5:46:55] areas and cities Palestinians

[5:46:56] are prohibited from entering in

[5:46:57] their own occupied land

[5:47:00] separate law of carrying out

[5:47:00] executions by hanging only

[5:47:01] applied to Palestinians.

[5:47:05] To see all of that and to call

[5:47:06] it what it is racism in

[5:47:10] the highest degree that would

[5:47:10] be considered anti-Semitic in

[5:47:11] the last 12 days Israel is

[5:47:15] turbocharged a genocide in

[5:47:15] southern Lebanon with complete

[5:47:16] impunity.

[5:47:19] They've displaced over a

[5:47:20] million people, killed more

[5:47:21] than 800 with countless missing

[5:47:24] under the rubble.

[5:47:25] We've seen schools, churches,

[5:47:25] mosques and hospitals all

[5:47:29] targeted with Israeli bombs

[5:47:30] supplied by the us.

[5:47:30] We're watching them use

[5:47:34] the same exact tactics that

[5:47:38] they have done to Gaza the past

[5:47:38] two and a half years.

[5:47:39] They forcefully evacuate and

[5:47:43] displaced an entire population.

[5:47:44] They then carpet bomb and raise

[5:47:48] an entire city and prepare it

[5:47:48] for military occupation.

[5:47:49] Yet it is our speech that is

[5:47:53] policed and prosecuted to a

[5:47:54] harsher level than the violence

[5:47:58] that the state of Israel

[5:47:58] commits.

[5:47:59] Backed by our own tax dollars

[5:48:03] and our weapons from here in

[5:48:03] San Diego our taxes aren't

[5:48:04] spent in service of us.

[5:48:08] Our laws aren't written in

[5:48:08] service of us.

[5:48:09] Our troops aren't even deployed

[5:48:12] in service of us.

[5:48:13] We send them to serve

[5:48:14] the interests of Israel and

[5:48:17] the global elites are sanctions

[5:48:17] strangle and starve the people

[5:48:18] of Iran as they do the people

[5:48:22] of Cuba and Venezuela while we

[5:48:23] blockade and steal even more

[5:48:27] oil and carpet bomb innocent

[5:48:28] civilians in Gaza and Tehran

[5:48:28] and now Lebanon.

[5:48:32] But we're told our words are

[5:48:33] the real violence.

[5:48:36] When will those like you.

[5:48:37] >> San Diego City Council have

[5:48:42] that have sat back and watched

[5:48:42] with your authority, comfort

[5:48:46] and convenience choose to act?

[5:48:47] >> Councilmember Whitburn, you

[5:48:51] said you'd support a cease fire

[5:48:52] resolution over a year ago.

[5:48:53] This council has broken its

[5:48:56] promises to keep all of our

[5:48:57] children safe.

[5:48:57] And in that same time frame

[5:48:58] expanded the city's

[5:49:01] surveillance apparatus built by

[5:49:02] collaborators of an apartheid

[5:49:02] state.

[5:49:06] And this genocide.

[5:49:07] How are your future voters like

[5:49:11] my children expected to believe

[5:49:12] any of you have any interest in

[5:49:13] changing the trajectory of this

[5:49:16] city that sends weapons for

[5:49:17] genocide and that fights

[5:49:17] against their freedom and

[5:49:22] future?

[5:49:26] >> Sandy Hib sandy have are you

[5:49:26] here?

[5:49:27] Oh please come up.

[5:49:31] Nicole Lilly Liliana Soriano,

[5:49:32] Sparky am Joanne Wennberg and

[5:49:36] Joe Castiglioni If you can

[5:49:36] please come up to the front

[5:49:37] row.

[5:49:49] Please proceed when ready.

[5:49:54] Please start.

[5:49:54] Thank you for your time.

[5:49:55] You said this bill is about

[5:49:59] safety, civil rights building,

[5:49:59] social cohesion.

[5:50:00] Meanwhile I just witnessed one

[5:50:01] of the Zionist community taking

[5:50:04] pictures and writing the names

[5:50:05] of every person that's against

[5:50:05] this item.

[5:50:09] So you point out your

[5:50:09] statistics are rising.

[5:50:10] There are no doubt from the adl

[5:50:14] the same adl that when Elon

[5:50:15] Musk raised his arm in that

[5:50:15] Nazi salute it strangely

[5:50:18] defended him.

[5:50:18] That's weird.

[5:50:19] They're very selective in their

[5:50:20] outrage.

[5:50:23] They're also been discredited

[5:50:23] by the fbi and labeled

[5:50:24] unreliable by Wikipedia.

[5:50:28] But many people says never

[5:50:29] again.

[5:50:32] That's very selective too As a

[5:50:33] witnessing the ongoing

[5:50:33] Holocaust.

[5:50:37] Seems like the values of

[5:50:38] opinions of a few genocide

[5:50:42] scholars that wrote this hra

[5:50:43] for a manipulated definition of

[5:50:43] anti-Semitism.

[5:50:46] But when eight hundreds

[5:50:47] scholars unanimously call it a

[5:50:47] genocide you don't care about

[5:50:50] them.

[5:50:51] >> The real question here is

[5:50:56] the biggest enemy is

[5:50:57] the treatment no matter

[5:50:57] the Zionist community because

[5:51:02] Nicole Lilly and Israel is no

[5:51:02] longer your head.

[5:51:05] >> The third sympathies.

[5:51:06] >> That's the real thing that

[5:51:10] your Nicole Lilly, please come

[5:51:10] forward.

[5:51:10] Okay.

[5:51:11] The next one who does what he

[5:51:15] did is going to be escorted out

[5:51:15] of the room.

[5:51:16] We're all actually we're not

[5:51:19] even close to being done.

[5:51:20] >> But please bear with us.

[5:51:24] Hello.

[5:51:25] My name is Nicole Lilly.

[5:51:25] I'm a resident of District

[5:51:26] three and I'm here today

[5:51:29] because I'm deeply concerned by

[5:51:29] the ihra definition of

[5:51:30] antisemitism.

[5:51:30] This definition wrongly and

[5:51:33] dangerously conflates

[5:51:34] the criticism of Israel and

[5:51:34] Zionism with antisemitism to

[5:51:38] protect the impunity of Israel

[5:51:38] under this definition saying

[5:51:39] that Israel is found by

[5:51:40] international courts to be

[5:51:40] committing genocide in

[5:51:43] Palestine to critique their

[5:51:44] brutal murder of nearly 200

[5:51:45] Iranian schoolchildren.

[5:51:48] To say Israel and the U.S.

[5:51:49] Poisoning an attempt at

[5:51:49] eradication of entire peoples

[5:51:50] is abhorrent.

[5:51:53] To accurately call Israel an

[5:51:54] apartheid state would all be

[5:51:55] falsely labeled antisemitism.

[5:51:58] As a youth organizer and ucsd

[5:51:58] alum, I can tell you firsthand

[5:51:59] how such a definition is used

[5:52:02] not to protect Jewish people

[5:52:03] and students but to strip away

[5:52:04] free speech and civil liberties

[5:52:04] of those who dare to call it

[5:52:07] genocide and real acts of

[5:52:08] antisemitism and Islamophobia.

[5:52:08] All words matter.

[5:52:12] An official resolutions of this

[5:52:12] council are binding in ways

[5:52:13] that matter.

[5:52:16] As you decide today think of

[5:52:17] your children and think of

[5:52:17] the children in Palestine and

[5:52:18] in Iran and around the world.

[5:52:21] The ira tells us it is

[5:52:21] antisemitic to defend.

[5:52:22] Do not complete the critique of

[5:52:23] genocidal actors with real

[5:52:26] incidents of hatred against

[5:52:26] American people.

[5:52:27] >> No thank you.

[5:52:30] Liliana Soriano.

[5:52:35] Liliana Soriano are you here to

[5:52:36] see everything from Overflow?

[5:52:40] Sparky Am.

[5:52:45] Hello Council members I'm

[5:52:46] Parking meter a bioengineer

[5:52:46] and a resident of District

[5:52:47] three.

[5:52:50] Let us be clear The I read

[5:52:50] definition that is being

[5:52:51] considered for adoption

[5:52:51] blatantly disregards

[5:52:53] the conclusion of several human

[5:52:54] rights organizations and

[5:52:54] international NGOs and

[5:52:58] organizations within Israel

[5:52:59] itself such as about Bethlehem

[5:53:00] have concluded that

[5:53:00] the Palestinian people are

[5:53:01] being ethnically cleansed due

[5:53:03] to the genocidal acts of Israel

[5:53:04] that are being propped up by

[5:53:04] American militarism.

[5:53:08] My fellow classmates at my alma

[5:53:09] maters ucsd and Columbia have

[5:53:10] faced constant attacks because

[5:53:14] of partial failure to protect

[5:53:14] the freedom to protest

[5:53:15] genocide.

[5:53:16] But I refuse to suspension to

[5:53:18] immigration enforcement.

[5:53:19] The weaponizing of such an

[5:53:20] accurate definition has done

[5:53:23] irreparable harm to

[5:53:23] the livelihoods of many

[5:53:24] Palestinians and allies.

[5:53:25] >> Keep in mind many of us have

[5:53:28] already lost family to constant

[5:53:28] bombardment, kidnaping and

[5:53:33] bigotry with the very real rise

[5:53:33] of anti-Semitism and

[5:53:33] Islamophobia.

[5:53:34] It is exceedingly important to

[5:53:37] separate the defense of

[5:53:38] warmongering states from

[5:53:38] the defense of Jewish people.

[5:53:39] Please do not adopt this

[5:53:41] resolution.

[5:53:42] >> Thank you.

[5:53:46] Joanna Winberg.

[5:53:47] >> Good afternoon.

[5:53:51] I am from District one and a

[5:53:52] Jewish member of Congregation

[5:53:52] Dor Hadash.

[5:53:55] Though these views are my own I

[5:53:56] care about dismantling

[5:53:56] antisemitism but adopting ihra

[5:53:57] is not the way.

[5:54:01] According to true a rabbinic

[5:54:02] human rights collective, even

[5:54:02] non-binding adoptions of ihra

[5:54:06] can be used to stifle free

[5:54:06] speech.

[5:54:07] I encourage everyone to consult

[5:54:11] APRIL Rosen Bloom's work to

[5:54:11] sharpen their understanding of

[5:54:12] antisemitism.

[5:54:16] I do not claim to speak for all

[5:54:16] Jews but neither can any other

[5:54:17] Jew here.

[5:54:20] The Talmud has a saying of

[5:54:21] Leshem shame or argument for

[5:54:24] the sake of heaven.

[5:54:25] Respecting dissenting opinions

[5:54:26] is wholly to Jewish tradition

[5:54:29] and I cannot support a

[5:54:30] resolution suggesting that Jews

[5:54:31] are safe only when dissenting

[5:54:35] voices are silenced.

[5:54:35] Our safety is bound up

[5:54:36] together.

[5:54:36] Thank you.

[5:54:40] Joe Castiglioni if you can

[5:54:40] please come forward.

[5:54:41] If I can have the following

[5:54:42] individuals please come up to

[5:54:42] the front row.

[5:54:44] Greg Denham.

[5:54:44] Noah Abrahams.

[5:54:50] Diana Rosenstein Elmo Larvae.

[5:54:51] Ramy Never sad.

[5:54:54] Alan Viterbi If you can all

[5:54:55] please go to the front row.

[5:54:55] Please proceed.

[5:54:59] My name is Joe Castilian and

[5:54:59] I'm a Jewish resident of

[5:55:00] District three.

[5:55:03] The Nazi ss leader Heinrich

[5:55:04] Himmler said the subhuman has

[5:55:05] found its leader the Jew.

[5:55:06] The subhuman will always be

[5:55:09] subhuman as a Jew remains a Jew

[5:55:10] after OCTOBER 7th.

[5:55:14] Yoav Gallant Israel's defense

[5:55:14] minister announced that there

[5:55:15] would be no food, no water for

[5:55:15] Gaza.

[5:55:16] We're fighting human animals.

[5:55:18] A few weeks later Israel's

[5:55:19] former ambassador to the United

[5:55:20] Nations Dan Gillerman said I'm

[5:55:23] puzzled by the concern

[5:55:24] the world is showing for

[5:55:24] the Palestinian people for

[5:55:28] these horrible inhuman animals

[5:55:28] .

[5:55:29] I've just drawn a comparison

[5:55:33] between Nazi leaders and

[5:55:34] Israeli leaders dehumanization

[5:55:34] of others.

[5:55:38] The ihra definition says that

[5:55:39] my factual statements are an

[5:55:40] example of antisemitism in

[5:55:43] public life.

[5:55:44] Just look at the 10th bullet in

[5:55:45] the definition ihra has

[5:55:48] absolutely been used to

[5:55:49] suppress First Amendment rights

[5:55:49] Look no further than de-funding

[5:55:53] universities or initiating

[5:55:53] deportations And at the very

[5:55:54] least I urge you to continue

[5:55:58] this item and to solicit

[5:55:58] important additional

[5:55:59] perspectives.

[5:55:59] >> Thank you.

[5:56:02] Greg Denham.

[5:56:03] >> Good afternoon everybody.

[5:56:07] My name is Greg Denham, Pastor

[5:56:08] of Rise Church, also

[5:56:09] representing a coalition of

[5:56:09] pastors that represent

[5:56:13] thousands in San Diego.

[5:56:14] It is an honor to stand with

[5:56:17] the Jewish community amidst

[5:56:17] the radical rise of

[5:56:18] anti-Semitism which by nature

[5:56:22] is the demonization of an

[5:56:22] ethnicity.

[5:56:23] It is pure racism.

[5:56:23] And this is where your

[5:56:27] leadership is needed to take a

[5:56:28] stand because anti-Semitism is

[5:56:28] not only a threat of

[5:56:32] psychological warfare,

[5:56:32] reputational harm but also

[5:56:33] physical harm to Jews.

[5:56:37] It's also cover fire.

[5:56:38] It always has been for evil to

[5:56:42] advance advance ideology

[5:56:42] ammunition to jihadist

[5:56:43] movements that openly declared

[5:56:47] their intent to dismantle

[5:56:47] Western civilization.

[5:56:48] We see such rhetoric in our own

[5:56:52] backyard So I ask that you

[5:56:53] please lead and make San Diego

[5:56:53] proud.

[5:56:56] Thank you and GOD bless you.

[5:57:01] >> Noah Abraham All right.

[5:57:11] >> Escort that lady out please

[5:57:11] do Do not applaud.

[5:57:12] Do not applaud.

[5:57:18] I do not take that lightly.

[5:57:19] >> Please proceed.

[5:57:19] Good afternoon, counselor

[5:57:23] Stephen Whitburn.

[5:57:23] Thank you.

[5:57:24] Look, let's just be clear on

[5:57:25] why we want to adopt this

[5:57:28] definition in San Diego As a

[5:57:29] Jewish community we don't just

[5:57:29] want to be protected, we want

[5:57:33] to be taken seriously.

[5:57:34] We want to make sure that

[5:57:34] anti-Semitism is recognized and

[5:57:38] addressed with the same

[5:57:39] seriousness as other forms of

[5:57:39] hate.

[5:57:40] And recently I attended an

[5:57:43] event where a Holocaust

[5:57:44] survivor was drowned out by

[5:57:45] the noise disruption caused by

[5:57:48] those who refused to who

[5:57:49] refused to respect his freedom

[5:57:53] of speech.

[5:57:54] This a man who survived

[5:57:54] concentration camps, a man who

[5:57:58] was trying to educate on

[5:57:59] the past so that the future

[5:58:03] cannot repeat itself But with

[5:58:04] no hra protection we were

[5:58:08] unable to hear his voice Today

[5:58:08] we're here because we deserve

[5:58:09] to be heard.

[5:58:10] And in adopting this definition

[5:58:13] we sent a clear message that

[5:58:13] anti-Semitism has no place in

[5:58:17] San Diego And crucially that

[5:58:17] Jewish residents are valued

[5:58:21] members of this community.

[5:58:27] >> Ross Rosenstein, Diana Ross

[5:58:28] seen there is time seated by

[5:58:32] Allah Rev Zion if you can

[5:58:33] please raise your hand.

[5:58:33] >> Thank you.

[5:58:36] Someone is already going out

[5:58:37] there to close the door because

[5:58:40] I have some hearing loss and

[5:58:41] that's bothering me.

[5:58:46] A law called Once I get

[5:58:47] immunity I'm pausing your time

[5:58:50] until they close the door.

[5:58:51] Yes, you have time And thank

[5:58:51] you.

[5:58:52] My name is Diana.

[5:58:52] Always interesting.

[5:58:54] I am a member of the San Diego

[5:58:55] Jewish community from District

[5:58:55] seven.

[5:58:59] I grew up in Belarus during

[5:59:00] the Soviet period where

[5:59:00] anti-Semitism was part of

[5:59:03] everyday life at the beginning

[5:59:08] of each school year teachers

[5:59:09] took attendance and students

[5:59:10] were asked not only their name

[5:59:13] but also their nationality.

[5:59:14] When the child said Jewish

[5:59:15] classmates laughed and teachers

[5:59:18] did nothing.

[5:59:19] My parents taught me to say I

[5:59:20] was Belarussian to avoid being

[5:59:22] singled out.

[5:59:23] That was the reality Many

[5:59:28] Jewish families lived with so

[5:59:28] that officials claim they were

[5:59:29] not targeting Jews only

[5:59:32] Zionists.

[5:59:33] So evidently Estonia's

[5:59:34] propaganda frames this as

[5:59:37] progressive anti-fascist cause

[5:59:38] but in reality Jews were

[5:59:38] targeted, harassed, denied

[5:59:42] university admissions and job

[5:59:43] promotions and blamed for

[5:59:44] society's problems.

[5:59:47] I thought I had left

[5:59:48] anti-Semitism behind when I

[5:59:48] moved to the United States in

[5:59:52] the early 90s but not anymore.

[5:59:55] Today San Diego has its third

[5:59:56] highest number of anti-Semitic

[5:59:57] incidents in California with

[6:00:01] incidents occurring in college

[6:00:01] campuses and k-12 schools.

[6:00:04] When these situations arise,

[6:00:05] educators and administrators

[6:00:06] often struggle to determine

[6:00:10] when something has crossed

[6:00:10] the line from political

[6:00:11] expression into harassment

[6:00:14] targeting Jewish people.

[6:00:15] Clear guidance matters.

[6:00:15] It helps distinguish legitimate

[6:00:19] discussion about the Middle

[6:00:20] East from rhetoric that crosses

[6:00:20] the lines into anti-Semitism

[6:00:24] across corruption or

[6:00:25] harassment.

[6:00:25] Having grown up in the place

[6:00:29] where simply being Jewish could

[6:00:30] make you a target, I know that

[6:00:30] hatred can hide behind

[6:00:33] political language including

[6:00:34] one that is expressed as

[6:00:34] anti-Zionism.

[6:00:38] Adapting this definition will

[6:00:39] help San Diego recognize

[6:00:39] antisemitism when it appears

[6:00:43] and respond before it harms

[6:00:43] children in our community.

[6:00:44] I respectfully urge you to vote

[6:00:44] yes.

[6:00:48] Thank you.

[6:00:49] And I want to reply to

[6:00:50] the speaker who said that she

[6:00:54] was ready to pluck three goals

[6:00:54] for you.

[6:00:55] Thank you for that particular

[6:00:55] comment.

[6:00:58] Your time has concluded Jose.

[6:01:02] No doubt Jose Jeff and Bren.

[6:01:07] Is there a Jose here?

[6:01:07] >> I'm sure there's somebody to

[6:01:09] speak or something.

[6:01:16] >> Elena Levy I will not love

[6:01:16] you.

[6:01:17] You have people sitting in

[6:01:20] timeshare showrooms.

[6:01:20] Steinberg.

[6:01:20] Please raise your hand.

[6:01:24] So thank you And Andy Cohen.

[6:01:25] Thank you.

[6:01:25] You'll have three minutes.

[6:01:26] Please proceed.

[6:01:27] Thank you, dear council

[6:01:27] members.

[6:01:30] I'm here today not as a

[6:01:31] community member, as a mother.

[6:01:35] Antisemitism is not an abstract

[6:01:35] debate.

[6:01:36] It's not about politics.

[6:01:39] It's not about talking point

[6:01:40] admitted by some people that

[6:01:41] are saying some videos on

[6:01:41] Peacock.

[6:01:42] I'm going to share with you

[6:01:45] today about real daily

[6:01:45] experiences my kids are facing.

[6:01:50] Our kids are facing.

[6:01:51] Last year my daughter was in

[6:01:51] our middle school history class

[6:01:55] when a teacher referred to as

[6:01:55] the Jew kid.

[6:01:59] It is not 50, 70, 80 is back.

[6:02:00] It is last year.

[6:02:03] And history teacher in front of

[6:02:04] the whole class called my

[6:02:08] daughter the Jew kid.

[6:02:08] Imagine being in a class a

[6:02:09] child and suddenly being

[6:02:10] singled out like that in front

[6:02:13] of all of your classmates.

[6:02:14] It's not about politics.

[6:02:17] And just two weeks ago my son

[6:02:18] was a college student at Cal

[6:02:23] Poly expelled anti-Semitic

[6:02:23] bullying.

[6:02:24] I thought a fatality.

[6:02:25] It was serious enough that it

[6:02:27] was reported.

[6:02:28] So you can you can look up you

[6:02:29] can see it in the news again,

[6:02:32] no politics, no estoy.

[6:02:32] It is here now happening in San

[6:02:34] Diego in my house in my kid's

[6:02:39] schools.

[6:02:40] These are not stories from

[6:02:40] decades back ago.

[6:02:41] This is happening now to our

[6:02:44] children.

[6:02:44] This is why the walking

[6:02:45] definition from the hra

[6:02:45] matters.

[6:02:48] It gives schools, universities

[6:02:49] and communities a clear tool to

[6:02:50] recognize antisemitism when it

[6:02:54] happens instead of dismissing

[6:02:54] it or pretending it's something

[6:02:55] else.

[6:02:59] No child should be abused as

[6:02:59] the Jew kid.

[6:03:00] No student should be targeted

[6:03:04] for being Jewish.

[6:03:05] Please shut up so that when

[6:03:08] antisemitism upends

[6:03:08] institutions have the clarity

[6:03:09] and courage to address it

[6:03:13] immediately.

[6:03:13] >> Please adopt.

[6:03:13] Thank you.

[6:03:21] Next is Ramy Neustadt.

[6:03:21] >> Thank you.

[6:03:22] My name is Romi Newstead and I

[6:03:26] live in District one.

[6:03:26] Good evening.

[6:03:27] My children have been

[6:03:30] confronted and called baby

[6:03:31] killers and Zionist scum.

[6:03:31] They've tried to enter events

[6:03:35] right here in this city.

[6:03:36] Just a few weeks ago I was at

[6:03:37] Trader Joe's and was physically

[6:03:41] blocked from reaching for

[6:03:41] the Israeli feeder.

[6:03:42] The large man said if you buy

[6:03:45] that you're supporting

[6:03:46] genocide.

[6:03:46] Then he was close enough to see

[6:03:50] my Star of David and he said

[6:03:51] You Zionist disgust me And he

[6:03:55] refused to move.

[6:03:55] This is what the ihra

[6:03:56] definition addresses.

[6:03:59] It doesn't silence critics of

[6:04:00] any government.

[6:04:00] It simply states that targeting

[6:04:01] Jews for the actions of a

[6:04:05] foreign state isn't political

[6:04:05] discourse.

[6:04:10] People this is antisemitism.

[6:04:10] That's the definition

[6:04:11] restriction of speech.

[6:04:13] It's a tool when already

[6:04:14] adopted as you've heard by 40

[6:04:15] countries 30 us states in our

[6:04:19] neighbors in Chula Vista and

[6:04:20] alcohol and we deserve to live

[6:04:20] in a San Diego ca that can make

[6:04:25] you feel like including

[6:04:25] commenters.

[6:04:26] Thank you for your island

[6:04:26] Viterbi.

[6:04:28] You have time to buy Jeff

[6:04:29] Schneider if you can please

[6:04:30] raise your hand.

[6:04:30] And what's your name?

[6:04:34] Thank you.

[6:04:35] We'll have someone go to sleep.

[6:04:35] Three minutes.

[6:04:36] Jeff, did you raise your hand?

[6:04:38] My apologies.

[6:04:39] I think he MAY have left.

[6:04:40] Okay, so you have two minutes.

[6:04:40] Please proceed.

[6:04:44] Alan Viterbi city resident and

[6:04:45] the Eagle Regional PRESIDENT

[6:04:45] For the American Jewish

[6:04:48] Committee, the nation's oldest

[6:04:49] and largest Jewish public

[6:04:49] advocacy and human rights

[6:04:53] organization.

[6:04:54] We support the resolution

[6:04:54] before you.

[6:04:55] Three brief points I'd like to

[6:04:58] make today.

[6:04:59] One, we commend the careful

[6:04:59] wording of this resolution in

[6:05:03] its purpose as strictly

[6:05:04] educational.

[6:05:04] Opponents claim this infringes

[6:05:08] on their free speech.

[6:05:09] The resolution does no such

[6:05:09] thing.

[6:05:13] No speech is made illegal.

[6:05:14] Even the ugly speech that

[6:05:14] the Council has unfortunately

[6:05:15] had to experience today.

[6:05:18] Opponents of the resolution can

[6:05:19] continue to spew hate speech.

[6:05:23] This resolution simply educates

[6:05:24] others that their speech is

[6:05:28] anti-Semitic To every minority

[6:05:28] group in America is given

[6:05:29] the space to define what they

[6:05:33] deem to be hateful and to

[6:05:34] educate the broader community

[6:05:38] to help create a better society

[6:05:38] .

[6:05:39] The ihra definition in your

[6:05:41] adoption today for educating

[6:05:42] educational purposes reflects

[6:05:47] our city's desire to embrace

[6:05:47] all in three.

[6:05:48] Your adoption is timely.

[6:05:51] This is the most dangerous and

[6:05:52] disturbing moment for American

[6:05:53] Jews in my lifetime.

[6:05:57] In San Diego, Jews in Jewish

[6:05:58] institutions are experiencing

[6:06:02] threats and actual violence.

[6:06:02] Just this past week when we

[6:06:07] witnessed how anti-Semitic

[6:06:07] anti-Zionism translates into

[6:06:11] anti-Semitic actions with

[6:06:12] the attempt to drive a

[6:06:17] explosive laden vehicle into a

[6:06:17] synagogue with a preschool of

[6:06:18] 140 children.

[6:06:21] I can tell you that night my

[6:06:22] daughter here in San Diego

[6:06:22] called me and said Is it safe

[6:06:26] for me to take your one year

[6:06:27] old grandchild to a mommy me

[6:06:30] class at a synagogue tomorrow?

[6:06:31] Fortunately our San Diego

[6:06:32] Police Department is there to

[6:06:36] protect our institutions.

[6:06:37] But it's time for us to call

[6:06:38] out the kind of hatred that

[6:06:41] leads to those violent actions

[6:06:42] .

[6:06:42] And so I urge the council today

[6:06:43] that we thank you for that

[6:06:46] concluding.

[6:06:46] Thank you.

[6:06:47] Sarah Brown Sarah Brown If you

[6:06:48] can please make your way

[6:06:51] forward to the microphone and

[6:06:52] then Wayne Harris, Faith

[6:06:56] Klinger, Susan or Lasky, Craig

[6:06:57] Jones, Valerie Traina and James

[6:07:01] Roush if you can all please

[6:07:02] come forward.

[6:07:02] Sarah you have time to Chew by

[6:07:03] Lauren Goodwin.

[6:07:03] Lauren if you can please raise

[6:07:09] your hand.

[6:07:10] No, I understood They do have

[6:07:13] to be present per the rules So

[6:07:14] you do have one minute.

[6:07:14] Please proceed.

[6:07:15] I can do that.

[6:07:18] You can.

[6:07:19] Wayne Harris, thank you so

[6:07:19] much.

[6:07:23] You'll have two minutes.

[6:07:23] Please proceed.

[6:07:23] Thank you.

[6:07:28] As a commissioner on the hrc as

[6:07:28] a member of the San Diego State

[6:07:29] University Presidential Task

[6:07:33] Force on Antisemitism which

[6:07:33] already adopted ihra and

[6:07:34] the regional Director of

[6:07:37] American Jewish Committee.

[6:07:38] I am proud of our City Council

[6:07:42] for taking seriously the hrc is

[6:07:43] unanimous recommendation to

[6:07:43] adopt the ira working

[6:07:47] definition of anti-Semite ism.

[6:07:48] In our letter we wrote We write

[6:07:52] to urge the City of San Diego

[6:07:53] to adopt the International

[6:07:53] Holocaust Remembrance Alliance

[6:07:54] Working Definition of

[6:07:57] anti-Semite Mutism.

[6:07:58] Doing so would be an important

[6:07:58] step towards strengthening

[6:08:02] safety and inclusion for Jewish

[6:08:02] students, families and

[6:08:06] communities throughout our

[6:08:07] city.

[6:08:07] The ira working definition

[6:08:08] explains that antisemitism

[6:08:12] refers to certain perceptions

[6:08:13] of Jews that MAY be expressed

[6:08:13] through hatred.

[6:08:17] These expressions can appear in

[6:08:18] rhetoric or actions directed at

[6:08:18] Jewish or non-Jewish

[6:08:22] individuals or their property

[6:08:23] Jewish community institutions

[6:08:27] or religious sites.

[6:08:27] The definition also includes

[6:08:28] illustrative examples to help

[6:08:31] identify how antisemitism

[6:08:32] manifests in practice.

[6:08:37] With this definition as the end

[6:08:38] of the quote now it's just back

[6:08:38] to me.

[6:08:41] With this definition the city

[6:08:42] can implement lasting education

[6:08:42] and training initiatives to

[6:08:46] identify respond to and prevent

[6:08:47] antisemitism.

[6:08:51] The ajc State of Antisemitism

[6:08:54] 2025 report reveals that over 9

[6:08:55] in 10 American Jews feel less

[6:08:58] safe right now with 56% of them

[6:09:02] changing their behavior due to

[6:09:03] fear, 31% were personally

[6:09:05] targeted by antisemitism and

[6:09:06] 71% reported seeing it online.

[6:09:10] We must take action and this

[6:09:11] resolution will be part of

[6:09:12] lasting change to benefit our

[6:09:15] city.

[6:09:15] Guiding Policy.

[6:09:16] Education and Training.

[6:09:16] Thank you very much to

[6:09:20] Councilmember Whitburn for

[6:09:21] sponsoring this and to all of

[6:09:21] you for consideration and

[6:09:22] leadership.

[6:09:25] Vote yes.

[6:09:25] >> Faith Klinger.

[6:09:30] Faith Klinger, are you here?

[6:09:34] Thank you, Susan Orlowski for

[6:09:35] Thank you for your honesty and

[6:09:39] duplicates.

[6:09:40] >> Craig Jones.

[6:09:40] Craig Jones.

[6:09:44] Are you here?

[6:09:45] A lot of people put in dupes.

[6:09:49] Valerie Traina Thank you.

[6:09:50] And if I can ask James Roush

[6:09:53] story is better than Pea Dennis

[6:09:54] Lee and Abigail Passman.

[6:09:58] Nick Pleased to come up to

[6:09:59] the front row.

[6:09:59] >> Valerie Please proceed.

[6:10:02] I'm Valerie Trying to district

[6:10:03] for San Diego must not issue a

[6:10:07] resolution adopting the ira

[6:10:08] working definition of

[6:10:08] anti-Semitism.

[6:10:12] This definition confuse causes

[6:10:13] rather than elucidate due to

[6:10:17] its conflation of criticism of

[6:10:18] Israel with disparagement of

[6:10:18] Jews as a whole.

[6:10:22] Israel clearly is committing

[6:10:23] ethnic cleansing and genocide

[6:10:28] of indigenous Palestine Hence

[6:10:28] it can't hide behind this

[6:10:32] definition of antisemitism to

[6:10:33] avoid criticism of its war

[6:10:33] crimes.

[6:10:37] That the city of San Diego

[6:10:37] believes it should carry water

[6:10:42] for that apartheid government

[6:10:42] infuriates me.

[6:10:43] City Council represents

[6:10:47] the residents we the People

[6:10:48] want no part in excusing

[6:10:52] the genocide of Palestinians by

[6:10:53] the state of Israel.

[6:10:53] Your proposed infringement on

[6:10:57] our rights to free speech is

[6:10:58] beyond the pale.

[6:11:02] >> Free Palestine.

[6:11:03] James Roush.

[6:11:09] Doris Guitar.

[6:11:10] Okay gentlemen.

[6:11:13] What the was that You escort

[6:11:19] him out as well.

[6:11:22] Is that what he said?

[6:11:23] Yes.

[6:11:23] Okay.

[6:11:28] My apologies then.

[6:11:28] >> Oh, Doris Matar.

[6:11:33] You have time to buy Tanya.

[6:11:33] Ibrahim.

[6:11:34] Tanya, if you can please raise

[6:11:37] your hand.

[6:11:37] >> I believe Tanya.

[6:11:41] She's walked in.

[6:11:42] She wants to speak herself, I

[6:11:42] think.

[6:11:45] So you're not Tanya, You're not

[6:11:46] setting your time to doors?

[6:11:49] >> No.

[6:11:50] Okay.

[6:11:50] You have two minutes and you

[6:11:55] want to speak So then you can't

[6:11:55] cede your time to me.

[6:11:56] You'll have one minute.

[6:11:57] Please proceed.

[6:11:59] Okay.

[6:12:00] i deeply care about the rights

[6:12:00] of all people even those I

[6:12:01] disagree with.

[6:12:04] But why was this definition not

[6:12:04] read?

[6:12:08] You took ten minutes and didn't

[6:12:08] read the definition Because

[6:12:09] it's plain as can be that it

[6:12:13] will stifle our speech rights.

[6:12:14] My family in Lebanon originally

[6:12:17] from the south have never seen

[6:12:18] this level of displacement or

[6:12:18] destruction.

[6:12:19] The Israelis have soaked

[6:12:23] aggreko natural lands with

[6:12:23] herbicides and phosphorus

[6:12:24] making a million people

[6:12:27] homeless.

[6:12:27] My cousins witnessed smashed

[6:12:28] infrastructure the flattening

[6:12:31] of entire neighborhoods and

[6:12:32] villages.

[6:12:32] Israel lured weary Lebanese

[6:12:36] refugees to safe zones In

[6:12:41] Beirut's Corniche, a boardwalk

[6:12:42] adjacent to the American

[6:12:42] University of Beirut near where

[6:12:43] we lived.

[6:12:47] Drones killed many, including

[6:12:47] children's hours later.

[6:12:48] Over a dozen medical workers

[6:12:52] have been murdered.

[6:12:52] If this passes when I tell my

[6:12:53] personal story I will be

[6:12:56] branded as anti-Semitic.

[6:12:57] Please read this.

[6:13:00] Read it and fix it.

[6:13:06] >> Tanya after that is Dan p

[6:13:10] Dennis the Abigail.

[6:13:10] Please proceed.

[6:13:11] My name is Tanya Ibrahim.

[6:13:15] Another resident of District

[6:13:15] four.

[6:13:16] I urge you to vote no to

[6:13:19] the ihra definition of anti

[6:13:19] Semitism.

[6:13:20] I am Semite.

[6:13:24] I am a Semite a Lebanese Semite

[6:13:25] and one of the original Semite.

[6:13:25] And the ihra definition of

[6:13:29] antisemitism disregards and

[6:13:30] minimizes the racism and

[6:13:31] oppression experienced by

[6:13:34] Semitic people like me who are

[6:13:35] not Jewish.

[6:13:36] It's especially troubling that

[6:13:39] the city of San Diego is

[6:13:40] considering this definition

[6:13:40] during ongoing violence

[6:13:44] including the genocide in Gaza

[6:13:44] and the continued Israel us

[6:13:48] Israeli bombing in Iran and

[6:13:48] Lebanon.

[6:13:52] My home country Israel has

[6:13:53] displaced nearly 20% of

[6:13:53] Lebanon's population.

[6:13:57] Israel is targeting civilians

[6:13:58] and infrastructure.

