City Council — 2023-12-20

And a call to order. Could we have the roll call please, Weston?

but should be attending later via zoom

Thank you Weston.

public comments saying why is this an important matter? And the I-10 was closed down in LA with demonstrators. Seattle, Atlanta, lots of city councils are working on similar resolutions. One thing that is important to me, that has been important to me is that many members of our community and in particular our Jewish community have expressed that some of the language does not make them feel safe at a time when hate is so palpable And so I personally don't want to sign any legislation or to be a part of any policymaking that makes anyone in our communities feel unsafe.

So, I'm aware of the fact that our goal here as your representatives is to serve this community And that we don't have a lot of say in what's happening in Congress, except that we are voices among others. You know this is why cities like Berkeley and other cities have opted to not have a ceasefire resolution while other cities have. So as we talk about this in the spirit of safety, I'm just going to encourage everyone to be really mindful of the words that we use. Of how we talk about things that are taking place. There's a lot of trauma and generational trauma. We're all in a collective grief right now No one can see the heartbreak that's going on and not feel that heartbreak as if it's your own.

And so, as you're talking and giving comments tonight please just be aware of The many experiences that are represented here, and I'm also going to just give a trigger warning for anybody who's watching this too. This would probably not be the meeting to have your children in the room while you're watching this at home. We wanna be really sensitive and create a safe space for us to talk about these things tonight.

Thank

you.

Some in our community have expressed opposition to the draft of the peace resolution that we proposed on November 14th, or that was proposed on November 14th. In an effort to facilitate a compromise at present I'm proposing a scaled back resolution that several community members have promoted in the last week or so. This encourages federal officials to achieve two objectives, save lives and create a reasonably safe environment to deliver much needed humanitarian aid.

Should the Council choose to adopt language from the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 786, we would be acting in alignment with our values as an international city of peace while also allowing Israel the right to defend itself should the need arise. While the compromise solution does encourage our federal government to call for and facilitate de-escalation and a ceasefire, it does not assert any requirement that Israel withdraw military forces from Gaza, thereby allowing Israel to maintain full readiness to defend itself as needed on a moment's notice.

And we are a city of peace so Council Member Lange is going to read our proclamation that came out in 2015.

And I want to thank Ray Powers for sending this and inviting us to speak this into the room tonight as we start our discussion. City of Ojai Proclamation, whereas a group of local citizens has gathered with the intention of Ojai becoming an international city of peace and whereas the International Cities of Peace Initiative was incorporated in 2009 with a vision to foster peace as a consensus value in cities of peace around the world.

And whereas the initiative envisions a world where cities are dedicated to expanding their local peace economy and encouraging a global culture of peace. And whereas safety, prosperity and equality of life are universal values that bring peace to our lives. And whereas currently there are 100 official cities of peace around the world With an intention for a thousand by 2020, now therefore be it proclaimed that I, Severo Lara, Mayor of City of Ojai and on behalf of the Ojai City Council do hereby proclaim the city of Ojai an international city of peace on this 14th day of April 2015.

Thank you Rachel and

I

believe now there are 400 cities of peace, international city of peace. So regardless of what the council decides tonight let's tonight do our best to hear our neighbors and treat one another with respect which means respecting other people's right to have viewpoints that differ from our own. Let's allow tonight to be a symbol of what could be when we personally embrace peace as a practice in every moment.

Peace comes from within and from without. Let's all make a universal and personal commitment to peace and listening, and model the change tonight that we want to see in the world. We all agree that peace is the goal by committing to it as an everyday practice we lead the way. So we will begin with and can I just

clarify so I just want to clarify one one thing. So the mayor talked about new language And and and so, you know, we have We have a couple different options tonight one

There should be yes, I am able to print out some copies in a few minutes I

And if you look up resolution 786 on your phone.

There's probably more people than we can make copies for physically on paper, but what we can do is get it up on the Zoom screen so that everyone can see it on the screens. We'll ask staff to do that as we go forward. Thank you.