[6:13:58] How many people here who are

[6:14:02] voting yes for this item have

[6:14:03] their country, their homeland

[6:14:07] countries destroyed and

[6:14:08] bombarded since the day you

[6:14:08] were born?

[6:14:11] How many of you can say this

[6:14:16] and to support by Israel and by

[6:14:16] Lebanon.

[6:14:17] >> Your time has concluded.

[6:14:21] Your time has.

[6:14:22] Your time has concluded.

[6:14:23] Then if you can please come

[6:14:27] forward.

[6:14:28] Then you have time to buy Nabil

[6:14:28] Sheikh.

[6:14:29] Thank you.

[6:14:30] And I know that you have

[6:14:31] something to show up on

[6:14:31] the screen.

[6:14:35] So that is going up on

[6:14:35] the screen.

[6:14:36] We will try to zoom in but

[6:14:37] copies are being distributed to

[6:14:38] the council as well.

[6:14:43] Please proceed.

[6:14:44] Yes, City council members.

[6:14:45] My name is Dan and I am a

[6:14:47] resident of San Diego.

[6:14:48] Thank you for considering

[6:14:49] the adoption of a resolution.

[6:14:53] Several people here came to

[6:14:54] Gaslight You and lie about Ira.

[6:14:59] They organized by care

[6:15:00] organization and support

[6:15:00] terrorism And you hear on

[6:15:02] the court the day that they

[6:15:03] tell their leaders.

[6:15:03] Right.

[6:15:07] The argument today is that Ira

[6:15:07] and Jews are here to infringe

[6:15:08] on their freedom of speech

[6:15:12] constitutional speech, freedom

[6:15:12] of speech.

[6:15:13] Right.

[6:15:13] So let's look together.

[6:15:17] You have a paper there to read.

[6:15:18] What I had actually says

[6:15:21] nothing in this resolution is

[6:15:22] intended to nor shall it be

[6:15:26] construed to limit or infringe

[6:15:26] upon rights protected by

[6:15:27] the United States Constitution

[6:15:28] or California Constitution.

[6:15:32] Including the right to free

[6:15:32] speech and expression.

[6:15:35] This is what I says.

[6:15:36] I make it clear that adoption

[6:15:36] does not infringe on free

[6:15:37] speech.

[6:15:41] Ira is intended to be used for

[6:15:41] educational purposes.

[6:15:42] To call out the monetization

[6:15:46] and delegitimization of Jews I

[6:15:47] am asking you on behalf of my

[6:15:50] family and my beautiful Jewish

[6:15:55] community in San Diego here to

[6:15:55] adopt Ira.

[6:15:59] Thank you.

[6:16:05] Next Gen z Dennis z.

[6:16:06] Would you like to sort that

[6:16:06] element out?

[6:16:09] We've got two states that are

[6:16:09] control and everybody speak.

[6:16:10] Let them get their opinion out.

[6:16:13] We still probably got at least

[6:16:18] another hour if not more at

[6:16:18] Dennis please.

[6:16:18] >> PRESIDENT.

[6:16:23] Hello Council members.

[6:16:24] My name is Dennis and I live in

[6:16:24] District six.

[6:16:28] Thank you Council with Bern for

[6:16:29] sponsoring the resolution

[6:16:29] today.

[6:16:33] Iro does not impede on free

[6:16:33] speech.

[6:16:34] It is completely constitutional

[6:16:37] and has been adopted by

[6:16:38] the United States government.

[6:16:41] Healthy debate and criticism of

[6:16:42] governments and policies are a

[6:16:43] normal part of democratic

[6:16:43] societies.

[6:16:47] People across the political

[6:16:47] spectrum regularly express

[6:16:51] opinions about international

[6:16:52] conflicts including those

[6:16:52] involved in Israel.

[6:16:57] However, there is an important

[6:16:58] distinction between criticizing

[6:17:01] a government and targeting

[6:17:02] the Jewish people.

[6:17:03] Anti-Semitism occurs when

[6:17:07] individuals or communities are

[6:17:08] blamed, harassed or threatened

[6:17:11] simply because are Jewish or

[6:17:12] when Jewish identity itself

[6:17:16] becomes the target of

[6:17:16] hostility.

[6:17:17] There are plenty examples of

[6:17:22] that when political anger about

[6:17:22] events abroad turns into haste.

[6:17:23] Thank you.

[6:17:26] We support the resolution.

[6:17:27] >> Abigail paused.

[6:17:31] Abigail is Ariel Heifetz here?

[6:17:35] Ariel Heifetz I understand that

[6:17:36] somebody wanted to see a time

[6:17:40] to you but I don't have that

[6:17:41] speaker slip.

[6:17:41] Thank you so much.

[6:17:46] We'll get those.

[6:17:46] You'll have three minutes.

[6:17:47] Please proceed.

[6:17:47] Hello.

[6:17:50] My name is Ariel Heifetz and

[6:17:51] I'm here as a 15 year old

[6:17:51] Jewish high school student who

[6:17:52] has been through many

[6:17:55] anti-Semitic incidents.

[6:17:56] I shouldn't be in school right

[6:17:57] now but I need to speak out.

[6:18:00] I've been living here for most

[6:18:01] of my life and I'm an American

[6:18:01] citizen.

[6:18:02] I have no control over what

[6:18:05] goes on in other places in

[6:18:05] the world.

[6:18:06] The OCTOBER 7th tragedy

[6:18:10] happened when I was in seventh

[6:18:10] grade 12 years old.

[6:18:13] I don't think a 12 year old

[6:18:14] should have to deal with racial

[6:18:14] profiling.

[6:18:19] I've been told Hitler was right

[6:18:20] and that I should have gotten

[6:18:20] gassed with the rest of my

[6:18:20] people.

[6:18:23] I've been called a dirty Jew

[6:18:24] and a baby killer.

[6:18:25] I've had to go through physical

[6:18:28] attacks to physical and violent

[6:18:31] attacks one being with four

[6:18:32] boys who are older than me.

[6:18:36] I've been spit on but luckily

[6:18:36] I'm still here.

[6:18:37] I think some people need me to

[6:18:38] restate the definition of

[6:18:42] antisemitism.

[6:18:43] Antisemitism simply means that

[6:18:43] you hate someone due to

[6:18:47] the fact that they are Jewish.

[6:18:47] That is it.

[6:18:51] This isn't about politics in

[6:18:52] some of the people here are

[6:18:52] proving my point.

[6:18:56] This is about mine and

[6:18:57] the peoples around me of

[6:18:57] safety.

[6:19:01] I want to feel comfortable and

[6:19:02] safe in my country and I want

[6:19:03] to feel comfortable with who I

[6:19:06] am.

[6:19:07] I want to feel like everyone

[6:19:07] else does.

[6:19:08] You've seen some of

[6:19:11] the antisemitism anti-Semitic

[6:19:12] lies being spread against us

[6:19:12] today.

[6:19:15] We defend the rights of every

[6:19:16] minority without thinking twice

[6:19:17] because everyone deserves to

[6:19:17] feel safe.

[6:19:18] We just want the right to live

[6:19:20] in peace.

[6:19:21] Why should I have to fight for

[6:19:22] that?

[6:19:22] I wish we could learn from our

[6:19:23] mistakes.

[6:19:26] We say never again but here we

[6:19:26] are.

[6:19:26] There's a difference between

[6:19:30] hate speech and free speech.

[6:19:31] Antisemitism is pure hate.

[6:19:34] This is disgusting and I am

[6:19:34] sick of it.

[6:19:35] >> Please vote yes.

[6:19:39] Thank you.

[6:19:40] >> Margaret Morgan.

[6:19:40] Margaret Morgan If you're here

[6:19:44] or on marker Andy Tremlett,

[6:19:48] Sylvia and Regan we have to for

[6:19:54] Sylvia and Ricky Stacey Lynn q

[6:19:55] Figure if you can all please

[6:19:59] come to the front row.

[6:20:00] Margaret you have time seated

[6:20:00] by Janet Kay headline If you

[6:20:03] can please raise your hand.

[6:20:04] Janet Conwy Okay then you'll

[6:20:11] have one minute We'll get that.

[6:20:12] Please proceed with your two

[6:20:12] minutes.

[6:20:15] Thank you.

[6:20:16] My name is Margaret Morgan.

[6:20:19] I'm a San Diego resident

[6:20:19] District two.

[6:20:20] Thank you Stephen Whitburn and

[6:20:23] Ryan for this amazing

[6:20:24] presentation today.

[6:20:25] And also I'm a non-Jewish ally

[6:20:28] standing in strong solidarity

[6:20:29] with my Jewish community and

[6:20:34] friends.

[6:20:35] You've heard the evidence

[6:20:35] anti-Semitism at

[6:20:39] the unprecedented levels has

[6:20:39] been clearly established that

[6:20:40] this definition does not limit

[6:20:43] free speech.

[6:20:44] You've also heard claims about

[6:20:45] this definition that are simply

[6:20:48] not true.

[6:20:49] That is not debate.

[6:20:50] That is misinformation.

[6:20:53] The question before you is not

[6:20:54] whether antisemitism exists.

[6:20:55] The question is whether you

[6:20:58] will name it Clearly or allow

[6:20:59] it to be blurred.

[6:20:59] The ihra definition gives you

[6:21:04] the ability to draw that line.

[6:21:04] History shows us what happens

[6:21:05] when that line is blurred.

[6:21:09] The decision is in your hands

[6:21:09] and in your hands.

[6:21:13] You're each also holding a copy

[6:21:14] of my father's birth

[6:21:14] certificate from Germany

[6:21:19] stamped with the Nazi insignia

[6:21:19] as he was born in 1937.

[6:21:24] I gave that to you as a

[6:21:24] reminder.

[6:21:25] History is not distance

[6:21:25] distant.

[6:21:28] It is shaped by the decision of

[6:21:29] public officials in moments

[6:21:30] like this.

[6:21:30] Please vote yes.

[6:21:34] While this decision is still in

[6:21:34] your hands.

[6:21:35] >> Thank you so much.

[6:21:42] Darren Malka You have time

[6:21:42] Seated by Miriam Penny Shai, if

[6:21:47] you can please raise your hand

[6:21:47] .

[6:21:47] Thank you.

[6:21:48] And Laura Lolly Froman, please

[6:21:51] raise your hand.

[6:21:52] Lauren.

[6:21:56] Laura Lolly from from Oh, thank

[6:21:57] you so much.

[6:21:57] Three minutes Please proceed.

[6:21:58] Good afternoon.

[6:22:01] Council PRESIDENT And council

[6:22:01] members.

[6:22:02] My name is Tyrone Malka and I'm

[6:22:06] a member of both the San Diego

[6:22:07] and the national boards of

[6:22:08] the Israeli American Council

[6:22:12] representing thousands of proud

[6:22:13] Jewish and Israeli American

[6:22:17] families in our community.

[6:22:18] We've seen the numbers of

[6:22:23] the surge in anti-Semitism in

[6:22:23] our in our city, in our county.

[6:22:24] I have to say I prepared a

[6:22:28] speech but I have to say that

[6:22:29] what you've experienced today I

[6:22:31] think our position clearly made

[6:22:37] our case.

[6:22:38] What we have experienced today

[6:22:38] in some of those comments is

[6:22:41] what our members are

[6:22:47] experiencing every single day.

[6:22:47] Our children, Our students.

[6:22:52] Our parents in a place of force

[6:22:53] shaping the universities in

[6:22:54] the kindergartens.

[6:22:57] This is the kind of hate we are

[6:22:58] experiencing every single day.

[6:22:58] And you've heard just as you

[6:23:04] know, an hour or two of it our

[6:23:05] law enforcement and our civic

[6:23:09] leaders cannot fight this hate

[6:23:09] if they don't have a clear

[6:23:10] definition of what it is and

[6:23:17] how to protect against it.

[6:23:18] The definition is not

[6:23:18] constructed, is not against

[6:23:23] free speech, not in any way

[6:23:24] just in the way you have

[6:23:24] explained it, in the way it's

[6:23:25] written, in the way you've

[6:23:28] heard so many witnesses for it.

[6:23:29] It is clearly and simply a

[6:23:33] diagnostic tool to identify it

[6:23:34] and to give some tools to

[6:23:39] combat it to allow our our law

[6:23:40] enforcement to deal with it and

[6:23:44] to try to eliminate it.

[6:23:44] We hear a lot about we want

[6:23:45] open debate.

[6:23:50] We want the healthy debate.

[6:23:51] Of course we want a healthy

[6:23:51] debate.

[6:23:52] But the debate that we are

[6:23:55] asked to do is as long as we

[6:23:56] are not we're not yarmulke as

[6:23:57] long as we don't speak Hebrew,

[6:23:57] as long as we don't put our

[6:24:00] mezuzah in our doors, as long

[6:24:01] as we do not go with our star

[6:24:02] of David.

[6:24:05] Now let's have a debate.

[6:24:10] That's not a healthy debate.

[6:24:11] >> That's Jew hatred in any

[6:24:18] form that you can express It.

[6:24:19] You have a very simple choice

[6:24:23] to make today.

[6:24:28] >> You can join the 47 nations

[6:24:29] in 37 U.S. States and establish

[6:24:34] a standard that will protect

[6:24:34] your Jewish constituents and

[6:24:39] the Jewish community overall or

[6:24:40] you can make the day for those

[6:24:44] anti-Semitic oppressors who are

[6:24:50] hoping praying that you reject

[6:24:51] it.

[6:24:51] And any word about let's delay

[6:24:52] it?

[6:24:55] It's not a clear it's not an

[6:24:56] honest request to delay it.

[6:25:01] >> It's a hope to bury it.

[6:25:01] >> I urge you to vote yes.

[6:25:02] Thank you.

[6:25:12] Andy Tremlett Today you were

[6:25:12] aiming to take a stand against

[6:25:13] anti-Semitism.

[6:25:17] That is a noble goal But this

[6:25:18] is not the way no country in

[6:25:22] the world deserves protection

[6:25:23] from the First Amendment of

[6:25:23] the Constitution.

[6:25:28] Yes, this resolution declares

[6:25:28] it.

[6:25:29] It doesn't restrict criticism

[6:25:29] of Israel.

[6:25:30] But then it goes on to list

[6:25:33] specific ways that you can and

[6:25:33] can't talk about the state.

[6:25:38] You can't have your cake and

[6:25:39] eat it too.

[6:25:39] On Saturday a Palestinian

[6:25:44] family was driving home after

[6:25:45] getting sweets and new clothes

[6:25:45] for the kids.

[6:25:49] Israeli soldiers opened fire on

[6:25:50] the family car killing

[6:25:54] the mother, the father and two

[6:25:55] young boys.

[6:25:55] Only two children survived.

[6:26:00] Imagine that happening to your

[6:26:00] family.

[6:26:01] Now imagine being one of

[6:26:05] the surviving kids and hearing

[6:26:06] that politicians were voting to

[6:26:06] restrict criticism of

[6:26:07] the forces who killed your

[6:26:07] family.

[6:26:12] Please do not take a chisel to

[6:26:13] our rights as Americans.

[6:26:17] >> Sylvia Andrea, Sylvia and

[6:26:17] Rico.

[6:26:22] I was on your feet.

[6:26:23] >> Please speak when you get up

[6:26:23] to the microphone.

[6:26:27] Zoom can hear you as well.

[6:26:28] I'm sorry.

[6:26:28] You'll have one minute.

[6:26:29] Please proceed.

[6:26:33] Good afternoon.

[6:26:34] Almost going into Good evening.

[6:26:35] I am here to confess that I was

[6:26:39] not listed here to speak on

[6:26:39] this issue.

[6:26:40] However, it is a very important

[6:26:45] issue.

[6:26:45] This divide between me as human

[6:26:50] beings needs to stop.

[6:26:51] And the only way we can do it

[6:26:52] is to respect each other and

[6:26:56] respect each other's existence

[6:26:57] here and respect that all of us

[6:27:02] all of us to some degree in

[6:27:03] the evolution of this

[6:27:03] civilization have suffered.

[6:27:08] What you are know will be

[6:27:08] suffering.

[6:27:13] We have been suffering.

[6:27:14] I pray for my people for

[6:27:15] thousands of years in many ways

[6:27:19] but specifically for the last

[6:27:20] 500 years with the European

[6:27:20] invasion on this land.

[6:27:25] So it is not new and I beg

[6:27:25] everyone particularly

[6:27:32] the Council to be inclusive and

[6:27:32] to get out in view.

[6:27:39] Thank you for that Concluding

[6:27:39] reminding everyone.

[6:27:40] Stacie Lehmann Caffe over

[6:27:43] Kiefer Stacie Lana and then

[6:27:44] Cynthia are Connor Duncan.

[6:27:49] Blair Beakman.

[6:27:50] Ronnie Levy.

[6:27:50] Stephanie Neeson.

[6:27:51] David Whitmore.

[6:27:55] If you can all please come up

[6:27:56] to the front row.

[6:27:56] Stacy Lynn you can come up to

[6:28:01] the microphone if you're here.

[6:28:08] Is there no Stacy Lynn.

[6:28:08] Cynthia Art, please come up to

[6:28:09] the microphone.

[6:28:10] Cynthia you have time to buy

[6:28:14] Terry Next time.

[6:28:15] Terry Thank you so much.

[6:28:16] You'll have two minutes.

[6:28:19] Please proceed.

[6:28:20] >> Honorable council members

[6:28:20] Thank you for having your

[6:28:21] agenda.

[6:28:21] The adoption of

[6:28:25] the International Holocaust

[6:28:25] Remember Remembrance Alliance

[6:28:26] Definition of anti-Semitism.

[6:28:27] With anti-Semitism rising there

[6:28:31] needs to be a way to define

[6:28:32] this particular racism in order

[6:28:32] to combat it.

[6:28:36] Protecting all citizens alive

[6:28:37] with civility and with our

[6:28:38] state and local laws

[6:28:38] prohibiting discrimination

[6:28:42] other than the incredible

[6:28:43] racism against Jews it would be

[6:28:44] a non-issue.

[6:28:44] But here we are.

[6:28:49] You have this mob opposing this

[6:28:49] with their unending hate of

[6:28:50] Jewish race, religion and

[6:28:55] national origin and add to that

[6:28:56] language after the Santa Fe

[6:28:56] attacks.

[6:28:57] >> Antisemitism was the term

[6:29:01] coined to explain this

[6:29:01] irrational crazy Jewish hatred.

[6:29:02] That's what the term was

[6:29:02] coined.

[6:29:07] It's not a separate word or

[6:29:08] meshing of words.

[6:29:09] That's what the word was coined

[6:29:09] and it's meaning to invent.

[6:29:12] Imagine you needed an armed

[6:29:13] guard to go to your church to

[6:29:14] walk outside to send your kids

[6:29:14] to preschool.

[6:29:18] Imagine needing armed guards to

[6:29:19] send your kids to preschool

[6:29:20] because some crazy might come

[6:29:20] and assassinate your

[6:29:24] kindergartners or your

[6:29:25] preschoolers for the crime of

[6:29:30] being born of Jewish blood.

[6:29:31] This definition merely defines

[6:29:31] a hate.

[6:29:36] It doesn't work against anybody

[6:29:36] .

[6:29:37] It doesn't act against anybody.

[6:29:38] It merely defines what

[6:29:42] antisemitism is so that we can

[6:29:43] combat it.

[6:29:43] It is not.

[6:29:44] It is a double step when it's a

[6:29:48] double standard applied to Jews

[6:29:49] only Jews.

[6:29:49] That is when the definition

[6:29:50] works.

[6:29:50] It has nothing to do with

[6:29:55] attacking Israel.

[6:29:56] >> You have your free speech.

[6:29:56] It is not affected and impacted

[6:29:57] in any way.

[6:30:01] There is no reason why racist

[6:30:02] Jew haters should be able to

[6:30:03] define what antisemitism is as

[6:30:03] a problem.

[6:30:04] I would not accept that and it

[6:30:08] should not be a double standard

[6:30:09] But this applies to do the Jew

[6:30:09] people either.

[6:30:10] Thank you for protecting

[6:30:13] offending against and not

[6:30:13] applying a different standard

[6:30:14] to Jews.

[6:30:14] >> Thank you for putting this

[6:30:15] on the agenda.

[6:30:17] Please vote yes.

[6:30:18] >> Connor Duncan if you can

[6:30:24] please go forward.

[6:30:24] >> Thank you.

[6:30:25] i want to start by saying that

[6:30:26] I actually do support the vast

[6:30:30] majority of the hra definition

[6:30:31] and particularly example number

[6:30:31] 11 which I think is the most

[6:30:36] salient example today which is

[6:30:36] that Jews are not collectively

[6:30:37] responsible for the actions of

[6:30:38] the state of Israel.

[6:30:41] That these are two distinct

[6:30:41] entities.

[6:30:42] However, the second half of

[6:30:46] example seven example eight and

[6:30:47] example ten directly contradict

[6:30:52] this by saying that any speech

[6:30:52] in opposition to the State of

[6:30:53] Israel is a reflection on all

[6:30:53] Jewish people.

[6:30:59] This is you know, 11 examples

[6:30:59] given here It can't even be

[6:31:00] maintained a degree of

[6:31:04] consistency across 11 examples.

[6:31:10] I would also say that you know,

[6:31:11] the rise of Semitism is a very

[6:31:11] real thing And I've heard

[6:31:12] the stories today and I have

[6:31:16] been moved by them But we do

[6:31:16] not need to have on one hand

[6:31:17] the discussion of this and

[6:31:22] stifle debate of America's

[6:31:23] role, its relationship with

[6:31:23] Israel and the ongoing status

[6:31:24] quo that I think is

[6:31:24] unacceptable.

[6:31:29] If you don't I think your time

[6:31:29] examples are designed to

[6:31:30] curtail your time has

[6:31:30] concluded.

[6:31:35] I need to be fair to everybody

[6:31:35] .

[6:31:36] Blair Bachmann After Blair It's

[6:31:36] Ron Levy.

[6:31:40] Stephanie Mason, David Whitmire

[6:31:40] ,Stephen Schneider, Laurie

[6:31:41] Lipson, Tamar Caspi if you can

[6:31:46] all please come up to

[6:31:47] the yellow reserved seats.

[6:31:48] Blair Please proceed when

[6:31:48] ready.

[6:31:48] Thank you.

[6:31:52] Please proceed already.

[6:31:53] Blair Please proceed.

[6:31:53] Hi.

[6:31:54] The incident earlier was

[6:31:54] cleared up.

[6:31:58] The woman is going to be

[6:31:59] released downstairs,

[6:31:59] thankfully.

[6:32:03] I wanted to offer anything I'm

[6:32:04] trying to say for the majority

[6:32:05] of my public comment actually

[6:32:06] isn't true in terms of absolute

[6:32:09] I'm trying my best to figure

[6:32:10] things out along the way.

[6:32:15] I was I would like all parts of

[6:32:16] our San Diego community to feel

[6:32:16] protected and safe and how

[6:32:20] we're making our decisions for

[6:32:21] these sort of items the ideals

[6:32:22] of love and diversity those

[6:32:27] should be kind of basic things

[6:32:27] we're all trying to work

[6:32:28] together towards And I was for

[6:32:33] this item at first and I read I

[6:32:34] read the guidelines of what

[6:32:39] it's trying to offer and

[6:32:39] the guideline process is

[6:32:40] important.

[6:32:41] I use it with the aclu Step for

[6:32:44] accountability But these

[6:32:45] guidelines they lack a certain

[6:32:46] human rights aspect to them.

[6:32:50] I think it needs to be brought

[6:32:50] back a full community

[6:32:51] discussion to work on this

[6:32:52] together and come up with

[6:32:52] solutions that the community

[6:32:56] and I can run it live.

[6:32:57] >> You run it.

[6:33:06] Let me David a bit more.

[6:33:07] Thank you.

[6:33:07] And I just have to say for

[6:33:08] the record there could be two

[6:33:09] people with Joe Smith of

[6:33:13] the same name if they don't

[6:33:13] come up and they don't come up.

[6:33:19] David Vidmar, Stephen Schneider

[6:33:19] ,you have time.

[6:33:20] See the two by Nancy Dozier If

[6:33:23] you can please raise your hand

[6:33:23] .

[6:33:24] Nancy, are you still here?

[6:33:30] You'll have a thank you.

[6:33:30] Please proceed.

[6:33:36] Good afternoon And thank you,

[6:33:37] Councilmember Whitburn for

[6:33:37] bringing this to the city.

[6:33:42] I have to say I'm so impressed

[6:33:43] by all of you to be so patient

[6:33:44] through this procedure and so

[6:33:48] open to all of the comments.

[6:33:49] My name is Steven Schindler.

[6:33:53] I'm a native San Diego and a

[6:33:54] resident of District three and

[6:33:54] importantly the son of child

[6:33:59] orphaned Holocaust survivors

[6:34:00] Rose and Max Schindler.

[6:34:04] I was here with my mom and

[6:34:04] other survivors in 2018 when

[6:34:05] the city council adopted on

[6:34:11] JANUARY 27th as International

[6:34:11] Holocaust Remembrance Day.

[6:34:16] I want to thank council members

[6:34:17] Marino for that moment as well

[6:34:25] as council member Campbell And

[6:34:26] I just want to share

[6:34:26] the proclamation with everyone

[6:34:37] here today.

[6:34:38] I'm here to ask for the entire

[6:34:39] City Council's leadership in

[6:34:44] support of adopting the I r a

[6:34:44] definition of antisemitism for

[6:34:45] those speaking in support of

[6:34:50] free speech.

[6:34:50] I hear you.

[6:34:51] However, I'd like to share how

[6:34:52] as a child as a child my family

[6:34:55] and other Holocaust survivor

[6:34:56] families who gathered on

[6:34:57] Sundays at the high school

[6:34:57] during the summer were chased

[6:35:02] out at the threat of violence

[6:35:03] by neo Nazis parading up Lauria

[6:35:03] Boulevard.

[6:35:08] We never returned to the Cove

[6:35:09] as a family for fear for our

[6:35:09] safety incidents As dramatic as

[6:35:13] this seem probable again more

[6:35:14] than ever without the adoption

[6:35:14] of this resolution.

[6:35:20] Can you imagine how my parents

[6:35:20] and their survivor friends felt

[6:35:21] in that moment?

[6:35:25] Hate speech and threats cross

[6:35:25] the line.

[6:35:26] Why is the adoption of this

[6:35:26] critical?

[6:35:27] It creates a shared

[6:35:32] standardized definition as it

[6:35:33] has been discussed and it can

[6:35:33] guide schools, universities

[6:35:38] inform hate crime analysis.

[6:35:39] Thank you for that concluding

[6:35:39] comment.

[6:35:40] Was that to me it was two

[6:35:41] minutes Yes.

[6:35:49] Laurie Lisman two minutes.

[6:35:50] Good afternoon Council members.

[6:35:51] Yesterday I listened to

[6:35:51] the city's crime report.

[6:35:56] Well while overall crime is

[6:35:57] down, hate crimes are rising

[6:35:58] and we must address this to

[6:36:02] protect all as a second

[6:36:02] generation Jewish-American

[6:36:03] having experienced

[6:36:08] anti-Semitism throughout my 70

[6:36:09] years, I oppose antisemitism,

[6:36:13] antisemitism and hate in all

[6:36:14] forms but the I h r a

[6:36:22] definition conflates anti.

[6:36:23] I more them with legitimate

[6:36:25] criticism of the Israeli

[6:36:26] government putting free speech

[6:36:26] at risk.

[6:36:27] We have laws against harassment

[6:36:31] discrimination and violence

[6:36:32] Anti Semitism requires

[6:36:32] education and accountability

[6:36:38] and the district three resident

[6:36:38] I urge you to not adopt this.

[6:36:44] Thank you to Mark Cosby If you

[6:36:45] can please come forward.

[6:36:45] You have people sitting your

[6:36:49] time Leslie Cosby to come

[6:36:50] Please raise your hand as well

[6:36:55] as Jordan Rosenfeld, Jordan, I

[6:36:56] believe you already see

[6:36:56] the time but we'll double

[6:36:57] check.

[6:37:02] Please proceed.

[6:37:03] Hi, my name is to Marcus.

[6:37:07] Be a proud resident of District

[6:37:07] seven home of Hanukkah Hill.

[6:37:08] Again, all these testimonies

[6:37:12] are exactly why we need this.

[6:37:13] This is gaslighting.

[6:37:13] They are making our case for us

[6:37:14] by criticizing Israel to

[6:37:19] justify anti-Semitic them here

[6:37:19] and purposely misconstruing

[6:37:20] the definition of

[6:37:20] anti-Semitism.

[6:37:25] All of these Kafirs and

[6:37:25] watermelons are symbols calling

[6:37:26] for the genocide of Jews.

[6:37:31] It is very triggering for me

[6:37:32] especially as we just got word

[6:37:32] the couple was just killed in

[6:37:37] Israel by a rocket from Iran.

[6:37:37] Please don't leave Henry.

[6:37:44] I am a co-founder of Year k-12

[6:37:44] advocating for Jewish students,

[6:37:45] parents and teachers civil

[6:37:48] rights in k through 12 schools

[6:37:48] throughout San Diego.

[6:37:49] We have students, parents and

[6:37:54] teachers calling daily with

[6:37:54] concerns about antisemitism on

[6:37:55] campus but without a definition

[6:37:59] of antisemitism it is that much

[6:38:00] harder for us to fight it and

[6:38:00] get consequences for bad

[6:38:01] behavior.

[6:38:01] Forget about trying to prevent

[6:38:05] it these past few weeks while

[6:38:06] everyone else was probably

[6:38:06] wearing their Dominican

[6:38:07] Republic and Puerto Rico and

[6:38:12] Italy and of course the usa

[6:38:13] baseball hats the school Jewish

[6:38:13] kids were scared to wear their

[6:38:18] team Israel hats those that did

[6:38:19] have them knocked off their

[6:38:19] heads.

[6:38:20] They were called baby killers

[6:38:20] and genocidaires.

[6:38:23] Not only are these lies being

[6:38:23] perpetuated but these young

[6:38:24] kids are being blamed for

[6:38:25] the false actions of a

[6:38:25] government halfway around

[6:38:29] the world but they have no

[6:38:30] control over that would fall

[6:38:31] under the definition of ira and

[6:38:32] allow students to advocate for

[6:38:36] themselves and their civil

[6:38:36] rights.

[6:38:37] This Cuba doesn't have a star

[6:38:37] of David on it or an Israeli

[6:38:41] flag on it So why are students

[6:38:42] that we're at a public school

[6:38:42] in San Diego getting beat up

[6:38:43] and berated and always in

[6:38:47] classrooms under the guise of

[6:38:48] hating bp or being against war

[6:38:49] that would fall under ira as

[6:38:49] well.

[6:38:53] And the student would be able

[6:38:54] to advocate for themselves for

[6:38:54] civil rights.

[6:38:55] This is happening in k-12

[6:38:55] public private independent

[6:38:58] schools around San Diego every

[6:38:59] day.

[6:38:59] If you deny Israel's right to

[6:39:00] exist, hold all Jews

[6:39:00] responsible for Israel's

[6:39:05] actions or single out

[6:39:06] the Jewish state with double

[6:39:06] standards that is antisemitism

[6:39:12] and ira helps us to find that

[6:39:12] Please adopt ira so that more

[6:39:13] power more people can be

[6:39:16] empowered to stand up against

[6:39:16] antisemitism.

[6:39:21] Thank you.

[6:39:21] All right.

[6:39:29] Shannon Lieberman and Laura is

[6:39:29] tomorrow.

[6:39:30] Looky here.

[6:39:30] Did you want to see your time

[6:39:31] for someone else or speak to

[6:39:31] me?

[6:39:36] Okay.

[6:39:37] Thank you.

[6:39:42] I will have it here taped Sean

[6:39:43] ,please come forward.

[6:39:44] Robert De Hernandez, Roberto de

[6:39:50] Hernandez, Patricia Gregson,

[6:39:50] Rose Markowitz and Grace Rojas

[6:39:56] Jimenez All please come up so

[6:39:57] yellow to preceding her time to

[6:39:58] me But you already spoke sir We

[6:40:00] don't go back.

[6:40:00] It's not a backstage thing.

[6:40:06] Sorry.

[6:40:06] Good.

[6:40:07] Try to taint a short please

[6:40:14] Come up.

[6:40:15] >> Good evening.

[6:40:15] Shame on you.

[6:40:16] COUNCILMAN Whitburn, this

[6:40:21] definition is ridiculous and

[6:40:22] harms the fight against

[6:40:22] anti-Semitism.

[6:40:23] The ira website gave examples

[6:40:27] of anti-Semitic acts implied

[6:40:27] from the definition.

[6:40:28] An example is denying

[6:40:33] the Jewish people the right to

[6:40:33] their self-determination by

[6:40:34] claiming that the state of

[6:40:35] Israel is a racist project.

[6:40:39] I think that any state that

[6:40:43] uses segregated highways like

[6:40:44] Road 4370 and Israel occupied

[6:40:45] West Bank is a racist project

[6:40:50] on par with Jim Crow America.

[6:40:51] But according to the ihra

[6:40:56] definition I just committed an

[6:40:57] act of antisemitism on par with

[6:40:57] slander against our Jewish

[6:41:02] neighbors.

[6:41:03] Surely you can see how this

[6:41:03] disarms the fight against

[6:41:08] antisemitism and enables

[6:41:08] genocide at the same time

[6:41:09] aligned with humanity and

[6:41:10] the oppressed.

[6:41:12] Vote no on this resolution.

[6:41:18] >> Thank you.

[6:41:19] Robert Fernandez.

[6:41:19] Roberto Fernandez, are you

[6:41:19] here?

[6:41:24] Thank you.

[6:41:24] Patricia Garcia.

[6:41:25] Patricia Garcia And you

[6:41:30] actually had already ceded time

[6:41:30] to somebody else So I will

[6:41:31] marry your slip.

[6:41:36] Rose Markowitz Hello.

[6:41:37] >> My name is Rose Markowitz

[6:41:42] and I am a Jew and I strongly

[6:41:42] oppose this resolution as

[6:41:43] you've heard so many times

[6:41:48] today anti Semitism and Zionism

[6:41:49] are distinct Zionists do not

[6:41:54] speak for all Jews.

[6:41:54] Zionism is a shanda.

[6:41:55] It is racism, it is

[6:41:55] colonization, it commits

[6:42:00] genocide.

[6:42:01] The resolution centers on my

[6:42:02] right as a Jew to voice this

[6:42:06] opinion freely.

[6:42:07] An ethno state sustained by

[6:42:07] obscene amounts of violence is

[6:42:12] not moral and it is not Jewish.

[6:42:12] Displacing people from their

[6:42:13] homes is not moral and it is

[6:42:18] not Jewish An apartheid state

[6:42:19] where access to food, water and

[6:42:19] medicine is regulated and often

[6:42:25] denied by a hostile government

[6:42:25] is not moral and it is not

[6:42:26] Jewish.

[6:42:30] I do not believe that

[6:42:31] the existence of Israel makes

[6:42:32] Jews safe or protects us from

[6:42:36] antisemitism.

[6:42:37] The definition must exclude

[6:42:38] anything that conflates Judaism

[6:42:45] and Zionism That is your time.

[6:42:45] Thank you Rose.

[6:42:46] Great Assimil\s Great stroke.

[6:42:46] A few minutes.

[6:42:49] Are you here?

[6:42:50] Great source of minutes Jesse

[6:42:54] Gomez j I ap Asi Gomez Jesse

[6:43:00] Gomez Octavio Cifuentes Please

[6:43:00] come forward.

[6:43:01] And then after that we have La

[6:43:08] Law So Bella and I think

[6:43:12] finally Philip ginsburg Julie

[6:43:13] Corrales please make your way

[6:43:13] up to the front row.

[6:43:19] Anthony Rose and Eliza Bradford

[6:43:20] all Please come up to the front

[6:43:20] row.

[6:43:24] >> Octavia Please proceed.

[6:43:25] >> Good evening everyone.

[6:43:25] Sorry.

[6:43:26] Please speak into

[6:43:26] the microphone.

[6:43:26] Sorry.

[6:43:30] It's a little.

[6:43:30] Good evening everyone.

[6:43:31] My name's obviously Fuentes.

[6:43:36] I'm a Navy veteran resident of

[6:43:37] District One, a graduate

[6:43:37] student at the University of

[6:43:42] San Diego and the PRESIDENT Of

[6:43:43] the local chapter of Veterans

[6:43:43] for Peace.

[6:43:47] I'm here to ask you to vote no

[6:43:48] on this 500 as the are a

[6:43:48] definition was never designed

[6:43:49] to be used as a binding

[6:43:53] definition of anti Semitism nor

[6:43:54] to be adopted as legislation.

[6:43:58] The creators of the working

[6:43:59] definition have since abandoned

[6:44:00] it due to its flawed framework

[6:44:05] but it has since been

[6:44:05] weaponized to silence any

[6:44:06] critique of Israel The rise in

[6:44:11] hate in this country is deeply

[6:44:11] concerning and it pains me to

[6:44:12] hear the stories that I heard

[6:44:17] today so it would be great to

[6:44:23] see this city take the lead on

[6:44:23] real change by passing a

[6:44:24] resolution that actually

[6:44:29] addresses the problem.

[6:44:30] So I ask you to not perpetuate

[6:44:34] the cycle of hate and vote no

[6:44:35] comment.

[6:44:35] Thank you for your time.

[6:44:36] La la la la.

[6:44:41] If you can please come forward

[6:44:41] here La la.

[6:44:48] There was severe If you were

[6:44:48] seeding time to la la did you

[6:44:53] want to speak as if your belief

[6:44:58] came moving on so green So let

[6:44:58] .

[6:45:05] My name is Sabrina.

[6:45:05] >> I'm a resident of the San

[6:45:06] Diego City.

[6:45:07] i strongly oppose the adoption

[6:45:07] of the ihra definition of

[6:45:11] antisemitism.

[6:45:11] The ira bill does not address

[6:45:12] anti Semitism but rather

[6:45:13] conflates anti lane ism with

[6:45:13] antisemitism.

[6:45:16] Completing the two creates a

[6:45:17] dangerous precedent and

[6:45:17] criminalizes any legitimate

[6:45:22] critique of Israeli criticism

[6:45:23] that is protected under our

[6:45:23] First Amendment right to free

[6:45:24] speech a right we see being

[6:45:28] criminalized all across this

[6:45:29] nation under this

[6:45:29] administration.

[6:45:30] Voices supporting Palestinian

[6:45:31] human rights will be targeted,

[6:45:35] harassed And if we adopt this

[6:45:36] resolution, adopting this

[6:45:37] resolution without the need for

[6:45:37] criminalizing and violating

[6:45:41] free speech, it's your

[6:45:42] responsibility to take a stand

[6:45:42] and ensure that free speech for

[6:45:47] all San Diego residents is

[6:45:47] protected.

[6:45:48] Uninsured for all San Diego

[6:45:48] residents.

[6:45:54] Thank you for leave for life f

[6:45:54] r.

[6:45:59] My name is Farida.

[6:46:00] So I'm going to start I

[6:46:00] strongly oppose this

[6:46:01] resolution.

[6:46:05] It is disgusting and abhorrent

[6:46:06] that during the holy month of

[6:46:07] Ramadan we are forced and

[6:46:07] that's why there aren't more

[6:46:08] Muslims than ever.

[6:46:12] The Palestinians in this room

[6:46:13] not just because someone was

[6:46:13] detained and arrested

[6:46:14] violently.

[6:46:14] We have to leave and deal with

[6:46:15] that while fasting.

[6:46:17] But because the city continues

[6:46:18] to choose times while our

[6:46:18] people are bleeding and

[6:46:23] struggling while Iran is being

[6:46:23] bombed with u.

[6:46:24] S strikes, while Lebanon is

[6:46:28] being waged and demolished

[6:46:29] while those facing starvation

[6:46:29] emaciation massacre ethnic

[6:46:34] cleansing call it whatever you

[6:46:34] want.

[6:46:35] You all can read You all know

[6:46:36] what the definition says Don't

[6:46:36] play dumb.

[6:46:41] We are not dumb.

[6:46:42] You are not born into these

[6:46:42] positions to pretend that you

[6:46:43] don't know what the definition

[6:46:43] says.

[6:46:44] So we will continue to stand in

[6:46:48] opposition or not and we will

[6:46:48] continue to organize.

[6:46:49] And all of these comments of

[6:46:53] people being so confused about

[6:46:54] what the definition says show

[6:46:54] that it was never meant to be

[6:46:55] used in this way And I will

[6:46:59] continue to critique Israel

[6:47:00] until I die because Israel is

[6:47:01] the point that cleansing

[6:47:06] the Middle East your time has

[6:47:07] come about people.

[6:47:08] >> Your time has concluded.

[6:47:17] Philip.

[6:47:18] Please proceed.

[6:47:21] Good afternoon.

[6:47:32] Hello.

[6:47:38] Your parents?

[6:47:38] Okay.

[6:47:39] Okay.

[6:47:40] Settle down.

[6:47:47] Settle down.

[6:47:53] The standard is not double

[6:47:54] standards.

[6:47:54] My actions are about being

[6:47:59] disruptive to the context of

[6:48:00] the meeting.

[6:48:00] If people say things quietly

[6:48:05] from one to another, I despise

[6:48:05] that.

[6:48:06] I condemn that.

[6:48:06] But we're talking about

[6:48:07] disrupting the meeting.

[6:48:11] It's not about political It's

[6:48:11] not about picking fights.

[6:48:12] It's about being disruptive.

[6:48:16] And they have it.

[6:48:17] I would condemn that.

[6:48:18] But as long as you're not

[6:48:23] disrupting the meeting, that's

[6:48:23] my responsibility.

[6:48:24] >> And that's exactly why we're

[6:48:28] having this conversation today

[6:48:35] Like Philip Ginsberg If we can

[6:48:35] proceed, Philip Ginsberg,

[6:48:36] please proceed.

[6:48:40] >> Do you have a minute?

[6:48:40] Council members I'm sorry to

[6:48:41] have participated precipitated

[6:48:41] that.

[6:48:46] Thank you for considering this

[6:48:46] resolution.

[6:48:47] I'm speaking in favor of this

[6:48:47] resolution.

[6:48:48] I've been a resident of San

[6:48:52] Diego County since 1973.

[6:48:52] I happen to be in the district

[6:48:58] of council PRESIDENT.

[6:48:58] You've heard stories.

[6:48:59] And I have a story.

[6:49:00] It's a small story.

[6:49:04] I'm 74 years young.

[6:49:08] I've been married to my lovely

[6:49:08] wife for 55 years.

[6:49:09] >> Do you see the story, David

[6:49:14] I'm wearing?

[6:49:15] She will not go out with me if

[6:49:21] I'm wearing that star of David.

[6:49:21] I can't wear it.

[6:49:26] She's afraid that someone's

[6:49:27] going to come up and punch me

[6:49:27] or punch her.

[6:49:27] Please.

[6:49:32] I implore.

[6:49:33] Time is right.

[6:49:37] Vote yes on se 500.

[6:49:37] >> Thank you.

[6:49:42] Next is Julie Corrales.

[6:49:43] Julie Corrales if you're still

[6:49:49] here Anthony Ralphs if you come

[6:49:49] please come up after that.

[6:49:50] Eliza Bradford.

[6:49:50] Chris Lopez.

[6:49:54] Liam Stanton.

[6:49:55] Kayla Timothy Dombrowski.

[6:50:01] Leah Gavin Sklar.

[6:50:01] And then Eliot Cohen.

[6:50:02] Reese is our last speaker here

[6:50:03] in Council chambers.

[6:50:08] Please proceed.

[6:50:09] >> Hello Counsel Good

[6:50:09] afternoon.

[6:50:10] I think we're all familiar with

[6:50:13] the saying sticks and stones

[6:50:14] can break my bones but words

[6:50:14] can't bring back all the slain

[6:50:15] Palestinians that have been

[6:50:19] erased from the genocide that's

[6:50:19] actively going on.

[6:50:20] And what I want to know is why

[6:50:21] Zionism gets to claim a

[6:50:25] monopoly on Semitism when we

[6:50:26] know that Palestinians are

[6:50:27] Semites too.

[6:50:27] Yet this definition does not

[6:50:31] include Palestinians or any

[6:50:32] other people of Arabic descent

[6:50:33] in it and that's why it's

[6:50:37] flawed and that's why I'm

[6:50:38] speaking in opposition to it

[6:50:39] today is because we know those

[6:50:39] of us that have studied history

[6:50:43] that Israel is a colonial

[6:50:44] apartheid settler state that

[6:50:45] was founded on the premise of

[6:50:49] reparations for the Holocaust.

[6:50:50] By that same standard, if

[6:50:50] reparations for Holocaust are

[6:50:54] the basis for creating a nation

[6:50:55] ,this nation would be more

[6:50:56] appropriately named the United

[6:50:56] States of Native Americans.

[6:51:01] But it's not.

[6:51:01] And there was 50 million Native

[6:51:02] Americans killed in this

[6:51:07] country and they're not around

[6:51:08] today to state that they

[6:51:09] deserve a nation of their own.

[6:51:09] Your time has come.

[6:51:13] GOD's chosen.

[6:51:14] >> Your time has come.

[6:51:14] Don't go away.

[6:51:15] Come back.

[6:51:16] This is nice lady giving you

[6:51:16] another minute.

[6:51:17] Is that why you're standing

[6:51:24] there with your hand up?

[6:51:25] >> No.

[6:51:25] I listed about ten individuals

[6:51:26] Still will go and come.

[6:51:28] Thank you, Anthony.

[6:51:28] >> Sorry.

[6:51:35] Elijah Bradford.

[6:51:36] >> Good afternoon, Counsel.

[6:51:36] My name is Elijah Bradford.

[6:51:37] I'm here representing that

[6:51:40] introduce.

[6:51:41] Recently separated Marine Corps

[6:51:42] veteran for five years and I

[6:51:42] served with marines and sailors

[6:51:47] that were Jewish Arab that

[6:51:47] followed Judaism that followed

[6:51:52] Islam and I cherish all of them

[6:51:53] And I would stand up for all of

[6:51:54] them if they were discriminated

[6:51:54] against.

[6:51:58] But I'm here to say that we

[6:51:58] should vote no on this prop.

[6:51:59] And the reason is it very

[6:52:04] clearly conflicts anti-Zionism

[6:52:05] with anti-Semitism which is not

[6:52:10] the same.

[6:52:11] And I will say that the plight

[6:52:12] of the Jewish people is not one

[6:52:12] that is unique.

[6:52:16] There is genocide and there has

[6:52:17] been holocaust against black

[6:52:17] and brown people multiple times

[6:52:18] throughout history.

[6:52:19] So that is not an excuse to

[6:52:23] somehow get preferential

[6:52:23] treatment.

[6:52:24] And I'll also say that counsel.

[6:52:27] No matter what happens today,

[6:52:28] one day people like me my age

[6:52:29] are going to be in your seats.

[6:52:29] Remember that?

[6:52:30] Remember that you work for us

[6:52:34] and no matter what you do today

[6:52:34] once we get in power this will

[6:52:35] be fixed.

[6:52:39] >> Remember that Chris Lopez.

[6:52:45] How's everyone doing?

[6:52:45] I'm Chris Lopez.

[6:52:46] I am a proud union

[6:52:47] representative and co-host of

[6:52:51] the Union Robust podcast And in

[6:52:52] the labor movement we care

[6:52:53] about people we don't know.

[6:52:58] That's the probably the crutch

[6:52:58] of the labor movement.

[6:52:59] That's the foundation that

[6:53:03] holds everything up.

[6:53:04] When I was a young dad I was

[6:53:11] about 28.

[6:53:12] I took my daughters to the zoo

[6:53:13] for me to go see a cheesecake.

[6:53:13] Its application of the trees in

[6:53:15] there and everything But I'll

[6:53:16] never forget for the rest of my

[6:53:17] life there was a dog a golden

[6:53:18] retriever in that cage with a

[6:53:24] cheetah and it was barking at

[6:53:24] the children.

[6:53:25] The cheetah was all scared by

[6:53:25] what's going on.

[6:53:27] You told me that the cheetah

[6:53:28] thinks the dog is dominant

[6:53:28] because the cheetah was born in

[6:53:34] captivity So I asked all

[6:53:35] the council members Remember

[6:53:35] who you are.

[6:53:36] You're part of the labor

[6:53:40] movement San Diego County Labor

[6:53:40] Council.

[6:53:41] We declared a genocide.

[6:53:42] We declared Israel's an

[6:53:42] apartheid state.

[6:53:48] And I asked you just reported

[6:53:49] Thank you, Liam Stanton.

[6:53:50] Liam Stanton if you're here.

[6:53:55] Okay.

[6:53:55] Thank you.

[6:53:56] After that we have Kayla

[6:54:03] Timothy Dombrowski, Leah Gavin

[6:54:03] Sklar, Julianne Gustafson if

[6:54:04] you can all please come forward

[6:54:08] to the reserve seats please.

[6:54:08] PRESIDENT Thank you, Counsel

[6:54:09] Men and women it's been a long

[6:54:14] day like everyone still

[6:54:14] standing or sitting.

[6:54:15] Um, first and foremost I'd like

[6:54:16] to say that all hateful acts

[6:54:19] against any person and all

[6:54:20] violence inflicted against any

[6:54:20] human being in whatever form or

[6:54:25] way or shape is taken is

[6:54:25] obviously contemptible and

[6:54:26] unacceptable.

[6:54:26] The hideous and truly

[6:54:32] anti-Semitic actions that we've

[6:54:32] seen in Michigan and around

[6:54:33] the world are worthy of

[6:54:37] condemnation from all insult

[6:54:38] people including me even as an

[6:54:39] opponent of this resolution and

[6:54:43] children especially are most

[6:54:44] especially off limits.

[6:54:45] That being said, the ihra

[6:54:49] definition of antisemitism is

[6:54:50] clearly overly broad and

[6:54:51] incompatible with the free

[6:54:51] speech standards of a free

[6:54:55] people and in particular

[6:54:56] the points amounting to a

[6:55:01] prohibition on criticizing

[6:55:02] Israel for being in its methods

[6:55:03] genocidal or likened to a state

[6:55:08] which is ethnically racist are

[6:55:09] obviously beyond the pale.

[6:55:18] I urge no on this resolution

[6:55:19] Your time has concluded Kayla.

[6:55:20] >> Katie I l l k are here.

[6:55:31] Timothy Dombrowski Thanks for

[6:55:32] saying it is unacceptable and

[6:55:37] unreasonable to hold the one

[6:55:37] group to a different standard

[6:55:38] than another.

[6:55:42] No country no state has

[6:55:43] the right to exist.

[6:55:43] They exist.

[6:55:44] I am not being anti-Christian

[6:55:48] when I criticize the anti-trans

[6:55:49] rhetoric of this country.

[6:55:50] I am not being anti-Islamic

[6:55:55] when I criticize the slavery

[6:55:55] practices in the U.S. Because I

[6:56:00] do not represent those

[6:56:01] religions.

[6:56:05] We cannot use a standard that

[6:56:06] calls one group different from

[6:56:07] the other which is built into

[6:56:11] that age definition.

[6:56:12] It is self contradictory and

[6:56:15] therefore it is inappropriate

[6:56:22] to use Leah.

[6:56:27] Why are you here?

[6:56:28] >> Gavin Sklar.

[6:56:29] There is no last name address

[6:56:33] as Lynn.

[6:56:34] >> Gavin Sklar.

[6:56:40] Thank you And then Julianne.

[6:56:41] You'll be after Lynn.

[6:56:42] I just need you to come make

[6:56:45] sure you're up at the front row

[6:56:46] and let Cohen race.

[6:56:46] Please come up to the yellow

[6:56:47] reserved seats.

[6:56:51] Please proceed.

[6:56:52] Can I start?

[6:56:53] Hi, my name is Leah.

[6:56:57] I am a Jewish San Diego and And

[6:56:57] you've heard a lot today a lot

[6:56:58] of words.

[6:56:59] I'm just here to remind you

[6:57:02] that we've been watching for

[6:57:03] over two years a genocide

[6:57:03] inflicted by Israel.

[6:57:04] Okay.

[6:57:09] So people want to be able to

[6:57:10] get in the streets.

[6:57:11] They want to be able to speak

[6:57:11] about this.

[6:57:15] And your job is to not infringe

[6:57:15] upon people's freedom of

[6:57:16] speech.

[6:57:16] Okay.

[6:57:21] So before you feel like you

[6:57:22] have to respond to the Israel

[6:57:23] lobby to a park you know, we

[6:57:27] have we heard from

[6:57:28] the PRESIDENT Or whatever pac

[6:57:29] the adl you work for us.

[6:57:29] Okay.

[6:57:33] You do not work for the Israel

[6:57:33] lobby.

[6:57:34] You work for your American

[6:57:34] constituents.

[6:57:37] People who live here in San

[6:57:38] Diego to start working for us.

[6:57:44] Start working for us And don't

[6:57:45] throw Jews under the bus

[6:57:46] because we don't all think but

[6:57:49] a few people here think.

[6:57:50] >> Okay.

[6:57:53] Thank you, Julianne, if you can

[6:57:59] please come up.

[6:57:59] Good afternoon.

[6:58:00] Thank you for allowing me to

[6:58:00] speak.

[6:58:03] You see this t-shirt here?

[6:58:09] Okay.

[6:58:09] It says Gaza.

[6:58:10] I was in Gaza in 2009 after

[6:58:15] Israel had killed over 1500

[6:58:15] people.

[6:58:16] About 300 and some were burned

[6:58:20] alive with white phosphorous.

[6:58:21] I got home and I had ptsd.

[6:58:27] I couldn't talk about it for

[6:58:27] about 3 or 4 weeks.

[6:58:28] I went back to the West Bank

[6:58:32] this time and it was a 2011.

[6:58:33] Again, I should not have gone

[6:58:33] because I couldn't deal with

[6:58:34] it.

[6:58:37] I was supposed to be there six

[6:58:38] weeks.

[6:58:38] I was.

[6:58:39] I got home after three weeks.

[6:58:43] All I'm saying is that I will

[6:58:44] be darned if you will close my

[6:58:50] mouth and not be able to say

[6:58:51] what I heard, what I saw which

[6:58:55] was very traumatic and

[6:58:56] horrible.

[6:58:56] I should be allowed to speak

[6:59:01] and say what I saw that it was

[6:59:01] horrible.

[6:59:01] >> Thank you.

[6:59:02] Please.

[6:59:08] Eliot Cohen Reese you have time

[6:59:08] ceded to you by Giovanni

[6:59:13] Sorrentino.

[6:59:13] Yeah.

[6:59:13] Thank you.

[6:59:14] You'll have two minutes And I

[6:59:15] know we have a video for you.

[6:59:15] Yes.

[6:59:19] Did you want to speak first?

[6:59:19] Yes.

[6:59:20] Please proceed.

[6:59:21] Good evening, Counsel and thank

[6:59:25] you so much, Councilmember

[6:59:25] Weprin for sponsoring the vote

[6:59:26] today.

[6:59:26] I am Liat Cohen was

[6:59:27] the director of

[6:59:30] the Antisemitism task force at

[6:59:31] Stand With Us and I would love

[6:59:32] to please share a video with

[6:59:36] you if it begins with the gas

[6:59:42] chambers.

[6:59:43] It begins with words that make

[6:59:43] evil feel righteous.

[6:59:44] Yes, the Jews.

[6:59:44] Hitler was right.

[6:59:47] It begins with Jewish buildings

[6:59:48] defaced swastikas in the night

[6:59:49] just like in 1958.

[6:59:53] It begins with mobs and campus

[6:59:54] sieges in San Diego,

[6:59:58] anti-Semitic incidents exploded

[6:59:58] 139 reported in 2024 alone

[6:59:59] rising and 2025 at ucsd and

[7:00:04] most protesters surrounded

[7:00:05] events, pounded doors and

[7:00:05] chanted Death to Jews At

[7:00:10] the Legacy International Center

[7:00:10] .

[7:00:11] Jews cars were surrounded and

[7:00:11] attacked at a downtown gala.

[7:00:12] Jews were harassed in downtown

[7:00:17] San Diego, an Israeli man was

[7:00:17] beaten for speaking Hebrew in

[7:00:18] the corner.

[7:00:18] The Jewish doctor was murdered

[7:00:21] in the mesa.

[7:00:22] Hundreds of anti-Semitic fliers

[7:00:22] spread.

[7:00:23] But how about a Pele?

[7:00:23] Jews were murdered while

[7:00:24] praying.

[7:00:28] We have seen this before in

[7:00:28] the 1930 as the world called it

[7:00:29] protest.

[7:00:29] Then came 6 million dead.

[7:00:33] But I got a definition of

[7:00:33] anti-Semitism in the name to

[7:00:34] protect your Jewish neighbors.

[7:00:35] History will remember how you

[7:00:41] vote.

[7:00:42] Our last speaker is Charles

[7:00:51] hellickson Charles Hellickson.

[7:00:51] >> For those on the virtual now

[7:00:52] is the time to please be sure

[7:00:53] to raise your hand.

[7:00:56] The five minute timer will be

[7:00:57] starting and if you do not have

[7:00:58] your hand raised within those

[7:00:58] five minutes your comments will

[7:01:00] not be taken.

[7:01:00] Please proceed.

[7:01:05] Hello.

[7:01:06] I think it's really important

[7:01:11] that we make a distinguish

[7:01:17] between antisemitism and

[7:01:17] anti-Zionism.

[7:01:18] As we know there are horrible

[7:01:22] things going on in our world

[7:01:27] today one where an ideology

[7:01:28] that is conflating the Jewish

[7:01:33] identity with atrocities being

[7:01:38] done this must be allowed to be

[7:01:39] distinguished and allow for

[7:01:49] discourse to go unabated from

[7:01:49] suppression of those voicing

[7:01:50] our First Amendment and

[7:01:54] allowing us to have public

[7:01:55] discourse on these matters.

[7:02:00] Thank you so much.

[7:02:00] Thank you.

[7:02:01] So the five minute timer will

[7:02:02] go to those participating

[7:02:02] remotely before I do it before

[7:02:06] I do.

[7:02:07] I just wanted to note for

[7:02:07] the record that we did receive

[7:02:08] 20 speakers slips in favor that

[7:02:11] registered their position but

[7:02:11] did not wish to speak.

[7:02:12] As well as for speakers of some

[7:02:13] opposition that registered

[7:02:17] their position but did not wish

[7:02:17] to speak.

[7:02:18] And we did receive 271 comments

[7:02:21] in favor and 169 comments in

[7:02:21] opposition via our economic

[7:02:22] forum which have been

[7:02:25] distributed to the Council

[7:02:26] starting with those

[7:02:26] participating online.

[7:02:27] We currently have 44 speakers

[7:02:31] in the queue with their hands

[7:02:32] raised starting with Nadia.

[7:02:32] If you can please unmute.

[7:02:36] Now.

[7:02:36] Hi can you hear me?

[7:02:37] Yes please proceed.

[7:02:38] First I'd like to highlight how

[7:02:42] many tiny speakers admitted

[7:02:42] that the ihr definition

[7:02:43] conflates antisemitism with

[7:02:43] anti-Zionism.

[7:02:46] Second, I want to emphasize

[7:02:46] the anti-Palestinian

[7:02:47] anti-Muslim hate and censorship

[7:02:48] is also on the rise.

[7:02:51] Third, the fact that we stand

[7:02:51] with me video showed

[7:02:52] the Palestinian flag in their

[7:02:56] video to support the definition

[7:02:57] makes it crystal clear of its

[7:02:57] intent.

[7:02:58] But now I want to list as many

[7:03:01] losses as I can get through

[7:03:02] which show how the ihra

[7:03:03] definition is already being

[7:03:03] used and invoked to censor and

[7:03:06] discipline Palestinian related

[7:03:07] speech.

[7:03:07] There are over 15 Woodcock

[7:03:12] versus University of Kentucky

[7:03:13] George Mason University

[7:03:13] Students Speech Censored under

[7:03:17] ihra Definition a professor

[7:03:18] Discipline threat University of

[7:03:19] Michigan Federal lawsuit

[7:03:23] targeting Professor San

[7:03:23] Francisco State University

[7:03:24] Classroom Investigation George

[7:03:25] Washington University Speaker

[7:03:28] Event Center at Arizona State

[7:03:28] University Pressure Campaign

[7:03:29] against Curriculum University

[7:03:33] of Vermont Antisemitism Lawsuit

[7:03:34] Settlement Harvard University

[7:03:34] That's.

[7:03:35] I think I've made it pretty

[7:03:38] clear it's already been used to

[7:03:39] do what we said that it will

[7:03:39] do.

[7:03:40] All these places have already

[7:03:44] adopted the definition.

[7:03:45] >> I'm sorry your time has

[7:03:45] concluded.

[7:03:50] Nicole Howard After that is

[7:03:51] Myra and then Shalom Myra

[7:03:57] please on mute.

[7:03:57] >> Hi.

[7:03:58] This is how my recipe with

[7:03:58] Pana.

[7:03:59] I'm calling to urge the council

[7:04:01] to vote no on the adoption of

[7:04:02] the ihra definition.

[7:04:03] Jewish communities deserve

[7:04:07] safety and protection from hate

[7:04:07] and discrimination.

[7:04:08] And all communities and

[7:04:09] councils should take hate

[7:04:09] crimes very seriously.

[7:04:11] However, civil rights

[7:04:12] organizations have warned that

[7:04:13] the ihra definition has been

[7:04:17] used in ways that conflate

[7:04:18] antisemitism with any criticism

[7:04:18] of Israel.

[7:04:19] This definition is overly broad

[7:04:22] and incorrectly equates

[7:04:23] protected political speech with

[7:04:23] with discrimination.

[7:04:27] I urge you to look at

[7:04:28] the examples in the definition

[7:04:28] yourself and test it.

[7:04:29] Israel is killing children and

[7:04:32] starving them similar to Nazi

[7:04:33] Germany.

[7:04:33] That statement is a fact.

[7:04:34] However under this definition

[7:04:37] it would be considered

[7:04:37] anti-Semitic to make this

[7:04:38] criticism of the state of

[7:04:38] Israel.

[7:04:41] Criticism of any government Is

[7:04:42] political speech protected

[7:04:43] under the First Amendment?

[7:04:47] San Diego has the opportunity

[7:04:47] to make a more thoughtful

[7:04:48] approach.

[7:04:48] There are more accurate and

[7:04:52] beneficial alternative

[7:04:52] definitions of anti Semitism

[7:04:53] that address the harm directly

[7:04:58] and center Jewish voices.

[7:04:59] I urge you to look at those

[7:05:00] your time has concluded Share

[7:05:08] them If you can please unmute.

[7:05:09] As a Jewish constituent of

[7:05:10] Councilmember Whitburn and I

[7:05:12] urge you to vote no on adopting

[7:05:12] the ihra definition of

[7:05:13] antisemitism.

[7:05:13] >> Antisemitism is real and

[7:05:17] ever present especially in

[7:05:18] moments following acts of

[7:05:18] violence like the one we all

[7:05:19] saw last week.

[7:05:22] As a parent I felt this acutely

[7:05:23] when I sent my son to Jewish

[7:05:27] Sunday School This past week.

[7:05:27] I entrusted him with his

[7:05:28] teachers and security staff and

[7:05:29] that's why I'm speaking here

[7:05:32] today.

[7:05:33] Jewish safety is strongest in a

[7:05:33] healthy democracy where

[7:05:34] the rights and dignity of all

[7:05:37] people are protected.

[7:05:38] A more effective approach is

[7:05:39] one that confronts antisemitism

[7:05:42] while allowing for open dialog

[7:05:43] and accountability.

[7:05:43] One example is a framework

[7:05:44] offered by the Jewish

[7:05:47] Federation on antisemitism.

[7:05:48] There are better path forward

[7:05:49] to protect the Jewish

[7:05:49] community.

[7:05:50] I urge you to vote no and

[7:05:52] pursue approaches that

[7:05:52] strengthen democracy.

[7:05:53] Address real antisemitism and

[7:05:57] support communities impacted by

[7:05:57] hate including racism,

[7:05:58] transphobia, xenophobia and

[7:06:02] Islamophobia.

[7:06:03] Our safety and our future are

[7:06:03] bound together.

[7:06:04] Thank you.

[7:06:08] Next is activist If you can

[7:06:12] please unmute.

[7:06:13] Oh hi This is for Frances

[7:06:16] Yasmeen Multiwall.

[7:06:18] So first I want to say I also

[7:06:22] abhor antisemitism and don't

[7:06:22] think it has a place in our

[7:06:23] society.

[7:06:27] >> But none of us who came here

[7:06:28] today to speak against this

[7:06:28] resolution came here because we

[7:06:31] don't We hate Jews.

[7:06:32] That's just not true.

[7:06:36] First I want to state that this

[7:06:41] resolution clearly if it is

[7:06:42] passed is going to lead to

[7:06:43] confusion because we've already

[7:06:46] heard folks who are speaking in

[7:06:51] support of it say that somehow

[7:06:52] the remarks that others made

[7:06:52] opposed it or somehow hateful

[7:06:57] or hate construed as hate

[7:06:58] speech I don't see how they can

[7:06:58] claim that.

[7:07:01] And it seems like they're

[7:07:01] taking it personally our

[7:07:02] criticisms of the Zionist

[7:07:03] settler state.

[7:07:06] They're taking personally so

[7:07:06] that's weird.

[7:07:07] And also we got to be anti

[7:07:11] settler I mean is this what is

[7:07:11] anti settler?

[7:07:12] Where does that fall in this?

[7:07:15] I'm curious that does conclude

[7:07:16] your time.

[7:07:16] And that also concludes

[7:07:17] the five minute time for

[7:07:18] hearing council chambers.

[7:07:20] We have 46 speakers with their

[7:07:20] hands raised.

[7:07:21] No additional speakers will be

[7:07:24] taken.

[7:07:34] Aliza if you can please unmute

[7:07:35] Eliza you are in we can I hear

[7:07:38] you here in council chambers.

[7:07:39] >> Maybe the device that you're

[7:07:44] speaking into is muted.

[7:07:45] I will have to move on If you

[7:07:45] cannot fix your technical

[7:07:49] difficulties.

[7:07:49] Okay.

[7:07:50] Can you hear me now?

[7:07:51] We can hear you now.

[7:07:54] Please proceed.

[7:07:55] Thank you.

[7:07:55] I'm Alisa Lewin, PRESIDENT Of

[7:07:58] U.S. Affairs for the coming

[7:07:59] Anti Semitism Movement.

[7:08:00] I'm an attorney with over 30

[7:08:00] years of experience countering

[7:08:03] religious discrimination and I

[7:08:04] urge you to adopt the ihra

[7:08:04] definition.

[7:08:08] One of our greatest challenges

[7:08:08] is that many people are unable

[7:08:09] to distinguish between a good

[7:08:10] faith political debate about

[7:08:13] the Middle East on the one hand

[7:08:14] and the vilification of Jews on

[7:08:14] the other.

[7:08:18] They mistakenly think that when

[7:08:19] the term Israel or Zionist is

[7:08:20] mentioned that it's about

[7:08:23] politics not Jews.

[7:08:24] They fail to recognize that

[7:08:24] the overwhelming majority of

[7:08:28] Jews see themselves as part of

[7:08:28] a people with a shared

[7:08:29] ancestral heritage rooted in

[7:08:29] the land of Israel.

[7:08:33] Today those who recognize that

[7:08:34] the Jews are a people

[7:08:34] indigenous to Israel are

[7:08:38] branded as Zionists blamed for

[7:08:39] the world's misfortune and

[7:08:39] treated as pariahs.

[7:08:43] Those who target Zionists want

[7:08:43] you to believe it's about

[7:08:44] politics but it's not.

[7:08:45] For example, the men who were

[7:08:48] beaten up in San Jose last week

[7:08:48] were not targeted for their

[7:08:49] political opinions.

[7:08:50] They were targeted because they

[7:08:50] were speaking Hebrew.

[7:08:53] The ihra definition provides a

[7:08:53] framework for recognizing Jew

[7:08:54] hatred and distinguishing time

[7:08:58] periods concludes Next to Zoom

[7:09:02] user If you can please unmute

[7:09:02] it.

[7:09:03] There's a lot of haters

[7:09:04] everywhere like the whole city

[7:09:08] council hates Trump.

[7:09:09] That's Trump.

[7:09:09] Hate is a bigot.

[7:09:12] It's called td's mantra

[7:09:13] delusional syndrome or whatever

[7:09:17] is what disease do the Jews

[7:09:18] have?

[7:09:22] If you're older, if you're a

[7:09:22] Jew and you're older, there's a

[7:09:23] reason why everyone hates you

[7:09:26] because you're bomb and the

[7:09:27] out of people and killing them

[7:09:28] just like they did at

[7:09:32] the Holocaust.

[7:09:33] Little young kids you're

[7:09:33] killing with a 6,000 pound

[7:09:33] bomb.

[7:09:36] Maybe it's appropriate for

[7:09:37] somebody to spit at your kid

[7:09:40] and called few names when he's

[7:09:41] in junior high school.

[7:09:42] You want a bomb on your house?

[7:09:46] Or do you want to be spit on?

[7:09:47] You got to It's not like coming

[7:09:47] out of nowhere this Jew hatred.

[7:09:50] Hector I think Crossing

[7:09:51] the line Please dial it back.

[7:09:53] You've got some good points to

[7:09:58] make, but please dial it back a

[7:09:58] second.

[7:10:02] I have a military again.

[7:10:03] Okay.

[7:10:08] I did use that.

[7:10:09] I actually shopped at Rose

[7:10:13] Fabrics during the high school

[7:10:13] and I met the two guys Mom Rose

[7:10:16] and very sweet person in

[7:10:17] the 70s.

[7:10:17] >> Your time has concluded now

[7:10:18] Amanda, if you can please

[7:10:22] unmute.

[7:10:26] >> Yes.

[7:10:27] I urge you to vote no on item

[7:10:28] as 500.

[7:10:31] I volunteered in Gaza last year

[7:10:32] treating hundreds of patients

[7:10:32] all deliberately targeted

[7:10:36] infants children and

[7:10:36] the elderly dying from

[7:10:41] starvation infections and bombs

[7:10:41] as well as shrapnel and severe

[7:10:46] burns all coming in agony due

[7:10:46] to the Israeli blockade

[7:10:47] preventing medical aid.

[7:10:51] These attacks are systematic,

[7:10:52] ongoing still and meet

[7:10:52] the factual threshold of

[7:10:53] genocide.

[7:10:56] Hundreds hundreds of

[7:10:57] professionals including myself

[7:10:58] have submitted documentation to

[7:11:01] the icc actively pursuing

[7:11:02] prosecutions for these Israeli

[7:11:02] war crimes.

[7:11:06] So criticism of Israel is not

[7:11:07] antisemitism weaponising this

[7:11:10] term Silence is human rights

[7:11:11] advocacy and suppresses free

[7:11:11] speech.

[7:11:12] This bill is deeply

[7:11:16] discriminatory normalizing

[7:11:16] bias.

[7:11:17] So let me be clear

[7:11:17] The Palestinian and human

[7:11:18] rights community in San Diego

[7:11:21] is organized, influential and

[7:11:21] diligent.

[7:11:22] Do not underestimate our

[7:11:23] resolve Your silence in

[7:11:26] the face of injustice will not

[7:11:27] be forgotten.

[7:11:27] >> Please vote no.

[7:11:28] Your time has concluded.

[7:11:29] Iqbal, if you can please unmute

[7:11:39] Iqbal a pop up should have come

[7:11:40] up for you to unmute If you can

[7:11:40] unmute I will have to move on

[7:11:47] to academy before you I cube al

[7:11:48] I will need to move on.

[7:11:50] Will you Tran if you can please

[7:12:01] unmute we tran I can unmute for

[7:12:02] you a pop up should have come

[7:12:05] up.

[7:12:05] I will need to move on.

[7:12:12] There you go.