Great. Thank you. So we have a couple of different options just real simply. One, we could dismiss this like we did the first time and say this isn't within our jurisdiction. Two, we could amend the proposed resolution that is posted online with some of this new language making it something that would be more universal in our community. Or three, we could adopt the resolution as it is so we have different options but we really want to hear what What you're feeling, what you're thinking and make this a co-creative process. So know that nothing you've read is absolute. That this is something that we're creating together tonight.

Okay, um well first of all we've received I would say at least probably over a hundred comments in the last few weeks and those comments were in response to the The press or the whatever a different resolution And I have never I've not seen this. I don't know why I The council didn't get it earlier, but I need time to read it. And I don't want to be reading it when people are speaking because I want to hear what people want to say so how do you want to handle that? So do we start by posting the... Because I believe until people see this they're going to be responding to a former resolution am I correct?

Yeah, so how do you want to proceed with that? Do we want to put this on the screen and read it together and then people can ponder if they want to respond to the new resolution or what they want to do. Mr. City Attorney any...

Yeah I would suggest that why don't we assuming staff can pull it off get it up on the screen. It's a short resolution so it's worth getting it up on the screen and we can read the text of it so that folks can have that in mind as they're providing their comments Excellent, thank you. And I know Mr. Montgomery went to get this sorted up on the screen.

Thank you, Weston. It's going to be a minute. OK. We can't do that right away. This is the first time I'm

seeing it too. OK, this was sent in by a couple of public comments a few days ago. Well it could be, thank you for the question. It could be that the original resolution that's in the staff report I am suggesting that we consider this and we can consider either both either one or not as Councilmember Lange said not passing it

One of the reasons why this is coming up, that the change is coming up, is that we really heard from people who did not feel safe having with the first one. And that is not something I want to support, and we don't want anyone to feel unsafe in our community.

There it is up on the screen, we can read it.

I'll read it.

Yes Madam Mayor, I will read it. Is the screen...

One of us should read it. Okay, I'll start.

Okay, hold on a second. It's not on the is it on the other screen there? Okay so

I might not have the ability to get it on the broadcast

don't have that

but it is definitely on the council chambers TVs right now and Many many copies are being printed physically

So yeah We don't have the tech the tech ability at this moment to get it on those two screens But we have it on these screens and we'll read it slowly

Okay Thank you for your patience. Resolution calling for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine, whereas all human life is precious and the targeting of civilians no matter their faith or ethnicity is a violation of international humanitarian law. Whereas between October 7th and October 16th 2023 Armed violence has claimed the lives of over 27 Palestinians that Nimr has changed and over 1,400 Israelis including Americans and wounded thousands more.

Whereas hundreds of thousands of lives are at imminent risk if a ceasefire is not achieved and humanitarian aid is not delivered without delay, and whereas the federal government holds immense diplomatic power to save Israeli and Palestinian lives. Now therefore be it resolved that the House of Representatives urges the Biden administration to immediately call for and facilitate de-escalation in a ceasefire to urgently end the current violence And calls upon the Biden administration to.

promptly send and facilitate the entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. So that, we'll begin public comment and of course this is a, it's an option so we'll just,

yeah? We could also take, we could also again rework language and we can make this a co-creative process

Let's wait and we'll have public comment. Okay, so

can I ask what can I have clear? I want to clarify was this passed by Congress? It's not been passed. And what does this mean? It

doesn't

have a lot of support.

Congress has not adopted HR 786.

Let's, and I'm going to ask the public please to refrain from any comments yelling or if we could stay quiet that'd be great. If you could share that would be wonderful.

I will print more

And because of the large number of public comments, public comment will be two minutes. I'm going to ask that everyone please when the chime goes off to please stop talking. We all appreciate your desire to communicate in the spirit of equity So we'll begin with Bobby Corbin.

I'm not sure the public understood your comments about the time. Okay,

I'm sorry Our policy is if we have more than 25 Comments on a specific item we drop from three minutes to two minutes. We have probably over 50 right now so Please keep your comments to yourself will be

Council, are you okay with two minutes? No. I want to make a comment about that. What I would like to get out of this meeting if nothing else is that everyone feels heard. We would love for you to do your best. You know, I think this is a joint decision whether it's two minutes or three minutes I'm hoping that most of you can limit your comments to two minutes, but I as a council member if someone is saying something new and they need a few extra seconds or even up to the full three minutes to speak. I want them to be heard. I don't want people to be nervous and talking fast so if we can just cooperate with the awareness. Are there 50 speakers?