[7:12:13] >> So thanks both for your new

[7:12:14] and all right know each other i

[7:12:23] can hear you please proceed I I

[7:12:24] remember them with Lee Chan and

[7:12:27] I I'm sitting in in this

[7:12:28] conversation today with a lot

[7:12:32] of reflection and I'm those

[7:12:33] trying to be you know how

[7:12:33] the balance is conversation

[7:12:37] because on the one side we do

[7:12:38] have to you know call out and I

[7:12:42] some manage something but at

[7:12:43] the same time how do we also

[7:12:47] not using the language is that

[7:12:47] will blocking people from you

[7:12:52] know criticizing Israel because

[7:12:53] the thing that we're seeing in

[7:12:53] the world right now happening

[7:12:56] coming out of that government

[7:12:57] is not acceptable.

[7:12:58] I don't know anybody be able to

[7:13:01] go to sleep walking children

[7:13:02] being murdered, the entire

[7:13:03] population being wiped out.

[7:13:10] Please consider either change

[7:13:11] language or voting on on that

[7:13:11] item.

[7:13:11] >> Thank you.

[7:13:12] Thank you.

[7:13:13] Next is Asra if you can please

[7:13:17] on mute Asra Hi, my name is

[7:13:17] Asra and I'm a constituent of

[7:13:18] District two.

[7:13:21] I'm also a survivor of

[7:13:21] the Bosnian genocide.

[7:13:26] Seven out of the 11 exemplars

[7:13:26] who our age are definition

[7:13:29] focus on Israel which she of

[7:13:29] the state of Israel from

[7:13:30] accountability and confuses

[7:13:34] criticism of Israel policy with

[7:13:34] anti-Semitism respected

[7:13:35] organizations such as Amnesty

[7:13:38] International Human Rights

[7:13:39] Watch and U.N. Investigators

[7:13:44] have accused Israel of acts to

[7:13:44] genocide.

[7:13:48] We mean to be able to criticize

[7:13:49] actions of Israel as much as

[7:13:50] partially Well, they're

[7:13:50] committing genocide.

[7:13:53] Please vote no.

[7:13:54] >> Thank you.

[7:13:54] Thank you.

[7:13:55] Next is Jonathan If you can

[7:14:04] please unmute Jonathan I can I

[7:14:04] There you go.

[7:14:04] >> Here we go.

[7:14:05] I just want to say I emphasize

[7:14:06] completely of those in our

[7:14:08] community experiencing acts of

[7:14:09] hate.

[7:14:09] I abhor anti-Semitism and

[7:14:10] attacks on people for their

[7:14:14] identities.

[7:14:14] It's because I have for these

[7:14:15] attacks on these innocent

[7:14:16] people that I urge the Council

[7:14:18] to reject this ihra definition

[7:14:19] conflating antisemitism and

[7:14:22] anti-Zionism as the definition

[7:14:23] does I believe will worsen

[7:14:24] the attacks on Jewish people

[7:14:27] locally as the state of Israel

[7:14:28] acts without restraint in its

[7:14:28] violence against the other

[7:14:29] countries in the Middle East

[7:14:32] they're committing internation

[7:14:32] recognized acts of genocide

[7:14:33] against the Palestinian people,

[7:14:37] particularly against women and

[7:14:37] children And the people of

[7:14:42] Palestine deserve to have life

[7:14:42] and liberty and to be free from

[7:14:43] the oppression of the state of

[7:14:46] Israel.

[7:14:46] It's because of these actions

[7:14:47] that I think we've seen both

[7:14:51] that rising hatred against our

[7:14:55] Jewish neighbors and the rising

[7:14:56] hatred and violence against all

[7:14:57] odds are oppressed communities.

[7:15:01] Please reject this definition.

[7:15:01] Thank you Adam.

[7:15:06] If you can please unmute if

[7:15:07] you're raising your hand if I

[7:15:08] MAY a timer has already

[7:15:10] concluded we won't be taking

[7:15:11] those additional speakers but

[7:15:13] you can always email in to City

[7:15:14] Clerk at San diego.Gov and your

[7:15:15] comments will be distributed to

[7:15:15] Adam.

[7:15:18] Please proceed.

[7:15:19] By My name is Adam and I

[7:15:20] strongly recommend you all to

[7:15:24] listen to the majority of your

[7:15:24] constituents protect our rights

[7:15:25] and oppose this proposition.

[7:15:30] Enough has been said about

[7:15:31] the atrocities Israel has and

[7:15:31] continues to commit.

[7:15:32] Please reconsider.

[7:15:35] Force is not always election

[7:15:35] Oppose us 500 Free San Diego

[7:15:38] from Zionism and Free

[7:15:39] Palestine.

[7:15:39] Thank you Chris.

[7:15:43] If you can please unmute

[7:15:44] Christmas Yes please unmute.

[7:15:48] There you go.

[7:15:49] >> Hi, my name is Christopher

[7:15:49] Macias.

[7:15:53] I am a concerned citizen in

[7:15:53] opposition to se 500.

[7:15:58] I've heard a lot of character

[7:15:58] characterizations about myself

[7:16:02] but please know I come from a

[7:16:03] place of love.

[7:16:04] The one thing that comes to

[7:16:07] mind is the fact that this is a

[7:16:08] working definition.

[7:16:12] You wouldn't eat a meal That

[7:16:12] was a work in progress, would

[7:16:13] you?

[7:16:13] So why would we rush to

[7:16:16] something that is still being

[7:16:17] worked out?

[7:16:21] That said, it has been shown

[7:16:22] that this has been abused in

[7:16:27] other areas and I think it's of

[7:16:27] real concern.

[7:16:32] The types of behavior that has

[7:16:33] been experienced by this

[7:16:37] community is abhorrent and I

[7:16:37] and I do not condone it.

[7:16:38] But that is unfortunately

[7:16:42] the reality of being a minority

[7:16:42] here in America.

[7:16:43] We must bind together and

[7:16:44] please vote now.

[7:16:46] Thank you.

[7:16:47] >> I pad if you can please

[7:16:51] unmute.

[7:16:51] >> I strongly oppose

[7:16:52] the adoption of the ihra

[7:16:53] definition of antisemitism.

[7:16:56] I read doesn't address real

[7:16:57] anti-Semitism but rather

[7:17:01] conflates anti-Zionism and

[7:17:01] antisemitism.

[7:17:02] This is dangerous because it

[7:17:06] increases the risks of

[7:17:06] antisemitism violence by

[7:17:07] associating all Jewish people

[7:17:10] with Israel and you heard from

[7:17:11] several Jewish community

[7:17:12] members who also voiced their

[7:17:15] opposition to this definition.

[7:17:16] As was mentioned, seven of

[7:17:17] the 11 examples in the ihra

[7:17:20] definition involve shielding

[7:17:21] Israel an apartheid genocidal

[7:17:26] state from accountability

[7:17:26] falsely assuming that all

[7:17:27] people hold the same views on

[7:17:30] Israel and Zionism.

[7:17:31] Why is the City of San Diego

[7:17:35] preventing critique of a

[7:17:36] foreign government?

[7:17:37] My critique of the us is

[7:17:40] allowed and also the definition

[7:17:41] has a lack of validity.

[7:17:44] It was never designed to be

[7:17:45] used as a binding definition of

[7:17:46] antisemitism nor adopted into

[7:17:50] legislation or policy.

[7:17:50] The creators of the working

[7:17:54] definition.

[7:17:55] Thank you Your time has

[7:17:56] concluded Alex if you can

[7:17:59] please unmute.

[7:18:04] My name is Alejandro Waterman,

[7:18:05] District four and I'm not here

[7:18:08] to lift the sins of Zionism.

[7:18:13] This is about free speech.

[7:18:14] This is an issue that has to do

[7:18:17] with the definition of

[7:18:18] the conflation of two separate

[7:18:18] and distinct things.

[7:18:23] It is not a clear tool as we

[7:18:23] said earlier.

[7:18:26] Vote no on f 500 Your vote will

[7:18:31] be remembered.

[7:18:32] Does that conclude your

[7:18:32] comments?

[7:18:32] Yes.

[7:18:33] Thank you.

[7:18:36] 8813 if you can please unmute

[7:18:40] it 813 and then it's after that

[7:18:40] .

[7:18:45] >> Okay come follow here.

[7:18:46] I am coming from a place of

[7:18:49] love So is it and I say that

[7:18:55] easily true and dumbest species

[7:18:59] on the planet a species

[7:18:59] controlled by fear.

[7:19:04] It's both a hoot and a tragedy

[7:19:05] to witness that time while

[7:19:08] the people are distracted by

[7:19:08] things that keep us divided

[7:19:09] like this item.

[7:19:13] The corrupt system that keeps

[7:19:13] us all fighting continues to

[7:19:14] win.

[7:19:17] The more we stay divided

[7:19:18] the more we ignore the obvious.

[7:19:22] The system does not work or

[7:19:23] the people.

[7:19:23] Are you getting it yet?

[7:19:24] Are you getting it?

[7:19:27] Wake up.

[7:19:28] The bedroom in the front.

[7:19:29] Everybody It will do everything

[7:19:32] it can to on its parts carrying

[7:19:33] out globalist agendas that do

[7:19:37] not serve us in any way, shape

[7:19:37] or form.

[7:19:38] It's a big club and you ain't

[7:19:38] in it.

[7:19:42] We're just ex cattle indentured

[7:19:42] servants.

[7:19:43] We continue to fund their wars

[7:19:47] and overlook pedophiles.

[7:19:48] >> Our time has concluded.

[7:19:48] Janine, if you can please

[7:19:49] unmute.

[7:19:50] After that will be Eric b

[7:19:55] Janine.

[7:19:55] >> Hello.

[7:19:56] Good afternoon.

[7:19:56] My name is Janine.

[7:19:58] i'm a resident of District one

[7:19:59] and I am shocked by some of

[7:19:59] the comments I heard today.

[7:20:03] Today's a clear example from

[7:20:04] hateful comments that have been

[7:20:08] made why we need to oppose this

[7:20:08] measure, this adoption This

[7:20:13] measure is confined to anti

[7:20:13] Israel hate with anti Semitism.

[7:20:18] Anti Semitism is wrong just

[7:20:18] like so many other hate such as

[7:20:19] Islamophobia which I personally

[7:20:23] experienced in San Diego.

[7:20:24] This is not the way to go about

[7:20:25] it but the I h r definition it

[7:20:27] goes against our civil

[7:20:28] liberties and our civil rights.

[7:20:29] If we as Americans can

[7:20:29] criticize Donald Trump, why

[7:20:33] can't we criticize Israel and

[7:20:33] the harm that it's committing

[7:20:36] and has been committing for 75

[7:20:37] years using our tax funded

[7:20:37] dollars?

[7:20:38] The reason we criticize Israel

[7:20:42] is because we don't want to be

[7:20:42] complicit in the genocide of

[7:20:45] the Palestinian people and it

[7:20:46] would be shameful today if

[7:20:47] the council after hearing so

[7:20:48] many people speak against us

[7:20:50] voted yes on this.

[7:20:51] So again, I oppose this bill

[7:20:52] and I hope that you don't vote

[7:20:56] on it.

[7:20:57] Eric b if you can please

[7:20:57] unmute.

[7:21:01] All right Eric b if you can

[7:21:02] please unmute after that will

[7:21:02] be so here.

[7:21:02] Okay.

[7:21:05] Can you hear me?

[7:21:05] Yes please proceed.

[7:21:05] Thank you.

[7:21:06] I'm a resident of District

[7:21:06] nine.

[7:21:09] I have ancestors who are Jewish

[7:21:10] and I have experienced anti

[7:21:10] Semitism.

[7:21:11] If Zionists do not want to be

[7:21:18] compared to Nazis in Germany

[7:21:19] Galba large in France, Phelan

[7:21:20] in Spain Mustafa in Croatia

[7:21:20] Quislings in Norway or fascist

[7:21:21] in Italy They should be

[7:21:24] lobbying the Israel government

[7:21:24] to stop carrying out the same

[7:21:25] policies as them not asking

[7:21:29] this body to redefine reality

[7:21:29] and redefine what people with

[7:21:33] people who have hate to see are

[7:21:34] allowed to call genocide.

[7:21:35] States do not have a right to

[7:21:38] exist.

[7:21:39] They do not have a right to

[7:21:39] exist.

[7:21:40] They have a responsibility to

[7:21:41] preserve the rights of

[7:21:43] the people and that my working

[7:21:44] definition of states includes

[7:21:48] this body San Diego Never

[7:21:48] forget the rights of

[7:21:49] Palestinians Lebanese Iranians.

[7:21:53] Yesterday was the anniversary

[7:21:53] of the murder of American

[7:21:56] protester Rachel Corrie in 2003

[7:22:01] Never forget Vote no on 500.

[7:22:01] So Harry, if you can please

[7:22:05] join me after that is phone

[7:22:06] number ending and 9999.

[7:22:06] Thank you.

[7:22:10] I want to take you back in time

[7:22:11] to a time when boatloads of

[7:22:11] mostly Jewish people were

[7:22:12] arriving in Palestine by

[7:22:14] the thousands seeking refuge

[7:22:15] from persecution Palestinians,

[7:22:19] Christian, Jewish and Muslim

[7:22:20] Palestinians welcomed them with

[7:22:20] open arms.

[7:22:21] Little did they know this was a

[7:22:24] calculated move by the newly

[7:22:25] founded Zionist movement based

[7:22:26] on the ideology of ethnic

[7:22:26] cleansing and massacring of

[7:22:30] the indigenous Palestinians to

[7:22:30] create the state of Israel.

[7:22:31] It is a disgrace to use

[7:22:32] the memory of the victims of

[7:22:34] the Holocaust to politicize

[7:22:35] the Holocaust in defense of

[7:22:36] the crimes committed by

[7:22:36] the state of Israel.

[7:22:39] Judaism is over 2000 years old.

[7:22:40] Zionism was founded in

[7:22:40] the 1880s.

[7:22:45] You do the math and you decide

[7:22:45] what you wish to worship.

[7:22:46] I have the right to hate and

[7:22:49] criticize that ideology whose

[7:22:50] intent is to make sure I do not

[7:22:53] exist that as a genocide is

[7:22:54] the epitome of Israel's crimes.

[7:22:55] Before you both think of Gaza

[7:22:55] and of the panel who would

[7:22:58] inevitably meet 50 years from

[7:22:59] now to discuss

[7:22:59] the International Genocide

[7:23:03] Remembrance Alliance, Your

[7:23:04] grandchildren MAY be sitting

[7:23:04] right where you sit today.

[7:23:09] What is the legacy you leave

[7:23:09] behind standing there?

[7:23:10] Our time has concluded.

[7:23:13] Phone number ending in 9919 If

[7:23:17] you can please unmute after

[7:23:18] that is Yasmeen.

[7:23:18] Hello?

[7:23:18] Hello.

[7:23:19] Can you hear me?

[7:23:22] Yes Please proceed.

[7:23:23] Yes My name is Hala.

[7:23:24] I cannot share my full name

[7:23:27] because my family members

[7:23:28] continue to be murdered in Gaza

[7:23:29] and I do not want them

[7:23:29] targeted.

[7:23:33] My organization is based in San

[7:23:34] Diego focuses on equity for all

[7:23:34] marginalized communities I work

[7:23:38] on definitions all day to

[7:23:38] ensure the voices of

[7:23:39] the marginalized are not

[7:23:42] silenced or raised All hate

[7:23:42] against any group or individual

[7:23:43] deplorable and unacceptable

[7:23:47] definitions do matter.

[7:23:48] This definition is not

[7:23:48] equitable Full stop full police

[7:23:52] This definition the entities in

[7:23:52] the room who believe criticism

[7:23:53] of Israel or Zionism is

[7:23:56] anti-Semitic or the San Diego

[7:23:57] Police Department who train

[7:23:57] with the Israeli Defense

[7:23:58] Forces.

[7:24:01] Over 100 of my family members

[7:24:01] have been brutally murdered in

[7:24:02] the genocide in Gaza.

[7:24:06] Why is my pain and grief

[7:24:06] subject to a definition to

[7:24:07] police and silence?

[7:24:10] Why is my family's pain

[7:24:10] politicized or demonized?

[7:24:11] We are the victims and we

[7:24:12] continue to be gaslit and

[7:24:15] demonized.

[7:24:16] I have the right to share their

[7:24:16] names, their stories and our

[7:24:17] history and every place and a

[7:24:21] space.

[7:24:21] Their memory and stories

[7:24:22] deserve to live and not be

[7:24:22] erased.

[7:24:25] They will never be erased to

[7:24:26] help concluded Yes mean if you

[7:24:29] can please them you alone?

[7:24:30] Can you hear me?

[7:24:30] Yes.

[7:24:34] Please proceed.

[7:24:34] Hello.

[7:24:34] This is Yasmin.

[7:24:35] I'm a constituent of San Diego

[7:24:39] and I'm also a muslim

[7:24:40] Palestinian and city of San

[7:24:43] Diego employee.

[7:24:44] I'm calling to urge my council

[7:24:48] members to oppose this

[7:24:49] resolution.

[7:24:50] I know a lot of you if not all

[7:24:53] of you are ready decided on

[7:24:54] what you're going to vote And

[7:24:55] I'm all I'm going to ask is

[7:24:58] that you actually listen to

[7:24:59] the people speaking and you

[7:24:59] reconsider.

[7:25:03] Do not let today be a day

[7:25:04] that's going to stay in your

[7:25:06] legacy in 20 years or 30 years

[7:25:07] when supporting Israel on

[7:25:08] the genocidal state is no

[7:25:11] longer kill.

[7:25:12] You don't want your name

[7:25:13] associated with that.

[7:25:13] So I urge you to vote no today

[7:25:16] and you little if you can

[7:25:21] please And you really will

[7:25:26] the Academy for you I will have

[7:25:26] to move on.

[7:25:27] There I go.

[7:25:27] You hear me?

[7:25:27] Yes.

[7:25:30] Please proceed.

[7:25:30] Oh, hi.

[7:25:31] My name is Lily.

[7:25:35] I am a Jewish parent and a

[7:25:35] resident of District four.

[7:25:36] It should be clear to you that

[7:25:39] this is an issue that affects

[7:25:39] many diverse San Diego

[7:25:40] communities that you will be

[7:25:41] ignoring by voting for this

[7:25:44] resolution.

[7:25:45] To my fellow Jews we do not

[7:25:45] fight anti-Semitism by

[7:25:48] silencing dissent.

[7:25:49] Eight years ago I visited

[7:25:49] Israel and Palestine for

[7:25:50] the first time and saw

[7:25:53] apartheid at work separate

[7:25:54] roads for Israeli colonizers

[7:25:54] and Palestinians Palestinian

[7:25:55] hospitals with insufficient

[7:25:58] supplies suffering from

[7:25:59] Israel's crippling economic

[7:25:59] blockade.

[7:26:00] This starkly contrasted

[7:26:03] the narrative I grew up with

[7:26:04] and Hebrew School of Israel is

[7:26:05] the promised land for the Jews

[7:26:08] And if you passed a definition

[7:26:08] my Jewish child's ability to

[7:26:09] learn the truth about Israel's

[7:26:13] ethnic cleansing in the San

[7:26:13] Diego schools will be

[7:26:13] curtailed.

[7:26:14] While you MAY feel that you are

[7:26:15] representing Jewish

[7:26:18] constituents, you are actually

[7:26:18] representing an increasingly

[7:26:19] fringe group of Jewish

[7:26:19] Zionists.

[7:26:22] Many speakers here today tried

[7:26:23] to portray Jewish critics of

[7:26:24] Israel as fringe but

[7:26:27] the numbers prove their lie

[7:26:27] Only 28% of American Jews,

[7:26:28] according to a recent poll

[7:26:31] report Their time has concluded

[7:26:31] .

[7:26:32] Christine Love If you can

[7:26:36] please unmute.

[7:26:36] >> Good afternoon.

[7:26:41] My name is Christy chief

[7:26:42] program and strategy officer at

[7:26:42] the aclu of San Diego.

[7:26:45] The First Amendment protects

[7:26:46] everyone including those who

[7:26:47] criticize domestic or foreign

[7:26:51] governments.

[7:26:51] The definition however

[7:26:52] undermines that right by

[7:26:55] wrongly treating protected

[7:26:56] political speech as

[7:26:56] discrimination.

[7:26:59] Anti-Semitism must be addressed

[7:27:00] but this resolution is

[7:27:00] dangerous.

[7:27:01] It will not combat

[7:27:01] discrimination and it will

[7:27:05] chill protected speech.

[7:27:06] The resolution states that it

[7:27:06] is non-binding but that does

[7:27:09] not fix the issue.

[7:27:10] Discrimination, including

[7:27:10] antisemitism is already

[7:27:14] prohibited under federal state

[7:27:14] and local law.

[7:27:15] The resolution risks replacing

[7:27:16] a constitutional understanding

[7:27:19] of antisemitism for an

[7:27:20] unconstitutional framework.

[7:27:21] People reasonably hesitate to

[7:27:24] speak at Council meetings

[7:27:25] applying for permits,

[7:27:26] particularly as residents

[7:27:28] engage in debate over a variety

[7:27:29] of issues.

[7:27:29] These concerns are not

[7:27:30] hypothetical.

[7:27:30] The federal government has

[7:27:34] targeted individuals for their

[7:27:34] viewpoints.

[7:27:35] A policy that singles out

[7:27:38] certain viewpoints increases

[7:27:39] the risk to immigrants and

[7:27:39] refugees.

[7:27:44] >> We urge you to vote no.

[7:27:44] 8700 if you can please on mute

[7:27:46] after that is Ryan Fan 8700

[7:27:52] star six.

[7:27:52] I can't mute for you.

[7:27:56] I want you to move on to

[7:27:56] the next caller if you can

[7:27:59] unmute Star six.

[7:28:06] I will need to move on.

[7:28:07] >> Ryan fan if you can please

[7:28:07] unmute.

[7:28:11] Can you hear me?

[7:28:11] Yes.

[7:28:12] Please proceed.

[7:28:12] Thank you.

[7:28:12] Good evening.

[7:28:16] Council members please vote no

[7:28:17] on the ira resolution.

[7:28:18] I'm a resident of District nine

[7:28:21] and I've seen as an educator

[7:28:22] how of course 97 Autism is a

[7:28:22] very real issue as is

[7:28:26] anti-black racism anti-Asian

[7:28:27] hate, anti-Muslim hate and so

[7:28:27] on.

[7:28:27] However, we don't see

[7:28:28] definitions and examples of

[7:28:31] these other forms of hate

[7:28:32] enshrined into resolutions and

[7:28:32] legislation.

[7:28:33] We also don't see the same kind

[7:28:36] of turnout at City council

[7:28:36] meetings for these issues.

[7:28:37] The lead author of the ihra

[7:28:38] Definition has spoken out over

[7:28:41] and over again about how this

[7:28:42] definition has been weaponized

[7:28:42] to silence free speech.

[7:28:43] People speak in hypotheticals

[7:28:46] but it's very real how this is

[7:28:46] happening.

[7:28:47] He even said the data to date

[7:28:51] has not had the transformative

[7:28:51] effect on the collection and

[7:28:52] hate crime analysis that people

[7:28:55] had hoped for when they created

[7:28:56] the definition.

[7:28:57] If this definition is to go

[7:29:00] through it would also label

[7:29:01] Holocaust survivors who spoke

[7:29:02] out against Israel as

[7:29:02] anti-Semitic.

[7:29:06] How ironic is that?

[7:29:06] It's also ironic because

[7:29:07] the city council wants to pass

[7:29:08] a Ramadan proclamation on

[7:29:10] the same day that this is going

[7:29:10] through.

[7:29:11] >> As Israel continues to

[7:29:11] attack Muslim majority

[7:29:12] countries.

[7:29:15] Thanks for your time.

[7:29:16] Zakaria If you can please

[7:29:16] unmute.

[7:29:20] After zakaria as Michael, I

[7:29:20] urge you to vote no.

[7:29:21] Israel is a racist apartheid

[7:29:25] state which is both built on

[7:29:25] genocide and cannot survive

[7:29:26] without it.

[7:29:26] To be very clear, that has

[7:29:29] nothing to do with the Jewish

[7:29:30] community and that discussion

[7:29:30] should not be part of

[7:29:31] the discussion of

[7:29:31] anti-Semitism.

[7:29:34] The reason why we have to start

[7:29:35] with that discussion of Israel

[7:29:35] is precisely because of

[7:29:38] the ihra definition.

[7:29:38] Why?

[7:29:39] Because the definition

[7:29:39] explicitly includes examples

[7:29:43] related to Israel.

[7:29:44] I agree with the proponents of

[7:29:45] the definition the proponents

[7:29:45] of the definition that we

[7:29:48] should not have to litigate

[7:29:49] Israel when discussing

[7:29:49] antisemitism.

[7:29:52] But the ihra definition forces

[7:29:53] us to do exactly that.

[7:29:54] Counsel You've heard from

[7:29:55] Jewish members on both sides of

[7:29:58] this issue who have said very

[7:29:59] clearly that they don't want to

[7:30:00] be conflated with the actions

[7:30:02] of Israel and that is exactly

[7:30:03] what the ihra definition does.

[7:30:07] Why would we adopt a definition

[7:30:07] that does exactly that?

[7:30:08] I'm confident that we can adopt

[7:30:09] a definition of antisemitism

[7:30:12] that does not require us to be

[7:30:13] Israel in order to recognize

[7:30:17] hate that allows us to address

[7:30:18] antisemitism directly, clearly

[7:30:18] and effectively.

[7:30:22] Don't adopt a definition that

[7:30:22] by design brings Israel into

[7:30:23] the conversation.

[7:30:24] Your time is concluded Michael

[7:30:27] if you can please unmute.

[7:30:30] Hi I am a Jewish resident of

[7:30:31] District eight.

[7:30:31] I opposed the adoption of

[7:30:32] the hrc working definition of

[7:30:35] antisemitism.

[7:30:36] I care a great deal about

[7:30:37] the threat of antisemitism but

[7:30:41] I find the definition to be

[7:30:41] overly vague, contradictory and

[7:30:42] problematic.

[7:30:42] I appreciate that the ira

[7:30:45] attorney definition claims

[7:30:46] criticism of Israel similar to

[7:30:47] that leveled against any other

[7:30:51] country cannot be regarded as

[7:30:51] antisemitic.

[7:30:52] But what follows in

[7:30:52] the definition is vague and

[7:30:53] even contradicts that as others

[7:30:55] have noted.

[7:30:56] You cannot say that this

[7:30:57] definition does not provide

[7:30:59] cover for criticism of Israel.

[7:31:00] As the comments in favor of

[7:31:01] this definition today clearly

[7:31:02] illustrate the comments by

[7:31:05] individuals like the woman

[7:31:05] talking about her son's team

[7:31:06] Israel baseball cap in support

[7:31:07] of the definition.

[7:31:09] Demonstrate clearly why this

[7:31:10] definition is harmful as our

[7:31:11] advocacy against Israel even in

[7:31:15] this chamber is being used to

[7:31:15] call us antisemitic.

[7:31:16] You're witnessing in real time

[7:31:19] the definition being used to

[7:31:19] conflate antisemitism with

[7:31:20] the criticism of Israel.

[7:31:24] I also want to say regarding

[7:31:24] the propaganda video that was

[7:31:25] shown I was at the encampment

[7:31:26] at ucsd and there were no

[7:31:28] people chanting death to Jews

[7:31:29] or anything remotely similar.

[7:31:30] Actually Manager Time has

[7:31:34] concluded calling user one if

[7:31:35] you can please unmute.

[7:31:36] After that is Liliana calling

[7:31:37] user.

[7:31:42] Please proceed.

[7:31:43] Hello.

[7:31:43] Yes Concerned San Diego

[7:31:46] resident calling to oppose s

[7:31:46] 500 We reject this problematic

[7:31:50] definition being used as a tool

[7:31:51] to suppress legitimate speech

[7:31:52] which invokes international law

[7:31:56] human rights and being used to

[7:31:56] target those who are engaging

[7:31:57] in protected right to protest

[7:32:00] assembly and political speech.

[7:32:01] And on a practical level this

[7:32:01] will lead to more lawsuits

[7:32:05] increased police state in San

[7:32:06] Diego and a chill on free

[7:32:06] speech and Donald Trump's

[7:32:07] America.

[7:32:10] We urge you to strengthen

[7:32:10] existing anti-discrimination

[7:32:11] protections.

[7:32:15] Not not then not to pass this

[7:32:16] problematic resolution and

[7:32:16] definition.

[7:32:18] And one final point.

[7:32:19] Judaism existing long before

[7:32:24] the concept of Zionism and it

[7:32:24] existed in Judaism existed

[7:32:25] before the state of Israel and

[7:32:29] Palestinians are also Semite So

[7:32:30] thank you so much.

[7:32:34] Protect our communities and

[7:32:34] reject this definition.

[7:32:35] >> Thank you.

[7:32:35] Our next caller is Lilliana.

[7:32:38] After that is Tristan very

[7:32:42] early on if you can please me

[7:32:47] Lilliana.

[7:32:47] Hello?

[7:32:48] Yes, Please proceed.

[7:32:54] Hi.

[7:32:55] Okay.

[7:32:55] Hi.

[7:32:56] I am a community member born

[7:32:59] and raised in City Heights, a

[7:33:00] community that's home to

[7:33:01] hundreds of ethnicities,

[7:33:01] religions and cultures who have

[7:33:05] learned to coexist and support

[7:33:05] one another.

[7:33:06] Do the same lens I recognize

[7:33:06] the Jewish community is no

[7:33:07] different.

[7:33:10] They face historical atrocities

[7:33:10] and they deserve safety.

[7:33:11] However, this definition does

[7:33:14] not guarantee safety.

[7:33:15] It shields Israel from

[7:33:15] accountability, ignores

[7:33:19] the root causes of harms of

[7:33:19] racism and colonialism and risk

[7:33:20] labeling.

[7:33:20] All Jewish people are saying

[7:33:24] this which we know is not true.

[7:33:25] The San Diego Human Relations

[7:33:25] Commission and Council needs to

[7:33:28] reflect heavy on the priorities

[7:33:29] because for the past two years

[7:33:29] Palestinian communities have

[7:33:30] been calling for a resolution

[7:33:33] to recognize the ongoing

[7:33:34] genocide in Palestine and they

[7:33:35] have been ignored.

[7:33:35] If the true intention is to

[7:33:38] protect people then there would

[7:33:39] be accountability upheld in our

[7:33:39] own city.

[7:33:40] There is no real accountability

[7:33:43] right now or justice for Noah

[7:33:44] Wilson which is a young person

[7:33:45] who was murdered at the hands

[7:33:45] of the department.

[7:33:48] The city funds the most.

[7:33:49] So who are you really choosing

[7:33:49] to protect?

[7:33:53] I urge you all to abide with

[7:33:54] our strong community team has

[7:33:55] concluded My apologies Kristen

[7:33:57] Berry if you can please unmute

[7:33:57] .

[7:33:58] After that is phone number

[7:33:58] ending a9396 person?

[7:34:01] Please proceed.

[7:34:02] Counsel My name is Tristan

[7:34:03] Berry and I'm here to speak in

[7:34:06] opposition to the adoption of

[7:34:07] the ihra definition.

[7:34:07] While I stand alongside my

[7:34:08] Jewish neighbors against any

[7:34:12] persecution they received, I

[7:34:12] cannot in good consciousness

[7:34:13] advocate for a nation state of

[7:34:16] Israel to have this layer of

[7:34:17] immunity from any sort of

[7:34:17] criticism.

[7:34:18] It is important to note that

[7:34:20] not all Jews are Israeli All

[7:34:21] Israelis Jewish.

[7:34:22] The ira while protecting

[7:34:22] the Jewish people takes things

[7:34:23] a step too far By restricting

[7:34:26] my restricting my ability to

[7:34:27] criticize a nation that is

[7:34:27] engaged in the Nazi cleansing

[7:34:30] not unlike that of Nazi

[7:34:30] Germany.

[7:34:31] With one large difference being

[7:34:32] that this one's been ongoing

[7:34:34] for 78 years if not longer.

[7:34:35] We love to bring up all

[7:34:37] the trauma inflicted since

[7:34:38] OCTOBER 7th but downplay

[7:34:38] the ongoing impacts of

[7:34:39] the Nakba and the imperialist

[7:34:43] expulsion of Palestinians today

[7:34:43] which led to those events.

[7:34:44] Fun fact under the ihra

[7:34:47] definition for now be

[7:34:48] considered anti-Semitic for

[7:34:48] comparing Israel and Nazis.

[7:34:49] Notice at no point in time did

[7:34:52] I say that Jews were tendencies

[7:34:53] to be Israeli regimes instead.

[7:34:56] But that matters not the United

[7:34:57] States is currently trying to

[7:34:57] push imperialism on three

[7:34:58] different fronts in Venezuela,

[7:34:58] Iran and Cuba.

[7:35:01] Much like the Nazis did.

[7:35:02] But that doesn't make me

[7:35:03] un-American to notice that It

[7:35:03] just makes me historically

[7:35:04] observant.

[7:35:06] Your time is concluded just as

[7:35:07] an update There are 25 speakers

[7:35:07] in the queue.

[7:35:10] No additional speakers will be

[7:35:10] taken.

[7:35:15] 39969396 If you can please

[7:35:18] unmute star 69396.

[7:35:22] I can't unmute for you Star six

[7:35:22] a prompt should have come

[7:35:26] forward.

[7:35:27] >> There you go.

[7:35:27] Yeah.

[7:35:28] Good evening Council member

[7:35:32] Foster I'm Kathleen McLeod and

[7:35:33] also to the chair la and

[7:35:37] COUNCILMAN.

[7:35:38] I'm a resident of District four

[7:35:39] and oppose premature action

[7:35:41] today.

[7:35:42] I'm encouraged to hear that

[7:35:43] the Human Relations Commission

[7:35:46] wants to reconsider this

[7:35:46] proposal.

[7:35:47] Also your Rules Committee which

[7:35:51] handles policy language and

[7:35:52] definitions of terms hasn't

[7:35:52] vetted this proposal per

[7:35:56] the city's resolution adoption

[7:35:56] process.

[7:35:57] So anti-Zionism and

[7:36:01] anti-Semitism are global issues

[7:36:01] and often completed our

[7:36:02] international affairs Board

[7:36:06] should weigh in due for

[7:36:06] informed decision making We

[7:36:10] need more mark inclusive public

[7:36:11] discourse on this contentious

[7:36:11] topic.

[7:36:15] If the intent of this action is

[7:36:15] to shield Israeli policy from

[7:36:20] grassroots diplomacy, it makes

[7:36:20] the world less safe.

[7:36:24] Given our massive $6.82 billion

[7:36:25] in military aid to Israel.

[7:36:29] Action Today is premature.

[7:36:29] >> Please pull it.

[7:36:30] Thank you.

[7:36:32] Our next speaker is Nancy.

[7:36:37] Please unmute.

[7:36:37] >> Hi.

[7:36:38] I live in District nine and I'm

[7:36:39] asking you to vote no or

[7:36:42] abstain on this agenda item.

[7:36:43] No one deserves to experience

[7:36:43] hate or violence.

[7:36:44] Thanks.

[7:36:47] Which are Jewish neighbors,

[7:36:48] anti-Muslim neighbors and our

[7:36:49] immigrant and black and brown

[7:36:49] neighbors.

[7:36:50] And I wish we could be unified

[7:36:52] enough at face value.

[7:36:53] The definition seems like a

[7:36:53] good one if it were also to

[7:36:56] include the Palestinians.

[7:36:57] The seven manifestations are

[7:36:58] examples that explicitly name

[7:36:58] the state of Israel are

[7:37:02] the primary problems.

[7:37:02] This is suppressing free speech

[7:37:03] and a speedy train to the idf

[7:37:06] and who murdered 16 year old

[7:37:07] Noah Wilson is going to be

[7:37:07] the enforcers.

[7:37:08] Yikes.

[7:37:11] Countless public comments today

[7:37:11] made it clear or rather how

[7:37:12] unclear the definition of

[7:37:15] antisemitism is.