I'm

prepared to stay here as long as it takes personally. There's nothing else on the agenda, I would like to hear what people have to say.

I said, I would prefer to and then it but if someone's saying something new we can we can have that option But

yeah, we've come this far. We're in a special meeting and you're here councilmember Whitman Yeah

My preference would be two minutes.

Okay. All right Well, we can let's set it at two minute We'll set the timer at two minutes and we'll go from there. Okay first we have Bobby Corbin then

just one second Rachel say oh You want two minutes? Oh, I thought you were supporting that people could speak okay

And also you please if you if you agree with some another speaker If you could just say ditto that would be wonderful so Bobby Corman Nehemiah We don't have our usual crew of staff. It's just Weston, there is

no one behind him. We don't have anyone behind Weston tonight.

So

here's

Weston. All right, are we ready?

My name is Bobbi Corbin I live in Ojai and I have served four years on the Ojai Planning Commission you must vote no on this resolution today's New York Times says you're doing exactly what the Hamas terrorists want blaming Israel for this war Hamas is like bindweed in the garden, wrapping itself around civilians knowing that civilians will be killed rooting out these terrorists. You know that Israel did not start this brutal war. Naively your resolution calls for a permanent ceasefire and for Israel to put down their weapons although you've qualified that Yet Hamas terrorists have written in their charter they will never stop until the state of Israel is annihilated and Jews worldwide are destroyed. You're asking the wrong side to stop fighting.

Hamash launched this brutal massacre during a ceasefire, and also rejected a ceasefire today. When his council considered this matter, the mayor of Berkeley stated These resolutions will not end violence abroad, but they do fan flames of hatred here at home. This is just what you do with this resolution. Why? We elected you to effect a meaningful change in the city of Ojai. Isn't it ironic that as a city of peace we fight endlessly and bitterly over bike lanes, planting trees, and what shade of white to paint our buildings with no resolution? You have no expertise in international policy as a group. How can you set yourself up as arbiters of world peace when you can't make peace at home? Please start with resolutions for our city. Shut this down and vote no.

Golda Meir said, When peace comes we'll perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons. None of us are happy with this situation.

Mayor, thank

you

Bobby. Again I want to make a request that you not stop a speaker when it's clear they only have a few sentences. I really feel this is a wonderful opportunity to hear from people and they've prepared statements.

Also in the spirit of equity people do Limit themselves to the two minutes as requested. So that's three minutes Okay,

the other side is that if we are not discussing what we're actually going to do We're going to have to wait until 10 or 11 tonight. How many of these people are still going to be here to hear it? So I think we really

do... It's a trade-off between... You can stay a lot in two minutes, thank you for your patience. Okay, Weston, are you ready with the timer? Ready. Thank you. And Weston has the timer, right? Naima.

My name is Naima. I live in Miner's Oaks. I'm here as a mother of a four-year-old, a 19-year-old and a 24-year old. 10,000 children have been bombed, shot, burned and more are starving. 23,000 children orphaned. This is not a war when 45% of the victims are children. Our children are watching other children die, while adults do nothing. Worse while adults justify it. This is not a war, it is genocide playing out live stream. Friendly fire is killing hostages. This is not a war when the people you went to war for, the hostage's families are screaming ceasefire. 10,000 children. 3,000 children a month. What will you tell the children? Your children? Our children? Ojai fighting to protect the land, natural resources, the environment, the planet but Ojai there's no future if we allow our children to be the target of hate killings.

Children to be the targets of war. The idea that you can stamp out religion, ideology, culture and history by killing the children Bombing whole families is the end of democracy, the end of humanity. Something that the elders here on both sides know too well. That is hell and God help us as a mother who had to hold her own daughter as she took her last breath this kills your soul it is unnatural and against all laws of nature and to take that pain times it by tens of thousands is truly the worst thing you could unleash upon the world And all of us, all of us in America are complicit. Not in our names. Ceasefire now."

Thank you, Namaia. To the audience...

34 seconds and I would like to say what these boards are. These boards represent 3,000 children that were killed in one month of October. There are tons of children under 1, tons of children 1, 2, 3 and 4, and this was one month, and every month 3, 000 more children die.

Thank you. And I'm going to ask the audience if you can refrain from any clapping or, of course, booing and if we could just listen. You can always use jazz hands to agree. Okay next we have Anthony Hirsch then David Harshada Wagner and then Fred Rothenberg.

Good evening, Mayor Sticks and members of the City Council. You know with the new language that you brought tonight it changes some of the impact of the things that have been written by many of the members here. I don't think it changes what I have to say and we'll see at the end. My name is Anthony Hirsch. I live in Ojai. I have practiced medicine for 25 years in Ventura County.

In 1997, a swastika was painted on the door of the temple in Ojai. The next day members of most of the different religious sects came together to repair that door. In 2019 there is the well-known incident that occurred at Matilla High Junior High School. The need to promote religious freedoms saw the creation of the Ojai Interfaith Council Ojai is a city of tolerance and does seek peace.

This resolution, as written, fosters hate not peace. This is the one-sided resolution essentially blaming Israel for all the ravages that a war produces. It is causing rifts in the fabric of our community and it's divisive. It has the literary swastika on the temple door The Jewish community of Ojai is not responsible for this war but are forced to bear a large amount of fear because of it, requiring armed security at events.

Resolutions such as this, as written, serve only to increase hate and fear. I urge you to vote no in the name of peace for our community. Having Israel maintain the forces in Gaza, as you mentioned is fine. It's appropriate. It doesn't change the fact that a resolution such as this causes fear in the Jewish community.

Thank you Tony. Next we have David Harshada Wagner then Fred Rothenberg and then Kelly Levine.

Good evening Madam Mayor and Council Members. Have you seen the videos of the children, the dead children? It's a serious question. Have you seen that the other day the Israeli Defense Forces just bulldozed a whole tent encampment and buried all the people alive did you see that report? Did you see the fake videos of the doctors and shopkeepers stripped down and doing the false surrender? Did you see that?

This is not a war, it's not even a fight. They're not fighting anyone because the people that they're killing can't fight back! 70% of the ordinances that are dropped by Israel, that we provide as US taxpayers, are called dumb bombs. That means they just drop them. They're not guided ordinances. They're not fighting Hamas! They're destroying Gaza so that they can build condos. Have you seen that report?

Come on. If you pass this resolution, it's not going to do anything. It's probably not going to stop Israel. It is not going to stop the U.S. war machine. It's probably not going to do anything. But if you don't pass this resolution, if you vote no against this, man, you guys are on the dark side of a dark moment of history, man. I mean karma is a thing and if we as Ojai are gonna give the BS lip service of being a city of peace Come on.

Shame on you for even putting the language in the resolution that Israel should stay in Gaza! Thank you, David.

Next we have Fred Rothenberg then Kelly Levine and then Brenton Butler

Good evening and thank you for allowing me to speak about the resolution before the council. My name is Fred Rothenberg, and I've lived in the Ojai Valley for 23 years. I'm 84 years old and a first-generation American. My parents immigrated to the United States 100 years ago from Ukraine to escape the bigotry and racism expressed against Jews that often ended the lives of their relatives and their neighbors.

Others stayed in Europe and fell victim to the Nazi Holocaust. Because of these experiences, I'm particularly sensitive to anything that negatively impacts Jews as a whole. Not the least of which is separation from the community at large. While wholesale racism in Ojai is unlikely, I believe the resolution is unnecessary and divisive. I feel strongly enough to make this the first time that I've appeared before you where I hope I can help you understand why I'm against it.

I abhor violence and wish for an end to the death and destruction in Gaza and Israel. However, I also cringe at the discord in Ojai that will increase because of the resolution and the unintended consequences that will follow. Friends and neighbors will take sides, blame will be assigned, a they versus us mentality will take hold, fences will be built, and fears will increase.

The causes of and the solutions to the war in the Middle East are issues that will not be resolved by an Ojai petition blessed by the City Council. While a feel-good attitude may exhilarate some, in and outside the community it will depress others. We'll do nothing to bring the citizens of Ojai together in common cause further limiting our ability to address those problems that require the full attention of the council.