[7:37:16] Countless commenters who

[7:37:17] identify as Jewish have stated

[7:37:17] that criticism of Israel does

[7:37:21] make them feel less safe.

[7:37:22] >> Or responding to a thumbs up

[7:37:22] or down.

[7:37:23] Many of the women showing up on

[7:37:26] the livestream in fact in

[7:37:26] the first couple rows who

[7:37:27] support this resolution have

[7:37:28] been thumbs down or even

[7:37:31] laughing at the state of Israel

[7:37:32] murdering children.

[7:37:32] I wish they were thumbs down in

[7:37:33] the actions of a government

[7:37:36] murdering entire families with

[7:37:36] their tax dollars.

[7:37:37] But the state of Israel is

[7:37:38] doing is a genocide.

[7:37:41] They're also starting another

[7:37:41] one with Iran.

[7:37:42] >> Your time has concluded

[7:37:45] Nikki, if you can please unmute

[7:37:45] .

[7:37:45] Camera.

[7:37:46] There you go.

[7:37:50] I thank you so much.

[7:37:51] My name is Nikki and I am a

[7:37:52] resident of the city of San

[7:37:54] Diego and District nine.

[7:37:56] I am urging you all to vote no

[7:37:59] on se 500.

[7:38:00] The definition limits

[7:38:04] the criticism of Israel as many

[7:38:05] folks here have stated.

[7:38:09] I want to know that all people

[7:38:10] deserve protection and this

[7:38:10] includes Jewish comrades as

[7:38:11] well.

[7:38:15] And to some it's really scary

[7:38:16] and a really real thing that is

[7:38:19] happening in our world today.

[7:38:20] People also deserve protection

[7:38:24] who are being bombed in Iran,

[7:38:25] Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon

[7:38:25] as well.

[7:38:28] There are so many ways that we

[7:38:29] can protect our Jewish

[7:38:30] neighbors and this does not

[7:38:33] include adopting.

[7:38:34] I tried by definition we are

[7:38:38] all hurting in the room.

[7:38:39] I can see as hurting now

[7:38:40] the pain of Jewish people from

[7:38:43] the violence that you've

[7:38:44] endured, the pain of

[7:38:45] Palestinians from the violence

[7:38:45] that you've endured.

[7:38:48] Please vote no and go together

[7:38:49] not based in fear but in love.

[7:38:53] >> Thank you.

[7:38:54] >> Next is Lili.

[7:38:55] If you can please join me after

[7:38:58] Lili is a true Hi My name is

[7:39:01] Lily Ronnie and I'm

[7:39:02] the PRESIDENT Of the three and

[7:39:03] my heart aches of anti-Semitism

[7:39:03] of those who might make

[7:39:07] assumptions about Jewish people

[7:39:07] support the actions of Hitler

[7:39:11] which is completely disgusting

[7:39:11] .

[7:39:12] And just as my heart aches for

[7:39:13] the people of Gaza and the West

[7:39:13] Bank being ethnically cleansed

[7:39:16] by Israeli settlers tacitly

[7:39:17] condoned by the state of

[7:39:17] Israel.

[7:39:18] My heart aches for my own

[7:39:22] family in Tehran right now

[7:39:22] trying to survive under the us

[7:39:23] and Israel's bombs falling on

[7:39:27] them for weeks.

[7:39:27] The city adopting ihra would

[7:39:28] prevent me from expressing this

[7:39:32] in our city as Christine all of

[7:39:33] aclu has pointed out to you ira

[7:39:33] over focuses on criticism of

[7:39:37] Israel and examples of

[7:39:37] antisemitism is an affront to

[7:39:38] the idea of equity for all San

[7:39:41] Diegans.

[7:39:42] Please urge the Human Relations

[7:39:43] Committee to reconsider this

[7:39:46] issue and consider

[7:39:47] the Jerusalem Declaration on

[7:39:48] antisemitism instead.

[7:39:51] The Jerusalem Declaration

[7:39:51] responds to the ihra definition

[7:39:52] and specifically many problems

[7:39:56] with the ihra definition and

[7:39:56] that is open to widely

[7:39:57] different interpretations and

[7:40:01] it has caused confusion and

[7:40:01] weaken your time has concluded

[7:40:02] Drew Vector If you can please

[7:40:15] unmute you are there and we can

[7:40:16] hear you now.

[7:40:16] >> Okay Thank you.

[7:40:17] Honorable Council members City

[7:40:21] Attorney, City Clerk and MR.

[7:40:21] Smith.

[7:40:22] My comments center on

[7:40:25] the declaring discrepancies

[7:40:25] found in the 11 examples that

[7:40:26] are provided.

[7:40:30] Several speakers have already

[7:40:31] addressed them and provided

[7:40:35] really excellent examples As

[7:40:36] these 11 examples are written

[7:40:36] into the actual resolution.

[7:40:37] I'm hoping one of you can ask

[7:40:40] the city attorney to reconcile

[7:40:41] that for us and what it means

[7:40:42] for the city of San Diego for

[7:40:44] you to adopt those examples as

[7:40:45] well as if the first statement

[7:40:50] is true That criticism of

[7:40:50] Israel is a-ok.

[7:40:51] Why are the examples even in

[7:40:55] their and why don't we just

[7:40:55] take out any reference to

[7:40:59] Israel or simply omit the 11

[7:41:00] examples altogether?

[7:41:01] The last thing I'll add is that

[7:41:04] several speakers have said

[7:41:05] European countries us cities

[7:41:09] have adopted the definition but

[7:41:10] many of them have done exactly

[7:41:11] what I'm proposing here and

[7:41:14] suggesting that we just remove

[7:41:15] those 11 examples.

[7:41:15] >> Thank you for your time.

[7:41:21] Lidia if you can please unmute

[7:41:22] .

[7:41:23] Over the past several hours of

[7:41:27] comments proponents of ihra

[7:41:28] have continued to make several

[7:41:29] of the same claims and I want

[7:41:29] to address three of these.

[7:41:32] First they say that

[7:41:32] antisemitism is on the rise.

[7:41:33] This is true and it must be

[7:41:37] condemned.

[7:41:37] Next they point to the dozens

[7:41:38] of states and nations who have

[7:41:39] already adopted events.

[7:41:41] Also true.

[7:41:42] Then they go on to say that

[7:41:43] the ihra definition will have

[7:41:46] no effect on free speech and is

[7:41:47] just an educational tool.

[7:41:51] So let's take a look at those

[7:41:52] states and nations that have

[7:41:52] adopted Iran.

[7:41:53] There are dozens if not

[7:41:56] hundreds of documented cases of

[7:41:57] ira being weaponised to silence

[7:41:57] and criminalize pro-Palestinian

[7:42:01] protests.

[7:42:02] Is the Jewish community any

[7:42:02] safer?

[7:42:02] The rising rates of

[7:42:06] antisemitism say no.

[7:42:07] This is a demonstrable outcome

[7:42:11] from the Trump administration's

[7:42:11] assault on college campuses to

[7:42:12] the 700 plus peaceful

[7:42:13] protesters arrested in the uk

[7:42:16] for carrying signs saying they

[7:42:16] oppose genocide.

[7:42:17] So the two Australian

[7:42:21] protesters arrested on hate

[7:42:21] speech charges are seen from

[7:42:22] the river to the sea.

[7:42:25] I think our answer is clear.

[7:42:26] It's not clear your time has

[7:42:26] concluded for you If you can

[7:42:34] please unmute free academy.

[7:42:35] For you I can unmute for you.

[7:42:36] A pop up should have come up to

[7:42:39] me yourself.

[7:42:40] I will have to move on to

[7:42:41] the next caller if you can

[7:42:48] unmute yourself.

[7:42:49] Moving on to the next caller

[7:42:53] Nicole if you can please unmute

[7:42:54] .

[7:42:57] >> I'm Nicole Howard, District

[7:42:57] three resident.

[7:42:58] I've lived in San Diego for 19

[7:42:58] years.

[7:43:01] I'm a veteran Navy officer

[7:43:02] protecting our Constitution

[7:43:03] from domestic enemies some of

[7:43:07] whom are sitting in this room

[7:43:07] today.

[7:43:08] This council is eroding our

[7:43:11] civil liberties proposing a

[7:43:12] policy that singles out one

[7:43:13] religion as more special than

[7:43:16] others Despite existing hate

[7:43:16] crime laws.

[7:43:17] Our Constitution guarantees

[7:43:20] freedom of and from religion

[7:43:21] and this policy ignores other

[7:43:25] religious groups subject to

[7:43:26] hate crimes and discrimination

[7:43:27] including Muslim Sikhs,

[7:43:30] Christians, atheists and others

[7:43:31] who in San Diego Watch this.

[7:43:35] We're tired of corporate

[7:43:36] Democrats wasting resources,

[7:43:36] passing policies pandering to

[7:43:40] special interest groups.

[7:43:40] Councilmember Whitburn I'm

[7:43:41] disappointed but not surprised

[7:43:45] that this is your priority

[7:43:46] while you ignore your community

[7:43:50] Council member Von Wilpert I'm

[7:43:50] sure you support this member.

[7:43:51] Since per track a pac you take

[7:43:54] money from the Israel lobby.

[7:43:55] Others adopting this policy is

[7:43:56] not a good reason to adopt it

[7:43:59] here.

[7:44:02] >> Nick Reem z Reem if you can

[7:44:07] please unmute and my name is

[7:44:08] Reem and I urge you to reject

[7:44:12] the adoption of the ira

[7:44:13] definition of antisemitism.

[7:44:13] We are asked to adopt a

[7:44:17] definition that conflates

[7:44:17] criticism of a foreign

[7:44:18] government the state of Israel

[7:44:19] with hatred of a people which

[7:44:22] is a dangerous precedent to

[7:44:22] set.

[7:44:23] Antisemitism like Islamophobia,

[7:44:27] anti-black racism and other

[7:44:28] forms of hatred is a real issue

[7:44:28] that must be fought.

[7:44:29] But this definition is a

[7:44:32] political weapon in disguise.

[7:44:33] It's a blatant attempt to use

[7:44:33] the authority of the city to

[7:44:36] silence people who are

[7:44:37] exercising their First

[7:44:38] Amendment rights And it's being

[7:44:38] done under a federal

[7:44:41] administration that is actively

[7:44:42] working to dismantle free

[7:44:42] speech across the nation.

[7:44:46] This is being done now because

[7:44:47] there's a genocide being

[7:44:47] broadcast in real time from

[7:44:51] Gaza because for decades we've

[7:44:51] watched wars, occupation and

[7:44:52] systematic human rights

[7:44:52] violations unfold against

[7:44:56] the Palestinian people.

[7:44:56] Those behind this definition

[7:44:57] don't want to stop antisemitism

[7:44:58] as much as they want to stop

[7:45:00] you from talking about

[7:45:01] the negative side in Gaza and

[7:45:02] criticizing the Israeli

[7:45:06] apartheid regime's policies and

[7:45:06] silencing anyone who says free

[7:45:07] Palestine.

[7:45:07] Please do not be complicit in

[7:45:08] this.

[7:45:10] Don't let San Diego become a

[7:45:11] city That weapon your time has

[7:45:12] concluded.

[7:45:14] Logan If you can please unmute

[7:45:15] .

[7:45:19] Logan Yeah, hi.

[7:45:20] I'm urging the council to

[7:45:24] reject the ira working

[7:45:25] definition of antisemitism.

[7:45:29] Antisemitism is serious and it

[7:45:30] needs to be opposed wherever it

[7:45:30] occurs.

[7:45:31] However the hybrid the ihra

[7:45:34] definition raises concerns

[7:45:35] amongst legal scholars civil

[7:45:39] liberties organizations, human

[7:45:40] rights advocates and because

[7:45:40] some of the examples use

[7:45:44] conflating legitimate criticism

[7:45:45] of the policies of the state of

[7:45:46] Israel with antisemitism.

[7:45:50] Any city actions to address

[7:45:50] religious hatred should be

[7:45:51] applied consistently for all

[7:45:54] faiths.

[7:45:55] San Diego should also ensure

[7:45:56] equal efforts to combat

[7:46:00] anti-Christian sentiments,

[7:46:00] Islamophobia or any other

[7:46:01] discrimination against any

[7:46:02] other religious group so that

[7:46:04] policies protecting one site

[7:46:05] don't go into unintentionally

[7:46:09] create inequality or confusion

[7:46:09] about protected speech.

[7:46:10] We already have federal and

[7:46:14] state laws in place to protect

[7:46:18] people against antisemitism.

[7:46:19] There's you know if the council

[7:46:20] wants to adopt your time has

[7:46:20] concluded.

[7:46:24] My apologies Natalie, if you

[7:46:25] can please unmute.

[7:46:28] After that is Valentina Natalie

[7:46:29] .

[7:46:30] Natalie I probably should have

[7:46:35] come up I can't unmute for you

[7:46:36] .

[7:46:37] I will need to move on.

[7:46:42] Oh hello.

[7:46:42] There you go.

[7:46:43] Please proceed.

[7:46:46] I would like to point out how

[7:46:47] Zionism or Zionist or Zio is

[7:46:48] being used as a code and slur

[7:46:50] for Jew.

[7:46:51] Many of us in the Jewish

[7:46:51] community are Zionists.

[7:46:52] We believe in

[7:46:56] the self-determination of Jews

[7:46:57] and their ancestral homeland

[7:46:58] which is the definition of

[7:46:58] Zionism.

[7:47:01] The truth is the Middle East

[7:47:01] would be safer if more people

[7:47:02] embraced Zionism.

[7:47:03] The uae and Saudi We're going

[7:47:05] to do the stage before OCTOBER

[7:47:05] seven.

[7:47:06] Let's criticize Netanyahu's

[7:47:07] government and the far right.

[7:47:09] Let's criticize Hamas and

[7:47:10] the irgc.

[7:47:10] That's my myopic focus on

[7:47:11] Israel as an evil scapegoat of

[7:47:14] the world is reaching

[7:47:15] pathological levels compared to

[7:47:16] the compare to the silence on

[7:47:20] Sudan and the irgc.

[7:47:21] The war in Gaza was the direct

[7:47:22] result of the OCTOBER 7th

[7:47:22] attack.

[7:47:24] And many of these commentators

[7:47:25] calling Israelis baby killers

[7:47:26] should take a hard look at

[7:47:26] Hamas that literally fired from

[7:47:30] residential buildings and hid

[7:47:31] in tunnels under schools and

[7:47:31] won an information war by

[7:47:35] nonstop screaming their quote

[7:47:36] unquote martyrs online.

[7:47:37] We need this pass because

[7:47:40] antisemitism is showing up in

[7:47:41] anti-Zionist rhetoric.

[7:47:45] Thank you.

[7:47:46] My apologies.

[7:47:47] Valentina, if you can please on

[7:47:47] mute After that will be Matthew

[7:47:51] Valentino.

[7:47:51] You hear me?

[7:47:52] Yes.

[7:47:52] Please proceed.

[7:47:52] Thank you.

[7:47:53] Hello.

[7:47:55] My name is Valentina.

[7:47:56] I'm a constituent of MR.

[7:48:00] Whitman's.

[7:48:01] I'm calling here today to urge

[7:48:05] you to oppose this.

[7:48:06] I'm deeply moved by everything

[7:48:10] everything's been talking about

[7:48:10] so far.

[7:48:11] And I'm a Jewish resident.

[7:48:15] But this does not make me feel

[7:48:16] safer in my town of San Diego.

[7:48:20] I am deeply critical of

[7:48:21] the state of Israel and that

[7:48:22] that is what I fear.

[7:48:25] That I cannot speak openly

[7:48:26] about my feelings towards this

[7:48:30] foreign state and another

[7:48:31] speaker said that this

[7:48:35] definition could can be used

[7:48:36] but it has been used The Trump

[7:48:40] administration has used this

[7:48:41] very definition to silence

[7:48:41] speech on campuses.

[7:48:45] So I urge you to oppose it.

[7:48:46] Thank you for your time.

[7:48:47] Next is Matthew.

[7:48:51] If you can please unmute

[7:48:57] Matthew.

[7:48:58] Yes.

[7:48:58] Yes I'll be there.

[7:48:59] Yes, Please proceed.

[7:48:59] Thank you.

[7:49:02] I am a Jew and resident of

[7:49:03] District two.

[7:49:03] The people on this call do

[7:49:04] understand that antisemitism

[7:49:08] which denies Jews the right to

[7:49:09] the same self-determination

[7:49:09] aspired to by other groups

[7:49:13] actually is antisemitic in its

[7:49:14] essence the antisemitic double

[7:49:14] standard that falsely applies

[7:49:15] the terms of genocide in

[7:49:18] Naziism to Israel while

[7:49:19] unsurprisingly ignoring worse

[7:49:19] atrocities by other nations in

[7:49:23] the antisemitic slurs and

[7:49:24] comments of many of the people

[7:49:25] on this call themselves are

[7:49:25] the exact reason why

[7:49:29] the adoption should why this

[7:49:30] should be adopted.

[7:49:30] This is not about the Middle

[7:49:31] East conflict.

[7:49:34] It's about the safety of Jewish

[7:49:35] standing against hate crimes

[7:49:36] affect Jews disproportionately

[7:49:36] in the U.S. Population.

[7:49:40] Yes, even worse than

[7:49:40] Islamophobia despite

[7:49:41] antisemitic attempts to equate

[7:49:41] the two.

[7:49:42] Here's the key point.

[7:49:45] Jews are not safe to worship or

[7:49:46] organize in San Diego because a

[7:49:49] feverish purposely engineered

[7:49:50] anti-Zionist focus and

[7:49:50] rhetoric.

[7:49:51] Please adopt this definition

[7:49:55] figure.

[7:49:56] >> Next is Claire Snyder.

[7:49:57] If you can please send me a

[7:50:01] clear.

[7:50:02] >> Good evening Councilmembers.

[7:50:06] My name is Claire Snyder and

[7:50:07] I'm a resident of District

[7:50:07] three.

[7:50:11] I urge you to vote no on this

[7:50:12] item.

[7:50:12] Antisemitism is real but this

[7:50:17] definition conflates it with

[7:50:21] Zionism and it would be

[7:50:22] reducing our free speech to

[7:50:23] make comments against the state

[7:50:27] of Israel and Zionism which is

[7:50:28] currently actively genocide

[7:50:34] adding millions of people

[7:50:34] across Palestine and across

[7:50:35] the Levant.

[7:50:39] I do not believe that

[7:50:39] the people living in Palestine

[7:50:44] or Iran in Syria and

[7:50:45] Afghanistan would feel safer if

[7:50:50] they accepted Zionism.

[7:50:51] That's best for the call here.

[7:50:55] So I urge you to vote now so

[7:50:56] that we can continue to engage

[7:51:02] in our peaceful advocacy and

[7:51:03] free speech across this issue.

[7:51:03] Thank you.

[7:51:10] If you can please email Garrett

[7:51:10] .

[7:51:11] >> Yeah, I can't.

[7:51:11] I mean there you go.

[7:51:14] Hello.

[7:51:15] Hello.

[7:51:15] Please proceed.

[7:51:16] Yes, we can hear you.

[7:51:20] Yeah.

[7:51:21] Um, during the first Trump

[7:51:21] administration, Secretary of

[7:51:22] State Mike Pompeo offered

[7:51:25] the idea of using hra

[7:51:26] definition to declare Amnesty

[7:51:27] International and Human Rights

[7:51:27] Watch anti-Semitic which would

[7:51:31] threaten their funding.

[7:51:32] So even if this resolution says

[7:51:33] it doesn't want to affect free

[7:51:36] speech, it will have effects.

[7:51:37] Surely any definition of

[7:51:37] antisemitism that declares

[7:51:43] Amnesty International and human

[7:51:43] Rights Watch anti Semitic is

[7:51:44] barred.

[7:51:44] While some MAY say that they

[7:51:45] are purposefully

[7:51:49] misinterpreting the definition

[7:51:49] that does not matter Any

[7:51:50] definition that can so easily

[7:51:55] easily an opportunist It could

[7:51:55] be interpreted as calling

[7:51:56] Amnesty International and Human

[7:51:57] Rights Watch anti Semitic is

[7:52:00] what we have already seen its

[7:52:01] misuse already so we can't

[7:52:02] claim ignorance.

[7:52:06] I implore you not to accept a

[7:52:06] definition like this.

[7:52:07] >> Thank you.

[7:52:07] Thank you.

[7:52:13] Netanyahu Yeah.

[7:52:13] If you can please unmute

[7:52:18] Netanya, Netanya Hi, this is

[7:52:18] Netanya.

[7:52:22] I am in District six with

[7:52:23] Cantley.

[7:52:23] I am asking for you to please

[7:52:28] approve this resolution and

[7:52:28] pass it.

[7:52:29] I am a Jew and I am an American

[7:52:34] and I am Marine veteran and

[7:52:34] this is super important to me

[7:52:40] to have a definition that we

[7:52:40] can work with here in San

[7:52:41] Diego.

[7:52:45] We are not all like I'm no

[7:52:46] foreign policy expert.

[7:52:46] I love Israel.

[7:52:51] I do not love their current

[7:52:52] government just as I'm not so

[7:52:53] keen on our current government

[7:52:57] here in America.

[7:52:58] But this doesn't mean that we

[7:52:59] don't put down a definition to

[7:53:04] help the Jews not deal with all

[7:53:04] the antisemitism they're

[7:53:05] dealing with.

[7:53:10] Please pass this resolution.

[7:53:10] Thank you.

[7:53:12] Next is the If you can please

[7:53:18] unmute.

[7:53:19] Oh can you hear me?

[7:53:24] Yes please proceed.

[7:53:25] I am summer.

[7:53:25] I am a graduate student in

[7:53:26] public administration and I

[7:53:27] hope to study law and I know

[7:53:32] that I don't need a law degree

[7:53:32] to know that this is infringing

[7:53:33] on my First Amendment right.

[7:53:36] Well but I define the anti

[7:53:36] semitism as hostility towards

[7:53:37] Jew its Jews It supplements

[7:53:40] that definition with 11

[7:53:41] illustrative examples seven of

[7:53:42] which focus on Israel and

[7:53:42] Zionism rather than on

[7:53:46] discriminatory conduct directed

[7:53:47] at Jewish people under its

[7:53:48] framework even speech

[7:53:48] condemning mass civilian

[7:53:53] killing or using the term

[7:53:53] genocide in reference to all

[7:53:54] that can be construed as

[7:53:54] anti-Semitic.

[7:53:58] International law enshrines

[7:53:58] the right of return for

[7:53:59] Palestinian refugees United

[7:54:00] Nations General Assembly

[7:54:03] Resolution 194 states that

[7:54:04] refugees can essentially return

[7:54:04] to their homes and live at

[7:54:05] peace with their neighbors and

[7:54:09] should be permitted to do so

[7:54:10] really predictable deeds.

[7:54:10] And despite this legal

[7:54:11] foundation, some prominent

[7:54:15] organizations have misconstrued

[7:54:16] schools like the Jewish United

[7:54:17] Fund for the Right of Return

[7:54:22] along with depictions of Israel

[7:54:22] as a colonial state as

[7:54:23] undeniable proof of

[7:54:23] antisemitism.

[7:54:28] We must Your time is included

[7:54:39] if you can please And you more

[7:54:40] .

[7:54:40] >> Yes.

[7:54:41] Thank you.

[7:54:41] My name is Mark and I'm San

[7:54:42] Diego.

[7:54:46] i'm here to urge the council to

[7:54:47] vote no When Agenda item 500

[7:54:52] Yesterday we comedy to the 23

[7:54:52] year since the killing of

[7:54:53] Rachel Corrie a Jewish American

[7:54:58] citizen and activist She was

[7:54:59] killed by the Israeli military.

[7:55:03] All three Americans were killed

[7:55:04] during the past few years by

[7:55:08] the Israeli army especially

[7:55:08] over the past two years.

[7:55:09] So how will this 500 limit

[7:55:09] the criticism of the cameras

[7:55:14] here if we see such crime and

[7:55:14] other ongoing crimes were

[7:55:18] committed by Israel, this 500

[7:55:19] would say you are targeting

[7:55:20] the only Jewish state and

[7:55:25] that's anti Semitic.

[7:55:25] Yes, we need to address anti

[7:55:26] Semitism.

[7:55:26] But another point to address

[7:55:30] it, it is completely

[7:55:31] insensitive and racist.

[7:55:31] The city council is telling

[7:55:35] those who lost 70,000 of their

[7:55:36] own people including 20,000

[7:55:36] children what they should or

[7:55:42] should not say Please vote no

[7:55:42] your time.

[7:55:42] Thank you.

[7:55:47] Sara Everingham Please unmute I

[7:55:47] Can you hear me?

[7:55:48] Yes please proceed.

[7:55:52] I Good good.

[7:55:53] Good evening.

[7:55:53] Couple members I just want to

[7:55:54] say I urge you to vote no on

[7:55:55] this resolution and reject

[7:55:59] the ihra definition of

[7:55:59] antisemitism.

[7:56:00] I find it confusing that all of

[7:56:00] a sudden we want to talk about

[7:56:04] Israel and foreign governments

[7:56:05] Yet when we ask our city

[7:56:05] council members to pass a

[7:56:06] ceasefire resolution

[7:56:07] acknowledging the genocide and

[7:56:10] murder of Palestinians, our

[7:56:10] city council members were

[7:56:11] concerned that this was a

[7:56:12] foreign issue.

[7:56:16] We talk about Israel and this

[7:56:17] is a core issue because this

[7:56:17] very definition said that

[7:56:18] incomplete This definition

[7:56:22] conflates Judaism with

[7:56:23] scientism.

[7:56:23] So I urge you to listen to

[7:56:24] those who have been calling in

[7:56:27] those who have showed up to

[7:56:28] the city council member

[7:56:28] chambers to tell you that this

[7:56:29] definition is harmful.

[7:56:34] We will be replicating

[7:56:34] the harmful impact that the of

[7:56:35] the fascist federal government

[7:56:36] is doing in our own city.

[7:56:40] We do not want that and we want

[7:56:41] to believe in our Democratic

[7:56:41] leadership that they can

[7:56:42] protect our freedom of speech.

[7:56:46] This will be your legacy so

[7:56:47] please vote no on this.

[7:56:47] >> Thank you MRS. Yaron if you

[7:56:52] can please unmute.

[7:56:53] Hello, my name is Karen and I

[7:56:59] am a resident of the city and

[7:57:00] my partner and I oppose

[7:57:04] the adoption of the definition

[7:57:04] of Semitism because it only

[7:57:05] serves to undermine and

[7:57:11] legitimize pro-Palestine

[7:57:12] movements.

[7:57:12] The Israeli definition

[7:57:13] wrongfully conflicts Zionism

[7:57:16] with Judaism by equating

[7:57:16] criticism of Israel's genocide

[7:57:17] of Palestinians with

[7:57:22] anti-Jewish sentiment.

[7:57:23] Are we not allowed to stand

[7:57:24] against the genocidal and

[7:57:24] apartheid state of Israel?

[7:57:28] Because that is what

[7:57:28] the definition seeks to do.

[7:57:29] I cannot morally stay silent at

[7:57:34] the total massacre and violence

[7:57:34] against Palestinians and I

[7:57:35] urgently ask you all that item

[7:57:36] as 500 is opposed.

[7:57:40] Thank you Rebecca If you can

[7:57:46] please unmute Rebecca.

[7:57:46] >> Thank you.

[7:57:50] My name is Rebecca Marks and I

[7:57:50] live in District one.

[7:57:51] I am a Jewish resident and I'm

[7:57:52] urging you to please vote in

[7:57:56] favor of adopting the dietary

[7:57:56] definition of antisemitism.

[7:58:02] I have friends who are afraid

[7:58:03] to attend services or go to

[7:58:04] Jewish events here in San Diego

[7:58:08] in fear of antisemitic violent

[7:58:09] attacks.

[7:58:09] Being harassed I personally

[7:58:15] have been called an f ing Jew.

[7:58:15] People have called me a

[7:58:16] genocidal offer.

[7:58:17] I definitely know people who

[7:58:20] have been spit on and harassed

[7:58:21] at our universities, threatened

[7:58:22] kids who are afraid to wear

[7:58:26] their kippah.

[7:58:27] And I you know, adopting

[7:58:32] the definition would definitely

[7:58:33] help address these issues that

[7:58:34] we're having And I really hope

[7:58:34] that you do the right thing and

[7:58:35] you vote in favor.

[7:58:38] Thank you.

[7:58:39] Thank you.

[7:58:44] And if you can please unmute

[7:58:45] and I count on you for you.

[7:58:50] There you go.

[7:58:51] Hi, my name is Andy and I

[7:58:56] resigned 1010 year ago.

[7:58:57] I just want to say I am a

[7:59:02] Somali and I have family and

[7:59:03] people who live in Bethlehem.

[7:59:08] Have been suffering from

[7:59:09] dizziness.

[7:59:14] So asthma is not Jewish and

[7:59:14] asthma is not a Zionist.

[7:59:20] So I would oppose this and I

[7:59:21] would say do not vote for it.

[7:59:26] Thank you.

[7:59:27] >> Next is Lawrence if you can

[7:59:31] please on you.

[7:59:32] Yes.

[7:59:32] Please proceed.

[7:59:39] Thank you.

[7:59:40] >> I noticed that long I lived

[7:59:40] in Hillcrest for 15 years.

[7:59:45] I am a Jew and being Zionist is

[7:59:45] part of my identity.

[7:59:46] I have an example at the San

[7:59:47] Diego airport in Terminal one

[7:59:47] last year.

[7:59:51] This morning Star David

[7:59:52] necklace and a shirt with only

[7:59:53] Hebrew letters on it Nothing

[7:59:53] political.

[7:59:57] And I'm about to board my

[7:59:58] flight and someone approached

[7:59:58] me said Free Palestine and I

[7:59:59] had to take a second look.

[8:00:00] And I said to him I'm sorry.

[8:00:03] Why are you targeting me and

[8:00:04] getting harassing me like this?

[8:00:05] I don't even know you.

[8:00:05] And then my husband stepped in

[8:00:06] the way to separate us before a

[8:00:07] fight broke out.

[8:00:09] And then he said You dirty Jew.

[8:00:10] And I was like, wow.

[8:00:10] The whole crowd was appalled.

[8:00:11] I had to get off my flight

[8:00:14] instead of calling the police

[8:00:15] to not MISS My flight.

[8:00:16] But I could have had him on a

[8:00:16] no fly list.

[8:00:17] But in reality without this icj

[8:00:20] being voted on it gives

[8:00:20] the green light for

[8:00:21] anti-Semites like that to hide

[8:00:22] behind and still target

[8:00:22] assault.

[8:00:26] So please I scarred for life

[8:00:27] because I experience and I need

[8:00:28] this to be passed to improve me

[8:00:28] and every Jew in San Diego's

[8:00:31] life to be protected from

[8:00:32] discrimination like that is

[8:00:33] uncalled for and it's needed.

[8:00:39] Thank you.

[8:00:39] Next is Orrin again.

[8:00:40] If you raise your hand after

[8:00:41] the beginning of time or you

[8:00:41] won't be taken but you can

[8:00:46] definitely submit your speaker

[8:00:46] tips to city clerk at San Diego

[8:00:47] Taco or Anne Robinson If you

[8:00:50] can please unmute My apologies

[8:00:51] please.

[8:00:51] >> Again, please proceed.

[8:00:52] Hi, my name is Warren Robinson

[8:00:56] and another Jewish constituent

[8:00:57] I live in district for and I

[8:00:57] live in District nine.

[8:01:03] Please vote no or send back to

[8:01:03] the commission Who is chair

[8:01:04] Tyler Duncan has requested this

[8:01:08] and a few questions for

[8:01:08] the council members.

[8:01:13] Do you support the expulsion of

[8:01:13] 750,000 indigenous Palestinians

[8:01:14] from their land and homes?

[8:01:19] Yes you are a Zionist then Do

[8:01:19] you support exclusive rights

[8:01:25] for Jews above others Even on

[8:01:25] their own lands then yes you

[8:01:26] are a Zionist so you will vote

[8:01:30] yes.

[8:01:31] Do you instead support

[8:01:31] liberation and justice for

[8:01:32] Palestinian people including

[8:01:33] the right to return to their

[8:01:37] homes and land?

[8:01:38] Then you are an anti Zionist so

[8:01:38] you should vote now Do you

[8:01:43] believe in a future where all

[8:01:44] people in the land live in

[8:01:44] freedom, safety and equality

[8:01:49] Then your anti-Zionist vote no

[8:01:49] .

[8:01:50] True safety is built through

[8:01:50] slowing down listening and

[8:01:51] fighting against injustice Not

[8:01:55] excusing it we keep us safe not

[8:01:56] definitions.

[8:01:56] >> Thank you for if you can

[8:02:03] please unmute for you free If

[8:02:10] you can please unmute.

[8:02:11] Moving on Julia if you can

[8:02:15] please on your.

[8:02:21] Hi my name is Julia and I live

[8:02:22] in District five.

[8:02:22] I am a Jewish American and

[8:02:27] the granddaughter of a

[8:02:27] Holocaust survivor.

[8:02:28] My grandmother narrowly escaped

[8:02:33] the Nazis in Europe when she

[8:02:34] was 18 years old and went into

[8:02:34] hiding.

[8:02:39] And I know firsthand what it

[8:02:39] means to from hurt.

[8:02:45] She knew firsthand but I know

[8:02:46] from her experience what it

[8:02:46] means to have dangerous

[8:02:50] anti-Semitic rhetoric go

[8:02:51] unchecked and go unchecked for

[8:02:52] so long and gain so much power

[8:02:57] that it leads to the murder of

[8:02:58] 6 million Jews in

[8:02:58] the Holocaust.

[8:03:03] And I'm telling you right now

[8:03:03] as a Jew in America that that

[8:03:04] exact process is happening in

[8:03:09] America and the rhetoric

[8:03:10] against Jews is extremely

[8:03:10] dangerous.

[8:03:11] My step father was beat up on

[8:03:15] the street by a couple of guys

[8:03:16] who pushed him down and killed

[8:03:16] him.

[8:03:17] And I think Jew because he was

[8:03:22] carrying grocery bags with

[8:03:23] Hebrew writing on them.

[8:03:27] In 2002 your time has concluded

[8:03:28] .

[8:03:28] We have our last three

[8:03:29] speakers.

[8:03:29] Daniel if you can please unmute

[8:03:33] and zoom user and then Eva

[8:03:33] Daniel please unmute.

[8:03:34] I thank you for taking my call.

[8:03:40] I would like to ask you to vote

[8:03:40] against that 500.

[8:03:41] We know that major human rights

[8:03:44] and civil rights organizations

[8:03:45] have come out against adopting

[8:03:45] this definition including

[8:03:50] Amnesty International, Human

[8:03:51] Rights Watch, the aclu which

[8:03:51] you heard earlier,

[8:03:52] the International Federation

[8:03:53] for Human Rights.

[8:03:57] I think it does open up some

[8:03:57] new kinds of litigation.

[8:03:58] In addition, it's been used as

[8:04:03] a tool for Trump's defunding of

[8:04:03] our institutions of higher

[8:04:04] learning to the tune of several

[8:04:05] billion dollars.

[8:04:08] It's included in his executive

[8:04:09] orders.

[8:04:10] So we know that it is used to

[8:04:15] silence and defund institutions

[8:04:15] that are important to us in

[8:04:16] general.

[8:04:20] >> And we know that adopting

[8:04:26] this resolution leads to

[8:04:27] decreased interest in funding

[8:04:33] and which certainly conflict

[8:04:33] and does nothing to combat

[8:04:34] anti-Semitism.

[8:04:39] So please vote no.

[8:04:40] >> Thank you for your time has

[8:04:40] concluded.

[8:04:44] Eva if you can please unmute I

[8:04:45] thank you for listening.

[8:04:46] Council members please approve

[8:04:51] and vote yes for s500.

[8:04:52] This is a resolution to pass

[8:04:59] the definition of antisemitism

[8:04:59] but free speech and then

[8:05:00] there's antisemitism in.

[8:05:01] We don't need examples from

[8:05:03] human rights Foundation of

[8:05:04] United Nations statutes.