Thank you, Fred. Next...

Mayor, excuse me and everyone that first beep is a 30 second warning. You still have some time. Oh I'm sorry, I apologize. Just to clarify.

Okay. I don't have much anyway. I beseech you to leave the end of war strategy to those at the national level while we express our personal opinions through the ballot box and through individual communications with our congressional representatives. Please do not approve this resolution. Thank

Thank you, Fred. Next we have Kelly Levine then Brenton Butler and then Charlie Cartwright.

I believe that some of the wording of the resolution has changed but I don't think its tone has changed and I am opposed to the resolution. Ojai is already a city of international peace and why this resolution and why now Let me be blunt, it only singles out Israel and the world's Jewish population. It's ill-timed, it's ill-advised and it is definitely racist against Jews and I don't believe that this is intended But just because you don't think it is, or you don't believe it, or you don't understand doesn't make it not so. It is so.

We are scared. We are heartbroken when we see these children behind us. We're heartbroken. Your Jewish community is informing you what this means to them And I hope that you listen, and I hope that you vote no on this resolution. Thank you.

Thank you, Callie. Next we have Brenton Butler, then Charlie Cartwright, and then Louise Winheld.

It's like what Edward said, is it accidental? You act so occidental talking about what's for dinner. You want something oriental like I bet you do cuz holding that yoga pose on your Turkish rug got that Eastern soul with that Western mind on stolen land but your God said it's fine enlightened state created through light and space where have I heard that before new cake same old recipe Haven't you heard if you think positive, you can manifest destiny? Is that the secret? Rewrite history until it's all right. Destroy entire bloodlines until it's all white. When ceasefire is offensive, bombing babies is defensive. Where does the human lie? The only way to justify genocide is to dehumanize. War is peace. Ignorance is strength. Ceasefire is anti-Semitic.

Occupation is liberation. A naysayer is just a jealous critique. Among other things, the doublethink makes my stomach sink If the truth offends we mustn't speak Tell that dying child as he lays in ruins This is your fault you knew what Hamas was doing Give a history lesson to the deceased Tell them kids that got bombed on the beach That your life ain't worth the same As a kid from Ukraine that gave himself a Hebrew last name Replace the village names to sound more native, right? Sound familiar, Ojai? Oh my. Nordoff just don't got the same bite. Guess facts do care about your feelings and we can twist them so we can sleep at night. Dirty soul but at least I got on my Kundalini whites. However this is not justice just the ticks of an autistic who probably just needs therapists.

The dead of the oppressed don't affect us. The walls are up those people are separate. I guess this is Old Testament Now we do as Pharaoh did. The death toll don't count, even algebra is terrorist. Don't trust the figures, even the numbers are Arabic. It's like what Edward said.

Thank you Brenton. Next we have Charlie Cartwright then Louise Winheld and then Dave Wortley.

My name is Charlie Cartwright. I am not Jewish, but I cannot remain silent when I become aware of the resolution that's being addressed tonight as a former state and national teacher of the year I urge you to continue to educate yourselves with integrity and and ethical responsibility as you make decisions that have the power to significantly affect anti-Semitism in the city of Ojai, the city of international peace.

Thank you, Charlie. Next we have Louise Winheld then Dave Wortlieb and then Nicole Hawkins.

My name is Louise Winheld. Ojai, as you have said, has been an official city of peace since 2015. The resolution before this council ostensibly promotes working for peace in the Israeli-Hamas war. However, this resolution has some serious flaws in its promotion and advocacy of peace. It suggests that only one side, Israel, should not be funded and that only one side, Israel, should withdraw from the field of battle.

Where is the fairness and justice in those suggestions? How does this unfairness and injustice promote peace?" Thank you.

Thank you Louise. Next we have Dave Wortlieb then Nicole Hawkins and then Casey Rodriguez.

We are residents of Ojai. We love living here. We are registered voters in Ventura County, and we are Jewish. When I read the proposed resolution that is before the council, I was both appalled and very scared. And I don't believe the language of H.R. 786, which has not yet been passed in Congress changes the intent at all. I have two points I'd like to make to you. First, in the name of supporting peace, all nine of the very carefully worded preambles in the proposed resolution, the whereas list covers every possible base.