[8:05:04] Why does the Palestinian Muslim

[8:05:10] problem here in America?

[8:05:11] This resolution is for Jewish

[8:05:11] members We are Jews in

[8:05:15] the United States and we this

[8:05:16] is freedom of religion and we

[8:05:16] as you need you to protect us

[8:05:23] And this is to be protected

[8:05:23] from discrimination and from

[8:05:24] hatred And it's beef with

[8:05:24] hatred.

[8:05:25] Please vote yes on this.

[8:05:27] Thank you so much.

[8:05:27] >> Thank you.

[8:05:31] And our final speaker for

[8:05:31] 4934493.

[8:05:38] Star six Academy for you star

[8:05:41] six One more time I sent you

[8:05:41] the prompt.

[8:05:47] >> Why weren't you when you did

[8:05:49] star six time you I can you Yes

[8:05:53] please proceed Yes yes.

[8:05:54] Sorry about that.

[8:05:54] Hi there.

[8:05:55] My name is Joshua.

[8:05:58] I'm a resident of San Diego,

[8:05:59] California And I think that a

[8:06:00] lot of people were mentioning

[8:06:05] that the definition of

[8:06:06] antisemitism is wrong or really

[8:06:07] missing the point.

[8:06:07] It specifically says within

[8:06:10] the definition that criticized

[8:06:11] the criticism of Israel is as

[8:06:12] long as it's similar to any

[8:06:17] other country is not generally

[8:06:17] anti-Semitic.

[8:06:18] And if you actually look at

[8:06:18] the statistics of what most

[8:06:23] Jews are as I am a Jew and I'm

[8:06:24] saying that majority of Jews in

[8:06:27] this country according to polls

[8:06:28] at least 80% of Jews in this

[8:06:29] country are Zionist standard of

[8:06:32] living means that the Jewish

[8:06:33] people have the right to

[8:06:33] self-determination and to

[8:06:34] self-determination I mean and

[8:06:38] to Israel That doesn't mean

[8:06:39] that they all respect the Likud

[8:06:40] Party or that they believe in

[8:06:44] Netanyahu that just means that

[8:06:45] you live in Israel.

[8:06:45] That does not mean that

[8:06:46] antisemitism is against

[8:06:46] Palestinian.

[8:06:54] Thank you.

[8:06:55] That does conclude public

[8:06:55] comment an item of 500 Thank

[8:06:56] you.

[8:06:59] Council PRESIDENT All right.

[8:07:00] Thank you to the clerk for

[8:07:01] hours 20 minutes before we

[8:07:04] continue on let's give a big

[8:07:05] round of applause for our city

[8:07:22] for and all the city clerk

[8:07:28] staff of course.

[8:07:29] A little bumpy there but I

[8:07:30] think we made it through.

[8:07:30] I appreciate everybody's

[8:07:34] patience and will enough to

[8:07:34] participate in our informal

[8:07:35] rules in chambers.

[8:07:40] So with that we will now turn

[8:07:41] it over to my council

[8:07:41] colleagues for any questions,

[8:07:45] comments and entertain.

[8:07:46] Excuse me undertake a motion

[8:07:47] and we will start with Council

[8:07:52] member Whipper Thank you

[8:07:53] Council PRESIDENT Thank you to

[8:07:53] all of you here in chambers And

[8:07:58] who called in who shared your

[8:07:59] thoughts on this today And I

[8:07:59] got to thank my council

[8:08:04] colleagues as well and to

[8:08:04] the entire city team.

[8:08:05] This has been a lengthy

[8:08:09] discussion as we heard today

[8:08:10] for far too many Jewish

[8:08:11] families including thousands

[8:08:15] who live right here in San

[8:08:15] Diego.

[8:08:15] Anti-Semitism is not an

[8:08:16] abstract concept.

[8:08:20] It is something they live with

[8:08:21] every single day and that is

[8:08:22] why I am bringing this forward.

[8:08:27] There have been anti-Semitic

[8:08:28] incidents in my cultural

[8:08:28] district and there has been a

[8:08:29] rise in anti-Semitic hate

[8:08:33] crimes citywide crimes that I

[8:08:33] think everybody here would

[8:08:34] agree are rooted in

[8:08:41] anti-Semitism.

[8:08:41] Again, I want to thank the City

[8:08:42] Services and Task Force for

[8:08:43] meeting with me about the rise

[8:08:46] in anti-Semitic, the importance

[8:08:46] of this action to so many

[8:08:47] people in the Jewish community

[8:08:51] And I want to thank our city of

[8:08:51] San Diego Human Relations

[8:08:52] Commission which is a diverse

[8:08:53] body of community leaders

[8:08:53] dedicated to confronting

[8:08:58] discrimination at our city For

[8:08:58] considering this and forwarding

[8:08:59] a request to the city council

[8:09:03] that we adopt this resolution

[8:09:04] as have many other cities like

[8:09:05] Los Angeles and Chicago and

[8:09:10] what we can take Right Darcy,

[8:09:11] for your work on this I'm sorry

[8:09:12] that a couple of people

[8:09:12] attacked you.

[8:09:16] Those should have been directed

[8:09:17] at me And I want to thank all

[8:09:17] the members of the public who

[8:09:21] made the comments on this

[8:09:22] resolution this afternoon.

[8:09:23] I appreciate all the people who

[8:09:27] shared with us today how

[8:09:28] important this resolution is to

[8:09:29] them, how meaningful it is to

[8:09:30] them that the city council

[8:09:33] stand with the Jewish community

[8:09:33] against anti-Semitism.

[8:09:34] I also appreciate those who

[8:09:40] want to protect free speech and

[8:09:40] specifically those who want to

[8:09:41] protect the right to criticize

[8:09:42] the actions of Israel's

[8:09:45] government or any government.

[8:09:46] We should protect that right.

[8:09:51] My view is that the resolution

[8:09:51] does protect that right.

[8:09:52] I will reiterate that

[8:09:52] the resolution specifically

[8:09:57] says quote Nothing in this

[8:09:58] resolution is intended to nor

[8:10:03] shall it be construed to limit

[8:10:04] or infringe upon rights

[8:10:04] protected by the United States

[8:10:08] Constitution or the California

[8:10:09] Constitution, including

[8:10:10] the right to free speech and

[8:10:14] expression.

[8:10:15] My view is that this definition

[8:10:16] of antisemitism also does

[8:10:20] protect that right.

[8:10:21] I think the language it says

[8:10:22] quote criticism of Israel

[8:10:27] similar to that leveled against

[8:10:28] any other country should not be

[8:10:29] regarded as anti-Semitic.

[8:10:33] It's pretty straightforward.

[8:10:34] I heard concern about a few of

[8:10:38] the examples in the definition

[8:10:39] too that I would point out that

[8:10:39] the language introducing those

[8:10:44] examples does not say that

[8:10:45] those examples should always be

[8:10:51] construed as antisemitism.

[8:10:51] It does not say that those

[8:10:52] examples are always

[8:10:52] antisemitism.

[8:10:57] It says that the examples could

[8:10:58] taking into account the overall

[8:11:03] context be viewed as

[8:11:03] antisemitism And I think it is

[8:11:08] true that there are times where

[8:11:09] those examples could take into

[8:11:09] account the overall context be

[8:11:15] viewed as antisemitism.

[8:11:16] As I read it this definition

[8:11:21] makes a point of allowing for

[8:11:22] criticism and allowing for

[8:11:22] context.

[8:11:27] I do not see that it restricts

[8:11:27] free speech.

[8:11:28] We've just had hours of free

[8:11:32] speech here in these chambers

[8:11:33] and nothing about this

[8:11:34] resolution would prevent anyone

[8:11:34] from coming to our next City

[8:11:39] council meeting and saying

[8:11:39] whatever they want.

[8:11:40] No resolution this City council

[8:11:45] passes will ever restrict

[8:11:45] anyone's free speech.

[8:11:46] But I will tell you what does

[8:11:51] restrict free speech

[8:11:52] anti-Semitic hatred when people

[8:11:57] are literally afraid to speak

[8:11:58] in Hebrew that is an actual

[8:12:03] inhibition of their speech

[8:12:04] where people are afraid to wear

[8:12:04] their star of David.

[8:12:09] That is an actual inhibition of

[8:12:09] their religious freedom.

[8:12:15] Make no mistake it is precisely

[8:12:15] because members of the Jewish

[8:12:16] community in San Diego are

[8:12:17] experiencing hate in a way that

[8:12:21] restrains their speech, their

[8:12:21] freedoms that I believe we must

[8:12:22] send a message that this city

[8:12:27] council stands with the Jewish

[8:12:27] community against

[8:12:28] anti-Semitism.

[8:12:29] I think that is an important

[8:12:29] message to send and that is

[8:12:33] what this resolution does And I

[8:12:33] will make a motion that

[8:12:34] the city council adopt a

[8:12:35] resolution recognizing the rise

[8:12:39] of anti-Semitism.

[8:12:40] Affirming the city's commitment

[8:12:41] to combating hate and

[8:12:41] discrimination and adopting

[8:12:46] the international Holocaust

[8:12:47] Remembrance Alliance's working

[8:12:47] definition of antisemitism.

[8:12:48] Thank you.

[8:12:52] Council PRESIDENT All right.

[8:12:53] Thank you.

[8:12:53] Council member Whitburn you

[8:12:54] didn't use your last three

[8:12:54] minutes.

[8:12:55] If you want to be generous with

[8:12:57] your colleagues, feel free.

[8:12:58] >> So we have a motion by

[8:12:59] Council member Whitburn to move

[8:13:00] the recommendation.

[8:13:04] We'll go next to council member

[8:13:04] area.

[8:13:05] Thank you.

[8:13:10] Council PRESIDENT I think you

[8:13:11] have also participated today.

[8:13:11] I'll be honest I'm really

[8:13:15] struggled today As everyone

[8:13:16] knows I come from a

[8:13:16] multi-ethnic and

[8:13:17] multi-religious family and I am

[8:13:21] a Jew a proud you and I know

[8:13:22] anti-Semitism.

[8:13:23] I know it as a descendant of

[8:13:27] Sephardic Jews who spent over

[8:13:28] 400 years hiding and running in

[8:13:29] search of safety to be who they

[8:13:33] were and worship their GOD.

[8:13:34] I know that the descendant of

[8:13:34] Ashkenazi Jews who fought

[8:13:38] the programs in Ukraine and I

[8:13:39] don't just know for my lineage

[8:13:40] I know it in life from growing

[8:13:44] up in a community where actual

[8:13:45] neo-Nazi skinheads felt more

[8:13:45] comfortable being proud bigots

[8:13:50] that I felt safe and felt safe

[8:13:51] walking into my temple or my

[8:13:52] Jewish identity be known by

[8:13:56] those who hate us for being us

[8:13:56] .

[8:13:57] I know it from

[8:13:58] the anti-Semitism I hear and

[8:13:58] feel in these chambers and in

[8:14:02] my day to day life.

[8:14:03] And I want to say thank you to

[8:14:04] the folks who share their

[8:14:08] stories especially the young

[8:14:09] folks that courageously shared

[8:14:10] your story that resonated very

[8:14:14] much with me because I know

[8:14:15] anti-Semitism.

[8:14:15] I hate it.

[8:14:16] Anti-Semitism like any form of

[8:14:20] hate and discrimination is vile

[8:14:21] and should be fought fiercely

[8:14:22] and relentlessly.

[8:14:22] It's also a growing problem

[8:14:27] across the political spectrum

[8:14:27] and around the world.

[8:14:28] Donald Trump and his maga

[8:14:28] movement has provided a haven

[8:14:32] for racists, bigots,

[8:14:33] homophobes, allies of

[8:14:34] Islamophobes and anti-Semites.

[8:14:38] Nazis have been invited to dine

[8:14:39] with Trump and he has regularly

[8:14:40] perpetuated anti-Semitic

[8:14:40] stereotypes while claiming to

[8:14:44] be our quote unquote protector

[8:14:44] .

[8:14:45] And sadly the rise has not been

[8:14:46] exclusive to far right

[8:14:50] extremists more and more often

[8:14:51] anti-Semitism has been accepted

[8:14:52] or not appropriately rejected

[8:14:56] and progressive spaces After

[8:14:57] years of feeling like the world

[8:14:58] is becoming safer for Jews, we

[8:15:02] are we are slipping backwards

[8:15:03] rather than the world being

[8:15:04] safer for my son than it was

[8:15:04] for me.

[8:15:04] It actually feels more

[8:15:05] dangerous.

[8:15:09] The travesty and it must be

[8:15:09] recognized.

[8:15:10] It must be combated.

[8:15:14] Unfortunately this resolution

[8:15:15] in the examples contained

[8:15:16] within the ihra definition are

[8:15:16] not the way to do that.

[8:15:20] There are two examples in

[8:15:21] particular that are vague

[8:15:21] reason answerable questions and

[8:15:22] that could be used to label

[8:15:26] speech rooted in Jewish

[8:15:27] identity including my own as

[8:15:31] anti-Semitic The first traits

[8:15:32] apply in a double standard to

[8:15:32] Israel as antisemitic I asked

[8:15:33] proponents of this definition

[8:15:36] questions loudest First, how

[8:15:37] does one know when a double

[8:15:38] standard is being applied?

[8:15:38] Second, I'm a Jew.

[8:15:43] I'm told I have a stake in

[8:15:43] Israel.

[8:15:44] Am I antisemitic for holding

[8:15:45] Israel to a higher standard

[8:15:45] than nations I have no

[8:15:48] connection to?

[8:15:49] Am I anti-American for holding

[8:15:49] the United States to a higher

[8:15:50] standard than any other

[8:15:50] country?

[8:15:51] I could not give clear answers

[8:15:54] to the quote to those questions

[8:15:55] from proponents.

[8:15:55] I know what it looks like when

[8:15:56] that question goes I answered

[8:15:59] because I've already landed.

[8:16:00] Last summer I wrote a piece

[8:16:00] expressing my horror at

[8:16:04] the violence in Gaza while also

[8:16:05] condemning Hamas and calling

[8:16:06] for the release of hostages a

[8:16:06] representative of

[8:16:07] the organization that presented

[8:16:11] the human rights violations

[8:16:12] Commission and who spoke here

[8:16:12] today published a piece calling

[8:16:13] me a feature of antisemitism

[8:16:17] for writing it.

[8:16:17] That's not hypothetical.

[8:16:18] That's real.

[8:16:18] That happened to me.

[8:16:19] It's exactly what this

[8:16:22] definition enables not by

[8:16:23] everyone but by the bad actors

[8:16:24] who purposely want to use it

[8:16:24] that way.

[8:16:31] The second example I raised in

[8:16:32] the second second example I

[8:16:33] raised concerns about tweets

[8:16:33] comparisons of contemporary

[8:16:37] Israeli policy to Nazi policy

[8:16:37] as anti-Semitic.

[8:16:38] I cannot support a definition

[8:16:39] that makes any such comparison

[8:16:43] categorically off limits If a

[8:16:43] government called for the total

[8:16:44] extermination I mean I think

[8:16:49] people are forbidden from

[8:16:50] calling it what it is.

[8:16:50] The most important moral

[8:16:51] reference point in modern

[8:16:55] Jewish history cannot be placed

[8:16:55] beyond reach.

[8:16:56] >> It does not protect Jews.

[8:16:57] It is honored.

[8:16:57] It dishonors the concept of

[8:17:00] never again.

[8:17:01] Last week a man drove his truck

[8:17:02] through the doors of Temple

[8:17:02] Israel in West Bloomfield,

[8:17:07] Michigan of more than 140

[8:17:07] children more than five years

[8:17:08] old and younger were inside an

[8:17:12] act of violence against

[8:17:13] the Jewish community

[8:17:13] the anti-Semitic.

[8:17:14] No place is safe at a school

[8:17:18] and house of worship not even a

[8:17:18] room full of babies.

[8:17:19] My Iranian Muslim cousin who

[8:17:23] lives near there responded to

[8:17:24] that attack by joining with

[8:17:25] members of her community to

[8:17:28] write notes of love and support

[8:17:29] the Jewish community of Temple

[8:17:29] Israel.

[8:17:30] They are working to make sure

[8:17:31] those children know they are

[8:17:34] loved.

[8:17:35] She did this because she

[8:17:36] recognizes the humanity in all

[8:17:39] people that same love could

[8:17:40] also move her to speak out

[8:17:40] against actions taken by

[8:17:41] the Israeli government that she

[8:17:45] believes cause harm.

[8:17:46] Under this definition that

[8:17:46] speech could be labeled

[8:17:47] anti-Semitic not because she

[8:17:50] hates Jews but because someone

[8:17:51] could argue her standards are

[8:17:52] uneven and she cannot prove

[8:17:57] otherwise.

[8:17:57] A definition that cannot hold

[8:17:58] both of these things at once is

[8:18:01] not a tool for for fighting

[8:18:02] anti-Semitism is a tool for

[8:18:02] silencing people who care about

[8:18:08] everyone.

[8:18:08] >> They MAY have three

[8:18:09] additional minutes as has been

[8:18:12] said and be dropped or

[8:18:13] testified before Congress four

[8:18:14] times saying this definition

[8:18:14] was never intended for

[8:18:15] government adoption.

[8:18:18] It was a data collection tool,

[8:18:19] not a speech a speech standard.

[8:18:20] And he has said he's watched

[8:18:23] this weaponize for 15 years.

[8:18:23] It's not an extremist critic.

[8:18:24] It's an author.

[8:18:24] He's not alone.

[8:18:28] There have been a call for

[8:18:28] human rights.

[8:18:29] An organization of hundreds of

[8:18:29] rabbis and cantors opposes this

[8:18:33] definition for the same reasons

[8:18:33] .

[8:18:34] And Rabbi Michael Rathbun, who

[8:18:34] leads a congregation right here

[8:18:35] in San Diego, asked me to share

[8:18:38] this with you today.

[8:18:39] Jewish culture is built on open

[8:18:40] dialog and respectful debate

[8:18:43] which is also a foundation of

[8:18:43] democracy.

[8:18:44] This resolution is both bad for

[8:18:44] both Jews and democracy.

[8:18:48] It sends the false message that

[8:18:49] the only way for Jews to be

[8:18:50] safe is to criminalize others

[8:18:50] opinions about Israel and

[8:18:53] Palestine rather than trying to

[8:18:54] chill dialog and discussion.

[8:18:55] We insist Jews are safe when

[8:18:55] democracy is safe and all

[8:18:59] marginalized people are safe.

[8:19:00] It simply cannot be that those

[8:19:00] from within our community who

[8:19:01] offer an alternative

[8:19:05] perspective are automatically

[8:19:06] dismissed as French Catholic

[8:19:10] whitburn As I understand it.

[8:19:11] The Human Relations Commissions

[8:19:11] discussion to recommend

[8:19:12] the adoption of this definition

[8:19:13] did not include external

[8:19:15] scholars, free speech experts

[8:19:16] or Jewish committee members

[8:19:17] outside of organizations that

[8:19:17] are already staked a position

[8:19:20] on this.

[8:19:20] I see no evidence in the record

[8:19:21] that alternative definitions

[8:19:25] were presented to

[8:19:25] the Commission.

[8:19:26] >> Am I wrong about any of

[8:19:27] that?

[8:19:30] I would ask Nikole Maria

[8:19:35] Ramirez who is a past chair to

[8:19:35] share what that discussion

[8:19:36] looked like if you would like

[8:19:43] him to come up who by all means

[8:19:43] okay.

[8:19:44] >> I would invite the Colby

[8:19:48] Ramirez to call Maria Ramirez

[8:19:53] as a past chair of the San

[8:19:53] Diego Human Relations

[8:19:58] Commission and made the motion

[8:20:04] to advance definition And

[8:20:04] the question had to do with

[8:20:08] the discussion and

[8:20:09] participation around

[8:20:09] the resolution.

[8:20:10] Yeah.

[8:20:14] If I if I MAY.

[8:20:14] Go ahead.

[8:20:15] If the conversation included

[8:20:19] external scholars, free speech

[8:20:20] experts or Jewish committee

[8:20:21] members outside of

[8:20:21] organizations that had already

[8:20:22] stake the position in support

[8:20:24] of this, we had we had public

[8:20:28] announcement that this would be

[8:20:29] discussed.

[8:20:29] You have to remember that this

[8:20:34] was first brought in in MARCH

[8:20:35] of last year over a year ago

[8:20:35] months and months and by

[8:20:40] another former chair is that we

[8:20:40] went through this for a whole

[8:20:41] year and we had discussions on

[8:20:44] it.

[8:20:45] We met privately, individually

[8:20:49] and publicly with different

[8:20:50] people on both sides of this

[8:20:50] issue.

[8:20:54] We did our duty and we covered

[8:20:54] every type of opinion, every

[8:21:00] input that we could get.

[8:21:00] Do you want to say something?

[8:21:01] I'm not going to give you a

[8:21:04] back and forth but I will say

[8:21:05] that I do not hear an answer to

[8:21:06] the question about whether

[8:21:06] external scholars, free speech

[8:21:07] experts or Jewish consumers

[8:21:10] outside of organizations that

[8:21:10] are already staked a position

[8:21:11] on this were included in

[8:21:15] the conversation from

[8:21:16] the minutes they weren't.

[8:21:16] I also say and gather what you

[8:21:19] and I spoke about this It was

[8:21:20] deeply frustrating that this

[8:21:21] recommendation came forward

[8:21:21] without any conversation with

[8:21:22] me.

[8:21:24] One of the two Jewish members

[8:21:25] of this body.

[8:21:25] It's not a personal complaint.

[8:21:29] I think it's a reflection of

[8:21:29] the same failure of inclusivity

[8:21:30] that has defined the process as

[8:21:34] a whole.

[8:21:34] So I'm asking COUNCILMAN

[8:21:35] Whitburn if you'd be willing to

[8:21:36] return this item to the Human

[8:21:36] Relations Commission with

[8:21:39] specific direction to conduct a

[8:21:39] more robust and inclusive

[8:21:40] process one that includes

[8:21:44] scholars, free speech experts,

[8:21:44] religious leaders and Jewish

[8:21:45] committee members representing

[8:21:49] a diversity of perspective

[8:21:50] perspectives We were prepared

[8:21:50] for over a year on this.

[8:21:52] It's time for you to do this

[8:22:02] council to do its duty and to.

[8:22:07] I'm going to let that slide.

[8:22:07] But the disrespect of someone

[8:22:12] from the disrespect is not oc

[8:22:12] that you gave me.

[8:22:13] >> It's not okay.

[8:22:16] We worked for over a year on

[8:22:17] that.

[8:22:17] All right.

[8:22:21] Let's let's hang tough.

[8:22:22] I think you are going to

[8:22:22] entertain an amendment or

[8:22:26] something that was offering I

[8:22:26] was offering consideration.

[8:22:30] I am I am appalled right now.

[8:22:31] Councilmember Rivera and I did

[8:22:34] discuss this and I have a lot

[8:22:39] of respect for his

[8:22:40] thoughtfulness around this

[8:22:40] subject, his own personal

[8:22:44] experience with the subject

[8:22:45] matter and the discussion that

[8:22:48] we had around it And his

[8:22:49] question has to do with whether

[8:22:53] I would recommend sending this

[8:22:54] back to the Human Relations

[8:22:58] Commission for further

[8:22:59] discussion.

[8:22:59] I will say that my sense is

[8:23:03] that if we were to do that

[8:23:04] there would be a discussion

[8:23:05] very similar to what we heard

[8:23:08] today that there would continue

[8:23:08] to be very different

[8:23:13] perspectives on this that this

[8:23:14] would once again be forwarded

[8:23:14] to the City Council and that we

[8:23:18] would have another discussion

[8:23:18] very similar to the one that we

[8:23:19] had today.

[8:23:22] So I don't believe that there

[8:23:27] would be value in setting this

[8:23:28] back to the Human Relations

[8:23:28] Commission.

[8:23:32] I do think we heard a robust

[8:23:36] variety of perspectives on this

[8:23:42] and and that we should take

[8:23:42] action this evening.

[8:23:43] >> Thank you, Councilmember.

[8:23:45] I appreciate that.

[8:23:46] I think it's important to note

[8:23:47] that multiple members of

[8:23:50] the commission have said that

[8:23:50] after learning what they've

[8:23:51] learned and hearing more

[8:23:55] perspectives, they would like

[8:23:56] to reconsider this.

[8:23:59] I don't think that that should

[8:24:00] be dismissed out of hand.

[8:24:00] I don't.

[8:24:01] I'm going to be honest.

[8:24:04] I don't know that folks realize

[8:24:05] the depth of the waters that

[8:24:05] they were stepping into when

[8:24:09] they took this action.

[8:24:10] I think some did and I think

[8:24:10] others didn't And that is clear

[8:24:14] from the request from those

[8:24:15] folks to have another

[8:24:15] opportunity at that.

[8:24:17] But I respect that you brought

[8:24:22] this forward.

[8:24:23] I want to vote yes on something

[8:24:23] today.

[8:24:27] Anti-Semitism is obviously a

[8:24:27] problem.

[8:24:28] It is real.

[8:24:28] It's a threat to my community.

[8:24:32] It's a threat to my family.

[8:24:33] But I cannot support something

[8:24:36] that I do not believe in And

[8:24:37] the definition as presented

[8:24:37] with the examples that are

[8:24:38] included.

[8:24:41] I have seen weaponized against

[8:24:42] my own speech in real life by

[8:24:46] folks who are in this chamber

[8:24:47] right now so I can't vote yes

[8:24:51] on this as presented.

[8:24:52] Again anti-Semitism is real.

[8:24:53] The threat to my community is

[8:24:53] real.

[8:24:56] My son deserves to grow up in a

[8:24:57] world that takes that seriously

[8:24:57] And that's why I can't vote yes

[8:24:58] for a definition that falls

[8:25:00] short and why I'm asking my

[8:25:01] colleagues to demand something

[8:25:05] more inclusive and more worthy

[8:25:05] of this very important

[8:25:06] conversation.

[8:25:06] >> Thank you, Council

[8:25:07] PRESIDENT.

[8:25:10] All right.

[8:25:10] Come on.

[8:25:10] Let's hold tight.

[8:25:11] Let's see if we can get through

[8:25:14] this.

[8:25:15] So Councilmember Ella Rivera,

[8:25:19] you got one additional minute

[8:25:20] from one of your colleagues

[8:25:20] because I want to keep all

[8:25:25] the bookkeeping and COUNCILMAN.

[8:25:26] We're not going to count

[8:25:26] variance against your three

[8:25:27] minutes.

[8:25:29] So you still have that three

[8:25:29] minutes in the bank.

[8:25:33] So thank you, Councilmember

[8:25:33] Rivera.

[8:25:34] We'll go next to council member

[8:25:34] Campo.

[8:25:35] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.

[8:25:37] Thank you to the District three

[8:25:38] staff for your presentation and

[8:25:39] thank you to all the members of

[8:25:39] the public for your

[8:25:40] participation.

[8:25:42] On either side of the debate I

[8:25:43] appreciate you being here and

[8:25:43] telling us what you think For

[8:25:47] thousands of years the Jewish

[8:25:47] people have battled for their

[8:25:48] existence.

[8:25:51] The Jewish people should never

[8:25:52] have had to fight those battles

[8:25:52] alone.

[8:25:56] i support this motion and I

[8:25:57] will second this motion today

[8:25:58] not because I'm the council

[8:26:01] member for the original Jewish

[8:26:01] neighborhoods of San Diego

[8:26:06] though I am and not because I

[8:26:06] have to.

[8:26:07] Soon to be three synagogues and

[8:26:07] the forbade of East County in

[8:26:10] my district though I do I

[8:26:11] honestly believe this is

[8:26:14] the right thing to do.

[8:26:15] The resolution is clear Free

[8:26:19] speech will not be curtailed.

[8:26:20] Council member Whitburn just

[8:26:21] explained it very clearly This

[8:26:24] resolution is a tool to protect

[8:26:25] people from anti-Semitism a

[8:26:29] society that cannot protect its

[8:26:30] Jewish citizens cannot protect

[8:26:34] democracy and a society that

[8:26:35] won't protect its Jewish

[8:26:38] citizens can hardly call itself

[8:26:39] a democracy.

[8:26:40] Protecting the Jewish community

[8:26:43] begins at the very least with

[8:26:44] clearly defining the harm it

[8:26:48] faces.

[8:26:52] Last summer I visited Israel.

[8:26:53] I visited Yad Vashem.

[8:26:56] That's the world's Holocaust

[8:27:01] Remembrance Center.

[8:27:02] It's a memorial to the name of

[8:27:05] those lost to the Holocaust.

[8:27:09] And to this day only about 5

[8:27:10] million of the 6 million Jews

[8:27:11] murdered in the Holocaust have

[8:27:11] been identified by name.

[8:27:15] 1 million remain unidentified.

[8:27:19] So to me remembering

[8:27:20] the Holocaust is a duty and

[8:27:24] defining antisemitism clearly

[8:27:29] is the first step in living out

[8:27:29] that duty.

[8:27:30] The resolution before us which

[8:27:34] is the ira definition at its

[8:27:34] core is about defining

[8:27:39] antisemitism and where it shows

[8:27:43] up here in our communities.

[8:27:44] >> It's about standing with

[8:27:44] historically marginalized

[8:27:48] communities that is that are

[8:27:48] reeling from yet another

[8:27:52] horrific violent attack which

[8:27:53] far too many are quick to

[8:28:02] minimize and even worse justify

[8:28:02] .

[8:28:06] So let me be clear merely

[8:28:07] criticizing any government

[8:28:12] including Israel's is not anti

[8:28:12] Semitism.

[8:28:13] The Jewish people like any

[8:28:16] community are not monolithic.

[8:28:17] There is a wide range of views

[8:28:21] including Significa in

[8:28:21] criticism of the Israeli

[8:28:25] government.

[8:28:26] >> I saw that in Israel from

[8:28:30] Israeli citizens.

[8:28:31] But when that criticism crosses

[8:28:35] into hatred of Jewish people

[8:28:35] that's where our responsibility

[8:28:36] to name it comes up.

[8:28:40] So I understand the concerns of

[8:28:40] some of my colleagues and

[8:28:41] members of the public about

[8:28:41] this resolution.

[8:28:42] I understand.

[8:28:45] And when people express good

[8:28:45] faith concerns about free

[8:28:49] speech, I absolutely listen And

[8:28:49] I believe those concerns are

[8:28:52] addressed here within

[8:28:58] the language of the resolution

[8:28:58] .

[8:28:59] And we have a responsibility to

[8:28:59] confront antisemitism clearly

[8:29:03] and directly.

[8:29:04] >> anti-Semitism is the oldest

[8:29:07] hatred in the world and it

[8:29:08] never truly disappears.

[8:29:09] It waits for moments of

[8:29:13] complacency to return.

[8:29:13] We've seen it rise in different

[8:29:17] forms across the centuries.

[8:29:18] Sadly, even in our own

[8:29:22] community here in San Diego in

[8:29:23] 2023, in my neighborhood on my

[8:29:27] neighbors doorsteps,

[8:29:28] individuals replacing fliers

[8:29:31] filled with conspiracies and

[8:29:32] lies about the Jewish people in

[8:29:35] an attempt to radicalize people

[8:29:41] to inspire violence.

[8:29:41] >> We stood up.

[8:29:42] We proposed new rules.

[8:29:46] California passed ab 3024 in

[8:29:46] response.

[8:29:49] And one reason I took that

[8:29:54] exercise so seriously is

[8:29:55] because when I was meeting with

[8:29:59] members of my Jewish community

[8:30:00] in Del Cerro in one person's

[8:30:04] living room, Daron Schwartz

[8:30:09] pleaded with me that day that

[8:30:09] the Jewish community should not

[8:30:13] be left to fend for themselves

[8:30:14] .

[8:30:15] I believe the word he used was

[8:30:17] We should not have to be a

[8:30:22] shield all on our own.

[8:30:23] He said We need more voices

[8:30:23] people of different races,

[8:30:26] people of different

[8:30:27] generations, people like me,

[8:30:31] everyone to speak up against

[8:30:32] antisemitism.

[8:30:36] And he's right Of course firing

[8:30:37] is a small thing compared to

[8:30:41] what happened in 2019 when

[8:30:41] the harbor out of Poway just

[8:30:42] miles from here was the site of

[8:30:45] a deadly anti-Semitic Semitic

[8:30:46] attack.

[8:30:46] On the last day of Passover.

[8:30:51] Lori Gilbert Kaye MAY her

[8:30:52] memory be a blessing.

[8:30:53] That tragedy reminds us that

[8:30:56] anti-Semitic tism is not a

[8:30:57] distant problem that belongs to

[8:31:00] another country or another era

[8:31:01] .

[8:31:01] It's a scourge that's here in

[8:31:02] our community, in my community

[8:31:05] and we need tools to combat it.

[8:31:06] Tools like the ihra Definition

[8:31:10] which provide a framework.

[8:31:11] Historically antisemitism has

[8:31:11] been described as the canary in

[8:31:15] the coal mine of society

[8:31:16] because hatred towards Jews

[8:31:20] when it begins to spread it

[8:31:20] rarely stays confined to

[8:31:21] the Jewish community for long.

[8:31:25] It's a warning sign that

[8:31:25] tolerance, intolerance and

[8:31:29] extremism are taking root more

[8:31:30] broadly because we cannot name

[8:31:34] the hatred Clearly we cannot

[8:31:34] protect the democracy we claim

[8:31:35] to serve.

[8:31:38] The noted Jewish sage and

[8:31:39] teacher Hillel once wrote and I

[8:31:44] quote If I am not for myself,

[8:31:44] who will be for me?

[8:31:48] And if I am only for myself,

[8:31:48] what am I?

[8:31:53] That wisdom speaks not to just

[8:31:53] millennia of Jewish identity

[8:31:54] but to civic responsibility for

[8:31:54] everyone.

[8:31:58] Today this Council has

[8:31:58] the opportunity to say clearly

[8:31:59] that standing against

[8:32:02] antisemitism is not only about

[8:32:03] protecting one community, it's

[8:32:03] about protecting all

[8:32:04] communities.

[8:32:07] It's about defending

[8:32:08] pluralistic values.

[8:32:08] Folks in this room also know

[8:32:12] that Hill's quote did not end

[8:32:12] there.

[8:32:13] He goes on to ask the all

[8:32:17] important question If not now

[8:32:22] when will I say to my

[8:32:22] colleagues and to my

[8:32:23] constituents and to

[8:32:24] the thousands of members of

[8:32:26] every community in San Diego

[8:32:27] standing before us physically

[8:32:28] and virtually?

[8:32:28] I have an answer to that

[8:32:31] question.

[8:32:31] The time is now.

[8:32:36] Stand against antisemitism now.

[8:32:37] Right now the fight against

[8:32:37] antisemitism is not a

[8:32:40] responsibility for some distant

[8:32:41] future.

[8:32:41] It's a responsibility for now

[8:32:45] the moment to stand against

[8:32:46] hatred is not someday or when

[8:32:47] it's politically comfortable.

[8:32:50] It is now.

[8:32:51] Attacks against the Jewish

[8:32:51] community are happening right

[8:32:52] now.

[8:32:56] Synagogues are being firebombed

[8:32:56] and vandalized right now and

[8:32:57] young people are being fed

[8:33:01] conspiracies right now being

[8:33:01] taught Holocaust denialism

[8:33:05] right now.

[8:33:06] So we need frameworks to combat

[8:33:09] that right now.

[8:33:10] Let us not leave Hill's final

[8:33:14] question unanswered.

[8:33:15] We should answer it with

[8:33:19] clarity and with conviction.

[8:33:19] The question before us is

[8:33:20] whether we will stand against

[8:33:24] antisemitism.

[8:33:24] The answer must be now.

[8:33:26] I'll be voting in support.

[8:33:31] Thank you.

[8:33:31] >> All right.

[8:33:32] So we have a motion by

[8:33:35] Councilmember Whitburn and a

[8:33:36] second by council member Camp

[8:33:36] Hill to move.

[8:33:37] The recommendation will go next

[8:33:40] to council member Campbell.

[8:33:40] >> Thank you Council PRESIDENT

[8:33:45] And thank you Ryan Dorsey for

[8:33:45] the presentation and thank you

[8:33:46] specially to my colleague

[8:33:50] Councilmember Whitburn for

[8:33:50] bringing this forward.

[8:33:51] And I want to thank you and

[8:33:55] COUNCILMAN Campo for your

[8:33:56] excellent words and for delving

[8:33:59] so deeply into the entire

[8:34:04] matter of this resolution and

[8:34:05] taking all that you did into

[8:34:05] consideration.

[8:34:09] And I want to start by

[8:34:10] explaining that this item

[8:34:10] before us is a resolution.

[8:34:14] It is not a law.

[8:34:15] a resolution is not a law.

[8:34:19] Freedom in America still

[8:34:19] exists.

[8:34:24] This resolution will only stand

[8:34:25] against hatred of the Jewish

[8:34:28] people.

[8:34:29] We're living in a time when two

[8:34:30] of the world's leading

[8:34:34] democratic nations the U.S. And

[8:34:38] Israel due to their current

[8:34:38] leadership have lost

[8:34:39] the respect of many of their

[8:34:43] own people and their own

[8:34:44] citizens and other citizens

[8:34:47] from around the world.

[8:34:54] Most people believe Israel is a

[8:34:55] democracy.

[8:34:55] The detail escort the gentleman

[8:34:58] out.

[8:35:03] >> We've been doing so well You

[8:35:03] as an out.

[8:35:04] >> I've already explained that

[8:35:06] I'm not going to go back and

[8:35:06] talk about it again.

[8:35:07] >> Okay.

[8:35:11] So very simple.

[8:35:11] I didn't say that.

[8:35:15] You know I didn't say that.

[8:35:21] And that's the problem with why

[8:35:22] you're going on here today.

[8:35:26] And okay, that's good.

[8:35:30] But then what?

[8:35:31] I haven't spoken yet.

[8:35:34] And okay.

[8:35:35] >> I've been accused of a

[8:35:35] double standard.

[8:35:39] We'll invite you to leave

[8:35:40] the room as well.

[8:35:40] We need to get on.

[8:35:41] We're so close to wrapping our

[8:35:42] briefing up.

[8:35:44] Please don't clap.

[8:35:45] Please don't clap.

[8:35:45] This is only about disruption.

[8:35:50] It is not about any party.

[8:35:50] >> But okay.

[8:35:51] Double standard And Parker.

[8:35:59] See I got it.

[8:36:00] My apologies.

[8:36:09] Council member Campbell And

[8:36:14] there anyone?

[8:36:32] All of you.

[8:36:33] Thank you.

[8:36:37] Council PRESIDENT.

[8:36:40] We are living in a time when

[8:36:41] two of the world's leading

[8:36:42] democratic nations the United

[8:36:46] States and Israel due to their

[8:36:50] current leadership have lost

[8:36:51] the respect of many of their

[8:36:55] own people and citizens from

[8:36:56] around the globe.

[8:36:57] Most people believe in

[8:37:01] the right of all people to live

[8:37:01] in peace and free from

[8:37:06] discrimination and hatred.

[8:37:06] To quote PRESIDENT Lincoln,

[8:37:10] this too shall pass the good

[8:37:11] people of the United States and

[8:37:15] hopefully Israel will prevail

[8:37:15] at the voting booth.

[8:37:20] As an American, I feel

[8:37:21] compelled to speak today

[8:37:25] against the harassment or

[8:37:25] discrimination based on actual

[8:37:30] or perceived Jewish identity,

[8:37:35] ancestry or faith.

[8:37:35] When rhetoric crosses the line

[8:37:40] into harmful stereotypes,

[8:37:40] collective blame or

[8:37:44] dehumanizing language it does

[8:37:45] real harm.

[8:37:49] It creates fear.

[8:37:50] It isolates members of our

[8:37:50] community.

[8:37:54] And it undermines the values we

[8:37:58] are here to uphold as Americans

[8:37:59] .

[8:38:00] Let me be clear This is there

[8:38:04] is no place for anti-Semitism

[8:38:05] in this council chamber in

[8:38:09] the city of San Diego or in

[8:38:10] the entire world.

[8:38:14] We can and should have

[8:38:15] thoughtful, respectful dialog

[8:38:19] but hate in any form against

[8:38:20] any group cannot be part of

[8:38:24] that conversation.

[8:38:25] This is exactly why adopting

[8:38:25] this working definition of

[8:38:29] antisocial modernism from

[8:38:30] the International Holocaust

[8:38:30] Remembrance Alliance is so

[8:38:34] important.

[8:38:35] The I h r a is an

[8:38:39] intergovernmental body made up

[8:38:39] of 35 different countries.

[8:38:44] It serves as a global forum to

[8:38:44] share best practices and

[8:38:48] develop practical tools to

[8:38:53] identify and as to address

[8:38:53] hate.

[8:38:57] They adopted this particular

[8:38:58] definition in 2016 ten years

[8:39:01] ago long before the current

[8:39:02] battles that are going on in

[8:39:07] the world now long before

[8:39:07] the terrible current political

[8:39:11] climate.

[8:39:12] As the definition states quote

[8:39:16] anti-Semitism is a certain

[8:39:17] perception of Jews which MAY be

[8:39:25] expressed as hatred toward Jews

[8:39:25] .

[8:39:26] It helps institutions and

[8:39:27] communities to recognize that

[8:39:30] anti-Semitism can be present in

[8:39:30] its many forms.

[8:39:35] Sandy Eggo is a city that

[8:39:36] stands firmly against hate in

[8:39:40] all its forms against anybody

[8:39:43] including the Muslim community

[8:39:43] .

[8:39:44] By adopting this definition we

[8:39:48] reaffirm our commitment to

[8:39:49] protecting religious freedom,

[8:39:52] confronting antisemitism and

[8:39:53] ensuring that every member of

[8:39:57] our community can live without

[8:39:58] fur, without fear.

[8:39:58] I will support this resolution.

[8:40:02] Thank you.

[8:40:03] All right.

[8:40:03] Thank you, Council member

[8:40:04] Campbell.

[8:40:04] And again, apologies for

[8:40:05] the interruption.

[8:40:08] We'll go next to council member

[8:40:09] Von Wilpert.

[8:40:13] >> Thank you And thank you to

[8:40:13] the volunteers on the Human

[8:40:14] Relations Commission and to my

[8:40:15] colleagues and to all who

[8:40:15] participated in our democracy

[8:40:21] Today.

[8:40:21] I want to start with a very

[8:40:22] uncomfortable truth that

[8:40:26] antisemitism is not a relic of

[8:40:26] the past.

[8:40:27] Anti seven anti Semitism is

[8:40:30] rising to levels rising to

[8:40:31] levels we have not seen in

[8:40:31] generations.

[8:40:32] Last year we watched in horror

[8:40:35] as the news broke on DECEMBER

[8:40:35] 14th of a shooting at Sydney's

[8:40:36] Bondi Beach where two gunmen

[8:40:39] opened fire on a Jewish

[8:40:40] celebration killing 15 people

[8:40:40] celebrating Hanukkah.

[8:40:41] Less than a month later, a

[8:40:45] violent anti violent anti

[8:40:46] Semitic act hit home especially

[8:40:50] for me.

[8:40:50] When arsonists heavily damaged

[8:40:51] Mississippi's largest synagogue

[8:40:55] before dawn, I lived in Jackson

[8:40:55] for three years when I worked

[8:40:56] there as a civil rights lawyer

[8:40:56] in Mississippi.

[8:40:59] When I reached out to my

[8:40:59] friends there to express my

[8:41:00] condolences.

[8:41:00] They told me this was the same

[8:41:03] synagogue in Jackson that

[8:41:04] the Ku Klux had bombed in 1967

[8:41:05] because the rabbi had supported

[8:41:09] civil rights at the time In our

[8:41:12] own community in San Diego in

[8:41:13] 2019 the Polish bombed

[8:41:14] synagogue attack laid bare

[8:41:14] the deadly reach of

[8:41:15] antisemitism.

[8:41:19] Even here as a self-proclaimed

[8:41:19] white supremacist armed with an

[8:41:21] air of 15 killed one worshiper

[8:41:22] and injured three others

[8:41:22] including the rabbi.

[8:41:23] That shooter lived in my

[8:41:26] district.

[8:41:27] Synagogues were attacked with

[8:41:27] disturbing regularity.

[8:41:31] Last week in seven days we saw

[8:41:32] seven attacks on synagogues

[8:41:36] here and around the world.

[8:41:36] And just a few weeks ago on

[8:41:37] JANUARY 30th in this very room

[8:41:40] my public safety committee held

[8:41:41] a hearing on the prosecution of

[8:41:44] anti-Semitic felony hate crimes

[8:41:45] committed here in San Diego.

[8:41:46] We heard members of this body

[8:41:50] heard firsthand how Jewish

[8:41:50] schools, community centers have

[8:41:54] to operate behind security

[8:41:54] checkpoints.

[8:41:55] We heard how many students were

[8:41:55] bullied in their classrooms

[8:41:59] just because they were Jewish.

[8:41:59] For many Jewish families today

[8:42:00] simply participating in their

[8:42:04] life going to Temple, sending

[8:42:05] kids to Hebrew school,

[8:42:05] attending a Hanukkah party

[8:42:06] means going under armed guard

[8:42:08] and through metal detectors.

[8:42:09] Participating openly in your

[8:42:10] culture and your history, your

[8:42:13] identity should never require

[8:42:13] armed protection.

[8:42:14] >> During our time on

[8:42:18] the council this council has

[8:42:18] worked to confront

[8:42:19] anti-Semitism and all forms of

[8:42:20] hate directly by shining a

[8:42:23] light on it by pushing for

[8:42:23] stronger coordination between

[8:42:24] law enforcement or Jewish

[8:42:27] community leaders to expand

[8:42:27] Holocaust education even here

[8:42:28] in San Diego.

[8:42:28] With Ruth Remember Us

[8:42:32] The Holocaust Project.

[8:42:37] Today's resolution sends a

[8:42:38] simple message that hate and

[8:42:38] violence towards Jewish people

[8:42:42] has no place in our community.

[8:42:43] But we need to be clear about

[8:42:43] something else.

[8:42:46] In America, the right to free

[8:42:47] speech is fundamental.

[8:42:48] People have the right to

[8:42:48] express views.

[8:42:51] We disagree with even if that

[8:42:52] speech makes our blood boil.

[8:42:56] Adopting this definition is not

[8:42:57] about policing.

[8:42:57] Speech in the city should never

[8:43:01] use it for that purpose.

[8:43:01] It's about making clear where

[8:43:02] our values are and recognize

[8:43:03] that anti-Semitism when it

[8:43:05] crosses that line into

[8:43:06] violence, vandalism or

[8:43:06] harassment.

[8:43:11] For many people Jewish people a

[8:43:11] connection to Israel is part of

[8:43:12] their identity faith and story

[8:43:15] As a people.

[8:43:16] And I know we all have very

[8:43:16] deep and passionate views about

[8:43:20] Israel and Palestine and for

[8:43:20] good reason.

[8:43:21] But this comes down to basic

[8:43:24] decency with each other

[8:43:25] compassion and respect for one

[8:43:25] another.

[8:43:26] Whether you support Israel, our

[8:43:29] passion about Palestinian

[8:43:30] rights or support both as many

[8:43:34] of us do, we all have to be

[8:43:35] better to each other.

[8:43:35] And words matter.

[8:43:39] Criticizing policies of

[8:43:40] the Israeli government just

[8:43:40] like criticizing any other

[8:43:43] government including our own.

[8:43:44] Here in this room in this

[8:43:45] nation is protected speech and

[8:43:48] part of a healthy debate.

[8:43:49] The very definition of

[8:43:49] anti-Semitism we are adopting

[8:43:53] today says that criticism of

[8:43:54] Israel similar to that leveled

[8:43:54] against any other country

[8:43:55] cannot be regarded as

[8:43:58] anti-Semitic.

[8:43:59] I've been clear on this too.

[8:44:03] I believe that policies like

[8:44:03] annexation and settlement

[8:44:04] expansion and settler violence

[8:44:05] are wrong.

[8:44:08] Palestinians deserve dignity,

[8:44:08] security and a state of their

[8:44:09] own.

[8:44:10] And for Jewish people I also

[8:44:12] believe that Jewish people

[8:44:13] deserve to live safely and

[8:44:14] securely in Israel and not be

[8:44:18] demonized for it.

[8:44:18] These values are not mutually

[8:44:19] exclusive.

[8:44:22] In fact they are mutually.

[8:44:23] We need to do this together for

[8:44:24] security and peace for all

[8:44:26] people.

[8:44:27] >> And when the very definition

[8:44:32] of anti Semitism the way I read

[8:44:33] it has room for distinguishing

[8:44:34] between speech That is

[8:44:37] criticism of Israel similar to

[8:44:38] that leveled against any other

[8:44:41] country and criticism of a

[8:44:42] Jewish homeland that is

[8:44:43] dangerous and often crosses

[8:44:47] the line into anti-Semitism.

[8:44:47] In fact I'm reading it here.

[8:44:51] This definition includes 11

[8:44:51] examples that describe ways

[8:44:56] that Jews MAY experience and

[8:44:56] says anti-Semitism today MAY

[8:45:00] experience taking into account

[8:45:00] the overall context.

[8:45:05] So under this definition I do

[8:45:06] not view anything that you said

[8:45:07] today.

[8:45:07] Counsel Elie Rivera and I very

[8:45:10] much appreciate your passion

[8:45:10] how hard this is for you.

[8:45:11] >> I don't do anything you said

[8:45:14] today is anti-Semitic.

[8:45:15] But the caller who called in in

[8:45:16] this public comment tonight and

[8:45:20] said that in his view because

[8:45:20] of the actions of the Israeli

[8:45:21] government Jewish children in

[8:45:24] public schools in San Diego

[8:45:25] deserve to be spit on is

[8:45:29] anti-Semitic.

[8:45:30] And this definition stated that

[8:45:34] context matters and we must

[8:45:35] also reject those who cynically

[8:45:39] weaponize it said Semitism for

[8:45:39] their own political agendas.

[8:45:40] Starting with PRESIDENT Donald

[8:45:44] Trump, what Trump is doing to

[8:45:44] attack our universities go

[8:45:45] after asylum seekers in

[8:45:48] the name of combating and anti

[8:45:49] Semitism is as shameful as it

[8:45:49] is transparent.

[8:45:50] It has nothing to do with

[8:45:53] protecting Jewish people's

[8:45:54] safety but advancing Trump's

[8:45:54] extremist agenda and further

[8:45:55] dividing our country.

[8:45:58] Donald Trump called

[8:45:59] the neo-Nazis and white

[8:46:01] supremacists at the 2017 Unite

[8:46:02] the Right rally in

[8:46:03] Charlottesville quote very fine

[8:46:06] people.

[8:46:07] >> He has hosted Holocaust

[8:46:08] deniers for dinner at Mar a

[8:46:11] Lago.

[8:46:12] >> Trump is normalizing

[8:46:16] the very forces fueling anti

[8:46:16] Semitism and I oppose in

[8:46:17] Washington and I won't stand

[8:46:20] for it here in San Diego.

[8:46:21] But for me tonight there is

[8:46:22] also something missing from

[8:46:25] this whole conversation today.

[8:46:26] As I said at the very beginning

[8:46:27] of my comments last month I

[8:46:30] held a hearing here in this

[8:46:31] very room at my public safety

[8:46:32] committee on how the city can

[8:46:35] do more to fight anti-Semitism

[8:46:36] ,act of hate and acts of

[8:46:36] violence.

[8:46:37] We weren't discussing just a

[8:46:39] genuine definition.

[8:46:40] We were discussing real action

[8:46:41] and real victims.

[8:46:44] They were some of you were here

[8:46:45] with us and we shared very

[8:46:46] touching stories.

[8:46:46] But I have to say this room was

[8:46:47] virtually empty for that

[8:46:52] hearing.

[8:46:53] So yes, I very much appreciate

[8:46:54] the passion we are seeing here

[8:46:54] today and I'm glad people are

[8:46:57] engaged in our government.

[8:46:57] These are serious issues.

[8:46:58] But I'll be honest I'm also

[8:47:01] disappointed because we should

[8:47:02] all be here and just as

[8:47:03] passionate and engaged if not

[8:47:06] more about actually confronting

[8:47:07] anti-Semitism as we are about

[8:47:11] how to define it.

[8:47:16] >> So I know this hrc

[8:47:16] definition is not perfect.

[8:47:17] It is a working definition.

[8:47:21] I welcome other perspectives

[8:47:22] and continued input from

[8:47:22] the community.

[8:47:23] But as part of the public

[8:47:26] comment on this item we all

[8:47:27] received an email.

[8:47:27] We read the written comments to

[8:47:30] you and I received a very

[8:47:31] thoughtful letter from Rabbi

[8:47:31] Jason Nevarez, the senior rabbi

[8:47:34] a congregation Beth Israel here

[8:47:35] in San Diego who had hoped to

[8:47:36] meet the day of the Tree of

[8:47:39] Life Memorial after a shooting

[8:47:40] the worst shooting against

[8:47:44] Jewish people in this nation.

[8:47:45] So many people came to mourn at

[8:47:49] Congregation Beth Israel that

[8:47:50] night and 2023 that I couldn't

[8:47:50] even get in.

[8:47:51] And I warned the people in

[8:47:53] the parking lot of all races,

[8:47:54] all faiths, all identities.

[8:47:59] He wrote to us and said the I h

[8:48:00] r a definition provides

[8:48:03] guidance not punishment and

[8:48:04] serves as an educational tool

[8:48:05] to help civic leaders,

[8:48:08] educators and law enforcement

[8:48:09] respond more and more

[8:48:10] effectively when anti-Semitism

[8:48:10] appears.

[8:48:13] And we ask my colleagues for a

[8:48:14] minute if anyone has one.

[8:48:14] >> Okay.

[8:48:19] Adopting the hra definition.

[8:48:20] Rabbi Navarro's writes Also

[8:48:23] does not place Jewish concerns

[8:48:23] above those of other

[8:48:24] communities.

[8:48:27] San Diego must remain vigilant

[8:48:28] against racism, Islamophobia,

[8:48:28] xenophobia, anti-black hatred

[8:48:32] and every form of bigotry.

[8:48:33] Naming antisemitism clearly is

[8:48:34] one part of that broader

[8:48:37] commitment to protecting every

[8:48:38] community in our city.

[8:48:42] I want to thank the rabbi for

[8:48:43] his leadership and beautiful

[8:48:43] words.

[8:48:46] And I want to thank everybody

[8:48:47] for being here tonight.

[8:48:48] I support this resolution

[8:48:51] because I support free speech

[8:48:52] in this country and I support

[8:48:52] the need to have

[8:48:56] the responsibility to call out

[8:48:56] hate and protect our

[8:48:57] communities even when

[8:48:58] the issues are difficult and

[8:48:58] complex.

[8:49:01] Everyone, including the Jewish

[8:49:02] community deserves to feel safe

[8:49:02] here in San Diego.

[8:49:05] Just like every community.

[8:49:06] >> Thank you.

[8:49:06] All right.

[8:49:06] Thank you.

[8:49:11] Council member Von Wilpert.

[8:49:11] We'll go next to council member

[8:49:13] Foster Thank you Council

[8:49:19] PRESIDENT And thank you to my

[8:49:23] colleagues to Council member

[8:49:24] Whitburn and his staff for

[8:49:28] the work that has gone into

[8:49:33] this thus far and also I just

[8:49:34] want to acknowledge my my

[8:49:38] colleagues.

[8:49:39] I haven't seen this emotion

[8:49:43] that I'm seeing here from

[8:49:47] the members so I feel a little

[8:49:48] I must say I feel uncomfortable

[8:49:57] at this present moment but just

[8:49:58] as I begin I just want to say

[8:50:02] clearly and intentionally that

[8:50:06] I denounce all forms of racism

[8:50:07] ,discrimination, hatred,

[8:50:11] bigotry and that includes

[8:50:15] anti-Semitism.

[8:50:16] This is not something that I

[8:50:17] take lightly.

[8:50:21] It's something that I discuss

[8:50:22] every day here at the city of

[8:50:26] San Diego And it's something

[8:50:30] that I'm very passionate about

[8:50:30] .

[8:50:31] I've been at the city of San

[8:50:35] Diego now for going on 12 years

[8:50:36] And quite honestly I think

[8:50:40] sometimes it's easier to walk

[8:50:41] away but I keep getting drawn

[8:50:45] back because I truly believe we

[8:50:54] can be a better San Diego and

[8:50:59] often you hear me say as a

[8:51:04] black man in America life is

[8:51:04] difficult.

[8:51:09] I'm 54 years old and I am still

[8:51:13] met with hate and it's hate

[8:51:20] that my people feel daily.

[8:51:25] We don't have the ability to

[8:51:26] not wear a certain piece of

[8:51:27] jewelry or to wear certain

[8:51:32] pieces of clothing.

[8:51:33] We are viewed on the color of

[8:51:38] our skin and that's something

[8:51:39] that we have to walk in every

[8:51:42] day.

[8:51:43] I remember the stories of my

[8:51:47] family in Georgia and being

[8:51:47] light skinned and certain

[8:51:49] family members being able to

[8:51:55] pass but not everyone had that

[8:51:56] ability But it was a real

[8:52:00] reality.

[8:52:00] Violence was a real reality.

[8:52:04] I say I went to Hampton

[8:52:08] University as a young man early

[8:52:09] in my years at Hampton.

[8:52:10] There was a young black boy

[8:52:18] that was found hung at a park.

[8:52:18] It was something that I will

[8:52:22] never ever forget and that was

[8:52:23] in my freshman year.

[8:52:28] And it's something that I never

[8:52:28] thought that I would see or

[8:52:31] have to experience.

[8:52:32] I lived in Chicago for a period

[8:52:37] of time where a young man rode

[8:52:37] his bike into the wrong

[8:52:41] neighborhood by White Sox Park

[8:52:48] and was almost beat to death.

[8:52:49] >> And these are real realities

[8:52:50] And it goes back to my comments

[8:52:54] where I said America's not

[8:52:58] perfect but it's about how we

[8:52:59] conduct ourselves and what we

[8:53:02] bring to the table.

[8:53:07] I think we can all say that I

[8:53:08] don't think any of us have an

[8:53:12] issue with a definition for

[8:53:13] anti-Semitism.

[8:53:17] I think all of us will agree

[8:53:17] that this is wrong.

[8:53:21] Anti-Semitism is wrong.

[8:53:22] Any type of hate is wrong

[8:53:27] whether it's race, religious,

[8:53:27] gender identity.

[8:53:32] I think you have consensus

[8:53:32] amongst this council and

[8:53:33] the mayor.

[8:53:37] I don't want to speak on behalf

[8:53:37] of the mayor but I think I know

[8:53:38] him pretty well.

[8:53:42] Unexcelled table.

[8:53:46] Um, I do have some questions.

[8:53:47] Um, I am a process person and I

[8:53:52] do understand, um, what we are

[8:53:55] trying to accomplish here today

[8:53:56] .

[8:53:57] But one thing that my office

[8:54:01] did find difficult as we tried

[8:54:02] to go through and prepare for

[8:54:05] this hearing we tried to go

[8:54:06] back and look at just exactly

[8:54:10] what the hrc did.

[8:54:11] And as we went back through

[8:54:12] the record I didn't I was not

[8:54:15] able to find a copy of meeting

[8:54:15] minutes.

[8:54:16] I can have a little more time

[8:54:16] please.

[8:54:20] I did not find meeting minutes.

[8:54:24] I could not access the video to

[8:54:25] watch the actual meeting that

[8:54:30] took place to see what

[8:54:30] the conversation was.

[8:54:31] Who was included in

[8:54:34] the conversation?

[8:54:35] Um so Ryan if you can help me

[8:54:39] to understand um, what took

[8:54:40] place, what did not take place,

[8:54:44] why is that information not

[8:54:45] available for the public to see

[8:54:49] is based on what I sat through

[8:54:49] and have seen today.

[8:54:52] This is a very important

[8:54:58] conversation on all sides of

[8:54:59] the discussion.

[8:55:02] And so I would think that that

[8:55:03] type of transparency is

[8:55:07] necessary as we are talking

[8:55:08] about something that is so

[8:55:12] impactful to everyone's lives

[8:55:13] in the city of San Diego.

[8:55:14] So can you help me to

[8:55:18] understand what took place

[8:55:18] because no information was

[8:55:23] available And thank you Council

[8:55:23] member for the question.

[8:55:24] Um, I received that information

[8:55:27] from the executive Director

[8:55:27] that works with the Human

[8:55:32] Relations Commission.

[8:55:32] And I would invite anyone

[8:55:33] that's from the Human Relations

[8:55:37] Commission that's here today.

[8:55:38] And I can tell you I don't know

[8:55:41] about the process in which, you

[8:55:42] know, minutes are uploaded.

[8:55:43] That's a process question for

[8:55:43] the commission.

[8:55:46] But I would invite any of them

[8:55:47] up to here today to know what

[8:55:48] that or really what that

[8:55:51] process like.

[8:55:51] But I see the executive

[8:55:52] director here if we can

[8:55:55] understand.

[8:55:56] I just as I was sitting on

[8:55:57] the dais went to the website to

[8:56:01] look for the information and I

[8:56:02] saw other than the agenda from

[8:56:02] the MARCH meeting.

[8:56:05] i have not seen any other types

[8:56:10] of documentation.

[8:56:11] Good evening Council members

[8:56:15] and thank you for your question

[8:56:15] .

[8:56:16] Councilmember Posture.

[8:56:17] If you if you do in fact go to

[8:56:20] the website MARCH is there

[8:56:21] the MARCH when we had this

[8:56:22] meeting when we had

[8:56:25] the individuals come forward

[8:56:26] before the commission to give

[8:56:29] testimony as well as we also

[8:56:34] did the actual minutes

[8:56:34] the minutes showed up in JUNE

[8:56:35] for the MARCH meeting.

[8:56:40] And so that was on the website

[8:56:40] And it did in fact see

[8:56:44] the unanimous decision that was

[8:56:48] made up by all the commission.

[8:56:49] And then you have copies of

[8:56:50] the minutes that are that are

[8:56:53] here for MARCH 19th.

[8:56:54] And then we will get you a copy

[8:56:58] of the ones from JUNE as well.

[8:56:59] So if I can clarify I'm on

[8:57:03] the website now, sir.

[8:57:04] Yes sir, I am at the 319 2025

[8:57:08] meeting that says MARCH 19th

[8:57:08] 2025.

[8:57:12] It's a pdf When I open that

[8:57:13] file it only shows the agenda

[8:57:14] for said meeting.

[8:57:14] Right.

[8:57:18] You said it came up in JUNE.

[8:57:19] When I go to the JUNE meeting I

[8:57:22] see a 618 2025.

[8:57:26] What I see is a link that says

[8:57:27] to JUNE 18th 2025.

[8:57:32] And it says Adjourned.

[8:57:32] And it it is an adjournment of

[8:57:33] the meeting.

[8:57:36] So I do not see the meeting

[8:57:37] minutes or the appropriate

[8:57:41] documentation that details out

[8:57:42] the conversations that took

[8:57:42] place.

[8:57:46] I do understand your statement

[8:57:47] sir and the minutes for that

[8:57:51] meeting are in fact I sent

[8:57:52] those out to both college here

[8:57:57] as well as the new chair for

[8:57:58] for those minutes And they were

[8:58:00] they I found both of minutes

[8:58:01] clearly covered the actual

[8:58:06] MARCH meeting.

[8:58:07] So they are there sir.

[8:58:08] And if you'd like me to send

[8:58:11] those to you I can put to you.

[8:58:11] Right.

[8:58:15] Well I don't think it's again

[8:58:15] I'm looking at it now, sir and

[8:58:16] I'm telling you they are not

[8:58:16] there.

[8:58:17] Okay.

[8:58:20] And so I can appreciate what

[8:58:21] you're indicating.

[8:58:25] But my question is where would

[8:58:26] one find that documentation?

[8:58:32] Well, sir, it seems like I have

[8:58:33] before the documentation to you

[8:58:34] if you didn't me on

[8:58:34] the website, sir.

[8:58:35] But how would the public find

[8:58:36] that information?

[8:58:37] Well, we publish that that

[8:58:41] actual information that we

[8:58:42] published the minutes that is

[8:58:43] there and for whatever reason

[8:58:45] if you can't find them I don't

[8:58:46] know but I will send those to

[8:58:47] you and to the general public

[8:58:50] as well.

[8:58:51] This is a mayoral This is a

[8:58:56] mayoral commission, correct?

[8:58:56] Yes, sir.

[8:58:57] Cora, can you take a moment and

[8:59:01] see what you see on the website

[8:59:02] and what's there and direct me

[8:59:02] to where it's at?

[8:59:03] Or am I incorrect?

[8:59:05] I'm seeing the same thing

[8:59:06] you're seeing here.

[8:59:06] You're seeing the same thing

[8:59:07] I'm seeing.

[8:59:07] That's correct.

[8:59:08] Council member.

[8:59:08] Okay.

[8:59:10] I think we'll have to follow up

[8:59:11] afterwards and check with

[8:59:11] the Office of Boards and

[8:59:12] Commissions to make sure all of

[8:59:15] our commissions are trained

[8:59:16] properly on how to post meeting

[8:59:16] minutes and meeting recorded

[8:59:20] recordings as required.

[8:59:21] Okay.

[8:59:21] Thank you for that.

[8:59:22] And and I'm just making this

[8:59:26] this I'm bringing this to light

[8:59:30] because again as we are talking

[8:59:30] about something significant as

[8:59:31] this, I think it's important

[8:59:35] that we are transparent, we are

[8:59:36] inclusive and that we have a

[8:59:41] documentation trail as we talk

[8:59:41] about robust conversations.

[8:59:42] Right.

[8:59:46] My colleague mentioned that it

[8:59:51] appears that there was a one

[8:59:51] sided conversation that

[8:59:52] the conversation was not

[8:59:52] inclusive.

[8:59:56] Is that accurate?

[8:59:56] Somewhat accurate.

[9:00:01] I'd like to think Ryan, if you

[9:00:02] were staffing this and you guys

[9:00:03] are championing this this item

[9:00:06] that you did your due

[9:00:07] diligence, can you respond to

[9:00:11] that?

[9:00:12] Yeah.

[9:00:12] Thank you for the question

[9:00:13] Councilmember.

[9:00:13] I would take that from exactly

[9:00:17] the Commissioner's that I heard

[9:00:17] from which was that there was

[9:00:21] in fact a robust discussion in

[9:00:22] fact there was both sides

[9:00:23] represented on this issue And I

[9:00:27] would take those commissioners

[9:00:28] who were sworn in commissioners

[9:00:28] for the city of San Diego I

[9:00:29] would take them at their word

[9:00:32] that that was what happened.

[9:00:33] Okay.

[9:00:37] Um, I guess my next question

[9:00:42] would be in just as I'm

[9:00:43] gathering my thoughts and as I

[9:00:48] look at what the discourse that

[9:00:53] i saw play out in this room and

[9:00:58] I want to go to the letter that

[9:00:58] two commissioners recently

[9:01:04] submitted and in here it says

[9:01:05] The mission of the standing of

[9:01:06] the city of San Diego's Human

[9:01:08] Relations Commission is to

[9:01:09] create an atmosphere that

[9:01:09] promotes amicable relations

[9:01:12] among all members of the San

[9:01:17] Diego community.

[9:01:23] And I just have to say as you

[9:01:24] look at the conversation,

[9:01:24] the discourse that took place

[9:01:29] on all sides, it really left me

[9:01:29] with the impression that this

[9:01:34] conversation was is not done.

[9:01:39] And so that is concerning to me

[9:01:40] as you are representing to me

[9:01:44] that there was an inclusive

[9:01:45] process and open process and

[9:01:50] all sides at the table or all

[9:01:51] sides of this conversation were

[9:01:55] representative at the table.

[9:01:56] So I do find that concerning.

[9:02:01] The other thing that I must say

[9:02:01] as I listened to the public

[9:02:07] comment and what I haven't been

[9:02:07] able to connect to is truly

[9:02:12] what the intentions of what we

[9:02:12] are trying to accomplish.

[9:02:16] As you have heard that this is

[9:02:22] nonbinding, that this does not

[9:02:28] solve the issue or diminish

[9:02:29] anti-Semitism at anti Semitic

[9:02:29] activities.

[9:02:34] You hear a young person come

[9:02:35] and say I experienced this and

[9:02:36] I want to be able to go to

[9:02:40] school and not have

[9:02:40] the problems.

[9:02:41] Can you explain to me how this

[9:02:44] solves those concerns and those

[9:02:50] safety issues?

[9:02:51] Yeah, I think Councilmember I

[9:02:52] think you know, because cities

[9:02:52] are not just zoning bodies.

[9:02:56] They also set norms.

[9:02:57] They respond to hate incidents.

[9:02:57] They support affected

[9:03:02] communities and they try and

[9:03:03] stop a city I think cannot

[9:03:07] respond coherently to anti

[9:03:08] Semitism if it refuses to

[9:03:09] define what it's trying to

[9:03:09] recognize.

[9:03:13] And so I think a city that

[9:03:14] wants to confront anti-Semitism

[9:03:15] should be willing to define it.

[9:03:18] Otherwise every incident start

[9:03:19] from scratch.

[9:03:20] >> So let me ask this question

[9:03:20] of the city attorneys.

[9:03:25] Does this document solve

[9:03:25] the issue of someone driving a

[9:03:30] vehicle into a synagogue

[9:03:31] prosecution of hate crimes or

[9:03:36] crimes in general would fall

[9:03:37] under the penal code?

[9:03:37] So we have the existing I think

[9:03:42] the aclu called in and said we

[9:03:43] have existing penal codes, hate

[9:03:45] crimes, things of the sort that

[9:03:46] take care of these issues.

[9:03:46] Correct.

[9:03:52] Yes.

[9:03:53] Thank you Council member.

[9:03:53] There are penal code sections

[9:03:54] on point that do address in

[9:03:58] defining crimes.

[9:03:59] >> Okay.

[9:03:59] So so at the end of the day as

[9:04:04] we are trying to deal with

[9:04:04] the uptake of anti-Semitism,

[9:04:10] the actual violent acts, things

[9:04:11] of that nature, we do have

[9:04:16] things in place and I'm asking

[9:04:17] from a position of is there

[9:04:18] something else we need to do to

[9:04:22] make sure that we are creating

[9:04:23] a safe environment?

[9:04:23] That that's where I'm going

[9:04:31] with my question.

[9:04:32] I would say that existing civil

[9:04:36] rights law prohibit

[9:04:37] discrimination but they do not

[9:04:38] provide a clear framework for

[9:04:38] identifying modern forms of

[9:04:42] antisemitism.

[9:04:43] Ira Help ira helps institutions

[9:04:44] understand how antisemitism can

[9:04:49] manifest today including

[9:04:49] through conspiracy theories,

[9:04:50] Holocaust Holocaust denial and

[9:04:55] certain forms of anti-Jewish

[9:04:55] rhetoric.

[9:04:56] Existing law and ira are not

[9:05:01] are are complementary tools.

[9:05:02] >> I don't I don't know if I

[9:05:08] necessarily connected the dots

[9:05:08] And I just as I listen to my

[9:05:09] colleague from the public

[9:05:14] safety the public safety chair,

[9:05:14] I think she did put a call a

[9:05:15] very specific call that I do

[9:05:20] believe as to what actions can

[9:05:20] we take to actually look at

[9:05:21] curbing antisemitism.

[9:05:25] And the two issues I think my

[9:05:26] colleague other probably took

[9:05:26] some action on.

[9:05:31] What was it The fliers and

[9:05:31] the hate mail and certain

[9:05:36] things like that.

[9:05:37] I guess I'm asking are there

[9:05:37] other things that we need to be

[9:05:38] considering in addition to

[9:05:42] something like this to actually

[9:05:43] see what I think is going to

[9:05:48] address the concerns of a young

[9:05:48] person being able to be

[9:05:49] themselves who they are

[9:05:54] represent their culture.