Ojai is a city of peace, and you can fill in the blanks here. Condemning every possible phobia as well as several anti-something or others they're all there in the whereases of the proposal. These are designed to soften the intent of the resolution itself What do any of them have to do with the actual resolution itself? Second point, I am completely puzzled why a local government Ojai City Council is even considering a proposal asking the US Congress to defund support for Israel.

The Council needs to understand that the resolution is sowing divisiveness and hatred in the city of Ojai. It is so one-sided, that instead of supporting peace it is stirring the cauldron of fear and hate. I urge you to vote it down or any other resolution with similar intent. Thank you

Thank you, Dave. Next we have Nicole Hawkins then Casey Rodriguez and then Brianna Skelly.

Thank you. I'm curious genuinely why the resolution is seeming one-sided to my understanding ceasefire is the most peaceful phrase I could ever imagine It specifies that we should also return all hostages, that there should be a permanent ceasefire. I've heard mutterings that Hamas has rejected opportunities for a ceasefire when in actuality they just said it needs to be a permanent ceasefire rather than a few days of pausing bombing on innocent civilians.

So I think that something important to remember is that a lot of the news that we are getting Is being funded by people in power, and that if you look at what's being recorded by Palestinians on the ground every day. You can't deny what's happening to them and you cannot pretend that they are at all affiliated I know our group would support this, the act of peace and saving people.

We'd love world peace as we've said why this is important right now is because of the names that are being held up by Deaths that are being funded with our tax dollars. Cole Arthur Riley said, when you don't know who to trust listen to the one who's still bleeding and I'd like to invite us all to listen and look at the direct sources that are showing us what's happening and I don't think it actually takes much to recognize the truth we want this to be passed because we actually want peace not There's any anti-Semitism or any ulterior motives. We actively fight anti-Semitic crimes and hate speech. Thank

you, Nicole. Next we have Casey Rodriguez then Brianna Skelly and then Mr. Lindsey Thompson.

Haku, hello. Even though I'm a state executive board member of the California Democratic Party, tonight I speak only for myself, a Chumash woman who is the offspring of mighty people who overcame the genocide that took place on this very land. who scientifically proven carries intergenerational trauma in my DNA. Hate, ignorance is not okay on either side I was hesitant and coming tonight to speak in person due to the weather but I knew coming to support the people of Palestine and for peace for all people was more important than my own comfort And to show despite what many believe there are Democrats working inside that have been to Sacramento taking strong stands including myself Sousa, thank you for trying to give us all three minutes to be heard.

In the midst of this holiday season I am recalling a song called Do You Hear What I Hear by Bing Cosby. I believe tonight we should all imagine Mr. Cosby's voice asking us all Do we truly hear what I hear? As well as listen to what I say. Pray for peace, people everywhere. Listen to what I say. The child sleeping in the night, he will bring us goodness and light tonight. The child is you. That child is you. And that child... It's all of us!

Ojai City must include their name among other cities such as Long Beach that added for a declaration last night. If Ojai can take a stand for elephants, surely Ojai can take a courageous stand for human lives especially children. All lives are sacred and should be protected Back to being a Chumash, my ancestors were silenced but I will not be. I'll continue speaking because the trauma of genocide resides in my DNA preventing me from settling into privilege. Thank you.

Thank You Casey and just reminder if you can hold your applause next we have Brianna Skelly then Mr. Lindsey Thompson and then Michelle Johnson

Hi, my name's Brianna Skelly. I'm a resident of Oakland. I prepared several statements. I've been up here before and I've spoken and I just want to speak from my heart and to some of the things that I've heard this evening. It does matter that we vote in support of a ceasefire. It really, really does matter and we can ask As a city council, as a town, why? But I think you know. I think you know in your hearts and if you've been seeing the things that I have been seeing that I think everyone speaking towards support for a ceasefire have been seeing I almost can't believe the people who are speaking against this. They must have not been seeing, because if they have been seeing and still are thinking about a fear beyond themselves towards the children that are being bombed daily right now as we speak that are dying under rubble As we speak, that are onslaughted at every moment.