[9:05:55] Are there other things that we

[9:05:56] need to do or other things that

[9:06:00] are going to come about this?

[9:06:01] You know, I'm driving this

[9:06:01] question because I feel like

[9:06:07] there's as I look at it again I

[9:06:08] go back to being an African

[9:06:08] American.

[9:06:09] I feel like there's other

[9:06:10] things that we need to do.

[9:06:12] I don't see I see similarities

[9:06:13] in the issues in the concerns

[9:06:18] and the safety of what our

[9:06:18] Jewish friends go through.

[9:06:19] And so that's why I'm asking

[9:06:25] the question in the manner in

[9:06:25] which I'm asking.

[9:06:26] So Council Member to be fair to

[9:06:29] everyone you've had your five

[9:06:29] plus three and plus someone

[9:06:30] give you another two.

[9:06:31] I understand and I appreciate

[9:06:35] that But we'll give you what

[9:06:36] somebody is giving you one more

[9:06:36] minute.

[9:06:36] I appreciate that.

[9:06:41] I would say, you know, I think

[9:06:42] one of the first things we do

[9:06:42] recognizing when we have a

[9:06:43] problem is defining it And

[9:06:46] that's what exactly this

[9:06:47] resolution does.

[9:06:47] I would invite up we have

[9:06:48] the executive director of

[9:06:52] anti-Semitism Task Force.

[9:06:53] I could speak more to it if

[9:06:58] you'd like The answer like oh,

[9:07:04] I'm going to be with Ryan.

[9:07:05] We need to define antisemitism

[9:07:06] before we can do anything with

[9:07:06] it.

[9:07:11] So first we need to have an

[9:07:11] understanding.

[9:07:12] The second thing is work with

[9:07:13] people Now that we have a

[9:07:16] definition of antisemitism and

[9:07:17] work with law enforcement.

[9:07:18] Make sure they receive

[9:07:18] the right training.

[9:07:19] They understand what

[9:07:23] antisemitism looks like in

[9:07:23] the city of San Diego.

[9:07:24] Now we work with the school

[9:07:25] boards and with educators.

[9:07:29] We bring in Holocaust

[9:07:29] education.

[9:07:30] We bring in, you know,

[9:07:30] Holocaust survivors.

[9:07:35] We do that all the time.

[9:07:35] Stand with us.

[9:07:36] Introduce them to schools.

[9:07:40] We first need a definition

[9:07:40] though Without a definition we

[9:07:41] can't even have these

[9:07:41] conversations because if

[9:07:46] everybody has in their mind a

[9:07:47] different definition of what

[9:07:48] antisemitism is, then we can

[9:07:52] actually address it and this is

[9:07:53] why we're here voting on it

[9:07:53] today.

[9:07:54] So I guess I'll end here.

[9:07:58] I appreciate that.

[9:07:59] I think at the end of the day

[9:07:59] what I hear is no matter if we

[9:08:04] still have more work to do to

[9:08:05] do what I think is to really

[9:08:06] address the concerns and

[9:08:10] the issues that exist.

[9:08:11] And I will say this Not only do

[9:08:11] we need is there more work to

[9:08:12] do as we talked about

[9:08:15] the Jewish community but I

[9:08:16] think there's more work to do

[9:08:17] as a whole which is why I think

[9:08:21] the conversation of being

[9:08:22] inclusive is so important.

[9:08:26] And I think at times that we

[9:08:27] try to address one offs we tend

[9:08:33] to do a great disservice.

[9:08:34] The other thing that I will ask

[9:08:34] is and I haven't had

[9:08:35] the information but it's my

[9:08:39] understanding that there are

[9:08:40] other definitions that exist.

[9:08:44] I did not see it in the in

[9:08:45] the documents.

[9:08:52] Why Can you tell me why this

[9:08:53] very specific one was picked

[9:08:57] versus other things that exist

[9:08:57] or that are being that are

[9:08:58] discussed and are out there

[9:08:59] that other organizations tend

[9:09:03] to promote and use?

[9:09:04] >> Yeah I think Councilmember

[9:09:05] because I was the most widely

[9:09:05] adopted governmental framework

[9:09:09] and gives the city a recognized

[9:09:10] already usable tool that does

[9:09:11] not mean alternative frameworks

[9:09:11] are worthless.

[9:09:15] It just means as the broader

[9:09:16] institutional uptake that when

[9:09:16] I mentioned in my presentation

[9:09:19] that throughout the world that

[9:09:23] has been widely used.

[9:09:30] So just simply it's broader.

[9:09:30] >> Again, I would just say

[9:09:31] the ira is the most widely used

[9:09:32] governmental framework.

[9:09:36] So the city is choosing

[9:09:36] the most established

[9:09:37] operational tool not trying to

[9:09:42] end every academic disagreement

[9:09:43] but it's just obviously

[9:09:43] the standard.

[9:09:44] Did I misunderstand you at

[9:09:44] that?

[9:09:45] You use the word broader

[9:09:46] previously?

[9:09:52] I said I said broadly used

[9:09:53] across the world.

[9:09:53] Yes.

[9:09:53] Okay.

[9:09:53] All right.

[9:09:58] Thank you, Council PRESIDENT.

[9:10:05] That concludes my line of

[9:10:05] questioning at this moment.

[9:10:06] Okay.

[9:10:06] Thank you, Councilmember

[9:10:07] Foster.

[9:10:11] We'll go next to Council

[9:10:11] PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.

[9:10:17] Thinking as PRESIDENT I want to

[9:10:17] start this discussion by being

[9:10:18] clear which is that anti

[9:10:19] Semitism is real, it is

[9:10:22] persistent and it has been

[9:10:23] rising in very troubling ways

[9:10:23] in recent years.

[9:10:24] We've seen this not just

[9:10:29] nationally but here locally as

[9:10:29] well.

[9:10:30] I'm certainly appalled by some

[9:10:30] of the stories members of

[9:10:34] the public have shared about

[9:10:35] their experiences in our

[9:10:36] community with anti-Semitic

[9:10:41] hate in our district as you

[9:10:42] might have heard from one of

[9:10:42] the earlier public commenters.

[9:10:43] Our office is working directly

[9:10:46] with the local about after hate

[9:10:47] fliers were distributed at

[9:10:48] their doors scattered in their

[9:10:48] parking lot into the street

[9:10:52] picked up by other residents

[9:10:53] and even middle schoolers next

[9:10:53] door.

[9:10:54] These kinds of incidents have a

[9:10:55] real impact on people's sense

[9:10:58] of safety and belonging.

[9:10:59] I've also visited multiple

[9:11:00] congregations and a Jewish

[9:11:05] community center all in my

[9:11:06] district and I've seen

[9:11:07] firsthand the level of security

[9:11:11] that is now necessary which in

[9:11:12] itself speaks to the reality of

[9:11:12] what many in our Jewish

[9:11:13] community are facing.

[9:11:18] I just want to acknowledge that

[9:11:18] this is not unique to one

[9:11:19] community.

[9:11:19] We've seen similar patterns of

[9:11:23] increased hate and targeting in

[9:11:24] recent years in the form of

[9:11:29] Islamophobia anti lgbtq hate

[9:11:30] and even anti-Asian hate.

[9:11:30] When one community is targeted

[9:11:35] it undermines safety and

[9:11:35] belonging for all of us.

[9:11:41] Anti-Semitism must be addressed

[9:11:41] and challenged.

[9:11:42] I also think it's important to

[9:11:47] acknowledge the concerns that

[9:11:47] are being raised today about

[9:11:48] First Amendment rights, about

[9:11:49] free speech and about

[9:11:53] the ability to express views

[9:11:53] including criticism of any

[9:11:54] government including Israel.

[9:11:59] Those are fundamental

[9:12:00] principles and they should not

[9:12:00] be dismissed.

[9:12:01] I do not believe that those

[9:12:05] speaking in favor of the very

[9:12:06] definition should be assumed to

[9:12:07] be seeking to suppress free

[9:12:11] speech when they are simply

[9:12:12] seeking to protect their

[9:12:12] community.

[9:12:17] Similarly, I do not believe

[9:12:17] that those speaking out against

[9:12:18] this definition or expressing

[9:12:19] criticism of Israel should be

[9:12:24] broadly labeled as

[9:12:24] anti-Semitic.

[9:12:25] It is concerning to me that

[9:12:30] Councilmember Isla Rivera as a

[9:12:30] Jewish community member of this

[9:12:31] council has expressed

[9:12:31] frustration about not being

[9:12:35] engaged in this discussion and

[9:12:36] I recognize that not everyone

[9:12:40] MAY agree but no one should

[9:12:41] have their Jewish identity or

[9:12:42] heritage questioned based on a

[9:12:46] difference of opinion.

[9:12:47] At the end of the day I do

[9:12:47] believe that this resolution

[9:12:52] presents a nonbinding framework

[9:12:53] that defines anti-Semitism

[9:12:54] while also stating that nothing

[9:12:58] in this action changes or

[9:12:59] limits constitutional

[9:12:59] protections.

[9:13:00] I firmly believe that we can

[9:13:05] both take a clear stand against

[9:13:06] anti-Semitism and continue to

[9:13:06] uphold and protect

[9:13:11] the fundamental rights that are

[9:13:12] core to who we are as a member

[9:13:12] of this Council.

[9:13:16] I will always respect any

[9:13:17] speaker's right to criticize

[9:13:17] any government body including

[9:13:18] this one.

[9:13:22] With all this in mind that I am

[9:13:23] supporting this item today.

[9:13:28] More importantly, I don't

[9:13:28] believe this is the end of

[9:13:29] the discussion.

[9:13:30] There's more work to be done to

[9:13:34] address anti-Semitism to ensure

[9:13:35] that our efforts do not do so

[9:13:35] and suppress the rights of

[9:13:39] those who might disagree.

[9:13:40] Today's discussion has made

[9:13:41] clear how deeply and divergent

[9:13:46] our communities feel even how

[9:13:47] around how antisemitism is

[9:13:47] defined.

[9:13:51] That divide is real and it must

[9:13:58] be addressed as we move

[9:13:58] forward.

[9:13:59] I'd like to ask that our Human

[9:14:00] Relations Commission continue

[9:14:03] the difficult work of helping

[9:14:04] us navigate how we protect free

[9:14:05] speech while upholding

[9:14:09] fundamental rights.

[9:14:10] I would also ask that we ensure

[9:14:16] that other forms of hatred are

[9:14:16] equally addressed and even

[9:14:17] defined including but certainly

[9:14:21] not limited to Islamophobia

[9:14:22] anti lgbtq hate, anti-Asian

[9:14:28] hate and that we continue to

[9:14:28] engage a broad range of

[9:14:29] perspectives so that we truly

[9:14:33] stand for all of our

[9:14:34] marginalized communities.

[9:14:34] I think what I'd like to ask

[9:14:35] the council PRESIDENT Of

[9:14:39] the City Attorney's office is

[9:14:40] whether it would actually be

[9:14:41] appropriate to propose an

[9:14:41] amendment to today's item to

[9:14:45] include that request of

[9:14:50] the Human Relations Commission

[9:14:50] .

[9:14:51] I've always had a particular

[9:14:52] bias just to make the request

[9:14:52] and get an acknowledgment

[9:14:53] rather than building it into

[9:14:54] the motion.

[9:14:57] That's my personal bias.

[9:14:58] Is it possible for

[9:14:58] the attorney?

[9:15:02] Yes.

[9:15:03] Thank you.

[9:15:04] It is generally preferred to

[9:15:04] make the request but not

[9:15:05] include it in the motion but it

[9:15:06] is certainly permissible to

[9:15:09] make the request.

[9:15:09] >> I can't remember which

[9:15:10] friend I would ask if you would

[9:15:14] include an amendment to

[9:15:15] the motion that includes a

[9:15:16] request of the Human Relations

[9:15:21] Commission to be sure I just

[9:15:22] have it right from what I wrote

[9:15:23] to ensure that other forms of

[9:15:26] hatred are equally addressed

[9:15:27] and even defined including but

[9:15:28] certainly not limited to

[9:15:28] Islamophobia anti lgbtq hate as

[9:15:42] well as anti-Asian hate.

[9:15:42] Rather than conflate that with

[9:15:43] the motion that is in front of

[9:15:43] us.

[9:15:44] I would like to take that up as

[9:15:45] a separate motion.

[9:15:51] I would support it.

[9:15:51] Is that possible?

[9:15:57] I will allow it.

[9:15:58] Let's deal with this motion,

[9:15:59] get a vote and then we'll go

[9:15:59] back to you.

[9:16:04] Council PRESIDENT Bottomley

[9:16:05] That concludes my comments.

[9:16:05] All right.

[9:16:09] Thank you.

[9:16:09] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee.

[9:16:10] Thank you to all my colleagues

[9:16:18] for your powerful words.

[9:16:19] I want to thank each of you

[9:16:20] that came before council

[9:16:20] especially those who have stuck

[9:16:25] it out for the entirety even

[9:16:25] the four that were escorted out

[9:16:26] over the course of that

[9:16:26] meeting.

[9:16:27] I appreciate their willingness

[9:16:31] to come and talk and certainly

[9:16:31] those who participated

[9:16:32] remotely.

[9:16:32] I want to thank the Human

[9:16:33] Relations Commission for their

[9:16:37] work on Councilmember Lipman

[9:16:38] and the d3 team for bringing

[9:16:42] this item forward.

[9:16:43] I'm not looking for a lot of

[9:16:44] love but I had to make a

[9:16:44] decision about whether to talk

[9:16:48] at this and as soon as council

[9:16:49] member Whitburn said I want to

[9:16:50] bring this forward I said yes

[9:16:54] and we scheduled it for

[9:16:55] the earliest possible date.

[9:17:00] I recognize that this

[9:17:01] discussion is taking place amid

[9:17:01] uncertainty in the Middle East.

[9:17:02] It is impossible to ignore

[9:17:07] the reverberations of those

[9:17:07] military actions here at home.

[9:17:08] Many of our communities are

[9:17:09] facing real concern, real hurt

[9:17:12] and real trauma in the face of

[9:17:12] this conflict.

[9:17:13] And as a council we strive to

[9:17:14] hear from all our constituents

[9:17:14] above all to ensure that every

[9:17:18] single resident feel safe and

[9:17:19] welcome in our city.

[9:17:20] The spirit of today's

[9:17:24] conversation is to consider

[9:17:25] adopting a working definition

[9:17:25] is not a departure from our

[9:17:26] values.

[9:17:30] It presents an opportunity to

[9:17:31] reaffirm our commitment to

[9:17:31] stand against hate and to

[9:17:32] foster communities that care

[9:17:32] for one another.

[9:17:35] It is clear that hate and in

[9:17:36] particular hate against Jewish

[9:17:37] communities is on the rise

[9:17:42] globally, nationally and

[9:17:42] locally.

[9:17:43] This trend to support it must

[9:17:43] end and it must be reversed.

[9:17:48] Hate has no place in our city.

[9:17:48] As many have have has

[9:17:53] acknowledged this action won't

[9:17:53] stop anti Semitism but it does

[9:17:54] offer the possibility of hope

[9:17:59] and a reaffirmation of our

[9:18:00] city's values and a commitment

[9:18:00] to safety.

[9:18:01] One of the privileges of going

[9:18:05] last is also to put a context

[9:18:06] in this conversation.

[9:18:10] I think you've heard despite

[9:18:11] each my council members in

[9:18:12] their own particular way that a

[9:18:12] unanimous feeling about

[9:18:17] anti-Semitism is unacceptable

[9:18:18] and that we as a council are

[9:18:18] committed to do everything

[9:18:23] within our power, our

[9:18:23] jurisdiction to fight against

[9:18:24] anti-Semitism.

[9:18:30] I also did not hear any

[9:18:30] criticism about the mayor's

[9:18:33] office City hall or police

[9:18:39] department our working

[9:18:40] definition of hate before we

[9:18:40] got here and how we've

[9:18:45] addressed the rise in hate

[9:18:46] crimes clearly has dramatically

[9:18:51] an unacceptably risen.

[9:18:52] But I didn't hear anybody

[9:18:53] complain or city employees and

[9:18:57] how the city employees behave

[9:18:58] And I think that's an important

[9:18:59] distinction that we should all

[9:18:59] recognize.

[9:19:03] This is going in a different

[9:19:04] direction.

[9:19:05] Above and beyond what the city

[9:19:09] is already doing and doing well

[9:19:10] with the resources we have.

[9:19:15] We are in challenging times.

[9:19:16] The mayor is committed.

[9:19:16] The council is committed.

[9:19:17] Our police force is committed

[9:19:21] as well.

[9:19:21] And it's a struggle we'll

[9:19:22] continue to face and meet head

[9:19:22] on.

[9:19:27] My thought I'd have to I

[9:19:28] struggle a little bit because

[9:19:28] I'm a little bit of a policy

[9:19:33] wonk and I think perhaps a

[9:19:33] little deeper in about words

[9:19:34] because I have found council of

[9:19:38] ministers or council members

[9:19:39] and administrations in the past

[9:19:40] have somehow gotten lost when

[9:19:44] they think about the big idea

[9:19:44] and then they forget

[9:19:45] the details about how they

[9:19:45] actually execute.

[9:19:50] I would have felt despite

[9:19:51] the amazing work by the Human

[9:19:56] Relations Commission, despite

[9:19:57] the good work by District three

[9:20:01] and the 4 or 5 six hours now

[9:20:02] going on, I don't think anybody

[9:20:06] spent more time on this than

[9:20:07] the ira in putting forth their

[9:20:07] work.

[9:20:14] I reflected on the work that

[9:20:14] they did and the careful

[9:20:15] language they put in to their

[9:20:20] document.

[9:20:20] On MAY 26th, 2016 210 years to

[9:20:25] get it in front of us I find

[9:20:26] this language and the adoption

[9:20:32] of this language to be a much

[9:20:32] more powerful action by us.

[9:20:33] I actually see some thumbs up.

[9:20:37] Thank you.

[9:20:37] It goes beyond just the non

[9:20:38] legally binding working

[9:20:43] definition.

[9:20:43] They said it twice non legally

[9:20:44] binding working definition of

[9:20:49] an asset as separatism in this

[9:20:50] document.

[9:20:55] They also took the time to say

[9:21:01] to guide our hra in their work.

[9:21:01] The following examples MAY

[9:21:02] serve as illustrations.

[9:21:06] A much softer tone than what

[9:21:07] our resolution says.

[9:21:13] They also included additional

[9:21:13] language at the end.

[9:21:14] Anti-Semitic acts are criminal

[9:21:19] when they are so defined by

[9:21:19] law.

[9:21:20] Criminal acts are anti-Semitic

[9:21:21] when the targets of attacks and

[9:21:22] I won't read the whole thing.

[9:21:26] And I Semitic discrimination is

[9:21:29] a denial to dual and I'll take

[9:21:29] my three minutes.

[9:21:30] >> This is the language I would

[9:21:30] have preferred.

[9:21:35] I think this really reflects

[9:21:36] what H.R. A ira was really

[9:21:41] doing and what everybody spoke

[9:21:42] to eloquently about what was so

[9:21:42] very important.

[9:21:47] In a perfect world this is what

[9:21:47] would have gotten written up in

[9:21:48] the resolution.

[9:21:48] I am a little concerned and

[9:21:53] there is always an opportunity

[9:21:54] As council member Campbell said

[9:21:55] it's only a resolution.

[9:21:55] It is.

[9:21:59] Let me be very blunt The lowest

[9:22:00] form of what we can do and it's

[9:22:00] the easiest thing We don't have

[9:22:01] to go to committee.

[9:22:05] It can be direct talking to

[9:22:05] the council which gives us

[9:22:06] opportunity to change if it's

[9:22:11] causing problems And I would

[9:22:12] look to each of you no matter

[9:22:13] which side you are on to let us

[9:22:17] know if it is causing problems

[9:22:17] .

[9:22:18] If it is causing the police

[9:22:19] department to go off into

[9:22:20] different directions if it is

[9:22:23] causing other groups to accuse

[9:22:24] people of things that this

[9:22:25] thing was not intended to.

[9:22:29] So your work is not done yet

[9:22:29] and I know for many of you your

[9:22:30] work is never done in this

[9:22:30] conversation.

[9:22:35] Having said that, a different

[9:22:35] resolution in a different era

[9:22:40] and something less passionate

[9:22:41] about.

[9:22:47] I was on the border of seeing

[9:22:48] voting no on this because I

[9:22:48] wanted the ira work and not

[9:22:49] the resolution and that means

[9:22:53] no respect to my council

[9:22:53] colleague going forward.

[9:22:58] But I will be voting in support

[9:22:59] of this with the understanding

[9:22:59] that we MAY come back if it

[9:23:00] turns to be problematic for

[9:23:05] some.

[9:23:05] I have predicted we can always

[9:23:06] go back and fix something that

[9:23:07] is not cast in concrete.

[9:23:11] That is not legally binding and

[9:23:12] as I would have said is a

[9:23:16] working definition, not

[9:23:17] the definition going forward.

[9:23:17] So please come back.

[9:23:22] Please keep us informed.

[9:23:23] The Human Relations Commission

[9:23:23] I also ask you to take that

[9:23:28] input and to bring us back

[9:23:29] going forward.

[9:23:29] Part of my reason for voting

[9:23:34] yes is we have an awful lot of

[9:23:35] advisory boards staffed by

[9:23:35] volunteers.

[9:23:36] I want to show a level of

[9:23:36] respect.

[9:23:37] I think it missed the mark a

[9:23:40] little bit but I want to show

[9:23:41] the respect and take some

[9:23:41] action today so I will be

[9:23:47] supported of that as I said.

[9:23:52] >> Council member Ila

[9:23:52] PRESIDENT.

[9:23:53] There's just one thing I do

[9:23:53] want to say and I mean this

[9:23:54] with complete respect.

[9:23:57] Because this is my truth.

[9:24:03] The definition is already being

[9:24:04] weaponised and I know that.

[9:24:05] So there's this conversation if

[9:24:09] you're happening about this

[9:24:10] this conversation if you're

[9:24:10] having about that as a

[9:24:16] hypothetical and if it happened

[9:24:17] in the future we need to

[9:24:17] address it.

[9:24:18] And what I'm sharing is that

[9:24:21] since the presentation to

[9:24:22] the Immigration commission,

[9:24:23] the proponents of this

[9:24:27] the folks who are associated

[9:24:27] with those who presented have

[9:24:28] weaponized my words against me

[9:24:33] to say that I despite all

[9:24:34] the stories experiences that I

[9:24:35] shared and feeling antisemitism

[9:24:39] through my through the words

[9:24:40] and actions that I've taken.

[9:24:41] So I want to get that on

[9:24:46] the record again because I have

[9:24:46] it feels quite honestly like

[9:24:51] it's being not dismissed by

[9:24:52] everyone but dismissed by too

[9:24:52] many.

[9:24:53] And I do have a problem with

[9:24:53] that.

[9:24:57] Thank you.

[9:24:58] All right.

[9:24:58] I have about 35 seconds left.

[9:25:04] I think he has worked very

[9:25:05] seriously at seeing what he's

[9:25:05] talking about.

[9:25:06] i know what he's talking about.

[9:25:07] For all of you that came stay

[9:25:10] the entire six hours, whatever

[9:25:10] it's been who fought so very

[9:25:11] hard for this.

[9:25:15] I'm holding you to account to

[9:25:16] do self-control And to those

[9:25:20] who are opposed to this

[9:25:21] the same for you and to let us

[9:25:26] know we are a city that does

[9:25:27] not invite hate.

[9:25:27] I do not understand why haters

[9:25:32] are going to hate and are going

[9:25:33] to find somebody to hate.

[9:25:34] But this is a big pivotal

[9:25:37] moment and it's going to take

[9:25:38] every one of us to actually

[9:25:39] deliver what Councilmember Eli

[9:25:44] Rivera has been exposed to,

[9:25:44] what each of you have been

[9:25:45] exposed to your families, your

[9:25:46] kids, your relatives, your

[9:25:50] friends is unacceptable And

[9:25:51] we're only going to get there

[9:25:51] if we're all joining in

[9:25:55] respecting what each of us says

[9:25:56] I'm going I'm going to get off

[9:25:56] my soapbox.

[9:25:57] But I think you get my point

[9:26:01] going forward and do not

[9:26:02] disappoint those of us who are

[9:26:02] voting on this.

[9:26:06] Do not disappoint Councilmember

[9:26:07] Lipman for bringing this

[9:26:07] forward.

[9:26:08] The city attorney wants to talk

[9:26:12] to Yes.

[9:26:13] Thank you, council PRESIDENT.

[9:26:13] Just to clarify before the vote

[9:26:17] is taken there was some mention

[9:26:18] of a potential additional or

[9:26:18] second motion.

[9:26:19] Once the vote is taken on

[9:26:23] the motion currently on

[9:26:24] the floor, the item will be

[9:26:24] concluded and there cannot be a

[9:26:25] second motion.

[9:26:25] But can you give us legal

[9:26:29] advice about how to get council

[9:26:30] PRESIDENT Pro tem Because i

[9:26:34] think there is a general level

[9:26:34] of support for that.

[9:26:35] The two options would be to

[9:26:36] make the request of the mayor's

[9:26:40] office to work with

[9:26:41] the commission to address those

[9:26:46] questions or alternatively you

[9:26:46] could put the request in

[9:26:47] the motion.

[9:26:47] The first option would be

[9:26:48] preferred but you could put it

[9:26:48] in a motion that would be

[9:26:54] legally permissible.

[9:26:55] Well as Robert rolls in his

[9:26:56] grave I'll leave it up to you.

[9:27:00] Council member Whitburn but

[9:27:00] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee

[9:27:05] could you again reiterate what

[9:27:05] your request was?

[9:27:06] I've talked about it.

[9:27:11] We're clearly at the moment but

[9:27:11] it is to request Human

[9:27:12] Relations Commission to address

[9:27:16] and define additional forms of

[9:27:17] racial discrimination and hate

[9:27:17] ensuring we continue to engage

[9:27:20] a broad range of perspectives

[9:27:21] in order to support all

[9:27:32] marginalized communities.

[9:27:33] I would be comfortable making

[9:27:37] that request from the dais and

[9:27:38] I think that there would be

[9:27:38] consensus about making that

[9:27:39] request.

[9:27:42] I would be reluctant to

[9:27:43] incorporate it into the motion

[9:27:47] that's on the floor.

[9:27:48] But to the members of the Human

[9:27:53] Relations Commission I would

[9:27:54] respectfully ask if you would

[9:27:58] be willing to consider at

[9:28:04] the commission that which

[9:28:05] the Council PRESIDENT Pro tem

[9:28:05] is requesting.

[9:28:05] >> Yes.

[9:28:09] Thank you.

[9:28:10] I want to introduce you to our

[9:28:10] newest chair.

[9:28:14] Uh, Chair Jones.

[9:28:15] Stephen Jones.

[9:28:20] And he can make that decision.

[9:28:20] One thing that I had mentioned

[9:28:21] to Ryan was that possibly we

[9:28:26] could provide you with a list

[9:28:26] of the things that we are

[9:28:27] currently working on that

[9:28:31] address this sort of thing hate

[9:28:32] within the very various

[9:28:36] communities and then provide a

[9:28:41] way that we can, you know, have

[9:28:42] some discourse about what you

[9:28:43] would like to see more of.

[9:28:47] And thank you Chair Jones.

[9:28:47] >> You heard the request of

[9:28:48] the council PRESIDENT Pro tem

[9:28:52] Would you be willing to docket

[9:28:53] consideration of his request?

[9:28:53] >> Sure.

[9:28:57] My name is DR. Stephen Jones.

[9:28:58] I am the new chair of the Human

[9:28:59] Relations Commission.

[9:29:02] It is an honor to be before you

[9:29:02] .

[9:29:03] Let me say that Thank you for

[9:29:04] the deliberation.

[9:29:04] Yes, we as a commission will

[9:29:08] take that on because hate in

[9:29:09] any direction weakens us all.

[9:29:12] Thank you.

[9:29:13] I would like to take the time

[9:29:19] to apologize to COUNCILMAN

[9:29:19] Saylor There there I think in a

[9:29:23] heated moment I misspoke and

[9:29:23] certainly did not mean to

[9:29:24] disrespect you So I sincerely

[9:29:33] apologize.

[9:29:33] All right.

[9:29:38] We generally recognize Robert's

[9:29:38] Rules of Order but we have

[9:29:39] allowed the maker of the motion

[9:29:43] to control the motion going

[9:29:43] forward on the floor.

[9:29:48] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Katz

[9:29:49] for PRESIDENT I'm going to

[9:29:49] respectfully request that if

[9:29:53] it's not going to be included

[9:29:54] in the motion because I think

[9:29:54] it's important here today I'm

[9:29:57] supporting the item as it is.

[9:29:58] I think it's important and

[9:29:59] we've made the case for that

[9:30:02] But I think it's also fair to

[9:30:02] that there we actually

[9:30:03] acknowledge the work that needs

[9:30:04] to be done.

[9:30:06] The Human Relations Commission

[9:30:07] has already said that there are

[9:30:08] embarking on that work and so

[9:30:12] us putting it in writing even

[9:30:13] if the resolution is the lowest

[9:30:14] form of what this council can

[9:30:17] do is a commitment that I think

[9:30:18] deserves to be made and that I

[9:30:18] believe would be broadly

[9:30:22] supported by this Council.

[9:30:22] The PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee you

[9:30:23] have the commitment from

[9:30:24] the mayor's office to charge

[9:30:27] the hrc to take those actions

[9:30:27] and the Office of Boards and

[9:30:28] Commissions will track and

[9:30:29] monitor that to ensure that

[9:30:31] that's delivered.

[9:30:32] Council PRESIDENT I will

[9:30:33] respectfully ask for a vote on

[9:30:33] that amendment if it is not

[9:30:36] going to be accepted.

[9:30:37] >> Okay.

[9:30:40] Well let's give the city clerk

[9:30:41] is there a second to his

[9:30:45] amendment?

[9:30:46] I'll give it to Councilmember

[9:30:50] Foster So we'll need to take a

[9:30:51] moment and let the city clerk

[9:30:55] get that up on the screen so

[9:30:56] everybody and if you have

[9:31:00] anything that you can share a

[9:31:05] point of clarification I guess

[9:31:06] as an amendment we can bring it

[9:31:14] without pre public information

[9:31:15] 72 hours ahead of the meeting

[9:31:15] That is right agenda.

[9:31:16] Okay.

[9:31:18] Just wanted to get that

[9:31:23] clarified since it's a request

[9:31:23] it's a request or amendment

[9:31:24] which is what It's an amendment

[9:31:27] to embed the request into

[9:31:31] the motion.

[9:31:32] Then it's not really a request.

[9:31:36] It's and you know the council

[9:31:37] has in many cases input it

[9:31:41] requests as a part of our

[9:31:41] motions And so council

[9:31:45] PRESIDENT Notably I the second

[9:31:46] of my motion and I just

[9:31:49] conferred we believe that

[9:31:51] including your language in

[9:31:56] the motion in addition to

[9:31:57] the resolution that we are

[9:32:01] bringing forward is in line

[9:32:02] with what we would like to see

[9:32:06] the city advance So we will

[9:32:07] incorporate that into

[9:32:07] the motion.

[9:32:11] Okay.

[9:32:12] Without objection from Council

[9:32:15] PRESIDENT Pro Tem and a second

[9:32:15] agree?

[9:32:16] Yes.

[9:32:16] Council PRESIDENT I'll explain

[9:32:20] why the resolution as drafted

[9:32:24] by Council member weapons team

[9:32:25] and what to put in front of us

[9:32:25] is still exactly what was

[9:32:29] before us.

[9:32:30] There's just an additional

[9:32:31] level of addressing what

[9:32:34] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Pro

[9:32:35] Tem Lee was talking about.

[9:32:39] So the resolution supporting

[9:32:39] the ihra definition condemning

[9:32:43] antisemitism and directing

[9:32:44] the city clerk and the mayor's

[9:32:45] staff to use the ihra

[9:32:49] definition as an educational

[9:32:49] tool in helping identify

[9:32:50] antisemitism remains completely

[9:32:50] intact.

[9:32:54] Nothing about that is changing.

[9:32:54] What's added in there is

[9:32:58] the additional direction which

[9:32:59] I from what I could hear

[9:33:00] council member would say if it

[9:33:00] was a separate motion

[9:33:03] altogether it would have passed

[9:33:04] anyway.

[9:33:08] So because the ihra definition

[9:33:09] is not a changed the resolution

[9:33:09] as is printed by the city

[9:33:13] attorney presented to the city

[9:33:14] clerk and ultimately delivered

[9:33:15] to the mayor is going to remain

[9:33:17] exactly the same.

[9:33:18] I think that it's an

[9:33:18] appropriate adjustment and I

[9:33:19] think that we should move

[9:33:21] forward.

[9:33:22] >> All right.

[9:33:23] Without objection, can the city

[9:33:27] clerk put up a new screen that

[9:33:27] adds both the original motion

[9:33:31] as well as this new language

[9:33:37] that's been added?

[9:33:37] Yes.

[9:33:37] Give us two minutes.

[9:33:38] Do you have additional

[9:33:38] comments?

[9:33:41] Yeah, I will Just thank

[9:33:42] Councilmember Cappo for making

[9:33:42] that point.

[9:33:46] I think it is right.

[9:33:47] I will explain my additional

[9:33:47] hesitation being that this is

[9:33:51] all about language and so I

[9:33:52] want to be cautious about

[9:33:56] adjusting language on the fly.

[9:33:57] But I do think that

[9:33:57] Councilmember Campo is correct

[9:34:01] in his assessment of the fact

[9:34:05] that both things continue on

[9:34:06] And so I think it makes sense

[9:34:06] to include it.

[9:34:07] So thank you.

[9:34:38] Thank you

[9:34:38] .

[9:34:43] I'm sorry.

[9:34:44] Are you back on the lights?

[9:34:44] Yes.

[9:34:44] Sorry.

[9:34:48] I just I want to I appreciate

[9:34:49] the amendment put forward by

[9:34:49] council PRESIDENT Pro tem.

[9:34:52] I think it's important and I

[9:34:53] think this is a better action

[9:34:54] as a result of it At the same

[9:34:57] time because in my opinion

[9:34:58] the item be before us

[9:35:02] the resolution before us did

[9:35:03] not include the broad range of

[9:35:04] perspectives that we were

[9:35:07] asking to be included in the in

[9:35:08] defining other forms of hate.

[9:35:12] The other efforts to combat

[9:35:17] discrimination because I do not

[9:35:17] from the record see that that

[9:35:18] broad range of perspectives was

[9:35:22] included in the drafting of

[9:35:22] the resolution before us.

[9:35:23] I still will not be supporting

[9:35:23] the motion although I do

[9:35:26] believe that it's better as a

[9:35:27] result of the amendment.

[9:35:27] Thank you.

[9:35:28] All right.

[9:35:28] Thank you.

[9:35:31] Council member Ella Rivera Not

[9:35:32] to anybody else like Thank you

[9:35:32] Council member Whitburn Thank

[9:35:32] you.

[9:35:36] Council Member Campo Thank you.

[9:35:36] Council PRESIDENT Pro Tem Lee

[9:35:40] So that is the motion on

[9:35:41] the screen which includes both

[9:35:42] the original proposal,

[9:35:45] the original action as well as

[9:35:46] the additional request to

[9:35:50] the Human Relations Commission

[9:35:50] .

[9:35:51] So with nobody else in

[9:35:51] the lights.

[9:35:55] Clerk Please call the roll.

[9:35:55] >> Thank you.

[9:35:56] Council PRESIDENT I've started

[9:35:56] the voting system.

[9:36:03] Please cast your vote and that

[9:36:04] passes 8 to 1 with council

[9:36:05] member Ella Rivera voting no

[9:36:31] Thank you Council PRESIDENT

[9:36:41] Just two times for applause.

[9:36:42] So with that we will now

[9:36:42] adjourn Council to the next

[9:36:43] regularly scheduled council

[9:36:46] meeting on Monday, APRIL 6th,

[9:36:48] 2026 at 10 A.M. We are

City Council Meetings — Tuesday Agenda Revised Added S500-S507

Transcript